#got this idea and drew it at the speed of light

[nottspocket]

Get kissed, idiot

[mochinomnoms]

The Private (not) Thoughts of a Moray Chapter 5: I wanna go on walks with you, I wanna have long talks with you

Gender Neutral Reader x Jade Leech

Chapter 5 preview:

The fall was much shorter than you anticipated, as you felt yourself fall against a soft body. You opened your eyes, but found that the room was dark. Or a tunnel? Hole? Whatever it was, it was a tight fit as you shifted around to get back on your feet. You dug your elbows against the soft floor to get up, which subsequently moved and grunted.  “Ow. That was my rib.” Jade's voice grunted against your ear, his hold around loosening as he also moved to stand.  “Jade? What—oh my god!” You tried to scramble off of Jade, harder said than done in the space you two had found yourselves. Shifting around, you were sure that you’d just made the situation worse, as Jade lit a light with his wand. How in the world you managed to find yourself straddling Jade’s waist in the dark was a mystery. Though, with the flush look on his face, you weren’t sure he minded. Oh…by the Abyss itself… you’re such a pretty sight.

[wc} - 9,838

[notes] - let's gooooo! My editors still need a chance to comb through but I really wanted this out, so I will update with their feedback later so they don't have to stress! Anyway pls gimme your thoughts! I'd love to hear them!!

[tag list] - @simpingforbelphegor @myteacupisempty

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Chapter 5: I wanna go on walks with you, I wanna have long talks with you)

It had been roughly two months since the year started and you’d been housewarden. You’d like to say that it had been smooth sailing, and it mostly was. Mostly.

Epel had taken you to the Mostro Lounge of all places to get you to relax after a fight broke out between a few of the Ramshackle students over how they should decorate it for Halloween. A Diasomnia student that had managed to sneak into your roster a month ago had wanted to turn the dorm into Malleus’s usual haunted house, but Wynfred and the others wanted to do something new. 

Then it turned into another argument over what that new idea would be, which caused a fight to break out between the different students. If it hadn’t been for Wynfred bluntly calling them all whiny and suggesting that they just drew written suggestions from a hat. While most of them bristled at the remark, they’d agreed to follow his lead. After Albert had so kindly offered his hat, the winning idea was a screampark with clowns.

You’d thanked Wynfred for managing to wrangle them in, as you’d been out at a housewarden meeting at the time and did NOT feel like returning to a warring dorm. The redhead has flushed and beamed at your praise, something he’d been doing for a while you’d notice. At first, you thought it was just him being happy at being recognized for his efforts. 

“You know, Wynfred talks a lot ‘bout you, calls you all sorts of sweet names.” Epel had a gleeful smirk as he teased you. “Sounding like someone’s got a little secret admirer!”

Now you know why Wynfred had been so keen to seek your praise.

“Shut up Epel, you know I still have Vil on speed-dial, and I’ll tell him about you cussing out Yev, again.”

Epel wrinkled his nose and stuck his nose out at you, which you returned in kind. 

“Mmmeeh! Don’t worry about it, Yev has snitched on me plenty of times. Vil tells him to get it together and wrangle me in.”

The small man sipped on his smoothie before continuing, “Vil knew how to fight at least, I respect that. Yev’s a big ol’ wuss. He’s like a peacock. Or a chihuahua.”

Both of you giggled, you particularly at the image in Epel’s head of Yev’s head on a brown shaking chihuahua. Your fit of laughter was interrupted by a familiar presence and the thoughts of a familiar twin. 

Hehe, little shrimpy~

“Hi Floyd, what’s up?”

You craned your head to look up at Floyd, who was peering over the booth with a grin, his gold eye glinting at you. 

“Boo!” Floyd pouted, resting his chin on the top of the booth and draping his arms over to essentially trap you between them.

“Was tryin’ to scare Shrimpy, not fair!” 

You giggled at the whiny tone, though Epel looked a bit off put by Floyd, which wasn’t surprising. 

It’s like Shrimpy can tell when I’m nearby, totally not fair!

“Did you need something, Floyd?” Epel was still polite even after Vil left, so you suppose some of the habits instilled in him now came second nature. 

“Nah, just wanted to bother ya. Hey Shrimpy, Tony said you guys are doing scary clowns for Halloween? Never seen that, are clowns really that scary to humans?”

“Oh yeah,” You responded while Epel nodded along. “I don’t know about here, but back home it was a whole deal, we had like a whole scary movie franchise based on a scary clown that stole and ate children.”

Epel added, “Yeah, and we had a whole thing like two years ago where people were sighting killer clowns on the street! Like, just randomly in the middle of the night!”

“You guys had that too? Oh, that’s weird.”

Floyd made a disturbed face at your comments. Humans are weird. He hummed, moving to further shove his body over your booth. You wouldn’t be surprised though if his feet were still on the ground. 

“Killer clowns? Just beat them up, I don’t know, humans get scared of the weirdest things.” 

The twin perked up as he held up a finger to shush you as you opened your mouth to rebuke. 

“Wait a sec, I got something for ya!” Floyd brought his hand up to his mouth and shrilly whistled a small tune. “Hey Aspen!”

Watching with mild curiosity, you watched as the pink-haired man froze at Floyd calling for him. Staring at Floyd with wide eyes, he briefly darted his gaze to you, and back to Floyd.

“Bring the calamari over for lil’ Shrimpy!”

Aspen made a face, scrunching up his nose as he did what he was told as he internally complained. 

I can’t believe you’re making me touch this stuff, I just—I can’t with you! How can you have Jade’s sweet face, and yet be such an ass, Floyd.

Placing the plate before you, Aspen gave you and Epel a polite nod. “Here you are, please enjoy.”

“Yeah, Aspen’s reeeal fond of squid, ain’t ya?” Floyd giggled as Aspen took a deep breath, glowering at him as he turned his cheek and trotted off. 

Stupid, it’s no wonder you can’t court your mate, you brute.

“I believe my shift has ended. I’ll be setting off, I’ll see you at Ramshackle, Housewarden.”

You watched from the corner of your eye as Floyd grinned wryly at Aspen’s retreating form, looking back at you and Epel to pout and mockingly sniffle. 

“He’s always been so mean to poor ol’ Floydie!” He giggled again, tilting his head as you rolled your eyes. “He ignores me all the time, even when I’m trying to have fun with him! It was just a joke!”

You gave a light-hearted scoff, as did Epel who froze at Floyd squinting a golden eye at him. 

“Right, a joke. Like when you ‘accidentally’ served Azul your takoyaki. Didn’t he smack you hard enough to bruise you?”

Floyd blew a raspberry, cocking his hip as he leaned further against your booth. At the angle you had to crane your head to look at him, he almost looked like his brother. 

“Yeah, he was so mean for that! It’s fine, though, he kept serving me unagi for like a week after that to get back at me.”

His eyes dulling a bit, you could tell Floyd was getting bored now that his ‘fun’ had left. Though, he seemed to perk up as you popped a calamari ring into your mouth, studying your reaction as you chewed. It got a bit awkward as you made eye contact with Epel, who shrugged. 

I wonder if he’s waiting for the Prefect to say something about the food. Maybe he made it and wants praise?

You swallowed and cheerily told Floyd, “Hey, this is really good! Tastes great, did you cook it, Floyd?”

Floyd held his chin in his hands, grinning again as he watched you take another ring. 

Waiting until you were mid-chew, he purred out in a teasing tone, “Oh, no I didn’t make that. Jade made it. For you.”

So sappy, an’ such a basic courting gift too!

You choked on the calamari, coughing and frantically hitting your chest. Epel yelped as he nearly jumped over the table to shove your glass of water in your face, which you accepted. 

“Oh? You good Shrimpy?” Floyd, unbothered as ever, grinned as he watched you chug your water. “Something got you all flustered?”

“Floyd! Don’t make jokes, they’re chokin’!” Epel scolded Floyd as you finally took a heaving breath, waving your hands to cool off your burning cheeks.

“It’s fine, just went down the wrong throat. Um,” You shakily smiled at Floyd as you replied, “Thanks for letting me know, I’ll be sure to thank him later.”

As if, I don’t need him getting the wrong idea. 

“Oh good, Jade wanted to talk to ya ‘bout something anyway. Can’t remember about what.” Floyd gave you a lazy smirk. “He was gonna visit ya at your dorm, but what if I pop you in his room as a surprise? It’ll be reeeal funny!”

“Nope!” You popped your lips, blanching at the thought of Jade finding you alone in his bedroom.

“Kayyy!” Floyd shrugged, sliding his upper body against the top of the booth as he sauntered away. “I’m sure Jade will be back soon anyway. I’ll have someone come top off your waters while you wait.”

An exhausted sigh left your mouth as you rested your head against the cool table while Epel did the same, in solidarity you think. 

“Ya good? I’ve heard that Jade has been hovering around you lately. You don’t like, owe him anything, do you?”

You slid your head up to meet Epel’s gaze, who was currently giving you a curious look. 

Ace mentioned he’s been around you a lot lately. 

“Ah, no he’s just been, ummm—” you hummed as you considered how to word your circumstances without telling him about your telepathy.

Maybe I should tell him anyway…

“If it helps, I don’t think it’s anything bad!” Epel tried to reassure you with a small smile. “You two walk together after your potions class, right?”

You blinked in surprise, raising a brow. “Yeah? How’d you know?”

“Oh, he’s in the remedial second-year flight class with some other mermen. And I see you two walking when I’m coming from astronomy, it’s on the way.”

Every day too, without fail. 

Epel waited for you to take a sip of water before giving you a wry grin. “It’s cute, you guys look like a couple.”

Choking on your water, you coughed as Epel giggled at your flustered reaction. Unfazed by your glare, Epel happily continued. 

“Ha! I thought Ace was joking, but you really do get all embarrassed talking about Jade. What? You got a crush on him?”

“NO!” You shouted, nearly flying out of your seat. The dining room got quiet as you did, several eyes staring at you. From the corner of your eye, you could see Floyd smirking at you. Like he knew what you were talking about. 

Oh, geez. Epel was leaning back against his seat, eyeing you up and down. Dramatic much?

“I mean, uh, no.” You hastily mumbled as you settled back in your booth, wishing you could just sink into the cushions. 

“Sure, yeah.” Epel scoffed, and relaxed, smirking at you again. “You know, he’s real happy during flight class, even though he can barely make it off the ground. Might have something to do with a certain someone, you think?”

You laughed and dryly responded, “I wouldn’t know.” Liar. “Besides, it’s not like I ask for him to hover over me all the time. It gets annoying sometimes”

Epel now looked at you puzzled. “Ace didn’t mention anythin’ like that. He’s not like…stalking you or anything, right?”

I’ll beat him up if he is. He might got a foot over me, but I can take him!

The sentiment was sweet, but the thought of Epel confronting Jade made you uneasy. With how intense his feelings were for you, you couldn’t imagine Jade willingly backing down just from a few harsh words or threats from Epel of all people. 

“It’s nothing to worry about. Promise!” You straightened and frantically waved your hands at the doubtful look he gave you. “Jade’s been nothing but helpful! He’s probably just being nice.”

“Jade, being nice? Sure, yeah right.” He snorted, amused again. “He’s as nice as a bull seein’ red. He’s like his brother, nothing but a big and mean bully.”

You clicked your tongue, now annoyed. “That’s not fair, Jade can be nice! Like I said, he’s been nothing but helpful to me since the year started.” You weren’t sure why you were so defensive. Jade had been as much of a nuisance as he was helpful since the year started. 

Though, if I couldn’t read his mind, he probably wouldn’t actually be such a nuisance to me. I guess he hasn’t actually done anything to make him annoying. 

“Hmm, awfully defensive, Prefect.” Leaning in, like he was sharing a secret, Epel slyly whispered, “You sure he’s actually annoying, or are you just pretending? Cause you’ve been getting redder since we’ve started talking ‘bout him.”

You smacked your hands against your heated cheeks, scowling at the cackling Epel. 

“I’ve not! Liar!”

“Ha! Look at you!” Epel teased, stealing a piece of calamari as he continued making fun of you. “Why you all red, then?”

“Oh, shut up!” You pouted, sticking your tongue out at your friend before sighing. “Look, there’s more to it, I’ll tell you about it later, just stop making fun of me!” 

Epel nodded in understanding, popping one of the calamari rings in his mouth.

“I’ll hold ya to it! Oh, I almost forgot to tell you about one of the guys in my class almost eating a poisonous plant in botany!”

You spent the next half hour listening to Epel recount the stories about the guys in his botany class. You liked being around Epel, even though he wasn’t aware of your telepathy. The way he spoke out loud and in his head were different, since he still spoke to himself internally with his normal accent. 

“And then, he cut the bloom off, which made the entire glasshouse fill up with this pink gas!”

It smelt so awful, I'd rather have my face shoved in a cow's hind end!

“It smelled reeaaally bad!” Epel barked a laugh as you two got up from your seats, your waiter had finally given you your receipts. “It was a whole deal, Professor Kallpa was sooo mad!”

“Oh, really?” You laughed alongside Epel as you two walked out of the dining room. “I’ve never seen him mad, it must’ve been really bad!”

As you two turned the corner of the hall leading to the door of the Mostro Lounge, Jade was just exiting his bubble, too preoccupied by the small notebook in his hand to take notice of you. 

“Oh shit—Epel hide me!” You spun back around and plastered your back against the wall, freezing like a deer in headlights. Epel yelped as you snatched the back of his collar. He followed suit, crouching against the wall under your arms as he looked up at you with an amused look. 

“Seriously, what—” you smacked a hand over his mouth, listening for movement or thoughts.

Hmm? Interesting, is there a little guppy hiding from me? I hope they’re aware I can smell them.

You tried to make out Jade’s footsteps as you could hear his thoughts come closer and closer. You looked at Epel mouthed out, ‘He’s coming.’ Epel blinked rapidly in confusion, shrugging as he waved his hands in front of him. 

‘What do you want me to do?’ He mouthed back, standing and holding his hands up still in confusion. 

Though am I mistaken, that familiar scent of lavender…is that you, my love?

You stopped breathing, shoulders hunched up as your brain rapidly ran through various escape plans before finally settling on one. 

“Sorry, Epel,” you whispered, giving him a nervous smile. “I’ll make it up to you later.”

Just as Jade was turning the corner, you shoved Epel into the tall man, the force causing the two to barrel into the ground with a loud ‘thump’ and groans. 

While they, and most importantly Jade, were down, you swiftly and sneakily sped past them. 

Ow! You ASS!

You turned as you opened the lounge entrance, pushing your back against the forming bubble as Epel looked up at you from the ground, glaring at you as if he could form a hole into your skull. 

Ugh, is that Epel? Gah, I hit my head against the wall…

Jade looked up from his place on the ground, following Epel’s gaze as the bubble lifted you from view. He looked surprised, if a bit sad to see you go, opening his mouth to call out to you.

“Pearl?”

You sighed, feeling a bit guilty as you let the bubble take you to the mirror. It was just a few minutes to get to it, but that was enough to let you stew in your own thoughts for once. 

Aw, he looked kinda sad. Maybe I should’ve just sucked it up and let him say hello. 

You leaned against the cool wall of the bubble, watching as a small school of fish swam by. If you’re being honest with yourself, if it wasn’t for the fact you knew about how Jade felt for you, you probably wouldn’t have such a hard time interacting with him. You’d be blissfully unaware, making your way through life without a concern in the world.

Probably. Maybe. What if he tried confessing then? Would I still be avoiding him if I didn’t know what he thought of me? Ugh, but they’re such weird thoughts! Is it too much to ask for him to be normal?

From the distance you could see another bubble form from the Mostro Lounge, no doubt Epel following. As you turned to press through the mirror into the Hall of Mirrors. You sighed again.

What am I talking about, no one at this school is normal. 

Stepping aside to wait for Epel, you took your phone out to check your texts. You blanched at the sight of several missed Magicam messages, mostly from Wynfred and Silas.

winniethewitch: Hi Prefect! Just a suggestion, can we invest in pest control? I think it would be really beneficial for us all :) sysalson: ignore my brother, there are no issues with bugs. The bugs are fine, the bugs are my friends :D winniethewitch: Hi again, Prefect! Please ignore Silas. The bugs are very much NOT fine. The bugs are not our friends. The bugs must go. winniethewitch: Hi Prefect, this is Wynfred, your unofficial Vice Housewarden. Please ignore my previous messages. Silas is right, the bugs are our friends and I made a haS42q vhq0[p;’M  winniethewitch: That was not me. Please as the Headmage for pest conlk10vg n  319jioqajn13pn

You read through a few more messages, each harder to decipher than the last, as Wynfred and Silas evidently fought over the phone. You noticed that the last messages were actually readable.

winniethewitch: Prefect! I have taken care of the problem, there is no need for pest control now. Evidently, please ignore the smell when returning. It turns out that Aspen can make quite the strong pest repellent, it just happens to smell very strongly of garlic.

“Oh god, are you kidding me?” You chuckled to yourself, the sound of the Octavinelle mirror shimmering catching your attention. Turning to greet Epel, you noticed a smug look on his face instead of the annoyed one you expected.

“Heyyy, you know I didn’t mean to shove you so hard, right?”

“Mm-hm.” Epel hummed, walking past you and out the building. You followed, if a bit confused. 

“I just panicked, and wanted to get out of there.”

Epel replied, “Away from Jade, right?”

“Right! You heard me earlier, it’s been a little weird being around him a bunch, so I just wanted to—”

“Yeah, don’t worry, I made sure to tell him that you weren’t trying to be rude or anything.” 

You stopped rambling, now silent as Epel continued to offhandedly comment. 

“Yeah! He seemed real worried that you were in such a rush to get away from him. So I let him know that you were just being shy, that you’d been getting all red and flustered when talking about him earlier—”

“WHAT!” You screeched, running ahead of him to stop Epel in his tracks, by now Ramshackle was in view and there were a few students on the porch staring after you yelled. 

“Yeah, he didn’t say anythin’, but I could tell he was reeeal happy to hear that. I mean, he nearly, tripped over himself trying to follow you out, but Azul came over for him.”

Scoffing, you tapped your food as you angrily placed your hands on your hips. Epel looked at you, still smug. 

That’s what you get for leaving me behind. Trying to sacrifice me, hmph!

“By the way, he asked me to remind you that your potionology group is still meeting at 3 later today. He said Yev was throwing a fit over you not texting him back, and he wanted to get work done.”

“Oh shit, I forgot!” You groaned, rubbing the palms of your hands against your eyes. “Ugh, I gotta get dressed in my lab uniform.”

Epel laughed, nudging you with his shoulder to push you towards Ramshackle. He cooed in mock sympathy, “Oh, too bad, so sad, better hurry up then.”

You ran, Epel laughing as you made a panicked screech, to Ramshackle. You zoomed past the group of freshmen on the porches they greeted you, stumbling into the foyer. You notice Grim in the living room, standing on the table as he told some sort of story about fighting an overblot monster in the mines. No doubt overinflating his part in the story. 

“And then it raised its pickaxe to my hench-human while the other two ran for their hides! But, as the brave and mighty Grim, I used my most powerful spell—”

“GRIM!” You slid on the hardwood floors, huffing and pointing at the gray familiar. “Was laundry done yet!? I need my lab pants!”

“Nyah! Uh.” Grim jumped as his ears pinned down, and he sheepishly mumbled, “Nooo, I forgot. But I was telling these guys about the mines and—”

“GAAAAH!”  

You ran up the steps and flew into your room, slamming the door behind you as you shuffled through your clean clothes to find your oversized lab coat, goggles, and pants. You managed to find the first two, but the third was indeed still in your dirty clothes hamper. 

Damn it! Ugh, where are my tights?

Crewel had often chastised you when you wore your skirts to lab classes, as it didn’t follow lab safety protocols. Vil had helped you make outfits with opaque black tights to help cover your skin for lab, though you’d stopped after the last class when you spilled a potion over your legs, causing your favorite tights to bleach an ugly white, splotchy pattern. 

You learned the hard way why none of your other classmates wore their skirts to lab either. Now you had a dedicated pair of pants for all labs, also bleached but comfortable. Unfortunately, they were still buried under a pile of dirty clothes. 

Groaning, you slipped off your shoes and socks as you pulled out a pair of black tights, slipping them on, along with your lab coat and goggles around your neck. You had to fold your sleeves up to prevent them from engulfing your hands, easier said than done as you tried to smoothly slip on your shoes again. 

Stumbling back out of your bedroom, and tripping a bit over the stairs, you managed to make it to the main hallway before being interrupted mid-walk. 

“Prefect!” Perfect, they’ve still here! You looked up at Aspen, who looked strangely happy to see you. Behind him was Wynfred, who was blushing and staring down at his feet. 

“Prefect,” Aspen chirped, gesturing to Wynfred with a flourishing wave. “Wynfred has something very important to tell you—”

“Sorry! Can’t talk! Ask Grim if you have any dorm related questions!”

“But, wait!” You ignored Aspen’s calls and him cursing you out in his head, while Wynfred also called out. 

“Prefect, I—”

“Can’t talk! Bye, bye, bye, bye!”

You ignored their shouts as you leaped over the Ramshackle steps and ran as fast as you could to the castle. Maybe Vargas had a point trying to recruit you to the track team, as you managed to make it to the hallway that Yev’s lab was in just five minutes shy of three o’clock. You nearly rammed into Riddle’s back as you slid across the floor. 

“Oh my!” Riddle stumbled forward, his goggles falling lopsided over his head, turning as he heard the trample of your steps. He stumbled backwards as you keened over, hands on your knees as you heaved for air.

“Prefect! Mind where you’re going!  You nearly trampled me over!”

“Sorry! I just didn’t want to be late.” You took a final deep breath as you smiled up to Riddle. “Just 5 minutes to spare!”

Riddle chuckled as he lent a helping hand to get you back up, pulling you along to the classroom Yev had instructed your group to meet at.

“Very good Prefect, let’s not hurt ourselves, though. I already checked in, it’s just Jade. No sign of Yev quite yet.”

“Wasn’t he the one who insisted that we meet at this specific time? I’d thought he’d been here already.”

Riddle chuckled as you two made your way into the classroom. As Riddle had said, Jade was sitting at the end of the classroom in a desk closest to the wall. He’d been studying the stones that made up the wall rather intently before notice you and Riddle enter. 

“Why hello Riddle. And Prefect, we’d bumped into each other earlier and didn’t even manage to say hello.”

Gave Jade a polite wave and a sheepish smile as Riddle greeted him. 

“Still no sign of Yev, Jade?”

“Oh, no. How strange, especially since he insisted on us meeting at this time.”

Jade’s eyes briefly locked on your form, eyes drawing up and down. 

There you are! My darling! My pearl, you’re wearing a skirt again! I can’t believe I didn’t notice earlier! And you’re acting all shy! Your little friend was right! Cute, cute, cute!!

“Hey, Riddle, what if I jumped off a bridge? For fun?”

Riddle sharply inhaled, slowly turning his head to give you an unamused glare. 

“What if I tied a leash to your neck? For fun?”  He scoffed, pulling at your cheek like a mother to her child. “Honestly, you worry me at times, I may have to anyway.”

Hmm, not a bad idea Riddle…

Jade’s mind conjured up an image of you on your knees, in the maid outfit again, a leash tied to your neck leading up to his hand as he cooed over you. 

You made a low-pitch whine as the two of you made your way to where Jade was waiting at the end of the classroom.

“No, I’m fine actually, no leashes here. Hate them.” You made an ‘X’ with your hands as you turned and walked backwards, puffing your cheeks. “Not something I want on my person, at all!” 

Really? You heard Jade shift in his seat, standing to approach you and Riddle. Hmm.

You smiled to yourself for effectively shutting down the latest dirty thought. 

At least, until Jade conjured up another image of you straddling him in bed, using his tie as a leash to pull his face to yours. 

“Jade, you’ve been naughty~” You giggled, pulling on his tie, further tightening it as his own hand clasped yours. “Maybe I ought to collar you up? Tie a leash and drag you around like a pet?” Jade gasped, pupils blown wide, as he let out an uncharacteristically high-pitched whine. A sound reserved just for you.  “Anything you want, just for you, my love.” Jade groaned as you licked a stripe up his throat to meet his lips in a messy, wet kiss.  His words muffled as he spoke against your moving lips, “I’ll be your pet. I’ll let you use me. Please—” Grasping the ends of your shirt, tugging at them like a lifeline, Jade started muttering nonsense as he ground his hips against yours.  “Please, please, please, I’ll be so good to you! I’ll fuck you so good, I’ll make you feel good if you’ll just let me. Let me love you, please, please, please—”

A sharp pain flew up your neck to your head as you collided with the stone wall, tripping over a table leg while walking backwards. Your face was burning, as was the heat in your gut. Riddle and Jade both made noises of concern as you clenched the back of your head. You were glad that they assumed your red face was due to your embarrassment, as Jade’s last rambles were still echoing in your head. 

“Oh my, Prefect! Are you alright?” Riddle's voice was full of concern, but also slight amusement as he grabbed your left arm, Jade the right, to pull you up. 

“Yes, that looked like it hurt quite a bit.” Jade murmured, moving his hands to gently move your head. “Allow me to check your head.”

“No, I’m—ow!” His hand brushed on a tender spot on your crown, making you wince. ”Ooooh, that hurt!”

Ah, I’m so sorry, my pearl, but you make the cutest sounds sometimes! You heard Jade tut as he leaned down to closely inspect your head. I just wonder what kinds I could pull from you.

You cringed, leaning away from his hand and shooing both boys away. “I’m fine, guys, it’s just a bump.” 

“Are you sure you’re okay? It does none of us any good if you’re hurt and can’t focus, you can go to the nurse.” Riddle replied, pushing you towards the door.

“Yes.” Jade chirped in agreement, ignoring Riddle’s side eye at his abnormally happy tone. “Allow me to take you—”

“Oh no! I don’t think so!” Yev came barreling through the classroom door, looking rather disheveled. Compared to his rather clean, prim appearance, he looked as if he’d been run through the wringer. 

Oh my, I would have never seen Vil in such a state. You heard Riddle stifle a chuckle as he eyed Yev fixing his messy hair. Said man was huffing, no doubt from running. 

“Ugh my hair! Look,” Yev said, eyeing you in particular, “It took forever for us to find a spare day to meet up. I won't go through the effort of rescheduling it when one of you just happened to bump your head.”

Besides, I have a potion in my lab you can take anyways. 

“I really must insist that the Prefect get checked up.” Jade argued, giving Yev a polite smile. Though, his eyes were quite firm. 

“And I must insist that we get started.” Yev scoffed as he pushed past the three of you pressing against the stones in the wall as he continued talking. “I have pain medicine in my lab, just…ugh. Where’s that damn button!”

Your group shared looks at Yev’s muttering, moving closer to huddle around Yev as he pressed hidden buttons along the stone wall. He pressed one, the lights flickered off and back on as he pressed it again. 

Riddle yelped as the bookshelf next to him spun into the wall, turning around to reveal its other side blended into the wall. He jumped back as it spun again, nearly hitting him. 

“Yev! Be careful!.” Riddle yelled, cheeks turning red. “I thought this was your secret lab, how do you not know how to get in it?”

Yev yelled back, “I know! I’m just having trouble—you know, I didn’t have to let us use my lab for our project!”

As the two started arguing, now the blackboard and teacher’s desk shaking as Yev pressed more stone buttons, Jade shuffled closer to you. 

“You know…” Jade leaned down to softly speak to you. “I can still take you to the infirmary, if you’d prefer?”

You looked up at Jade, surprised at the tender look in his eyes.

I really shouldn’t be, though. 

“I, uh—” You turned away shyly, reaching up to touch the still throbbing spot on your head. “Maybe that wouldn’t be such a bad idea—”

“Wait! Don’t press that one, it’s the wrong—”

Your stomach dropped as the floor beneath your feet disappeared. Specifically the square panel you and Jade had been incidentally standing on, the trap door opening as you two started falling down the dark pit. A scream left your mouth, arms reaching around your midsection as you clutched onto them and shut your eyes. 

The fall was much shorter than you anticipated, as you felt yourself fall against a soft body. You opened your eyes, but found that the room was dark. Or a tunnel? Hole? Whatever it was, it was a tight fit as you shifted around to get back on your feet. You dug your elbows against the soft floor to get up, which subsequently moved and grunted. 

“Ow. That was my rib.” Jade's voice grunted against your ear, his hold around loosening as he also moved to stand. 

“Jade? What—oh my god!” You tried to scramble off of Jade, harder said than done in the space you two had found yourselves. Shifting around, you were sure that you’d just made the situation worse, as Jade lit a light with his wand. How in the world you managed to find yourself straddling Jade’s waist in the dark was a mystery. Though, with the flush look on his face, you weren’t sure he minded.

Oh…by the Abyss itself… you’re such a pretty sight.

“You say that often, ‘my god’, what does that mean if you don’t mind me asking.” Jade pushed himself up by his free elbow, the other arm busy holding up your only source of light. “It’s an expression, yes?”

“Y-yeah, it’s like when you guys say things li-like ‘by the Seven’ or—I’m sorry. Let me try to get off you!”

You started rambling, looking around for a way to put some distance between you and Jade. However, you only saw black walls around you. Looking up, whatever panel had been above you was closed off, black stone closing you in. 

“Well, there’s not much space for you to move.” Unless you want to keep moving those hips against me… “Perhaps relax, there’s hardly any space between the two of us.”

“Right! Of course, but I think I can…” Carefully, you managed to stand in the small space, trying to avoid moving against him. Harder said than done, but you managed, reaching down to lend a hand to him. “Here.”

Jade smiled, something soft and sweet, as he took your hand and awkwardly shuffled against the wall as he slid up. 

Though, this is just as nice as well. 

“I think I can hear them shuffling on top of us. Do you think one of them noticed us falling?”

“Ha, with the way you screamed? Without a doubt.” Jade managed to stand straight, a good chunk of space between the tops of your heads and the trap door panel. 

He attempted to reach up to knock the top of the panel. Despite his height his fingerprints barely brushed it. Luckily, you could hear Riddle and Yev’s panicked footsteps stumble around. 

Riddle’s voice came through the floor, muffled and frantic.

“Prefect? Jade? Prefect!? Yev what in the world was that!? Where did it send them? Prefect! Y/N!!”

“We’re here!” You called out, smacking the wall in an attempt to make more noise. “We’re fine!”

“Oh good!” You heard Yev laugh, then yelp as you heard a smack. “What?! Usually it would send them down to the lake! They got stuck in the trap hole since you pressed the button twice, usually it would’ve sent them to a nice midafternoon bath!”

You heard another smack and yelp, then some scratching against the wood.

“Prefect, we’re going to get you and Jade out! Let me just figure out how to get the panel open.” 

Listening to some more footsteps, Jade leaned down to murmur, “There goes our plans then. You don’t suppose they’ll get us out of here before 3, do you?”

You snorted, stifling a laugh, failing to do so at the sound of more clamoring and arguing above you. 

“Give Riddle some faith at least. He’s always been smart. And resourceful! You should’ve seen him over the summer, he got through every training simulation thrown at us.”

“Ah, I never did learn about what happened at that camp the headmage had you all attend.” Jade leaned down, studying your features. 

Oh, such a wonderful smile! I wished you’d do that more often around me.

“Azul’s been tight-lipped about it as well, perhaps you’d be willing to share with me?”

You blinked up at him, shuffling a bit as he leaned down to whisper against your ear. 

“You can trust me, you know.” His smooth voice drew a shiver down your spine. You think that he noticed your blushing face, based on the way he took a sharp breath. 

Please, please, please! Don’t be nervous, there’s no need to be shy with me! I know you are, but you don’t need to my love!

You really wanted to wring Epel’s neck for that comment, though it was hard to focus. Especially with the lack of space between you two. 

“I’m happy to lead an ear. There’s no need to be shy.”

You shuffled against the wall to place some distance between you two, squinting at his smile. You half expected him to cage you in with his long arms, though he seemed more amused at seeing you try and escape him. 

Ah! Look at you being shy! So cute, cute, cute! 

You wanted to roll your eyes at him, more annoyed now than anything, even with your blush. 

“I’m fine, thank you. I can handle myself just fine.”

Jade chuckled, “Ah, I forget how spirited you can be.”

Before you could retort back, a bit of light from the opening panel shone through. Both you and Jade looked up to see Riddle’s gray eyes peering through the small gap he made. 

“Prefect!” shouted in relief, looking at the twin. “And Jade. You’re there too.”

“Oh, Riddle. Your concern is most kind.” 

Ignoring Jade’s thinly veiled sarcasm, you smiled and reached up with both hands to wave at Riddle. 

“Hey! Let’s go! Can you open it more to get us out?”

“Yes, but I can’t reach you. Yev has to stand by the button that opens this panel up. He’s using a spell to hold the button so that it won’t open the panels beneath you while I pry this one open.”

Riddle briefly disappeared, the panel moving slightly more as he pushed it into its slot. The floor beneath your feet also shifted, vibrating as if it too wanted to slide away and disappear. 

“Ah! Careful, the panel here is moving!” 

You stumbled, Jade catching you by your waist to help steady you as he also called out. 

“Riddle! I’d rather that we don’t plunge into the lake! I heard it’s quite slimy!”

“Ew what? Riddle!” You panicked, shouting for Riddle and jumping on your toes. “Get us out!”

Riddle huffed, crawling back to poke his head through the now large hole. 

“I’m trying! Jade, can you lift the Prefect on your shoulders.” Riddle ignored your protest and continued to speak. “Just lift them, so I can pull them up, then the two of us can try to reach for you.” 

You blinked in confusion, processing Riddle words before paling. 

“Wait, what—AH!” You felt Jade’s hands grab your knees, looking down to see the back of Jade’s head settle between your thighs as he lifted you on his shoulders. A small shriek slipped your slips as you grasped at Jade’s hair, pulling hard enough to make him wince, so that you could steady yourself. 

Oh, fuck. Their hands, their thighs, it’s better than anything I could imagine…

You panicked at another one of Jade’s daydreams. This one of Jade between your legs, thighs squeezing the sides of his head and hands pulling the teal strands in his head as you arched your back and cried out his name. You tightened your thighs instinctually, regretting it as you felt Jade’s breath shudder. You felt it, even with the tights blocking your bare skin. 

“RIDDLE! GET ME OUT!! NOW!” You launched your hands and body up, making Jade stumble forward as you tried reaching for the ledge that was still out of your grasp.

“I’m going! Do not yell at me like you’re me!” Riddle’s hands were now within your reach, the tips of your fingers brushing against each other. “Jade, push them up higher or something. I can’t reach!”

You felt Jade move his hands to cradle beneath your thighs, lifting you as you nearly made it to freedom’s grasp. 

“Riddle, have you managed to get—Aye, hijo de puta!” 

You felt yourself dropping again, Riddle’s hands now quickly fading away while Jade’s grasp tightened against your legs. 

You heard your scream echo against the stone walls as you two fell through the tunnel. At some point, Jade had let go of you to grab at your waist again, tucking you against his chest as he curled around you and braced. 

It certainly helped, as he took the brunt of the fall against the cold waters of the lake underneath the school castle. 

Chill seeped through your bones, hair and lab coat billowing around you as you finally opened your eyes to see nothing but dark, green murky water. Below you was more darkness, the tops of a seaweed forest underneath your feet. You think you could make out a few fish, even one of those giant catfish Vargas made his camp attendees fish for. 

However, you missed the large, silver large-toothed fish darting between the seaweed, only noticing it as it was charging at you. Bubbles flew out of your mouth as you screamed, shutting your mouth again, and attempting to swim quickly to the surface. Luckily for you, you made it rather quick as a familiar webbed, green hand snatched your hand as Jade bolted to the surface. 

Breaking the water, you gasped for a deep breath, brushing your bangs from your face and blinking away water from your eyelashes. You frantically whipped your head around, searching for Jade, as you called out his name in a panic. 

“Jade? Jade! Where are you? Jade!” You yelped as he breached the water, brushing his hair back. He had a scrape on his arm that he was studying with mild irritation.

“What an annoying creature—oh!” Jade grunted in surprise as you threw your hands over him, clutching at his shoulders. 

“Jade! Are you hurt? What was that? Is it gonna get us?! Oh my god, JADE IT’S GONNA GET US, WE GOTTA GO!” You babbled on and on, hyper focused on looking at the water below you for signs of the aggressive fish. Which proved meaningless, as you couldn’t see anything besides the dark green water. 

You paused at Jade’s sudden laughter, growing louder as his chest shook, and his eyes squinted in mirth. Looking at him with furrowed brows, you tilted your head as he reached over to cup your cheeks. He squeezed them together, making you pucker your lips as his laughter died down. 

He’s…laughing! Like, fully laughing! I’ve…ever seen him laugh! Woah!

“My dear, relax!” Jade managed to stifle his laughter, now softly chuckling. Something more characteristic of him. 

He has a nice laugh, actually. Not like Floyd’s, it’s just more… Jade. I guess…it suits him!

“I can assure you, I am just about the scariest thing in this lake at this moment. Nothing is going to come for us as long as I remain in my merform. But your concern for me is delightful.” 

So sweet. 

Jade looked at you fondly, eyes darting down to your lips, making your breath catch in your chest. 

Is he gonna…?

“We should head to the shore and start heading back up. I imagine Riddle is quite worried about you.” 

Jade suddenly let go of your cheeks, instead moving to swim on his stomach, gesturing for you to grab his back. 

“Here, allow me to help you to shore.”

You nodded, wrapping your arms around his shoulders as you carefully maneuvered around his dorsal fin. You were reminded of the time you got trapped in the Scarabia desert and had to swim through the river Kalim made. Though this time you had a different twin to be your ride. 

“Heh, kinda familiar, huh? Though you had Grim and Azul with you back then, right?” 

Jade started wading through the water, one of his own hands reaching up to hold yours on his chest. 

“Yes, you were with Floyd last time. That was quite the time, wasn’t it? You found yourself in trouble more often than the average person.”

“It’s not like I mean to! It just sorta happens!” You pouted, debating on pinching Jade, as he chuckled at your offended response. 

You decided to look up at the shore Jade swam to, noticing two figures walking along the coliseum pathway. 

“Hey, I think that’s them! Hey! Riddle! Yev!” You called out to the two figures, drawing their attention. You waved a free hand, squealing as Jade sped up, making you fall against his back and clasp onto him again. 

“Jade! Careful!”

“Now, now, my pearl.” This was the first time he’d ever refer to you as ‘pearl’ outside his thoughts. Though, he was more focused on your arms around him rather than the words coming out of his mouth. 

“Have faith. I would never let you get hurt under my care.”

Jade sped back up, and despite yourself, you let out small screams of glee as adrenaline ran through your veins as you rode on Jade like a rollercoaster at a water park. 

It took but a minute to make it to the shore, much sooner than the pair of students who were still making their way over. You crawled off Jade and up the sandy shore, grabbing your hair and wringing the water out. You hear the shimmering sound you’d associated with the twins and Azul’s transformation, turning to see Jade dusting himself off, perfectly dry in his lab uniform. 

“…Are you kidding?”

Jade looked up, looking at you with confusion. 

“I beg your pardon?”

“You’re dry! You literally were just a merman, in the water, and now you’re just dry!?”

Jade looked taken aback, before laughing at your angry face. 

Oh, my! How cute! You’re almost never angry, what a delightful view!

“My apologies for not being courteous enough to suffer alongside you.” Jade walked over to you as you started working getting the water out of your goggles. He was still chuckling at you.

“It’s a perk of our transformation potions. Quite convenient, yes. Oh, but you poor thing. All soaked.”

Jade stopped, a blush filling his cheeks as he stared at your torso. He turned away, clearing his throat.

“I do believe that the water soaked through…ah…your shirt.”

A gasp left your mouth, looking down to quickly snatch your lab coat closed and button it up. It didn’t really matter, though, as Jade’s mind was filled with the image of your wet, seek through shirt and the view of your chest. 

Today…has…been so, so wonderful~

You sighed, looking over to the students walking over. 

“I’ll ask Riddle to help dry me off with a spell or something. Though…that’s not him.”

You squinted at the pair, now within a reasonable view, realizing it was Aspen and Wynfred. 

Did you? Did they follow me here?!

“Prefect, there you are—why are you wet?” Aspen stopped, looking your sopping form up and down with a raised brow. “And Jade too—ugh, never mind.”

“Wynfred here has something he’d like to tell you, but you left before he could. It’s something incredibly important! Go on Wynfred, tell them!”

Aspen turned around and pushed Wynfred, who was digging his feet into the ground, towards you and Jade as you wring water out of your clothes. A small trench was forming as Aspen continued to push the frozen ginger closer to you, who was currently clenching his fists to his sides. Staring at you wide-eyed, Wynfred’s eyes darted between you and Aspen, who was smiling and gesturing to you. 

“Go on…” Do it, you idiot!

“Uh, is everything alright? Wynfred, are you okay? Did something happen? Did you get hurt or—”

“PLEASE GO OUT WITH ME!” With a sudden burst of confidence, Wynfred ran forward to grasp your hands with his. “I think you’re a wonderful housewarden! And I am equally great, so we’d make a great pair!!”

His sparkling eyes would be cute, if it wasn’t for how tightly he clenched your hands. And Aspen, of course. 

Yes! Go out with him, so I can get you off of Jade’s back! Come on! Say something! Do you know how hard it was to convince him to ask you out?! Say something!

Wynfred’s very sudden confession, which you're doubting was a real confession and not just a misguided push from Aspen, shut you and the surrounding area up. The silence was deafening. Even the birds and the breeze stopped, as if mocking your predicament. Minus the scandalous gasp from your left, no one spoke. 

Wait, who the hell gasped?

You turned to look at Riddle and Yev, who had run down the castle to meet you and Jade. Though, Riddle looked like he just swallowed a lemon, while Yev was clutching a hand to his chest as he looked at your group with an open mouth. 

“Oh my—WYNFRED SALSON!” Yev marched over with a furious look, snatching Wynfred by the ear to scold him. “What in the world makes you think you can just go up to a housewarden and demand a date from them! That is not how a proper Pomefiore student acts!”

You backed away as Yev continued scolding Wynfred, pitying him. Riddle walked over to you and leaned down to inspect your face and arms, prodding at you and checking for any wounds.  

“Well, that is certainly awkward. Are you alright? You didn’t get hurt, did you?” 

“Ah, no.” You shook your head, smiling as you turned to look at Jade. “Jade actually…”

You froze, as did Riddle, upon noticing Jade’s expression. Or, more accurately, the lack thereof. Instead of his usual smile, or even the sweet ones he’d been giving you earlier, Jade’s face was a blank slate, eyes focused solely on Wynfred’s form. 

I will drag you into the deepest depths known to man until the pressure pops your eyes out of your sockets, your heart bursts, and your lungs fill with the bitter cold of the sea. I will watch your body turn into bloody, liquified mush you stupid, arrogant, waste of space! Stay away from my mate! Mine! Mine! Mine! MINE!

Jade's expression quickly changed back to his usual smile, though he was still emanating an aura that could be best described as “bloodthirsty”. Murderous even! Sanguinary, if you wanted to be poetic. Riddle at least had noticed it, as he leaned close to whisper. 

“Did something happen with Jade? I figured he would be annoyed that he fell into the lake, but he seems…rather….”

“Homicidal?”

“I was going to be nice and say ‘furious,’ but yes. Homicidal fits quite well.”

“Ugh!” Wynfred started shoving against Yev, who was still rambling angrily at Wynfred for his ‘lack of etiquette’ apparently. 

“Look, Prefect! I would quite like to go out with you on a date! I think you’re very nice to everyone in the dorm, and I am also nice!” 

You think Wynfred chose to ignore Aspen’s snort, green eyes darting to him and back to you. 

“Besides, I’ve been told that we’d make a great match! Just ask Aspen! He’s the one who suggested that I—MmmPh!”

Aspen ran over to slap his hand over Wynfred’s mouth, laughing nervously as he glanced at Jade. Said man was now squinting at Aspen with annoyance and distaste. 

Really, Aspen? I expected better from you, little squid. 

“I was just, uh, supporting my fellow roommate!” The pink haired boy continued to nervously laugh. “You know how it is! I’m just being benevolent, l-like the Sea Witch!”

Jade let out a small chuckle, tilting his head. “Is that so?”

“Yes!”  Wynfred managed to shove Aspen’s hands away, reaching for yours again, though his smile faltered as you stumbled back. “Sorry! I don’t mean to be so forward. But I know how busy you’ll be getting as Halloween comes up, and I wanted to ask you on a date during the celebration so that—”

“Oh no. I’m afraid that simply won’t work.” Jade finally stepped forward, wrapping a hand around your shoulders and bringing you close.

Riddle made a noise, and from the corner of your eye you could see him give Jade a disapproving glare. 

“W-what? Why!” Wynfred thinned his lips, glaring at Jade and his hold around you.

I’d make for a great date! My siblings say so! Aspen says so too!

Jade titled his head, giving Wynfred a mock sympathetic look. 

“Well, the Prefect will simply be too busy with helping me with selling products for Octavinelle during Halloween. After all, Ramshackle’s haunted amusement park makes for the perfect environment to sell food and drinks, especially at the prices Azul places.”

I’m sure I can convince him to do so easily enough.

“What?” Aspen scoffed, blinking at Jade incredulously. “Azul never mentioned that!” 

“Oh, we were still figuring out the details. Our lovely Prefect here was going to help us.” Jade cooed as he leaned down to rest his cheek against the top of your head. 

Mine. 

“But we can discuss more once Azul has the finer details figured out. Now, if you two don’t mind, we all need to be heading back to Yev’s lab and get started on our project. We’ve lost valuable time with this trap door fiasco, haven’t we?”

“Right…” You slowly answered, looking at Riddle who nodded, still eyeing Jade. Yev perked up, wiping imaginary dust off his lab uniform as he too agreed.

“Right, you are Jade. I’m not done with you, Wynfred. I will be speaking to you about your manners later this week.” 

Yev sneered at Wynfred, who scoffed in return, as he turned his heel and waved for your group to follow. Jade did so, giving Wynfred another blank stare before turning to you and smiling. 

“Shall we?” Let’s go, my pearl.

“Uh, give me a sec. Riddle, can you help me with a drying spell?”

“Oh, of course. Excuse me.” Riddle walked around Jade as he took out his wand, shooing Jade and the two freshmen still lingering. “Go, we will meet you there. And you two.”

Both of the younger students froze under Riddle’s gaze. The redhead’s reputation and strict gaze followed him everywhere it seemed. 

“You’ve made the day excitable enough, off you go. Perhaps think about learning more tact, especially around your upperclassmen. Go”

 The stern end of his sentence spooked the two to run off to Ramshackle, you presume. Riddle cleared his throat, drawing your attention as the tip of his wand glowed a soft red. 

“Do you want to tell me what’s going on with you and Jade?” Riddle asked, showing you the pattern he waved his wand in for you to copy and use on your legs. Your friend focused on your arms and back. 

“Nothing! I don’t know what you’re talking about.” You quickly replied, focusing on keeping the spell up.

“Oh? So he wasn’t all over you when that fresh tried asking you out? He didn’t shut him down and stare him down like he wanted to tear him apart with his teeth? Y/N, please. Don’t take me for a fool.”

“I’m not! It’s not what you think.”

“And what do you think I think?” That I’m a dullard?

“I don’t think you’re a dullard, or whatever, it’s just complicated!”

Riddle huffed, giving you a once over as he hooked his arm with yours and dragged you up to the castle steps. 

“I didn’t say that part out loud, you know.”

…Huh?

“What are you talking about?”

Riddle scoffed, reaching over to adjust your tie. Something he’d often do for you. 

“I noticed pretty early on. It’s quite easy to tell when someone is reading your mind when they react to each and everything you say and think.”

“What! How do you—”

“That, and also Ace is known for his loud mouth.”

You tossed your head back, groaning as you pinched the bridge of your nose. 

“That dumbass.”

A small laugh left Riddle’s lips, smiling as you glared at him. “Don’t worry. I gave him a stern talking to. If it helps, he was only discussing it with Deuce, who I assume you also told?”

Nodding in affirming, Riddle continued, “I guessed. It certainly explains your strange behavior at times. Though I do have one question.”

“Shoot.”

“How long have you known about Jade’s feelings for you?”

“WHAT—oof!” You tripped over the castle steps, just barely catching yourself with Riddle grabbing your arm. “What are we talking about?”

“Floyd cornered me a few weeks ago. Both of our clubs got off at the same time, and he chased me around until he cornered me in one of the stables. He was complaining about how Jade got to be around his ‘mate’ all the time for class, but he barely saw his own.” 

Annoying eel he is. Why would I care about his damn love life? 

Riddle rolled his eyes at the mention of Floyd, though he continued. 

“It didn’t click until earlier, when I saw how…hmm…handsy he was with you.” 

You sighed, “It’s that noticeable?” 

“Only sometimes.” Riddle shrugged, patting your shoulder consolingly. “Especially when that poor freshman tried asking you out. Speaking of that, what are you going to tell him?”

You blinked at Riddle, confused. “What do you mean?”

Oh dear, catch up, Prefect. 

Riddle sighed, “Well, it’s not always appropriate for a housewarden to date one of their students. You’ll turn him down, yes? Besides, with how your admirer was looking at him, it would most likely be better for Wynfred’s well-being anyway.”

“Oh, yeah. You’re right…” 

You let out a tired sigh. Most likely, you’d have to take an extra long bath tonight to get the stress out of your bones.

“I’ll let him down gently later. Apparently, I have to talk to Azul about being a food vendor for the dorm’s haunted house.”

When you finally made it back to the classroom, a panel in the wall revealed a staircase, which Yev and Jade were waiting by. Jade’s eyes lit up at the sight of you, though he physically remained poised and proper. 

Welcome back, my darling! I hope that nasty little barnacle didn’t ruin your mood!

You chose to ignore Jade and called out to Yev, “So you said you had an idea for our final project. What kind of potion were you thinking?”

Yev perked up, proudly puffing his chest. “Oh yes, you two should love this! We will be making a blot preventative! I bet you two wished you had that last year, hm? I know, I’m brilliant!”

Both you and Riddle stared blankly at Yev, who was still standing proud, as Jade eyed him disapprovingly. 

“Hey, Riddle, what if I jumped out the window? For fun?”

“I’d still put a leash on you.”

“Damn.”

[saberlight1]

my love, mine all mine — lucy gray baird

pairing(s): lucy gray baird x fem!reader, mentions of coriolanus snow x fem!reader.

warnings: slight tbosas spoilers, mentions of ptsd, trauma, angst, possessive!lucy, Y/N usage, slightly mean!lucy, standard ballad of songbirds and snakes warnings.

authors note: boom! another one. i am so happy you all love my writing! keep sending in these requests, y’alls ideas are so cool and i adore reading them. this fic is based off of this request, and i hope you all enjoy it! much love .

masterlist

When your eyes first laid upon Lucy Gray Baird, you were immediately enthralled by her presence. Everyone who had ever gotten the honor to meet her would say the same.

You had grown up in the very same district that her and her family, The Covey, were locked up in after being rounded up by the Peacekeepers. Most people around Twelve talked shit on them for being different, but the thing that drew you in the most to her was the fact that she didn’t give a shit.

She didn’t care what anyone thought, no one in her family did. They loved what they did, and that was singing. You saw this on full display at the Hob, where they performed every other night.

You already knew she was beautiful, but, God, when you saw her on that stage, beaming, you swore Aphrodite was standing before you. Her voice was just as beautiful as her, as she danced around stage, captivating the whole room.

At the end her performance, you snatched a daisy out of someone’s bouquet as you walked by, speed-walking to the corridor you were watching her walk into.

“Lucy Gray!” You called, the girl turning towards your call immediately, a smile still on her face. You held out the flower, a soft smile on your face. “You’re beautiful, as well as your singing.”

She blushed, her laugh coming out. “Why, thank you, darlin’.” She took the daisy, taking it up to her nose to smell. “What’s your name?”

“Y/N,” You beamed. “It’s a real pleasure to see you and your family around here. You really light it up ‘round here.” You complimented. “Twelve’s a normally dull place, but here.. it’s different.”

“Thank you, truly.” Her hand grabbed yours, squeezing. “I’ll see you around.”

And she kept her word, finding you after her next show to get to know you better.

And just like that, the pair of you were inseparable.

She introduced you to the Covey, and after they learned you had pipes, you were immediately brought into their group. You loved it, it felt as if you had found the people you’d been longing for your whole life.

But you found yourself staring at Lucy Gray for longer than normal, a dopey smile lazily draped across your sun kissed features. It wasn’t until some teasing from CeCe and Billy that you realized that you had feelings for the girl.

“Aye, Y/N, it seems like you got some drool right there…” CeCe teased, a playful smile on his face as they caught you staring at the girl for the 100th time.

Billy butted in from his side. “Yeah, you do. Someone’s fallin’ for the songbird,” He laughed. You rolled your eyes at them, before taking their words into consideration.

Holy fuck, you were falling for her.

I mean, how could you not? She was a beacon of light, her presence alone brighting up every room she walked into to, and she had treated you wonderfully, even going as far to include you with her family.

You were caught up in your love daze, not realizing the crushing realities that came with your feelings. But when you did, it left a sour taste in your mouth.

The butterflies swirling in your abdomen stopped in an instant, replaced with an oozing, grueling feeling of worry. Lucy Gray could find you repulsing— and the whole Covey would leave you as well.

It left you wishing you had a factory reset button to forget your feelings at once.

“Y/N, what’s with the frown?” Lucy Gray suddenly appeared in front of you, her signature smile on her cherry lips.

Your eyes snapped to hers, your nerves only growing. “Oh, nothin’. Just thinkin’.”

She sat down next to you. “Oh, really? Didn’t think you was capable.” She joked, making you lightly shove her with a smile.

Your breath caught in your throat when you realized how close you were to the girl. Her honey eyes stared up into yours, and you struggled to not look at her lips. All you wanted to do was close the space between the pair of you.

But you decided on that day that you would settle for this. After all— having her as a friend was better than nothing.

It wasn’t until the reaping of that year that you decided to throw caution to the wind.

It was the Covey’s first reaping, and it was for the annual 9th Hunger Games. Your nerves always got the best of you during this time of year, but it seemed that you weren’t the only one.

You sat in your room, Lucy Gray sitting at your desk in the corner. She said she was trying to write, but you could tell by the bouncing of her leg and her tense body that it wasn’t going well.

You licked your lips, putting your book aside. “You alright, Gray?”

She turned her head, her eyes meeting yours from over her shoulder. She sighed, turning back to the paper and rubbing her temple. “No,”

You stood up, coming to stand next to her, your hesitant hands rubbing her shoulders, the tense muscles deflating under your touch. “What’s wrong?”

“I.. I just really miss my mama.” She let out a sad breath. “And this reapin’ stuff is got my nerves wrecked.”

“I know the feelin’.” You bitterly chuckled. “You won’t get your name drawn, Lucy, none of you will. Your names are only in their once, your chances are slim. You should be okay. I miss my ma, too. I know it hurts.” You tried your best to calm her.

Her hand came up to grab yours that was resting on her shoulder, lacing your fingers together. “You know, you are about the only good thing in this District,” She smiled up at you, her worry lines faded.

At her words you felt those butterflies return, as your eyes flickered down to her lips, your teeth pulling in your bottom lip as you tried to talk yourself down.

Lucy Gray noticed this, however, and with a smile still plastered on her pretty face, she leaned up ever so slightly and captured your lips with her own. Your eyes widened in surprise, before they fluttered closed, your hands coming up to cup her face.

You let out a happy hum against her lips, the girl standing up to get a better grip on your hips, her lips never leaving yours. When you broke apart for air, a giggle left her slips at the sight of your lips stained with her lipstick.

“I’ve wanted you to do that for so long,” You admitted with a smile.

A smirk grew across her face. “I was waitin’ for you to grow the balls to do it first. Turns out you were too chicken.” She teased, her arms wrapping around your neck as she left small pecks on your lips.

You didn’t even pretend to be offended by her words, instead rolling your eyes playfully before kissing her again.

“Be my girlfriend,” She whispered against your lips. You pulled back slightly at her words, before jumping into her arms.

“Yes, yes.” You chuckled, as the girl hugged you back just as tightly.

That led you to now, where you smiled at the same brunette that was laid in your arms. She was different, anyone who had been what she went through would be, but she was also still your same Lucy Gray in all the best ways.

After you got her back from the games, you vowed to never let her go again. The turmoil you felt in the weeks that she was away from you, not knowing if you’d see her again or not— you never wanted to feel that again. And she felt the same way.

“You got a starin’ problem, girl?” Lucy Gray teased with that southern drawl you loved, seeing that you were lost in thought.

A warm smiled crossed your face at the sound of her voice, your hand going to play with her hair. “If it means I get to look at you, then yes, I do.”

She giggled, snuggling deeper into your arms. “Yeah, yeah, you sap.”

“You love it,”

She rolled her eyes, playfully. “I do,” She looked at you seriously now, leaning up to kiss you softly. You smiled against her lips, the feeling of her expressing her love for you in such an intimate way always making you smile.

You would proudly admit that you were head over heels in love with your girlfriend to anyone. But you knew you couldn’t— hell, the only people that even knew you were together was the Covey and her mentor, Coriolanus Snow. People didn’t seem expect, nor accept your type of love.

She had told him during her time there, during the nights they spent together talking through the cage bars. She talked his ear off about you, a love-sick smile on her face the whole time, the girl forgetting that some people weren’t accepting of your love.

But to her surprise, Coriolanus didn’t care if she was with a girl. In fact, he was thrilled, which confused her to no end. (She didn’t know this, but the only reason he was happy was because he now had something that would fuel her to win.)

You thanked every star above for the Snow boy for bringing your girl back to you, even if she was brought back with sharper edges. You didn’t care, you had her back in your arms. And you wanted to thank him.

But, Lucy Gray was a different girl than what she was when she left, even if she tried to pretend that wasn’t the case. She was more paranoid, more protective of the people she loved— especially you. More than you anticipated.

So the next morning when you set out to find the boy who was currently serving time as a Peacekeeper in your very district, the one goal in your mind was to thank him, the thought that this might be upsetting to your girlfriend not even crossing your temple.

You decided to bring him a rose— Lucy Gray mentioning to you that his Grandmother grew them, and you just happened to as well. It wasn’t like the pure ones his Grandmother grew in the Capitol, but you deemed it good enough.

You caught a glimpse of his platinum buzzcut, a smile growing over your ruby red lips. “Snow!” You called, jogging up to him in your cowboy boots. He turned at the call, his eyebrows furrowing when he saw it was you.

“Y/N?” He questioned.

“Hey, Coriolanus.” You smiled, holding out the rose for him. “Lucy Gray mentioned something about your Grandmother and roses, and just as a thanks for you bringin’ her back to me, I’d like to give you this,” You motioned to the rose.

To your delight, his hard face warped into that of a smile. “Thank you, Y/N. Truly.” His hand came out to squeeze your forearm affectionately. “I appreciate it, and you don’t have to thank me for that.”

“I do.” You assured him. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if I didn’t get her back. You saved her… so, truly, thank you, Coriolanus. I mean it.” You felt eyes on you, but you shook the feeling off.

He nodded sheepishly, not used to the type of compliment you were giving him. “Of course.. Thank you for the rose. Let me know if you need anything, I’ll see you around.” He smiled, giving your forearm one last squeeze before he turned.

“You’re welcome, Coryo.” You flashed him one last smile before you turned on your heel yourself. What you didn’t expect to see was to see those honey eyes you loved staring daggers at you.

You cocked your head to the side as she began to stomp her way towards you. Once she reached you, she grabbed your wrist with a hard grip, and without word dragged you back to your now shared home.

“Lucy, what’re you doing?” You asked, just as your neared the front lawn of your home.

She clicked her tongue, a sign she was mad, and shook her head, continuing to lead you to the house in silence. Once the pair of you got in, she threw her bag on your shared bed, crossing her arms.

“What the hell was that?” She asked, her tone hard.

“What are you talkin’ about, Lucy?” You asked, stepping closer to her. She only backed away, her head shaking once again, while you visibly shrank at her rejection.

“Don’t play dumb, Y/N. You know better,” She scoffed, rolling her eyes. “I been runnin’ around, lookin’ for you like some fool, while you were off with my mentor, lettin’ him touch you. Why were you with him, huh?” She pressed. “What, you think I’m stupid or somethin’?”

“Coriolanus?” Your eyebrows furrowed, still not quite catching on to what she was so angry about.

“Yes, damnit, him.” Her voice slightly raised as she walked up to you, her gaze lowered as she glared at you. “Why were you givin’ him a rose, huh? Why were his hands on you?”

You licked your lips as you took in her state. Her pupils were blown out, her jaw slack— God, she looked so hot when she was angry. You shook your head at your thoughts, trying to be serious.

“Aye!” Her fingers snapped in front of your face, angrily. “Answer me,”

“Lucy, I— I was goin’ to thank him..” You whispered, your voice dying in your throat as you submitted to her fiery gaze.

“Why?” Her voice was low and raspy, sending shivers down your spine.

“For bringin’ you back t’me.” You admitted, looking at the floor guiltily as it sunk in that how much you truly had upset her. “I never got the chance to properly thank him, and you said he liked roses. So I brought him one, I thought it would remind him of home. I didn’t mean anything by it, I swear,”

Her eyes softened. “Oh, baby, I’m sorry..” She whispered, one hand coming up to cup your jaw, rubbing softly. “I.. My mind went somewhere completely different when I saw him touchin’ you.. It just made me angry,”

A sly smirk came over your features. “I think you mean jealous, Lucy Gray.” You whispered teasingly.

“Only you could make me this crazy,” She smiled. “But, I am sorry.” She said, guilt swirling in her eyes.

“Hey, it’s alright.” You reassured her, seeing that she was beating herself up. “Even I get a little jealous seein’ Billy drape hisself on you when he’s shitfaced, it’s normal, baby, I ain’t mad.” Your goofy smile mixed with your southern accent making her smile come back.

But just as it returned, it was replaced with a serious look. “Just.. stay away from him, alright? I don’t fully trust ‘em.”

“I won’t go near him again, I promise. I just wanted him to know I was thankful for bringin’ my best girl back t’me,” You tried to cheer her up, your lips ghosting over hers.

“Good. ‘Cause your mine,” She smirked, closing the space between the two of you as her lips kissed you hard, her teeth nipping your bottom lip as you let out a gasp, granting her access to your mouth as she deepened the kiss.

You smiled against her lips, thanking the stars above that you had the pleasure of being hers.

[pinkhelados]

hey, kitty - miguel ohara x reader!

summary: you take in a stray hybrid. Overtime, the pull of your love draws in the reluctant hybrid to your arms.

contains: hybrid au, cat!hybrid!miguel x fem!reader, very fluffy, nsfw (more towards the end.) mentions of titty sucking, oral sex (fem receiving)

A dark, chocolate colored tail flicked from behind a tree. You stopped jogging and made your way to peek behind the thick spruce where you found a hybrid lounging under the shade. The cat bolted up onto his feet and barred his fangs, he swatted your face with his talons and but luckily, you managed to dodge. “Don’t worry, kitty. I’m not gonna hurt ya,” You smiled and reached out to try and pet him which only got you another close call with those deadly fingerpads of his. “Leave,” the hybrid scowled.

Something drew you to this specific kitty, perhaps the attitude or how handsome his face was. Either way, you wanted to bring him with you. “Come on, you’re hungry. I can feed you and everything!”

You weren’t sure why you were so inclined on the idea of keeping this stray, but something in your gut urged you to keep pushing, and you did, for thirty minutes.

“Ave Maria- Fine! I’ll come with you if you can just be quiet,” He grunted, fluffy ears turned back and clearly sick of all the nagging.

Eyes lighting up, your lips curled up into a big grin. You grabbed his hand to pull him into a hug which got your the talons.

“Oye!”

“Sorry.”

Miguel was a picky eater, picky sleeper, picky everything. For a stray, he sure knew his preferences.

The first few months of his stay, he’d sleep in his own space away from you with his tail curled up around his massive thigh by the window. When he’d doze off, he’d easily wake at the sound of footsteps or the jingle of your keys when you’d come back from errands. Miguel would bolt upwards, eyes wide and alert before realizing it was just you and go back to his nap. He was weary of you but you respected it. Miguel liked his space, but that didn’t mean he’d be isolated forever.

You were up late watching a film one night when the door to your bedroom creaked open. The six-foot-nine hybrid stared at you with his intense, unblinking eyes. The film was paused. He’d typically be asleep by now but here he was standing in front of your television not saying a word.

“What’s up?” You asked tentatively. Miguel’s tail swished nervously behind, his jaw clenching tighter with every passing moment. “Your bed’s more comfortable then mine…”

Oh!

Heart speeding, you eagerly lifted the sheets for him to join you. The matress shifted downwards with the weight of Miguel as he crawled into bed with you. The hybrid’s burly arms wrapped around your waist, pulling you against his broad chest and resting his on your head. Miguel’s lips twitched into a brief smile. “Mm,” He grunted.

Miguel’s scent filled your nostrils and you nuzzled your cheek against his neck. He smelled earthy. Like pine on a rainy day. His large hand traced the curves of your body and after a while, he turned down to gaze into your eyes. You saw it, the expresión of yearning in his maroon hues. Miguel had been wanting this just as much as you had. You could see your face reflecting on his dilated pupils and you shared that same look of affection.

A deep purr rumbled from the depths of his chest, and you reached up to scratch the backside of his fluffy ears which he gladly welcomed. His plush lips pursed outwards. “Something wrong?” You whispered over the rich purring coming from his throat. “No,” he hummed, hugging you closer to wrap his brown, fluffy tail around your waist.

“I just haven’t made a sound like this in a long time.”

Sleeping in the same bed became a nightly ritual for you and your hybrid. Curled up under blankets with his beefy arms tight around your waist. After a year, Miguel got comfortable and he was comfortable quick which you loved. He was fond of your breasts, touching them, kneading them, suckling on them after a particularly stressful day. When he wasn’t lounging by himself, he’d be in the kitchen. He’d stand behind you peppering kisses to your neck while you fixed up breakfast in the wee hours of the morning. You were his person and he’d make it known. Scenting, biting, you name it. Miguel had marked you with no intention of sharing his precious human. Miguel wasn’t overly jealous, he knew that you’d come home smelling of other hybrids, something to be expected when living in such a populated city. Certain instances would make him snap, though.

“Miguel!” You squirmed under every lap of his rough tongue. His ears perked up at tour noises, but he was to distracted by the taste of your cunt to care. Juices ran down his chin, claws digging into the fat of your thighs. It was pornographic. The slurping and sucking on your clit had your hips bucking into his skilled tongue, pussy sqeezing around his girthy fingers. “That’s it,” he groaned. “No one makes you feel like this, just me.” Miguel kissed your clit before enveloping it once more, sucking on it until you were coming for the second time. “Such a pretty pussy, nena. You’re soaked,” He smirked a little, clearly proud of how undone you’d become. He dove right back into your glistening folds, hooked nose bumping against your perky clit to coax out another orgasm.

“Youre my human. All mine.”

a/n: i love cat boys y’all

[josephquinnswhore]

Hello

I’ve had this idea for a while :}

What if reader and Pedro had a la la land moment when they break up and then reunir two years later at an awards show and realize they still have feelings for each other

Like right person wrong time :>

Finding Our Way Back

Pairing: Pedro Pascal x female reader.

Summary: you and Pedro rekindle your relationship after seeing him at an award show, it’s been two years since you’ve separated and he looks better than ever.

Word Count: 3.7k

Content Warning: allusions to reader that worked in a shit workplace, fluff.

Note: thanks so much for requesting. Thought I’d do the MTV awards since he’s nominated and I’ve already written about Pedro at the Oscars! I hope you love it 🫶🏼

As an interviewer for Vanity Fair, you knew it was highly likely that you’d run into your ex boyfriend, Pedro Pascal at the MTV awards as he was nominated with Bella Ramsay in the category “best duo,” after his latest role as Joel Miller. Although things had ended amicably on both ends, it had been two years ago since you split; your maturity, respect and the love you still had for him played a part in that clean break. You wanted to beg for him to stay with you, to try and make things work; but he was having a big breakthrough in his career and you couldn’t be selfish with him, after decades of his hard work to get to where he is now, so you let go. After years of smaller roles, despite you reassuring him he was incredible in all roles he played, he knew this one would change his life, working on a project with his idol Nick Cage.

Funnily enough, being in this situation was how you met. You standing at an event in a dress that was too tight and itchy on your skin, waiting to interview the nominees for this award show. Although all those years ago you didn’t work for such a well known, respected company as VF.

You worked for a small company called For You Entertainment, they were working their way up the ladder attending small events with D-List celebrities when your producer thankfully got you a breakthrough, an interview with the cast of Narcos at the end of season 2 premiere. You were nervous and fidgeting with your lilac sequin dress that was so tight you were cursing your stylist internally for making you wear clothing that was a size too small for your waist. Your lungs felt heavy as they couldn’t inhale fully, the feeling of being claustrophobic in your own skin was dizzying, along with the sweatiness of your hands and the bright light from your film crew, it was all too much. A staff member from the event, led Pedro to you and you knew you were screwed, the knowing look in those chocolate brown eyes, he knew how anxious you were feeling, he read you instantly. Your co-workers were ready to begin filming when Pedro held his hand up, signalling for the men to stop momentarily, and they did.

“Hey, I’m Pedro. It’s so nice to meet you…”

His hand meets your own as you introduce yourself, he catches the wobble in your voice as your confidence plummets to the ground beneath your heels. He offers a kind smile and you’re enamoured by how kind he’s being, how gentle and attentive he is; he was doing whatever he could to make you comfortable.

“Are you okay?”

You let out a shaky breath and huff out a small laugh,

“this is my first ever interview with like, a real celebrity and you’re my celebrity crush. Plus this dress is a size too small which they picked on purpose, something about making my boobs perkier.”

The speed at which your mouth rambles leaves your brain unable to comprehend the words that leave them for a few seconds, the moment you register what you say your eyes are wide and Pedro is laughing sweetly.

“It’s a pleasure to be here with you, don’t be nervous, I think you look stunning. You can do this, I’m here to help you make things go smoothly! Shall we?”

How wrong he was, he wasn’t just like any other guy, that’s what drew you in, he sucked you into his orbit, the gravity holding you down to him. Alas, you agree to start the interview. Your nerves somewhat shaken and cheeks a deep shade of red, along with a tingle of heat on your face you’d never experienced prior to Pedro’s flattery.

“Let’s do this.”

You bare a shy grin and give the camera man a thumbs up as they prepare to start the interview.

There was nothing wrong with your relationship with Pedro. It had just seemed like the relationship had run it’s course through the years. You were studying and working full time, 60 hours a week you were in a chokehold of being underpaid and overworked, being younger, new to the industry and vulnerable, you let your boss expose you to the cruelty of the profession when you had several employees that treated you like a doormat. Pedro had always insisted he hated how much you worked for them; how terribly they treated you and crushed your potential within months, that you could achieve more.

Pedro has just gotten a main role in “the unbearable weight of massive talent” when things fell apart, he was incredibly hard working and committed to his work life, the man that was practically married to his career left you in a position of what felt like roommates more than actual lovers. The conversation was hard and you almost didn’t go through with it; you knew you’d regret it but it was necessary, you couldn’t live like this anymore. You missed the intimacy and the connection, feeling like you were in a loveless relationship even though you loved him endlessly.

He had gotten home from a long day of filming, body slumped as he walked through the door, hours and hours on end of filming had him exhausted, he was surprised to see you sitting on the couch with the light and tv on when he walked through the front door.

“Hey, you’re up?”

The confusion in his voice was evident and you inhaled a shaky breath, turning to face him, you nearly backed out of your plan like a coward. Instead you invite him to sit next to you.

“Yeah, we need to talk, will you come sit?”

Pedro’s thick eyebrows are pinched in a frown, looking his age when the wrinkles in his face become evident. The lounge dips as he sits next to you, his large hand on your knee as his brown eyes watch you.

“Is everything okay?”

His voice is cautious and you just exhale, not questioning your own judgment.

“I think it would be in both our favours if we part ways, I’d prefer if we could do this amicably and still be friends afterwards. There���s no connection or intimacy anymore, we’re both too busy. Maybe if,” you sigh loudly unable to find the courage to finish the sentence. Luckily, Pedro knows what you’re thinking.

“If we were at a different stage in life, right?”

He finishes the thought in your head and you nod, fat tears falling down your face, his arms are quick to pull you into a hug, your head rests on his shoulder and he kisses the back of your head.

“I still love you, maybe things will work out for us one day, hm?”

You chuckle, the noise wet as you choke back your tears, “that would be a dream wouldn’t it?”

Having worked for Vanity Fair for the past 12 months, you had met some well known A-list celebrities, some in which would be here tonight at the mtv awards, some people attending not as well known but still nonetheless attending and perfectly deserving of your attention. Your black cocktail dress hugged your figure perfectly, hair pulled upward and styled neatly. Your faces natural beauty was accentuated by the light make up that had been carefully applied by the companies make up artist. The shades of pink and gold on your eyelids were glistening in the lights that shone a bright white overhead as you stood in the middle of the walkway right before the entry to the building where the awards were being held.

Your manager had warned you sympathetically that Pedro was one person you’d be interviewing, it didn’t take much reassuring on your behalf to assure her that although and and Pedro hadn’t really spoken since you broke up; besides the yearly birthday messages and him liking your Instagram posts, that things were okay between you and you were happy to interview him.

When you see him, he’s looking as handsome as ever. His brown hair had a few greying strands on the side of his head near his temples. The purple suit he wears clings to his body and he wears it with finesse, the grapefruit colour makes his skin look its glowing in a golden light, the suit hangs off his broad shoulders with no room to spare. A small heart-shaped patch in his black and grey beard was still failing to fill with hair on the left side of his face. He smiles so widely when he sees you, quickening his casual pace to a speed walk to bump his body into yours, wrapping his strong arms around you to pull you into a hug, his big muscles bulging against your dress-clad skin. You accept the hug and pull him into you, squeezing him as your arms wrap around the back of his neck, the cologne he wears compliments the natural musk of him that you recognise and miss so dearly.

You fight the urge to look at his plump lips a second time, the shade of pink whispered sweet words to draw you into him like a hypnotist, threatening you to kiss him against your will. He pulls back and stands tall next to you, he towers over you, even in your 3 inch heels.

“Pedro Pascal, what a warm welcome. Thank you so much for joining us this evening.” You greet warmly, holding the microphone between the small gap between your bodies, he misses the redness on your cheeks as he grins so widely his dimple exposes itself.

“Thank you for having me, it’s so great to be here, and it’s so great to see you, look at you, you’re looking stunning this evening.” He stands a little too close to you than he does anyone else that’s trying to get an interview from him, his fondness of you showing through the camera that records you.

“You always were a charmer weren’t you. This suit is incredible, you’re looking dapper tonight.” Your free hand that isn’t holding the mic gently runs a hand down his suit, keeping your hand on his chest, getting a feel for the material. You grin at the redness of his cheeks before getting to what the fans really want.

“Now, there is something your fans are begging me to address. As the self proclaimed biggest daddy on the internet, are your fans all your children?” Pedro laughs, the sound is ringing in your ears like the most delightful song you’ve ever heard. He takes the microphone from you and turns to the camera, “yes, you are all my children. I will warn you, grogu may get a little jealous.”

“That’s so sweet, why do you think you chose these roles that have you as basically a father figure?” You muse, eyes batting unintentionally as you’re drawn into his charming character. “I mean, truthfully I would love to have kids someday. Since that’s not an option right now I’m opting for the role of playing dad.” Your heart starts racing, both in awe and disappointment, knowing you would never be the one to bare his children, as his girlfriend or wife, you had missed your opportunity years ago.

“Now we do have a question that a lot of people are begging us to ask you and who are we to deny them?Does Joel Miller in the tv series meet the same fate as the game?” Pedro bares his teeth in a grimace and looks directly into the camera. “It’s going to be almost exactly the same, sorry kids.” He shrugs casually before turning back to you.

“Well Pedro it’s been such a delight to talk with you this evening, we’re wishing you and Bella the best to win an award, have a wonderful evening!” Pedros hands cross in front of his torso, fumbling with the silver ring that sits on his pinky. “Of course it’s amazing to see you. Thank you, have a great night.” He waves to you sweetly as he walks off with a staff member that’s leading him into the building. You stop filming and let out a big sigh.

“How are you feeling?” Your cameraman Andrew asks, “I’m okay, just feels like an open wound still, I guess.” He offers a sympathetic smile, “you did great. That was an awesome interview, everyone’s going to love it. Your chemistry is off the charts.”

You silently agree. The chemistry was still there, maybe you should just, text him later as a “it was so good to see you” curtesy text. Regardless of how terrible he was at texting, it would show you made an effort.

It’s been hours since you saw and spoke to Pedro, his image ingrained in your brain every time you close your eyes, where you’re normally met with blackness this night you’re met with his smile, the smell of his natural musk, the scent of his cologne lingered on your own skin as if he lie next to you. The heaviness of his hands as he hugged you felt as if he was still touching you, it made you restless. You were struggling to sleep even when the streets below your apartment began turning off their lights, one by one you seemed to be the only one wide awake in the neighbourhood.

11:28pm. After changing your mind about half a dozen times on what to write, you settle on something kind and friendly, and you send the text: “it was so good to see you tonight, you look great.”

To your surprise it’s barely a minute before he replies: “it was such a pleasure to see you, can I ask you something?”

Your heart is racing as you can barely think about what he could possibly ask, you assure him: “of course, anything.”

The bubble comes up as if he’s typing, then disappears. You grown as you watch him type and delete this message before it finally comes through after a few minutes: “going to bed anytime soon?”

You raise an eyebrow to yourself and whisper, “seriously that’s what took you so long?” And reply to him: “nope, wide awake.”

“Want some company? I can bring coffee.” You rub your eyes in disbelief, wondering if this is real or an illusion.

“Please do. You know how I like it.” You send through your address as you’ve moved to a newer and slightly bigger apartment in the last year. “Be there soon.” He replies without a moments notice.

“Shit.” You mutter to yourself as you rush to the bathroom, attempting to make yourself look presentable, brushing your hair down neatly before braiding it, smoothing out your pyjamas and turning on some lights in the living room as you turn on the tv to Disney Plus turning on Moana as you attempt to sit comfortably.

There’s a soft knock at the door and you get an alert on your phone that someone’s outside, you check your phone, seeing Pedro standing in black pants, a white shirt and a large black trench-coat, a cardboard cup holder in hand with two Starbucks coffees occupying the space. You smooth out your pyjamas once again and unlock the two locks to your front door, feeling winded as you see your ex boyfriend standing there looking as beautiful as ever with a shy smile on his face.

You open the door and step to the side, “please, come in.” He shudders slightly from the breeze that drafts in from outside, your house abnormally warm and the feeling is welcome on his cold skin. “You have a nice place here. How long ago did you move in?” You take the coffees and sit them down in the cup holders in your lounge as he takes off his trench-coat, the atmosphere too warm for the accessory. “Coming up 12 months now. Right after I started working for Vanity Fair.”

You gesture for Pedro to sit on the lounge after he hands his coat on the coat hanger by the door, he keeps a respectable space between you, unlike earlier in the evening where he stood entirely too close. “Moana always was your favourite.” Pedro muses to himself. “Somethings never change.” You reply with a shrug, the statement having a double meaning behind it.

“Yeah, I guess. What’s new in your life anyway. Other than work and all the formalities?” He questions, the hopeful look in his eye beams as you sink comfortably into the grey couch, “nothing really, I’m quite boring these days. The same girl you know.” You sip your coffee and hum in contentment, missing the way Pedro whispered “and love.” After your statement, “thanks so much for the coffee, it’s perfect. It’s any wonder you still remember,” you admit.

“How could I forget my girls coffee order?” Pedro freezes, realisation of what he said sinks in. “I mean, I meant- I didn’t..” he stutters and you rest your hand on his, trying to diffuse his panicked state. “It’s okay, I’ve missed you you know. Seeing you tonight made me realise how much I never got over you.” The admission has both of your skin burning with desire and slight embarrassment. “You feel that way?” His voice is sweet, you wish he would just talk to you all night, you’d simply sit and listen.

“Of course I do. I’ve always loved you Pedro.” Just like that the bomb has dropped, the elephant in the room is too large and suffocating to ignore, you still love him, years later you still love him.

“I’ve been needing to hear that for such a long time. I love you, I was a fool to let you go,” you lean into the warmth of Pedro’s hand as he caresses your face, your heart rate spiking at his touch and confession. “We can always just.. pick up where we left off,” you offer sweetly. Pedro’s eyes raise at your offer, the ball was in his court and he was going to take it. Without another word he pulls you into him, your lips smashing into his, moulding together like two unique puzzle pieces that were made for each other.

You part your lips and grant him access to deepen the kiss, years of unspoken love and missing each other all came to surface with this kiss. When you pull apart you’re both heaving, foreheads pressed together you stare into his chocolate orbs. “Please be mine. I don’t think I could go another day knowing you’re not mine.” You exhale a shaky breath, the taste of him still on your lips, “I was always yours Pedro. We just had to find out way back.” Pedro’s thumb strokes your cheek and let’s put a small laugh, almost in relief. “I’m grateful we did. Everything feels right again.”

You nod as you silently agree with him, the hole left empty now felt overfilled, you knew your cup would never be empty again with Pedro by your side again, “stay the night.” Your nose grazes his cheek as you whisper. He pulls you into his lap, strong arms holding you in place as he kisses your shoulder. “When have I ever been able to say no to you?”

“I’ll teach you how to stop being such a people pleaser one day you know.” You jest lightly. “As long as I have you, none of that even matters, baby.” You turn to kiss him, the intoxicating sweetness of his lips is almost impossible to pull away from. “You’ll always have me. Promise.” A few moments of silence pass before you ask, “did you win the award?” Pedro hums before he realises what you’ve said, pulling his eyes away from the tv, “yeah we did, Bella was stoked, it was such a big moment for them.” You lean into his chest, smiling in content with how perfectly things were falling into place.

[sunny44]

Old vs new

Pairing: Lewis Hamilton x daughter

Warnings: none, just fluff

Summary: When Lewis is bored in his house and decide to do a instagram live with his daughter.

This is a request

It was a sunny afternoon and I was bored in the house, my wife was with her sister and I was at our house with my daughter who was doing something in her room and then I had the idea of doing an Instagram live witch is something I usually don’t do but since the fans lives Ava I thought it was a good ideia.

I called Ava saying to meet me in my trophies room and when I press the button to start the live, Ava entered the room and she sit in my lap and we immediately created a buzz as fans tuned in to witness our live.

"Hey everyone, I've got a very special lady here with me today," I said to the phone and Ava smiled and waved at everyone. "As you guys already now this is my daughter Ava. And she’s already in go kart to be the next Hamilton.”

Mia giggled, her eyes lighting up as she playfully jabbed, "Yeah, Dad, you're not as fast as you used to be. You're like, ancient in F1 years!"

The comment sparked laughter from Lewis and his audience. "Ancient, huh?" he responded, feigning shock. "Well, I might not be as young as I was when I started, but I've still got a few tricks up my sleeve!"

Ava’s eyes twinkled mischievously. "Oh, I've seen your tricks, Dad. I've also seen your old races on TV. Vintage stuff!"

The banter continued as they reminisced about Lewis's early days in racing. He recounted stories of his breakthrough races, while Mia giggled at the outdated racing gear he used to wear. "Hey, don't laugh too hard! Those suits were cutting-edge back then," Lewis protested, feigning offense.

Mia, her voice dripping with mock seriousness, quipped, "Yeah, sure they were, Dad. Just like those ancient cell phones you used!"

The playful teasing exchanged between father and daughter endeared them to their audience even more. Amidst the jokes, Lewis shared the valuable lessons he learned from his journey – the hard work, dedication, and resilience that drove him to become a champion.

"You know, Ava" Lewis began with a thoughtful expression, "racing isn't just about speed and trophies. It's about determination and pushing yourself beyond your limits. That's something you'll need to remember when you're the next Hamilton in F1."

Mia's eyes gleamed as she leaned closer to the camera. "Oh, I'll remember, Dad. And when I'm on that track, I'll make sure to remind everyone that the Hamilton legacy continues!"

Their connection was a beautiful blend of admiration and camaraderie. As the conversation flowed, Lewis turned the tables on Ava. "You know what, Ava? I think it's time for a challenge. How about we have a karting race this weekend? Old vs new!"

Ava's face lit up, excitement radiating from her. "You're on, Dad! Just remember, I've been practicing!"

As the live session drew to a close, Lewis shared his pride in his daughter's aspirations. "I'm not just her father, but also her biggest fan. If she chooses to step into the world of racing, I'll be there every step of the way."

The Instagram Live ended with promises of the upcoming karting showdown and a grateful farewell to the fans. Lewis and Ava had not only shared their love for racing but had given the world a glimpse into the genuine bond they shared – a bond that would undoubtedly continue to flourish as the next generation of the Hamilton legacy began to unfold.

[beautification-tales]

The Lesson

A prequel to “The Video”

April sat cross-legged on her bed, the flickering light from her computer casting eerie shadows across the walls. The serum she had perfected was in a small vial on her desk, its contents swirling lazily as if it were alive. Her heart raced with excitement and anticipation, her fingers trembling slightly as she reached out to touch the vial. This was it, the moment she had been working towards for months. The moment she would finally find out if her serum worked as she hoped it would.

She took a deep breath, steadying her nerves before unscrewing the cap of the vial. The sharp smell of chemicals filled her nose, making her eyes water slightly. Carefully, she drew a small amount of the serum into the syringe and brought the needle close to her skin. “Here we go” she whispered to herself, summoning all the courage she could muster. She plunged the needle into her arm, feeling the cool liquid seep into her veins.

For a moment, nothing happened. April sat there, breath held, waiting for something, anything to change. But the seconds ticked by, and her heart continued to beat at its steady rhythm. She glanced down at her arm, expecting to see some sort of transformation, but it looked exactly the same as before. She ran to the bathroom as she looked in the mirror. Her reflection stared back at her, unchanged. Her heart sank as she realized that the serum hadn't worked. She had failed.

“Argh you’re such a loser April. You never get anything right.” Her inner critic was relentless, and she couldn't help but feel a twinge of despair. But as she stood there, staring at herself in the mirror, she noticed something strange. The color of her eyes seemed different. Not lighter or darker, but...richer. Like they had always held that depth but had been obscured before. She stepped closer, studying her reflection intently.

“Yes! It’s working! I’m a genius. Dr. Brown is going to be so impressed.” April’s brown hair turned platinum as she imagined telling her favorite Professor of her success. He would smile and kiss her before pushing her against a wall and fuck her.

April frowned at the idea and shook her head trying to remove the image from her mind. The more she tried to think of something else the more vivid the images became. April’s body responded to the thoughts as she bit her lip. “W..wait no this is wrong. Ungh get out of my head!”

The images stopped for a moment as a voice whispered in her head. “But it’s what you want and now you can have it.” April could feel herself get wet as her nipples hardened poking through her shirt. “No, stop it. I just wanted his respect… and his cock.” April covered her mouth in shock at how sultry the last statement sounded. It was not her voice. The voice in her head grew louder. “Stop fighting this there’s nothing holding you back. You don’t have to be that pathetic nerd. You can be more! You can feel more” April’s hand moved like it had a life of its own rubbing her jeans as her hips gyrated.

“Mmm what am I? What am I doing? Feels so good” April’s eyes fluttered as she lost control feeling woozy. April’s vision corrected as she no longer needed her glasses as her vision became blurry behind the thick lenses. April in a trance opened her jeans as she plunged her fingers deeply inside her. She felt hot as she gasped and heard the voice again. “Dr. Brown is going to love the new you. He won’t be able to resist.” April’s fingers picked up speed as her flat butt ballooned in her jeans. Her flesh dug into the denim as her thighs got thicker and her hips widened.

April’s moans became throaty and sexier as her face shifted. Cheekbones rose, her nose softened, and her lips plumped. April arched her back as the changes began to reach their end. “I’m gonna, I’m gonna…” April’s breast grew bigger as they began to make her t shirt rip down the middle. The sound of ripping and moans echoed in her apartment as her niples hardened into two perfect pebbles. “I’m gonna Hhhhahh!” She grunted as the orgasm rocked throughout her body. She felt energized as she got up and looked at herself in the mirror. “I’m gonna fuck my professor mmmm fuck! It feels so good to say it out loud.”

April walked over to her desk and grabbed the note she had written to Dr. Brown. She crumpled it up and tossed it in the trash can. She smiled seductively as she put on her new outfit. A black bra and panties set that perfectly accentuated her new curves. She ran her hands over her body, feeling the smooth skin and the weight of her breasts in her hands. She finished getting dressed in the least modest outfit she owned.

With a confident swagger, April left her apartment and made her way to the university. She couldn't help but feel a sense of power and desire coursing through her veins. Every step she took was a reminder of the changes she had undergone. Her hips swayed subtly, her breasts bounced with each step, and her new scent filled the air around her.

When she arrived at Dr. Brown's office, she couldn't help but feel a little nervous, but also incredibly aroused. She took a deep breath and knocked on the door, her heart racing in anticipation. The door opened, revealing Dr. Brown's familiar face, but she barely registered it as her gaze was drawn to his own obvious arousal. Dustin had seen beautiful students before but the way the pencil skirt and blouse hugged her skin. It was almost as the clothes were too small but still looked so good.

“Ahem yes! May I help you… Miss?” Dustin Brown said, his voice slightly shaky. He cleared his throat and tried to maintain his composure as he took in the sight of the stunning woman standing before him. Her eyes were locked on him, her expression a mix of confidence and desire that was both unsettling and intoxicating.

April smiled seductively, walking into the office. She closed the door behind her, effectively shutting out the rest of the world. "Dr. Brown, I wanted to speak with you about my latest paper." Her voice was soft and sultry, barely above a whisper. It sent shivers down his spine. "But I think there's something else we should discuss first." She stepped closer, her hips swaying as she moved.

Dustin Brown felt himself growing harder as she approached. He couldn't take his eyes off her. "Miss... I'm sorry, but I don’t recall seeing you in any of my classes." He tried to sound firm, but his voice betrayed him. It came out as a whisper, barely audible.

April laughed softly, shaking her head. "No, I'm not one of your students, Dr. Brown. I'm Pepper. I am a biologist with my research focusing on one thing." She moved even closer, until she was just inches away from him. Dustin could feel the heat emanating from her body, could smell the sweet scent of her perfume. His control was slipping fast.

"What... what is your focus ?" He managed to stammer. His heart was racing, his mind reeling from the sensual onslaught. He couldn't take his eyes off her.

Pepper smiled, running her hands up his chest, stopping just above his shoulders. "My focus, Dr. Brown, is on transformation. On changing. On becoming something new and exciting." Her fingers danced along his shoulders, sending shivers down his spine. "And I've been wanting to change you for quite some time now." She leaned in closer, her lips brushing against his ear. "I want to make you into something that's been aching to get out of you."

Dustin's breath hitched as he felt her body against his, her breasts pressing into his chest. His hands moved to her hips, pulling her even closer. "What do you mean?" he whispered, his voice thick with desire.

She smiled, her lips curving into a wicked grin. "Oh, Dr. Brown, you know exactly what I mean." She stepped back placing a hand on his crotch. "I've been watching you, you know. Seeing the way you look at your students, the way you fantasize about them." Her hand moved, unbuttoning his shirt slowly, revealing the defined muscles of his chest. "I want to give you what you've been wanting.. it’s time for you to be bad.”

As she spoke, her fingers moved with a practiced ease, undoing his shirt and pushing it off his shoulders. His skin gleamed in the soft light of the office, and she felt her mouth water. She leaned forward, her breasts brushing against his chest as she reached around, unfastening his slacks. "You're such a good boy, Dr. Brown. But I'm going to make you naughty." Her breath fanned across his neck, sending shivers down his spine.

With practiced efficiency, she stripped him bare, revealing his hardened length. She took him in her hand, stroking him gently, feeling the heat and strength of him in her palm. "You've been holding yourself back… it’s time to let it all go." Her words sent a thrill of excitement through him.

Dustin felt himself growing even harder as she continued to stroke him, her touch both gentle and possessive. He could feel the blood rushing to his groin, his breath coming faster and faster. "P-Pepper," he stammered, his voice barely audible.

She looked up at him, her eyes dark and smoldering. "That's right, Dustin. I’m your dreams come true. A bad girl who just wants your cock." She leaned forward, taking his aching length into her mouth. Her lips were soft and warm, and she began to bob her head, sucking him deeper. He cried out, his hips bucking forward as he lost control.

Her head went up and down vigorously as she sucked. Her tongue and lips wrapped around his member expertly as Dustin’s head tilted back. His hands found their way into her hair, gripping tightly. He could feel the heat from her mouth and the softness of her lips as they slid up and down his length. He arched his back, pressing deeper into her mouth. The sensation was overwhelming, and he knew he was close.

"That's it, Dustin. Let go. Let me take you there." She whispered, her breath hot against his skin. He could feel his control slipping further and further away as she continued to suck him, her lips and tongue working in perfect harmony. His hips bucked wildly, his body tensed, and he cried out her name as he came, spurting hot cum into her mouth.

She took him all the way, swallowing every last drop, before pulling back to look up at him. His chest heaved, his eyes closed tightly as he tried to catch his breath. "That's it, Dustin. You're such a good teacher, but I'm going to help you be bad. Really bad." She smiled, running her fingers along his still-hard length. "I think you're going to like it."

[lyrarizi]

Propoganda fankid showdown <3

drew this at the speed of light sheez (please don't mind the bad expressions im learning to draw 🥺)

@sonic-fankid-showdown

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"when you have 3 dads"

found the idea of sonic sharing the same accessory with his kid adorable

and i call my father paps (nickname in dutch for father) so my pookie silver got that name

also a cute sonadilver doodle <3

eyy i made more ;) @sci-twi

link to info abt gina:

https://www.tumblr.com/meetje-rotyourbrainhere/748189037677953024/my-sonadilver-fankid?source=share

[zephfair]

Ronan/Adam Meet-Cute AU Rated Teen

Based on this fantastic idea

WARNING TAGS: motor vehicle crash but no blood and no serious injuries, flooding, language. Fluff, ofc.

It was a dark and stormy night, and Ronan didn’t like it one bit. He didn’t mind the dark, and he wasn’t afraid of storms, but it made the drive home to the Barns feel even longer. Normally he’d be driving at least 15 over the posted speed limit, but the heavy rain made it hard to see even with his wipers on high, and his high beams didn’t illuminate much more than shiny asphalt.

But he always bragged he could make the drive home from Declan’s in his sleep, and this was as close to having his eyes closed as was safe.

So he was surprised when a single headlight appeared in his rear-view mirror and stayed there, mile after mile. Maybe the most shocking thing was that the vehicle with one only headlight kept up with him, staying about the same distance back even through the twistiest turns of the two-lane back roads that Ronan preferred over the interstate.

Ronan kept one eye on it in boredom as he drew closer to Singers Falls, but he was forced to concentrate on his own driving when he crested a hill and realized instead of the lazy little stream and narrow bridge at the bottom, there was only a rushing flow of muddy brown water. The rain from the storm had been strong enough to make the stream overflow its banks and flood the bridge and road.

He had a split second to decide what to do, but he knew it probably wouldn’t be very deep and so disregarded all safety advice and drove right through it.

The waves of water that splashed around the BMW proved he’d been right and that the bridge still held. But as he steered out of it, he glanced back at the headlight that plunged into the water but instead of coming out the other side, suddenly veered off, shook erratically, then went dark.

“Oh shit,” Ronan said and slammed on his brakes which sent his car into a skid that took all his focus for several long seconds. He got it under control and stopped, right in the middle of the road. There was no light at all in his rear-view.

“Fuck,” he sighed and did a messy three-point turn. Surely the driver had just skidded off the road and was probably fine. Of course, they were. And if they were stuck, they would have a cell phone to call for assistance. They didn’t need his help.

Unless, they did. Ronan wasn’t sure he could go home until he knew what had happened. He approached slowly and his stomach sank when he couldn’t see the other car at all.

A sharp streak of lightning gave him a split second of bright vision, let him make sure that there was no car or truck bobbing in the stream, at least, and he didn’t see any vehicle on the bank. So where the hell was it?

Ronan stopped his BMW where he could keep his headlights on where he thought the vehicle should’ve been. There was maybe a glint of metal and a lump that looked out of place.

He struggled out of his car into the downpour, swearing and leaning back in to rummage until he found a flashlight in the door’s pocket. It didn’t illuminate much either but the scene was slowly becoming clearer.

He swore again when he realized the one headlight hadn’t been a sign of a car with one burnt out bulb; no, it had been a motorcycle that some insane fool was driving at high speeds through a dark Virginia thunderstorm.

Ronan spun around, looking frantically for where the rider could’ve been thrown off.

Then he saw him. The rider was several yards from the bike, and, thankfully, also from the swiftly running flood water. But he was lying motionless on his front in the mud, his helmet down in a mound of it. With his backpack still in place, he reminded Ronan of a sad turtle flattened on the highway.

Ronan really didn’t want to find another dead body. He didn’t want the years of nightmares. He did not want to find this dude’s battered and bleeding body. But it didn’t look like he had a choice.

He shuffled up slowly and swore then hauled back his boot and nudged the dude right in the unprotected ribs, but gently.

“Hey, man, you dead?” was probably not the best thing to say but whatever.

To Ronan’s huge and unexpected relief, the body jerked.

“Oh thank Christ, you’re alive. Do you need some help?”

The body flailed its arms and legs, looking like it was trying to make upside down snow angels in the mud. But it didn’t try to rise.

There were angry muffled noises coming from the helmet, and when Ronan squatted down alongside, another flail of the hand struck his leg then gestured toward the helmet.

“What the fuck? Is your neck broke?” Ronan didn’t know what to do. He’d always heard you shouldn’t move an injured person for fear of hurting them worse.

Then the body moved both hands to its helmet, kicked its legs like a child throwing a temper tantrum, and emitted a muffled scream.

“Oh shit, are you stuck?” Ronan finally understood. The helmet was heavy and was probably encased in the thick mud from the flooding, and the poor rider couldn’t get the angle or force to get it unstuck, and maybe water was coming in and…

Ronan grabbed the helmet and tugged it and the head inside up. As soon as the helmet was free, the rider jerked to his other side and rolled over, pulling himself to sit up. His gloves seemed too bulky to get the helmet unfastened, so Ronan reached out and helped.

Mud and water poured out of the helmet as the guy gasped for air as he maneuvered it off. There was just enough light from Ronan’s forgotten flashlight to illuminate what he immediately thought was a pretty face, the face of an angel. If an angel could be pissed off, swearing, drenched, and covered in mud.

“Do you need an ambulance?” Ronan finally asked when the guy stopped his swearing. “Anything broken? Concussion?”

He shook his wet head and took a few more deep breaths. “No, I think I’m just bruised all over. It doesn’t even feel like road rash. I think the mud and water broke my fall.”

“Nearly broke you. What were you thinking, taking a motorcycle through a flood like that?”

The guy’s chin came up and he met Ronan’s eyes in stubbornness. “I didn’t see it was flooded until it was too late. I was just following some asshole who must have driven right through that mess.”

“Yeah, I did. But I know the road and still almost lost it.”

The guy looked him over, never apologizing for calling him an asshole. “My bike,” he suddenly exclaimed and splashed around, trying to stand up.

Ronan grabbed his flashlight and reached out for the guy’s elbow as he stood, trying to steady him because he swayed and wasn’t putting all his weight on his right leg. The guy jerked away so Ronan stepped back.

“I think your bike’s over there,” Ronan swung the flashlight’s dim beam in the direction of the glint of metal he’d seen from the car headlights.

“Oh no,” the guy said and plunged forward through the mud and standing water.

Ronan followed him because why not, he was already drenched and up to his knees in mud. He tried to keep the flashlight pointed at the guy’s feet as he squelched along, fighting through the mud to pull up his sneakers.

“Oh no,” the guy said again as he bent over the bike on its side in the deep mud. The flowing current of the stream was inching closer to it.

“Is it okay?” Ronan gazed over his shoulder.

“Does it look okay?” the guy snapped. “Do you know what the mud and water will do to the engine? Shit!”

The guy grabbed the handlebars and pulled, but nothing happened.

“Do you want—”

“Don’t just stand there. Can you help me get my bike up?”

“Sure,” Ronan joined him, tugged on a handlebar, but nothing happened.

“Wait, we have to…” the guy pushed Ronan out of the way then showed him how he wanted Ronan to lift while he pushed, and they finally got the motorcycle out of the sucking mud.

A flash of lightning followed by a crack of thunder illuminated the scene. The guy was holding the bike handlebars to steady it, his eyes roving over the damaged motorcycle. It wasn’t a flashy crotch rocket or a chromed-up hog like a Harley. It just was a really nice bike somewhere in between. Ronan wondered how the sweet bike and the angry rider could manage to look so sexy under the circumstances.

“It’s fucked up,” the guy said. “Shit, what do I do now?”

He jolted when Ronan spoke, as if he’d forgotten he was even there. “Do you, uh, need a ride somewhere?”

The guy squinted at him as if the question was just too dumb. Ronan fought the urge to backtrack and kept his mouth shut.

“I can’t leave my bike here,” the guy finally said.

“I’ll call for a tow.”

“No, that’s too expensive,” the guy said quickly. “Shit, maybe, if we get it back on the road, it’ll start.”

Ronan held his tongue because he was no mechanic, but even he could tell that wouldn’t happen. But he helped the guy guide the bike away from the flooded stream toward the road. There was a drainage ditch along the road that was also full of water.

The guy cursed as they came to a stop. “This isn’t going to work,” he finally admitted.

“What if we hide your bike in the brush over there?” Ronan pointed to a stand of scraggly shrubs along a fence near the road but far enough from the stream and the ditch that it shouldn’t be reached by the flood. “Then I can give you a ride into town.”

“I’m headed to Henrietta,” the guy said.

Ronan shrugged. “Then you’re probably not gonna get there right now anyway.” He pointed to the distance. “You gotta take this road and go over another creek before the turn-off to Henrietta, and it always floods, way before this one does.”

“Then where are you headed?”

“Singers Falls,” Ronan said, easily brushing off the guy’s suspicions. “I turn off at the top of the hill and it’s all up and over until I get home.”

The guy swore under his breath.

“Look, why don’t you come home with me? Then when the flooding goes down, you can call someone to come meet you or I’ll just run you home to Henrietta.”

“I don’t live in Henrietta,” the guy was quick to say, even though Ronan had been catching hints of a local accent all along. “And my friends don’t know I’m coming. I don’t want to drag them out on a night like this.”

“Well, then come back to my place. You can get cleaned up, see if you’re injured and stay the night. These storms aren’t supposed to last much longer, so the roads will be fine by morning.”

The guy stood very still, looking Ronan up and down with the most judgmental look Ronan had ever garnered, and he’d visited Gansey in D.C. during Republican fund-raiser weekends while Ronan was still in his teenage punk anarchist phase.

“You’d just invite a stranger to stay at your place?”

Ronan shrugged. “Sure. I can protect myself if things go bad.”

“Well, what are the odds that both of us are serial killers,” the guy said dryly.

“Ha, ha,” Ronan said but kept a wary eye on him anyway.

“Fine. Help me get my bike over there?”

“No, I’m just going to stand out here since I’m already drenched through and watch you do it.”

Ronan couldn’t be sure in the dark but he thought the guy rolled his eyes. Once they’d gotten the motorcycle rolled into the shrubbery and pulled branches over it, Ronan led the way back to his car.

“Hey, I can’t get in there. I’m covered in mud,” the guy said as Ronan opened the passenger’s side door to clear his empty drink bottles and wrappers off the seat.

Ronan grunted in acknowledgment and went around to the trunk where he found an old blanket to spread over the seat.

“I’m still going to get it all wet,” the guy said, still stubbornly holding onto the door.

“I don’t fucking care. I’m going to get my seat wet too,” Ronan gave up and stomped around to get in the driver’s seat. Although the guy was really hot, he was starting to get on Ronan’s nerves. If he didn’t want to accept the help, then he could just stand out there in the rain and wait for someone else.

The guy must have come to that realization too, and the fact that not one vehicle had driven past in the entire time they’d been there. He finally slung his backpack off, threw it into the foot well, and dropped into the car.

Then he sighed, long and loud. “What a damn shitty night.”

“Well, hell, it’s been all sunshine and rainbows for me,” Ronan said, starting the car.

The guy snorted. “Since it looks like we’ll be getting to know each other, what’s your name? I can’t keep calling you Bald Asshole in my mind.”

“Thanks,” Ronan said, “I appreciate that. I’m Ronan. And you are?”

“Adam. Sorry I’m being a dick. But why were you speeding like a damn maniac when you knew that stream was going to be flooded? The bridge could’ve been washed out completely.”

“But it wasn’t,” Ronan said, as he drove a little slower than he normally would have since it was still raining heavily and hard to see. “I, uh, actually forgot that stream floods, and when I came over the hill, I didn’t want to slam on the brakes. Figured it was safer to drive on through.”

Adam shook his head. “Wish I’d had some warning. I was going too fast to stop too, but I saw your taillights already on the other side so I thought it was okay.”

“Who rides a motorcycle through a thunderstorm anyway?” Ronan tried to deflect some blame.

“They weren’t forecast when I left this morning,” Adam said stiffly. “It was supposed to be clear all night.”

“Well, it’s summer in Virginia. We can get a thunderstorm any time.”

“Yeah, I remember,” Adam said, and turned his face to look out the window.

Ronan rolled his eyes, but let the conversation die until they got to the intersection. It seemed to rouse Adam a little.

“Isn’t the road to Henrietta down there?” he pointed.

“Yep, about a mile down the hill, over the creek and through its flood plane.”

“And you’re sure it’ll be impassable?”

“I grew up in Singers Falls. We couldn’t get to town any time the rain was heavy.”

Adam sighed again and seemed to accept his fate was with Ronan.

The drive to Singers Falls wasn’t long from there, but Ronan kept all his attention on the road as it dipped and weaved through the hills where houses were few and far between. He was coming up on the lights of the one gas station in the area when he realized he didn’t have any food in the house. Well, not anything that he would serve to a guest.

He slowed and glanced over at Adam whose head resting against the window. Ronan looked again to see that Adam’s eyes were closed and his mouth was slightly open.

“Oh fuck no,” Ronan said and swerved into the parking lot, slamming to a stop.

Adam grunted as his head bounced off the window. “What the hell? Did you get us stuck in another flood?”

“Holy fuck,” Ronan clutched the steering wheel and tried to calm his racing heart. “I thought you were dead. Again.”

Adam yawned. “That implies that I was dead once already.”

Ronan growled impatiently, “You know what I mean, that I thought again you were dead, whatever.”

“I just dozed off. It’s been a long day.”

“Well, you shouldn’t go to sleep if you have a concussion.”

“I told you, I don’t have a concussion. And before you argue, yes, I’ve had a concussion before, so I know what it feels like.”

Ronan swore again. “Well, just don’t die until you’re on your own tomorrow. You’re hell on my nerves.”

That made Adam laugh at him, and it was such a delighted laugh that Ronan melted toward him again. “Are we at your place?”

“No,” Ronan suddenly remembered why he’d wanted to stop. “But I haven’t had dinner, and I’ve been away for the week at my brother’s so I don’t have much food at home. This place has good sandwiches. And six-packs.”

“I don’t drink,” Adam said. “And I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

“You want to come in?” Ronan asked as he parked right outside the door of the gas station.

“Naw, just get me whatever.” Adam started to shimmy around, probably reaching for his wallet in his back pocket.

“I got it, don’t worry,” and Ronan jumped out of the car before Adam could argue.

Dinesh greeted him as always, asked how bad the roads were, shook his head over the mud Ronan’s boots dragged in.

“Sorry,” Ronan said sheepishly. “You want me to take them off and go in my socks?”

Dinesh just laughed, “I’m teasing you. You’re the only person I’ve had in here all night. I can sweep up after you’re gone.”

“Thanks, man,” Ronan said. “Can you make me two of the curried chicken salad sandwiches, large? And if you have any turkey, two of those too? With cheese?”

“Of course,” Dinesh said, already getting to work behind the counter while Ronan went to the coolers. He picked out six different bottles of soda then went back and grabbed four different juices and a carton of milk too. Dinesh was wrapping the sandwiches as he chose family bags of chips and pretzels and added them to the pile on the counter.

“You have some romantic company tonight? You need anything else from behind the counter here?” Dinesh gave him a knowing grin.

Ronan shrugged but he felt some color rise on his cheeks. It was distinctly weird to be asked about “romantic company” by a man who’d been feeding the Lynches since his parents had moved there from Ireland. “I just have a friend stuck here because the road to Henrietta will be flooded.”

“Ah,” Dinesh looked distinctly disappointed at Ronan’s lack of love-life, but not nearly as disappointed as Ronan himself.

He’d had the one fling in high school, an unhealthy relationship with a boyfriend who’d been toxic, and despite what his friend Gansey said, he had not hidden himself away on the family farm afterward. He just didn’t love meeting new people and he knew he’d not find a boyfriend so long as he didn’t meet new people, but Ronan was just hypocritical enough that he didn’t think about it.

He apologized again for the mud, pretended not to notice Dinesh adding a pack of mints to his bags, and ran back through the rain to the car.

Seeing Adam asleep this time didn’t send him into a panic, but he did watch his chest to make sure Adam was breathing before he exhaled in relief and started the car.

Adam stayed asleep the rest of the way to the Barns right up until Ronan eased to a stop in front of the farmhouse. Ronan looked him over by the dim glow of the dashboard lights. Even with the streaks of mud covering him, Ronan thought he was just about the prettiest man he’d ever seen. He had high cheekbones, a nice nose and thin lips that expressed all his emotions too clearly. He was nearly as tall as Ronan, but leaner, more wiry even with a bulky windbreaker on.

It was his hands that Ronan focused on last, curled loosely in his lap, but really nice. And from how capably he’d handled his motorcycle, they knew what to do too.

Then Ronan realized he was staring at a sleeping stranger like a psycho creeper, so he shook himself and gently prodded Adam’s shoulder.

“Hey, wake up. We’re here,” he said, voice a little gruffer than he’d planned.

Adam did a little stretch, abbreviated by a wince of pain. His eyes fluttered open and he glanced around then shut them again and sighed. “Shit. I hoped maybe it was all a nightmare.”

“Thanks, Sleeping Beauty. That’s a real shitty thing to say to the dude who saved your sorry ass.”

Adam leveled an unimpressed glare at him. “I’m sure you’re a real Prince Charming, but I’d’ve sooner not wrecked my bike and almost drowned in mud.”

“Well, we’re home now, so you can get cleaned up and eat and then be as pissy as you want, but at least you’ll be clean and dry.”

“Good point,” Adam agreed. “Lead on.”

They ran through the rain and Ronan fumbled his keys while Adam laughed at him. Once inside, Ronan moved through the downstairs turning on lights, calling over his shoulder to give Adam a running tour. Then he stuck his head back out of the kitchen when he sensed Adam wasn’t following him.

“You just gonna stand in the hall all night?”

Adam turned from staring at the family photos dotted around the walls. “I don’t wanna track mud all through the place. Your house?”

Ronan nodded and rejoined him. “It’s where I grew up. All mine now.”

Adam nodded back.

“So, do you want to eat first or take a shower?”

“Shower, God, yes please.”

Ronan chuckled at his enthusiasm for the first time all night and led him upstairs. He bustled to set out towels and point out where everything was while Adam stood there silently.

“Dude, you’re kind of freaking me out,” Ronan finally admitted. “Are you sure you don’t have some kind of brain injury?”

Adam grimaced. “No, I don’t have a brain injury. I’m just a little … overwhelmed. This isn’t what I was expecting when you said about your place.”

“What did you expect?”

“You’re about my age so I figured some kind of trashy dorm bachelor apartment crowded with roommates, not … this.”

“Sorry to disappoint you,” Ronan said wryly.

“Shut up, it’s not disappointing. Just surprising. Your house is really nice.”

“Well, fuck, man, if you think this is nice, just wait until you try the shower. You’re going to want to make love to the water pressure,” Ronan said, deflecting the compliment like a champ.

“Thanks for the warning,” Adam said, finally putting down his backpack on the bathroom floor.

“Do you need clean clothes or anything?”

“No, it should be… well…” Adam knelt down and opened the backpack then grimaced. He looked up at Ronan, whose heart clenched at the position, Adam on his knees so close to Ronan’s waist.

Adam’s eyes flickered downward just for an instant then met Ronan’s again. “I hate to impose any more, but this bag failed its waterproof test.”

“No problem. I’ll leave some things in the hall. Now get in there and enjoy the water.”

Adam climbed back to his feet with a groan. “Thanks. And I’ll be sure to keep things platonic with your water pressure.”

Ronan laughed a little breathlessly and escaped the close quarters of the bathroom. Get it together, Lynch. Don’t be a fuckin’ weirdo. The super-sexy guy is depending on you, he told himself as he gathered clean clothes from his room and left them outside the bathroom door.

The shower was already running, and he really did hope Adam was enjoying it.

He went back to his room where changing into a clean pair of jeans and T-shirt removed his mud damage, his skin already dried. Then he went back downstairs to lay out the sandwiches and snacks on the kitchen table and wait.

It seemed like Adam took forever, and just when Ronan was starting to worry that he’d suffered some kind of fainting spell and slipped and hit his head and was drowning in the bottom of Ronan’s own shower, the noise of the water cut off with the squeak of the one usual pipe.

Ronan breathed a little easier then. It wasn’t long before he heard soft footsteps down the stairs and realized that he was sitting at the head of the table, fingers steepled before his face, like some kind of movie villain waiting for a sacrificial victim, so he jumped up and had just hit his hip on the island, making him swear when Adam’s quiet laugh came from behind him.

“You were right about that water pressure. I think I’d like to propose to it,” Adam said.

Ronan snorted and rubbed his hip. “Too late. It’s already happily married to me. Although, we might be open to a threesome.”

He didn’t know why he’d said that, and he felt the color rise in his cheeks, but Adam just laughed again as Ronan turned to face him.

Ronan couldn’t say a word. Adam dressed in his own clothes was simply too much for his brain, and libido, to handle at the moment. Adam’s clean sandy hair was fluffy and soft, hanging over his forehead in a way that Ronan longed to brush back. Ronan’s black V-neck T-shirt clung to his shoulders, a little big there and bigger through the chest, but Ronan knew exactly how soft it would feel if he put his hands on Adam’s pecs. The gray sweatpants were loose the way Ronan liked them, and his feet were covered by a pair of athletic socks. In short, he looked like something out of one of Ronan’s wetter dreams.

“How much do I owe you for dinner?”

“Nothing,” Ronan said quickly adding when Adam pulled a stubborn look. “I was going to stop for myself anyway. And it was either this or hot dogs from the freezer with no buns. So, just shut up and eat.”

Adam started to argue again, but Ronan ignored his protestations to retrieve all the drinks he’d bought from the fridge. “Sit your ass down and eat,” he said again, and with a longing look at the food, Adam finally obeyed, but not before he mocked Ronan for buying so many bottles of beverages.

Ronan just shrugged and sat down, pointedly not watching Adam eat for fear that he might just want to jump him right then and there.

Ronan knew he sucked at small talk, but it didn’t seem like Adam was much for friendly bullshit either. They ate their way through the sandwiches and Adam polished off half a bag of pretzels while Ronan stuck to the Cool Ranch Doritos.

“I’ll wash the dishes,” Adam volunteered when they’d both finished.

“What fucking dishes? Two plates?”

Adam gestured to the counter beside the sink, but Ronan only snorted. “Those were dirty before I left for D.C.”

“Your housekeeping skills are lacking if you’d go away while leaving dirty dishes at home,” Adam said.

“You wanted me to live in some filthy bachelor apartment and now you critique my dishwashing?”

“Just sayin’,” Adam shrugged with a little smirk.

Ronan sighed and got up to pile their plates onto the other stack. “It seems like the rain is finally letting up. Do you want me to try and get you to Henrietta tonight?”

Adam tilted his head, like he was listening to see if he could hear the rain from inside the kitchen. “I mean, it’s not that late. But…” he broke off to yawn and then smile sheepishly. “I don’t know if I want to risk getting wet and having you drive that far to just find out the road’s still flooded.”

“You’re welcome to stay here, man. Both my brothers’ bedrooms are free and the beds are clean, so you can take your pick.”

“Would it be okay if I did my laundry? I think my clothes for tomorrow will be all right if I hang them up now, but that mud will stain what I had on tonight.”

“Yeah, sure, get ‘em and I’ll throw them in the washer.”

Adam hesitated by the door. “You might as well put yours in too. See if we can get all the mud out at once.”

“Sure,” Ronan said again, stunned by how easy he wanted to fall into domesticity with Adam.

Once they got the washer running, Adam insisted on helping with the dishes, so Ronan reluctantly dried as they worked. It meant he got to stand hip-to-hip with Adam and even bumped him once when Adam made fun of the way he stored his mugs and glasses.

“My cupboards, my rules,” Ronan said, snapping the tea towel at him limply. “Why do you have such strong opinions about housekeeping anyway?”

The question made Adam freeze for a second. “I don’t know,” he said slowly, his accent a little stronger for a moment. “There’s just something about this house that feels like things should be done...right.”

“Well, my mom would’ve agreed with you,” Ronan said. “But you’re kind of a dick.”

That jolted a laugh from Adam. “Believe it or not, I’ve been called that before.”

“I do believe it, but you’re only my second favorite dick,” Ronan said without thinking.

“Oh really?” Adam said, suddenly concentrating on scrubbing a cereal bowl. Ronan watched a ruddy red creep up his neck to his cheeks.

Then Ronan realized what he’d said. “I don’t mean dick dick. I mean, like, the name Dick. My best friend’s first name is Dick but he never uses it. Because of misunderstandings like that. So he’s my Dick but Gansey would rather ignore me than answer to that.”

The bowl clattered back into the dishpan. “Gansey? Your best friend’s name is Dick Gansey?”

“Yeah,” Ronan said, ready to get defensive.

“Not Richard Campbell Gansey the third?”

“Yeah,” Ronan said, now a little freaked out.

Adam turned, mouth hanging open, hands dripping on the floor. “There is no way that you know Gansey.”

Ronan crossed his arms over his chest and unintentionally made himself bigger. “How exactly do you know Gansey?”

“Gansey is my friend, my really good friend, at Harvard.”

“Oh my fucking God, you go to Harvard too?”

“Yes! But how the hell do you know him?!”

“Didn’t he ever mention his formative years at Aglionby Academy, Henrietta’s finest purveyor of the future assholes of America?”

“Well, yes, of course. We’ve talked about how we missed each other by miles when—” Adam cut himself off.

So Adam was from Henrietta, Ronan noted, but he didn’t let it distract him. “And didn’t he tell you about his feckless yet handsome best friend who quit Aglionby his senior year in order to move back to the family farm and take it over?”

Adam’s eyes widened and his mouth fell open in shock. “You’re Lynch?!”

Ronan nodded slowly. “The one and only. Well, the only Ronan Lynch to Dick Gansey.”

“I don’t believe it,” Adam said.

Ronan wracked his brain for all the conversations Gansey had prattled on about Harvard, all the texts, the emails, and he finally came up with “Are you Parrish? The perfect, pleasing paragon who Gansey’s been trying to get to move in with him since his freshman year?”

“Holy shit, he never actually called me that, did he?”

“He probably did. But I never pay all that much attention when he’s going on about all you Harvard nerds.”

“No fucking way,” Adam breathed out, still staring at Ronan. “I don’t believe it.”

Ronan raised an eyebrow. “Out of all the bullshit that’s happened to you tonight, that’s the one thing you don’t believe?”

“No. I just mean… What are the odds? That the one person I’m following and who stopped to help me and who offered me a place to stay is the best friend of my best friend. That’s so … bizarre.”

“And the person who saved you from seeing if you could breathe mud,” Ronan reminded.

“Unbelievable,” Adam repeated and finally seemed to realize that he was still dripping dish water on the floor so he turned back to the sink.

“It is pretty unbelievable,” Ronan agreed, taking the beleaguered cereal bowl from Adam’s lax hand to rinse and dry it. “Maybe it was fate. Karma.”

“I don’t know what I did in another life to deserve this,” Adam murmured and Ronan stepped back.

“Okay, now who’s the asshole.”

“No, no I just mean,” Adam leaned on the sink and stared out the window into the darkness. Ronan stared over his shoulder at their reflections in the dark glass until Adam met his eyes. “I just mean, you could’ve been an ax murderer, but instead you saved me from drowning in mud, and you’re … you, and now you come with impeccable bona fides that’ve reassured me you’re not going to murder me while I sleep. It’s just pretty unreal.”

There was a long moment of silence while Ronan thought that all through. “What’d you mean, I’m me?”

Adam put his eyes down and started to concentrate on washing the rest of the silverware. Ronan nudged him gently in the back. “What exactly do you mean?”

Adam cleared his throat and rinsed the silverware. “I just mean, that you’re something else, Ronan. Lynch.”

“If it helps, I never thought Gansey had any friends like you, or I might have actually made it up to grand old Harvard to visit him.”

“Friends like me,” Adam parroted and gave up the pretense of the dishes, dumping the silverware into the drain board and turning to face Ronan. “What exactly do you mean?”

Ronan squared his shoulders and decided that he wasn’t going to wimp his way out of this. “I mean, that you’re very attractive. And if we’d met in another way, somewhere else, that I’d want to ask you out.”

Adam gulped hard enough that Ronan saw his Adam’s apple bob. “And if you had, I’d say yes. But why only if we’d met in another way?”

Ronan stepped closer, not quite boxing Adam in against the sink but carefully keeping his hands to himself. “Because it seems like a really asshole thing to do, to bring you home, make you dependent on me, and then ask you out. Feels like I’m cornering you.”

Adam gave him a charming, crooked grin. “You did spirit me away pretty quickly to your magical land, and now I’ve eaten your food so I’m not even sure if I can leave.”

Ronan grinned back, slowly and sincerely. It felt like a moment, a very loaded moment, a moment of potential that Ronan wondered if he was reading right because he really wanted to lean in and kiss Adam.

While he hesitated, eyes flickering from Adam’s dark blue eyes to Adam’s pink lips, Adam took the decision away from him. He tugged Ronan closer with a hand in his T-shirt, leaned up and kissed him.

Ronan closed his eyes and felt the soft warmth of Adam’s mouth against his, Adam kissing his top lip then his bottom, and Ronan leaned closer, wrapping his hands around Adam’s back to hold him, daring a quick lick to Adam’s bottom lip as Adam pulled back slowly.

They breathed together for a long moment, Ronan’s head curled down, his forehead resting against Adam’s. Then Adam let go of his T-shirt and Ronan said, “What are you going to tell Gansey about this?”

Adam’s huff of surprised laughter finally made Ronan open his eyes. Adam was staring into his with undisguised amusement.

“Do you tell Gansey about every person you kiss?”

Ronan shrugged and told the honest truth. “Actually, yeah.”

“Oh my God,” Adam laughed again. “Well, then, maybe I should give you something really interesting to add to that conversation.”

This kiss was hungry, Ronan thought right before all rational thought flew right out of his mind. Adam’s tongue was as warm as the rest of him, and Ronan’s hands clutched at Adam’s face, his neck, clung to his lower back, pulling them even closer together. Something about that must have made Adam happy because he moaned into Ronan’s mouth and hitched himself even nearer with his arms around Ronan.

Ronan couldn’t even remember who they were talking about when Adam finally broke the kiss and panted, “That’ll give you something to talk about.”

“Heugh,” Ronan said before capturing Adam’s mouth again, feeling Adam huff a little laugh before he returned the kiss.

But after a little more grinding, Ronan must have found one of Adam’s bruises as he pushed him back against the edge of the sink because he felt Adam’s entire body wince. He reluctantly pulled his mouth away, brushing his lips across Adam’s cheek then jaw, over to his ear.

“You hurting?” he whispered.

Adam shook his head against Ronan’s neck but then shrugged. “I think the adrenaline is starting to fade,” he admitted.

Ronan sighed because he, unfortunately, knew exactly how that felt and how the injuries would be starting to stiffen and hurt even more. “I think we’d better get you to bed.”

Adam started to grin, and Ronan felt his face flush red as he hurried to explain, “I mean, get you to your own bed. C’mon I’ll take you to Declan’s room and you can crash. Er, you already did that. Just...get some rest.”

Adam laughed out loud at him, but he seemed amused by Ronan’s clumsiness rather than put off by his earnestness. Adam squeezed Ronan’s upper arms where his hands had settled and leaned back up for a brief kiss. “I hate to cut this short, but I think you might have the right idea.”

“And Tylenol,” Ronan remembered, finally prying his hands off Adam and stepping back.

“That might be a good idea, too,” Adam made a face of discomfort as he pushed himself off the sink.

Ronan hurried to find the Tylenol bottle and a bottle of water from the fridge then led Adam upstairs. Declan’s room was still furnished but stripped bare of all his personal belongings. Still, Ronan kept bedding on the bed and Matthew’s for whenever one of them decided to visit.

He put the bottles on the nightstand and turned down the bed, shaking out a pillow even. When he looked up, Adam was standing in the doorway, not even pretending to hide a wide smile. “You’re quite the homemaker,” he said.

“Fuck off,” Ronan retorted although his warm cheeks stayed hot. “I just want you to be comfortable.”

“Thank you, Ronan. I’m sure I will be.”

Adam approached him slowly and Ronan watched as he sat down on the bed beside him.

“Do you want pajamas or—”

“I’m fine like this.” Adam reached over to cup Ronan’s face in his hand, one thumb brushing gently over his cheekbone.

“You are fine,” Ronan confided in a soft voice.

Adam shook his head then leaned over and kissed him. Ronan slid an arm around Adam’s waist and brought his other hand up to touch his face, his neck, down to his chest where the T-shirt was as soft as Ronan thought, but the muscle underneath was anything but.

This kiss was a perfect combination of hunger and need but also temperance and patience, Ronan thought muzzily. They weren’t going to end up in bed together tonight, but there was definitely something there in the future that would spark and ignite.

When Adam’s hand slipped away from his face, Ronan pulled back and watched him, eyes closed, swaying a little. Ronan dropped a kiss on his forehead. “Do you want me to tuck you in?”

“Ha, no, that’s a little too...parental for me,” Adam said.

Ronan got up and ruffled Adam’s hair which was as soft as it had looked. “Okay, sport, hop in bed, if you want me to tell you a story.”

“That is the least sexy thing that anyone has ever said to me,” Adam batted his hand away.

Ronan just grinned. “Good night, sleep tight, don’t let the bed bugs bite.”

“You would tell me if your home was infested with bugs, right?”

Ronan continued to grin as Adam rolled his eyes. “The only thing that’ll bite around here is me.” He leaned down to Adam’s ear and said, “And only if you ask nicely,” and accompanied it with a quick nip to Adam’s earlobe.

Mood lightened, Adam pushed Ronan back and pulled his legs up into the bed with a sigh. “Thanks, Ronan. I’ll be sure and tell Gansey I give you five stars as a host.”

Ronan snorted but lingered as Adam pulled up the covers and rustled around in the bed. “Do you want a wake up call at a certain time?”

“Oh shit,” Adam sat back up. “I can’t believe I almost forgot.”

“What you’re doing in Henrietta?”

“Yeah, dammit. I have to be in town for 9 a.m. And my phone is downstairs with my bag. And I forgot to put the laundry in the dryer,” Adam groaned.

But Ronan stopped him before he could get out of bed. “I got it. I can finish the laundry. If you let me, I’ll get your stuff out of your bag, too, and hang it up? And I can set an alarm for, what? Eight?”

“Seven, thank you. If you can’t drive me, I can call—”

“Nah, I got you. I’m not resting until I deliver you safely to Henrietta. I don’t trust anyone else at this point.”

Adam shook his head, but his smile betrayed him as he lay back down. “I’m going to a celebration for my old mentor. She’s finally getting her doctorate. They’re doing some daylong thing for her, and my coming was supposed to be a surprise.”

“Oh, that’s cool,” Ronan said. When Adam suddenly held out his hand, Ronan took it, twining their fingers.

“Only, Persephone called me last night, wasn’t supposed to know I was coming, but she told me that the next time I drove to Henrietta, I was to be sure and take only the back roads in Virginia. No interstate, no highways, just the scenic route. Oh, and I was to make sure my cell phone was in a sealed plastic bag inside my backpack.”

“That’s weird,” Ronan said. “What, is she psychic?”

“Yeah, actually,” Adam answered in a voice that was getting heavier as his eyelids started to droop. “And what do you know? It worked. My phone survived just fine.”

“And so did you. Barely.”

“Thanks to you,” Adam’s voice was definitely dropping into sleep.

Ronan squeezed his hand then leaned down and kissed Adam’s bony knuckles. “Sleep sweet and pleasant dreams.”

Adam smiled up at him as he took his hand back and tucked it under the pillow. “It’s all been a pretty pleasant dream so far.”

As Ronan turned off the light and quietly closed the door, he shut his eyes and breathed out a silent prayer that the pleasant dream would never end.

**************

Adam looked down at the body, its back a literal work of art with a beloved tattoo and sculptured muscles beneath. Since his hands were full, Adam nudged his bare toes into the ribs of the body.

“Hey, man, you dead?” he asked.

Ronan grunted and turned his head enough to show one ice-blue eye glowering at him. “Feels like. Shit, when I said you could pick our honeymoon, I didn’t think you’d choose the seventh level of hell.”

Adam stopped to think for a moment. “You’ve cast us in with the sodomites?”

“Isn’t it appropriate, Mr. Adam Parrish-Lynch? Why do you think I chose that level?”

“Smartass.” Ronan only grinned and rolled over on the towel, accepted the large icy drink with grabby hands. Then Adam noticed, “You actually are pink. How can you burn through sunblock and a beach umbrella?”

“I’m sensitive and fair,” Ronan said before he slurped loudly. “The only reason I agreed to honeymoon on the literal surface of the sun was because you promised the villa would be air conditioned and I figured you’d be half naked all the time. Which is nice.”

“This is nice,” Adam sipped his own drink and dug his toes into the warm sand with a smile. He was tanning quite nicely. He figured he’d just have to keep Ronan out of the sun and full of icy booze for the rest of the week.

“You know what would be even nicer?”

“We are spending at least an hour on the beach before we go back to the villa for sex,” Adam informed him. His voice must have been louder than he intended because the nearest family to them turned scathing looks on him.

Ronan laughed as Adam winced in embarrassment. “You sure you don’t want to go back and hide from their judging stares?” Ronan asked, not even trying to drop his voice.

“No.” Adam did put his sunglasses on, though, as if they offered some protection. “I was promised a tropical beach so I intend to enjoy the sun and the sand.”

“And the water?” Ronan dropped his empty cup to the sand and stretched his arms high. Adam knew it was meant to draw his attention, and it worked. Then Ronan leaned in close and said lowly, “Let’s really offend that family and go make out in the ocean.”

Adam took another leisurely sip. “Nah, I’m fine here.”

Ronan nipped at his nearest ear and stuck his tongue inside which made Adam push at him until Ronan asked, “Have you ever got a handjob in the ocean?”

Adam pretended to consider while he finished his drink a little faster than he would normally. “No, I don’t believe I have. Are you offering?”

Ronan flickered his tongue at him and jerked his head toward the blue water that Adam knew was as warm as a bath. He sighed, even though he knew Ronan knew he was only pretending at being irritated. “Fine. If you insist. You’re my husband now, so I suppose I should try and make you happy.”

“You do make me happy. Ridiculously happy,” Ronan said, dropping all the teasing. He touched Adam’s cheek so Adam turned to face him, and then Ronan kissed him.

It made Adam’s toes curl still, even after a year of long-distance dating and another year of figuring out where they would live and fit in each others’ futures. It still made him feel strange, like an impostor, to know that Ronan saw their future that very first night they met. When Adam crashed, Ronan helped save him and took care of him. Ronan had always been firm and fast in his affections, while Adam wavered from time to time.

But when Ronan proposed, Adam knew he’d be a fool to walk away from a love like this. And now they were married and things would take a while to get used to, but even when Ronan had flashes of immaturity, he’d follow them with such sincerity that Adam was wooed all over again.

“Come on then,” Adam murmured against Ronan’s lips. “I believe my husband promised me a handjob.”

“In the ocean,” Ronan confirmed. He jumped to his feet and held out his hand, and Adam realized he’d be okay so long as Ronan was the one always offering a hand.

And it turned out that the ocean was very warm, but wrapping around his husband’s body—and his husband’s hands on him—were even hotter.

[spookyuu]

Appreciation Post!!

I've seriously been wanting to make a big post appreciating some of the dca content creators that I love (especially after getting to know some of them better) so here's a bunch of compliments and thoughts on them! (Also this is in no order, ily all very much ❤)

@madame-mongoose: Monnster!!! Oh, I love Monnie. Very bullyable (this is a pro). Always so funny and making me laugh. When Monnie comes online, I know there's gonna be some fun times to be had. Easy to talk to and my clone apparently. I wouldn't have made all these new friends if it weren't for Monnie and Sy, so I'm very appreciative of her uwu. Art is very shapely, bendy, very cartoonish in a pleasing way. And very unique to Monnie! I don't think I've seen anyone else with an artstyle like Monnie's. Characters are juicy, very well thought out and full of pain. Your mom.

@suokumi: You came crashing in one day and life has never been the same. Suo is full of love and passion and awful terrible disgusting sleeping habits. But they make up for it by telling everyone else to take care of themselves because they love you sososo much. Really talented, but don't tell them that or else they'll die. Anyway yeah, Suo Art my beloved and also Suo my beloved because we're married. Can bust out 50+ sketches in an hour and is like "dont look" even though I'm frothing at the mouth and shaking them. I love you Suo mwah ❤️

@opudontdonut: La Creatura!!! Bites everyone like watermelon. very fun, very gremlin. Pops in every now and again and throws everyone into a frenzy. A biting frenzy. Good Gaslighter. Take that as you may. Draws chibis really unique in a way I cannot replicate but is so so so so cute. Art is very distinct too!!! The line work especially is very noticable? Thick black lines. Draws the boys v skrunkly too. Nightmare and therapy au my beloveds.

@ariisonfire: TALENTED!!! Very, very talented. Animates, codes, arts, does just about everything and is good at it. Very funny doodles, very dorky. I love Ari!!! Very cute (cutest giggles this side of uh. Idk just really cute giggles) and provides me with Vector content. My spouse, no matter what Lily says.

@skittlewaffle: LOVE the way Kay draws the boys. Her art in general is so sharp and intentional. Precise. Very cartoony as well, good for animation me thinks. Has good AU ideas and brainstorms really well. Literally. The fucking paragraphs kay busts out that obliterate my mind. Also very fun person to hang out with, very silly.

@pillowspace: Beautiful, wonderful person. Somehow manages to draw on her 3ds??? Like a god?? Loves rotini (eat something else I'm begging you) KEEPS FUCKING REBLOGGING MY WATERFALLS PIECE Also has similar brain thoughts as me (ooie to Angel Tango jumpscare) Has a beautiful voice, fr. Sang a song for me which melted my little heart. Makes gut-bustingly funny gifs at the speed of light. Also says??? Things that make no sense but are very funny.

@vilz: Oof, what's not good to say about Val? You know that meme that's like "You're the funniest mother fucker on this webbed site" that's Val. Val's the funniest. Their comics always make me bark laugh like an idiot. Writes very poetically, reading their stuff is like. Like being punched but with a soft caress. Val art is good for the soul, me thinks. Even their doodles on receipt paper give me all the chemicals. Hanging out with Val leaves me smiling for the rest of the day, very fun company.

@cloudyvoid: SUPER talented. Can you believe they drew and rigged their own Vtuber model? I know, impressive right? Draws the DCA skrunkly and lanky just how I like 'em. BRAINS SO HARD WITH ME ABOUT DROWSIE AND GAIA!!? Very nice wonderful person as well, fun company. And ooughhh I just love the oc brainrot with her. Could do it all day, love you mwah.

@crazedauthor: Knows all the fanfics. Well maybe not all, but knows the ones I happen to be thinking about. Pops in mid brainstorm to add something juicy that adds fuel to the fire. Human gasoline. Got obliterated by 1 (one) chip. o7

@daunsun: Another sketch machine. Gives me Eclipse content. FIABC liker, which automatically elevates her status. Tries to shoot people who make fanart, but she deserves it so idk what to tell you. And then turns around and makes fanart for other ppl. smh double standards. Love the way she draws humans. And the boys, but that goes without saying. Honestly the way daun draws the boys is sooo good it's like. I can't even describe. It's like cupcake. Long cupcake.

@cakesfunhouse: Hi __ I'm Cole looking ass. Shoots me dead with fluffy ramblings all the fucking time. Brainstorms really well, dropping good ideas like they had them shoved in their pockets ready to throw. Actually really sweet and fun to talk to. Gremlin, though so beware, they bite. Draws biblically accurate dca fluff, so what's not to love. Will pop in randomly while you're talking to someone else to add something that kills me dead. Like wheezing laughter.

@nmfergus: Nikki my beloved 💜 such a sweetheart, loves to see people happy and excited, always asking questions and seeing how everyone is doing. CHICKENS!!! Farmville. Also Corndrop. Ask Nikki about corndrop. Can you guess what he sells? It's corn. The answer is corn.

@paper-lilypie: LILY!!! omg Lily real. Art is all soft lines and easy to read expressions and kisses and snuggles and basically when I see lily art it's like drinking a cup of hot cocoa. Also the way Lily draws hands? God, what a legend. Give me your hands. Little hater. And enabler. But she's my little hater/enabler so it's okay ❤️ love me a good Lily spotting. Has good au ideas too.

@sycopomp: SYBORG!!! I wouldn't be making this post if it weren't for them and Monnster. Sy writing makes brain go brrrr. Has this way of setting stuff up that pays off later? Like little hints into things that are really fun to pick apart/notice on your own. I can always picture what's happening in Sy writing really well which sucks for me personally when they write ouchie owies. But I love them for it mwah ❤️

@sinnabee: AH Sinna!!! Magician Au makes my brain neurons activate so hard. Very sweet as well, love doing magmas with her. Also funny and caring. Don't get to hang out with much because if timezones but I am always very happy when I do get to vibe with a Sinna. Has wonderful beautiful line work and cool ocs I want to know more about.

@spaciebabie: Chaos. (I'm tempted to have that be the only thing I put here) Also makes me laugh!! drops in and says some shit that has me giggling sillystupid. Art is bubbly. Round. Rotund. Want to get to know better!!! Pizza.

Special Mentions/People I want to get to know better:

@oobbbear: Bearz. Bearz my beloved. Your art makes my heart explode. And you're so funny even without knowing you well. 👁👁 The way you draw so chibi and yet so detailed? Like the way you draw hands? Impeccable. Also H mouth. H mouth so cute. I honestly don't think I would have gotten into drawing Sun and Moon fanart if it wasn't for Bearz' aus infecting me like a disease. So everyone say thank you to Bearz for roping me into this!

@hexheathen: MY NUMBER ONE FAN ❤ My bestie who doesn't know the jesties. I love you with all my heart, and I love spending time with you and the rest of our pals. This is my appreciation post and I say you get appreciated.

@bones-of-a-rabbit: SHY BEAN. Drops some cute ass shit and skitters away. Wish I could know better! They have a lot of good ideas and honestly I see them as one of the best fluff writers for DCA content. It was in Reality Not Fine my beloved. I've said it once and I'll say it again: They really capture the word "Lovestruck" with their expressions. When people say, "They looked at them like they hung the moon and the stars," I imagine the way Rabbit draws sun and moon looking at y/n. It's honestly such a talent.

[echo-goes-mmm]

Second-Hand Goods Finale

Masterpost

Previous

Warnings: referring to someone as “broken”, dehumanization, conditioning, implied dub/non-con, “stockholm syndrome”

Ander was pleasantly surprised that Emmett had broken so easily. Was it the withdrawal that finally did him in, or the isolation? Or maybe the client he bought his pet from had done more damage than he thought and jumpstarted the process?

Ultimately, it didn’t matter. Emmett was cute and compliant, and that was all Ander needed. 

He moved Emmett's kennel to his room, just in case he needed to punish him a bit, but it only collected dust.

He even acquiesced on some privileges; Emmett had a hoodie to go along with his boxers (adorable), and had full range of the house. Of course, he’d be locked in his room when Ander went to pick up some product, but Emmett didn’t seem to mind. 

He didn’t seem to mind much of anything anymore, too eager to please to object. 

Just how Ander wanted him.

___________________

Emmett was on the couch, engrossed in his book, when he heard the back door open and close. Odd. Master would have told him if he was going out; he needed to be locked in his room. Master wouldn’t just leave.

What if someone had broken in?

He got up to go look for him. 

The basement door was locked, so he wasn’t downstairs. He dared to peek into Master’s bedroom, but it was empty. So was the kitchen, the bathrooms, and of course he wasn’t in the living room.

Emmett was home alone.

He bit his lip. What to do? Master had even forgotten to lock the front door. It was a nice day out, and the door was ajar to let the light through the glass of the storm door.

Hesitantly, he closed the door and slid the deadbolt into place. He drew the blinds closed, and curled back up on the couch. He went back to his book, and waited for Master to come home.

___________________

Ander was on his way home when he realized he’d forgotten to secure Emmett. Panic slammed into him like a train; he was two hours away with no idea what he was up to.

His house was pretty distant from the rest of town, but there was ample time for Emmett to slip out, alert the police, and have the whole state looking for his car.

Shit. Shit shit shit.

He eyed the speedometer. He was already seven over the speed limit, and there was no way he could risk getting pulled over with a bag of sedatives in the passenger seat and a product in his trunk.

He turned the radio to the news and clutched the steering wheel, his knuckles turning white. He flipped on cruise control and waited to hear his name on the broadcast.

___________________

Ander pulled into the driveway, vibrating with anxiety. He glanced around, but could see no hastily hidden cops.

He sprinted up to the house, fumbling his keys and cursing. He finally got the lock, slamming the door open.

“Emmett!? Emmett!?” He ran through the house, nearly colliding with him. Emmett flinched away, dropping to his knees and looking up at him.

“Master, what’s wrong?”

Ander was still shaking, and he took in deep breaths trying to calm down. His heart was beating so fast.

He pulled himself together. “Nothing, I just.. It’s nothing.” He ran his hand through his hair.

Calm down, he told himself. Nothing happened. Everything’s fine. 

Emmett was still waiting on the floor, and he looked shaken. Ander glanced down at him.

“Go wait for me in your room.”

“Yes, Master.” Emmett got up and obeyed, and Ander watched him disappear down the hall. 

He turned to go back to the car and unload.

As he hefted the new stock downstairs, Ander thanked himself and god (in that order) that Emmett didn’t try to escape. But then a thought struck him.

He hastily cuffed the woman to a pole and pulled out his phone. He checked the security alerts. There was one notification. 

Had Emmett left and come back?

He chewed the inside of his cheek as he rewound the footage. The cameras caught Emmett wandering, checking the house. Making sure he was gone. Dammit.

But then Emmett paused at the front door, fiddling with the hem of his gray hoodie.

Don’t do it, he thought, Please tell me you didn’t.

Footage-Emmett closed the front door, locked it, and picked up his book again.

Ander felt the weight on his shoulders disappear. Escape was right in front of him, and Emmett hadn’t taken it.

Such a good boy deserved a reward, and Ander needed some stress relief. 

___________________

Emmett snuggled into Master’s chest, his arms wrapped around his waist and back. He wasn’t in trouble after all; he’d done well to wait for Master right where he left him. 

His reward was some sex (this time he got a blowjob before getting fucked) and takeout that he got to pick (!).

As he dozed off, his only thought was that he’d made the right choice.

He belonged here. He was better than all those guests, all those things that came and went from the house. He was special and good, and Master loved him.

And Emmett loved him back.

taglist: @writereleaserepeat @paintedpigeon1 @morning-star-whump @softmutt444

[letsquestjess]

Protective Measures - Part 1 (Howzer x GN!Reader)

Summary: During diplomatic talks on Ryloth, Howzer is assigned as your security. In the weeks you spend together, unfortunate feelings begin to bloom.

Word count: 1.9K

Warnings: None. Future parts will be 18+.

Part 2

-- -- -- -- --

“If Ryloth had any sense of propriety, they would have arranged for separate shuttles and a grand procession,” Senator Kel proclaimed, gesturing with dark, well-groomed nails at the cramped confines of the craft. 

“It is rather stuffy,” Senator Evana granted. With a graceful flick, she brushed her sleek, golden hair away from her face and stuffed her nose in the air. “I suppose their resources are not as ambitious as we may have assumed.”

Many of the others fell into synchronised agreement like simpering dominoes, and you resisted the urge to shake your head at their finicky behaviour. You said nothing. As a representative from an inconsequential planet, your voice was constantly disregarded and dismissed unless it was to offer something deemed valuable. However, you were not going to sit in silence during the negotiations. You had plenty of experience fighting back, and you weren’t about to let them intimidate you. Your people depended on you, and you approached your job with a deep sense of responsibility. 

“Anyone would think we were being taken prisoner,” Senator Evana retorted, earning herself a round of pretentious laughs. 

Wriggling in your seat, your eyes drew across the magnificent display of clouds unfurling in the boundless expanse below as the ship broke through Ryloth airspace and smoothly landed on the private docking platform on the outskirts of Lessu. Beside the landing pad, a large cluster of clones and a neat line of stone-faced officers stood in formation.

You let the rest of the senators file out before you got to your feet and ventured into the blazing sunlight, defending your eyes with your arm. While your colleagues voiced their demands and complaints, you waited. 

A uniformed Twi’lek officer approached at a purposeful speed and scrolled through his datapad. The accompanying clone halted a few steps behind. “Welcome to Ryloth, senator,” the officer huffed, his words carrying the weight of practised repetition. He gestured to the helmeted man with him. “This is Captain Howzer. He will be your security for the duration of your stay. If you need anything, let him know.” 

Without so much as a pause for a response, the official departed to attend to the others, leaving you alone with your protector. Your outstretched hand was met with a hesitant shake from the captain, and you introduced yourself. 

“Is it always so busy during a visit?” you asked as he guided you through the crowded mass of clones and politicians and officers and towards the translucent plasma bridge. 

“It’s not been this lively for a while,” Howzer replied, his low tones modulated by the helmet’s speakers. “But you don’t need to worry. Everything has been taken care of.” 

“I can see that,” you said. Glancing around, the griping senators seemed to have been pacified for the time being, promised all that tumbled from their lips and satisfied with their provisions. 

“Is there anything in particular you need while you’re here? Food requirements, wake-up calls, that sort of thing?” Howzer questioned. 

“Just a quiet room nowhere near the other senators,” you answered with a light-hearted chuckle. 

“In that case, you’ll be glad to know your apartment is in a quieter part of the complex.”

You silently thanked your lucky stars. The last few trips with them had been a taxing ordeal, and you dreaded a repeat of the squabbles that ran over into the night and the disagreements that hounded you at the dining table. You were determined that this time would be different, and the idea of a suite secluded enough to shield you from uncompromising politicians seemed like a promising start. 

* * *

As the surrounding arguments escalated into a near screaming match, you sighed and rubbed the bridge of your nose. Amidst the fury, fingers were jabbed accusingly, and insults flew in a storm of spit and indignation. 

“How dare you question my integrity when your barbarous planet cannot go a rotation without threatening each other,” Senator Evana fumed. Her chair squeaked as it was unceremoniously shoved backwards and she rose to her feet. The man that she argued with scoffed a derisive snort, and his response only provoked her further. 

“With all due respect, Senator Evana, what you’re suggesting would divert vital resources from many of our planets,” you interjected, tired of the arrogance accumulating by the second. “What are we to tell our people when they ask why taxes have increased to cover your costs, and how they are supposed to access necessities when you have taken so much? I refuse to put the citizens of my world in such a position for nothing more than pure greed.”

Several senators in your vicinity aired their agreements with your sentiment and added their outright refusal into the mix. 

“Ever the compassionate soul,” Kel scorned. “I think Senator Evana has a point.”

“Only because you benefit from whatever she gains,” you snapped. Kel’s intense gaze pierced through you, but you stood firm, refusing to falter at his weak attempts to daunt you. 

Following another bout of viciously worded disagreements and scathing remarks, the advocate of the meeting called for a temporary suspension and a continuation was set for the next morning. Seething, the senators piled out of the room, clenching their fists and spitting their displeasure. 

“After what I’ve just witnessed, I think it’s safe to say that war and politics have at least one thing in common,” Howzer said, as he accompanied you from the hall. 

“And what would that be?” you asked. 

“They’re both cutthroat.” 

You let out a small laugh at that. “Perhaps, but the chances of me getting shot are considerably lower than yours,” you pointed out. 

“I don’t know,” the clone captain confessed jokingly. “Senator Kel definitely looked like he’d happily take a swipe.” 

“He’s all bark and no bite.”

Throughout the weeks you had spent on Ryloth, you discovered a surprising ally in Howzer, someone you could trust and confide in. Meeting after meeting, he attentively listened to your grievances and showed a genuine concern for your troubles, soothing them with reassurances and the occasional quip to cheer you up.

“But I don’t want to talk about that atrocious session,” you decided, “and I’d rather not return to the apartment yet.” 

“Is there anywhere you’d like to go?” he asked. 

“Somewhere peaceful where there isn’t any bustle.”

For a moment he dithered, and you wondered what was going through his mind. His gloved hand absentmindedly grazed over the rough, clawed scar on his cheek. 

“There must be some place for a bit of quiet,” you said. 

“Many,” the captain replied. “That’s not the issue.”

“Then what is it?” 

“You’ll be searching for some time if you want somewhere quiet in Lessu, and I’m not allowed to take you outside the city while negotiations are ongoing, unless for an emergency.”

“Ah, I see.” Hands clasped behind your hips, you surveyed the towering architecture and ornate dark-wood patterns that adorned the walls of the political centre. “I suppose we had better head to the apartment, then.” 

“I didn’t say that,” Howzer said. His chestnut eyes sparkled with a knowing glimmer, and a grin curled at the corner of his lips. “Come on. This way.” 

The captain steered you in the opposite direction of the capital, guiding you through hidden pathways and taking careful steps to remain concealed. You descended into the lower reaches and ascended again up a smooth slope just outside the city limits. 

As soon as you reached flat land, a sprawling garden unfolded, bursting with vibrant colours and inviting you into the pruned greenery. Floral designs dispersed along grainy routes, adding a touch of elegance to the marble-tiled edge of the rectangular pool. 

“This was part of a palace retreat,” Howzer explained as you marvelled at the network of flowery tracks. “When the war broke out, construction stopped. The bricks were taken and used for new military buildings, but they left the garden. Most don’t even know it’s here, but Senator Taa likes to keep it looking presentable.”

“This is… I…” You struggled to find the right words and ended up gaping, savouring the serene stillness, a complete departure from the opulent chambers and heated outbursts of your peers. 

Hours passed as you walked the crunching paths, the sun casting long shadows as you swapped stories and competed to make each other laugh. For a meagre fraction in time, the seconds seemed to fade into insignificance, but with the pool beginning to turn from a deep orange to a striking red, you were forced to return to the city. To the cacophony of responsibilities and the duty that awaited, and away from that treasured tranquillity. 

* * *

The dining hall buzzed with lively conversation and the rhythmic clatter of silverware. Any discussion that veered too close to a disagreement was squashed for the sake of decency at the banquet table, but the occasional gibe managed to slip through. There was no way to predict how the negotiations would end, given the constant flurry of self-interest and avarice. Somehow, it would have to happen, yet as the weeks passed with no resolution in sight, you couldn’t help but ponder the sacrifices that would need to be made for the talks to conclude. Despite the situation, your resolve endured unshaken. If it meant aiding your people and ensuring a secure future for them, you would willingly stay on Ryloth for the next cycle. 

And when you thought about it, maybe extending your visit wouldn’t be such a terrible idea. 

From the orderly row of assigned clones by the glass doors, Howzer’s gaze locked onto yours. Ever since your walk together in the hidden gardens, your mind had drifted to him. His steadfast yet gentle nature drew you to him in a way you hadn’t expected, but it wasn’t an unwelcome emotion. Just an unfortunate one. Your duties left you wandering down diverging paths, and regardless of how you both might feel, neither of you could do anything about it. 

Discreetly slipping a handful of chocolate discs from your dessert bowl into a napkin, you tucked them into your pocket and excused yourself from the table, heading into the vacant lobby. As always, Howzer trailed faithfully behind. 

You reached the courtyard fountain outside and a cool mist poured over the rim to smoother the pebbles. 

“You shouldn’t stay out here for too long,” the captain advised, holding his distance. Deep within his heart, he longed to be by your side, offering his warmth as a shield against Ryloth’s nighttime chill, but he withheld his desires for your sake more than his own. For now, he was happy just to be in your company. 

“It gets much colder than this back home,” you said, drawing the concealed napkin from your pocket and placing it directly into his warm, battle-scarred hands. “Here. For you.” You watched as he peeled open the embroidered fabric, revealing the flat rounds of chocolate. 

“Senator, I can’t accept-”

“Please. You work incredibly hard and get very little recognition for it. I know it’s only chocolate, but you deserve something nice. Consider it a small thank you for protecting me. And for keeping me sane.”

Howzer chuckled, a rough, captivating sound that had a blissful heat expanding from your cheeks to the tips of your ears. 

He snapped a piece between his teeth and held the bundle out to you, shaking the sweet treats temptingly until you agreed to at least take one. ‘I shall miss you when you go,’ he hopelessly craved to say as you slipped the sweet into your mouth and beamed at him in such a radiant way that he could feel the jealousy of every sun in the galaxy. 

He swallowed the words with the rich, velvety chocolate and sealed them away. Such confessions would only make your inevitable parting that much more difficult, and that was the last thing he wanted to do. 

TAGLIST (Message if you’d like to be added for future reader fics, 18+ only)

@skellymom @freesia-writes @the-hexfiles @theeyesofasoldier @multi-fan-dom-madness @savebytheodoresnonjosestuff @tech-aficionado @techsriduur @dangraccoon @starrylothcat @jediknightjana

[mel0809]

Early Mornings

Pairings:

Jay Halstead x Ella Bennett (original character)

Jay Halstead, a seasoned detective from the Chicago PD, found himself entangled in a passionate romance with his girlfriend, Ella. Ella, a stunning 21-year-old woman, possessed a beauty that captivated everyone she encountered. However, it was not just her looks that drew Jay to her; Ella's genius-level IQ and her remarkable skills as an FBI agent also piqued his interest.

Ella was a force of constant motion, perpetually on the move and finding it difficult to focus on just one thing. Jay understood the challenges she faced and made it a point to keep a watchful eye on her, particularly during their undercover assignments. He recognized her as the top undercover agent on her team, and her connections within the agency made her a formidable ally. Furthermore, her mastery of hand-to-hand combat, utilizing pressure points to disable her opponents, only added to her impressive skill set.

Jay's protective instincts were heightened due to Ella's youthful beauty and her vulnerability. He understood that others might be drawn to her, and he was determined to shield her from any harm. Ella's intelligence propelled her thoughts at lightning speed, her mind constantly racing with a thousand ideas. Jay was always there to accompany her on runs when she couldn't sit still, providing a physical outlet for her restless energy.

One bright morning, as the sunbeams filtered through the curtains, Jay and Ella woke up entangled in each other's arms. Ella, full of energy, began wiggling playfully, eliciting a smile from Jay. He couldn't resist the opportunity to hold her still and engage in a playful moment with her. As his hands found her waist, a mischievous glint appeared in his eyes, ready to engage in some light-hearted banter.

However, their playful interlude was abruptly interrupted by a series of knocks on Jay's apartment door. Ella's curiosity got the best of her, and she broke free from Jay's grasp, heading to answer the door. Jay's disappointment quickly turned into a pang of jealous panic as he realized Ella was not properly dressed to face whoever was on the other side.

His protective instincts kicked into overdrive, and he hurriedly tried to find a solution. Grabbing a shirt from his closet, Jay tossed it to Ella, urging her to quickly put it on to cover herself. His heart raced as he anxiously waited for her to answer the door, his mind racing with thoughts of potential threats or unwanted attention.

Ella, oblivious to Jay's internal turmoil, opened the door with a friendly smile, unaware of the effect she had on others.

It turned out to be a delivery person with a package, and she accepted it graciously. As she closed the door, Ella turned back to Jay, her eyes sparkling with innocence and unawareness of his momentary panic.

Jay, now relieved that the situation had passed without incident, took a deep breath and tried to calm his racing heart. He realized that Ella's naivety and genuine nature were part of her charm, even though it sometimes triggered his protective instincts.

With a swift motion, Jay pounced onto the bed, pulling Ella into his embrace. She giggled, her laughter filling the room with joy and lightness. Jay's hands roamed playfully over her sides, tickling her ever so slightly. Ella squirmed in his hold, her movements a delightful dance that only fueled Jay's playful nature.

Their laughter intertwined, creating a symphony of happiness that resonated within the walls of the bedroom. Ella's infectious energy was contagious, and Jay found himself immersed in the moment, forgetting any worries or stress that may have plagued him earlier.

Ella crawled towards Jay with a playful smirk on her face, her body moving in a way that made his pulse quicken. She straddled him, leaning in closer, their faces mere inches apart. Jay's hands instinctively found their way to her hips, his touch both firm and gentle.

"You're quite the tease, aren't you?" Jay whispered, his voice filled with a mix of amusement and desire. Ella's eyes sparkled with mischief as she leaned in to capture his lips in a playful kiss, their mouths moving in sync.

Their bodies pressed against each other, a delicious friction building between them. Jay's hands roamed freely over Ella's back, his touch leaving a trail of warmth and tingles in its wake. Ella responded by deepening the kiss, her fingers tangling in his hair, pulling him closer.

The playful banter continued as their bodies intertwined, shifting and rolling with a playful grace. Ella's laughter filled the room, a melody that blended with Jay's low chuckles. They lost themselves in the moment, exploring each other's bodies with a delightful combination of curiosity and desire.

Ella's dancer's grace came into play as she moved fluidly atop Jay, her body swaying to a rhythm only they could hear. Her movements were a dance of seduction, captivating Jay's attention completely. He marveled at her beauty and the way she effortlessly commanded his desire.

Their playful touches and whispered words of affection echoed throughout the room, creating an intimate atmosphere that was uniquely theirs. Jay's love language of physical touch was on full display as he caressed every inch of Ella's body, his fingers tracing patterns of pleasure along her skin.

As their playful exploration reached its peak, their laughter mingled with breathless moans, and their playful gestures evolved into an intoxicating passion. Their bodies moved together in a synchronized dance, their connection both intense and tender.

Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in the moment, their playful encounter evolving into an intimate expression of love and desire. They reveled in the pleasure they brought each other, the playful playfulness giving way to a deeper connection.

Afterwards, as they lay intertwined, their bodies still humming with satisfaction, Jay held Ella close, his touch conveying a mix of tenderness and adoration. Their playful escapade had brought them even closer, reinforcing the strength of their bond.

[darling1001]

WHEN IT CRUMBLES

Miguel O'Hara & OFC

Part 1

Summary: Miguel rescues someone who shares his pain.

cw: Angst, blood mention.

Something wasn't right. The control room signals detected an anomaly but then vanished and shut down. They were sporadic, like if they were traveling from one dimension to another and back again. Because of these contradictions, Miguel had just one option: go investigate. The dimension in question was a cold area where it always snowed and there seemed to be no variation in temperatures, giving it a sorrowful atmosphere. Miguel conducted research before setting out on the hunt for an answer. He had logged numerous violent murders throughout the city, and he was fully aware that it was an anomaly. There was no Spiderman or Spiderwoman at the time. As a result, the dimension became more vulnerable and less secure.

The chilly air is burning Miguel's face. He pulls his scarf up to his nose, unused to these temperatures. Finding a running anomaly is challenging, and it becomes even more difficult when it can easily transcend dimensions. There were few people on the streets of this freezing New York. He could see people hurrying to shield themselves from the freezing wind, which seemed to have intensified. He went faster, to where Lyla showed, trying to complete his job as soon as possible, irritated by the constant cold that ran through his body. The location directed him to a long and gloomy lane. Miguel frowned as he approached the alley from the street. But something drew his attention; suddenly, lights and sounds familiar to him appeared at the end, illuminating the alley. Miguel smirked and dashed towards the streetlights. "I got you"

When he arrived at the location of the lights, the spontaneous portal had vanished, and the creature appeared to have fled the scene. Miguel grumbled angrily and summoned Lyla to ask for more coordinates; she materialized glitcin in front of him. But a noise from behind him woke him up. Someone could simply go hide in the alley because it was cluttered with rubbish and dumpsters, and Miguel wouldn't know because of his lack of spider senses.

Alma had no idea what had occurred. After being bitten by a spider in her hand, everything seemed to come alive, with noises and feelings flowing from everywhere, her head ached, and her hands itched. Second, a large red monster appeared out of nowhere and began running towards the street, and a weird tall man appeared before her and spoke to a yellow hologram girl with amazing heart shaped glasses, which Alma now wanted too. And all the while she rummaged among the trash for something of interest to bring home. The girl crouched behind a garbage container, pulling up the hood of her hoodie and taking a long breath as she considered her next move. But she felt something, something that made her move; a need to escape ran through her entire body, and she did so, unwittingly escaping the man who was approaching her with inhuman speed.

Miguel came to a halt when he noticed the person who was hiding from him. She was a girl, perhaps around 13 years old. The girl ran afraid, but she did something unusual: she ran unusually fast for a regular girl.

The girl must have seen something.

Miguel went after her in the most harmless manner possible, but let's face it, Miguel doesn't look friendly at all. Despite the fact that the girl was quick, Miguel was more experienced and caught up with her. He gently yanked on her hood, turning her around to get a better look at her. The girl appeared grimy, as if she had gone through the trash. Her hair was white and shoulder length, and her eyes were dark as coal. The girl kicked and fought her way out.

"Hey, quit that!" Miguel scowled. In anxiety, the girl pursed her lips. She also attempted to bite his arm.

"What exactly do you want me to do, man?!? You're terrifying, and you look to be chewing on a fucking lemon the whole time!!" After attempting to bite him, she yelled at him.

"Did you really just try to bite my arm?" He said, perplexed, as he wiped the saliva from his arm. "I'm not going to hurt you, I just want to know what you saw back there"

"I can tell you everything I know with a little encouragement." She gave him a cheeky look and extended her hand, revealing her palm. When she observed her outraged expression, she finished, "Nothing is free in this world."

"I thought you were afraid of me 2 minutes ago," Miguel remarked.

"You can never pass up an opportunity, sir," the girl said dismissively.

"Pinche niña," Miguel whispered as he examined the pockets of his slacks (he had dressed casually to fit in) and found 40 bucks, a mint candy, and a kitten keychain.

Alma smiled warmly and took all of Miguel's items from his grasp. “this seems enough!” she exclaimed, her eyes twinkling at the kitty keychain.

"Are you always like this?" Please, no. "No courtesy?" She inquired, a small smile on her face.

In annoyance, Miguel rolled his eyes and touched the bridge of his nose. "Can you please tell me what you saw?" He questioned vehemently. "I really like her!" Layla spoke via his earpiece.

"Of course!" exclaimed Alma. "First, that thing appeared out of nowhere; it was so big, tall, and red, as if it had like sticky blood flowing from its body. And it was extremely, very ugly, with nothing pretty, not a single pretty thing," Alma said, running her hands up and down to explain. "And it went that way," she said, pointing, "and if you don’t mind me, I have to go."

When Miguel moved his sight to where the girl was, she had already vanished around the corner. "Who is she, Lyla?" Miguel inquired, both curiously and attentively. "nothing more and nothing less, that was the spider girl from this universe. Her name is Alma López, and she was only bitten a few minutes before you found her."

———————————————————————————

Alma ran into the brisk wind, the cold scorching her cheeks like it had so many times before. She grinned as she felt the 40 dollars in her pocket, despite being used to the cold. She dashed to the supermarket to get food, warm and tasty. Her smile did not waver as she considered returning home to show her parents and brother what she had got.

The closer she went to home, the more excited she became. Her family's home was not fancy or large; it was a tiny one-story dwelling with one room. Alma promised her parents that when she finished school and sought for an appropriate job, she would find a nicer place for them. She'd find them somewhere better, somewhere they wouldn't be cold, somewhere they'd eat enough to stop the pain of emptiness in their belly, somewhere they'd eat three times a day. A place where her mother could relax and recover from her illness, and where her father could help her worn old back. she could help her brother.

But she had no idea that her dreams would be dashed by the impending reality.

The atmosphere in New York was different, more anxious. She could sense that something horrible was going on. Her heart racing and her senses tingling, she increased her steps. She came to a halt when she saw her neighbors' houses collapse and smash into each other, collapsing to nothing and disappearing all at once. "What the fuck...?" Alma was worried and murmured. She rushed home like she'd never run before. She had to find them.

The pristine white scenery was shattered. Red droplets and stains coated the ground and created a path to her house's doors. The door opened as if it were inviting anybody in, and the rusty stench reached her nose. The bags fell to the floor and the biting stopped as soon as she entered. It was like a painting and the walls were the canvas.

“Mom? Dad?”

“It smells like spider in here” a deep and eerie voice came from the house.

bite, bites, bites.

Chewing, chewing

swallowing…

What kind of nightmare is this?

Alma took a step forward and stepped on something; when she looked down, she saw that the floors were covered with red paint. But... was that truly red paint? She hoped it was red paint.

Everything happened so quickly that there was no time to think about it. Alma noticed the sound when she first saw the red beast. Then she heard heavy and powerful footsteps, like if an animal was racing. When the ferocious animal shoved her out of the path, she fell to the ground and noticed them. It was there when she witnessed everything. Her parents unrecognizable on the floor, smeared in red paint.

Now everything unfolded gradually, as if in slow motion, her chest and breathing rose, and her heart ran miles, she could feel it racing inside her body. She felt herself breaking apart, like if she were being pulled open. Her world was crumbling. literally. But something jolted her out of her stupor. Someone was tugging at her sleeve with great desperation.

“Alma, please talk to me” Her young brother, Luka, pulled her sleeves up in anguish as he noticed what her sister witnessed.

Her eyes move fast. Her pupils dilated as her eyes enlarged. Her face was pale, and she was sweating despite the cold. She jerked awake and hastily snatched her brother into her arms, covering his eyes as she moved to get out of there.

"Don't look, don’t look. We'll be fine, we'll be fine," she repeated weakly, like a mantra.

Alma, who was on the floo-" her little brother asked, clinging to her sister in horror.

“No, they’re okay. They’re just sleeping! Yes, sleeping. Just… sleeping” She whispered shakily as she walked through the snow looking for whatever she was looking for. Something safe.

But everything appeared to be wrong, and everything was wrong. Everything appeared to vanish in cracks.

Where have all the people gone? Where has everyone gone?

"Alma" his brother groaned, "I don't feel well," his breath frozen and frigid air escaping from his lip, his words sounded bad like everything else around it, sliced up like a computer glitch. “It hurts”

She came to a halt and knelt on the ground, holding her brother in her arms. Her breath became stuck in her throat, and her desperation took control of her body. "What is going on?" What are you feeling? I promise I'll take care of you. I’m sorry, Please do not leave. "Please, Luka," she pleads as she watches her brother go away, as if he never been, her voice muffled by tears and her aching throat heard everywhere, her hands clinging to the snow underneath her. "Luka, please come back; don't leave me alone." she fell to the ground even lower, hugging her body as she cried harder and trembled.

So cold, it’s really cold

I don’t like this cold anymore

She didn't know when the cold ceased, but she felt him holding her tightly and the irregular movements of her body abruptly stopped, leaving her floating. But she was no longer cold and that was much better.

"I've got you. I've got you. You're fine and safe. I swear." He muttered gently and calmly, his words carefully rocking her.



[yellowcry]

Going in circles

Luisa was never scared. Worried, yes. She was worried that somebody could get hurt, she was thinking of any way she could keep everyone safe. Panic buried inside her heart wasn't something new for her. But not afraid. Never before. Not like this. History repeating itself after all

Pedro and Alma swap

It was loud. The sound of cracking plaster was beating in a deathly melody. Walls crumbled under the pressure. The world spun in merciless cracks that ran along the walls at enormous speed. Roof tiles crushed against the floor. The weak light of the now almost-destroyed candle disappeared in breaking darkness. A disgusting melody of demise lay upon them. Like an announcement of the king's arrival.

Luisa was never scared. Worried, yes. She was worried that somebody could get hurt, she was thinking of any way she could keep everyone safe. Panic buried inside her heart wasn't something new for her. But not afraid. Never before. Not like this.

Don't panic, it's fine

Now her core couldn't stop beating in tact of the tune. For years she was learning to get rid of any danger, swing her sword, or be a living shield for her family. But she never learned what to do when her house was breaking in front of her eyes. It wasn't something she ever considered until yesterday.  She rushed to the wall, trying to push the cracks back; she had to. The stairs broke next to her. The railing forced itself out, making Luisa startle. She rushed, just in time to catch Camilo. There were screams, but her mind felt too foggy, too scared that something could happen. The entire world was going round. Her lungs were filled with rubble. The extinct doors flew off their hinges. There was no way to stop this. The melody proceeded too far and there was no way to play the record back. 

Her voice was raspy, hard from the feeling that she desperately tried to keep in check. "We have to get out!" 

Stay calm. Stay calm. Stay fucking calm.

 "It's not safe in here!" That's what her job was, she kept everything on track when Abuelo could interfere. 

Pedro gasped, turning his attention to Luisa in shock. Luisa stared at him for a wink, before the snapping sound drew her attention. Another beat to the melody. Isabela. Catching her wasn't any harder than Camilo. The fallen-out beams hung in the air before the damage had spread to the wood. Sounds were mixing inside Luisa's head. They turned into a rubbish mix. 

Casita waved its tiles ruthlessly, pushing them out of this collapsing hell. Luisa's stomach twisted from horror. The air whipped her exhausted muscles, sending her to fly for a brief second. 

"Is everyone okay?" Luisa's words were heavy on her tongue, she jumped on her feet. They had to be safe they all...

WHERE'S MIRABEL?

Luisa's throat got tied into a knot, she counted in desperation. One missing. Why didn't she catch it before? It's just that everything was whirling too fast, too many things occurred at once. Her ears didn't stop pounding from the terrifying choir of destroying Casita that she was forced to listen to.

That's when she noticed that everyone kept staring inside the tomb in which their house turned. Mirabel was climbing to Abuelo's window. What was she thinking? It was dangerous! This wasn't some wild beast or a bad man with a saber, but it wasn't safe. Nothing was safe and Luisa learnt it a long time ago.

Luisa's internal reaction was to run back, drag Mirabel out. It was what she was supposed to do. Her role. This whole idea of 'You don't have to protect me all the time' was stupid. Her strength was for this, her training was for this.

Two arms wrapped around her wrists in a desperate attempt to stop her. Large enough. Papa, her brain realized on the edge of her consciousness. "Luisa, what are you doing?" He breathed out in panic, trying to hold her back. 

Even without her gift, Luisa was way stronger than her lanky dad. It didn't take another second for her to push herself out of his grip. On the back of her mind, she could the rest of her family, those who were protected now, screaming Mirabel's name. Like another part of the ensemble. A broken chorus.

With another breaking sound, the main door was blocked by the debris.  Luisa's heart stopped. No, no! Her eyes ran around in a terrified attempt to find another way inside. There was no use, The destruction didn't touch the outside barriers.

Her fingers stuck into small gaps between the broken rays, trying to push them away, her hard tensed from the effort. She must get in, it was her purpose. Her entire life was based on keeping everyone safe. Mirabel was wrong, she couldn't just relax and let everyone on their own. Luisa got up, pushing the walls, trying to crack them, to break into the crashing house.  Her sword clanged against the crumbling place. 

Was it what Abuelo had told her about? She panicked. She wasn't thinking at the moment. And now Mirabel was on the top of the crashing roof. Cracks ran up, getting into Bruno's tower. The superstructure looked bad, frail, and unsteady, just like the entire Casita.

Don't panic, please, do not panic.

What if Mirabel would pass away? She wouldn't climb out of there alive, Luisa couldn't think of a way how Mirabel would avoid being turned into a smashed arepa. 

Luisa didn't want this. The idea of losing Mirabel, losing anyone, was beyond horror. The crumbs were falling from Bruno's tower as Mirabel was trying to reach the burned-out candle.

"Get out of here!" Luisa yelled into the thick air. She didn't know why. It was too late now. "Get out! It's not up to discussion!" She wasn't of what was cracking more: Casita or her voice. "Please, get out!"

She hit the wall again, more out of desperation. Her teeth grinded at repeated sounds. The fear of the fact that Mirabel could be a lifeless corpse the next time Luisa would get to see her was terrifying. Abuelo was right. Luisa should've been better. She couldn't stand the thought that her hermanita would join Abuela Alma.

History repeating itself after all.

[a-salmon-good-time]

Hello I would like to ask if you could give me a critique and any tips on this artwork I recreated. Your art is very inspiring and has kept my attention for weeks. You had answered my question about Cohozuna in a very detailed way and I got the idea to draw one of his parties. Though I wanted to practice this style of drawing so I followed along to your speed paint of Steelhead. The sketch went well but once I added color everything seemed flat. I still am very new to drawing so any tips would help. Also I don’t mean to infringe on your idea by any means if it seems that way. I wanted to mention this before I even try to post anything so I am not just copying your talent.

I also tried to make a sketch of Cohozuna himself.

Thank you very much for the art and inspiration.

That really means a lot that my art is a form of inspiration!! 🎉🎉 I'm honored to have inspired you!

These drawings all came out amazing (no worries about the Steelhead, it's okay with me if you drew from reference)! I know you asked for a critique, but admittedly I'm not as confident with offering professional/critical advice; so I do apologize if that's what you were looking for!

With the Steelhead drawing, I know you mentioned the colors came out too flat for your liking. I can see what you mean though, as Steelhead in this series is a character mostly made of greys! One thing I can suggest is if you're coloring with greys and want to make them more full & less flat, you can play around with changing the hue/saturation of the greys! Here's what I mean:

The Hue changes the colors, and the Saturation determines how subtle or intense a color appears. And the Value is what makes colors lighter or darker, so you can adjust those as well if need be!

Hue/Saturation/Value can be be changed as much (or as little) as needed to give any shade of gray little/more color.

Here's an example of me shifting the Saturation & Hue just a liiiittle bit while not changing the Value (to keep it at the same lightness:

(Character designs with various shades of gray are just as great! This tip is only for if you're wanting to color with grays to make them look less flat)

As you say you're just starting out drawing, I do have a couple of art advice I can offer! While they can be applied to most artstyle, these tips are mainly geared towards cartoon styles. (The first tip is a basic one while the second moreso goes off of feeling/emotion rather than being a visual guide.)

Practice with Shapes!

This goes for any aspect of a character (head, body, etc). You can experiment and have fun with different shapes for characters!

These are only a few shape examples of different head/body shapes (as well as weight/mass), though there's many other shapes to explore when designing/drawing characters!

Become Your Inspirations

This is how A Salmon Good Time came to be! The art direction of this series is heavily inspired by the Don Bluth animated films.

How I got to where I am is a result of me studying the artsyle and familiarizing myself with it by watching some Don Bluth films, drawing characters from the films (from reference and memory), studying how the characters move or talk, etc!

Heck, I even had some people tell me that they study/wanna study my artsyle and it makes me feel honored, to be honest 🥺❤️ I'm not against it if anyone feels inspired by my art and wants to study it— in fact, I encourage it!

(I responded to an ask on my main Tumblr a year ago that also talks about becoming your inspirations as well: image is below!)

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