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merrybloomwrites · 4 months

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I Hear Them Calling (Chapter 1)

Story Summary: Alpha Harry Styles and omega Y/N Y/L/N meet under less than ideal circumstances. Overtime their paths will cross and they will be drawn to one another in ways they never expected.

Chapter Summary: Y/N attends her first Harry Styles concert and catches the unwanted attention of a knothead alpha. Luckily Harry and his team are able get to you in time, leading to some confusing thoughts about the popstar.

Previous Chapters: Prologue

CW: Attempted assault (nothing too graphic but it is there)

Word Count: 4.7k

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“What do you mean you can’t go?” You ask incredulously. Going to the concert wasn’t even your idea. It was your friend Rachel’s and now she’s ditching you.

There’s a pause on the other end of the call before Rachel says, “It’s my dog. Well, my family dog that we’ve had since I was in middle school. She’s not doing well, and they think she only has a couple days left so now I have to drive back to Delaware to see her and say goodbye.”

“Oh my god, Rach, I’m so sorry!” And now you feel like a jerk for being mad at her canceling.

“Thanks. We knew it was coming but I hoped we had a few more weeks. Uhm, anyway, I need to finish packing and get on the road.”

“Of course, yea, safe trip home,” you quickly reply.

“You better take some videos of the concert and send them to me. Especially if he does something different for night one at MSG!”

“Rachel, I’m not gonna have any idea if he’s doing stuff different from his last shows, as I have no idea what his shows are like. But I promise to send you a couple videos, okay?”

“Still can’t believe you haven’t watched any videos from tour. What rock do you live under again?” You laugh at her teasing, mostly cause it’s true. The fact that you’ve made it this far without knowing much about Harry Styles surprises even you. “Have fun for both of us tonight,” Rachel says.

“I will, give your dog a belly rub from me. Love you!”

“Love you too, bye!”

The call ends and you sit for a moment. You don’t really want to go to a concert alone, but that’s what your night now has in store. Rachel had tried calling some other people in your friend group, but they were all busy. You’d also texted your two best friends, Amelia and Violet, but it was too last minute for them to change plans and go with you.

So, alone it is.

You look at the outfit you had planned but decide against it. The leather pants and crop top ensemble isn’t exactly in your comfort zone, but Rachel chose it and wanted the two of you to match. Now that you’re on your own you switch to a pair of jean shorts with tights underneath and a flowy top, something you’re much more comfortable with. Harry’s music plays in the background while you get ready. You’d been studying the setlist to make sure you would know at least some of the songs he’ll perform. You’re happy when you find yourself singing along, showing that listening on repeat had worked.

After getting dressed you do your hair and makeup, then drive to your local train station. Living in north Jersey has its perks, and the quick train ride directly to Madison Square Garden might just be the biggest.

You get off the train and follow the trail of feathers from the boas which leads you directly to the venue. You show your ticket and are led to the entrance for the pit.

Being in the pit had also been Rachel’s idea. You’d never done that before, and you would have preferred somewhere with a seat, and honestly a better view from a higher vantage point. But you’d agreed to pit and in the weeks leading to the show you’d actually become excited to experience something new.

But now that you’re alone, you’re a bit overwhelmed. You’re one of the last people to arrive, since it’s only half an hour before the opener is set to start, so you end up hanging in the back. But even then, the large amount of people around you has you on edge.

Being a single female is hard. Guys are always hitting on women, feeling entitled to your company, not taking no for an answer. But being a single female omega is even harder. The way you see it betas have it easy, especially since they’re the majority. And alphas? Well, what do they have to worry about? They’re bigger, they’re stronger, they have their alpha voices that can command you and take away your free will if they want. Plus, they have an unmatched sense of superiority, thinking they’re so special just because of their secondary gender.

But you’re an omega. Often considered to be the weakest gender. Which is stupid. You’re the gender that gives birth, which takes way more strength than alphas could ever possess. And yet you’re still looked down upon by plenty of people in society.

So, you choose to hide your secondary gender. Only your family members plus Ameila and Violet know the truth. You don’t need anyone judging you based on one little trait.

Going out in public, especially at places as crowded as MSG always gives you anxiety. You never know if a knothead alpha is going to be there and literally sniff you out as an omega. But you trust your suppressants and soothers and, most importantly, your scent blockers, to do their jobs and hide your omega status from the strangers around you.

The pills have never failed in you in the eight years since you started taking them. You have no reason to doubt them now.

And yet, you can’t help but feel uneasy about the attention a certain man in the crowd is giving you. He is undoubtedly an alpha, one that for sure does not use scent blockers. In fact, you’re almost convinced he’s doing something to broadcast his scent, somehow make it even stronger. It’s an unpleasant odor, one that practically burns your nose, but you pretend you can’t smell it. Afterall, a beta wouldn’t be able to notice the scent.

But as much as you try to ignore the scent, going so far as to move to the entire other side of the pit, it still lingers. Because you are most definitely being followed. Seemingly casual glances at the crowd around you shows that the man has moved with you.

Going closer to the stage is the last thing you want to do, but getting deeper in the crowd might be what you need to shake off the man. The girls around you gladly welcome you and make space for you to join. A moment later the opening act starts to play, and you no longer smell the alpha. You’re relieved and get into the music for a few minutes.

Then the girls around you start to move, and you hear them say something about the bathroom. You decide to go with them since you could use a bathroom break and there will be safety in numbers. You keep your head down and casually follow, in hopes that the man won’t see you leaving the crowd.

Only once in the bathroom do you lift your head up. There’s a small line since most people are out listening to the first band. A moment later it’s your turn and you enter the stall. After using the restroom, you notice a large rip in your tights. You look at them, hoping they can be considered fashionably torn, but then you see another hole and decide to give up on them altogether.

It takes you a couple minutes to get rid of them, needing basically to fully undress from the waist down to get them off. Finally, you’re put together again, and you exit the stall, throw out the destroyed tights, and wash your hands. You notice that the group you came with is gone. In fact, the entire bathroom is now empty.

You sigh, disappointed that you’re on your own again, but you suck it up and start making your way back to the pit.

The second you walk out the bathroom door you smell it. Him. That acrid, somehow fishy, definitely revolting scent that alerts you that the alpha is nearby.

Before you even see him you hear him say, “Be quiet, and follow me.”

Shit. That’s an alpha command. You’re aware of that fact, but unable to fight it. You want to run, go back to the crowd, but you have no choice but to follow this man deeper into the back hallways. You want to scream, but every time you open your mouth, no sound comes out.

He leads you to a deserted corner, pushing you so your back is against a wall, and says, “Now stay quiet, and don’t move.”

Again, you do as he says, not only because of the command that you have to follow, but also due to the fear paralyzing you to the spot and rendering you silent.

“What a good little omega,” he says as he walks closer. He leans towards your neck, breath ghosting over your mating spot, and a loud whimper escapes you.

Realizing that you don’t need words to call for help, you begin to let out whines and whimpers as well as release distressed pheromones. Sure, you have scent blockers, but they’re not perfect and fear this strong will surely overpower them. You hope it’s enough to alert any other alphas nearby that there is an omega in danger.

You see the anger cross the man’s face, note the furious pheromones he’s releasing, but before he even reacts, your world goes dark.

***

Harry’s stylist is putting the finishing touches on his hair when there’s a knock at the door.

“Come in,” Harry says.

The door opens and he sees his band standing just outside the room.

“Blood Orange is about to start,” his drummer, Sarah, says. “You coming to watch with us?”

“Yea, of course. I’ll join you in a minute.”

As soon as he’s left alone, Harry takes some calming breaths. Night one of fifteen consecutive sold out shows at Madison Square Garden. He can’t believe how far he’s come in his career. He takes another deep breath, reminding himself that he’s worked hard for this, that he’s completely ready.

After spraying one more dose of scent blockers, he walks out of his room and goes through the hallways to find his band. They’re at the end of one hall, standing at the opening they’ll use later to walk to the stage. Harry joins them, making sure they’re all back far enough that they are still hidden from the fans.

Harry mingles with his band while they wait for the opener to start their set. But after a minute, Harry starts to get an uneasy feeling. He himself isn’t nervous or scared, so he really doesn’t understand where this sudden anxiety is coming from.

Harry looks around and sees a worried look on Sarah’s face. Aside from Harry himself, Sarah is the only other Alpha in the band. So the fact that they both have a sudden bad feeling while the betas around them seem unbothered has Harry on edge.

He begins to look for any type of potential threat. Right away he notices that the two Alpha security guards are scanning the area as well, hinting that they’ve picked up on the same thing. One of them walks away to start looking for anything that could be going wrong.

Blood Orange takes the stage, and that anxious feeling seems to go away. Harry checks with Sarah and she’s feeling better too, so they assume whatever was wrong has been taken care of.

Everyone enjoys the first few songs, and suddenly, the feeling comes back, way stronger than before. Harry’s alpha is immediately alert. He starts moving before he even realizes what he’s doing. He hears footsteps and sees Sarah and a security guard following close behind.

None of them know exactly where the trouble is, they just follow their instincts through the backstage hallways. Suddenly, the feeling of overwhelming terror hits them, and they can faintly hear whimpers coming from a distressed omega.

They start to run in the direction the sounds are coming from. Rounding a corner, they come across a scene that has their blood boiling.

There’s a female omega, seemingly unconscious, being physically held up against a wall by a male alpha.

“Let her go,” Harry growls out using his alpha voice. It’s less effective on the man than it would be on an omega, but his grip on the girl involuntarily loosens. Harry and the security guard move in to pull the alpha off, and Sarah runs forward to catch the girl.

More security guards move in and drag the alpha away to be questioned.

Harry’s focus shifts to the omega now being held in Sarah’s lap on the floor. Adrenaline is still coursing through Harry’s body, but he feels himself relaxing faster than he thought possible. That’s when he realizes Sarah is releasing calming pheromones. He immediately works to do the same, rather than continue to broadcast the anger he’s feeling.

He knows his emotions can affect the vulnerable omega, and the last thing he wants to do is cause her most stress.

His most pressing worry is that she’s dropped. It wouldn’t be all that surprising. Omegas tend to drop during stressful situations. This can be dangerous for a number of reasons, especially if they don’t have a trusted alpha to keep them safe while they’re under.

Not only can they not protect their bodies, but a drop can also be a scary experience mentally. Omegas have described it as feeling untethered, like they’re stuck in darkness, unable to find a way out. There are good drops as well, ones you go into on purpose to give your mind rest. This is always done when there is an alpha there to hold and scent them and keep them safe and grounded throughout.

But if this is a drop, Harry knows it would be a bad one, and they’d need to gently bring her up immediately.

“Sarah?” Harry says to get the other alpha’s attention.

“Yes?” she replies, not taking her eyes off the girl.

“Do you think she’s dropped?”

“No. At least not fully. I can still catch a bit of her scent. If she went fully under it would have disappeared completely.”

There’s movement all around them, members of venue security and Harry’s team all coming and going to ensure everyone is safe. Music and loud cheers can be heard, meaning the opening act if still playing, that the show was not interrupted by what happened backstage.

Harry and Sarah are focused solely on the omega, until they hear a familiar male voice say, “There you guys are. Sarah, you scared the shit out of me running off like that.”

She looks up at her husband, Mitch, and smiles sheepishly before saying, “Sorry, I really didn’t think. We heard her distressed whines and just reacted.”

“Is she okay?” Mitch asks, crouching down to be level with the group on the floor.

“We think so,” Harry answers. “There was an alpha who had her cornered. Not sure what exactly he was planning but it was obviously nothing good. She was unconscious when we got to her. Just wish she’d wake up so we can check that she’s really unharmed.”

“Is she in a drop?” Mitch asks. Being a beta he’s not as knowledgeable about these things but he knows enough to be concerned about the girl.

“No, definitely not a full drop. But I’ve been flooding the area with calming pheromones and she’s still not waking up,” Sarah says worriedly.

“Maybe she just senses unknown alphas around her. Why don’t I try holding her and you guys move away a bit?” He senses how reluctant they are to move away from the omega, but eventually they listen to Mitch.

He settles on the ground and Sarah passes the omega to him before moving to give them space. After another minute the girl begins to stir, groggily at first before her eyes shoot open and she jumps up to move away from all the people around her. They watch cautiously, unsure what to do with the sudden change in the situation.

***

For awhile you’re stuck in the dark. This isn’t a drop, not really. You’ve only ever dropped twice but you can tell there’s a difference this time. You’re still aware of what’s going on around you, even if the details are fuzzy.

The alpha is gone. That you know for sure. The awful smell is gone, replaced by a much more pleasant one. It’s a mix of black tea and maybe the ocean? Whatever it is reminds you of early morning walks on the beach during family vacations. You relax more into this scent, and then notice that fresh laundry smell which always means someone is releasing calming pheromones.

You start to relax, the adrenaline slowly leaving your body. You can still sense multiple alphas, which keeps you a bit on edge. You try to open your eyes, but you’re still in a deep fog, probably due to the mix of intense emotions and the multiple alpha commands you’d been subjected to.

You don’t realize that someone is holding you until they shift and place you in another person’s arms. The alpha scent fades and you know the person now holding you is for sure a beta.

Finally, you manage to open your eyes. It takes a moment for you to get your bearings, but when you do, you’re overwhelmed, and honestly a bit embarrassed. Harry Styles, the Harry Styles, the world-famous popstar you’re here to see, is sitting across the hall from you, studying you closely. Next to him is a woman you recognize as his drummer.

After these discoveries, you fully realize your current position; that you’re being held in someone’s lap. One glance at the man shows it’s Harry’s guitarist. You’re no longer embarrassed. No, now you’re completely mortified. You quickly extract yourself from his hold and stand up, looking at the group, totally speechless.

They slowly stand as well, all looking at you. And not just them, but the other dozen or so people that are still in the hallway. There are so many eyes on you, watching you, and you just want to disappear.

Picking up on your unease, Harry says, “Why don’t we go somewhere less exposed, hm? You can hang in my dressing room and maybe have a medic look you over if that’s alright?”

Without thinking you begin to nod your head, just wanting to get somewhere quiet with less people. He reaches out as though to place his hand on your back and lead you but seems to think again and pulls his arm back. Instead, he walks ahead, and you follow, Mitch and Sarah coming as well.

You arrive at the room, groaning when you see more people waiting there. One’s the medic Harry mentioned, another is obviously a police officer, and the third is a man you don’t recognize.

“Harry, need to you choose your outfit and get dressed. We’ll take care of, uhm, sorry I didn’t catch your name,” says the man.

“Oh, I’m Y/N,” you say immediately, surprised at just how scratchy your voice comes out.

Sarah must pick up on it because she asks you, “Would you like a cup of tea love?”

You can’t help but smile and let out a laugh at that.

“What’s go funny?” she asks, smiling as well.

“It’s just, your scent, it definitely smells like tea. And the first thing you say to me is about tea. Sorry, I know it’s not polite to comment on someone else’s smell,” you finish, head lowering in a new wave of embarrassment.

“Don’t worry about it, I’m not offended,”

“Plus, you’re right,” Harry adds. “Swear I can’t make a cup of tea without thinking of her.”

“Aw, H, you think of me? How sweet,” she says with a joking tone.

“Real sweet,” Mitch says, then adds, “But stay away from my girl.”

You smile watching the easy interaction, happy to be distracted by their banter, sipping on the tea Sarah brings you.

That is until the man, whom you’ve learned is Harry’s manager, Jeff, reminds Harry that he’s supposed to be getting dressed, and the cop and medic walk over to you. There’s a table in one corner of the room and they lead you to it.

“Y/N, I’m Kate, I’m just going to get your vitals and check you over to make sure you’re okay, is that alright with you?”

“Yes, that’s fine,” you reply.

“And I’m Officer Michaels, is it okay if I ask you some questions about the incident tonight?"

“Of course.”

And so, as Kate does a quick exam you tell the whole story to the officer, starting with the uneasy feeling when you first noticed the man, all the way to him using his alpha voice to corner you in a back hallway.

Harry had reentered the room by this point, dressed in his show outfit and looking completely ready to get on stage. But he’s making no moves to leave the room, even though Jeff is reminding him the show is supposed to start in five minutes. Mitch and Sarah leave to finish getting ready themselves.

“Are we all set here?” You ask Kate and Officer Michaels.

“I have everything I need,” he replies. Kate adds, “Everything checks out just fine,” and they both exit the room as well.

This leaves you with just Harry and Jeff.

“Great, so I guess I should go back to the pit then?” You knew you were holding everything up and didn’t want to be more in the way than you already have been.

“Actually, Y/N, it would probably be best if you stay here for the show. Jeff, can you go grab Jada for me?”

The man nods, leaving you alone in the room with Harry. He motions to the couch, inviting you to sit and you do so. He sits on the coffee table facing you.

“I know you want to see the concert, and I know the man is gone, but I have to admit, my alpha is a bit on edge right now. To be completely honest, I don’t know if I could go out there and perform if you’re not completely safe. I would really like it if you stayed in this room and watched the concert on the TV over there. I promise to get you and your friends tickets to another show, alright?”

You’re taken aback by this, surprised by how much he seems to care about you, a random fan he’s never met before. And knowing that his alpha was triggered by what happened to the point where it’s still uneasy is a pretty big deal. That normally doesn’t happen with strangers. Sarah was no longer worried, and the alpha security guards were completely fine the second they caught the man.

So why was Harry’s alpha still calling the shots? It would make sense if you were partners, or at the very least, friends. Maybe Harry does truly care that deeply about all of his fans. That must be it. Because it certainly can’t be you in particular. There’s nothing special about you, other than being a damsel in distress and nearly derailing his show.

He must see the confusion on your face and continues, “Jada will be here in a moment, and she’ll hang out with you. Anything you need, just ask her. I won’t see you after the show, I leave right from the stage, but talk to Jada and Jeff and they’ll make sure you get home safely.”

“Okay, thank you so much for everything,” you reply.

“Of course. It’s the least I can do. Y/N, I am so very sorry something like this happened to you here. I always want this to be a fun, safe place for everyone.”

“It’s not your fault. Please, don’t feel bad. It is completely that knothead’s fault. You guys are the ones that saved me.”

He reaches forward and places his hand on top of yours, just for a second. Your hand tingles as he pulls away, like a bolt of electricity had just gone through it. You meet his eyes, and see he felt it too. You stare at each other, frozen for a moment, until there’s another knock at the door.

Harry stands quickly and introduces you to Jada as she joins you on the couch.

“Okay, I have to go before Jeff kills me. Y/N please give Jada your contact info so we can get those new tickets to you. Get some safe,” he says.

“Thank you, break a leg,” you reply and a second later he’s gone.

You talk to Jada throughout the start of the show, smiling as she lets you in on some behind the scenes info about the tour. After a few songs she asks if there’s anything she can get you.

“I actually have kind of a weird favor. I was supposed to come with a friend, but she couldn’t come at the last minute. I promised to send her videos and she’s going to be suspicious if I don’t have any. Would you be able to take a couple videos from the pit? I just don’t want to have to explain what happened. At least, not yet.”

“Of course, girl, I’ve got you. I’ll go get a couple of the next songs. Are you okay in here? There’s security outside the door so no one will be able to get in.”

“Yea, I’ll be fine,” you reply with a smile.

She walks out and you sink into the couch, grateful for a few minutes alone. Everyone has been so lovely, but it’s been a lot, and you need a minute just to breathe. You close your eyes, relaxing your body, and when you’re fully calm, you smell it.

There’s another alpha scent, but not one of a person nearby. No, it’s in the fabric of the couch. And the blanket next to you. And the shirt draped over the back of the couch.

It’s Harry’s scent. And it’s amazing. So clean, and fresh, with hints of chocolate, and the forest, and something sweet. Maybe roses, you think. Definitely a hint of floral. And once you catch the scent, it’s all you can think about, like it’s wrapped you in a warm hug. You feel better than you have in hours, the stress of the day fully washing away.

Even when Jada comes back, Harry’s smell is what you focus on the most. She notices you’re quieter than before and must assume you’re just tired from everything that has happened. She goes back out towards the end of the show to grab another video and you can’t help yourself. You turn to the side, right where the shirt is, and purposely take a deep breath. It’s almost overwhelming, your omega telling you to steal the shirt so you’ll always have the delicious scent with you.

That snaps you back to reality. You need to get your omega under control. You’re just like every other fan, thirsting for the amazing Harry Styles. Get a grip, you tell your omega. He’ll never be ours, don’t get attached.

Jada comes back, the show ends, and she leads you to a car that will bring you home. She asks for your car keys and ensures someone else will grab it from the station and drop it off at your place. She rides with you back to your home, along with a security guard.

You exchange numbers during the drive and breathe a sigh of relief when your apartment building comes into view. It’s been an exhausting day, and you can’t wait for a hot shower and your comfy bed.

You thank Jada for everything and notice them waiting for you to get safely inside before driving away.

You scorch your skin in the shower, put on your comfiest pajamas, and burrow under your covers.

You fall asleep that night not thinking of the horrible alpha, and the horrors of the day, but rather of green eyes, soft hands on yours, and the delicious scent that can only belong to Harry.

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A/N: Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed! If you have any questions, comments, concerns, (requests), please let me know!

I hope I got everyone who asked to be added to the taglist. If I didn't get you or you want to me added just leave a comment or a message!

Taglist: @akkatz @pandeebearstyles @walkingintheheartbreaksatellite@theekyliepage@numafarawayglxy @booberry019-blog @hillzrry@ssareidbby @gem1712 @acesofspadess@houseofdilfs@shaquille-0atmeal-1@kissitnhekitchen @amateurduck @poguestyleskye@n0vaj3an@snwells@drunk-teens-doing-drugs ; @fdl305 @creativelyeva @daphnesutton @selluequestrian @lovingfurypanda @stardream14 @tbsloneely @eversincehs1

#harry styles x reader #harry styles fanfiction #harry styles x you #omegaverse #alpha beta omega #wolfrry

278 notes · View notes

xrenjunniesx · 4 months

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Omg girl can I request one where they recently had an argument so she refuses to hold their hands in the car 🥹🩷🩷🩷

when you refuse to hold their hand

bf!nct dream

mark

the mood was tense still even as you both got into the car to go back home. the argument was a silly one at first but you both got really annoyed at each other never the less. he knew it was silly, so as he drove he tried to grab you hand, a quiet apology for the time being.

you snatched your hand away from his and he instantly looked at you with wide eyes before looking back on the road, slowly retracting his hand. after a minute of silence he will apologise in hopes you will at least hold his hand so he knows you’re okay.

“I’m sorry for the argument, I shouldn’t have said what I did.”

renjun

it was a serious fight, but he knew that even in the worst of fights you would both still continue to go on with your day to day lives full of habits involving each other such as goodbye kisses and hugs, even when mad at each other.

so when you retract your hand as he tries to hold it while he drives you both to the local market, he is hurt. you both had apologised for the argument right before you went to sleep the night before but things were still a bit tense now.

he keeps trying to hold your hand, whining a bit in the process until he gives up (for the time being).

jeno

the fight from last night caused you to be avoiding him all morning. he tried apologising again but you brushed it off and said it was fine.

when he remembered you had plans to go out with friends later today so he offered to drive you to their house, which you accept since it was easier than walking.

as soon as he began driving he instantly tried to hold your hand. when you keep pulling your hand away from him, he will stop trying and instead will talk. “why are you still mad at me?” “is there anything I can do?”

the car ride to your friends house became emotional to the point where you had to sit in the car for ten minutes after arriving just to sort things out.

haechan

he thought everything was good again after the fight. you both had apologised and seemingly made up, until a few hours later when you were still mad at him and acting distant.

in the car, he tried to make a move to at least hold you hand, but you instantly moved your hand away. instead he rested his hand just above your knee and kept silent… for a little while. “can I hold your hand, please?” he says, looking at you when he came to a red light.

you don’t move for a few seconds as you contemplate but eventually you do place your hand in his, making him smile.

jaemin

neither of you had apologised, but he thought it was a silly little fight that wasn’t serious at all. but as he drove you both home (which was going to be an hour drive) he realised it wasn’t fine. you were rather quiet and compared to normal, so he tried to hold your hand in hopes of easing the tension.

he didn’t expect you to instantly snatch your hand away from his, crossing your arms. he pulls his hand back and goes back to driving, not saying or doing anything about it until ten minutes later where he pulls into a parking lot and turns to face you. best believe you are both sorting this out before he continues driving.

chenle

he made some comments which were meant as a joke earlier, but it led to an argument which led to him apologising and then… he thought it was fine. but then in the car, he realised you were facing the window, completely ignoring him.

he tried to hold your hand before he began driving, but you kept moving it away from him. you shoot a glare at him when he kept trying, so he glares at you back and stops the car engine.

you ask why he stopped the car and he just stares at you. “we aren’t going anywhere until we sort this out or you hold my hand.”

you hold your hand out for him and he smiles, interlocking your fingers together and starting the car back up. “we are talking about this when we get home either way.”

jisung

he was annoyed at you, you were annoyed at him, but he still wanted to hold your hand. you were determined not to give it to him though. he was getting more and more hurt by your actions of avoidance. his last straw was in the car when he tried to hold you hand and you just snatched it away.

you thought he would whine again or look at you like he had been doing all night, but he didn’t. he just kept driving and didn’t speak to you. you started feeling bad, realising that maybe you went too far considering he did try and apologise to you earlier but you just ignored him.

so instead you apologise, quietly, but he hears it. “that hurt, you know?” he says, still not looking at you. you do end up holding hands but the heavy tension is still there.

296 notes · View notes

andvys · 11 months

Text

We'll burn the sky | part sixteen

Warnings: slight angst, mentions of drugs and alcohol, loss of a parent, mostly fluff, a few hints at steddie x reader

Pairings: Rockstar!Eddie Munson x Fem!Rockstar!Reader | slight Steve Harrington x Fem!Reader | slight Eddie Munson x Steve Harrington

Word count: 7k+

Chapter summary: Back on tour, you and Eddie spend more time with each other again and get a nice surprise on New Years Eve.

Author's note: thank you for the help as always @mysticmunson <3 & @aftermidnightwriting I will definitely use your amazing idea with Dustin in the arcade later on in the story!

Series Masterlist

You have dreaded this day ever since the article was released.

Going back on tour should fill you with joy and excitement but instead it fills you with dread and anxiety. Now that the truth about your dad is out, you can already imagine how awful the following weeks or even months will be. The paparazzis and journalists will be all over the place, throwing awful words and questions at you that you know will upset you even further. You are not ready for that, you don’t think that you will ever be.

You always did everything to keep the truth a secret but now it’s all out in the open.

You don’t even care about the things that they have said about you. They upset you, sure but you can ignore it and move on from that, you don’t let it get to you. Having made up stories about you comes with being in the music industry, especially since you’re the only woman in the band. Lies and rumors will always be created.

After three days of being stuck in Eddie’s trailer, you were now able to go back on the road, since the storm had passed. You loved those three days, you got along so well with Wayne, the man has earned a place in your heart. And Eddie, it was so nice to be around him like that, to fall asleep next to him only to wake up in his arms again.

“It’s gonna be okay, sweetheart.” He whispered to you this morning when you voiced your concern about the tour. “You have me, I won’t leave your side. We’ll get through this together, okay?”

Now you’re here, standing by the tour bus, saying goodbye to Wayne. He wraps his arms around you, pulling you into a warm hug.

“Look after yourself, alright kiddo?”

You chuckle, nodding at his words, “I will.”

“Don’t worry Wayne, she’s in good hands,” Eddie says from behind you.

Wayne squeezes your arms before you pull away, you see the stern look in his eyes as he stares at him, “she better be, Eds.”

On Christmas day, Wayne had confronted you about your relationship with his nephew while Eddie had gone to take a shower.

“What’s going on with you and my boy?” Wayne asked while you were sitting on the couch with drinks in your hands.

“What do you mean?” You asked nervously.

He only chuckled, eyes flickering with amusement, “I may be old but I’m not blind, kid,” he said, “I see the way you look at each other, there’s clearly something. But there’s also pain in your eyes,” he mumbled, pausing to take a deep breath, “he hurt you didn’t he?”

You looked down as your eyes flickered with sadness. You didn’t want to talk badly about Eddie or your relationship to someone that means everything to him.

“It’s alright, you can talk to me, if you want.”

You hesitated for a moment.

“I just– I really love him.”

His eyes softened at your admission, a small smile appearing on his face.

“But he never told me about Chrissy.”

He raised his eyebrows, eyes flickering with shock, he brought his hand up to his face, cupping his cheek as he stared at you, “oh boy..”

“We weren’t together or anything but we were with each other all the time, he told me about you and Steve and his other friends, he told me everything, he just never mentioned her,” you explained, “b-but it’s okay, we talked about it, he opened up to me about their relationship, I guess I understand why he never told me about her..”

Wayne sighed, sympathy crossed his face. With just a single glance at you, he saw the look in your eyes when you looked at Eddie, you are in love with him. He could only imagine how hurt and heartbroken you were.

But he can also see the way Eddie looks at you, he is in love with you.

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay,” you smiled, “we’re okay now.”

Wayne was quiet for a moment, he stared at you deep in thought and then a smile tugged at his lips.

“I hope you know that he cares about you, a lot. I think yesterday proved it, when he stormed in like a mad man, that boy was ready to go through the storm to find you,” he paused, “you make him happy, you know? You always did. He called me a lot and all he ever talked about was you. I hope you can give him a second chance ‘cause if there’s someone who deserves it, it’s him.”

“She will always be,” Eddie smiles as he walks towards his uncle to hug him as well, “I’m gonna miss you so much, old man.”

Wayne chuckles, “you’ll see me on Saturday again.”

Eddie’s eyes light up at his words, “right, you got the VIP tickets and everything,” he chuckles, winking at you, “you can bring a date.”

Wayne scoffs, “stop that.”

You both laugh at him and his eye roll.

“I gotta go or I’ll be late for the interview,” Wayne says as he looks at his watch.

“Oh,” you say excitedly, “good luck! I just know they’re gonna hire you.”

Wayne gives you a smile and Eddie chuckles, “of course they will, I put in a good word for you. The night shifts are soon to be over.”

“Hopefully, I got my fingers crossed.”

After one more hug and one last goodbye, Wayne leaves just as Johnny, Gareth and Jeff arrive.

While the other two still look tired, Gareth is already sporting a big smile and a happy look on his face.

“Alright ladies, are we ready to rock ‘n roll again, or what?” Gareth exclaims excitedly as he walks towards the tour bus with a bag in his hand.

Jeff rolls his eyes, “how many coffees did you have this morning?”

“Just three.”

“It’s 10 am!”

“Exactly.”

You missed their banter and you missed them.

The cold morning air is crisp, much more snow is covering the ground, now it truly looks like a winter wonderland.

You put your hands in your warm pockets, looking around the empty street of Hawkins one last time, hoping to come back. The town has grown on you, something about it made you feel at home. Maybe it was just Eddie and Wayne, your new friends and the safe feeling you got from this place or maybe you just always craved a part of this, peace, safety and a family.

Eddie is watching you with a smile on his face, he knows what you are thinking. He is thinking about it too.

He never really liked this town, well, maybe it was only the people that he didn’t like but you made it more bearable, even when you only spent a few moments together in the whole week you were here. Still, the moments that you did spend together, made him happier.

Maybe one day, he can come back here with you, to stay here.

“You’re not leaving without saying goodbye, are you?”

Both you and Eddie turn around with smiles on your faces. You’ve said goodbye to everyone last night, yet most of Eddie’s and your friends are here now.

Robin is the first to approach you and wrap her arms around you.

“I’m gonna miss you so much, rockstar,” she says as she squeezes you tightly.

You smile as you hug her back, meeting Steve’s eyes, your smile widens when he waves at you.

“I’m gonna miss you too, Robin. You should come to Chicago on Saturday, Steve’s coming too.”

“Oh trust me, I’m gonna be there,” she says, grinning at you as she pulls away, “I can’t wait to see you on the big stage.”

“And what about me? Are you excited to see me?” Eddie asks her as he ruffles Dustin’s hair who slaps his hand away in annoyance.

She scrunches her face up, shrugging, “eh, not really,” she teases.

He squints his eyes at her, “you love me, Robin,” he grins.

“No, I really don’t.”

Shaking your head at them, you walk towards Steve.

“Hi,” you whisper.

“Hi,” he smiles, “you ready to go back on tour?”

You shake your head, “not really but it’s gonna be fine,” you shrug.

He nods, looking over your shoulder and at his friends, he reaches for your hand and pulls you away, leading you behind the tour bus.

He blushes as he runs his fingers through his hair, letting go of your hand, he reaches into the pocket of his coat, “I uh– I got you something.”

You raise your eyebrows, eyes flashing with curiosity.

“I got it a few days ago, before the whole thing at the trailer,” he says quietly, “I know we already exchanged presents and all but I wanted to wait with this.”

“Why?”

He shrugs as he scratches the back of his neck.

Your eyes soften as he hands you the little box, you glance into his eyes before you look down at the present, you open it to find a pretty necklace, a pendant with a bird on it, it’s wings are open. It’s beautiful. You touch it with your fingertips, a soft smile appearing on your face.

“Birds stand for freedom, you know?”

You pick the necklace out of the box and look up at him, smiling, “yeah?”

He nods. “You’re free too, just remember that you can do anything you want, you can always dream bigger, you can go wherever you want, it’s your life, you get to choose what will happen.”

Your chest warms at his words.

“You’re cute, you know that right?” You chuckle.

He shrugs, jutting his lip out as he smirks, “yeah, yeah. I know.”

You can see the blush on his cheeks, the nervous look in his eyes.

“I love it, Steve.”

“You do?” He asks as his eyes lighten up.

You nod, “it’s beautiful, thank you!”

“You’re welcome,” he smiles.

“Help me put it on?” You ask as you hold the necklace out to him. He whispers a small ‘of course’ as he takes it from your hand. You turn around, standing with your back towards him. You move your hair to the side as he moves his arms around you, placing the silver necklace around your neck.

“That better be my lucky charm now,” you joke as you look down at the necklace with a smile on your face. You turn around to face him again.

“It will be,” he winks.

“I’m gonna miss you, Steve.”

His gaze softens at your words.

“I’m gonna miss you too,” he whispers as he opens his arms for you. You step towards him, falling into his embrace, you lay your head on his chest and wrap your arms around him. He holds you tightly and closes his eyes.

He finds himself wishing that he didn’t have to say goodbye. You have grown so much on him, you became a part of his life.

“Maybe I should put you in my suitcase and take you with me,” you joke as you pull away from him.

“I don’t think I’ll fit in there, honey,” he laughs, eyes twinkling as they lock with yours, “you can still hire me as your stylist,” he jokes as he puts his hand on your back, leading you back to the others.

“Yeah, maybe I should,” you chuckle.

“You better come back to Hawkins again, y/n,” Dustin says as he walks towards you with a grin on his face, “we didn’t even get to go to the arcade together!” He frowns.

“Next time, alright?” You smile as you pull the younger boy into a hug, “I’m gonna come visit after the tour and we can go to the arcade together.”

“We better!”

You hug Lucas and Max next, squeezing both of them tightly before you press a kiss to their cheeks, almost bursting into laughter when they turn towards each other with wide eyes and excited looks on their faces. They squeal when you turn away from them, missing the amused look on Robin’s face as she stares at them.

Eddie pulls away from Steve’s hug, saying something to him that you can’t make out. His brown eyes meet yours and he smiles, “ready?”

You nod.

Eddie waits for you to get on the tour bus first but you turn towards Steve one more time. He raises his brows, a smile tugging at his lips as you approach him one more time. Reaching your hands out, you cup his cheeks and stand on your tippy toes, pulling him towards you, you kiss his cheek, leaving a lipstick mark on his skin.

Robin and Dustin chuckle in the back, their laughter only getting louder when they see Eddie’s eye roll.

Steve chuckles as well, blushing at your sweet action.

He cups your cheeks now, giving you a big kiss on the cheek too, just barely missing your lips.

“Alright,” Eddie rolls his eyes, shaking his head, “let’s go, sweetheart.”

You and Steve giggle at each other, he ruffles your hair, “take care of yourself, yeah?”

“I will.”

“I’m always one phone call away,” he whispers.

“I know,” you smile as you squeeze his hand before you step away.

“Goodbye Stevie.”

His eyes flash with bittersweet sadness, though he will see you in a week again, he knows things will be different. This is a different goodbye.

You pick out the necklace from beneath your shirt, reaching for the pendant, you give it a kiss.

“Goodbye Stevie.”

He smiles at your action, eyes following you as you step on the tour bus, his smile falls a little.

“Goodbye honey,” he whispers.

Eddie watches him closely, their conversation is still deep on his mind.

Both men look at each other, a mutual understanding flashing in their eyes.

“Take care of her.”

Eddie nods, “of course.”

“You know, I missed this.”

“Hotel rooms?”

Eddie chuckles, stealing a fry off your plate, he dips it in ketchup before eating it, “hotel rooms with you.”

You smile, watching as he licks his lips, missing the ketchup on the corner of his mouth. You reach your hand out towards his face, wiping the condiment off, you look into each other’s eyes as you bring your thumb back to your lips, licking it clean.

A blush takes over his face and he looks down with a smile on his face.

“I missed it too.”

“Yeah? You did?”

You nod, humming at his question.

Neither of you want to think of the few lonely nights you spent without each other after the night in Cincinnati. It feels wrong to even think of the moments you weren’t with each other.

Eddie can look at you with the same happiness in his eyes as before everything. You are here with him, wearing his shirt again. Your hair is still wet from the shower you took earlier, the necklace that Steve got you, hanging around your neck.

The first day back on tour was mostly spent on the tour bus and the hotel. Rob, your tour manager won’t be here until tomorrow morning.

The following days you will be busy with interviews and photoshoots before the concert on Saturday. Eddie isn’t sure if you are ready for it but he will be by your side, every step of the way.

“What’re you thinking about?” You ask as you push your half eaten plate of food away from you, reaching for your coke, you take a sip before placing it back on the tray.

“How do you know I’m thinking about something?” He asks as he eats the rest of his burger.

“You always have that look in your eyes,” you explain, eyes flashing with amusement, “and you’re a nervous eater, you always scarf down the food when you’re deep in thought, which you just did,” you chuckle.

He furrows his brows, chewing his food slowly, he tilts his head.

He steals your coke, drinking half of it which you don’t even seem to mind. You’ll share everything with him.

“Really?”

“Yeah,” you breathe.

“Huh, I never realized,” he chuckles, scratching the back of his neck, “I guess you’re right. I’m always reaching for snacks when I feel stressed but then again, I always think about food.”

“A real taurus,” you chuckle.

He laughs but nods in agreement.

“So… what were you thinking about?” You ask again.

He chews on his bottom lip for a moment, “I don’t wanna ruin the mood right now.”

Eying the concern on his face and the uncertainty in his eyes, you already know what this is about.

“It’s about the article isn’t it?” You ask.

He sighs, nodding.

“What about it?”

“I-I just, I’m worried about you,” he says as he scoots closer to you, reaching his hand out, he grabs it and places it in his, “the journalists, the press… the fucking paparazzis will be everywhere, it’s gonna be brutal, sweetheart.”

Yes, they will be but you will be fine, you have to be.

“It’s okay, Eddie,” you whisper, “I’m not gonna cry, break down or get angry at them, I won’t give them that satisfaction. They asked about my dad before, remember?”

He nods. He remembers that interview, the way you tensed up and looked like you were actually on the verge of a breakdown.

“It was just a rumor, back then no one even knew anything about it,” you shrug, “this can be treated like a rumor as well, some asshole ‘made’ that shit up about my dad. Once they see that it has no effect on me, they’ll leave me alone. There’s no proof, no one was there that night, no one except for me.”

His eyes flash with sadness at the mention of that night. You opened up more about that night, telling him about what you came home to.

“They talked shit about me before, remember that one article they wrote about me?”

He nods, rolling his eyes in anger.

He was so focused on you, he didn’t think about how it would affect him. His first priority is you. He wants to protect you, be there for you and take care of you. But he also knows that the following weeks or even months will be a challenge for him as well, he will deal with anger, too much of it. Anger for all the people that try to harm you in any way.

“Then it’s nothing new,” you shrug, trying to play it cool, “sure, it’ll be a lot and I can already hear the disrespectful questions from all those asshole journalists and paparazzis but fuck it, you either ignore them or you… take it easy.”

“Take it easy?” He scoffs, “how am I supposed to take it easy when they’ll attack you?”

“Eddie, they won’t attack me,” you sigh.

Your gaze softens, your heart flutters in his chest as you look into his eyes. He cares so much about you, it’s something you never realized before Christmas.

“Something that I learned is, you gotta act like you don’t give a fuck about anything, you gotta shrug things off, play it cool, throw sarcastic comments at them, maybe mean ones too, anything to make them leave you alone. My dad taught me that, it always worked out for him. Once they realize that they can’t use a single fucking thing against you, they will get bored.”

Eddie blinks as he stares at you.

“That’s what I’m gonna do and it’s what I want you to do. It’s about taking care of yourself, protecting yourself, Eddie.”

You are strong, so much stronger than him. You allowed yourself to grieve, you allowed yourself to break down and cry and for a moment you were broken, maybe you still are but you got up again.

“Don’t let them see how broken you are, it’s what they want. You put on a mask in front of these fuckers and you only take it off in front of people who truly care about you. You can cry and be angry but not in front of people who wanna see that.”

Eddie remembers the way you put that mask on, after you had just found out about Chrissy, your heart broke, you were angry and sad and yet you managed to hide those feelings in front of strangers. No matter how hurt you were, you were always able to hide it.

“And honestly? I’m more concerned about who spilled.”

“Who knew about your dad?” Eddie asks, furrowing his brows.

You look down, staring at his hand, you play with the new rings on his fingers, the ones that you got for him.

“Sam, Rob and my mom. That’s all, I didn’t even tell my friends,” you mumble, “it obviously wasn’t Sam or Rob, so I guess that just leaves my mom.”

There is something you are not telling him, he can see it on your face and he can hear it in your voice. The room falls silent, the candle light flickers. Eddie rubs circles into your skin, staring at you with curiosity in his eyes.

“Who else knew?”

You hesitate. Your eyes meet his again.

“Sweetheart–”

“Chrissy and Jason knew.”

He draws back a little as his eyes widen, his lips parting in shock.

“W-What?”

You take a deep breath.

“Yeah uh– that night at the hideout, Chrissy followed me out to talk, then Steve and Jason followed us out as well. She just dropped that on me, in front of Steve too, I didn’t want anyone to know, Eddie. At first, I didn’t know how they found out but I kinda figured that my mom told them.”

“What the fuck,” Eddie mumbles as his eyes flash with anger.

“She is the only one who could’ve told them,” you frown, “I called her, she was weird, weirder than usual so… and I honestly don’t think that it was Chrissy, if anything it was her sleazeball boyfriend and her bitchy mom.”

“You don’t think it was Chrissy?” Eddie asks with a confused look on his face, “she had it out for you.”

You sigh, shaking your head, “I talked to her the night before Christmas Eve, I was at the diner and she was there too..”

“Jesus,” he sighs, running his fingers through his hair, he clenches his jaw, eying you in concern. He can already imagine what kind of things she has said to you, “did she–”

“She was.. nice,” you mumble, “we talked normally. I don’t think it was her, I have a feeling that it wasn’t.”

Eddie is still suspicious but he doesn’t say anything.

“Her mom is religious, right?”

Eddie nods, “yeah, Jason too,” he rolls his eyes.

You chuckle, shaking your head, “trust me, it was them. I don’t know why they would care and I have no fucking clue how they found my mom but they must have given her a lot of money.”

“Wait what?”

“Oh, all she cares about is money, Eddie. You pay her a good amount and she’ll tell you anything you wanna know.”

Eddie raises his brows, a sigh leaving his lips as he shakes his head. He squeezes your hand, “I’m so sorry.”

“It’s okay, I-I just wanna move on from this, you know?”

He nods.

“Okay,” he whispers, “but why didn’t you tell me about Jason and Chrissy’s mom?”

“I didn’t want you to get into a fight with that asshole, it’s whatever. In the end it doesn’t even matter who sold that fucking story, it won’t be the first scandalous article, there will be many more.”

He would have definitely gotten into a fight with Jason and cuss the old Cunningham witch out, god knows how many times he had done it before when she would comment on Chrissy’s weight, not only was she horrible to her own daughter, now she also managed to find a way to hurt you, you who had absolutely nothing to do with her.

“I wanna beat his face in and put nair in her shampoo,” he grumbles as his eyes darken.

Eddie was always protective of the people he loves, of his friends and family but he had never felt this kind of protective before.

You snort at his words.

“I’m serious!”

“Okay,” you giggle, “that witch is gonna lose her hair at some point, karma will get her. Same with Jason, he’ll get what he deserves.”

“But still, I wanna hurt him.”

“You already did.”

“That punch wasn’t enough.”

“I’m sure an asshole like him will get many more punches in his lifetime.”

“He better.”

Sighing, you let go of his hand, taking the food tray, you place it on the ground before you lay down, placing your feet on the soft cushions and your hand on your stomach.

Eddie looks at you, smile tugging at his lips.

You reach for the necklace beneath your shirt and curiosity sparks inside of him.

He lays down next to you, placing his elbow on the soft pillow, he cups his cheek as he stares down at you.

“Can I ask you something?”

You turn to look at him, rolling over on your side so you can face him.

“How do you really feel about Steve?” He asks, “I-I’m not angry or jealous, just curious. I can tell that he means something to you,” he says, reaching for the necklace he got you.

You hold your finger to your lips as you think about his questions.

Eddie waits patiently.

“Why are you asking me this?”

“I just, I see the way you’re around him,” he explains, “you’re comfortable with him, it’s different than with others, even your friends.”

“I just really like him. He is kind of amazing.”

“Kind of?” He smiles.

“Very amazing,” you chuckle, rolling your eyes, “you’re still my favorite.”

His smile widens, heart skipping a beat. You put your hand on his arm, squeezing it.

“But how do you feel about him, Eddie?”

He draws his brows together as he gives you a questioning look. It makes you giggle. You were surprised about the kiss they had shared that one night, it didn’t exactly seem like it was their first kiss.

“How many times have you kissed him before?”

“Oh,” Eddie breathes, chuckling. His cheeks grow red.

“Or did you do…. more?”

He shakes his head, “no, sweetheart. It was just a few kisses.”

“A few kisses?” You chuckle.

He nods as his eyes fall on the necklace that he is still holding between his fingers, he scoots closer to you.

“Yeah, a few drunken kisses,” he snorts.

“That’s all?”

“That’s all.”

“You never wanted to go further than that?”

“I mean, back then I did,” he admits shyly.

“Oh my god,” you exclaim, your eyes flash with excitement at this new revelation, you push him back and place your hands on his chest, “tell me everything.”

He laughs at your curiosity, not wasting a moment to put his hands on your back.

“I was kinda into him but wasn’t sure if he’d be open for more than just a few kisses, you know?”

You nod.

“So I never tried,” he shrugs, “and then Chrissy asked me out so I never really thought about it again.”

“Oh,” you pout.

He chuckles, placing his hand under your chin, “what’s that pout for, sweetheart?”

“I think you and Steve would’ve been cute together,” you say, giggling.

“Shut up,” he laughs, rolling his eyes at you.

“You know who would be cute together?”

You shake your head, placing your chin on his chest, you brush your fingers through his curls, making him smile.

“You and I, we’d be cute together,” he smiles. His eyes are soft, filled with nothing but adoration and love.

Warmth rushes through your chest a smile tugs at your lips but you pretend to be skeptical, “hmm… you really think so?”

He playfully glares at you, “of course!”

“But I wouldn’t stand a chance if you were dating Steve,” you say, pretending to be jealous.

He almost laughs, shaking his head at you.

“Baby, we’re both obsessed with you,” he chuckles as he digs his fingers into your sides, tickling you.

“Eddie!” You laugh, pushing his hands away.

“If I was dating Steve and you came along, we’d both fall for you and just date you both.”

Your lips part in surprise, your eyes widen, “oh?”

He chuckles at the expression on your face.

“And what if I didn’t want to have two boyfriends?”

“But we’d treat you like a queen. You’d be the happiest girl in the world.”

You chuckle, blushing at his words.

“Hmm, maybe two boyfriends aren’t too bad,” you whisper, “should we call Steve?”

“No!”

You giggle when he wraps his arms around you and flips you over.

“No? I thought I could have two boyfriends.”

“I never said that,” he points out, giving you a stern look, “that would’ve happened if I dated Steve in the past. You are the only one that I need and I’m the only one that you need.”

Your heart flutters and so does his when you cup his cheek.

“You do have a soft spot for Steve though,” you whisper.

It’s the truth. Out of all his friends, Steve was always his closest one, even though there’s people in his life that he had known much longer. Steve was different, you found a place in his heart. Eddie hated to admit it but he did.

He was sick with jealousy when you had been with him but he always felt relieved that it wasn’t another man. It was just Steve. He always trusted him and he knew that you were safe with him.

“As do you.”

Yes.

Maybe the both of you have a bit of a soft spot for the handsome dork, he grew on you and a part of you hated the thought of him being all alone again. A part of you feels guilty, you gave him something, only to take it away again.

“I feel like an asshole.”

“What?”

His eyes are filled with guilt as he looks up at the ceiling.

“The night at the trailer, Steve and I got into a fight… kinda.”

“What? Why?”

“He admitted that he likes you. I asked him if he loves you but he didn’t say anything. He looked pretty upset about the fact that you like.. me.”

You talked about this with Steve. He told you that he has no feelings for you, that it was nothing but an attachment he had formed.

“I got angry and we started saying stuff to each other, then it all led to that moment.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah,” he sighs, “I feel bad, I-I didn’t want to accept that he may have feelings for you, I was scared that I would lose you because of it but when he gave you that necklace, I felt bad for him.”

Your eyes soften and you frown at his words, “w-why?”

“Because he didn’t want to let you go and yeah, maybe it’s just a friend not wanting to let go of someone that means the world to them and I know what it’s like to watch you leave, I know what he feels like. Losing you is the most painful thing, sweetheart.”

“I don’t ever wanna lose you,” he whispers as he presses a gentle kiss to your knuckles, “even if you decide to leave me in the end, I will never leave you, no matter what.”

Tears well up in your eyes.

Eddie doesn’t understand what weight his words hold. He doesn’t know that this small moment, these simple words might have saved you.

You know that he will stand by your side.

And as long as you have him, you know that you will be alright.

Cruel words and weird stares were expected when you left the hotel the next day, you successfully managed to ignore them though. You don’t let these things get to you. You’ve become an expert at building walls up around you, ones that no one can tear down, least of all strangers who have no relations to you.

You make it through the interview, you manage to get through the photoshooting and even the talk show that the band has been invited to.

The journalists weren’t the nicest people to deal with, they of course used the article as an excuse to ask you questions that you have felt uncomfortable to answer but as you have told Eddie, you put on a fake smile and acted as though it had absolutely no effect on you.

You noticed the concerned glances of your friends, Jeff asked you how you were doing multiple times, Gareth tried to lighten your mood while Rob and Johnny tried to distract you by talking about the upcoming concert.

Eddie held your hand through it all, comforting you with his touches and encouraging smiles.

You appreciate them but most of all him.

You tried to think of anything but the mess that you had gotten in, which was quite the challenge considering that people brought it up, constantly.

Friday rolled around and you were happy to be back on stage for rehearsals. You haven’t sung since the night at the hideout and you missed it.

You and Eddie tried to keep your touches to a minimum but it was difficult to do so, you just couldn’t stay away from him and neither could he. It was nice to hold his hand again and sing with him.

You have gotten to the venue in the morning, a few hours have passed since then and you have decided to take a break.

With a cup of coffee in your hand, you sit down on the ground and flip through the pages in your notebook.

The guys went out to eat, you didn’t feel like leaving the venue, not when you know that there’s a bunch of people waiting out there for you. Eddie had wanted to stay back but you know that he hasn’t eaten anything since last night so you had to convince him to get food with the others.

He only begrudgingly agreed, not wanting to leave you alone but eventually he caved, especially when his stomach grumbled. He promised to get you something as well before he left.

You hear heavy footsteps and a loud sigh, you don’t have to look behind you to see who it is.

“What’re you doing, kid?” Rob asks as he sits down across from you, a cup of coffee in one hand and a cigarette in his other.

“Just going through a new song text that I wrote.”

“Oh, you wrote a new one?” He asks with a smile on his face.

“Yes, started working on it a while back, do you wanna read it?”

“Sure.”

You turn your notebook around and slide it towards him. “I thought that this could be on the next album.”

He raises his brow and smiles, “next album, huh?”

You nod, “yeah, I mean I hope we can make one.”

“With the way things are going, I can’t see why not,” he shrugs before he breaks eye contact, placing his mug on the floor, he reaches for the notebook. Placing his cigarette between his lips, he squints his eyes as he starts to read.

You shake your head at the expression on his face, that man refuses to get himself some reading glasses.

You take a sip of your warm coffee and look around the empty room, the one that will be filled with thousands of people tomorrow night.

“Sounds angry,” he chuckles, “and very emotional.”

“I was very angry and emotional,” you nod, laughing.

“I can tell.”

“Whenever I’m angry or sad, I get inspired…. Is that weird?”

He smiles as he shakes his head slowly, “no, kid. It’s not weird, it’s your way of dealing with it. Which is good because at least there’s a great outcome from it. Other’s turn to other things when they are in pain.”

You swallow, nodding at his words.

“Yeah, drugs, alcohol and sex.”

His eyes widen as he nods in agreement, “that’s right. I’ve been there myself, it’s not good. It feels good in the moment but you always come back from it, you sober up and when you do, you feel like absolute shit so you drown yourself in it again and again. You don’t want to but you do, despite knowing how fucking awful it is. You want to stop but the moment you’re in it, it just seems impossible and the longer you do it, you get more and more lost.”

“Yeah,” you breathe, nodding, “you lose your way out.”

“You really do. That’s why you should never even start with it because the moment you do, all those fuckers out there,” he says, pointing into a random direction, his cigarette still between his fingers, “the ones who are waiting for your downfall, they all fucking win. Everything they said about you, becomes true and you don’t want that. You gotta do what’s best for you, you gotta be better and stronger than them.”

“But what if you realize that you are not strong?”

“Then you gotta find that strength, you look for the light and hold on to that. Don’t succumb to darkness.”

Rob’s words echo in your mind for the rest of the day, playing on repeat.

You found your light and you will hold onto that, no matter what.

“Are you ready?” Gareth grins at you, wiggling his brows.

“Yeah, I’m ready,” you chuckle, giving him a confused look, “why are you acting so suspicious?”

“Me, suspicious?” He gasps, shaking his head, “why would I act suspicious?”

“I don’t know, you tell me.”

You look behind his shoulder, smiling at Steve who looks away from Eddie, his eyes lock with yours and he smiles.

Robin is watching the opening act with a look of awe in her eyes, Wayne next to her.

The backstage crew is rushing around, preparing for your concert.

“Can you believe that all these people came here for you?”

You furrow your brows, laughing, “they came for us,” you mumble.

“No, they came for you.”

He looks behind you with a smirk on his face. You’re just about to turn around to see what he is looking at when a pair of hands cover your eyes.

“Guess who.”

You gasp at the sound of her voice, almost squealing in excitement, you grab her hands and turn around.

“Jamie?” You exclaim as you meet the eyes of your best friend.

She grins at you, happiness flashing in her eyes, she pulls you into a tight hug.

“I missed you so much.”

You close your eyes, blinking away the happy tears, you squeeze her tightly.

“I missed you too, Jaims.”

“Alright, move over, Jamie. It’s my time.”

Your eyes snap open and you just now notice the other two girls. Frankie and Wren rush towards you with excited squeals. They both wrap their arms around you, pulling you into a group hug.

You giggle as Frankie presses her lips to your cheek, “I missed you so much, babe!”

“How?” You ask as you look at your friends in surprise.

Jeff comes up behind Wren, pulling your friend into his arms, “we thought you could use some time with your friends,” he grins at you.

“Wait,” you look at him with a smile on your face before you turn to Gareth, “you guys planned this?”

“It was Eddie’s idea,” he shrugs, “I almost blurted it out the other day though.”

Your gaze softens, heart warming. You turn around, looking at Eddie who is already staring at you with a smile on his face.

‘Thank you,’ you mouth to him.

“Of course, you can never keep your mouth shut,” Jamie snorts at him.

“Hey! I did keep my mouth shut!”

You shake your head, turning back to your friends, you stare at them for a moment. It’s been months since you had last seen them. Wren’s hair is longer than it was before, a happy smile is lingering on her face as she hugs Jeff.

“How are you guys?”

“Oh, Wren and I are fine,” Jamie says to you before she looks at Frankie who has that flicker in her eyes, “this one though, crazy in love.”

Your eyes widen, you look her up and down, not only is she blushing like crazy, there’s also something on her hand that you haven’t seen before.

“I-Is that an engagement ring?” You gape at her, reaching for her hand to stare at it.

“Yes,” she squeals.

“Wow, I– where’s this coming from?” You laugh, eying the beautiful ring, “who’s that lucky guy?”

She opens her mouth to speak but is quickly cut off by Wren, “before she rambles your ear off, his name is Thomas, he is rich and crazy obsessed with her.”

“And he has a yacht!” Frankie exclaims with a happy smile on her face.

You pull her into another hug, “congrats, you always wanted a yacht,” you giggle.

“Hi guys.”

For a moment, your friends all fall silent at the sound of Eddie’s voice, it almost makes you nervous that they know about what happened. You didn’t tell them, you didn’t want to, especially not over the phone.

Eddie places his hand on your back, waving at them awkwardly.

They all greet him after a moment, giving him small smiles. It makes you relax a little but then they lay their eyes on Steve, who stands on the other side of you.

You introduce them to him, your friends eye him in curiosity, you can already hear the questions coming the moment they get you alone again.

They share teasing grins when they notice how both men look at you. Their grins only get bigger when you call Steve ‘Stevie’.

Jeff excuses himself, pulling Wren along with him. You smirk to yourself when you see them walking into one of the backstage rooms.

Gareth walks off as well as he mumbles something under his breath, leaving you standing here with two men on both your sides and your very curious best friends.

Jamie falls into a conversation with Eddie and Steve but quickly finds something more entertaining behind you, you follow her gaze. Robin.

She is staring at Robin.

A mischievous smile appears on your face, the blush on her face deepens when Robin turns around, meeting your friend’s eyes. Jamie was the one who teased you the most when she found out about your feelings for Eddie, you will enjoy this.

“So which one of them are you dating right now?” Frankie whispers into your ear after pulling you away from the group.

“W-What?” You chuckle.

She grins, playing with her red hair as she leans closer to you, “are you dating both?” She asks, “I know you always loved those love triangle books.”

“Oh my god,” you groan.

She turns to look at them, catching the look on Steve’s face as he stares at Eddie.

“Oh uh, babes, I think he has a crush on your man.”

You follow her gaze to see Steve nodding along to Eddie’s words, smiling at him.

You almost burst into laughter.

“Wait no–” she cuts herself off, Steve looks at you for a brief moment, “wait…”

“What?” You chuckle.

Her eyes are squinted, she looks at them and then at you, eyes moving back and forth, “did you…” Her eyes widen and she gasps before she even finishes her questions, before you even say anything, “you did, didn’t you!”

“Did what?” You laugh, acting clueless but the flustered look on your face and the nervous smile gives it away.

“You know what,” she wiggles her brows.

“No…” You say in a hushed whisper, hoping that no one can hear you or see the look on your face, “we didn’t–”

“Yes you did, you naughty girl,” she smirks.

“I-It wasn’t, we didn’t.. not actually,” you stutter, rolling your eyes as you cross your arms over your chest.

“Not actually?” She asks with wide eyes, “but you did something.”

“It was just… a little something.” Not an actual threesome, you think to yourself.

“A little something, huh?” She grins.

Shaking your head, you roll your eyes playfully.

“Nothing too crazy.”

“How did that even happen?” She gasps, giggling like a schoolgirl, “I thought you and Eddie were dating all this time.”

“We weren’t– aren’t dating.”

She draws back, scrunching her face up, “you’re kidding right?”

You shake your head, “nope.”

“I’m not buying that, that man,” she points to Eddie who turns to look at you with a smile on his face, “he is head over heels for you.” And then her eyes fall on Steve, “and that one too…. maybe, I’m not sure yet.”

You shake your head, sighing.

“Who’s head over heels for who?” Wren whispers in your ear as she sneaks up behind you.

“Eddie and his boyfriend.”

Wren giggles and you roll your eyes with a smile on your face.

“Oh my god,” Wren laughs, “look at you, you became a rockstar and got yourself two boyfriends, have you adopted any kids yet?” She jokes.

You chuckle, “should I?”

“Yeah, you should make them both daddies.”

“Jesus Christ…” you groan.

“Who’s gonna be your new year’s kiss tonight? Which one is getting the first smooch?”

They both giggle at the flustered expression on your face, teasing you with their eyes when both men walk up to you again, standing on both sides of you like before.

“You ready to go on stage, sweetheart?” Eddie smiles excitedly as he reaches for your hand.

You nod, ignoring the giggles of your friends.

“Good luck, honey.”

They whisper behind your back, mimicking their pet names for you before they giggle again.

You already know, their teasing will be never ending and this night will be a long one.

@littledemondani @wroteclassicaly @corrodedcorpses @mysticmunson @aftermidnightwriting @sherrylyn628 @imjuststeddietrashatthispoint @yearwalker96 @eddiemyloveee

#eddie munson x reader #eddie munson x fem!reader #eddie munson x female reader #eddie munson x you #eddie munson x y/n #eddie munson imagines #eddie munson imagine #eddie munson angst #eddie munson fic #eddie munson fanfic #eddie munson fluff #stranger things imagine #stranger things imagines #stranger things angst #rockstar!eddie munson #rockstar!eddie

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elusivecagedmockingbird · 2 months

Text

Bad Omens

[jungkook x reader] [1.8k+ smut, angst; two-part series]

these bad omens, I look right through them, that's what you do when you love somebody

The raging buzz you feel collides with the mellow hum of the love song Jungkook has playing on the car stereo.

Each movement you make, a huff and a puff escapes your lips. Your eyes shooting icy daggers at your husband.

Feeling ignored, you pivot your attention to the seemingly endless road home. Your final act was crossing your arms and making sure he hears your snappy and annoyed tsk.

Unbeknownst to you, Jungkook has been trying really hard to be patient with you. His energy has been drained up to the last drop during the baby shower you attended. When you both said your goodbyes to your friends, he anticipated a calm drive, but no, for some unknown reason, you decided to flip your bitch switch on him.

Spotting a lay-by, Jungkook swerves the car to the side of the road.

"Why are we stopping here?" Your confusion momentarily eclipses your irritation at the sudden stop. The knot in your brows undoing, and for the first time since you left Jin hyung's home, you and your husband make eye contact.

"Well, Y/N," he huffs particularly at the utterance of your name. "I'm not taking you home with that attitude. So, tell me, what's wrong?"

You scoff. Now you're offended, and when you feel this way, you can't help but be petty. All reason and ability to communicate goes out the window.

"You already know what pissed me off." You unbuckle your seatbelt and attempt to get out of the car, ready for a dramatic exit. But as soon as you unlock the car, Jungkook locks your door from his side.

You grunt, fingers pushing the unlock button. Without missing a beat, he locks it again. You groan in annoyance, and Jungkook 'patiently' waits for you to spill what you've been holding back.

You harshly lean yourself on the seat. Defeated and frustrated, you glare at the doe eyes staring at you. "You embarrassed me back there," your simmering rage starts to bubble in your throat as you choke out a sob. Already tearing up at the mere thought of it as you try to articulate your anger. "You told our friends you never have to deal with me getting baby fever because I lack maternal instinct."

You furiously wipe at the tears freefalling from your eyes. "I mean what kind of husband says that about their wife?"

It was quiet for a moment. Too quiet, and you felt uncomfortable being around the person you love and trust the most. You stifled your sniffles.

Across from you, Jungkook looked like a fish coming up for air, with his lips puffed open and closed. He was speechless and motionless.

Jungkook knew he screwed up when he made that remark. He couldn't even backtrack nor come up with an excuse for it. Sure, you were privy to your emotions even to him, your husband of three years, but he had no reason to be telling people those. But he swears he only wanted your friends to get off his back. He felt like he was in a pressure cooker from all the bombarding comments and questions about when he would have a kid. He could only hope you hadn't heard it back then.

Clearly, he was wrong.

"Sweetheart," he placates, his hands warming your cold face as he cups and wipes the tears. I'm sorry. I don't know what else to say. That—that was really wrong of me to say." Jungkook pulls you to his chest, and your dam breaks. You're only glad your sobs were muffled. One of your hands curls at the lapel of his leather jacket and the other is clenched, throwing weak, harmless blows to his shoulder.

You stay curled up together inside the car. None of you knows how long, but in that shared silence, he was able to comfort you when he couldn't with words.

The loud clattering of ice and rain falling on your car rouses you. Groaning as you crack your strained neck, you shake Jungkook awake.

"Jungkook, we gotta get home." With a voice as hoarse as yours, he curses and sits up to stretch.

With eyes still squinting with sleep, Jungkook starts the car, then drives away.

"Wake up," a voice purrs. The voice is breathy and pointed. It tingles you in all the right places. A sudden surge of pleasure erupts from your core. Still sleep-laden, you softly whimper as your hand aimlessly touches your crotch—aching for release.

Your name is called again. This time, the voice was loud enough for you to recognize it to be your husband's. Your eyes flutter as you look down between your heaving chest, "J-Ju-Jungkook," you moan.

"Breakfast in bed, sweetheart." The proud man between your legs smirks at you, then when he's sure he has your attention, he sticks his tongue out until the tip reaches your clit and flits his tongue up and down.

"Shit, baby," you pant. The spaces between your fingers are filled with his soft hair. You tug his head closer, urging him to devour you.

You hear Jungkook chuckle. The vibration adds to the blinding arousal you're experiencing, causing you to carelessly throw your head back to the soft pillows.

He pulls your legs closer and rests your thighs on his shoulders—his hand cupping your ass. You gasp and your body starts to quiver until your arousal squirts out of you. Jungkook slurps you like his morning orange juice—drinks you in like he was wandering in the desert and he found an oasis in you.

"Sweetest breakfast ever. But I'm still hungry, babe." Jungkook wipes his mouth with his hand while he kneels on the bed to position his hips between your legs. With a cocky smirk, Jungkook immediately pumps two of his fingers into your pussy.

"Shit. Fuck. Jungkook," you wail, body thrashing in your bed. You push your hips towards his hands and you were quick to cum again.

Jungkook leaves kisses on every inch of your skin until he reaches your lips. You slip your tongue in his mouth and bite his lip, evoking a satisfied hum.

"My turn," you propose as you push him on his back.

"Okay, answer this, do you want to have a kid now?" You stare at your husband's eyes as yours starts to sting with the brimming tears you're trying to keep at bay.

You want to stay level-headed, not be driven by your emotions. You need to talk to him, Y/N—you remember your mom telling you. She was right. This was a talk between you and your husband, but it's difficult, and somehow, all your talks start with you with your hands up already in defense.

"I want what you want, Y/N." He sighs.

Jungkook was tired—not because of or from you, but physically. Going out straight all night was taking its toll on his body, and with that, he was prone to being more irritable.

"Christ," you cry out. "It's sentiments like those that make me feel like shit, you know?" You grunt in frustration. You look away from him, but your body remains close to his. You want to walk away, but you keep reminding yourself this talk needs to be done. And so, you plant your feet on the ground.

"You think I'm supposed to swoon and love you even more when you tell me you want what I want, but all I feel is I'm alone in making a decision that's too heavy for one person to make." Your confession was sharp on your tongue and it drove daggers to Jungkook's heart.

You recoil at seeing Jungkook's eyes moisten with tears.

"I-I know you love me, Jungkook. But—"

"No buts." He cuts you off. "I love you, Y/N. And I want to have a baby with you."

"You can't just say that." Your voice was soft, like you were worn out, but your eyes remained hopeful as they searched for truth in his.

Jungkook closes the gap between your bodies and leans his forehead against yours. In a whisper, in a voice he hopes would come across as sincere that it mirrors his heart, he re-affirms.

Happy tears fall from your eyes and you kiss him. "Take me home."

Even with the most mundane tasks, Jungkook looked good. Some days, like today, he looked too good.

You slowly pop each button to open your dress. Jungkook remains focused on the road, still clueless to your provocation. You proceed to slip your fingers under your dress, removing the flimsy cloth you call underwear.

At the sound of your seatbelt unfastening, Jungkook looks your way, and it's comical how his mouth pops open.

He swerves on the free road until pulling to a stop. "Are you trying to get us killed?"

Arms outstretched to the dashboard due to his sudden turn, you scoff, "How could you drive that badly?"

"Badly? Are you..." Jungkook faces you. "You're the one out here flashing me. Thank fuck we're alone on the road."

Embarrassed, you impishly grin. With your tits still out and your dress hitched higher on your thighs, Jungkook gulps at the sight.

Catching his reaction, you smirk before climbing on his lap. He lets you. The adrenaline from your near-demise turned to lust. Jungkook grips your hips, hands pushing your dress to reveal your leaking cunt. You, on the other hand, frantically unbuckle his belt before taking out his semi-hard-on. You lick your hand, then stroke his cock to fully stiffen.

"Y/N," he stutters and bucks his hips in your hands. With a staggering drop to his dick, you both whimper. The sudden plunge was rough, but you loved the ache that came with it.

"Fuck," your husband curses. "Look at your tiny cunt swallowing me whole." he goads.

"Fuck into me," you command and Jungkook happily obliges—hips thrusting upwards. He presses his thumb to your lips and you open your mouth to suck at his digit.

Inside the car, a confetti of moans and groans explodes. Your arms wrap around Jungkook's neck to keep you from falling off from his lap. His aggressive thrusts have you bouncing, and you've hit your head on the roof once or twice, but the growing pain goes unnoticed. Thanks to your lover's unrelenting fucking, it's all you can feel, and you let it swallow you whole.

You bite Jungkook's thumb, not too hard to hurt him, but enough to feed into his pain kink. He cums first inside you. He quickly pulls his digit from your mouth and swirls it around your clit until you're reaching your climax with a shriek of his name.

Chest still heaving and high on pleasure, Jungkook teases you, "Think I fucked you good?"

His palm lays flat on your stomach and you laugh.

Yeah, he fucked you good, you muse.

#jungkook fanfic #jungkook x reader #bts fic #jeon jungkook #bts #jungkook fic #bts jungkook #bangtanwritershq #bts fanfic

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harrysfolklore · 1 year

Text

the first meeting - babysitter!yn and harry

can you believe it’s been a year since the first babysitter!yn blurb was posted? this is how they initially met !

gif creds to @londonharry <3

MY PATREON | BABYSITTER!YN MASTERLIST

September 4, 2021. Las Vegas, NV,

"Hey sissy! As you know, Mitch and I are set to go back on the road for work next month, we've been looking for a nanny for baby boy everywhere but we just can't find someone we trust enough. If you don't have anything going on for the next three months, would you like to join us as his babysitter?"

That was the text YN got a month ago, and she didn't need to give it a second thought before she packed her best clothes and took Sarah's offer.

Now there she was, walking around the halls of MGM Grand arena in Las Vegas, with her nephew in a sling and the possibility of running into Harry Styles at any minute. When YN told her friends about her new job they were ecstatic, claiming that she was god's favorite for being able to work for the Harry Styles, the hot, talented, pop star Harry Styles.

YN, however, didn't think about it that way. She was working for Mitch and Sarah, not him, and even tho she certainly found Harry handsome and intriguing, the idea of something other than an acquaintanceship happening between the two of them didn't even cross her mind.

"Do you miss your mummy baby? Should we find her so you can cuddle before we have to go back to the hotel?" YN cooed at the baby on her chest, who suddenly started to get fuzzy, since he's a pandemic baby he's not quite used to being away from his parents for long periods of times and that makes him get upset often "Let's go find her, I have no idea of where she could be tho" YN told the baby again, and before she could start walking, a voice made her turn on her heels.

"Hey, you're looking for Sarah?" it was no other than the man of the show, Harry Styles, in running shorts, a hoodie, long socks and sneakers, probably out of a workout before he had to start getting ready for his show. It was safe to say that YN was taken back by the pop star talking to her, not that she thought he was one of those cold, self-absorbed celebrities who felt like no one deserved to breathe the same oxygen as them, but she was still taken back by the action.

"Yes, this one is getting fuzzy and we need to head back to the hotel soon, wanted him to say goodbye," she replied, not sure if he just asked because he was around the area or if he was actually interested on helping her find her cousin, "Well, I think I spotted her at the dining area with Mitch, want me to walk you there?" he casually asked again and if YN was puzzled about his actions before, now she was even more taken back.

He's a really nice person, that was her main thought.

"That would be really nice, actually. These backstage areas are so big, I've lost count of how many times I've walked in the wrong direction," and she wasn't exaggerating, as someone who had never been on the road before, everything was new to her and she wasn't used to how backstages worked "I'm YN, by the way, baby Jonesland's babysitter on the road" she spoke again introducing herself as she walked the way Harry lead, "I know who you are, Mitch and Sarah have told me wonderful things about you, It's really nice to finally meet you" a wink and a small smile were attached to his reply, and if YN's judgement wasn't playing games with her, she could swear that he was flirting.

"Interesting, I've heard all kinds of stuff about you too" she decided to go along with whatever their conversation was leading, but when a sign with the words 'Dining lounge' came in sight she instantly felt bummed because she knew their short time together was coming to an end.

And Harry was disappointed too.

"As long as that stuff is not coming from Twitter or the Daily Mail, I would like to thank whoever put on a good word for me," they reached the door that lead to the dining area where Mitch and Sarah were chatting along with some other crew members, and it was time for their goodbyes.

"Well, Mitch and Sarah should be the first ones on your list, they're always talking about you," and once again, she wasn't exaggerating, the amount of the stories her cousins told her about who they called their lovechild were uncountable "Thank you for walking me over here, I would've been lost and with a crying baby without your help," she gave him a small smile, and Harry felt like a teenager with a brand new crush, he met the girl just a few minutes ago and he was already giddy over those small gestures.

"Yeah, of course, no need to thank me, love," he didn't even think about it before letting the pet name roll out of his tongue, and now it was YN's turn to feel like a school girl with a crush, "See you around?" YN awkwardly let out, instantly feeling stupid over her poor response, but that feeling turned into a huge surprise when his response came out.

"Sure thing, I'll make sure of it." and with another wink and a smile, he turned on his heels and walked away until he was out of her sight.

He's a really nice person. She thought again.

With her nephew peacefully sleeping on his little crib, YN waited in the hotel room until the show was over to wrap up her first babysitting shift.

She loved her new job so far, there's nothing she wouldn't do for Sarah, who she loved as a sister, and she also adored kids so she had no problem looking out for one as a job.

While she sat in the plush chair of the hotel room, her mind couldn't help but travel to her interaction Harry earlier that day. Was he flirting? Am I just reading the situation wrong? He was just being kind, no big deal. Those were some of the assumptions that navigated through her brain, but something her mind definitely wasn't expecting was the texts that made her phone screen light up.

"Hey, It's Harry. We're done with the show and Pauli and some other crew guys suggested we should go to his room to have some food and drinks. Want to come along?"

"It's okay if you don't, tho. I guess you must be tired from babysitting all day"

"I got your number from Mitch, by the way, I hope you don't mind x"

YN read the texts one, two, three times to make sure she was reading right and Harry was actually texting her and inviting her for drinks and food with the tour crew , and when her brain finally registered what was happening, she didn't let her intrusive thoughts win her over as she typed her reply.

"See you there, Harry x"

Once again, Harry felt like a teenager with a brand new crush.

There he was, standing in the back of Pauli's hotel room, exhaustion clear on his face, but waiting for the pretty girl he just met earlier that day to show up.

Call him a sap, a total cliché, but he was infatuated by her and wanted nothing more than to get to know her better, and if the only time he could get her alone was late at night after his shows because that was when she was done babysitting, then he was willing to put his exhaustion behind and meet her.

A small sigh of relief left his mouth when he finally saw her walk inside the room, she was wearing matching grey hoodie and joggers, no makeup on and her tied in a low bun, and Harry thought she looked gorgeous.

He was in fact, a sap and a total cliché.

He approached her before anyone else in the room could and greeted her, asking if she wanted anything to drink, "Don't judge me, but I would just like a fresh club soda," she shyly replied, and of course Harry found that adorable, like everything else she did "Not really a drinker? And I would never judge you, don't be silly" he said as he fixed her drink, and fixing one for himself too, "I do like to drink, just not the occasion I guess, I'm pretty tired if I'm honest," and her response made Harry feel guilty, thinking that she only took his invitation to hang out because she didn't want to be rude.

"How was the show, by the way? How does it feel to be back on the road?" she added shortly after and Harry felt his heart skip a beat for the millionth time that day, the fact that the girl he was interested in wanted to hear about his favorite thing in the world to do was enough to make him giddy and giggly.

"It was amazing, I missed the stage so much, performing is my favorite thing in the world and not being able to do it for almost two years was devastating," he told her sincerely as they sat down on a couch situated a bit far from everyone else in the room, Harry wanted nothing more than to place his arm on the back of it to pull her close to him, but he knew it was too soon for that even if he was dying to get closer to her already.

"I'm so glad everything worked out so everyone could get back on the road, Mitch and Sarah were dying to play shows again too, and I bet your fans were eager to see you again," she took a sip of her club soda before continuing "I know your shows are known for being a blast, and I did have a blast when I attended one during your last tour, but I bet the energy is different this time around, isn't it?" she looked at him with expecting eyes, interested on his reply, and Harry felt like he could that to the girl in front of him for hours and he wouldn't feel tired.

"Yeah, I mean, the crowd tonight was wild, and I bet it'll only get better each night, I'm really excited about that" at this point, Harry's voice gave away the fact that he was exhausted, but he kept trying to play it cool because the last thing he wanted was for his time with YN to be cut short because of his tiredness, "That sounds so lovely, I wish I could be on the crowd for one of the shows but duty calls" she said with a small smile and Harry wanted nothing more than to have her on the crowd of one of his shows too, dancing to his songs along with the rest of his fans "We'll figure something out, I promise you'll be a proper pit girl before the tour ends" he smiled and sipped on his own drink before carrying on with their chat.

Another hour had passed and Harry and YN found themselves talking about whatever crossed their minds. It was late, they were both tired, letting out small yawns between conversations, but none of them dared to call it a night. They were enjoying each other's company way too much, they felt like they could stay like that till the morning.

However, when YN's eyelids started to slowly close after a moment of comfortable silence Harry knew he needed to let the girl rest, "Come on, sleepy girl, let me walk you to your room," he gently patted her arm, and the way she almost jumped on her spot almost made him melt "No, It's okay, I can find my way back, you should rest too," YN stubbornly told him, as if he was going to let her walk alone through the huge hotel at almost 2am, "Don't be silly, I'm a gentleman, let me walk you to your room" he stood up and offered him his hand to take, YN was too tired to overthink the situation and she just grabbed it and allowed him to walk her out of the room, taking her all the way to her own room.

“It's here, 508," she says before swiping the card and unlocking the door. The quiet beep echoing through the quiet hotel corridor, "Thank you for walking me all the way here, and keeping me company tonight, I really enjoyed it" her voice was soft and gentle, tiredness taking over once again, her eyes were soft as well and Harry could swear she had never seen someone more beautiful.

He really wanted to kiss her.

But he wasn't going to do it in the middle of a dark corridor, after just knowing her for a day.

"No problem, I really enjoyed your company too," he reserved himself to say, fighting his urge to take a step forwards and connect their lips, "See you around?" YN repeated the words from their first conversation, and with a smile on his face, Harry's reply came out smoothly.

"Sure thing, I'll make sure of it, we still have a lot of late night talking to do"

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soft-girl-musings · 6 months

Text

An Unexpected Proposition (pt. 2)

based on this prompt from @imaginexhobbit, previously submitted under @jawn-i-made-coffee

cross-posted to ao3

part 1

Kíli x fem!Reader

tags: mentions of blood/injury, Reader is described as tall (by human standards), Y/N is used

wc: 1,741

fic summary: An injured dwarf appears on your doorstep. Do you grant him sanctuary on this stormy night?

A/N: once again posting the cuties for myself. i have a loose outline from years ago i revisited and honestly? still slaps. so this might get a part 3.

You can't believe it. You’re actually doing it. You walk along the road leading away from town with your pack on your back, boots on your feet-

"Come on, (Y/N)!" Kíli shouts from the top of the hill. You smile. A friend by your side.

Only a few hours earlier you had broken bread and prepared to say goodbye; now, you’re following Kíli after he promised you an adventure. Was this a foolhardy endeavor? Perhaps. But after years in the quiet countryside, your roving heart had gotten restless. Kíli had tempted you with the open road and the thrill of a quest; how could you refuse him?

As you climb the muddy slope, Kíli taps his foot in mock impatience. "You would think that with those long legs of yours, you'd move faster."

You reach the top and shove him lightly. "Shut up. I'm digesting." He laughs, shoving you right back. You notice he slows his pace to walk beside you this time. "So how much farther are you taking me, sir dwarf?"

"Ah, ah! (Y/N), if we're to be on the road together, we must do away with these formalities." He pulls a grimace and looks up at you. "'Sir Dwarf' makes me sound like some old fool."

You chuckle. Never a dull moment with this one. "Very well, Kíli, " you begin, drawing out his name in playful reverence, “how much farther until we get there?”

Ears tinged pink, he looks away, adding the figures in his head. "Where we're going is... three days on foot. We'd cut our time in half if I hadn't lost my pony." His brow furrows as he remembers his violent run-in with a few drunk locals.

You frown. "You're too weak to make that journey on a deadline." Kíli opens his mouth to object, but you shake your head. "There's a stable not three miles from here. I know the owner, he should take pity on our situation and help us." Kíli's face remains tense, but he nods in agreement and follows you.

Three miles later, you approach the stables and see your friend, just having finished mucking out the stalls. He raises a hand to greet you, but retracts the gesture when he sees who walks beside you.

“'Afternoon, Dylten!” You holler, but he turns and carts the waste to the back of the structure. Strange, he’s never this distracted. You place your bags down and chase after him. “Wait here,” you reassure Kili, “I’ll be right back!”

You find his cart abandoned as he walks hastily away from the stable. “Dylten!” you run to catch up to him. “At least a nod of greeting would suffice. Why the rush, friend?”

“I’m not sure I wish to be called ‘friend,’ if that’s the kind of company you keep,” he grumbles. His face turns red as he walks faster, and you notice a few fresh bruises along his jaw.

You piece two and two together as you reach the crest of the hill, where you see a chestnut brown pony tied haphazardly to a post in front of his home.

"New acquisition?" You ask flatly, knowing full well where the pony came from.

"Of sorts." He moves to walk inside, but you block his doorway, hand on the hilt of your weapon.

"You nearly killed him," you snarl.

"It wasn't just me! Nobody wanted him there!" He backs away, nearly tripping over his front step. "Some of us merely took it upon ourselves to send the dwarf a message!"

You're seething with anger at this point, sword drawn. You brandish the weapon toward him. "Yeah? And what was it-- that you and half the people in this town are beyond dense?"

He’s nervous, but scoffs all the same. “Don’t pretend to be all ‘high and mighty,’ (Y/N). I fought beside you. You knocked heads and drew blood just as easily as the rest of us.”

You’ve heard enough. In an instant, Dylan is knocked down by the pommel of your weapon and you crouch over him, knee to his chest. “Not innocent blood. Which doesn’t help you at the moment.” His breath staggers under your weight, struggling even more as you lean closer. “We’re taking the pony. And your black mare. If you’re lucky, my payment will include us never speaking of this again.”

__________

The next day and a half pass with ease. You notice you’ve reached the western countryside. Lush grass rolls in billowing green waves, speckled with countless wildflowers. Kíli plucks a few and sticks them in your hair while you’re busy preparing lunch; you sneak a few into his braid before he mounts for the final leg of the journey.

"Look!" You shout gleefully. As twilight creeps in, you are met with a most welcome sight. Little homes built into the sides of hills are scattered along the horizon. The grass rises and frames a beaten path before you.

Kíli rides up beside you, grinning wildly. "I think we've finally reached The Shire."

Exhausted from your journey, the two of you go to a cozy-looking tavern for a couple of drinks. You feel like a giant as you sip from a glass half the size of what you’re used to. The door jingles, opening to reveal a blond dwarf looking around warily before stepping inside. You nudge Kíli and point out the newcomer. He leaps from his seat almost immediately.

"Fíli!" He calls out. The blond turns and, upon seeing Kíli, moves to embrace him.

"Glad to see you arrived safely, brother." They clap each other on the back and return to the table. Upon closer inspection, the family resemblance is much more prominent. Fíli is clearly the oldest of the two, having a harder maturity about him.

Fíli sits across from you, his smile slightly faltering as he looks you up and down. "And who's this?"

"(Y/N)," you blurt out, offering your hand. "I've been traveling with your brother." Fili shakes it, looking to Kíli for an explanation.

"She's done so much more than that, Fí. Why-"

"Tell me on the way. We're due at the burglar's house any minute now."

As you travel to your next destination, Kíli speaks of your "grand rescue". Fíli listens readily, but later murmurs concerns of how "Uncle might not approve" of your presence at the halfling's home.

The rest of the company, however, simply adores you. After Kíli tells them the tale of how you had saved him and secured transport (you had eventually told him about your run-in with Dylten), the other ten dwarves show an apparent respect for you.

"That'd explain why yer face looks like you fell head-first into a rosebush!" a dwarf called Bofur shouts across the table. You laugh as Kíli's ears turned red.

A heavy knock on the door silences the household.

"He's here."

"Gandalf," you hear someone say in greeting. You find yourself growing nervous as he walks in. Thorin seems to tower over the rest of the company. The graying hair and beard framing his face give his features an aged ferocity. You recall facing foes four times as large, but they suddenly seem dwarfed in comparison to this… well, dwarf.

You take a sip of tea and whisper, "Kíli, what if your brother was right? What if your uncle doesn't want me here at all?" Sensing the panic in your voice, he takes your hand in his and hushes you. "Fí doesn't know what he's talking about. Uncle needs every man he can get, and you're just as good as any of these old fools claim to be." He squeezes your hand andofferes a small smile. "He'll love you, I swear."

Unfortunately, Kíli could not have been more wrong. Thorin's face had been cheerful enough as he greeted his friends, but when his eyes fall on you, the subtle joy vanishes. After taking you in, he frowns. "I had believed this to be a private meeting, Gandalf."

"I had no part in her being here," the wizard insists.

"I brought her, Uncle." All eyes fall on Kíli as he stands. "I didn't think you'd mind. This is-"

"-A human who should not be aware as to why we are gathered."

"But Uncle, she's more than worthy to join us!"

"I decide who is worthy!" The red in Thorin's face deepens with every syllable. Your hand tightens around Kíli's. "Tell me, were you yammering about this quest on your whole journey, or was it just to the pretty ones you wished to impress?"

"With all due respect, sir-- your nephew is not at fault. I came on my own accord."

Thorin turns his glower to you. "Silence, girl. I'll deal with you later."

"Enough, Uncle!" Kíli shouts He leaps forward, dragging you along until you both stand toe to toe with Thorin. You feel drastically out of place, awkwardly towering over the dwarf who looks about ready to take your head off.

"(Y/N) has done nothing to deserve your blind wrath! If anything, she deserves your utmost respect! She has seen battle in lands I'd never heard of. She served ten years of her life fighting alongside fierce men who were beyond her in years, and matched them blow for blow! And she saved my life. I wouldn't be standing here before you if it wasn’t for her." He entwines your fingers and looks up at you. You notice he still has flowers in his hair. "She... she nursed me back to health. She fought for my property and restored my dignity, all in a day. And because I asked her, she abandoned her life of comfort to accompany me." He looks back at Thorin, determined. "I owe her my life."

"Let her stay, Uncle. They mean well," Fíli interjects from his corner of the room.

Thorin's eyes never leave Kíli's. "I had known you to be reckless, but I did not take you for a fool."

"Nor I you." His uncle smirks, but does not let the humor reach his eyes. "Please."

A tense moment of silence passes between you. Thorin moves closer, now standing directly beneath you. "You have no room for error. One wrong move and I will not hesitate to make you pay."

You kneel before him, hardly believing what you heard. "From this moment on, you are my King; I will serve you as such. You have my loyalty and my sword at your disposal."

#the hobbit #the hobbit fanfiction #hobbit fic #an unexpected journey #kili #kíli #kili x reader #kili/reader #kili x y/n #imaginexhobbit

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dira333 · 8 months

Text

The Road Not Taken - Part 6

Shibi x female reader with a name - arranged marriage

Summary: Airi Nara seems a hopeless case, until her grandmother sets her up for an arranged marriage. But was marrying Shibi Aburame the right choice after all?

Character Sheet - Masterlist

WARNING This chapter contains canon typical violence and death

Chapter 6 - Airi -

Two weeks pass and you’re at the end of a work cycle.

Every single shift has its advantages and disadvantages, leaving you unable to decide which one you would ask to cut.

Shibi’s recommendation - to cut two days off each week - gets blocked the second you bring it up.

“You can’t work less.” Kazue hardly looks up from her charts. “We need you here.”

“I have a son now, he needs me.”

Kazue levels you with a glare. “How old is he?”

“He’s four.”

She snorts. “That’s old enough to be alone for a few hours. Besides, he’s got a father too, doesn’t he? He can train with him when you’re at work like every other child here does.”

Kazue ends the conversation after that, assigning you the task that everyone hates - the autopsy shift.

It’s less draining on your Chakra than any other shift but it depletes what good mood you had left over from the morning. When you finally clean up, more than eager to get home, Kazue crosses your path again, handing you a scroll.

“Urgent mission. You need to get ready in half an hour.”

“But-” You start and she glares at you until you close your mouth and nod.

“Your shift tomorrow is covered but in case you come back earlier than expected, report to your usual shift.”

Half an hour is not nearly enough time for what you need to get done.

You race home and send a shadow clone to fetch Chiasa when Shibi is nowhere to be found.

She arrives in a cloud of Kikaichu and striped sleepwear.

“Shibi’s on a mission.” She explains, her tone dry as always.

“I have to leave for one as well.”

“Ah.” She eyes the bar of chocolate you’re wolfing down in between packing your stuff. “When are you going to be back?”

“Estimated time is up to twenty hours. I’m on late shift rotation and if I’m home earlier I have to report back anyway. If Shino asks for me tomorrow…”

“He understands what missions are about.” Chiasa sounds clearly annoyed now and you suppose she’s right. But you can’t help thinking about your own childhood and how it felt to stay behind when your parents had to leave for missions. Especially the one they never came back from.

“I’m telling him goodbye.” You rush past her before she can stop you, climb the stairs knowing full well you’re going to be late to the meeting point.

“Hey, Shino…” You shake his shoulders softly and he grumbles, a wave of Kikaichu crawling over your hands in response. Whatever they tell him, it wakes him up and he blinks blearily up at you.

“I have to leave on a mission,” You tell him quietly, “Chiasa is here and looking after you. I won’t be home tomorrow when you wake up.”

Even in his sleepy state, he grasps the meaning of your words immediately, his hands following suit. He’s hanging off your shoulders now, face pressed against your neck.

Shino does not speak, he does not need to. The Kikaichu crawling over your body tell you more than enough and you keep talking to him, your voice quiet and soothing until he lets go of you again.

You kiss him on the forehead one last time and sneak a piece of chocolate into the top drawer of his nightstand for him to find in the morning.

Haruno Mikio’s bright pink hair is clearly visible even this late at night.

Your heart leaps at the thought of having him on your team but when you approach him, he wipes sweat and dirt off his forehead and grins apologetically.

“Sorry dumpling,” he flicks your forehead, “Just got back. Maybe next time.”

You roll your eyes at the age-old nickname. Mikio, Tsume and you had been Genin-Team 8 years ago and while you wouldn’t call the three of you best friends, there’s still some fondness left for each other.

“Say hi to your kid for me,” you tell him off and march over to the other group of Shinobi waiting at the gates.

Ohta Masashi and Ota Minori are both Jonin, who are, ironically, not related.

They might share almost identical looks and fighting styles and even their last names are almost identical, but everyone who’s spent the better part at the Academy with them in one class - like you - knows better.

“What are you doing here?” Masashi asks, annoyed as usual in your presence. “This is an A-Rank Mission. You’re still Chunin.”

“All Missions above and including B-Rank Missions should include a Medi-Nin.” You remind Masashi as calmly as you can. You’d rather be at home anyway.

“Who’s leading the mission? The information I got was pretty dire.”

“Some Aburame,” Minori shrugs, “Or was it Asamune? Didn’t really care. Didn’t you marry lately? I heard something.”

“I did.” You have no intentions on discussing your life with your school bullies but Minori seems to have other plans.

“Heard it’s an Aburame. Didn’t know Deer and Bugs could be sexually compatible.” He snickers as if he’d just made the best joke ever and Masashi joins in when someone clears their throat directly behind you.

“It seems we’re all here.” You’d recognize that voice anywhere by now and turn, hoping against all odds that Shibi hasn’t heard anything that Minori has just said.

Just half a second later your head registers something more important.

“You’re the team lead?” You ask, your head spinning with thoughts. “Chiasa said you’d gone on a mission, what about-?”

He nods, cutting your rambling off. “She’s been informed. Shino is taken care off.”

Relief washes over you but that never lasts long with the trouble twins near you.

“Wait a minute.” Masashi, always the smarter one, connects the dots. “You guys are married?”

“We are. Do you have a problem with that?” Shibi’s voice is cold when he speaks, something you haven’t heard from him before.

An almost sadistic grin grows on Minori’s face and he shakes his head.

“Nah. Just surprised the Hokage thought that would be a good idea. Oh well, if one of us two dies we’ll know it’s because the princess couldn’t take her eyes off her husband.”

“You can leave.” Shibi’s voice cuts through the tension, “I’ll have no problem finding someone else for this mission. Someone more suitable.”

Masashi is the first to come to his senses, shaking his head.

“Nah.” He slaps one hand onto Minori’s shoulder. “We’re good. We’re good.”

Twenty minutes later Konoha lies far behind you.

Shibi has all of you moving at a breakneck speed and soon, the ‘terrible twins’ fall behind.

You don’t really know how you keep up, your focus narrowing on just the next tree and the tree after that.

When Shibi stops, you don’t notice until you slam right into him, cutting your chin on the rough exterior of his gourd. He doesn’t move and the impact throws you back, the only thing keeping you from falling off the tree is Shibi himself, who grabs your arm.

“Why did you stop?” You ask, breathless and embarrassingly wheezy.

“Your Chakra signature has started to fluctuate. Are you alright?”

You wipe the blood from your chin and focus again, your hand glowing with Chakra as you move it across your body only to let out a heavy sigh.

“I’ve started my period.” You explain lowly, hoping against all odds that the terrible twins are still way behind you.

Shibi tenses immediately, much to your surprise.

“I’m fine.” You tell him. “I just burn out quicker. Can I take a quick break, though?”

“I’ll keep watch.” He speaks stiffly and you can’t fault him for that. He’s spent four years without a woman in his house and who knows how involved he was with that business before.

You assume that he means well, but the cloud of Kikaichu following you as you make your way over to a few narrow bushes makes you feel like he’s watching you instead of whatever enemies the forest hides.

Rushing through the task you climb back up the tree minutes later.

“How long until we set up camp?” You ask. “Have we located them already?”

As it’s an A-Rank Mission you got only a slimmed down version of the mission briefing in the scroll Kazue gave you.

What you do know is that you’re following a group of Kiri-Nin who’ve been suspects for months. Only now they’ve given Konoha a reason to hunt them down - they stole sensible documents.

“We’re making good time. We should come close to their camp in about three hours. We cannot attack before sunrise though. Why? We know that at least one of the Shinobi is weaker in the light, using the darkness to their advantage.”

“Three more hours?” You squint at your watch in the low light of the moon. It’s pretty unnecessary, your exhaustion alone is telling you that you’re already way past midnight.

You pull a pillbox out of your bag and flick the lid open, squinting at the content.

“What is it?” Shibi steps closer.

“Just Soldier Pills.” You explain and successfully spot the version that’s a little bit weaker than the regular version.

You don’t want to be awake for three days straight. One is more than enough.

“Why are you looking at them?” There’s a weird undertone in Shibi’s voice and you look up at him. He’s standing with his back to the sky, his face covered in darkness.

“I was trying to pick out the version I make for myself. It’s a bit weaker than the regular ones.”

“Why are you looking at them?” He repeats, again with that weird undertone.

“You can pick up Chakra Signatures. You should be able to tell why I need them.”

“I’ll carry you.”

You laugh at the absurdity of it.

“I am perfectly capable of making the distance myself. It’s your speed that’s giving me trouble. But I will be fine. There’s nothing wrong with Soldier Pills.”

“Yes there is. Hiding your exhaustion behind stimulations is not the way to go.”

“Shibi.” You’re deeply annoyed now. “I am not a child. Furthermore I am a Medi-Nin and qualified to tell you if these things are bad for you or not. I’m pretty sure almost every Shinobi in our ranks has taken them at least once by now. What’s gotten you so riled up?”

He’s quiet for a while.

You’re not sure why you wait for his answer instead of just popping one of the pills and getting this all over with.

Eventually, he speaks.

“You do not like being away from Shino.” He starts and moves his head slightly, his glasses reflecting the moonlight for a moment. “Neither do I. It makes me worry more. Is he alright? Did I prepare him for everything should the worst happen? I have not thought about the possibility of worrying about you but now I find myself wondering if I am a good team lead if you need stimulants to keep up with the mission.”

“How about a compromise?” You can hear yourself say.

“You can carry me until we set up camp - under the requirements that no one sees or hears about that, ever - and I’ll save the soldier pill for when it’s really necessary, in case of a fight or an emergency. I know what I’m doing with them, I even make them myself, but if it will ease your mind, this would be an arrangement I’d be comfortable with.”

“It’s acceptable for me as well.” He agrees. “I’ll let Ohta and Ota know which direction we’re moving in.”

Only when you’re on his back, arms slung around his shoulders and your nose buried in his hair, you realize how idiotic this compromise is.

You might conserve energy through this, but he’ll tire out much faster if he has to carry you for three hours.

If Shibi has realized that as well, however, he does not show.

And you might not know him that well yet, but you’ve already realized that he’s stubborn.

Finding another compromise might take you hours.

It speaks for your exhaustion that you doze off almost immediately and need a few seconds to orient yourself when you wake up with your nose pressed into his hair.

“Shibi?” You ask, struggling to move out of his grip. “What’s going on?”

“We’ve located them. They’ve set up camp and I’ve called Ota and Ohta to pick up speed so that we can rest before attacking them. Why? We’re up against someone who’s strongest in the darkness. We will use the morning light to our advantage.”

You nod. “I’ll set up camp then as well.”

He opens his mouth to disagree but you stop him with a hand on his elbow.

“Shibi.” You put as much emphasis as you can on his name. “I am fine. I am a Chunin, not a child.”

He doesn’t respond to that, just gives you a tense nod and you make your way down the tree.

Overhead you hear the rustling of leaves and the telltale sound of someone approaching through the treetops.

You can’t see them but you can hear them. Minori is cursing under his breath but Masashi’s the one addressing Shibi.

“Can you call back your bugs? We got it the first time, you don’t have to push and pull us here.”

“We should attack.” Minori sounds restless. “They’re only three, we could take them down easily, they’re only Kiri-Nin.”

“No.” Shibi’s voice is filled with so much authority you can feel it even down here on the ground.

“Where’s the wifey?” Minori asks, followed by the sound of a slap and him cursing softly. “What was that for?”

“It’s Aburame-san, idiot.” But there’s a teasing lilt to his words that tells you he’s going to give you shit later when Shibi isn’t around to hear it.

“She’s setting up camp. You should get down as well. I will take the first watch, we still have some time before sunrise. Why-”

His sentence is interrupted by a rumble you can feel in your bones.

It’s the only warning you get.

Even though you’re immediately on high alert, the attack comes out of nowhere.

You barely dodge the blade moving towards you and can feel the faintest sting on your cheek where it cut you. Down here where the moonlight barely reaches you, you have to act on instinct instead of sight, especially when a well-aimed kick against your flashlight renders it useless.

You throw your shadow at him, glad that no matter how many training sessions you’ve missed in the last weeks, your Kekkei Genkai does not lose its strenth.

The guy curses in your hold and you move slowly, step away from him to bring distance between you before you reach into your belt and bring some light into the situation.

The lighter, an old heirloom from your maternal grandfather, hisses to life. It gives only the barest of lights but you can see the face of his attacker.

“Release me.” He spits at you.

“Why would I?”

“My friend might show you mercy if you do.”

“Is your friend the one who has the scroll on him or is that you?”

He curses again and you lower the lighter to check how he’s holding his weapon before you attack.

You leave him bound to a tree, unconscious and relieved of any weapons.

The others must have moved further away during the attack and you make your way up a tree to look for them.

What you find is a crater. Big enough to fit a house inside.

You swallow your nerves and move away from it, following the line of trees that have been cut in half.

After all these years as a Shinobi, the darkness isn’t scaring you any longer. But the Silence does.

There’s no sound of fighting, nor the movement of fleeing feet. Not even the animals make any sound as you move, faster and faster.

At one point you cave and pop a soldier pill, hoping against all odds that you won’t need the extra Chakra. You tell yourself that this is how it will play out. You wide awake back at home because the others have already won the fight and the cut on your cheek is the only thing in need of healing.

But then you find the body.

The legs are the first thing you see, the right one covered in blood, the pant leg shredded.

It’s the standard uniform pants of the Konoha Shinobi and you hurry forward, heart lurching in your chest.

Please don’t be Shibi, please let it not be Shibi. You pray silently as you move, ears strained for a waiting enemy.

It’s Masashi.

“What happened?” You’re dropping down next to him, getting to work immediately.

One Shadow Clone appears next to you, keeping watch for any attacks as you assess his injuries.

His left side is sliced up badly and he’s lost a lot of blood.

But he’s still conscious.

“There are two of them.” Masashi croaks. “One of them uses the darkness like a knife. We got a few good punches in but he’s too fast.”

“I captured the third one.” You tell him. “He did not have the scroll. Do you need something against the pain?”

“I’m good.” He huffs but his face is pale and you press a different pill against his lips.

“Chew this. You lost a lot of blood and I need you up as quickly as possible.”

“Missing your husband already?” He jokes.

“I’m thinking of Minori.” You snap back angrily and he shuts up immediately.

You have to move slowly, you and your shadow clone supporting Masahiro on either side.

Above the trees, the sky is slowly getting brighter and you pray that morning comes fast enough.

At some point, a cloud of Kikaichu finds you, curling around you like a hug.

“What’s he doing?” Masashi asks, clearly disgusted by the tiny little bugs crawling over his and your skin.

“He’s checking us for injuries, I think. If he can spare this many Kikaichu, he’s captured the attackers.”

Shibi meets you halfway.

Next to him, carried on another cloud of Kikaichu, is Minori.

His face is pale, his clothes painted red.

You know he’s dead before Shibi speaks the truth into existence.

Coming home from a mission gone wrong is always the hardest part.

Masashi refuses to take a break, refuses to let anyone else carry Minori.

It’s almost noon when you arrive at the gates, the guards blanching at your appearance.

Masashi and you are covered in blood, even Shibi’s coat spreckled with it.

The walk through the backstreets of Konoha is quiet.

The Hokage offers you the tired compassion of a man who has seen this too many times to care. Reports are to be handed in tomorrow.

As Medi-Nin of this team, Masashi is still under your care and Lord Third orders you to take him to the hospital, Shibi staying behind for questioning.

Masashi, usually loud and annoying, is quiet.

He’s quiet when he moves, quiet when you order him to strip off his blood-stained clothes in exchange for a hospital gown.

You’re afraid of what’s hiding behind this quiet, too much of a coward to ask him how he’s feeling.

The two of you were never friends, more of the contrary.

But losing someone is always hard, no matter how much of a dick you’ve been before.

Shibi finds you outside of Masashi’s room, checking his charts one last time.

“You’re not hurt?” He asks and you feel his eyes moving across your body.

“Just a scratch on my cheek.” You point to it. “It’s healing already.”

He nods. “Let’s go home then. Why? Shino will be waiting.”

You open your mouth to remind him of your rotation when Kazue rounds the corner.

“Oh good, you’re here. You have the autopsy shift today and we got notice that we need to look for poisons in some bodies.”

She offers you a clipboard and you begrudgingly stretch out your hand to take it, only for Shibi to push it back towards Kazue.

“Shibi?” You ask, surprised.

“She’s not working today. Why? She’s been at work for over 24 hours.”

“That’s not my problem.” Kazue snaps back in her usual fashion, not realizing that she’s not talking to one of her subordinates but a Clan-head.

“It is now your problem.” Shibi’s voice is as cold and cutting as a Kunai. “If you cannot take care of the ones working under you, you won’t have people working under you for long.”

“Is this a threat?” She bristles and he nods.

“Aburame-san will be back at work tomorrow.” He tells her and leads you away with a hand on the small of your back.

There’s a remark on the tip of your tongue, but you make the conscious decision not to open your mouth. It’s the second time you see Shibi act like the Clan Head and respectable Shinobi he is. As his wife, you’re supposed to follow him and if he’s willing to take on Kazue, you’re sure as hell not going against it.

#my writing #Shibi x reader #Shibi Aburame x reader #Shibi Aburame #Shino Aburame #arranged marriage #Second Chance Romance #Naruto fluff #Naruto imagine #Naruto fanfiction #tw: violence #tw: death

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hello-nichya-here · 2 years

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Gotta love how Jonsa fans try to downplay Jon’s connection with Arya, as well as Sansa’s with Sandor, yet the second they want to pretend their ship ever even crossed Martin’s mind, they immediatelly take moments that are EXPLICITLY about Jonrya and Sansan, pretend it was “secretly” Jonsa foreshadowing, and then hope no one notices.

“Different roads often lead to the same castle” it was said by Jon to Arya, when they were saying goodbye and he gave Needle to her, and the only time Sansa comes up is when they say at the same time “Don’t tell Sansa.” This moment shows their love for each other and their DISTASTE for Sansa.

Sansa is repeatedly made upset by the thought that no one will ever marry her for love, only for her claim - and Jonsa’s try to spin this as Jon being the guy who will prove her wrong, even though he never thinks of her, while Sandor won’t shut up about her.

She is in trouble and wishes for a friend, a hero to come save her, and Sandor tries to do just that. Meanwhile, Jon straight up thinks that women that are just up in a tower waiting to be rescued are pathetic, and how he much prefers the warriors.

“What do you know of my heart? What do you know of my sister” again, explicitly about Arya - aka the sister Jon died for, because he couldn’t stand the thought of her being forced to be with Ramsay, and he even becomes obsessed with the line “I want my bride back” which is very telling. At no point does Sansa even come up. Hell, when he found out Sansa was married to Tyrion? He didn’t give a shit and thought it served her right, and hoped it’d make her less shallow.

Like, she was literally being forced to marry into the family that killed their father, and Jon didn’t waste more than a second of his life thinking about it, and even then it was with no sympathy for Sansa. Meanwhile, Sandor was so outraged by those news that he went nuts, picked up a fight witht he first motherfuckers he saw, and was “mortally” wounded - now, where did we see that before?

And when Jon is having sex with Ygritte, a ginger, which sister does he think of? Arya, because the fact that their personalities are simmilar is what made Jon attracted to Ygritte. Martin even went as far as having Ygritte straight up ask Jon if he’d have sex with his own sister - again, there is no doubt about which sister this is talking about.

Meanwhile, Sansa is having dreams about her wedding night, and Tyrion, her actual husband, is replaced with SANDOR. We even have him wrap his cloak around her, a wedding tradition, twice.

It is already ridiculous to pretend none of this happened, but to act like it was somehow a sign that JONSA was going to be a thing is just sad.

#anti jonsa #sansan #jonrya #jonsa is not canon #jonsa won't be a thing

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joannechocolat · 9 months

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The Final Chapter

A review – well, sort of – of��Chris Fowler’s WORD MONKEY.

There are books that you never want to end. Sometimes it’s because of the thrilling plot; or the fantastic world of the story; or that the central characters are so engaging that it’s hard to say goodbye. Whatever the reason, it has taken me a very long time to reach the end of my old friend’s final book. Not because it was dull – quite the reverse; it may be the finest, funniest, most sincere, the wisest thing he has ever written – but because I didn’t want to reach the final chapter.

This is the memoir Chris Fowler always spoke of writing. The first instalment, PAPERBOY, was the story of his childhood; a life dominated by books, films and comics in a working-class household where no-one understood his passion. The second chapter, FILM FREAK, was the account of a young, ambitious gay man at the start of his career, obsessed with the movies, desperately seeking work in a collapsing industry. The third, WORD MONKEY, was to be the story of a successful career in books, his advice to budding writers, his thoughts on the industry, all presented with the same joie-de-vivre, keen observation, hilarious wisdom and lightness of touch that characterized the previous two. And it is – it’s all those things, and more. More, because it’s also the tale of the final chapter in a life, the last pages of which I read in real time against the backdrop of the pandemic and everything that came with it, including Chris’ diagnosis with terminal cancer and his final, dazzling flare of creativity before the end.

Before I go on, some context. Chris and I were friends a long time – over 30 years, in fact. It began with a letter I wrote as a very new author, thanking him for my only review. From there it developed into a regular correspondence (I still have a stack of those letters, many of them detailing things that later appeared in the books, always funny and generous, and illustrated with little cartoons); and then a growing friendship. We were different in many ways, but we shared a love of books and films, and it was in Chris’ nature to help other writers whenever he could. He saw the rise of my career from teacher to bestselling novelist. He was there at my highest and lowest points. He found me my first proper agent. His company did the advertising campaign for the movie of CHOCOLAT. When he moved from Kentish Town to King’s Cross, I bought a pied-à-terre down the road, and we met up whenever I was in town, usually for a breakfast that would go on till lunchtime.

At the beginning of lockdown, both of us were diagnosed with cancer. They found mine early. His, too late. Over the next three years I tried to come to terms with his terminal diagnosis. I didn’t really believe in it; he was still so full of life, so upbeat, so creative. We corresponded by e-mail and text from our respective chemo chairs; he told me funny stories about his life and his doctors. When lockdown ended, we met up again for our usual breakfasts in King’s Cross. I think I expected to see a change; but he looked and sounded just the same; and he was still writing furiously. In December 2022 he finished editing his memoir; by then he was unable to leave the flat, and I went to see him at home for the last time. I didn’t know it would be the last time, of course, but it’s rare to know these things as they happen. He was getting frail by then, but mostly he was just the same; clever and funny and cheery and filled with stories and book recommendations and accounts of obscure European films that I absolutely had to watch. And he was still writing furiously; short stories, blog posts, tweets, even a new Bryant and May book (he joked that it would have to be a short one). I told him I loved him. He said it back. That was the last time I saw him, although our correspondence went on right up till the end, in March, just weeks from his 70th birthday.

I still find it hard to believe he’s gone. His voice is still so clear in my mind. And I still see him all over King’s Cross; in bookshops and theatres and cinemas. In the comics and record shops we visited together; in countless breakfast places. And it’s here, in this book, the final chapter of a life well lived, a quite extraordinary life, crowned with achievements (which he typically downplays) and filled with humour and stories. It’s all here, and it’s wonderful, and it fills me with admiration at the talent of the writer, as well as the courage of a man who can take something as bleak as a terminal cancer diagnosis, and work it into something like this; a celebration; joyous, true and filled with unflinching insight.

I don’t know why I feel surprised. I always knew how good he was. But this is more than just a dazzling piece of writing. It’s a testament to the power of words; a reminder that through them, you can shine even beyond that darkness; that life is short, and love is long; and stories can live forever. This is why we write, after all; to push away the shadows. To connect with each other across the years. To celebrate what brings us joy; to prove that we are not alone. So read this book, and read the rest of this astonishing trilogy. And be inspired – as writers, as readers – by the boy who dreamed of the stars, and learned to live forever.

#writing #books #memoir

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veronicaphoenix · 4 months

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Chapter tags & trigger warnings: angst, mentions of self-harm and trauma. | Word count: 620 | Cross posted on AO3. | Series masterpost. ✧.*

General trigger warnings: This work addresses and depicts issues related to addiction and violence, contains explicit sexual content, and explores themes of childhood trauma. Reader discretion is advised. +18

Something wasn’t right.

Lia had been quieter than usual for several weeks. When she smiled, her smile didn’t reach her eyes, and when our eyes met, she immediately averted her gaze, as if she was trying to hide from me whatever was in them.

After spending the day in the studio and going over the planned tour again, through all the arrangements we had to consider, we called it a day, and I hurried to leave before the others to catch Lia, who was the first to say goodbye, pick up her backpack, and cross the hallway and head towards the exit of the building, as if she was in a rush.

“Lia,” despite my height and Lia’s petite figure, she moved fast, and I almost had to take a couple of big strides to keep up with her as she left the studio.

In the past, I would have grabbed her arm. I would have used any excuse to touch her. Now things were different. I wasn’t sure what had changed, (other than the fact that Lia was dating Mitch), but every time I approached her it felt like a wall was growing taller day by day, separating us.

She stopped at the sound of her name, knowing who was behind her. She smiled when she looked at me.

I offered to drive her home. She thanked me but told me she had a yoga class in thirty minutes and preferred to take a walk. For a moment, a voice in my head told me she was avoiding spending time alone with me, but Lia silenced that voice as she stood on her tiptoes and left a fleeting kiss on my cheek.

We had never had the chance to talk about what happened that day under the rain, the way Mitch had talked to her and how he had nearly forced her to leave the place with him. The silence between us was growing, and it was scaring the shit out of me.

“I’ll see you soon,” she said. I watched her leave, not knowing when I’d see her again. We were not leaving on tour for another few weeks, and we were supposed to rest and recharge before hitting the road. The ache of missing her gnawed at me relentlessly. I kept telling myself that all this situation was normal. She had a boyfriend; I was a friend. But something in me wasn’t satisfied even though I wanted to see her happy. I cared more than others about her well-being because I knew practically every aspect of her life. I knew her past. We had been friends since we were kids. I knew every scar on her heart and the scars on her skin, which made me acutely aware of the delicate balance she treaded. The image of her walking on the edge of a knife left me gripped by an inexplicable sense of fear.

“Earth to Noah. She just turned the corner. She’s gone.”

Nicholas; the voice of reason. His words held a tinge of reprimand, making me acknowledge the obvious.

“Well aware,” I replied.

“What's the matter with you?” He pressed. “I'm asking to see if you know, because I've known for a long time.”

I tilted my head to look at him disapprovingly. I had no intention of delving into that discussion again. We’d had it before, and Nick’s theories were simply wrong. Whatever notions he had in his mind had nothing to do with how things were. Lia was just my best friend and I cared for her. That was all and Nicholas was wrong.

I told him I was going home, so I followed through on my words and headed towards my car.

#noah sebastian #noah sebastian fic #noah sebastian fanfic #bad omens #bad omens fic #bad omens fanfiction

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highwaytothedangerzone502 · 2 years

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Ghost Story - Chapter 3

Pairing: Rooster x Female OC

Word Count: 2065

Warnings: Mild swearing

Summary: No one will miss a ghost. It'd been a running joke for as long as anyone could remember, something Ghost herself started, and she always said it with a smile on her face or with mirth in her voice. The untouchable stealth pilot in every sense of the word, no one could've predicted the depth of her turmoil over recent events, nor the extremes she would go to in order to protect the man she loved, not even those closest to her. Now, all that was left of the young aviator for Maverick, Hangman, and Rooster were the memories of the past, which would slowly fade with time. She'd come into their lives and made an unforgettable impression, and then, like a ghost, she was gone... Then again, ghosts can't die a second time.

Notes: The chapters/parts in italics are flashbacks. Also, I know I used Melissa Benoist as Juliette in India Lima Yankee but I really love her as an actress okay...

Chapter Songs: There She Goes Haven't Met You Yet

***

Ghost

God, he looked good. Rooster had always been attractive, but after not seeing him for so long, something about the distance made him all the more handsome. She loved how casual he looked in his white tee, unbuttoned Hawaiian shirt that she was pretty sure was one of his dad's, and his soulful brown eyes. One look from him, and Ghost was ready to tell him all her secrets.

"So, what have you been up to? Other than pulling off death-defying stunts and stealing enemy planes?" Ghost inquired, hoping to push into the territory of relationships to see if he was single. If not, she was going for him before another woman caught his eye. She'd been head over heels for Bradley Bradshaw since she laid eyes on him, even when they got on each other's last nerves. However, Hangman had wooed her long ago, and by the time the two of them broke up, Ghost decided Rooster held no romantic feelings for her, despite the evident attraction between the two that came to a head when they had their second, drunken one-night stand the night before she had to deploy again. Terrified of the feelings she was developing for him, Ghost ghosted him, leaving only a note to say goodbye rather than face him and discuss what that night meant for them. Rooster had never brought it up, nor had he brought up their first one-night stand. It was as if neither ever happened for both of them.

"Not much. A lot of work, catching up with Mav, and enjoying the beach. You?"

"Same as you, I suppose. Work took over a lot of my life. Judging by your interaction at the Hard Deck, can I assume things are good between you and Maverick now?"

"Yeah, we're good."

"Good. I know you were upset with him for a long time."

Rooster gave a half-smile. "That's putting it mildly. How are things with you and your mom? I know it got tense after your dad."

"We're okay," Ghost admitted, crossing her legs and staring out the window. "We could be better, but we could certainly be worse. I guess, like Maverick, she's afraid to lose me. Listen, I don't think I ever thanked you for being there for me through all that. I was a wreck after losing my dad, and you helped me through it more than you know."

Without taking his eyes off the road, Rooster reached over and patted her bare leg, sending electric shockwaves throughout her body. "I'm glad I was there for you."

"I'm sure you have other things to do tonight, or maybe a girlfriend to see, but if you don't, you're welcome to hang out while I unpack," Ghost offered as he pulled up to her apartment.

Rooster checked his phone and shut off the engine. "I think I could spare some time."

"Got a hot date later or something?"

"No, but I do the day after tomorrow."

Ghost's heart sank, but she feigned happiness for him. "Oh, yeah? Who's the lucky lady?"

"I'll let you know if it works out."

"Oh, come on, since when do you not tell me the names of the girls you're dating? The only time you were ever hesitant to tell me was when it was someone I was friendly with." Ghost's own words caused an epiphany. "Wait, is it someone I know?!"

Rooster shook his head. "I don't know, but it's literally our first date, so it's nothing serious. She asked me out, I said yes, and that was that," he said, pulling up to Ghost's little beachside condo. They hopped out of his Bronco and up the steps to the quaint home. Stepping inside, they were greeted with mounds of boxes. Rooster ignored the clutter and asked, "What about you? You and Hangman seem to still have something going on."

Ghost shook her head. "It's… complicated. We have a history both platonically and romantically, and I still love him. I always will, but I just… I don't think I'm in love with him anymore. I'm still trying to figure out if the feelings I get around him are because I miss him or because I miss being in a relationship."

"So, no guys on your radar?"

"One, but he's soon to be taken." Ghost shrugged, faking acceptance of the situation, and shuffled into her room. She didn't want Rooster prodding into the matter, but he could still read her annoyingly well, and he picked up on it now.

Following her into the bedroom, he said, "Talk to me, Ghost. Who is he? I can tell it's bothering you."

She shook her head, refusing to cave. "Nah, it'll be fine. Once there's distance between us again, it'll pass. On a different note, what are you getting Penny for her birthday? I was thinking of getting her tickets to a show for her, Maverick, and Amelia."

"You're already one step ahead of me," Rooster admitted, coming to stand beside her as she unpacked her box full of clothes. "I have no idea what to get her. I'm clueless when it comes to gifts."

"No, you're not. Remember that amethyst ring you gave me for my birthday? I'd seen it in the window at some port we docked at, but I didn't buy it. I don't know when you managed to do it, but you bought it for me after I couldn't stop talking about it. Or how about that vintage pocket watch with an anchor on the top and a picture of my dad on the inside after he passed away?"

Rooster smiled to himself. "Do you still have those?"

Ghost lifted up her right hand, where the amethyst ring glittered in the setting sunlight. "It only fits on my ring fingers, so I wear it on my right to avoid people thinking I'm engaged," she joked, bending down and grabbing something dangling from her lamp. "And here's the pocket watch."

"So apparently, I'm just good at getting gifts for you," Rooster observed, rubbing his thumb over the pocket watch. "You think Penny would like something vintage like this? With a picture of her and Maverick in it?"

"I think that's a good way to go."

"There's an antique shop nearby. Maybe I'll go there and do some digging. What are you doing tomorrow?"

"Well, I planned on taking most of the day to unpack because this mess is annoying me, but I should be good for late afternoon. Why?"

"I was thinking you could come with me. I'm not as confident about Penny's tastes, and I trust your judgment."

"Sure. I'll text you tomorrow afternoon to let you know for sure, but yeah, let's plan for 1500 hours? Meet at the Hard Deck?"

"Sounds like a date," Rooster said.

She stared pointedly at him. "Have you forgotten you're going on a date this week?"

"No."

"Bradley, I love you, but if you're going to keep your options open, make sure she's aware you two are not exclusive. That's trouble waiting to happen."

Rooster tilted his head, and Ghost could see the gears turning in his head. "And if I wasn't going on a date with her, would you say yes to it?"

"I-" Her cellphone ringing cut her off, and Ghost couldn't be more relieved. She didn't want to verge into the territory of her feelings for Rooster when he was going on a date with someone else, potentially someone she knew. It was girl code not to A, not date your friend's boyfriend, and B, not date your friend's ex. Regardless of whether or not it worked out between this girl and Bradley, he now almost certainly became off-limits for Ghost since most girls she knew on North Island were close friends, if not best friends. She'd missed her shot, and she'd regret it, but once they were separated again, it'd be fine. Distance always provided the buffer Ghost needed to prevent herself from developing feelings for anyone far away. At least, that's what she told herself.

"Hey, Mom," Ghost greeted, moving past Bradley and into her living room. "What's up?"

"I just wanted to check in and see how things were going. You getting settled in?" her mom replied.

"Yeah. Rooster's actually here helping me unpack. We're catching up. Saw Hangman too."

Her mom chuckled. "You've been there less than twelve hours, and you've already managed to put yourself between two boys who-"

"No, no, no, I've done no such thing. I'm here because the Navy wanted me here." In a hushed voice, she added, "I'm not starting anything with anyone. Not my ex nor anyone else."

"I also said I wouldn't fall for one of the students when I was an assistant trainer, and look what happened there."

"Yeah, yeah, I know, but that's not going to happen. I won't let it. The last thing I need is a relationship." Of course, it was a total lie, but it was the only thing Ghost could come up with to get her mom off her back about it. "Listen, I gotta go finish unpacking as much as I can, but we'll talk later. Love you, Mom."

"Love you, too." Ghost hung up and returned to her room. Rooster had his back turned to her, and he appeared to be studying something. "What's up with you?"

"You know-" he began, turning around- "I never thought you'd be a hot pink lingerie girl. I have no doubt it suits you, though."

Ghost flushed a deep red and snatched it out of Rooster's hands as he bellowed in laughter at her reaction. Tossing it into her bottom dresser drawer, she muttered, "God, I forgot it was in that box."

"Don't forget this little number." Rooster tossed her another set of lingerie, this time dark red. If possible, Ghost became even more mortified. She didn't know why. It's not like she was ashamed of it, but there was something particularly intimate about him finding those, especially when it was just the two of them in her bedroom with more than a little sexual tension between them. If Ghost didn't have absurdly unwavering beliefs along with unnaturally strong self-control, she would've thrown herself at Rooster and kissed him like there was no tomorrow.

"You are no longer allowed to help me unpack my bedroom," Ghost decided, placing her hands on his chest and continuously pushing the laughing aviator out of her room.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he apologized, wrapping his arms around her in a brief, tight hug. "Couldn't resist making you flustered. It's hard to do, you know."

"I'm not flustered." A comeback popped into her head, and before she could stop it, it spilled out of her mouth. "I'm just shocked that you and Hangman can agree on something."

"What do you mean?" Rooster asked, releasing her from his embrace.

"He got me those pieces you liked so much." There was a tic in Rooster's jaw as he processed his words. All that came out of his mouth was 'Fuck,' causing Ghost to grin. "I've been meaning to get rid of them. It's not like I want to use lingerie an ex got me with whoever my future boyfriend might be."

"Yeah, might be a mood killer. What are you doing tomorrow evening?"

"Uh, nothing that I know of outside of antique shopping with you. Probably more unpacking. Why?"

"Maverick and Penny are having me over for dinner tomorrow, and they're always telling me I can bring a date. Thought you would like to come."

"Yeah, if I'm not intruding. I'd love to come."

"Then it's settled. I'll pick you up at five." Rooster checked the time on his phone. "Shit, I'm gonna be late for an appointment. I have to go. It's good to see you, Ghost. I'm glad you're here."

Rooster pulled her into a tight hug, his mustache tickling the crook of her neck. He kissed her cheek and pulled away, then left her apartment. Ghost watched him swagger out, all too aware of the fluttering in her stomach and the pulling of her heartstrings. Last time she'd had these feelings, she'd gone on her first date with Hangman. He'd been her first love, but Rooster, she had no doubt, would be her last. That is, if the date between him and this new girl didn't go well…

***

Tags: @supernaturaldawning @shanimallina87 @polikszena @lgg5989 @callsign-milano @bradshawsandbridgetons @harper1666 @shadeops21 @double-j @rotating-obsessions @amantedelnorte @abigailannz @copaceticwriter @sharkprestige @thedarkinmansfield @lapilark @mickeyluvs @mini-bee-bee @starshipfantasy @itzyogurl92 @bennypears00 @mandowife221b @the-navistar-carol @lj13oct @getmyprettynameoutofyourmouth

Chapters: Chp 1 Chp 2 Chp 3

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waitingforwinterwinds · 1 year

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Game of Thrones - 66 BRAN VII (pages 705-715)

Bran and Rickon dream their father is dead. Maester Luwin plays catch up after dropping some World Lore.

"They don't fight very well," Bran said Dubiously. ... "For a certainty," Maester Luwin agreed with a deep sigh. (...) "Yet given time... Ser Rodrik has the truth of it, we need men to walk the walls. Your lord father took the cream of his guard to King's Landing, and your brother took the rest, along with all the likely lads for leagues around. Many will not come back to us, and we must needs find the men to take their place."

I like that GRRM addresses the consequences of these things, often in a fantasy series, it feels like there's just always more able bodied men ready to go, or there's a borrowed-from-a-friend-down-the-road army waiting in the wings.

"I dreamed about the crow again last night. The one with three eyes. He flew into my bedchamber and told me to come with him, so I did. We went down into the crypts. Father was there, and we talked. He was sad." "And why was that?" Luwin peered through his tube. "It was something to do about Jon, I think." The dream had been deeply disturbing, more so than any of the other crow dreams.

"Hi dad, what are you doing down here? You seem bummed, what's up?" "UwU I died and now I'll never be able to tell Jon that he's actually my nephew." "Bummer." "It's my only piece of unfinished business, I have no other children to be sad about." "Wait, what?" "Goodbye forever."

"- Your father is a prisoner of the queen in King's Landing. You will not find him in the crypts."

Oh no, Luwin doesn't know about the last chapter.

Bran could not remember the last time he had been down in the crypts. It had been before, for certain. When he was little, he used to play down here with Robb and Jon and his sisters.

Huh, he says that like they managed to get Sansa to go back down after Jon scared the heck out of her that one time in Arya's memory.

"Have a look at these," he said as he pulled the stopper and shook out a handful of shiny black arrowheads. Bran picked one up. "It's made of glass." Curious, Rickon drifted closer to peer over the table. "Dragonglass," Osha named it as she sat down beside Luwin, bandagings in hand. "Obsidian," Maester Luwin insisted, holding out his wounded arm. "Forged in the fires of the gods, far below the earth. The children of the forest hunted with that, thousands of years ago. The children worked no metal. (...) In place of swords, they carried blades of obsidian." "They still do."

Obsidian/Dragonglass = 🥛

I'm interested to hear 'forged in the fires of the gods, far below the earth' just from an elemental standpoint, knowing that it is one of the weaknesses of the Others. 'of the gods' to me, assigns obsidian not only a fire/earth combo, but also a divine aspect/attribute. It's probably just so much flavour text, but you know, interesting flavour text in context.

"- How long the children reigned here or where they came from, no man can know. "But some twelve thousand years ago, the First Men appeared from the east, crossing the Broken Arm of Dorne before it was broken. (...) The wars went on until the earth ran red with blood of men and children both, but more children then men, for men were bigger and stronger, and wood and stone and obsidian make a poor match for bronze. Finally, the wise of both races prevailed, and the chiefs and heroes of the First Men met the greenseers and wood dancers amidst the weirwood groves of a small island in the great lake called Gods Eye. "There they forged the Pact. (...) The Pact began four thousand years of friendship between men and children."

A good method to expo dump if you're gonna do it. Ooph but it gives me the shivers. All that history, and there's still more and further back. Ignorance and self defense, culture clash that tumbled straight into aggression and then... peace that couldn't last against new players.

Man, I sure hope that's not foreshadowing for anything. Two sides in conflict finally finding a stable truce, and then being pounded by a surprise third party who devastates at least one side in the pre-existing peace treaty. That sure would suck.

#a song of ice and fire #asoiaf #game of thrones #got #bran stark #a chapter a day reading

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artemiseamoon · 2 years

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Let’s have an adventure

A Dean Moriarty drabble Ft GN reader

A03 (at this time only available to registered users) | All on the road work after this will agree to my new process, preview on tumblr, full work on A03.

Warnings: none really, smoking? A brief mention of getting high.

Your shift at the cafe just came to an end when he strolled in; cigarette in hand, trademark white tee and blue jeans, a bounce in his step.

When Dean made eye contact with you, he winked then headed to the counter. You didn't have to see what he was up to next, you knew.

By the time you returned from your locker the girl behind the counter was blushing and he had a muffin in his hand, one you’re sure he didn’t pay for.

“You better not get me fired.”

You grabbed his arm and guided him away from the desk.

On the way out, you said goodbye and stepped outside, Dean in tow.

“You won’t get fired, they love me.” He smiled and pulled you into a big hug, followed by a squeeze. “You free?”

“There is a poetry reading at cafe Wha, ‘bout 7. I want to catch that but I have…”you glanced at your watch, “4 hours to kill.”

“Perfect!” Dean wrapped his arm around your shoulders and led the way as you walked.

“Dean, where are we going?”

“I need a suit, got a job interview in the morning. You don’t have a suit do you?”

“I sell coffee and pastries when I’m not studying, I don’t have a suit.” You answered with a smile.

Dean grinned, “fine enough. I have an idea.”

“If it’s of the joy riding variety, I’ll have to pass tonight.” You slipped your arm around his torso.

You love Dean a hundred ways, but the kind of trouble he often got into wasn’t for you. It’s one of the reasons you didn’t see him as much as some of your other friends. Even though part of you craved more time with him.

Sometimes, you wished you were as wild as Dean, but again, who else could be? No one.

There’s only one Dean Moriarty.

Every other wild soul who tagged along for his madness, always tired before he did, always threw in a towel and went back to a calmer, slower pace.

But not Dean.

You were convinced he ran on some kind of hyper adrenaline, a kind absent from normal folks' veins, even the ones who like to think of themselves as wild and adventurous.

Whatever Dean was made of is unique and rare; it belonged to only him. For you, and those around him, you can catch the essence, feel the high, experience the best and worst of it, but you’ll never truly capture it, or understand it. It’s all part of what makes Dean both deeply compelling and utterly maddening.

“Not tonight, tonight I have other plans,” he grinned at you wildly then planted a big kiss on the side of your face, “I find a suit. Spend time with you, then head to the joint in Harlem for some jazz. By the time midnight comes around, I’ll be dancing and high and enjoying all life has to offer!”

“Then wake up unscathed and waltz into your interview with a smile on your face?” You asked.

“Ah, you know me so well,” pleased with your comment, he continued to smile, “what do you say? After that poetry reading, join me? I love poetry as much as the next but tonight I crave high energy, movement, rhythm-“he briefly released you to dance in the street then pulled you back to him.

“I don’t work tomorrow, sure, why not. Let’s have an adventure!”

More On The Road inspired work - masterpost in the works

**once I cross post my On The Road content to A03, any work going forward will be in my new format = Preview to tumblr, full work to A03.

#Dean Moriarty #on the road #it’s a queue #garrett hedlund characters #fic: let’s have an adventure

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moonchild-things · 1 year

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Chapter Eleven: The Newest Psychic in Town is a Pervert

Summary: Being a psychic is not an ideal life, at least for Saiki Kusuo. Didn’t you read/watch The Disastrous Life of Saiki K to know that? Still, this isn’t about him, not really. Instead, let’s focus on his one and only friend, Akari Watanabe, who is also quite abnormal. You might not believe that Saiki would actually have a friend, but that’s what fanfictions are about, right?

Word Count: 3646

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AKARI IS WORRIED. EVER SINCE LAST NIGHT when Kusuo and her found that letter in his mailbox, she couldn't help herself but be a little bit unnerved by what it could be. On one hand, she knew he could handle himself. However, she had no idea who could have left the letter. She hypothesized that it must be someone who also has some sort of supernatural abilities because Akari didn't think anyone would be able to find it out about his psychicness without being superpowered themselves. She could only hope that they weren't a bad person or anything. It would be a shame if she had to hurt someone for trying to hurt her friend, again.

Though she tried to brush it off to the side until she could meet up with Kusuo so they could head to school together like normal. So she went about her morning routine as usual, we all know it by now. Get woken up by Rikuto, get dressed, eat some of her father's amazing cooking, say goodbye to her family(maybe even her mother), and head outside.

When she found that Kusuo was completely fine and standing outside by her front gate, Akari knew everything was a-ok. She had let out a small relieved sigh at that. Though she really shouldn't have worried. It's not like anything would ever happen to Saiki! ...Not unless MJ wanted something to happen… Though she would never do that, right?

She slid down the stairs and met her friend on the street so they could start their journey to school. They were quiet for a moment as they started to walk together, though eventually, Kusuo sighed.

'You don't have to worry about last night,' he mentally grunted. Kusuo could feel the small wave of concern wafting off of her. As stated plenty of times before, she has no need to worry about him. He's practically god-like, so nothing and no one would hurt him.

Akari raised an eyebrow at him, 'I didn't say or think anything.'

Kusuo just side-eyed her, 'You don't have to, I already know what you are going to think about. Even without my mind reading.'

She had half the mind to roll her eyes at him. Though it's not like she could really deny what he was saying. Sue her for being a good friend! 'I can worry about it if I want, you can't stop me from doing that.'

'There wasn't even a problem,' Kusuo huffed as they continued down the road, 'just some weirdo medium.'

Akari hummed, wanting to change the subject, 'Someone who can speak to spirits, that's quite interesting.'

She's only ever met one other person who has supernatural abilities; Kusuo. Akari has never come across any other people who have any sort of strange powers. There are obviously plenty of people who claim to have otherworldly abilities, though those people are just crazy. However, this guy seems more than intriguing. Speaking to the dead would be quite cool, Akari thinks.

'It doesn't matter we won't be seeing him again.' Kusuo said, breaking Akari out of her thoughts. Though what was he saying, nothing ever goes his way. It was as if the writers just love to make Kusuo's life miserable.

A ghost of a smile crossed her pale face, 'You hope.'

---

The teens all filed into the academy as normal. Once they got into their classroom, Akari perched herself on top of Kusuo's desk as usual. Kusuo doesn't really mind that she sat on top of his desk. It's so common for her to do it, that he would be surprised if she didn't do it.

Kusuo sighed, "Yesterday was a surprise. I believe that medium's name was Toritsuka." Oops. He mentioned the medium, and by the laws of anime, Toristska must appear back in the show!

A few desks over, the pair could hear a conversation between some nameless students, "An interesting student has transferred to the other class."

"Seriously?" A different student asked.

Akari raised her eyebrow before looking down at Kusuo, 'I'm guessing this transfer student is your newest friend?'

'He's not my friend.' Kusuo grunted before pushing up from his desk. Irritation consumed his expression, though when does it not? 'I'll go deal with this.'

The shadow-manipulator watched him start to head out, 'Do you need my help?'

'No.' He grunted while leaving to find their new fellow superpowered teen, 'It's best you stay as far from this guy as possible.'

'Okay…' Akari raised an eyebrow as her friend started to go on a hunt for the medium. She placed a hand on her chin and thought, 'He must really be bad for Kusuo to tell me to stay away from him. Hmm, I'm quite curious now.' Really, how bad could he possibly be? Most people here were just idiots, not necessarily evil or anything. Though she could be wrong considering this is a super-powered guy who could be downright evil with his abilities. However, from what Kusuo had told her about meeting him last night… She probably didn't have anything to worry about.

A couple of girls surrounded a desk a few feet away from Akari. Their high-pitch squeals were starting to give Akari a bit of a migraine, as usual. She didn't really care what they were talking about, she would much rather have them shut up so she could have her piece and quiet. One of the girls shouted, "Did you hear, that new guy can see your protective spirits!"

"Really?" A different one gasped. Okay, so that caught Akari's attention. Maybe baring through their squeaks and shrill shrieks for the moment was okay.

The girl sitting at the desk jumped up from her desk. "He has to tell me who mine is!"

"We've gotta find him!" The group of girls then set out to find the guy who would tell them about their protective spirits.

Akari was certainly even more curious now. 'All right, now I have to see this guy.' So she shadowed the girls as they searched around for this new student. Akari didn't really know what to expect this guy to look like, Kusuo didn't really go into detail about what he looks like.

"There!" She heard the shouts and squeals of a bunch of girls as they all crowded around the new student. Akari followed the noise and slithered around the rowdy group to stand beside her pink-haired friend.

'So this is the medium?' she thought to Kusuo who grunted in reply. Akari drank in the appearance of the new student as he was asked questions left and right by the group of girls. He was purple-haired with a white headband, though the way that he was staring at all of the girls, Akari has the feeling that he was a bit of a perv. She hasn't even spoken to the teen and she could already tell that he was a pervert. Now Akari understood why Kusuo had wanted her to stay away.

A girl shouted, "Can you see my protective spirit?"

"What is mine?" A different one asked.

The purple-haired boy glanced at Kusuo with a smirk, "Saiki, I am going to be just fine. All right! I will get to all of you! Get in line."

So the girls all crowded around each other and lined up just as he said. Toritsuka definitely is into this far too much. Transferring wasn't that bad of an idea. A brown-haired girl, the one at the front of the new line, smiled at him, "What is a protective spirit?"

"As the name indicates," Toritsuka started to happily explain, more than glad to get this attention, "it's a spirit that protects you."

"Wow!" The girl gasped, "What is my protective spirit?"

Akari found it interesting to know about the spirits who looked after a person. She can't lie, she's interested in knowing her own protective spirit. I mean, aren't you? What kind of spirit would protect her? Maybe we'll find out this chapter, maybe not. Is she going to ask him about it? Probably not.

Toritsuka stared at the girl for a moment, "You have… the spirit of a samurai! He will protect you." He turned to the next girl in line, "Yours is a royal lady of a European house."

"Really?" The girl gasped.

A new girl pushed her way over, "What about mine?"

"You have…" Toritsuka paused and cringed seeing what her spirit really is, which is a disgusting man. "Well… You have a poet from France or somewhere."

None the wiser, the girl smiled happily, "Amazing!"

"He is in his 20s with long hair…" Toritsuka shakily explained, which made Akari believe that he was lying. "He is a really charming guy."

Though a few boys ran over to him to see what he would say about them. Unnamed boy one pointed to himself, "What's mine?"

"What about mine?" Another asked.

Takahashi butted in, being the only character that has a name in the small group, "Mine first."

Though Toritsuka didn't pay them any mind and instead turned to the girls, "Are there any other girls?"

Yeah, Akari figured that he was only doing this to get attention from the girls. She's unsure how to feel about it, but did know that it was creepy.

"Hey!" Takahashi exclaimed with his squeaky voice, "Don't ignore me!"

Toristka tsked and turned to them, "Well, old man, old lady, old lady, old lady, done. Now, back to you…"

The boys all blanched at the way he brushed them off, "You didn't even look closely!" Though he disregarded them and focused on a different student.

"Hairo, go on." Someone said to the fiery class representative.

Hairo shook his head, "No, I'm not interested."

Toritsuka walked up to Hairo and stared at him in awe, "You have an amazing protective spirit."

"What?"

"He is a passionate man." Toristka explained, "Tennis? He is full of energy. His name may be Matsu…"

Kusuo cut in, "He is still alive."

"This is all so stupid." The blue-haired moron came waltzing over. He tried pretending that he isn't interested in all of this, though Akari could tell that he was a tad bit invested. Going by how his cheeks were dusted with a light pink, she doesn't doubt that he hoped he has a protective spirit with a demon or something. If anyone was going to have a strange spirit like that, it would be Akari. "Well, I suppose I will ask. Who is my protective spirit?"

Kusuo stared at him blankly. Though when does he not have a blank expression? "He really wants to know."

'He's not hiding it that well,' Akari tsked.

Toritsuka turned to him, "Your protective spirit is abnormal."

Akari could definitely tell he thought that it has something to do with his Dark Reunion fantasy. She certainly was amused with watching his fantasy fall for just a moment. Maybe Kusuo's right and she is a sadist, or maybe a masicist. Or MJ is just pretty inconsistent with her character writing. Oh, well.

"What is it?" Kaido blushed, "Go on."

"It's a Chihuahua."

Everyone laughed at the unfortunate spirit as Kaido blanched, "Chihuahua? This is a joke. You made that up, didn't you?" Did Akari feel kind of bad for him? Maybe a bit.

"What is the fuss?" A different idiot suddenly appeared. Really, aren't these kids supposed to be in class or something? "A festival?"

"Now, here comes the weirdo."

Akari stared at him for a moment before looking at where he had come from. When really Nendo had just appeared from thin air thanks to anime magic. 'Where even was he? I thought he'd be one of the first out here.'

Kaido pouted, "He claims he can see protective spirits."

"Protective spirits?" Nendo tilted his head, "What's that?"

"Don't push. There is a line."

Though Nendo slid up to the medium and completely cut the line, "What is my protective spirit?"

"Nendo's protective spirit?" Kusuo hummed, "I am curious."

Though Toritsuka just disregarded him and turned to Chiyo instead, "Your protective spirit is a politician."

The girl tilted her head, "Really?"

Kusuo let out the barest of chuckles, "Completely ignored."

'Guess he knows how I feel,' Akari commented lightly. Kusuo glanced at him from the corner of his eye before turning back to the grouping of girls. Did he notice the way that her words were both dripping with amusement and some resentment? Yeah, a bit. He knows that both of them never go looking for attention and detest it. However, he also knows that there's a small part of Akari that wants to be seen, at least every once in a while. Though there's not much that can be done for that, considering how her powers basically turn her into a shadow. While he doesn't share her small want to be seen by people, he can understand it just a bit. He can also feel quite bad for her.

---

School finally came to an end, as well as the swarm of people surrounding the new student. Everyone at the school really did want to know what their protective spirit is since they constantly followed Toritsuka around all day. Though he loved the attention that he got, especially from all the ladies. Kusuo and Akari had watched him from afar and rolled their eyes at him just about every minute. Akari now knew that he is a total pervert from how he tried to get close to every girl that he came close enough to.

Though now the quartet exited school. The quartet being Kusuo, Toritsuka, Akari and Nendo. The purple-haired teen exclaimed in happiness,"I am so glad I came here!"

Behind them, Nendo followed them like a puppy as he repeated the same thing over and over and over again, "What is my protective spirit?"

"My rose-colored campus life has begun," Toristka said, still ignoring Nendo. Akari was a tad bit impressed that the new student could brush Nendo off like this. That is a feat on its own.

"Tell me what my protective spirit is."

Toritsuka turned to Saiki, as well as Akari but he didn't see her on the other side of his new psychic friend. "Saiki, would you like to know yours?"

"I don't really care." Kusuo answered plainly, "But tell this guy his."

"What's mine?"

"He is annoying me."

"What's mine?"

"Shut up!" Toritsuka suddenly turned to the following buffoon and shouted at him, "I told you to stop following me!"

Akari and Kusuo stared at him in surprise, "Why did he get mad all of a sudden?"

Toritsuka suddenly whipped his bag around and wacked Nenod in his side. Though it's not like Nendo was moved by it because he's a literal beast. Toritsuka was astonished for a second before he grabbed Nendo's face and squished his cheeks. He is seemingly surprised that Nendo was actually there. "What?" He shouted, "He isn't a ghost?"

Kusuo's eyes narrowed, "You thought he was a ghost?"

"Can he really not tell the difference?" Akari asked Kusuo who just shrugged his shoulders lightly. She knows that everyone's abilities come with drawbacks. She just told you hers a few chapters ago, and we all know the many rules and limitations for Kusuo's abilities. So it seems like even as a medium, there was a drawback as well.

Toritsuka stared between Kusuo and Nendo, almost making sure that Nendo wouldn't suddenly disappear if he looked away for too long. "Didn't you also ignore him like you couldn't see him?"

"I saw him but ignored him," Kusuo explained since it's normal for him to do that.

Nendo growled, "How dare you?"

"Seriously?" Toritsuka continued to shout, "He's real!"

"Good grief." Kusuo sighed, "He can't tell the difference between a human and a ghost. It must be tough to be a medium."

Akari watched the shouting match between Toritsuka and Nendo as if it were a tennis game. "Is it bad that I feel bad for him?" She looked up to Kusuo with a tilt of her head. Her oily hair spills over her shoulder, "Not being able to tell the difference between ghost and living people must be hard."

Kusuo spared her a glance before looking away from her, "Yes."

---

"Saiki, I want to show you something," Toristka said as he led Kusuo, and unknowingly, Akari, to his home. Toristka apparently lives in a temple, which kind of makes sense since he could see the dead. "Can you use psychometry on me? You will understand why I made that mistake."

Kusuo rested his hand on the other boy's shoulder to see what he was looking at. Though he really wasn't expecting what he laid his eyes on. Apparently, Toritsuka's reaction to Nendo was a tad bit understandable now. "This is…"

"This is my protective spirit," Toritsuka said as the two stared at the ghost of Nendo's father. The same spirit that Kusuo had tried to forget seeing the other day. Hey, look at that, the episodes are related somehow. How about that!

Kusuo felt a bit bad for Toritsuka now, not too much but just about 0.01%. "You really do have it rough."

Akari stared at where they were looking and only saw the temple. So she figures that they were looking at something that she couldn't see. Though from their reaction, she isn't sure if she wants to. However, as the saying goes, curiosity killed the cat. "What is it?"

Toritsuka jumped at the sudden haunting voice from beside him, "AH!" He had honestly thought that he and Kusuo were the only ones around. There weren't any other spirits around beside his protective spirit, so how had there been someone else who just appeared? He turned to the side to stare at the girl who had suddenly appeared beside Kusuo and found himself drooling. How had he not noticed such a cute girl?

"What's wrong with his protective spirit?" She disregarded Toritsuka as he flubbed his words about her sudden appearance.

Kusuo looked down at her and explained plainly, "It's Nendo's dad."

"Oh," she blinked and turned to Toritsuka who was still trying to get over at her "sudden" appearance. She stared at him boredly, "How unfortunate for you."

He pointed at her with a slightly shaky hand, "H-How long have you been there?"

"The entire time." She blinked once again, "I've been walking alongside you guys ever since we left school."

Toritsuka stuttered, "B-But I didn't see you at all!" He tried to calm himself down and smirked, which caused Akari to cringe, "I'm so sorry for not noticing such a cute-"

"No."

The medium grimaced at the sudden harsh tone from Kusuo as he seemed to place himself in front of the girl. "Hey, don't be such a jerk, Saiki," Toritsuka whined, he continued to try and smirk at her, "I was just saying how I'm surprised I didn't see this beautiful girl following us from school. Usually, I'm the one following the girl."

Both Akari and Kusuo found that highly disturbing. Akri scoffed, "Right. Well, Ku-kun and I should head home."

"Ku-kun?" Toritsuka questioned as he thought for a moment. He then clicked his fingers, "Oh! Why didn't you say this was your girlfriend, Saiki! Good job catching such a pretty one, master!"

Kusuo stared at him unamused, "I thought I told you to stop calling me master." Oya oya oya, is he not denying it?

"Right!" Toritsuka squeaked out as an icy chill crawled down his spine at the glare from Kusuo. "Sorry!"

Kusuo then grunted, "And Akari is not my girlfriend." Mhm, keep telling yourself that, bud.

Toritsuka tilted his head, "She isn't?" Well, if she was single then that's perfectly fine. Give him a shot at wooing her! Yeah, sure, that'll happen when MJ gets a consistent update schedule. So never.

"Come on, Ku-kun," Akari lightly grabbed her friend's elbow to guide him away. The last thing she needs is to witness a fight or something between these two. Though she would greatly appreciate seeing the pervert punched at least once for all the unpleasant comments she heard from him all day. They turned around, leaving the medium watching after them with mischievous and longing eyes. Akari called over her shoulder, "Nice to meet you, Toritsuka."

“I don't like how he looks at you,” Kusuo said as they started their journey home. Would he admit that there was a small spark of something(*cough* jealousy *cough*) in his chest? Hell no. It's not like he knew what it was nor why he would be feeling it about some idiot talking to Akari like that. Akari is his friend so he's going to look out for her as much as he can. That includes keeping perverts like Toritsuka away from her.

Akari chuckled slightly with her same wispy laugh, 'you don't like most things. Though I will admit, I don't like it all that much either.' She shivered, she certainly doesn't like how he stared at her like a piece of meat. Not only does she hate attention, but she detests the attention she had been getting from Toritsuka just then.

Kusuo clicked his tongue, “This is why I told you to stay away from him.”

'How could I do that when you were around him so much.' Akari brought up. Yeah, Saiki, this is your fault. 'Would you have rather not seen me at all today?'

Kusuo was quiet for a moment before he grunted, “Whatever.” Not like he wanted to admit that he would never want to be away from her for too long. Most days, she keeps him sane and if they were to be separated for too long there's no telling what would happen! So let's just be glad that Akari was around to keep him from doing something rash to those who annoyed him.

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