#hell bent sneak peek

[deeversuswords]

‧˚₊ Five A.M. Ice Cream

pairing: bakugou katsuki/f!reader summary: What do you do when it's close to five a.m. and you can't sleep? You eat ice cream, like a thief, hoping to make your escape before someone catches you. But things can't go well when you're sneaking around, can they? word count: 1.7k words contains: established relationship, fluff (with some arguing), ice cream, kissing • ao3 link a/n: *looks at the calendar* May. *looks at fic* 100% not May nor any warm weather setting, but freaking winter. And yes, I was eating ice cream when the idea hit me. enjoy 🧡

A dense curtain of snow descended from the grey skies to cover the U.A grounds with a thick, pristine blanket. Frost adorned the edges of the windows in a pattern reminding you of lace as a thin layer of condense formed over the rest, sliding down the glass, pooling at the bottom of it. The interior of the dorm building had long since succumbed to darkness and silence, the atmosphere weighted down by an eeriness one would only find in the dead of winter.

Not enough to stop you from sneaking into the kitchen downstairs, however.

You tip-toed like a thief toward the refrigerator. Opening its freezer, you carefully moved aside the frozen groceries and reached in the back, smiling triumphantly when your fingers brushed against your secret container. You took it out, a longing sigh passing your lips at the sight of it. If it weren’t freezing cold, you would’ve probably embraced it until it melted into a puddle.

The things you had to do for it—lie to a certain someone and sneak around after classes. 

If he found out…

A shudder rocked your body and not the good kind. Screwed wouldn’t even begin to describe the scolding you would’ve to listen to.

But it would be worth it, probably. The joy you experienced as you pried open the carton lid spread warmth through your limbs, keeping you warm against your lack of sleep-induced stupidity. Before you had left your room, not once did it cross your mind to maybe, just maybe put on the hoodie clinging for dear life to the bottom of your bed

So, here you were now, wearing thin pajamas, with your brows furrowed in concentration and tongue peeking through your lips, stabbing a spoon so hard into the ice cream bucket that the metal bent slightly. You scooped up a generous amount of the frozen treat and shoved it into your mouth, shuddering at the frigid assault on your tongue, but humming satisfied. As it melted on your tongue, you leaned against the kitchen counter, gaze locking on the white hell outside.

Your mind grew distant, the surroundings a mere afterthought. Fatigue wore you down, but the night had been nothing else but a toss and turn annoying to no end; you couldn’t sleep. Your body ached, muscles still in recovery from yesterday’s sparring session. Your partner, who you hadn’t chosen but chose you out of pettiness, had no mercy. The reason? You dared to say “You’re sleeping in your room tonight, Kat.”

Petty bastard. Scrunching up your nose, you stabbed the ice cream once more—harder this time—and lifted it to your mouth. Its coldness touched your lips, but only for a fleeting moment.

A figure appeared in front of you out of nowhere, snatching your spoon and demanding in a hissing tone. “What the fuck are you doin’ here at this hour?”

Your heart jumped in your throat, and you choked on a scream. “Katsuki, what the hell? Are you trying to kill me? Almost got a heart attack,” you snapped, pressing a hand to your chest.

“You wouldn’t get one if your awareness wasn’t so shit.” His scrutinizing gaze shifted between your ice cream bucket and the spoon in your hand. “Seriously? It hasn’t even been two weeks since you were sick. Is this where you went today? To buy this?”

You rolled your eyes and lunged for the spoon, but he sidestepped you, moving it out of your reach. “Give it back.”

“Not a chance in hell, but you can give me that.” 

Before you even registered what happened, the ice cream container vanished from your hand. Your jaw slackened. Was he suddenly speed-of-light fast, or was your lack of sleep slowing your reflexes to that of a snail’s?

Katsuki shot you one of his sterner looks that made you swallow a little harder, then yanked open the refrigerator door. “Had a feeling you were up to something yesterday, but left it be ’cause I thought, ‘she can’t be that stupid.’” With the ice cream now stored in the freezer, he made quick work of the spoon and faced you, arms crossed. “So?”

“So what? Are you my Dad or something?”

Without warning, he backed you into the counter behind you, his hands coming down hard on the marble surface. Your heart skipped a beat at the echoing sound in the still air.

Fury heated the depths of his eyes as he gritted out. “You don’t get to be a fuckin’ brat with me when you lied about feelin’ fine, only to nearly take my quirk in the face and collapse in my arms mid-sparring.”

“Kat—”

“No. You lied to me, again.”

Your eyes widened in surprise. It was never about getting sick or sneaking around with the ice cream, it was the two lies, which you thought of as innocent but not him. “I didn’t mean to, but you would’ve flipped about the ice cream since I just recovered from that stupid cold.”

"Yeah. I would've. So what?" Katsuki huffed, running a hand through his hair that stood in different directions, you noticed. "You're such an idiot. I would've gone with you anyway. Hell, I would've made you some myself."

You regarded him, a slight pout forming on your lips. That wasn’t an argument you could’ve won when every single word he spoke was true. All you had to do was ask, and Katsuki would make it happen; you were under his skin as much as he was under yours.

A few moments passed, and your answer became obvious: silence. He shook his head in disapproval and straightened, unzipping his hoodie. Guilt gnawed at your insides as you watched him remove it and drape it over your shoulders, leaving himself only in a T-shirt. Even in the dim light cast by the snow outside, you couldn't miss the goosebumps rising over his arms.

Before you could utter a word, Katsuki pulled you into his arms. His hold was tight as if he feared you might disappear right then and there. Cruel, you thought, for making your heart ache the way it did, and not waiting for you to put the hoodie on properly so you could cling onto him too. His head lowered, the tip of his nose nudging at your temple before you felt his lips place a kiss so soft it could pass for a ghost.

"Stop makin’ me worry, idiot," he muttered. "And don't you dare kick me out of your room again. Barely slept."

“Only if you make me ice cream.” At your blackmailing attempt demand, Katsuki lifted his head and narrowed his eyes dangerously. You quickly continued, “You barely slept? I didn’t sleep at all.” 

A pained sound escaped you when he flicked your forehead. 

“You little shit. Why didn’t you come to me?” he asked.

“Uh, because we’ve been pushing our luck in the last two weeks? There’s a reason we have separate rooms, Kat.”

"Yeah. To change the surroundings so we ain't gettin' bored."

“Katsuki.”

"What? We're fine as long as we don't make it too obvious," he clicked his tongue, "If I wanna sleep with my girl, I sleep with my girl. Good luck stoppin’ me."

Quiet laughter bubbled out of you. “You’re hopeless,” you teased, then pursed your lips, making a kissing sound. “Kiss me?”

“Keep dreamin’.”

“But you kiss me every morning. Come on, don’t be prickly. Just one—a short one. Mm?”

Katsuki took hold of your jaw and kissed you, hard. His anger and your guilt crashed into each other, their peak reached when you managed to free your hands and tangle them in his thick, soft hair, tugging. A grunt rushed out of him, his fingers trailing down your sides. Lower, lower, lower. Until they could get a proper grip on your thighs.

“You should know I ain’t doin’ short,” he rasped, hoisting you up on the counter, then hungrily reclaimed your lips.

A thrill of excitement hummed in your veins. Breaking the rules behind closed doors was risky, but the danger ramped up when out in the open like this. Anyone could walk in and witness how far gone you and Katsuki were for each other. Your relationship was no secret; everyone figured it out but not the extent of it.

Not that it mattered.

What happened between you and him, remained between you and him. No amount of pestering would make you spill a thing. It was private, and it was intimate, and it was a safe haven for both of you.

Though you would be a liar if you denied relishing the glimpses the world got. Having Katsuki as your boyfriend was special because he was so much more than that. He was your best friend, your partner in “crime.” He was the person you could turn to, and he'd have your back without you having to ask. He was the action to your feelings.

Pulling back from his lips, you quickly cupped his cheeks and whispered, “I’m sorry.”

“Take better care of yourself then,” Katsuki eventually said, bringing your forehead to his. “It messes with me when you ain’t well.”

“I’ll try. I promise.”

“You better. Now, wrap your legs around me. You’re comin’ with me.”

“Huh? Where?”

“To work out, where else? I skipped yesterday, remember? Thanks to a certain someone refusin’ to let me go.” He lightly slapped your thigh. “C’mon. I ain’t got all day. Hurry up.”

“Demanding bastard,” you grumbled, wrapping your limbs around his neck and waist. “At least you’re a good, mobile heater.”

“Good? I’m the best, you moron.”

As Katsuki strode away from the kitchen with you clinging to him like a koala, your eyes fell on the frosted windows once more. The flurry of snowflakes swirled faster, guided by the whistle of the wind that seemed to have started upon Katsuki’s arrival earlier. Your hold on him tightened, your heart suddenly too aware that he was the reason it no longer found the silent atmosphere eerie.

“You’re gonna make me spot you, aren’t you?” you asked, absently pulling at the collar of his T-shirt. He responded with an affirmative grunt. “Can you not? You always put on so much weight; it’s scary.”

Katsuki patted the underside of your thigh. “Consider it your punishment for lying to me, pretty girl.”

[ghost-bxrd]

blog guidelines and tags

Hi! I’m GhostBird! This blog is dedicated to any and all things Batman and Robin related featuring copious amounts of fluff and feels 💚

First of all: be kind. Both to me and to each other. If there’s a prompt/opinion you don’t like please keep scrolling or simply block. Rude commentary or harassment of any kind will not be tolerated, and yes that also applies to ships you may find distasteful. If I have too many people going anon to be rude I will be turning that function off. This is a safe space, and I will enforce that with prejudice. 🐍

Second of all: Have Fun. Go wild. And if you have any questions, feel free to send me an ask 🦅

AU GUIDE

Shuck — Church Grimm Jason AU 🐺

what you’re longing for you claim to abhor — for the fic with Jason pretending to be a hallucination where the Bats think Hood was Jason’s boyfriend 🫀

The Antithesis of Magic — for the fic where Jason Todd adopts a young Bruce Wayne from an alternate universe and takes him back to his own and now has to navigate being a dad to a traumatized ten year old who’s hell bent on becoming a vigilante while simultaneously juggling his night job as a crime lord, all while keeping both their identities secret from the Bats 🦇

Fae Dick Grayson — the Fae au with multiple headcanons and little convos without an actual fic (yet) lol 🌲

Court Family — the batfam as part of the Court of Owls AU 🪙

Selkie Au — Selkie Jason 🦭

Owl Song — for the Talon!Dick fic series I’m writing featuring lots of feels 🦉

Mer Au — the batfam as merpeople! Featuring Leviathan Jason and Siren!Dick and researcher Calvin Rose and a lot of mysteries 🌊

Dragon Au — medieval Dragon Rider Au, with the canon vigilante personas as dragons 🐉

TAG GUIDE

prompts — plot bunnies that hit me over the head at random times of the day. If you get inspired, feel free to write something for it. 💚

Digital Art — my art (unless it’s reblogged) ranging from sketches and little comic doodles to full paintings. Usually of the angsty variety ⛈️

ghost talks — responses to asks and suggestions, some general musings, and random thoughts 👻

brainstorming — brainstorming for fic ideas or existing fics

Etsy — updates and stuff for my Etsy store, mostly Batboys related 🦅

Sneak Peek — Drabble previews of upcoming fics ✍️

Scrapbook — scrapbook project for Owl Song, with hidden infos and secret messages for this verse 🦉📖

Mer Au — look up the “blog guide” tag for a guide to mer au tags 🌊

Echoes Zine — a zine project I’m working on that will be featuring mostly Jason with Dick and Tim cameos :)

Some Links 🔗

AO3

And… that’s pretty much it for now. I’ll update this list when or if necessary ✨

[moonlight-prose]

OCTOBER FICS

a/n: october is and always will be my favorite month of the year. so to kick it off a week early i am going to give you a sneak peek of what's to come. since i'm not doing kinktober this year i figure this will act as that. it won't be a fic everyday cause i couldn't handle that again, but it will be as often as i can. take your ticket, enjoy the show, and watch out for ghosts.

＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚　BEWARE THE WITCH IN THE WOODS　˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊

LOGAN HOWLETT FICS:

pick your poison (series) - lumberjack!logan

a case of you (series) - old man!logan x f!reader x jackson!joel

fuel the pyre of your enemies - old man!logan

fall on me like night - worst!logan

whiskey bent and hell bound - western!old man!logan

UNTITLED GHOST!LOGAN FIC

SPOOKY MISCELLANEOUS FICS:

kinktober 2023 final four fics

seven devils - demon!mickey "fanboy" garcia

in death - javier peña

death wish - killer!mickey "fanboy" garcia

2023 haunted hoedown

note: some might get pushed off the list, some others might get added or just dropped on a whim. i have requests half finished i never added here, but those will also come. this is what you can look forward to. here's to a witchy spooky season.

[altraviolet]

Ch 47 sneak peek 👀

Hello and happy winter* festivities** all!

*summer for southern hemisphere **normal day for those without festivities right now

I'm hoping to finish Ch 47 before 2024, but wanted to share a lil sneak peek! Everything below is subject to change, of course, but as of now Ch 47 will be told from Rodimus's point of view.

In case I don't see you again til 2024, wishing you all a very happy seasonally appropriate greeting! All the very best! Excerpt beneath the cut >D

Rodimus awoke in a tangle of tentacles. He stretched, careful to avoid scratching Soundwave's visor. “Mmmm.” He wiggled and settled down against the smooth protoform of Soundwave's body. Soundwave didn't stir.

The low hums and cyclical pumping of the Lost Light's utilities were louder here than in Rodimus's room, courtesy of the torn walls. The sheeny curtain had pulled back, revealing little crystals glowing faintly in their nooks and crannies. With soft metallic ssshhhks, Soundwave's tentacles repositioned themselves around Rodimus. They always moved so their cool sides coiled against him. Rodimus wasn't sure if they got too hot when touching him, or if they liked being warm and moved to distribute his heat evenly.

Rodimus traced a burned section of tentacle with a fingertip. Its metal was darkened and marred by tiny ripples. The segments were offset, preventing the tentacle from coiling properly. It bent into a soft corner. A rounded corner.

Rodimus snerked to himself.

It wasn't really a laughing matter. Rodimus gently pet the darkened metal. Its tiny ripples caught in the mechanisms of his palm. He'd dealt this damage. He felt bad about it. But... not guilty. Soundwave didn't deserve to be burned. But Rodimus wouldn't fault himself for his body's defenses.

Besides, Ratchet had a plan to fix it. They were gonna fix it, just like they'd fixed the holes in his chest, and they'd both be good as new.

"A virus.”

“Compassion.”

“I only want yours.”

Rodimus grinned to himself. No one had believed him when he'd said Soundwave would find his place. Hell, there were times when he barely believed it. But he'd done it. He, Rodimus, proud co-captain of the Lost Light, had shown this emotionally-starved, devastatingly loyal Decepticon there was another way. A better way. And now Soundwave was flourishing. He had friends, and a really weird but wonderful hobby, and tendrils that could leave a mech gasping in pleasure. And holy hell, Rodimus never would have thought that last thing was a thing, let alone it could be true, let alone he'd be the mech gasping.

“Preferred: Rodimus, happy.”

The grin faltered. Of course Rodimus was- well, he was happier. That was good. And of course his new bedmate would want him happy. That made total sense. That's what a good friend would want. What a lover would want.

What a lover would-

Rodimus wrenched himself from that train of thought. He scanned the room, desperate to distract himself. The desk was cluttered, projecting a dim data cascade in Soundwave's native cyphers. The makeshift shelves were crammed full of random tools and crystals. Bare wiring poked through in places, backdropped by shadowy pipes and conduits.

It was barely recognizable as Drift's room.

Maybe it never had been.

…

Oh, it had been. It definitely had been. And he'd been on this bed before, tangled up in limbs, feeling serene. Feeling at peace. Feeling like the mech beside him was a beacon, and for the first time since their initial jump, he could see where he wanted to go.

That bright and gentle feeling tightened in his chest.

No! Shut up! It's not happening again!

Rodimus knew he should get up for his own good. But his frame would not obey. He found himself burrowing harder into Soundwave, willing that cool body to shield him from those memories. Beat them away. Bury them. Better still, forge new ones. He wanted – he hated that he wanted – Soundwave woven into the fabric of his reality. Heavy in his arms and weighty against his plating. Too weird and wonderful to be washed away by the tides that pushed and pulled at Rodimus.

Soundwave stirred. His visor onlined with a flash. It displayed a rapid pulse. “Rodimus: agitation?”

Rodimus's field perked up out of habit, ready to push the concern aside. Dammit. Soundwave always knew when he was lying through his field. He didn't like it.

“False field express-”

“It was automatic. I didn't mean it.” Rodimus shoved the false cheer away. His true feelings seeped out. He couldn't hide them, but that didn't mean he had to explain them, either.

Soundwave's tentacles snapped up, tendrils sampling the air. “Rodimus: afraid? Danger in vicinity?”

“No,” said Rodimus. He parted the sheeny curtain and pushed himself off the bed. “Old thoughts. Don't worry about it.”

A tentacle wound around his arm. “Rodimus: needs...?”

“Breakfast.” Rodimus pulled away. The tentacle's biolights slid under his fingers, one by one. Blue light peeked between the bevels of his joints. “Why don't you sit with Nautica and Blaster today? We don't want people getting suspicious.”

The tentacle retreated. “Affirmative.”

Rodimus returned to his room via their secret door. He gave himself a big smile in the washroom mirror. A big, huge, totally happy smile accompanied by a forceful spoiler raise. Rodimus scrubbed faint, dark paint marks from his plating and polished his biolights. The glass of his body dulled when pressed against Soundwave's for hours. Rodimus didn't bother to wonder why. The explanation was always dimension stuff.

[greeenchrysanthemums]

Thus Always to Tyrants

Chapter 3: An Unwelcomed Guest?

Gem is the commander of the Wintertide royal army, Grian is the leader of a resistance hell bent on taking the crown down no matter the cost. It was only natural that they would become enemies.

Beginning -> previous -> next

Read on ao3 ❀ here ❀

CW: N/A

Words: 6,046

Pov: Gem

❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀

“Gem!” A voice called out to her from behind. She turned just in time to step back and avoid being barreled into by a short man holding a shovel.

“Bdubs? What’s wrong?” She asked, alarmed. Her hand instantly went to the sword secured around her waist, ready to fight and protect everyone nearby.

After a quick hour-long nap at the table, her morning had been completely occupied with overseeing the safety of those carrying out clean-up efforts in wake of the previous night's activities, so she had only just returned to the castle. It was nearing noon at that point, and she was in the process of making her way back to her office to plan out several new security measures, including an increase in knights patrolling everywhere possible without alarming the civilians and a thorough check of all possible entry points around the castle walls to ensure that they were one hundred percent impenetrable by outside forces. 

Had something slipped past her in that time? Was there an immediate threat inside of the castle?

Bdubs, the royal gardener, was hunched over at the waist in front of her, one hand clutching the handle of the shovel he dug into the ground to steady himself and the other planted firmly on his knee. His wide brimmed hat partially hid his red face, but it did nothing to conceal the sweat drenched tunic clinging to his torso. His hands and forearms, revealed by rolled up sleeves, were covered in a layer of muck and grime that similarly coated the ends of his trouser legs. He was missing his iconic, green cloak, so he must have come here in a hurry. Gem reached her hand out and settled it on his shoulder, politely ignoring the way it made her hand damp.

“I forgot to tell you somethin’ important!” Bdub’s said, standing up straight so suddenly that Gem startled back, retracting her hand.

“What is it?” She prompted impatiently and nervously.

“I saw someone sneak into the castle last night,” He said, eyes wide.

“What!?” She squealed, voice going high pitched. Her hands shot out and she grabbed him by both shoulders, her fingers digging into his muscles hard enough to dimple the fabric in the surrounding area. “When!?”

“It had to have been around midnight or so. I was in bed when I heard something outside of my window. I thought ‘hey that’s weird, we don’t even get very many animals out here, what could that be?’ so I peeked outside and there it was! A person walking by my window!” He exclaimed. She gripped him harder.

“Why did you not say something immediately?” She asked through gritted teeth. “What did you do after seeing them?” 

Bdub’s leveled her with a deadly serious look, “I went back to sleep.”

Gem stared at him. He stared at her. The knights behind Gem stared at both of them. There was silence.  

“You did what?” She asked slowly, unsure if she had heard him right.

“I went back to sleep,” Bdubs reiterated, “I’m not a fighter! I knew if I went out there in the dark all defenseless with nothing to fight with, whoever that was would kill me immediately! I’m not a fool!”

Gem wanted to argue otherwise, but he carried on.

“I tried waiting it out until someone came by to rescue me, but I’m not used to staying up that long. The ol' body just isn't used to it. I fell right back to sleep without even trying to. I thought the encounter was just a really bad dream I had brought on by all the drinkin' I did last night at dinner when I woke up this morning, but then I saw the footprints in the soil when I was doing the weeding, and I knew it was real!”

“Why did you not alert one of the guards stationed on the wall nearby? Logan was only a mere 20 feet away from your quarters!” She said, rubbing the bridge of her nose. Then, her eyes snapped open as she fully registered his words. She cut off his loud, long-winded rant about how he couldn’t endanger himself to go alert someone, “Wait, Bdubs. Bdubs, hush up for a moment, would you? You said you found footprints?”

Bdubs paused to nod his head enthusiastically. “Yes!” 

“Show me immediately.” She said, expression firm. Bdubs nodded again and then motioned for her to follow after him as he took off towards the garden. She motioned for two soldiers to accompany them and then said to the rest, "I want you guys to remain here and keep an eye on the area. Report to me immediately if you see anything suspicious... Unlike a certain somebody."

She followed Bdubs through the expansive outside area, holding in her laughter whenever he would stumble on the loose rocks or trip over a well-groomed shrub with a colourful curse. You would be led to believe that someone who has dedicated their entire life to tending to a garden would know the area a little better, or at least well enough to avoid tripping as often as he did. They passed under the vine covered stone arch that served as the entrance to the grand royal garden, and she took a moment to admire the area, as well as scan it for anything that might be out of place. 

Meticulously cared for shrubs made the area into somewhat of a maze, forcing one to weave their way through the area and barring them from stepping on the beautiful grass. Flowering bushes with buds of a million colours mixed in with these shrubs, their vibrant colours somehow blending in perfectly despite the contrast. A few scattered fruit trees, whose spoils had already been harvested this year, stood tall and proud where they were placed in spots most convenient for providing shade throughout the garden. The same trees also lined the back wall, blocking the mossy stone from view almost entirely. 

A fountain carved in the shape of a mostly bare woman with a flowing cloth covering both her eyes and breasts stood in the center of it all, the water flowing from her outstretched, cupped palms, her face twisted into one of sorrow. Fake jewels and sparkling rocks glimmered at the bottom of the crystal clear pool, giving the water's surface the appearance of a sparkling jewel itself. 

Under her feet was a well cared for stone path free of the dirt and leaves one would expect to see but was sprouting with little flowers that crawled through the fine cracks in a way she couldn't help but find beautiful. In the very back of the garden, nestled between two of the tall fruit trees and barely noticeable among the gorgeous scenery, was a similarly well cared for shack that acted as both Bdubs’ sleeping quarters and storage for all of his gardening tools. 

Suddenly Bdubs stopped and she had to stumble to the side to avoid ramming right into his back. He pointed emphatically down at the dirt beneath a shrub he had presumably been weeding before he came to fetch her. The soft soil was slightly dug up off to the side, a few weeds laying on their sides around the shallow holes. There were a few small tools scattered about the area, as well as a pair of gloves and his mossy cloak laying abandoned on the stone path a little ways away. 

And then she saw it, a footstep in the soil just as he said there would be. It was long and slender with no discernable patterns within its print that would be easily identifiable. It could have belonged to anyone within the castle staff, anyone from town, that is how generic it was. However, it was not the only thing of intrigue that she spotted. Her eyes flickered up towards it as it caught her attention. A single red thread, right there on one of the branches of the bush, tangled around it and fluttered in the light breeze that flowed through the garden. She reached out to it and pulled it free with a firm tug. A loose cloak thread in the same shade as the garment that Grian wore. It appeared to have been ripped free when the wearer got caught on the sharp, recently trimmed branch.

She looked around the shrubbery, and just as she suspected, further inside of the foliage were branches that looked out of place, bent and unnatural in a way that indicated the bushes had been climbed through. Bdubs kept the garden immaculate, so it was very easy to spot even a single leaf out of place if you knew what to look for. And she really did have to look, her eyes intently focused on the bushes in a way that must have made her look a bit mad, because whoever had been here had done well to hide their tracks. Not well enough to hide from her though. They had left a trail that she could track, right through the garden.

“Cobble, I want you to stay here with Bdubs, Marabelle I need you to go find Kaya and tell her and her battalion on the wall to keep an eye on things outside just in case whoever was here last night tries to get back in, and that they should not rule out the idea that the intruder may still be on the premise. After that, I need you to find Scott and Impulse and inform them of the intruder. If you can, send them my way.” Gem instructed her knights. Marabelle saluted and then ran off to do as directed. Cobble shifted nervously, looking around the garden with a suspicious eye. Bdubs’ face slowly morphed into one of horror.

“Still on the premise?!” He exclaimed loudly, prompting Gem to flinch away from him with a sigh. He reached down and grabbed ahold of one of his sharper, more dangerous tools. He held it tightly to his chest as he glanced around his garden with paranoia shinning in his eyes.

“I highly doubt that whoever this was would be so stupid as to stick around, but it is not an option I can safely rule out, not after…” She trailed off, realizing Grian’s threat was not public knowledge, and it would do her well to not make it such. “Do not worry about it, just stay here with Cobble and you will be fine. I’ll handle this.”

With that she began her trek into the shrubbery, following the barely noticeable path the trespasser had unwittingly left behind for her. Bdubs momentarily broke out of his paranoid stupor to yell at her for going through them so carelessly, but one dirty look over her shoulder was enough to shut him up.

She cursed her foolishness as she followed the out of place branches. She had assumed that if Grian was planning something that night he would focus his attention on the festival, which was vulnerable and hard to protect due to the high density of people around. But the more she thought about it, it only made sense that he would advance on the castle when security was more lax and divided by the festivities. It was a fairly smart tactic, she had to admit. Keeping her on edge and busy while he snuck someone in? She would never deign herself to admit it out loud that she had been played well, but she had been.

She shuddered at the thought of what he and his people might have done inside while no one was looking. 

She looked around as she trudged through the garden, making an effort to not step on any of the flowers or ruin things too much, but not being overly careful either. Consider the work she was giving Bdubs punishment for being a fool. But as she walked, she noticed something. The trail she was walking was in one big a blind spot. None of the on duty knights would have been able to see the intruder even if they had looked down into the garden from the wall or peered in from any of the entrances. Nearly the whole path was blocked in some way, be it by tree or the fountain or something else, none of it was visible unless you knew where to look. That, coupled with the fact that there would have been little to no light, meant that it would have been alarmingly easy for them to get in entirely undetected.

It was scary to think about.

The trail led her all the way to the garden's East entrance, far right of the fountain and near the apple trees. In the mud at the base of said trees she found a second footprint similar to the last, but this one was smudged, imperfect, as if the intruder had slipped. It only made sense that she found the vines on the entrance's archway to be messed with. They had used the pillar to catch their fall.

If they had stepped in the mud then surely they had to have left more evidence behind, right?

The East Garden entrance led to stables and the couch house, which gave entrance to the ground floor of the castle. There was also the kitchen entrance further East, as well as a smaller, less noticeable entrance to the servant bathrooms, but she knew that both of them were out of the question for possible break-in points. The bathroom had no other entry points other than the one outside, and the kitchen was never not occupied so it would have been impossible for someone to sneak in through the busy area. At least one person would have noticed a face that did not fit in among them.

She made her way over to the coach house and inspected the door. There were no signs that it had been tampered with or forced open, but that didn’t mean anything. They may have simply been skilled enough, or smart enough, to not leave behind such traces. Then again, they had left her an entire trail here. She huffed and looked around. She titled her head up and caught sight of an open window on the second floor and wondered briefly if that was how they got inside, but she shook her head and scolded herself for the silly thought. Not only was that a nearly impossible climb to make, but the window also led to the servants' quarters. Someone, again, would have noticed. It was a bit hard to miss a person climbing in through their window.

She opened the door and made her way inside, giving the area a sharp once over. Nothing seemed out of place. All of the horse gear was in place and a survey of both the carriage and the trading carts told her they were not tampered with. Nothing was stolen, everything was accounted for. She looked over the room a second time and a third before she was satisfied. Well, she would not say satisfied. She was actually quite frustrated. There was nothing here.

She walked up the few stone steps that led to the inside of the castle and nothing in the halls looked out of place. There was no mud on the polished marble like she expected, no, hoped to find to tell her that this was the way they went. Everything looked as clean and pristine as she expected it to.

Her trail had gone cold. 

“What are you looking for, Commander?” A voice asked to her side, startling her. She did her best to school her reaction to not appear a fool as she turned to the person.

One of the young maids was looking at with a curious expression on their face and a bundle of linen in their arms. She raked her brain for their name but shamefully could not remember it. It started with a C, perhaps? They blinked at her, and their face turned a little worried before Gem realized she should probably give them an answer.

“Oh! Do not worry about it.” She said, giving them a reassuring smile. 

“Alright, then…” They said hesitantly. They turned to walk away but a thought occurred to Gem and she called out to them.

“Actually, you might be able to help me,” She said, taking a step forward. They turned back to look at her, shock and a bit of excitement on their face.

“Me? Really? You need my help?” They asked in awe.

“Yes, I do.” She said, “You clean around this area, correct?”

“Oh, no I don’t ma’am,” They said, deflating a little. Gem did as well. “I’m stationed up on the second floor. I was simply running these down to the laundry room since the chute has been damaged and it cannot be delivered that way.”

“The chute has been damaged?” Gem asked, perking up.

“Yes! We think something too large and heavy was thrown down it sometime last night and now it won’t open or close properly. We didn’t find whatever it was that caused the damages, but it left behind a massive mess in the laundry room! It took hours this morning to clean up all of the sheets and cloth spilled about the area.” They said as they shook their head. 

“This was on the second floor, yes?” Gem asked eagerly.

“I can show you where, if you need.” They said nervously, obviously wanting to be of more help.

“No, that’s alright,” She said. They seemed disappointed, but they nodded anyway, “Thank you very much, you don’t know how helpful this has been.”

They smiled at her and stuttered out, “O-of course! It was my pleasure.”

Gem nodded her head to them respectfully before taking off down the halls, heading for the main stairs to take her to the second story of the castle. She turned out of the smaller hallway and into the expansive main hall, where the ceiling was broad, curved, and painted in shades of white and gold. Sunlight filtered in from the windows in the front. The stairs, covered in plush red carpet, were tall and would quickly wind anyone who was not used to their great climb. Gem, however, was on the second floor in no time, having long gotten used to them.

She was greeted by many of the servants as she passed, and she did her best to politely return their greetings even though she was in a hurry. She knew this castle like the back of her hand, so she easily weaved her way through the halls until she came to the end of the servant's portion of the upstairs area, where the laundry chute was located. She grimaced as it came into view.

Usually, it blended in with the decor fairly well, and one could easily mistake it for an ornate design on the wall it they did not know what to look for. The only thing that really gave it away was the weathered handle used to pull it open. It was designed specifically with discretion in mind, was what she was told when she had first moved into the castle as a teenager. The only people meant to know where or what it was were the staff. 

Now, though, the hatch was crooked and not sitting in the wall quite right, the paper around it peeling and showing the damaged walling behind. If she had to guess, there had previously been debris on the ground, which had to have been cleaned up in the aftermath, because it looked as though some of the paper and the wall were chipped away and missing entirely.  A cold breeze came in from the dark hole that peaked out from the mangled remains of the poor chute.

It looked as though someone had either pulled it open with the power of twenty men all at once, or like they had attempted to kick it open from the side. Or.... like someone had forced it to take the weight of a human body.

She pulled on the handle and cringed when it came open far too easily, sending little bits of stone dust swirling down towards the carpet. She pondered it for a moment before concluding that if the person was slight enough, they just might be able to crawl inside of the small space, even if it was with a lot of difficulty and maneuvering. She suspected that someone had done just that, and the belief was only reinforced when she noticed a bit of what looked like dried mud on the back of the hatch.

But what in the nine hells was their little intruder doing going down the laundry chute? Not to mention that both the laundry chute and the laundry room itself were located in the southwest part of the castle, which was a long ways away from the garden. The laundry room wasn’t even accessible from the outside either. Just what had been their route? And what of their intentions? This was a very peculiar situation.

Even after venturing down into the laundry room, she couldn’t wrap her head around it. The only thing that had been amiss in the room (which smelt so strongly of soap and perfumes that it made her head spin) was the broken basket that was used to catch clothing sent down the chute. None of the servants in the laundry room even had any answers for her. No one had been in the room when whatever, or whoever, it was dropped down from above. 

There were no witnesses, no other clues, nothing for her to go off of. She had no idea how they got in, nor what they had done while inside. She knew even less about the way they took to get out.

It occurred to her then that perhaps she was overreacting. It could have been someone within the staff that caused the damages to the chute, and they were too embarrassed to come clean. It could have been anyone walking around in the garden last night. Bdubs couldn’t have been sure who it was that he saw, it was late and he had just woken up. Who was to say he hadn’t dreamt of it and those prints were from the knights she had patrolling early in the morning to quell the same paranoia that was consuming her right now?

She paused her walk back to the garden with a sigh. She groaned in frustration as she ran her hands down her face, fingers gripping the stray curls of ginger hair that hung down in front of it. She was falling right into Grian’s hands, she realized in defeat. She was letting her worry get to her after she said she wouldn’t do just that, and she was losing her straight head in the process.

What was she doing chasing around ghosts and playing detective at a time like this? She had patrol routes to be signing off on and training to be overseeing. She should have asked Impulse or Scott to look into it the second she saw the footprint. No, right when she heard of the potential intruder's existence.  She had let herself get too prideful, too eager to catch Grian and his people in the act all on her own that she’d rushed in headfirst with no plan and without even properly informing her right hands.  She was better than this.

“Curse you, bird.” She muttered bitterly under her breath.

She sighed again, this one longer and more drawn out than those previous. She better get back to her knights, find Scott and Impulse, and explain the situation to them in order to get a second opinion on the matter at hand before informing the king himself of the issue. Loath as she was to admit it, she couldn’t do this alone, especially if she wasn’t overthinking and someone truly had managed to bypass the castles security while her sights were focused elsewhere.

It hadn't even been a full 24 hours and this whole ordeal was already so stressful.

Several long hours later Gem trudged her way to the training yard. The sun was setting in the sky, and she was unbearably exhausted. After locating Scott and Impulse, they discussed what to do and decided that Scott, ever the social butterfly, would be the one to interview the staff and ask them what they had seen, if anything at all.  Impulse was to oversee the implementation of the rest of the new security measures under her orders and guidance. He also took over her evening training sessions with the newbies despite her protests. Bless her longtime friends for making sure she stayed sane.

She should be in her office writing up those routes and assigning people to them, but she needed a moment to clear her head. She needed to beat up some training dummies.

Thankfully the expansive area was empty by the time she made it there, training having ended an hour or so ago. Everyone should be preparing for dinner right around now. She stepped into the marked ring, the soft dirt shifting under her boots. She pulled one of the practice swords out of the barrel and then rounded on the dummy, her movements slow and precise.

Before coming here, she had also spoken to the king and informed him of the intruder. It had gone just as well as her warning about Grian’s initial threat had; badly. He dismissed her once again. Her! His own royal commander, who he had personally selected and appointed! You would think that he would have more faith in her after all she’s done and continues to do for this kingdom! Frustration built up inside of her as his words echoed in her head.

I’ll let you do as you please for now, but I believe you are making something out of nothing, Gem. This so called intruder is nothing but your mind and the gardener's wild imagination playing tricks on you after a stressful night. There is no use getting worked up over nothing. But how could he be so sure that this was 'nothing'?  There were lives at stake, a whole kingdom on the line, and he does not believe they should be just a little bit more cautious?

Channeling her emotions into energy, she lunged at last, the sword slashing across the dummies chest and leaving behind deep grooves in the already scarred surface. It teetered to the side but was steadied by a second slash to the opposite side. She rolled to the right and around to the dummies back before launching herself up with a graceful spinning motion, cutting in a large, broad motion across the wood.

She jumped back, imagining that there was a counterattack that she must dodge away from. She sidestepped around back to the front of the dummy, holding her sword close to her body. Anger bubbled up in her chest as the dummy's wooden face seemed to morph into that of Grian’s. She pictured his cheeky grin, his void-like, black eyes, his taunting words.

Something big is coming, Gem. The end might be closer than you think. He snickered inside her mind.

She sneered as she jabbed the tip of her sword into the dummies face with as much force as she could muster, chipping the wood and sending it toppling to the ground as the weapon was ripped free from her grip, now deeply imbedded in the things head. She stood there, breathing heavily through clenched teeth as she glared down at the fallen dummy. His hands were balled into painful fists, trembling at her side.

“That was pretty violent, no?” A familiar, bubbly voice asked to her left.

She whipped her head around to the source of the voice and there she found a woman sitting on one of the nearby barrels, one leg crossed over the other with her elbows planted on her knee while she rested her chin in her cupped palms. Long, lanky limbs, messy brown curls partially covered by a red hood, crystal blue eyes, a bright smile with a crooked fang showing proudly, a crescent moon shaped birthmark covering the left side of her face; all of these were the features that made up her very dearest friend.

“Pearl!” She exclaimed, her anger dissipating immediately to be replaced with a giddy joy. She bounded up to the woman, stopping right in front of her, their knees practically touching with the proximity. She put her hands on her hips and looked down at her with a tilted head.

“Well, if it isn’t my favorite menace.” She said, a painfully wide grin tugging at her cheeks. Pearl feigned offense, putting her hands up to her mouth with a dainty gasp.

“A menace? Me?” She asked, “Nonsense, you know me, I’m an angel.”

Gem belted out a hearty laugh at that, leaning back with her hands on her belly. Pearl giggled, a light blush on the tips of her ears as she unfolded her legs to kick Gem in the shin hard. Gem yelped and jumped away, wiping a tear away from her eye before straightening up. 

“What brings you here this fine night?” Gem finally asked.

She had known Pearl for nearly nine whole years now. They met in this very training yard on a warm summer day with the sun beating down on their skin. Pearl, who worked at the most popular bakery in the capital, had been delivering pastries to the kitchen when she decided to wander around the castle as her boss handled the exchange. She had gotten hopelessly lost and somehow made her way outside and to the training yard, where she found Gem doing her drills.

She was a bit embarrassed to admit that her first instinct had been to attack the other woman and restrain her when she caught her watching from behind a barrel a little ways away from the training circle. Lucky for her, Pearl had laughed it all off before introducing herself and praising Gem's form; their relationship naturally bloomed from there. They had been through a lot over the years, and she could safely say that the older woman was her very best friend.

“Bigb and I are here making a bread and pastry delivery. The festival pretty much cleared out the royal kitchen, so I’ve heard. B and the cook got to talking and it was real boring, so I decided to come and see how you are doing. But~ by the looks of that poor dummy and the sudden increase in knights pretty much everywhere, something tells me not too good, then?” Pearl asked, raising an eyebrow. Gem grimaced and scratched the back of her head.

“It’s nothing you should worry about; I’ll make sure you’re safe.” She promised.

“You’ll personally make sure I’m safe?” Pearl asked with a laugh. This time it was Gem’s turn for her ears and the tip of her nose to darken to a shade of pink.

“If I have to, yes,” She said seriously, if a little flustered, “You’re my best friend.”

“....” Pearl turned away from her with an unreadable expression. “You’re too good to me, Gem. I’ll make sure you’re safe too.”

Gem furrowed her brow. Pearl sounded almost…sad? No…that wasn’t quite it. She couldn’t tell what emotion the other woman was expressing. It didn’t matter though, because it was gone in an instant, replaced by her typical chipper self in the blink of an eye.

“Anywho, I'm too curious for my own good so you have no choice but to answer my questions. What is with the increase in security? Something happen that I don’t know about? As far as I remember the festival went just fine.” Pearl questioned once more. Gem contemplated for a moment before deciding that she could share this with her closest friend. It would not be the first time she had heard all about Grian, after all. Gem had long ago gotten into the habit of complaining about him to her, though it was never anything as serious as this.

“Grian found me at the festival yesterday and made some vague threats about ‘the end being near’. Most, including the king, don’t think it is anything to worry about, but I know his games. It is better to be safe rather than sorry should his threats come to pass, so I've been upping security.” Gem said. Pearl’s eyebrows shot up to her hairline.

“He said that?” She asked, sounding genuinely surprised.

“Yeah. It was really weird.” She sighed and dropped herself onto her butt next to the barrel that Pearl was sitting on, making sure to avoid touching her dirty boots. “He went on about how he wanted me to live and that I better prepare myself because he has something big planned.”

“How odd…” Pearl said absently. Gem glanced up at her. She was staring off into the distance, her brow furrowed as she worried her bottom lip between her teeth.

“Hey, don’t worry about it.” Gem said.. “Whatever it is that he has planned, I’m doing what I can to make sure that warning doesn’t go to waste. I’ll put a stop to it.”

Pearl’s eyes flickered down to her, that unreadable expression back on her face. It was quickly replaced by a shaky smile that looked like it might slip any moment.

“You shouldn’t underestimate him. You have no idea what he’s capable of. I-I mean, none of us really do, do we?” Pearl said nervously. 

“I’m not underestimating him, Pearl. I am taking his threat very seriously. Everything will be just fine, I promise.” Gem said reassuringly. Maybe it had been a bad idea to bring this up to her best friend, it seemed to have put the poor thing on edge. Of course it would, anyone would be at least a little disturbed by such ominous threats.

“Y-yeah…I’m sure everything will work out just fine.” Pearl said. There was a moment of silence between them before Pearl abruptly stood up, her knee knocking against Gem’s shoulder and her frayed cloak brushing against her face in the sudden movement. “I should be getting back, it is pretty late now, isn’t it? I wouldn't want to keep Bigb waiting too long.”

“Oh…Yes, it is quite late now,” Gem said as she stood as well, internally mourning the fact that she would now have to go do paperwork and work out those blasted patrol routes, paying extra attention to those blind spots in the garden. She should have liked to have shared a beer with Pearl, but a glance at the setting sun told her it was for the best they part ways now. “Let me see you in the kitchen then."

“No!” Pearl exclaimed, causing Gem to flinch away with her hand part way reaching out for Pearl’s shoulder. She immediately looked sheepish. “I mean, um, you don’t have to. I’d like a moment to think, if that’s alright.”

“Ah, I see… That’s perfectly alright. I’m terribly sorry if I’ve frightened you with the news I’ve shared.” She said sincerely. Pearl shook her head and gave her a softer, less shaky smile.

“You’re alright. I think that was just a little…jarring to hear. I’ll be alright.” She said.

“Of course… I will be seeing you again soon?” Gem questioned. Pearl nodded her head.

“Without a doubt. You’ll be seeing more of me very soon.” Pearl said, something twinkling in her eyes. 

They hugged, quick and light, before Pearl took her leave, strolling back in the direction of the kitchen she’d presumably gained access to the castle grounds through. Gem watched her go, unease and guilt eating away at her stomach. Gods, this day was really a train wreck right from the beginning to the very end. She hoped that fate would not make a fool of her, and that her promise to her friend would not turn out to be a lie.

Somewhere not too far away, a woman in red confronts an avian, her face twisted with rage as her hand grabs a fistful of his shirt.

"We need to talk"

[caffeineaddictwriter]

New addiction - Silco x f! Reader

Description: when you first meet Silco your one and only addiction is shimmer. But soon enough he’s your only addiction.

Warnings: addiction, reader is an addict, paying with sex, p in v, Silco takes advantage of your addiction at first.

You had always vowed that shimmer would be the last thing you’d get addicted to. Yet here you are, sneaking into the eye of zauns bar in attempts to steal even a small vile of shimmer. Just one sip of that purple liquid would be fine for your cravings. You snuck past drunken fools dancing around the bar. No one paid attention to you thankfully as you quickly got to the stairs. An illusion of the taste of shimmer grows stronger with each step. As you reach the top you look around seeing a door ajar, carefully you peek in seeing nobody so you make your move. Quickly going to the desk practically ripping the drawers out until you find a small tube. A small tube filled with shimmer held between your fingers. You were so so close. Until suddenly it was snatched from your hand. You jump back knocking the desk back slightly making a few piles of paper fall. You breathe in deeply before turning to see who had found you, only to be met with Silco. Everyone down here knew who Silco was and you were most definitely the same. You stand unsure of what to say with the thought that he’d certainly kill you running through your head.

“So desperate for this that you’d break into my office for a tiny vile. Pathetic” he says looking down at you. “I…I’m sorry” you whisper not knowing what else to possibly say. “Bit late for apologies girl” he snarks. “In all my years I never thought I’d meet someone so desperate for shimmer that they’d rob me of all people”. That stings hard as you think back on your promises that you’d never try shimmer, yet here you were about to be killed because of the shiny liquid. Time stands still as he thinks “I’ll let you go… if you give me payment” he says suddenly. “I have nothing” you mutter shaking. “You’ve got your body”

Before you knew it he had you bent against his desk as he pounds his dick into you. What a fucking payment method this was. You couldn’t deny you were enjoying the feeling of his long dick sliding fast against your walls that clenched down on him only making him groan louder. You were thankful for the blasting music in the bar below as your moans got louder and louder before only his name was able to drool out your mouth as you came around him. With a final pound he pulls out cumming over your back.

You lean against his desk as he sits in his chair catching his breath. He suddenly pulls you back onto his lap, you hear a bottle open and the small bottle of shimmer is lifted to your lips. “Your purchase” he says as you let him lift it as the purple liquid slides down your throat smoothly filling every craving. But in that moment you felt as if you had gained a new addiction. Silco.

For months to come you’d show at his office letting him do whatever he pleased to your body in return for shimmer. But even he started to crave your body so much that he didn’t realise that you were not taking shimmer anymore. In fact you had stopped taking shimmer all together. But your addiction for Silco is one that you couldn’t get rid of so you continued to visit him.

You eventually met his stray daughter jinx who latched to you very quickly. You felt for the child as you knew what attachment issues felt like. Hell you were attached to her father and the man probably had no idea. You’d sit with her and braid her hair, you’d cook meals for her and ensure that Silco had eaten as well. It got to the point were you never left. You knew Silco hadn’t realised as work had been keeping him up for days at end. But you didn’t mind. Not one bit.

That’s how we get to this point. A year after meeting the man for the first time you lay in his bed that had barely been used before you came along. Naked under the silk covers. Just listening to the music in the bar. Silco sits at the edge of the bed with only his trousers on as he lights a cigarette. “You seemed stressed” you mumble knowing it would no doubt of involved jinx. “Jinx has been causing trouble again” he sighs leaning back so his head layed on your stomach as he drew a puff of his cigarette. “She’s lucky we love her” you laugh softly stroking his hair. Silco smiles. Love. Love… that’s when it hits him. When what the last time you had shimmer he wandered. He’d not seen any signs of you taken it for months… “when was the last time you had shimmer?” He asks suddenly shocking you. “A few months ago…” you whisper looking down into his eyes. “Then why do you keep coming back” he asks confused sitting up and putting the cigarette in the ash tray. “I haven’t been coming back I’ve never been leaving” you tell him watching his face turn into more confusion. He’s angry at himself for not noticing. “Why would you want to stay here… with me of all people. I’m a horrible person” he says making your heart clench. He didn’t want you to be dragged into hell with him but even now he could admit he couldn’t let you go “Because your my addiction now Silco. Your my addiction because I love you and I don’t think I’ll be able to quit this time”

[slashers-and-rats]

Hello, saw your requests!!! can I request a short one shot with Billy with a s/o who is on their period? do with that what you will hehehehe

billy lenz x fem!reader | nsfw | blood,

masturbation, slight exhibitionism?

a/n: as someone currently experiencing the hell that is shark week, you could not have suggested something better for me rn.

billy was all too familiar with blood. his own and others. he had a fondness for it. he liked the way it felt on his skin, how smooth it started and how sticky it ended up; and that metallic taste made him groan. it was like finding a good wine, in his opinion.

it had been a long time since he indulged in such things, though. there wasn’t much need to anymore, not with you around. sure, there was the occasional outburst that left him covered in his own blood, but it wasn’t the same. it was like tickling yourself- it just didn’t feel right.

now, billy wasn’t all too familiar with the female anatomy, apart from the bits he could play with. and all he really knew about those was that they felt good to be inside or to kiss. it wasn’t an extensive knowledge. so when one morning you woke up, holding your stomach and grumbling angrily about something called a “period”, he didn’t really get it.

you rolled out of bed, muttering curses as you stomped off to the bathroom. he followed close behind. you were used to him trailing you like a baby duckling since he didn’t like being apart. but you also didn’t think he’d enjoy seeing the bloody mess covering your lower region, so you stopped him before he could go into the washroom with you.

“billy, I’m not feeling too good. I got my period, and i think it’s a pretty heavy flow, so I’m gonna go clean up, and you can wait in the living room, okay?” the instructions were quick, and you closed the door on his face. he didn’t get it. heavy flow? from where? what needed to be cleaned?

he stood outside the door for a moment, before quietly shuffling his way out of the bedroom and up the attic ladder. if you weren’t going to teach him, he’d figure it out. he wanted to know, especially if it involved you and pain. you didn’t deserve to be in pain. maybe something was wrong, maybe you were hiding a horrible illness from him. he needed to figure it out.

he quietly slinked across the room, finding the old peephole he used to use to watch you when you hadn’t known he was there yet. he laid down on the floor, peeking through into the washroom, just to find you… bloody. at first, his eye widened, panic setting in. but seeing you so nonchalant about it, simply starting the shower and going about what you’d normally do in the morning, it soothed him, and brought a knot to his stomach.

he hadn’t seen that shade of red in such a long time. the way it complimented your skin, and spread across your pussy, it made him ache. some had even spread to your inner thighs and back to your butt. when you bent over to reach the faucet, he got a good look. he whined low in his throat.

you must’ve heard something, because you straightened up and looked around the bathroom. he pulled his eye away for a moment, hiding, before peeking back inside. you had gone back to your business, now gathering up your clothes in your arms. he could see, from where he was, your bloodied panties laying in the heap you carried to the hamper. it made him drool. it was like watching someone throwing away a perfectly good cake.

well, you always told him not to be wasteful. he gathered himself up, shuffling back down the attic ladder, and sneaking without a sound to the bathroom door. he pressed his ear against it, listening to you pad over to the shower and step inside. once he heard the curtain close, he pushed the door open just a crack, making sure you had really gotten in. you had, and would be none the wiser to his schemes.

he pushed the door open more, now peeking inside just enough that he could get to the hamper that sat right beside it. there they were, right on top. your panties were bright red and still sticky from the bleeding throughout the night. he plucked them from their spot, and shut the door without a sound. he ran his way back up the stairs. this you heard, but assumed he was chasing claude or found something interesting to do while he waited for you.

you had no idea he was being vile. he had sat himself down on his old mattress, laying back and yanking his shirt up his chest, pulling his pants down to his thighs. his cock was already hard, and slapped against his stomach when he released it from his boxers. your panties found their way to his face, pressed hard to his nose and mouth.

billy felt disgusting. here he was, licking over the crotch of your underwear, sucking at the blood and juices you had left on it. it was sweet and salty, all at the same time. it felt like licking jam. he breathed in deep, moaning when a new type of musk hit his nose. he had never smelled blood like this before, never tasted something so good. maybe it was because it was yours. you were so much better than anything he had ever experienced, and this just further proved his point.

he choked his dick, stroking it hard and fast. he knew you’d be out of the shower soon, and once you’d gotten dressed you’d come to find him. he had to be quick. he knew this was wrong, but it only made it feel so much better. the idea of getting caught like this, while he looked like such a messy slut, it was nothing but invigorating to him. he was lucky the fabric was muffling his moans, or else you’d surely hear him through the noise of the shower.

he pumped up and down his cock, licking long stripes up your panties and gathering that taste onto his tongue. it made him whimper. “p-piggy blood… dirty piggy blood… sweet on billy’s tongue! like - fuck - like a candy… a treat for billy - such a good treat. billy’s been so good, deserves a treat - fuck- needs it - fuck!” he rambled, muffled, into your underwear as he fucked into his grip. his head rolled back, his back arching, and his eyes squeezing shut. he wished you were there, sitting down on his face, rubbing all of that red up and down his lips. he wanted the honey straight from the hive.

he pulled the fabric away from his mouth, licking his lips. the panties were soaking wet from his spit now. he used this to his advantage, wrapping the soiled underwear around his cock and beginning to stroke quick. he had to bite down on his fingers now, moaning and grinding up into his own grip. he squeezed it around himself, wishing it was you. he begged to the open air for you to let him cum, let him mix his fluids with yours. he wanted it so bad, he needed it. it had been so long, so so long-

he came with a cry, trembling against the mattress. his hand stilled and squeezed, milking out every last drop, and catching it all in your underwear. he stared down at the mess he made, his own cum mixing with the last bits of blood painting your panties. it made his breath catch in his throat.

“such a dirty billy… so- so dirty,” he muttered, proud of his work. after a moment of gathering himself up, he stood and made his way back to the ladder. he slid down it, walking back to the bathroom so he could return your underwear to its rightful place in the hamper.

just as he went to reach for the doorknob, the door itself swung open, and you stood wrapped in a towel, surprised to see him. what a sight it was. dried blood covered his mouth, and drool painted the front of his shirt. there in his hands were your messy underwear, clearly having been used by the man in front of you.

his face turned red. he was frozen. despite how much he enjoyed the feeling of being caught, this was a little different. he had already done the deed. what would you think? what would you say? he felt so naughty, he felt like such a bad boy.

you finally snapped out of it, grabbing your panties from him and plopping them in the hamper. “could’ve just told me you wanted to play,” you tutted. you dropped the towel, and his eyes dropped down along with it. he could already feel his stomach churning, and his cock beginning to ache with need. he looked back up at you, and you smirked, reaching a hand up so you could swipe some dried blood from his bottom lip with your thumb. “if it’s blood you want, there’s plenty more. c’mon, let’s go play.” you nodded towards the bedroom, walking over.

billy stood shocked for just a moment, before rushing after you. oh, how excited he was to have someone as disgusting as him.

[jakeyt]

Covet: Chapter 7 (Part 2) (Sneak Peek)

a/n: a little peek into the beginning of next chapter to tide you over as you wait for the rest of the chapter..... <3 (this is possibly the longest sneak peek i've posted yet...)

You were correct in assuming the boys would come in and take over the machine at the bowling alley; fingers flew over the touchscreen panel and ridiculous pictures were taken to accompany their player names.

Elsie only sat back and watched Josh in nothing short of amazement, laughing at every single thing he’d say or do. And he’d look back at her and send secret smiles, shooting winks and long glances when he wasn’t looking at the machine.

They were fucking adorable. 

But they could have the relationship. 

You weren’t interested in something like that. 

Though, you couldn’t help the way you watched Jake’s ass as he bent over the chair to put his name in, along with his own picture. His eyes crossed and tongue sticking out. 

You really couldn’t help the smirk and tiny giggle that bubbled out of you when he’d set it up. 

Also, his ass was looking fucking round and delicious in his jeans. 

Fuck. 

When he’d taken the initiative to get the guys’ shoes for them at the counter, you took the opportunity to do the same for your sister and you. 

This could be your chance to talk to him about rules.

Following behind him a few healthy steps, you saw him bent at the waist, arms crossed on the shoe counter as he talked to the girl working it. What was he doing? He was only up there to get fucking shoes.

Despite being annoyed, you did openly take the opportunity to admire his ass while you could. It was too tempting not to. Firm as hell, and poking out yet again from this position he was leaning into. 

You didn’t waste time, though, as you met him at the counter. There was shit to do and he was already taking too long.

You sidled up next to him, without another thought, as the girl across the counter continued to flirt openly with him.  

You rolled your eyes at her, glancing at him as he did the same back. He had a shit eating grin on his face the whole time, as if he knew she was lapping up every bit of it all. 

Stupid. You guys needed to get your shoes and get back to start the game. None of you had time for the little game he and this girl were playing. 

And she needed to focus on her job. 

“I need some shoes, too, if you don’t mind,” you butted in, pressing your arm into Jake’s. She looked annoyed, but you didn’t care. You were too. Looking down at your roommate, you narrowed your eyes at him. He was already looking at you, a raised brow and a smirk on his lips. Your panties got the slightest bit wet. Dumb. “Did you at least give her your fucking sizes?”

He rolled his eyes, but quickly changed his face to a knowing sort of thing that made you want to punch him and kiss him all at once. He uncrossed his arms from the counter, standing up to look down at you. 

“Yes,” he said, voice dripping with irritation, and a mix of something else you couldn’t put your finger to. “Would you like to give her yours, ma’am?” 

“Shut the fuck up, Jake,” you gritted in response. You looked back at her, as she continued to size Jake up. “Excuse me, I still need shoes. A woman’s size 6 and a size 8.”

And just as she begrudgingly left to get them all, you made eye contact with him again. He was already looking at you.

The apples of his cheeks were round with a big smile, pearly white teeth gleaming in the neon lighting of the place as he chuckled lowly. 

“What, Cheshire fucking Cat?” 

“You’re silly,” he said cutely. “And you’ve got a filthy fuckin’ mouth on you tonight, sweetheart.”

Sweetheart.

Your heart leapt at him calling you that. You really liked how it sounded when he called you pet names— like sweetheart and baby. . . It sounded so, so nice falling from his pretty lips. 

Blinking back at him, you refocused. “I’m silly? What the fuck does that mean?”

“You just are. It doesn’t have to mean anything. It’s cute. You’re cute,” he leaned his butt against the front of the counter, and he reached out to toy with the halter top you’d worn tonight. “And you look fucking sexy tonight. Why didn’t you stand closer to the stage for me to see you while I played?”

You flushed, and felt the slightest bit sad when he let his hand fall from your shirt to tuck back into his front pocket. 

“Wanted to show Elsie another vantage point of the show,” you replied, not wanting to tell him that you weren’t sure you could’ve handled being that close to him, watching him ruthlessly fuck his guitar. It would’ve made you fall victim to him before you were able to discuss your rules with him. “But that doesn’t matter. We need to talk about something.”

He let out a breath and then responded, “Well I know what this is going to be about,” he started, his eyes locking with yours. You lifted a brow, encouraging him to continue. “You don’t think us having sex is the best idea, hm? Can’t let yourself have too much of a good thing.”

Scoffing, you crossed your arms. 

You uncrossed them. 

Then, with a huff, you crossed them again. 

You were starting to realize when you did this, it made you feel guarded, emotions not on full display. Jake brought out so many different emotions in you— made you feel exposed. Crossing your arms to hide what pieces of yourself you could cover was all you could do. You just weren’t sure if it was healthy to constantly be on guard like you so often were. 

But it was just what you did. Especially with him.

“You think it’s that good?” You sassed, trying to disguise how wonderful you knew it to be, your pussy still in the slightest bit of pain from just how good he’d given it to you not even twenty-four hours ago. 

His eyes bore into yours, challenging you. “Oh, you’re saying it wasn’t?” He turned towards you. “Is that why I had to cover your mouth to keep you from getting all loud? You didn’t seem to think it was so bad when—.”

“Here are your shoes!” The girl was back, sliding all six pairs Jake’s way. You scooted yours and Elsie’s over to you, eying the girl and judging how she was holding eyes with Jake.

“These were mine,” you reminded as you held onto the backs of the shoes, clicking them against the counter.

As you went to hold them in your arms, you waited for her to look up at you. And when she threw you a disgusted glance, you didn’t let her look away, pinning her there. And as if on cue, customers were showing up behind you and Jake. 

“Better get to work,” you remarked at her, throwing a thumb back to point at the next people in line. You then tapped the other boys’ shoes to remind Jake to get them. He grabbed them just in time for you to take him by his sleeve. He chuckled under his breath as he let you drag the two of you over a few feet. 

Why was he laughing? 

You released him as soon as you were far enough away from the girl that she’d leave you alone. 

“You like her?” You questioned hotly (for literally no reason at all, really just genuine curiosity). “She definitely likes you.” 

“I don’t know,” he smirked, raising an eyebrow at you. “Why does it matter?”

“It doesn’t.”

“You’re the one who asked.”

“I just think it’s a good idea for you to be careful where you’re sticking your dick,” you chided, assuming to yourself that was the reason you asked in the first place. There was no other reason to care. “I’ll make you fucking wrap that shit.”

“I always do,” he challenged, stepping towards you a bit. It made your heart thump in your chest. 

“No you don’t,” you challenged back, crinkling a brow with a shake of your head. “You’ve never—.”

“Not with you I don't. Other girls, always. It’s fucking nasty not to,” he reasoned. His voice went impossibly lower, deeper with his next words. “I’ve never given a flying fuck about truly feeling the shape of a girl’s pussy until yours. I wasn’t going to miss out on that.”

Your cheeks heated, becoming red at his words. You could not be that special.

“That’s a fucking lie,” you hushed back, leveling with him. You pushed your chest out to fake a sort of sanity you were beginning to lack. “What about your ex-girlfrie—?”

“Nope,” he popped the ‘p’, his hand coming up to gently hold your bicep. His calloused thumb smoothed over your skin, drawing mindless shapes. You shivered. “Always used protection with her, too.”

You blinked. You were at a loss for words. 

His eyes scanned your body. The outfit of black skinny jeans that showcased your ass and your striped halter top that gave you incredible cleavage. He watched the curves of your breasts as your chest heaved at him watching you.

Your eyes floated to his lips, full and pink and kissable. Fuck. You just wanted to kiss him so bad.

It seemed he wanted it, too.

His were getting nearer and nearer to yours.

And you were leaning into it. . . So close to what you were learning was a constant craving.

“Y/n!” Elsie’s voice from across the way brought you out of your momentary daze. 

You shoved Jake back. 

Dammit, you hated being cut off from him like that. 

But you were currently way too close for outside onlookers. 

Your eyes were as wide as a deer in headlights as you scanned the alley for her. You’d lost your party entirely, your mind being wrapped up in only Jake for the past fifteen minutes. 

She whistled to gain your attention. And when you finally saw her, she was still on the bench from earlier, Josh right next to her. Their thighs were touching and his arm was over the back of her chair, facing away from you. 

Thank fuck. He hadn’t seen. 

But you had the sneakiest suspicion Elsie had seen too much. The quirk of her lips said so.

You could deal with her later.

“Shoooooes!” She sang, Josh harmonizing with her momentarily as if to mock. She giggled at him, shoving his shoulder. Now looking at him as she spoke, “I’m ready to kick Josh’s ass and I need my shoes to do it!” 

You looked back over at Jake for a split second, seeing the same disappointment in his eyes that you were feeling in the pit of your stomach. 

But you just couldn’t chance all of them seeing you two like that. 

You were still looking at him when you called back with a, “Coming!”

And as you walked back to your friends, Jake followed closely behind. You could feel him staring at your ass as you swayed it in front of him. With the smallest secret grin on your lips, you pressed the back of your hand to your cheeks to tame your blush.

The throbbing between your legs was begging for him. 

You had to get these stupid (albeit necessary) rules out of the way quick so you could sneak off and let him fuck you. 

-🌼🌼🌼-

“Ah! Another fucking strike!” Sammy punched the air in triumph, elbowing Danny in the side. “Try to beat my fuckin’ score, Daniel! Betcha can’t.” 

The four of you that sat back at the booth to watch applauded Sam’s score, but urged Danny on to “kick his ass, Danny!”

“Don’t let him have the upper hand,” you shouted at Daniel, who sent a wink back at you. 

And as Danny took his first shot, you heard Jake pipe up from across the table. “Who wants something to drink? Or maybe some fuckin’ chicken tenders or something. ‘M starving.”

Everyone yelled back “me!” except for you, who watched him lazily from your side of the booth. You’d been admiring him any chance you’d gotten from your spot all evening. He was sitting next to Josh and you were next to Elsie. Perfect view of him across the booth.

“Jacob, I volunteer you to get the booze and food,” Josh decided, clapping a hand against Jake’s shoulder. “I’ll play in your spot while you’re gone. We’re basically the same person, so it counts.”

Elsie joined in with her own two cents. “And I think you should help him carry it all back, sis, so I don’t let Josh get the upper hand with too much playing.” She added, “Let me play for you, too, and I’ll stay on the same page as him. Keep things fair.”

They laughed with each other like two little obnoxious love birds. And you couldn’t even care about it as you met eyes with your roommate, a glint in his eye at the prospect of you two escaping. 

He got out, and you watched his body unfold, and then as he stretched from sitting. You averted your gaze when you heard the telling sign of a strike, and the sounds of Danny rubbing it in Sammy’s face.

“Sure,” you replied, trying to act irritated that she was making you leave. When you were actually anything but. She looked at Jake, then back at you, throwing you a wiggle of her brows as you got out. Bitch knew what she was doing. 

Jake waited for you, and you quickly joined him in walking to the bar. 

---

a/n: i'm sorry to make us all wait on this update 😩 this chapter is important, so i am taking my time in writing it. i'm also in the process of writing a couple of other fics, as well as battling extreme fatigue when i get home from teaching all day (beginning of the year tiredness is the worst).

please send in any and all thoughts you have!! what are you looking forward to most as of now? what do you hope happens? what do you think is going to happen for our beloved y/n and Jake??? love you guys so much <3

[cssns]

Let's welcome @belovedcreation back for CSSNS24!

Your Tumblr and other applicable names

BelovedCreation - aka Heather

How long have you been a part of the CS/OUAT fandom?

Watched the show premiere with bated breath! Watched the first six seasons, but never finished seven.

When did you start shipping Captain Swan?

Oh man, I remember watching and re-watching Tallahassee and being OBSESSED with these two potential love interests (both Hook and Neal) but I honestly think it took the first kiss in Good Form before I set my heart on CS and it hasn't strayed since!

What drew you to this event?

I used to participate in CS fandom events during my first foray in the fandom but nothing official like this - having gotten back in a few months ago, I'm excited to be a part of an event and share a story with the fandom!

What inspired your topic?

My fic was inspired by the prompt: what if you adopted a huge mutt from the pound and later you found out it was a werewolf who was staying in canid form. and what's more fucked up is that you already love your dog and you've had them for a while when you find out he's been just some guy. what then

If you would like to share a snippet/sneak peek/summary of your fic or artwork, please use the space below.

When bounty hunter Emma Swan gets beaten up by a bounty, her friend convinces her to adopt a guard dog from the bound. Unbeknownst to her, she adopts Killian Jones, a werewolf who's staying in canid form to lie low for a while. Their bond only gets stronger when Killian's troubles in the supernatural world come knocking on Emma's door. Together they must figure out how to save not only Killian, but all of Storybrooke, from a werewolf pack hell-bent on power and destruction.

What are you looking forward to most about participating in this event?

Just the sense of connection to others and seeing what others come up with!

I can't wait to see what @belovedcreation has in store for us! Make sure to catch her story dropping on August 6th!

[knightpetrichor]

I'm Craving Open Air and Solid Ground

atsushi & kunikida centric (platonic), canon divergent

sneak peek of the current fic i'm writing!! inspired by a post i just made (the brainworms took over😔) it's an AU where atsushi managed to leave the orphanage earlier and ends up being taken in by kunikida, a 16-year-old runaway. this is the first fic ive written that's going to be 1k+ words (though this little snippet is around 800) & will probably have a sequel :D i'm posting the full thing next week! also, if anyone guesses what book nana is a reference to, u get a cookie

When Kunikida turns sixteen, despite his situation, he has a few things going for him.

He's found a place to stay, for one. The man who owns it is always wreathed in cigarette smoke, but he hadn't asked for any identification; just gave Kunikida the room and asked him to keep the noise down. It was why he'd come to the sketchier part of Yokohama—here, no one bothered to check his identity. No one wondered why he was all alone. He was free.

And wasn't that a thought?

When he'd first ran away, a year back, Kunikida hadn't been nervous about them finding him. Hell, his parents had kicked him out of their house. They wouldn't look for him—nobody would. Surviving on the streets hadn't fazed him much either.

(Everyone around him had wondered why he'd gotten into so many fights, why someone as smart and obedient as him was beating bullies into the dirt, and he didn't know how to explain that liking authority and liking order were different things, and protecting people was more important than any symbol of power.)

He was good at surviving on his own. His scabbed-over knuckles and torn jacket were proof of that. It was why, when he walked down the dirty back alleys, he wasn't worried about getting jumped.

Kunikida wasn't an idiot. He knew this part of Yokohama was notorious for its gangs, and the Port Mafia's shadow loomed above them all, from the weakest child to the most hardened criminal. These passages, built from crumbled brick and cardboard, were prime spots to be targeted. But it was mid-afternoon, and the Port Mafia usually left him alone, so he continued walking. Besides, the cats would want to see him.

Shards of glass crunched under tall combat boots as he walked, and the scent of mold filled the air as he walked under tall buildings, awnings blocking the sun, but he didn't mind; he's walked this path so many times he could do it in the dead of night, with only the light of a cigarette flickering against brick walls to illuminate the way, and only the squeaking of rats to keep him company.

Something moved in the dimness to his right. Kunikida glanced in that direction, but didn't change his posture. It was one of the cats: Nana. There were many cats that lived in this alley, shielded from the elements, but Nana was his favorite. He was the first to approach Kunikida, those few months back. It had been injured by a car and crawled its way into a cardboard box in this very alleyway. Kunikida had cleaned it up, and just like that, he'd had a new friend. It was named Nana, nine in Japanese, after the shape of its tail, which was bent at the top, like the Japanese kanji. Checking in on the alley cats had quickly become a new part of his schedule, something that he followed religiously. (Kunikida doesn't like obeying, doesn't like obedience, but this isn't the result of some authority figure pushing their judgment onto him; he trusts himself more than he does one of those, anyway.)

It crept out of its box, slinking closer.

Kunikida holds out a piece of tuna—the remnants of his last dinner, two days before. "Hello, there."

The alleyway was silent save for the quiet sounds of a tail swishing. 

He reaches out a hand and waits. Nana inches forward—tentative, like a rat crawling out of a hole. It presses its face into his hand.

Kunikida smiles faintly. "You're a strange one, aren't you?"

The cat peers up at him—

And something moves out of the corner of his eye. Nana jumps up and leaves quickly, dashing for the exit.

Kunikida spins around, suddenly anxious, hands raised. It wasn't the first time he'd needed to fight someone in an alleyway—and then he pauses.

There was someone in the box behind him. A child, to be specific.

Its eyes remind him of the cat he had just been petting. Eyes that currently stare up at him from a hollowed face, painted with terror.

Kunikida frowns down at him—he has a clear enough view to assume that it's a him. "Hello? What are you doing here? A bit too young to be out on your own, don't you think?"

That was probably a little hypocritical. But, this child was even younger than he was, and obviously didn't know how to fend for himself. If Kunikida had to guess, he'd say he was around 10 or so.

Still, it is a child. A clearly starving child who might need his help. So he crouches down at eye level, softening his voice—as much as he knows how to—and says, "I don't have any real food with me, just raw tuna, but there's a restaurant near here. Would you like something to eat?"

Again, the kid doesn't speak, just stares up at Kunikida with those large, unblinking eyes. He suppresses a sigh.

And then—slowly, like someone might hurt him if he moved too fast—the kid gives a silent nod.

Kunikida gets up with a huff. "Well then? Follow me."

He does.

[salllzy]

Sneak peek #3

But for the longest time, it had only been the pair of them, when they had been human and then in Hell. Neither of them was good at connecting with others, there were a few exceptions here and there, but when it came to dating and courting? Well, neither of them was any good at it. Alastor had never allowed anyone to get that close, to do so would mean that he had a weakness. His daughter wasn't a weakness, far from it. If anyone was foolish enough to cross her? Then they would do so at their own peril. That didn't mean that he wouldn't protect her, he would. With his life should the need arise. But she wasn’t a small child who would toddle around following his every footstep, she had power of her own and was dangerous in her own right. Pretending otherwise would be an insult. But she would always be his daughter, regardless of how old she got. That would never change. He bent down and placed a kiss on her forehead, he knew that it would be some time before she awoke. “Sweet dream my fawn.” Alastor disappeared into the shadows, the moment he left red eyes cracked open slightly, and a smirk curled upon cherry-red lips as the occupant of the bed disappeared in a swirl of petals. 

[sincerelyjxyy]

Gold Rush - Five

Invisible String - Gold Rush

Chapter Five - The World Is Cruel, I Won't Be

Song Of The Chapter - Bad Taste by Van Dyke Brown

✧ i looked at you, and i just love you, and it terrifies me. it terrifies me what i would do for you. — alexandria bracken, never fade ✧

Summary: Plans to lay low at the Boneyard don't go according to plan.

Word Count: 6.8k

Gold Rush Masterlist

JOHN B, JOSIE, AND JJ CROUCHED OUTSIDE THE BUSH-COVERED FENCE OF JOSIE'S HOUSE. The teens watched as her mother sternly fussed at someone on the porch, arms waving around animatedly as she sternly berated the poor clean-up employee. Josie had already witnessed her mother's unassuming demeanor that morning, and she would do everything she could to avoid encountering it again.

Petunia Shoupe's hair was pulled up and pinned neatly, red hair so slicked back that not one strand was misplaced. Her attire of a black pencil skirt and the blouse-blazer combo had Josie concluding that her mother had, at some point, finished a meeting with a client. Which meant that her wrath would be a hundred times more cruel if Josie was to be caught.

"Can't believe we're doing this," JJ hissed excitedly. His voice drifted against the shell of her ear, accompanied by a slight breeze, and Josie rolled her eyes through a scoff.

Her gaze drifted around the house for any sign of something she could use as a distraction. Cory was nowhere to be found, thankfully, and most of the crew wandering about the house didn't seem to take notice of the teens. Or maybe they didn't care.

Either way, Josie was grateful that none of them drew attention to her.

"God, your mom's hot when she's mad," John B mumbled, and JJ hummed in agreement. The statement caused another scoff to leave Josie's lips, and she smacked both boys' shoulders as she shivered with disgust.

Her eyes surveyed the yard, and she noticed her younger sister spinning on the tire swing, her face flat with boredom. The teen smirked and motioned for the two boys to follow as she moved further down along the fence. Once she found a spot close enough to the younger girl, she bent down to grab a stray pinecone and peeked over the fence.

Gently, she gave it her best toss in her sister's direction and hissed out a quick, "Naomi."

Naomi stopped her twisting to stare at her sister across the bush, obviously weirded out by her strange behavior. "What the hell are you doing?"

Josie quickly pressed her index finger to her lips, her eyes dancing back and forth between Petunia on the porch and her sister in front of her. Silently, she motioned with her finger to instruct Naomi to come outside the gate, before she ducked out of sight.

"So?" John B raised his brow in question, and Josie gave a nod of confirmation.

Within moments, Naomi made her way through the opening of the fence, head swiveling around to find where her sister had disappeared to. Her eyes widened as she took in the state of her sister and the boys accompanying her, and she smugly smirked as she approached them with her arms crossed.

"I thought Mom had a strict No Maybanks On The Premises rule?" Naomi's brows rose as she glanced at the blond boy.

Josie tried to ignore the guilty pang in her chest as she felt JJ tense beside her. "Look, Omi, I just need you to do one teeny-tiny little favor for me."

Naomi stayed silent, prompting Josie to continue. "We need to get into the basement, and obviously I can't let Mom see. So, I need you to be a distraction for about fifteen minutes. Please?" She pouted her lips and pressed her hands together, batting her eyelashes in a dramatic fashion.

Naomi chuckled and watched JJ, unbeknownst to Josie, practically melt at the display she put on. "So, let me double check. You want me to help the three of you sneak into our house, one of which is barred from even stepping on the law, and risk Mom laying the hammer down on both of us?" Naomi tsked in fake thought.

Josie rolled her eyes, scanning the area once more to make sure no one could see their exchange. "Okay, fine. What do you want?" She hissed impatiently.

John B's snort at Naomi's smartassery did not go unnoticed by his best friend, and she quickly reached over to elbow the brunette on her right as hard as she could in the stomach. He doubled over on the ground in his crouched position, a small groan leaving him as he clutched where she'd struck him.

"Seventy-five percent of your paychecks for the next two weeks, I get to take a shower first every night for the next month, and you drive me and Melanie to the movies on the twenty-sixth; we wanna go see The Grudge."

Josie's eyes narrowed, and she once again checked to make sure their mother was preoccupied. "Yes to the movies; I'll give you two weeks with the shower, and you get one week's paycheck. I have mouths to feed." She nodded toward JJ, who whipped his head to the side to look at her in clear offense.

Josie paid him no mind.

Naomi sarcastically sighed. "Fine, then I guess you won't mind if I just..." She opened her mouth, ready to call out for their mother, when Josie reached out to grip at her wrist. She pulled her down to a crouch with them, shoving her hand over Naomi's mouth.

Josie glared at her, but the thirteen-year-old shrugged and licked her sister's hand. "Fine, fine, okay. You can have my paychecks, but I'll only give you three weeks with the shower, no more." The elder girl slowly removed her hand from her sister, wiping it on the denim of her shorts once she was sure Naomi wouldn't scream.

Her sister nodded and stuck her own hand out in front of her. "A compromise, pleasure doing business with you. Ten minutes." The girls shook on it, and Josie watched as Naomi stood and jogged back through the gate.

Josie peeked back over the bushes as Naomi approached their mother in a faux panic. She tugged the woman by the elbow through the threshold of the door, and Josie slapped the arms of both boys. "It's go-time. Let's move."

The trio bent down as they ran as fast as they could through the opening of the fence, extra cautious navigating the surrounding yard. Josie led them around the side of the house, while also trying not to bother any of the cleaning crew. Simultaneously, she kept lookout for her mother's bald-headed boyfriend, just in case they needed a last-minute hiding plan.

They reached the basement cellar doors, and Josie silently instructed both boys to pull them apart. As they pulled the doors open, Josie's head whipped around to survey their surroundings. Once they were open, JJ motioned for her to enter first before they hastily followed her down.

She glanced around the basement, eyes flitting across old sports equipment and different containers full of childhood memorabilia, before finally falling on the wet-pantry addition. Hastily, she rushed toward the glass door and opened it for the duo to rush in. The boys shuffled in, and JJ looked up to take in the amount of alcohol lining the walls.

"JJ, c'mon. I can excuse the keg, but if anything is missing from the walls, it's my funeral," Josie sniped matter-of-factly.

JJ huffed and rolled his eyes, but nevertheless joined John B in lifting the keg from the corner of the room. They strained to swiftly carry it out, light arguments leaving their lips as John B hit the side of the doorway. Josie shut the door behind them and rushed past, sprinting up the stairs and out the doors to keep an eye out.

Her head swiveled from side-to-side, checking that the coast was clear, before waving her hand to signal that they could come out. She could feel herself growing antsy as the boys slowly made their way up the stairs.

"Hurry, while we're all still breathing."

"Don't rush us, woman. You aren't paying us enough to risk straining a muscle," JJ chided.

Josie rolled her eyes as she they climbed out fully, and she immediately shut the cellar doors behind them. "I'm not paying you anything."

"I know, but it helps that you're supplying the alcohol." He lifted the container in his grasp for emphasis, and Josie chortled as she passed him and tapped his back.

"Let's get out of here."

The group quickly exited the property through the gate once more. Josie waved toward the Twinkie parked further down the street, signaling to Pope that their plan had been met with success. He hopped out of the van to trade places with Josie, moving to help the boys carry the keg while she joined Kie in the back of the van.

The boys loaded the keg into the van, and Pope joined the girls in the back as the other two took their respective seats at the front. And after a brief moment of shared celebration at their victory, they were off.

John B stopped a few times at some stores for supplies, but it wasn't long before they'd arrived at the Boneyard. John B and JJ hauled the keg down the beach while Pope, Kiara, and Josie all carried the supplies they'd gathered for the kegger.

If there was one thing pogues could do at a moment's notice, it was throw a party.

As they set everything up, the group indulged themselves in a bit of fun before every other teen resident of the island showed up. Josie freely laughed as JJ shot beer into John B's eyes instead of his mouth, rolling her eyes at the stupidity of them both. She happily accepted the beer John B held out to her, clinking her cup with JJ's in cheers.

Soon enough, the beach was crawling with all different types of people from every corner of the island. Pogues, kooks, and tourons alike littered the Boneyard in an effort to make the most of their summers. On any other day, it was rare that most of them could even stand being in each other's presence.

Still, the hostility between the two sides of the island would always be present, even if it was pushed aside in an effort to have fun. John B would say the beach was like a three-layer burrito—the only place where any of them would be seen mixing.

Pogues: the chill ones who Josie knew the most, having gone to school with them for a few years and spending her voluntary time around them. Her identity by choice. Kooks: the ones Josie was forced to be around at any community gatherings or events her mother would drag her to. Her identity by birth.

And tourons: vacationers ripe for the picking, according to a certain Maybank boy.

Josie laughed as Kiara placed her pink sunglasses on JJ's face. Her smile brightened even more as he turned toward her and posed with a duck face, causing her laugh to build to the point where she bent over to clutch her stomach. He instructed her to get her Polaroid camera out, and she complied to take the photo.

Once it had printed, she handed it to JJ and humorously watched him dramatically shake the photo around. But her giggles were interrupted when she caught a glimpse of someone further away from their group.

"Max!"

Josie jumped from her spot without further acknowledgement to anyone, and she excitedly passed her friends to approach her smiling boyfriend. He chatted with some random kooks, smiling at the sound of her voice. Arms extended, he caught her in an embrace, spinning her around as she cautiously lifted her legs from the ground.

He laughed as he placed her safely back on the ground, keeping a casual hold on her waistline. "Hey you, where have you been all day? I went by your place earlier, but your mom said you'd left."

She chuckled and shook her head, throwing a thumb over her shoulder back toward her friends. "I was helping Kie with some cleanup. Aggie hit the Wreck pretty hard."

"Talk about irony," he jokingly quipped, smiling down at her. He stroked strands of hair behind her ear, before leaning down to kiss her forehead.

Josie smiled and leaned into his chest, her empty hand loosely placed on his side, and let his chin rest on her head as they embraced. While they hadn't exactly made up about their fight, Josie figured she wouldn't get any type of verbal apology. The hug was probably the closest thing to an I'm sorry she was getting.

So, she pushed her concerns to the side. She wasn't feeling up to rehashing anything of any real significance. Not when her chaotic day had finally seemed to plant its feet into a positive ending.

She smiled up at him and wrapped her arms around his torso, her beer cup still gripped tightly in her hand. "Would you like a drink, my handsome boy?"

He nodded through his chuckle and leaned down to rub his nose against hers, letting out a small hum of confirmation. Josie could've melted right there from how cute he was being, but she instead chose to curl further into him to push her lips up against his. She grinned as she heard the teases of random people surrounding them, raising her hand to cup his jaw as she held him closely.

Max tasted of mint and Cherry Chapstick—a taste that Josie had grown to enjoy with how much their lips usually found one another's. While the kisses weren't the fireworks she'd always envisioned growing up, it was still pleasant.

Most importantly, they were shared with the boy that she was falling in love with.

She grinned into the kiss even more as Max leaned his body fully into hers, putting Josie at a slight lean. She moved her other arm from around his torso to carefully wrap them both around his neck, and his grip on her waist tightened. He was the first to pull away from the kiss, placing his forehead against hers as he playfully squeezed her side.

"Alright, love birds; stop being disgusting and come have a drink." Josie turned at the sound of a laugh that accompanied the voice behind her, and she grinned at the sight of a smiling Kiara approaching them. Josie leaned the side of her head on Max's chest, smiling when she felt a chuckle leave his body.

"Hey, Kiara."

"Hey, Maximus. Looking rather fit, aren't you?" Kiara winked at Josie, who responded with an eye-roll at the obvious attempt to embarrass her.

Josie had fawned multiple times to Kiara about how much she thought Max was built like a Greek demigod. She may have also told her that his abs were so hot that she sometimes had to stop herself from fully licking him head to toe. She really hoped Kiara wouldn't bring that up.

"Well, walking the course for hours at a time and running up-and-down the field for ninety minutes will do that to you," Max joked, absentmindedly stroking Josie's waist.

As Josie looked up at him, she admired the interaction he shared with her friend. Kiara made another joke, and Josie couldn't help but swoon at the pleasant smile on Max's face. It was encouraging to see that there was no bad blood with Kie. The fact that he could be civil, for her sake, was very comforting. It made her so appreciative and proud of her boyfriend. He seemed to be actively trying, and that was enough for Josie.

"What do you say we go get that drink, huh, gorgeous?" Max directed the question down at her, brown eyes dazzling in the setting sun.

Josie nodded, glancing back at Kiara, who smirked at her red-haired friend behind her cup. The brunette motioned back toward the keg, turning to walk back to the spot she'd left.

Josie moved to wrap her left arm around Max's back, rubbing her across his shirt in a comforting motion. He threw his right arm around her shoulder to pull her into his side. As they walked, Max took it upon himself to place a loving kiss on the crown of her head. Josie looked up at him, eyes full of content, and squeezed his side as they made their way toward the rest of her friends.

They approached the keg, where John B poured drinks for some tourons. Josie smiled as she caught his eyes, raising her cup at him in a pleasured greeting. However, her eyes narrowed once she registered the look he shot at the both of them. She silently tried to demand that he at least be civil toward her boyfriend.

Of course, it wasn't a secret that he and JJ held the most contempt for kooks. It was also no surprise that they would then have an intense distaste for the one she'd decided to date.

Josie plastered a smile back onto her face, still under Max's arm, as she motioned toward the keg. "Hello, good sir. I'd like a cup of your finest, please." She tried to keep the air light—to keep the tension between the boys at bay.

But it was clear by the way John B was staring at Max and the arm over her shoulder that he wasn't going to play along. "What's the password?"

Josie tilted her head as she pursed her lips, blankly staring at John B. Her gaze slowly formed into a glare as her friend's eyes never wavered from the boy attached to her. Max looked down at her, equally annoyed, but refraining for her sake.

Josie shook her head and removed his arm from its position, choosing to take his hand and squeeze it as she turned to face him. "I'll handle it. Let me talk to him."

Max nodded, and he moved a hand to cradle the back of her neck. He leaned down once again, his lips meeting hers in a rather heated kiss for a simple parting gesture. She figured he was doing it to show off, and she inwardly rolled her eyes.

The idiocy of men.

They parted, and Josie couldn't help the giggle that slipped from her lips at the sight of her boyfriend's plump lips. She leaned up to wipe the gloss that had transferred from her lips and patted his cheek good-naturedly.

Max's gaze momentarily drifted to something behind John B, before he scoffed and brought his eyes back to Josie. "Might want to talk to that one too." He lazily motioned his head toward a group of people gathered a little way behind John B.

Josie could make out the familiar tussle of blond hair anywhere, and she took notice of the glare he shot at the both of them. His fists were clenched at his sides, a clear sign that he was uncomfortable with the kook's proximity to Josie.

Max squeezed her hand, shooting a look at John B, before he turned to join a humored Kiara. Once Josie was sure that he'd found his way to Kie, she turned back to her best friend with her hands on her hips and an unimpressed glare. "Could you not be an asshole for, like, five minutes?"

John B shrugged as if he didn't do anything wrong, and she huffed. She was quickly growing frustrated with the sheer impertinence of the boy in front of her.

But despite their argument, John B still grabbed a cup to fill for her. "You wanna talk about assholes; talk about the one you brought to the party."

Josie scoffed and annoyedly glared at his set jaw. She glanced over to where Pope had joined Kie and Max, and her shoulders shrank with relief at the fact that another one of her friends was willing to try with him. But she also noticed JJ standing a few yards away in a group of teens, harsh stare unmoving from her boyfriend.

"Look..." Josie sighed and moved toward John B. "I know you and JJ are just trying to look out for me; I get it. But despite what the two of you may believe, I'm a big girl who can take care of herself, okay?" She gently took the beer cup from his outstretched hand, gazing up at him softly.

"I think I might be in love with him, John B. And the most important thing to me right now is that you can at least try to get along with each other. He's my boyfriend; you're my best friends." She paused, her voice light. "Please, just try. For me?"

John B glanced back at JJ, who looked at the both of them puzzledly. The brunette's gaze turned up to the sky, and he sighed as his eyes shut. "Fine, okay. If you're actually in love with him or something, I'll do it." He pointed a finger at her. "But only for you. Don't let him think for one second that I'm doing this because I'm cool with him."

Josie nodded excitedly as she pulled him into a one-armed hug—the best she could muster with two beer cups in her grasp. She pulled away and grinned at him, relieved that he'd be willing to do that for her. She felt like a giant mass of bricks had been taken off her chest. It was the best start she could get.

"Talk to JJ too, would you?"

His answer was silent as he shot her a thumbs up while she walked backward toward her boyfriend, and she smiled at him gratefully. When she turned around, she could hear him call out from behind her. "The password was douchebag, by the way!"

Without turning to look back at him, she flipped him off.

A short while later, Josie and Max leaned against a tree as they chatted with a group of peers. They laughed at a soccer story Max told, when Josie felt a hand grab her elbow.

She turned to meet Kie, anger and annoyance emitting from every part of the youngest pogue's body. "You'll never guess who just turned up."

Josie tilted her head in confusion, turning to fully face her best friend. Max wrapped his arms around her chest from behind and pulled the redhead close as she spoke. "Who? Don't tell me Topper Thornton is here."

She felt a chuckle from behind her, and she squeezed Max's arm apologetically as she glanced up at him.

Max had made friends with Topper shortly after moving to Kildare, much to Josie's chagrin. She knew that Max had always felt divided between them due to their rivalry. But it was no secret that Topper was one of the very few on Josie's list.

In the fourth grade, Topper Thornton had spat out a piece of gum from the top of the school playset and onto Josie's head, causing it to get stuck in her hair. He'd laughed so hard that she'd cried and hid under the slide until recess was over. When the teacher saw the state of her, she'd been sent to the principal's office, and they'd called her parents.

When her aunt had arrived to pick her up, she'd grimaced upon seeing the crying nine-year-old with bright blue gum stuck in the strands of her hair. She'd taken the girl from school and out for ice cream, before she eventually brought her home to try and wash the gum from her hair.

But in the end, nothing could get the gum out of her hair.

Nine-year-old Josie had violently sobbed into her aunt's arms as a hairdresser cut Josie's hair into an awkward bowl cut. It'd been the only solution, as the gum was too high on her head to just snip a little off. For months after, Josie had to succumb herself to the laughter of almost everyone at school calling her coconut head, started by the Thornton boy, because of her resemblance to the television character.

So yes, she heavily resented Topper Thornton.

Kiara huffed. "Yes, but it gets worse. Sarah Cameron is here with him."

Josie grimaced and leaned back into her boyfriend's embrace. "What? Why the hell would she be here?"

Sarah Cameron was, arguably, just as bad as Topper. Only she hid her evilness behind fake smiles and promises she couldn't keep. She'd been the girls' best friend a couple of years prior. Josie and Kiara had started their sophomore year of high school together at Kildare Academy, aka Kook Academy, and made friends with Sarah Cameron rather quickly.

But, kooks will be kooks, and it eventually became apparent that Sarah Cameron was a liar and selfish bitch who couldn't keep any friends to save her life—go figure. While Kiara was the one between the two of them who held way more resentment toward the Cameron girl, Josie was particularly fond of her by any means.

She listened as Max spoke from behind her, leaning against his shoulder to look up at him. "Well, they're dating, so it makes sense that they're here together."

"They're dating?" The question escaped both girls as they shared a look of utter disgust. The idea that both of their mortal enemies were together was ironic, pathetic, and so very appalling.

Evil attracts evil, Josie presumed.

To take her friend's mind off of their unfortunate circumstance, Josie took it upon herself to detach from Max and place her cup on a stray log. She grabbed Kiara's hands, jumping up and down and giggling as she playfully tugged at Kiara, who pretended to hate Josie's dance moves.

But, sooner rather than later, Kiara joined in.

After a bit of their silly dancing and terrible singing, Kiara excused herself to go find Pope and complain some more. Josie laughed as she bid her goodbye, before curling up closer to Max as they trekked down the beach to take a walk together.

They shared laughter and smiles as they explored the beach, pointing out the beached jellyfish and searching for rocks to put into Max's rock tumbler. Josie picked out a few shells from the shore, gushing about a blue one that she said matched the color Max's shirt. They splashed around in the ankle-high water, playfully doing their best to splash each other without getting drenched.

Soon enough, the night sky blanketed the Boneyard; the moon, a washed-up buoy, and the small fire people gathered around being their only sources of light. The night had become dark enough to mask the stares that a certain blond boy had been throwing at the couple all night.

The couple made their way back to the tree they'd claimed as their own, giggling as they cuddled up to each other with Max leaned back against it. She embraced the smile that spread across her face as she leaned back into him, her hand gently rubbing the knee he bent next to her.

They sat there for a while, letting Josie people-watch as everyone conversed on the beach. She'd seen Pope talking a girl, giggling at how that must've been going for him. She had a nice laugh when he rubbed his palms on his shorts out of nerves, pursing her lips at his endearing behavior.

Josie smiled at Max, nudging his straightened knee with hers once she realized his mind was elsewhere. He stared down at the sand, fingers letting it filter through them, before picking more up and repeating. A telltale sign that someone was deep in their own thoughts.

He jumped at her nudge, and he looked down at her as if he was surprised she was still there with him. She leaned back into his shoulder, and her green eyes lovingly searched his brown ones. "Where'd you go?"

"Just thinking," he promised, laying a soft kiss in between her brows.

She scrunched her face and stilled the hand that rubbed his knee. She smiled up at him, before removing that same hand to dig around in her shorts' pocket for the change she'd gotten after paying for the solo cups. She pulled out a copper coin and held it out in front of them.

"Penny for your thoughts?"

He laughed and plucked the penny from her fingers, flipping it in his palm. "Thinking about us."

Josie's eyebrows furrowed in concern, and she pressed herself back further into his chest. She placed her hand on his jaw to draw his focus back down to her and smiled reassuringly. "Good things, I hope."

He gently removed her hand from his face, opting to watch the waves crash along the shore. The silence that came from him was not soothing in the slightest, and Josie tensed as she tried to figure out his thoughts. They'd been having a perfect night, aside from the John B mishap, and yet she couldn't seem to read him.

"What's going on?" She tried to sound as understanding as possible, but a part of her felt helpless as she searched her mind for what she could've done.

Her thoughts were slightly eased when he grabbed her right hand and pulled it to his lips, kissing her knuckles before moving to play with her fingers. He tangled and then untangled them from his own, before repeating the action over and over.

He sighed and looked down at their hands before glancing back down at her. "Have you thought about what I asked?"

Josie bitterly sighed. Obviously, that's what he was thinking about. It was all he thought about recently.

She pushed herself forward to sit up from him, scoffing in disbelief as she glared at him over her shoulder. She rested an elbow on her knee as she ran a hand through her hair and looked around to ignore his pressing stare.

"What, Josephine?"

"You're really gonna ask me that right now? Is that really all you're worried about; when I'm gonna put out for you?"

He continued to look at her expectantly, shoulders pressed to his ears and hands out in a questioning gesture. As if he didn't know what she wanted him to say.

She didn't know what she wanted him to say either, but it wasn't that. She rolled her eyes and pushed up from the sand to walk away. But he was quick to grab her wrist, standing up with her. "Why are you doing this?"

"No, why are you doing this, Max?" Josie fiercely ripped her wrist from his grip. She whirled to face him as she poked her index finger into his chest. "We were having such a good night. Why do you have to ruin it with this?"

Max seemingly ignored the desperation in his voice. Scoffing, he looked around in confusion, clueless as to why she would be upset by his question. "You're the one who asked!"

It wasn't that she didn't want to have sex with him, or that she was even bothered that he'd asked. She was a teen girl who also went through puberty; she had desires too. But she'd explained to him before that she needed time to get comfortable with the actual decision. She wanted to be a hundred percent sure that the time was right.

Why couldn't he respect that and just enjoy being with her in the meantime?

Josie went to spit out another remark, but she was stopped when a different commotion came from a short way down the beach. It seemed like a group had congregated on the other side of the fire pit, and Josie turned to squint through the darkness. She faintly made out a brunette boy sporting a backwards cap shoving an obnoxious blond.

Once she caught a clear sight of Pope scolding him, she raced down the sand without another look to her boyfriend.

She was halfway there when she saw the punch that Topper landed on her friend's face, and she ran faster toward them as she called out John B's name. JJ lunged as the Thornton boy's fist connected, but Josie was quick to wrap her arms around him from behind. "JJ, don't!"

Pope helped push JJ as Josie tugged him backward, before the blond eventually tapped Josie's arm to indicate surrender. Once she was sure Pope occupied him, she joined Kiara as they watched John B rise from the water.

"What's going on?" Josie frantically looked at the boy in the water. "John B!" The redhead's fraught gaze jumped from Kiara back to her friend, before angrily setting on the blonde girl who was calling for her own boyfriend.

"Hey, John B, don't make me drown you like your old man, alright?"

Josie inhaled, jaw set, as she almost pounced toward Topper in a red-hot rage, but Kie stuck an arm out to stop her. Josie backed away slightly, her nails flying up to her mouth as she worriedly looked on.

Chants of fight, fight, fight came from everywhere, and Josie had to fight the urge to roll her eyes and yell at the stupidity of their peers. She watched despairingly and with bated breath as John B tackled Topper, crying out for him to stop.

Fighting in general was not safe, but fighting in the water was incredibly dangerous. It was just that easy for one of them to drown, and Josie wouldn't put it past Topper to actually try. JJ and Pope egged John B on as he and Topper moved to circle each other, and she shot a glare at the both of them, before turning to look at Kiara with wide eyes.

From the corner of her eyes, she could see Max silently approach the side of a chanting Kelce. She tried to shake off the extreme disappointment that consumed her, knowing that any truce she'd tried to instate between him and her friends was long gone.

The three girls continued to beg the boys to stop, but the words fell on deaf ears as they both threw punches into each other's sides and pushed one another around the makeshift circle. Anxious bile rose in Josie's throat as she grabbed Kiara's hand, sweat dripping down her back from the overwhelming concern she felt for John B.

"Oh my god, I can't watch." Josie lifted their joined hands to her face, closing her eyes and silently pleading for it to stop.

She listened as John B taunted Topper while the boys cheered him on, growing sick to her stomach at the thoughts of her best friend getting injured. She was almost positive she was going to throw up just hearing the oohs and uhhs of the crowd whenever someone threw a punch.

"Stop! John B!" Kie yelled, trying to get the boy's attention. At the same time, she was also trying to comfort the obviously distraught friend that gripped her hand. But John B ignored her, intent on showing Topper up in front of the Boneyard inhabitants.

Josie could only listen to her friend's loud taunts, and she tried not to imagine the bruising already forming on his face. But when she heard Sarah's distressed pleas and felt Kiara's grip tighten, she opened her eyes to see Topper shoving John B's face into the water and holding it there.

"Oh my fucking god, Topper, you dickhead!" Josie frantically glanced at the pogue boys, who stared in shock. "JJ, Pope, do something!"

"He's drowning him," Pope elucidated in the girls' direction.

Josie was beside herself as she watched one of her least favorite people try to drown one of her most favorite people. He couldn't—he wouldn't kill him. Right?

The redhead turned to focus her angry glare at a screaming Sarah, her gaze harsh as she spat out her words. "Hey, Cameron, you wanna get your psycho boyfriend under control?"

Sarah's eyes widened, but she didn't say anything as they all stared at the boys. Kiara rubbed Josie's shoulder to try and comfort her, but she felt sick just looking at the struggling John B. She turned to Pope and nodded firmly. "I'm gonna go out there."

But before she could resort to anything, JJ was stomping toward the duo in the water.

Josie watched with wide eyes as he placed the stolen gun against Topper's head. Her veins rushed with a chill, and she could feel the color drain from her face. She absolutely feared what could happen at any moment if JJ pulled that trigger.

"JJ!" Everyone began to shout for the blond boy, trying to settle him as he threatened the kook kneeling in the water.

Josie couldn't care less about Topper's safety, but she cared the most about JJJ's and John B's. "Put the gun down, JayJ."

JJ ignored them all. "Did you say somethin', princess?" He taunted Topper with the weapon pressed against the back of his head. Topper tried to reason with him as he let John B stumble away, refraining from any sudden movements that would lead JJ to shoot.

"Kie, Jose, can you check your psycho friend, please?" Sarah's exclamation was an obvious dig at what Josie had thrown at the girl earlier, which earned her a spiteful glare.

Josie sent JJ a desperate plea with her eyes, slowly holding her hand out as he fleetingly glanced at her. She motioned for him to leave Topper. Reluctantly, he pushed the kook's head away from the gun and started toward the rest of them.

"Okay, everyone, listen up!" JJ walked past his friends, yelling to address everyone on the beach, and raised the gun for emphasis. "Get the hell off our side of the island."

Bang. Bang.

It was immediate commotion as people shrieked at the loud shots JJ let out into the sky, moving to scramble away from the scene. Josie loudly gasped at the sound, and all three of the uninjured pogues rushed to push and scold him. Josie held down the arm that was holding the gun, pointing it to the ground to make sure he didn't accidentally fire it.

"Are you crazy? You idiot! Why would you do that?" Pope was absolutely frantic, placing his palms to his head in utter disbelief.

"I'm saving his life, okay?" JJ argued, looking back at John B, who was gathering his bearings. Josie huffed out in pure bewilderment, her grip on his bicep unrelenting.

"Stupid! You're gonna jeopardize everything!" Pope was freaking, rightfully so, as JJ kept motioning toward John B.

JJ looked down at Josie desperately. "You told me to do something!"

"I meant talk some sense into John B, or maybe pull Topper away from him. Not put a deadly weapon to the guy's head!" Josie scolded him incredulously. She lightly shook his arm to emphasize that he was, in fact, holding a deadly weapon.

Josie looked over her shoulder to find John B falling backwards into the water. Immediately, she released JJ's arm, leaving Kiara to angrily scold him. She called out John B's name and rushed into the water, yelling for Pope to help her as she lifted his head from being submerged.

She panicked at the sight of her unconscious friend, wrapping one of his arms around her shoulders. Pope guided the other one around his. They groaned as they lifted him, and she tried his name again to see if he would stir to walk. But he was out cold.

They stopped in front of JJ, and Josie looked at him in disbelief and shock as Kiara went off on him. "You wanna help save his life?" The brunette girl paused, marching to John B's unconscious form to dig through his pockets. She fished out the Twinkie key and threw it in the blond's direction.

His newly empty hands caught the keys as he stared at Josie. Desperation for her to understand him was evident in his glazed, blue eyes. But she just shook her head, tightening John B's arm around her neck as Kiara bitterly spoke.

"Go get the Twinkie running, so that we can take him home and make sure he's not dying."

⋄ ⋟⋆ june 18, 2020 #3

it was under the cover of the night sky that I watched loyalty in action. I couldn't see the swimming colors of his eyes, but I knew they were stinging with fear and stubbornness as he defended benevolence. I watched the world be cruel as evil tried to dwindle the light that shone across my tiny island, and I accepted the true nature of the world. that whilst I was cocooned in a blanket of love and protection, there was nothing that could protect us from falling victim to the world's wickedness. so as I watched loyalty pull the strings of my heart along with him while he faced wicked head on, I made a vow to myself. that because the world is cruel, I won't be. I will sing the words of comfort as I rip every patch of love from my own heart and attach them to the souls of those I love. I won't let us drown.

- josephine grey ⋄ ⋟⋆

[breaniebree]

Final 5 chapters SNEAK PEEK!

Chapter 37...

“No,” Sirius said.  “He’s not good enough for her.”

“Siri, are you ever going to find anyone good enough for her?”

“That’s not the point,” Sirius insisted, waving her off.  “She’s my daughter and I don’t like him.”

“It’s interesting that you celebrated sex with Harry and with Leo and yet even the thought of your daughter snogging a boy sends you through the roof,” Zee teased.

“I know it’s a double standard and all that, I’m aware,” Sirius growled.  “Stop pointing it out.”

Zee chuckled and climbed into her husband’s lap.  “She loves him, Sirius.”

“She’s seventeen, what does she know?”

“What did Harry and Ginny know?”

“They were different.”

"Mina knows her own heart, Sirius,” Zee began.  “Leo likes him.  They’re best friends.”

Sirius scoffed.  Leo and Grayson had become friends after meeting in the duelling club and despite being in separate houses had grown close when Leo had been in fifth year.  

“That’s worse!  It’s like breaking a code or something.”

“Aydin is Mina’s best friend.”

“Zee, stop pointing out all of the ways that I’m wrong,” Sirius demanded.

She grinned, sliding her fingers through his hair.  “But it’s so fun.”

“When did they grow up?”

“Too fast,” Zee agreed, pecking his lips.  “But they did.”

Chapter 38...

Ron finished up his paperwork and headed home.  He walked into the house in time for Hugo to run past him, covered from head to toe in something red and sparkly as Rose screamed at him to stay out of her room.

Ron caught his son around the waist, grimacing at the sheer amount of red sparkles covering his four-year-old.  

“Bloody hell, Hugo, what happened?”  Ron demanded.

“Rose threw them at me!”  Hugo cried, tears in his eyes.

“ROSE!”  Ron bellowed.

His six-year-old-daughter stuck her head out of her room.  “He was in my room, Daddy!”

“That’s not an excuse,” Ron said.  “Where did you even get this many red sparkles?”

Hermione appeared a moment later, looking slightly ragged as she held their eight-month-old-son Granger in her arms.  “Goodness!  I disappear for two minutes to change Granger’s nappy and all hell breaks loose.”

Hugo was crying and trying to wipe at his eyes which only made sparkles get in them.  Hermione passed Granger to Ron to take care of Hugo and Ron turned to glare at his daughter.

“Hugo looks up to you, Rosie.  He just wants to play with his big sister.”

“I told him to leave and he wouldn’t,” Rose said, tears in her eyes.  “So I threw my bag of glitter at him.  I didn’t know that it would open and go everywhere.”

Ron sighed and bent down to pull his crying daughter into his arms.  “All right, Rosie.  You apologize to your brother.  We don’t throw things, are we clear?”

“Yes,” she whispered, wiping at her tears.

It took Hermione over thirty minutes to get Hugo sparkle free and by the time they had dinner and got the kids to bed, Ron was exhausted.  He pulled Hermione down into his lap on the sofa and rested his beard against her neck.

“Bloody hell, I could sleep for a month.”

Hermione chuckled and ran her fingers through his hair.  “You and me both. 

Chapter 39...

Draco spotted Potter and his wife twirling around the dance floor both in burgundy robes and staring into each other’s eyes in a way that made him want to gag.  Yes, this place was definitely not for him.  He turned towards the food table and shoved a crab cake into his mouth before he turned and crashed into the person behind him.  His Prosecco splashed out of his glass onto her dress and his eyes widened in horror.  His eyes moved down the slim figure of the woman in a long black evening gown with a front slit and back up her waist to the high neck and sleeveless ensemble that was now damp on her chest and bare arms.  Elegantly alabaster arms, he noted. 

“Pardon me,” Draco exclaimed rather stiffly.  “I do beg your pardon.”  Then his eyes landed on her steely blue ones and a jolt of recognition shot through him.  “Astoria?” 

Astoria Greengrass looked absolutely stunning in a form fitting black gown.  Her black hair was long and straight and hung down her back in what looked like black silk.  She wore diamonds in her ears and on her wrists and Draco gaped at her like a fish out of water. 

“Malfoy,” Astoria said, shaking Prosecco off of her hand. 

“I apologize,” Draco said.  “I didn’t realize anyone was behind me… let me.”  

Half a second later, his wand had removed the mess, but not before he noticed the chill of the Prosecco had made her nipples pebble through her dress.  She gave him an annoyed look. 

“Thank you.” Astoria made to walk off and he reached out to touch her wrist, suddenly not wanting to be alone.  “Did you want to spill something else on me?” 

Draco removed his hand, his cheeks heating.  “No, and again, I sincerely apologize, I just… I’ve only been back in England a few months.”

“And you thought the best thing to do upon your return would be to throw a glass of Prosecco at me?  How charming.”

Chapter 40...

Theo was finishing up some case notes in his library when he heard a door slam followed by a very loud bellow of, “Uncle Theo!”

He frowned and stood up, moving out of the library to see who’s voice it was and his face brightened at the sight of his fifteen-year-old-godson Albus Potter marching towards him.

“Alby!  This is a nice surprise.”

Albus wrinkled his nose.  “Albus now, Uncle Theo.  Alby makes me feel like a kid.”

“Sorry,” Theo said with a smile.  “Hard to break the habit.  What can I do for you?”

Albus let out a long breath and shoved his hands in his pockets, the look on his face reminding Theo so much of a teenage Harry it startled him.  Albus really was the spitting image of his father minus the glasses.

“I need your help, but you have to promise that this stays between us.”

Theo lifted an eyebrow.  “You know my rules, unless it’s a matter of life or death anything you tell me stays between us.”

Albus nodded and shifted his shoulders.  “Can we go somewhere and talk alone?”

“Come on back into the library,” Theo said.  “Uncle Bas took Ben, Spence, and Sadie to a Quidditch match so we have the place to ourselves.  Do you want some tea or a snack?”

Albus shook his head, plopping himself down on the leather sofa in the library.  “No.  I just… I’m in trouble.”

Theo took a seat next to his godson.  “What kind of trouble?”

Chapter 41...

A red spark flashed on his desk with a soft ping so he touched his wand to it.  “Yes, Anita?”

“Your wife is here, Auror Potter,” Anita’s voice seemed to rise up from the spark.

A grin spread across his face.  “Send her in.”

Half a minute later, he saw his wife knocking her knuckles against his doorjamb, a picnic basket in her hand.  “Knock, knock.  I brought you some lunch.”

Harry beamed at her.  She looked gorgeous with her long red hair pulled back in a braid.  She was wearing black tights and a large purple jumper with her black cloak undone.  She had her winter boots on and a cute toque on her head with a purple pom.  Her pregnant belly was visible at five months and as always, Harry looked at his wife with complete awe.  Even after being married for almost twelve years, he still thought she was the most breathtaking woman he’d ever seen.

“Perfect surprise.”

He watched her close the door to his office.  She tapped the door with her wand, making his eyebrow rise before she came around his desk to straddle him; his eyes widened.  

Ginny linked her arms around his neck.  “Hi, Deputy Head Auror Potter.”

His lips curved.  “Hi, Mrs Potter.”

Ginny leaned in to nip at his bottom lip.  “I dropped the kids off at school and Mum has the twins.  I watched you leave today and I thought you’ve had this whole office to yourself for over a month now and I haven’t even popped by for a proper visit.”

“You’ve been busy,” he said, a soft moan escaping him when she planted an open-mouthed kiss on his throat.  “After everything that happened with Jamie and Alby and then the holiday and… Gin…”

She was sucking on the pulse in his neck in that perfect spot that always drove him mad and when she licked the mark to soothe it, his already interested cock sprang to full attention.

“All true,” she said.  “But a good wife should have made the time to come in, check it out, and more importantly,” she whispered, her hand sliding down to open the button his trousers.  “Make sure it’s properly christened.”

Harry’s eyes darkened.  “Gin… fuck, we can’t.”

Her brown eyes twinkled in mischief.  “Doors locked.  You’re on lunch.”

“That’s not…”

She pulled her jumper over her head and he licked his lips.  “You have an hour for lunch, right?”

He nodded, afraid to speak.  

Ginny opened her bra and his eyes immediately dropped down to take in her magnificent tits, big and round from pregnancy.  She took his hands and placed them overtop of them.

“Mmm, how many times can you make me come in an hour, Harry?”

Harry swallowed.  “Is there even anything in that picnic basket?”

Her brown eyes twinkled in mischief.  “Of course there is.  I just thought you might want to eat me first.”

Only 5 chapters left!

[deadgirlwalking91]

sneak peak - 'Thank You for the Venom', chapter 7 🎸 🗡️

Lute sighed, shaking her head as she frowned at him. “Once again, you stress how much you don’t want to sleep with me. I really must be repulsive if someone as desperate as you won’t touch me.” Accepting the glass of wine from the bartender, she chugged half of it in one gulp before setting it down on the counter. 

Clearly, she hadn’t looked in a mirror before leaving home tonight if she thought she looked repulsive. Still, Lute often spoke what was on her mind without consequence, and Adam was of the opinion that it was high time she learned when to keep that pretty little mouth of hers shut. Scooting his stool closer to her, he snaked an arm around her waist and bent his head so his mouth was mere inches away from her ear. He felt her jump slightly at his touch, and yet, she didn’t move to push him off her, rather tilting her head so he had better access to her.

“Are you telling me you want me to fuck you? Because babe, say the word, and I’ll throw you over my shoulder right now and take you back to my place.” His fingers curled into the curve of her waist, digging into the slinky material of her dress. Fucking hell, the thought of it was getting him excited.

Not that it would ever happen, given they weren’t exactly on the friendliest of terms at the best of times. But he’d settle for the fantasy of it all. Besides, the thought of potential hate-sex with Lute - no matter how slim his chances - was starting to turn him on. Big time.

***

It wouldn't be the weekend without a sneak peek of the next chapter of TYftV! Hope you're all excited for this one as I am.

[chiriwritesstuff]

The New Girl in Tinseltown - 3. Fake Smile Sneak Peek!

Doll has some explaining to do, but will people believe her lies? Chapter 3, 'Fake Smile' is out soon!

Sneak under the cut!

"Just because I live under a microscope doesn't mean I don't know how to keep things on the down low, Daisy. I can have a relationship and keep it secret from the world, celebrities do it all the time." "What I don't understand is if you were so hell-bent on keeping your relationship with Dieter under wraps in the first place, why have such a shitshow of a wedding?" Daisy challenges, throwing her phone on the workspace in front of you as she turns to look at you, an unimpressed look on her face. "Something doesn't add up." "What are you trying to say, Dais?" "I'm saying, you were seen sucking face with Adam Patterson at Sundance not even two weeks ago, so I think I'm trying to say that you're full of shit," she retorts, her eyes narrowed as she stares you down. "Excuse me?" "Don't play dumb, Doll. I know everything about your life, I'm your best friend, for fucks sake! If you were with Dieter Bravo, I would've known. I live right next door to you!" "Well, maybe I just wanted something that was mine, Daisy. Don't I deserve that?" She scoffs. "Does your sister know?" "Of course Alex knows, she's my sister!" you counter, hoping she doesn't catch the slight waver in your voice, your tell when you're not telling the whole truth. "BUT I'M YOUR BEST FRIEND! I COME FIRST!" "So that's what this is about, then? You're just pissed because you found out like everyone else on TMZ? I'm entitled to privacy, Daisy! I have secrets. I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but a relationship involves two people, and we both agreed to keep it quiet-" "Oh spare me with that self-righteous bullshit, Doll!" she spits, rising from her seat. "This isn't you! It's like I'm talking to a fucking stranger right now!"

Taglist:@yxtkiwiyxt @skysmiller @picketniffler @readingiskeepingmegoing @islacharlotte @drewharrisonwriter@missladym1981@amyispxnk@thespookywookies@stevie75@mysterious-moonstruck-musings@daydream-believer19@survivingandenduring@darkheartgatita

[orlissa]

Advent Calender prompt

Day 7: The Kitten Distribution System

To his slight chagrin and absolute amusement (she was adorable, really), Alina’s life was partially governed by a series of superstitions: don’t take out the trash after nightfall; have a red wallet; if, when leaving home, you turn back because you forgot something, sit down for a moment before stepping out of the door again.

She was also a staunch believer of the so-called Kitten Distribution System.

“I’d like to have a cat someday,” she told him one day when they discussed getting a pet not long after moving in together, “but I’d rather wait until the universe decides so and kitten shows up, basically going ‘yup, you’re my human.’”

It was adorable, of course, but having little faith in the powers of the universe himself, he was determined to either get a surprise puppy for her birthday or find a listing for an adoptable cat so cute she couldn’t say no.

At least he was until Christmas.

He made it his mission to make their shared home as festive as possible (“like Santa throw up here” was the turn of phrase Alina used when he presented his plans to her), because it was a matter of pride, and because he wanted to make up for everything she’d missed out on in her childhood while being bounced from foster home to foster home. This included a seven feet tall, magnificent Douglas Fir, which he chose, transported, and dragged into the house personally—the last of which necessitated the front door being wide open for a good ten minutes, which, in retrospect, was most likely when the crime happened.

Once the tree (following only a minimal amount of cursing) stood securely in its stand in the corner of the living room, he and Alina spent a pleasant afternoon decorating it—reminiscing about past Christmases, teasing each other, sharing mugs of hot chocolate fortified with rum, kissing, and eventually finding an acceptable esthetic balance for the tree between “catalog ready” and “family kitsch,” with the general color scheme leaning towards red, with bits and pieces of odd color all over it. Their hard work culminated when he turned on the lights.

“It’s beautiful,” Alina breathed, leaning to his side.

And it was, all lovely and festive and…

And it moved.

Not the whole tree, just a couple of branches at around the midpoint.

They looked at each other with palpable confusion and slight alarm. Alina frowned. “Please, tell me you didn’t choose a tree with a family of squirrels living it in.”

“I swear nothing lived in it when I brought it inside…” he said, about ninety-nine percent sure, as he took a step towards the tree. Whatever made the branches move—which, by the way, happened again—, it was a threat, and, as the man of the house, he was supposed to deal with it.

Even if it was a rabid squirrel hell-bent on revenge because Aleksander destroyed his home. 

He reached the tree, gently pushed the branches apart, peeked in, and… smiled.

Without a word, he beckoned Alina forward. Slightly apprehensive, she did so, leaning in—just as the tree let out a plaintive meow.

“Oh my god,” she whispered, reaching in between the branches and pulling out a tabby kitten so small it fit in the palm of her hand. She brought it to her chest, and the tiny trespasser started purring up a storm right away. “How did you get here, baby?”

“If I had to guess,” Aleksander started, holding a finger to the kitten. It sniffed at it, then raised its chin a bit, conceding to be scratched under it, “I’d say she sneaked in while the door was open.”

“The poor little thing. She surely doesn’t have a home and just wanted to be all snug and warm. She must be hungry.” As if to prove her point, the kitten meowed again. And with that Alina, without any further discussion, already started for the kitchen, but then stopped after two steps. “Do you know what it means?”

He blinked. “What does it mean?”

She flashed him a brilliant smile. “That the Kitten Distribution System is working.”

He let out a loud, heartfelt laugh. It seemed like they just got a cat.