#i have made some amazing friendships here and i hold them close..

[momijiba]

THANK YOU KAZUHA FOR BEING THE LITTLE MUSE THAT IS LIVING RENT FREE IN MY MIND 24/7!!!!

[reiding-writing]

macarons and misunderstandings [ s.r ]

Summary:

You coax Spencer into joining you in a bakery café that your friend recommended you to visit whilst on a case in NYC, and although it starts as two friends getting lunch together, it doesn’t end that way.

WARNINGS: minor swearing, wholesome miscommunication

pairing: spencer reid x gn!reader

genre: fluff, just the most sickeningly sweet wholesome fluff

wc: 3.4k

masterlist!!

a/n: rest assured, i will be returning to my comfort zone of hurt/comfort for my next fic bc i cannot write wholesome stuff for the life of me 😭

“Alright, take a break everyone, we’ll pick this back up after everyone’s had the chance to eat,” Hotch’s voice rings across the NYPD conference room alongside the closing of the file he was reading from, and he tucks the manilla folder under his arm as he stands. “I want you all back here by 1:30,”

There’s a small chain of nods and ‘yes sir’s before the team is rising from the table and grabbing their belongings to vacate the police station to go and get some lunch, and you manage to catch Spencer right before he leaves. “Hey Spence-”

“Hm? Yeah?” He does a full U-turn with his body, almost walking straight into you in the process if not for his hand still holding the door open to give him a point of balance, and you have to stifle a small smile that tries to break its way onto your face.

“You got any plans for lunch or can I effectively kidnap you for an hour?”

Spencer gives you slightly furrowed expression although doesn’t seem opposed to the idea. “I’m not sure that was the best way to word that but no I haven’t,”

“Yeah probably not-“ You let out a small breath that could almost constitute as a laugh. "Anyway, apparently there’s a really good french bakery like two blocks away from here, we should go check it out before Hotch changes his mind and decides we’re confined to the station,”

“Right… yeah uh-.” Spencer laughed softly, encouraging you out of the door ahead of him before following behind you. “A bakery sounds really nice actually,”

"My friend told me about it when she was down here for fashion week, she said it has some of the best pastries she’s ever tried," You emphasise the word ‘best’ with your hands, and Spencer’s eyes followed them as he got caught up in your enthusiasm.

One of your favourite things about your oddly-developed friendship with Spencer was that you could do things like take a trip to a bakery together without a single hint of awkwardness.

Long since had the silences between you held any unfamiliar tension or apprehension when it came to getting to know each other those five years ago.

It was comfortable. Secure. And you weren’t entirely sure it was just a ‘friendship’.

“Did she happen to mention what type of pastries they have?” Spencer asked you, his eyebrows raised with genuine curiosity.

"She specifically mentioned the almond croissants, although i’m also eager to try their lemon crêpes because they sound absolutely amazing," You continue to exaggerate what you’re saying with your hands as you push open the door of the Police Station, exiting into the cool autumnal breeze of the New York City streets.

Spencer followed closely behind you, nodding along to what you were saying as he placed his hands the pockets of his tattered trench coat. Although, he wasn’t entirely listening to the words leaving your mouth, too focused on how the autumn breeze blew your hair softly and how the partially concealed rays of sun made your eyes look like they they held all of the stars in the milky way.

"Ooh, and macarons-" You turn towards Spencer as your excitement about what pastries to get overtakes any lingering thoughts of the case you’re working on, gripping onto his sleeve with your left hand.

You were excited about the pastries; He was excited about the warmth of your hand through his sleeve.

“Macarons do sound good. You know what would go really well with them?” Spencer looked at you as he spoke, smiling like you’d ripped the sun from the sky and given it to him as a present. “Hot chocolate.”

"Oh you are so right-" You give an immediate sharp nod at Spencer’s suggestion, sliding down his arm to rest on the inside of his elbow, fingers pressed gently into the slight curve created from where his hands rested inside his pockets.

To the unassuming eye, the two of you most probably looked like a couple out on a date, your arms linked and Spencer looking at you like you were the only person in existence.

Spencer was very aware that the way you touched him made it look like you were in a relationship.

And it made him feel a little giddy.

He had to force himself back to reality. He wasn’t in a relationship with you. All he was doing was going out with you as a friend to grab some pastries for lunch. That’s it.

"Okay so we have definite yeses to macarons and hot chocolate, I feel like we’ve gotta get at least one almond croissant considering how much my friend was raving about them, anything else?"

“I don’t think I’ve ever had a crêpe before. Maybe we should try one of those?”

Spencer had a sudden urge to kiss you, and he didn’t really know why. Maybe it was gentle heat of your fingers against his arm. Maybe it was the light pink flush on your cheeks from the cold breeze. Maybe it was the fact that he’d been subconsciously pining after you for years to the point where he could barely think of anything else.

"Yes. Definitely. 100%." You give the inside of his elbow a small squeeze at the prospect of introducing him to the delicacy that is french crêpes. "I cannot let you live a life without crêpes in it."

Spencer nodded along arbitrarily, not listening to a single word that you just said as he internally imagined how it would feel to have your hands in his hair and your lips on his skin.

Why wasn’t he in a relationship with you? You were just… perfect, and he was really into you.

He felt like there had to be a reason why you weren’t together, but that train of thought made Spencer fluster to the point he was afraid you’d be able to see it if he thought about it any longer.

"Aha," You make an exclamation of victory as the bakery comes into view, pushing the door open with a soft bell chime and tugging Spencer inside with you with a gentle but excited insistence.

The bakery looked amazing, although much closer to a café. It had a small quaint European feel to it despite it being on a main Street in New York City, and surprisingly, it wasn’t that busy either. It was the exact type of bakery that Spencer had hoped it would be.

You scour the chalkboard menu for a second to make sure they actually had everything you wanted before going up to order, and Spencer noticed as your hand slid downwards to the inside of his wrist so that you could lean forward to see the chalk whilst still keeping yourself anchored to him.

He was definitely blushing now, his heart taunting him as it pounded against his chest.

Spencer wanted to ask you to kiss him, or at least hold his hand, but the thought of bringing attention to the unspoken connection the two of you had may ruin it stopped him from saying anything, not wanting to risk losing what he currently had in the very minor instance of gaining something more.

"You’re alright with sharing a croissant and a crêpe right? I figure it might be too much otherwise-"

Spencer nodded with a smile. “I don’t mind sharing a croissant and a crêpe with you.”

You give him a beamed smile and a nod as you leave his side to go and order, shutting down his offer to pay before he could even suggest it.

He subconsciously ran his fingers over his wrist as he waited for you, trying to compensate from the loss of your touch and the gentle warmth that accompanied it as he watched you engage in polite small talk with the cashier.

You looked so sweet. So perfect.

"let’s sit outside yeah? it’s a nice day," You retreat back towards him with a tray balanced in your hands, two mugs of hot chocolate joined with four coloured macarons and a single croissant and crêpe, carefully distributed to balance the weight as you carry it.

“Yeah, that sounds good,” Spencer nods at you softly, a wistful expression still on his face as he takes you by the elbow in order to help you carry the tray safely.

The reinstating of your previous contact brought a small flush back over his cheeks, and even through his hands were only brushing against the fabric of your shirt, it still felt oddly intimate.

The two of you walk over to a vacant table, set under a large parasol that casted the table in a comfortable shade.

Spencer took a seat across from you as you both sat down, separated by a small table in between the two of you.

Funny how a little table could do that.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

"Oh my god we are definitely coming back here next time we have a case down here-" You give a satisfied sigh as you wipe your fingers on a serviette, placing it inside your empty mug and pulling out your phone to check the time.

1:17.

You should get back to the station.

The thought of having to go back dampened your mood a little, and not just because it meant you now had to spend the rest of the day bent over a desk to curate a profile.

You really enjoyed spending time with Spencer like this, whether it be accompanying him to a new museum exhibit or driving him to buy his groceries so he wouldn’t have to sit behind the wheel.

It was a small highlight of your time not spent working, and you always found yourself disheartened when it was time to leave.

“We should definitely come back.” Spencer looked at you as he spoke, catching the mild change in your expression. “Are you okay?”

“Hm? Yeah- yeah i’m good,” You give him a nod and a reassuring smile as you stand from you seat with him following not long after you. “Just not exactly looking forward to going back to work,”

“Yeah I understand what you mean,” Spencer gives a small laugh, stuffing his hands back into his pockets again.

"We should do this more often you know,” You tilt your head slightly at him, the words leaving your mouth without any thought behind them. "I uh- enjoy spending time with you like this,"

“I enjoy spending time with you too,” Spencer smiled gently.

He looked at you, feeling a slight bit of courage at your confession of enjoying spending time with him one on one.

Come on Spencer, just ask them out already.

"I’m glad," You give Spencer a half-laugh, turning away from him slightly to hide the flushed nature of your cheeks from your embarrassment.

Spencer’s eyes studied you, and he felt like now might be the time. You two were still technically off work, you loved spending time together, and you’d just spent the last half an hour listening to him rant about the new book he was reading whilst the two of you drank hot chocolate and shared french pastries with each other.

You weren’t just friends. You were more than that.

At least he hoped so.

“Can I take you out… on a date?” Spencer’s voice was soft, but it carried confidence.

"A- date?" You stop walking in the middle of the street, your body re-directing any cognitive functioning to focus on computing Spencer’s question.

Spencer stopped as you did, eyes entirely trained on your expression. He couldn’t help but look at how beautiful you were right now. Your face painted with a blush and a mild look of confusion characterised through the slight furrow in your eyebrows.

“Y- yeah… do you want to go on a date with me?”

Of course it was okay if you didn’t. It wouldn’t hurt Spencer. He’d handle the rejection. Right?

"I- Yeah-" You nod quickly, a little too enthusiastically if you were to think about it logically. “Yes,”

"I’d love to go on a date with you-" You’re words are rushed and slightly muddled together as you hastily agree to his proposition, but they get the point across.

Spencer’s face lit up with a blush as you said yes.

That’s wonderful news.

A small grin spread across his face. “I’m glad…” The words slipped out without Spencer realising it, joined by a notable fluster.

He was glad.

He was absolutely thrilled about the fact you want to go on a date with him.

Spencer was so incredibly grateful that you said yes.

“Wouldn’t- I mean- We just like went out together and got food and talked and stuff- was that… a date?-“ You gesture your hand back to the bakery café the two of you had just left.

You weren’t exactly wrong, and he understood your confusion.

“I suppose it follows the motions of a date,” Spencer looked at you, overtaken by how perfectly ethereal you looked with the breeze fluttering against your shirt and a blush covering your cheeks.

“But an actual date would be much more romantic.” His words were confident, even if he was embarrassed that he was admitting to you just how much of a romantic he was underneath his façade of being uninterested in finding someone.

"So it wasn’t a date?” You raise an eyebrow slightly, fiddling with your sleeves. “Because I want to kiss you but if it wasn’t a date then I can’t because you can’t kiss someone without going on a date with them first because it breaks date etiquette-”

Spencer’s eyes widened as he listened to you ramble without taking a single breath. You wanted to kiss him?

You wanted to kiss him.

You wanted to kiss him.

Spencer was trying to keep his emotions in check as he stared at you. Your words made him tingle with excitement. “Um… you can- still kiss me if you want…?”

You shake your head with determination. “You can’t kiss someone before you’ve been on a date with them,”

Spencer looked so utterly confused.

So, you didn’t want to kiss him?

He wanted to kiss you.

“Why not? Your logic makes no sense. Why can’t kiss me?” Spencer was so utterly confused, his eyebrows knitted in a way that made you want to plant your lips between them as he tried to understand what your issue was.

"My logic makes complete sense-" You cross your arms over your chest as you gesture for the two of you to keep walking with a nod of your head.

"Everybody knows that you never kiss somebody until the end of the first date, it curses your whole future relationship otherwise,"

Spencer couldn’t help but stare at you blankly.

What he heard you say was wrong. Really wrong.

You should kiss someone whenever you want to kiss someone. Especially if they’re your crush.

But you were adamant you couldn’t kiss Spencer because of this stupid arbitrary rule.

"Well, if you’d have agreed to my judgement that our bakery stop was a date then you’d be getting a kiss," You shrug your shoulders nonchalantly, lips pressed into a straight line. "But you don’t, therefore I can’t kiss you,"

Spencer stared at you in disbelief as you spoke, before his eyes widened.

He knew what you wanted to hear, and so he gave in.

It was the only way he’d get a kiss.

“Okay okay- It was a date at the bakery I was wrong-”

He hated how desperate he sounded, but you were so beautiful, you were stunning, you were the most gorgeous person he ever met.

Spencer wanted to be with you. And you were giving him an in to finally press his lips against your perfect face.

"Are you sure?" You furrow your eyebrows at him in mock accusation, agains stopping in your tracks to stand in front of him with your eyes fixed on his face.

Spencer sighed. “I… yes. It was a date. I was just being silly…” Spencer took your hand for a moment as he spoke to you, interlacing his fingers in yours and feeling the warmth of your hands against his frigidly cold ones.

He wanted you to know that he felt a lot differently towards you compared to how he’d felt about anyone else.

You were special.

And he wanted you.

"Right you are pretty boy," You give his hand a small squeeze as you use your other to cup his face, pulling it towards you with a gentle insistence so that you could press a chaste kiss to those perfect pink lips that had just been begging you to silence them. "You were being silly,"

Spencer’s face lit up with another blush as you called him pretty boy.

Of course you thought Spencer was pretty. Not handsome or beautiful.

Pretty.

He let himself be pulled in closer as you spoke to him teasingly, telling him that he was being silly.

And then… your lips. Pressed against his with a soft pressure that he gladly returned.

That was all it took for Spencer to feel like the luckiest man on earth.

"Here’s to a successful first date," You chuckle softly as your lips part, your noses brushing as you lean back to admire the rosy tint to his cheeks and the beaming smile that accompanied it.

Spencer felt so happy. So overwhelmingly, sickeningly happy.

And so, he did a thing that he never thought he had the courage to do. He pulled you into his arms, leaning in to kiss you with so much fervour that you were relying on the strength of his hands on your waist for stability.

Spencer didn’t know when he’d get the opportunity to do this again. So he was 100% going to make the most of it.

You can’t help the smile that erupts on your face as he pulls you in again, your hands cradling his cheeks and your head tilted ever so slightly to the left as you rested your weight into his hands.

If you’d recorded this moment and told him it was a scene from a cheesy romance movie he would’ve believed you.

As the two of you reluctantly pull away due to the unfortunate human necessity of breathing, you catch a glance at the watch face on the inside of your wrist.

1:29.

“Shit- We really need to get back to the station.” Your hands fall from his face to grab one of his own, pulling him down the streets as you hurry back to the police station, mildly out of breath and still completely flustered.

“So-“ Spencer pulled a small resistance against your hands as the two of you stopped outside of the door.

“We’re going on a second date once we get home right?”

[mistachesme]

They pretend to be your boyfriend pt. 2 (ft kazuha, childe)

With surprise cameos ofc <3. Highly unedited. Not sure if it came out good tho :')

Tw- drinking, some creep in childe's part

Kazuha

- it came out as surprise that kazuha of all ppl was asking you to pretend to be his lover for one evening

- "It's to get my moms to stop setting me up with random people." He explained to you.

- you recalled the first time you met his mom, you were so nervous. But, beidou's easygoing personality and her infectious laugh made you feel at ease at once.

- kazuha was your dear friend. Despite having feelings for him, you never acted on them 'cause you cherished his friendship and was afraid of his rejection.

- looking at the way he seemed so troubled, you couldn't reject his request.

"This doesn't change anything right?" You tentatively asked. There was an odd look on his face, before it was gone. He nodded.

"Fine then. I will come by your house."

- you felt so loved. all your favourite food was on the dinning table.

"I had to ask kazuha what your favourite dishes were. I hope you enjoy my cooking." Ningguang smiled at you.

"I thought they were your friend. Why didn't you tell us before." Beidou laughed, nudging a blushing kazuha.

- soon the dining hall was filled with laughter, and you can't help but feel guilty for lying to the two amazing women.

- so when you and kazuha were finally left alone, you tell him that his family was amazing.

"Thank you for agreeing to this. My mothers were really happy you came." Kazuha said, truthfully.

- you nod and went back to eating the almond tofu on your plate.

"Your mom makes the best almond tofu, I swear."

- "Almond tofu is not the only good thing my mom has you know." Kazuha whispered in your ear with a smirk.

- your mind went blank with a *windows XP shutting down sound*

Childe

"You're blind date didn't go well huh? Hu Tao told me." Childe slurrs, drunkenly putting his arm around you as he laughs.

"I suggest you to shut your shitty mouth."

- currently you are out drinking with your friends after a long week and of course this bastard had to tag along.

"I think I know why you get dumped so easily." He side eyes you with a smug face.

"If you don't shut up, I'm gonna shove this glass of wine up your ass."

- zhongli watches the two of you fight in amusement as he sips his wine.

"Is this how they get every time they get drunk?" Hu Tao laughs.

"Indeed." He responds with a knowing smile.

- "I'm gonna take a piss. Be right back." You say, slipping away from childe's hold, before disappearing into the crowd.

"Oi.. don't go alone it's dangerous."

You ignore childe's worried calling as you navigate your way to the washroom. The club is too crowdy.

-Not too long after, you hear footsteps behind you and you sigh, knowing who it is.

- "I told you not to go alone." You feel his arm snaking around your waist as you walk.

"Fine." You sigh, leaning on his arm. "Wait outside the washroom, okay?"

- but when you come back, you find childe talking to someone on call. So, you keep your distance. It's probably teucer.

- you dont notice untill later someone approaching you.

"Are you alone, sweetie?" This dude asks, stepping too close to you with a disgusting grin on his face.

"I came with my friends. And, leave me alone, you creep." You snap at him.

"Now, now don't be like that." He says, grabbing your arm.

- at this point you were so pissed. Before you could land a proper punch on his face, you find yourself being pulled away from him and into a familiar set of arms.

- "Don't you know better than touching someone's lover." Childe speaks to him in a warning tone. "They got a boyfriend, you know?"

- "Boyfriend?" The creepy guy looks questioningly at you and then at childe.

- "Yeah, he is here you know." Childe whirls around looking through the crowd, making the other guy look around.

"Where would he be?" The other guy scoffs.

"Why, he's right in front of you." Childe chirps, turning back to him with a smile. You roll your eyes at that. What a dramatic ass.

- "I need to teach you a proper lesson for touching my things before you leave."

[greensagephase]

Valentine's Day (Nonviolent Communication One-Shot)

Pairing: Miguel O'Hara x SpiderFemaleReader (colleagues to friends to lovers; they're currently in their friendship era, so no romance but we still have soft Miguel!) Summary: Just a rainy Valentine's Day surprising your friends with baked sweets because Valentine's doesn't have to be only about romance. Word Count: 4,311 Short A/N: This is a one-shot for my Nonviolent Communication fanfic but can be read as a standalone. As I mentioned above, they're in their friendship era, so there's no romance, but Miguel lowkey got me blushing anyway soo! Warnings: None. Just reader and Miguel being their usual sweet and caring selves to each other. Masterlist Songs inspo: "Just the Two of Us" - Grover Washington, Jr., Bill Withers (I don't know why but this song just came to mind while writing this, so just look at it as a platonic song for now :) ) Fanfic's official music playlist:

Spider webs shaped like hearts decorate corners. Holographic hearts are displayed at the cafeteria. Even some of the tables have little decorations, more than likely set up by a small group of Spider members that usually take time of their day to do things like holiday decorating within the Spider Society to make the workplace “fun.” As to the holographic hearts out and about, you imagine those have to do with Lyla, who has been all too excited about Valentine's because of her heart-shaped glasses.

You walk through the cafeteria, past occupied tables where fellow Spider members sit. A reusable bag hangs from your shoulder in which you carry baked treats. You've successfully handed out containers filled with them to the majority of your friends, with the exception of Peter B. and MJ, and Miguel. You continue to search for Peter B., certain that you’ll find him here. As you walk, your gaze turns to the windows. It’s a cold and rainy day in Nueva York, and it’s also Valentine’s Day, which prompts a memory to flash through your mind, one that you put away for now. You focus on your goal: find Peter B. and then Miguel.

You slow down as you hear Peter's voice from somewhere, so you look around until you spot him talking with another member, carrying Mayday like always.

“Alright, pal, I'll see you around,” he says with his signature smile, giving the other member a pat on the back before they part ways.

Mayday sees you first and immediately begins to wiggle around, making Peter notice you. He grins and the two of you meet halfway, Mayday already reaching for you. You smile and upon meeting them, you accept one of her hands and play with it.

“Good morning, Mayday,” you say, greeting her. She squeals in delight before repeating “morning” now that she’s speaking two-word sentences. It’s amazing how much time has passed, how much she has grown, which you don’t let yourself think too much about. Instead, you focus on her attire for the day. She's wearing pants and tiny boots, and best of all, a cute pink sweater with red hearts printed all over it, showcasing Peter's spider symbol in the center of them.

It's no longer surprising. Mayday's closet is filled with spider-theme clothes, which has made you wonder if Peter has his own merchandise creator. You feel like it would be a thing Peter B. would definitely have.

“Hey, you heard that? She said ‘morning’ - that’s another word!” Peter says happily. “Daddy is so proud of you, honey! Wait till MJ hears about this!”

You chuckle. “It’s amazing. Before we know it she’ll be speaking full sentences.”

“Okay, that just made me, like, really sad. She’s growing up too fast,” Peter says quietly, holding his daughter close to his chest. His gaze is gentle as he stares at her. “It’s part of life, I know, but…”

“I’m sorry to have brought it up,” you say gently as you give him a gentle pat on his arm. “Would some baked treats make it better?”

That seems to get Peter and Mayday’s attention. “Baked treats?”

“Brownies. For Valentine’s,” you say, pulling out a container and offering it to him. “I baked some brownies for everyone.”

“Totally feel better now,” Peter says with a grin, accepting the box.

”For you and MJ, and maybe Mayday if she can eat them,” you say. “Happy Valentine’s Day!”

“Happy Valentine’s! Hey, they’re even heart-shaped! MJ is gonna be so happy. You know we all love your baking,” Peter says as he gets one out and eats it. Once he finishes eating, he says, “So amazing!”

“Glad you like them! Make sure to save some for MJ, though,” you reply with a smile. “Have you seen Miguel?”

Peter looks around, closing the box of treats. “I saw him earlier. He was going to the Go Home Machine room to check something but he might be back at his lab already,” he responds. His gaze flickers to your bag, taking notice of at least two boxes left in there, though he doesn’t ask anything.

“Alright, I’ll go check if he’s there. I’ll see you in a bit,” you say, saying goodbye to Peter and Mayday for now.

“See ya!���

You walk out of the cafeteria and head to Miguel’s lab, reaching it in no time. You stop at the entrance and as always, you call for Lyla to have her ask Miguel if you can enter. You never walk in unannounced out of respect, even though Lyla has told you that you should stop. Even Miguel has hinted at it, at the fact that you can just walk in, yet, you do it anyway out of respect.

“Y/N! Miguel isn’t here. He’s at the Go Home Machine room. Something’s up with the machine but he should be done in a few minutes. He said you can go in,” Lyla says, appearing suddenly and floating in midair.

“You asked him already?” you ask, amused.

“Yep. I think he’s even going to send you a message because he thinks you might not believe me when I tell you he says to go in.”

And of course, right after she says that you receive a notification from your gizmo, alerting you of a new message. A message from Miguel.

“I’ll be back in a few minutes. Please wait for me * inside *** the lab.”

You smile softly at his emphasis to wait inside. He knows you too well.

“See?” Lyla says with a soft smirk. “So, come on in! I see you have the goods.”

You laugh softly as you enter the lab, carrying your bag with the last two heart-shaped containers you bought a few days ago to package the baked treats. The containers were easy to hide in Gabriel’s old bedroom, the same one that’s your current temporary room since your building caught on fire a few weeks ago. Luckily, your floor was spared but lower floors did not have the same luck. Now, the building is under cleaning and reconstruction, a process that will take at least two months to finish. Or at least that’s what your landlord said. You’ve been staying in Nueva York with Miguel in his penthouse after he offered his place countless times. He assured you that you were welcomed to stay for however long you needed to, whether that was days, weeks, or months. There was even a moment you swear he almost said years, before he stopped himself.

So, you’ve been staying at Miguel’s penthouse in Gabriel’s, a man that you never met and unfortunately will never have the opportunity to due to his passing, old bedroom. You’ve made his room yours for the time being, even encouraged by Miguel to decorate it as you wish to make it feel like home because as he said, “my home is your home.”

And so, currently living with Miguel meant that you needed to find a way to hide your little Valentine’s surprise. You thought about baking treats for your group of friends, including Miguel, last week, but you knew that you’d need to come up with a way to have Miguel out of his own penthouse in order to truly surprise him as well. You quickly came up with a plan and even got a little help from a certain AI assistant, who was all too happy keeping Miguel busy here at HQ last night while you baked. You thought about your plan well, so much that you even baked a cake and cookies as an excuse, so that whenever Miguel got home, he wouldn’t wonder why it smelled like baked treats when there were none in sight, since you planned on hiding the Valentine’s treats in your room, packaged and ready to go for today. And, it has been a success. You’ve surprised all your friends with a little something, as a gesture of how much you care about them. The only one left now is Miguel. You briefly wonder why you didn’t just give them to him at the penthouse this morning when the two of you were having breakfast. For some reason it felt right to leave his delivery for last.

You walk through Miguel’s lab, heading straight to his platform, deciding that you’ll wait for him there until he comes back. You take a seat on it and gaze around. Even from here you can hear the sound of rain, which sounds very peaceful. The silence and the pockets of darkness brings you comfort. You can’t help but find it amusing that over time, you’ve spent more and more time in Miguel’s lab. You recall the days when you hardly came in here. Those were days when Jess and Miguel called you in, usually whenever Jess was delivering a report to Miguel about a mission you and others had been on with her, asking you to go since you were her pupil. Now, you’re here every day, and not just once but multiple times throughout. You can easily spend two or three hours here while Miguel and you work on your own thing.

You smile to yourself. Life can really change.

The rain continues to go strong outside. You let it distract your thoughts for a few seconds, which reminds you yet again of a memory. Of a Valentine’s Day with your Peter.

It was the second before last Valentine’s Day you spent with him. It was also a rainy day in your universe. As always, you baked something for Peter since he loved your baking and cooking. You knew you could never go wrong with baked treats since they were his weakness. He, on the other hand, had a few plans up his sleeve. He always did.

You smile at the memory. He had planned a whole evening that included a restaurant reservation, but the day was cold and a rainy one, being February. It started raining at some point in the night and the rain didn’t stop throughout the day. There was so much rain that the restaurant had to cancel dinners due to flooding two hours before your scheduled reservation. It didn’t matter to Peter though. He asked you to get ready regardless, to take your time.

An hour and a half later, there was a knock on your bedroom door from Peter. As if he didn’t live there, or as if you didn’t share that bedroom, but you opened the door regardless with a smile.

And there was Peter, dashing as always. His eyes lit up at the sight of you, as if he hadn’t seen you a million times before, as if he was falling in love with you for the first time all over again.

“So, we had a little change of plans,” he said with a sweet smile. “But rain or no rain, we’re having a romantic dinner.”

“Don’t we always have a romantic dinner?” you asked softly.

“An extra romantic dinner, darling,” he replied, taking your hand and kissing the back of it with one of his hands.

You smile softly now as you remember that evening.

He held your hand and instead of leading you to the dining area, he led you to the small living room section of your apartment. The overhead lights were off. The only light in the area came from lamps and lit candles spread around the space. The scent of food filled the air, a sign that Peter had cooked. Soft music played in the background from Peter’s record player and of course, his choice was a vinyl of romantic songs. You had a feeling that the night would end with a dance in the living room. Your suspicions only grew as you both stepped onto a picnic blanket and found couch pillows placed around so that the two of you could sit comfortably. There was a vase in the middle with flowers and around it were things like linen napkins and utensils, two glasses for drinks, and everything else needed for a dinner.

Then, there was Peter, serving you a drink and dinner with flickering candles all around, soft music in the back as you talked. You remember telling him that his idea was lovely and sweet, that it would be unforgettable. The night did end with a dance, with your arms wrapped around his neck and his around your waist. You even remember the pit pat of rain against your apartment’s windows and how you could see the flash of lightning even through the curtains. You recall what it was like to dance with Peter. It wasn’t the first nor last time. There were times before and times after that night, all in your small apartment, the one that was supposed to be temporary after graduating from college. The two of you talked about moving to a bigger apartment, one that would be comfortable for a family, for children. Neither of you minded your apartment in the moment though.

You still don’t. Even if you’re alone now. Even if Peter has been gone for so many years.

“Happy Valentine’s,” Peter whispered that night as he held you close to his chest. His arms were warm and protectively wrapped around you, your back to his chest.

“Happy Valentine’s,” you say now.

“Happy… Valentine’s.”

You look up as you hear the voice, finding Miguel standing a few feet away from you at last. His gaze meets yours and you notice his head is tilted to the side slightly, watching you curiously. You blink, pulling yourself out of your memory and offer Miguel a small grin, one he returns instantly.

“You keep asking for permission to come into the lab. You don’t have to ask,” Miguel says as he steps closer, breaking the short silence.

“It’s out of respect. Besides, I see the way you get annoyed when members just walk in,” you reply, amused.

Miguel looks down at you with a soft frown, his lips in a small pout as if silently asking, ‘Really?’

“Yes, but -” Miguel pauses and sighs. It’s different. You’re different. You’re not just any member. You’re his friend. His close friend. His… Miguel clears his throat. “You… Are different. You know why.”

Yes, you know why. You’re friends. Close friends. He’s your… “Right, but I still like to ask. Just to make sure.”

Miguel’s frown deepens, he raises an eyebrow almost in annoyance, yet he can never be annoyed with you. Ever. “Right, just to make sure,” he repeats, raising his hands in surrender, giving up and realizing there’s no changing your mind about this. At least not now, Miguel thinks to himself.

“Anyway, I brought you something,” you say, standing up at last from his platform. His crimson eyes immediately fall upon your bag. He’s been too busy thinking about how you always ask for permission to walk into the lab that he failed to see the reusable bag near you. You close the distance between the two of you, stopping just a few feet.

Miguel wonders what exactly you’ve brought him but he doesn’t have to wonder for long when you pull out two small containers, pink and heart-shaped. You hand them to him with a warm smile.

“I baked a few treats for everyone. Happy Valentine’s Day!”

Looking at the small containers, Miguel accepts them. He can’t help but feel a little awestruck for a few seconds. When was the last time someone gave him anything on this day? He hasn’t celebrated in years. It was so long ago.

“I hope you like them. I baked a little special thing for you. It was my first time baking them but I think they turned out well,” you say, bringing Miguel back to the present. “Go on,” you tell him gently, excited to see his reaction to the second box’s contents specifically.

He nods and opens the first one. Heart-shaped brownies in the size of your palm greet his eyes. He can’t help but admire how you arranged them with cute baking parchment paper, going the extra mile to make him and your other friends feel special today. His lips curl into a soft smile and he feels a wave of heat rush to his cheeks. You baked brownies for everyone and you included him. A warmth spreads through his chest at the thought, the realization.

You stare at Miguel, his smile and blush not going unnoticed. The sight makes you smile.

“Thank you,” Miguel says as he keeps looking at them, the amazing smell reaching his nose. He already knows everything you baked will be amazing. It always is. His mouth waters just at the sight.

“Check the other box!”

Miguel grins at you and nods, closing the first book even though he wishes he could go ahead and eat one of the brownies, but your excitement over the other box deters him. He wants to see what has you so happy and anxious for him to see, so he opens the next box. His lips part and eyebrows raise in surprise for a few seconds when he sees the contents before he happily smiles at you.

“You made conchas! Heart-shaped conchas! You… I’ve never seen conchas shaped like this before, not even at the panaderia. When did you even bake them?” Miguel asks, staring at you with amazement before he lifts the box to his face, inhaling the sweet scent of fresh conchas. His mouth waters even more, thinking about how good these will go with a mug of café de olla.

You chuckle softly, pleased with Miguel’s reaction. “Last night. Before you arrived from HQ. The cake and cookies were just a distraction so you wouldn’t see them and the brownies. I wanted to surprise everyone, including you. So, I recruited someone’s help,” you say with a soft shrug of your shoulders, prompting Lyla to appear.

“That would be me,” Lyla says with a soft grin, arms crossed over her chest. “I had to keep you busy, Miguel.”

Miguel scoffs playfully as he realizes and remembers the previous night. “That’s why you kept messing up the anomaly datasheet.”

“And why I kept moving your tabs around,” she replies, which makes Miguel frown for a few seconds.

“That, too. Not appreciated,” he mumbles.

“I had to do what I had to do, to ensure Y/N’s mission was a success, which it was,” Lyla says smiling.

Miguel shakes his head at her but he’s not even slightly upset. Instead, he’s highly amused that you recruited Lyla’s help to keep him occupied at HQ, all to surprise him with these lovely and delicious baked treats. His cheeks feel even more hot now.

“They smell amazing. I’m not even going to lie, my mouth is watering,” Miguel admits quietly as he nods to the conchas. “Thank you.”

“Always,” you reply softly. “I bet… They’d be really good with café de olla.”

Miguel grins. “Is this your subtle way of saying you’d like café de olla?”

You shrug. “I’m just saying, heart-shaped conchas and café de olla sound like a good combination to me. I think, it would be quite an experience. I mean, you’re saying you’ve never seen heart-shaped conchas before so… I was just thinking, you know?”

“Oh, yeah, right.” Miguel gives you a soft smirk before he grabs one of the conchas. You can’t help but notice how small it looks in his hand as he holds it up, as if showing it to you. “You were just thinking,” he says, still smirking, raising his eyebrow as he looks at you.

“It’s just a thought,” you reply, smiling softly. “Something to think about.”

“Definitely something to think about… which means you have more at home, yes?”

“There might be more conchas at the penthouse, yes.”

“I see,” he replies. “I guess cafeteria coffee will do for now.”

You tilt your head to the side in curiosity. “For now?”

“There might be café de olla in the evening.”

“I see,” you reply with a smile.

“I hear it might be quite an experience.”

“I have to agree with whoever said that,” you say.

“You know, I do, too,” Miguel responds, still smirking softly at you.

Lyla hovers between the two of you, glancing from you to Miguel. “Great, so there’s gonna be conchas and café de olla,” she says.

You both turn to look at her. Right, Lyla is there.

“I’ll go get some coffee,” Miguel says as he places the concha back in the box, making sure to close it correctly.

“Alright. I’m going to go ahead and start on the report. There’s still so much to do,” you reply heading to the desk you always work on, the one that Miguel set up for you many months ago once you started helping him with the weekly reports.

“Sounds good. I’ll be back,” Miguel responds, placing his baked treats on his platform.

“Don’t worry Miguel, I’ll look after them,” Lyla jokes seeing how careful he has been with the boxes, as if they are precious to him. The teasing tone makes Miguel frown but he doesn’t respond as he heads out of the lab to grab coffee for the two of you.

_♡_

You sit in Miguel’s living room many hours later. The time on your tablet reads 7:16pm. Lamps lit up his space and the fireplace is on, warming the entire penthouse. Soft music coming from Miguel’s record player, the one you gifted him for Christmas several weeks ago, plays in the background.

You sit on one of the couches, a blanket over your legs as you work on the report from your tablet, the same one that Miguel gifted you for Christmas. You sit alone now since Miguel excused himself about twenty-five minutes ago, saying he needed to get something done. You didn’t ask what he had to do, not wanting to intrude on his privacy. You told him that you’d be in the living room. You only realized he was in the kitchen because you heard the opening and closing of drawers, but other than that, you have no idea what Miguel has been up to. Besides, you’ve been caught up working on the report, trying to finish it so it’s ready for scheduled meetings later this week.

You move your pen around your tablet’s screen, fixing something with a frown. Your concentration comes to a halt as a shadow covers the lighting. You look up, only to find Miguel carrying a tray that he sets on the console table that’s placed between the two long couches. It doesn’t take long before the lovely scent reaches you. Café de olla.

You glance at Miguel as soon as you recognize the scent, his crimson eyes meet yours and there’s a soft smile on his face.

“How about a break from the report?” he asks, taking a seat on the floor, clad in his lounge clothes.

You smile softly and nod, quickly placing the tablet away and joining him on the floor. It’s then that you see everything that’s on the tray.

He sets out the mugs with the hot and rich liquid, careful not to burn himself or you. He places three dessert plates out. One with brownies, another with conchas, and finally one with bimbuñuelos, a sugary pastry similar to the buñuelos you’ve had before, his personal addition to the sweets. You realize he bought them earlier when he arrived with a pastry box an hour later after you. You smile softly as you look at the sweets, finding it cute that everything is heart-shaped.

“So, there was café de olla,” you say, looking at him, still smiling.

“And there were more conchas,” Miguel replies as he hands you a clean plate to eat, smiling.

You chuckle softly before the two of you dig in, savoring the freshly made coffee and baked sweets in his dimly lit living room. Outside, Nueva York continues to have rain. Flashes of white lit up the sky every now and then due to lightning.

The two of you engage in conversation as you eat, enjoying each other’s company. And while you reply to something he said, a brief thought crosses his mind. This has turned out to be “quite an experience” as you said, but it isn’t because of café de olla or even the delicious heart-shaped conchas you baked that make him want to sigh in delight with each bite he takes. No, this evening has been “quite an experience” because of you alone. His close friend. His best…

Miguel grins at you as he focuses on your response, always wishing to give you his full attention, before he replies, continuing the conversation.

You take a drink from your mug, noticing a gentle but sudden flush on Miguel’s cheeks. Your gaze flickers to the fireplace for a second, unbeknownst to you that a certain realization of Miguel’s is the true culprit for the rosiness that now cover his cheeks.

♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡-♡ Translation for Spanish words: Conchas - Mexican pan dulce, pastry; word translates to "seashell" because the pastry is kind of shaped like one Panaderia - bakery Café de olla - coffee made in a pot Bimbuñuelos - fried dough sprinkled with sugar; similar to buñuelos Buñuelos - fried dough fritter: typically a Christmas dessert _____ A/N: Happy Valentine's Day! Miguel got me giggling and kicking my feet here! Why is he not real? Anyway, I had this little idea earlier in January and then @heyohalie asked me a while back how reader and Miguel from "Nonviolent Communication" would celebrate Valentine's (if they even did celebrate, since they're currently just friends), and I decided I needed to write it! So, here it is :) Thank you for reading this far and I hope you enjoyed it!!

[mizusnose]

Hii!! I love ur writings AND UR ART TOO! I have a req 😈

Mizu meeting reader who has heterochromia!

And I miss you on a train, I miss you in the morning

Been missing Japan tons recently so this one’ll be set in modern day Tokyo. Here is a list of translated terms/phrases:

Gouchyui kudasai. Abunai desu kara.. : Please be careful, since it’s dangerous

Keigo: super politeful form of words/grammar.

Gaikokujin: foreigner.

daijoubu desu: It’s okay/I’m fine. In this situation, can also mean: I’m okay (without it)

arigatou gozaimasu: thank you (very much)

samu—!: cold/chilly. it’s actually 寒い (samui), but ppl shorten it in daily conversation by dropping the i.

arigatou: thanks, more familiar.

ohayo: good morning

Summary: A meet-cute in a train car leads to an unlikely friendship that blooms into something more. Discussion of beauty standards in Japan. Insecurities are discussed. Tons of flirting, some heavy petting.

SFW, some nudity but nothing blatantly sexual.

— — —

The first time you saw her, it had been on your morning commute to work. The autumn weather muted that far underground. The wind from departing and arriving trains was the only thing that would create a breeze in the otherwise stagnant air.

She was easy to notice.

Her height forced her to duck under the hanging advertisements with a practiced ease, neck long and slender. A white turtleneck against thin golden chains peeked out from her indigo jacket, spots of sunlight soaked into the snow.

And her eyes—a frozen-over ocean in the middle of the Marunouchu line, an early morning in winter. You breathed and suddenly it was the dead of winter in Sendai and the birds fluttered away up above you.

It’d only been a second, a millisecond, the flutter of a bird’s feather. Then she was gone. Her dark hair a shadowing eclipse against the sharp of her chin, the red of her nose—her eyes.

The train ride went uninterrupted. A jingle, shuffling, and then you were on your way to work. You didn’t quite notice though. Your breath a bleary thing in your ballooned-out chest. Belly wide and searching. An open mouth, fanged and hungry.

The next time you see her, it’s in the dead of night. The last train barely caught. Your mini skirt pressed against your bare thigh and the seat. Make-up dark and hair wild in the nearly empty train car. Winter’s fist had started to close around the Tokyo metropolitan area and the nights became a sharp kind of cold. You felt frozen in your seat.

She’d been sitting there, right across from you in the middle of the row of empty seats. Straight tapered office pants meeting her oxford shoes, that same indigo jacket, golden chains glinting in the glow of the moving lights outside. Her glasses caught in the passing stations, a muted orange that blocked the blue of her eyes.

You stared, entranced. You knew it was rude, but the image she made against the smeared nighttime Ginza scenery made you hold your breath, amazed. The last time you’d seen her, it was too quick. Barely a snapshot of a second. So you drank your fill, greedy and tipsy. The train shifted on the tracks and you both leaned into the bend, your bodies in line.

You distantly wonder if she’s willingly not paying attention to you after the doors automatically open and close following two stops. She hasn’t looked up once from her book, her fingertips a dull pink against the English title.

You want to put them in your mouth—a wild thought that conjures itself in your bleary mind.

When she finally does look up, her eyes greet your own and holds—a challenge. Her dark eyebrows furrow: anger. She observes you closer, focusing on your eyes.

You blush, and quickly look away.

You know she’s seen them: your eyes. People usually narrow their own eyes at you after realizing, and yet—hers shift when you meet them again. There’s no longer a scowl, her eyebrows rise instead, lips parted. A question, a surprise, Intrigue.

Oh, you think, oh.

Your chest buzzes and you wonder if your lipstick is still intact. If your eyeliner hasn’t been smudged. If you still look desirable.

There’s no one else but you two, so you quirk an eyebrow, satisfied to see her flush and look away. The cut of her jaw hidden by her short dark hair.

Her wired earbuds follow, they press against her chin and her hair, and you wonder what she’s listening to. If she can hear your breath quicken, heart rate spiked.

The train doors open at your stop and your stomach flips when she stands as well. Her head ducks underneath an advertisement about train manners, and she waits for you to stumble out first. You feel her hands around the air of your body, the pressure of the feeling against your waist. She doesn’t touch, but you wish she had.

“Gouchyui kudasai. Abunai desu kara..” She mutters down to the ground after you’ve both swiped out of the station. Keigo and all.

Her hair flutters in the tunnel wind, grey eye bags and pink cheekbones that make you wonder what her job is. You settle your miniskirt and nod quickly. The glow of the FamilyMart shines on you both, a play, an experiment.

Yet, as she turns to leave, you feel like it’s gone interrupted. Your story, and hers.

“I’ve! um—I’ve seen you around”

She stops, doesn’t turn around. You continue in clunky Japanese. The alcohol settling deeper in your belly, confidence rising in your throat,

“Are you free for lunch or dinner or..”

She freezes—and you feel like you’ve misread the entire situation, but as she turns back around, she nods. A jerky thing that heats up your face.

Her necklace glints in the nearby streetlights as she puts her Line info into your contacts. Her hand encompasses all of your phone, fingers long and palm wide. You ache at the sight.

“Mizu?” Your fingernails brush the character she’s entered after she hands it back to you: 水. Mizu, mizu mizu.

“Mn. My parent’s..Gaikokujin. Thought it sounded pretty.” She looks embarrassed, her short cut hair brushing her jaw, her ears. Yet, her eyes stay on yours. A lull.

“It is.” You swallow around your words. Greet her with your own gaze, a smile.

She doesn’t trust you to walk home in your stumbling state, so she guides you into the FamilyMart nearby.

She grabs a water bottle for you, a hot milk tea for herself. Like this, in the fluorescent light, she’s taller than the aisles and towers above you. Her nape meets her neck and the hair is shaved there. Short—like a boy’s. You want to touch the skin there, just below it.

She pays despite your assurance that you can pay for yourself.

“‘ts only 120 yen.” is what she says, turns to the cashier and waves away a bag, daijoubu desu, collects the receipt and turns to leave, arigatou gozaimasu. A barely there bow, the receipt crushed in her palm, and then you’re both outside in the softly falling snow.

She opens the bottled water for you and you hiss after you take it: samu—!

She chuckles, watches you take the lip of the bottle into your mouth: tracks your throat as you swallow. You feel like you’re burning up inside your chest and finish half the bottle in one go.

“Do you live far?”

“Just past the next streetlight. I’ll be okay, promise.”

She looks unsure. It’s not windy, but strands of her hair push against her face. She presses it away. Behind her ear that has a stud in the soft flesh of her lobe. You follow the movement in your tipsy state. Watch it glimmer in the night.

“Let’s meet again soon, then.” Her hand gestures to your bare legs, eyes averted and away—flushed, “Stay warm.”

She presses the hot milk tea into your hands. Swaps it out for your water bottle. It sloshes against the plastic when she meets your gaze. She’s inspecting you. Tracing the outline of your face, your eyes. Your fingertips welcome the warmth, and you open your mouth to thank her: arigatou

“Get home safe.” Her hands brush your own, and she grins at the touch, slow and soft.

A taxi’s unoccupied sign blinks on in the dark nearby. The rush of the trains sound behind you, a car drives by.

She leaves then, and you watch her go. Her shoulders sharp in the cold night. The snow falls on you but the unopened milk tea burns and you think of her again and again. Even after you turn and walk away too.

The walk back is slippery and when you get home, your phone sits content in your pocket. You smile, a big happy thing. Her name sits in your mouth, and you think: Mizu, mizu, mizu. As if your lips would forget in the morning.

—

You go out for dinner later in the week.

Mizu is shy. She jokes only after you’ve both ordered a round of sapporo, her flush an insistent thing. Her neck is long and you watch as it reddens through the night. The glow of the shop the only thing keeping your hands to yourself.

The conversation flows steadily. Like two lifelong friends. The banter is easy, and the flirting easier. You notice Mizu’s steady gaze on you and you smile to welcome it. A flower unfurling in the sun.

You both promise to do it again afterwards. Mizu’s hands linger on yours when you leave, and the touch sinks into you, a slow gulp of water against your throat.

It’s breathless and exciting, being with Mizu. She texts you ohayo’s and brushes your hair out of your face, stands close in the train, and slips her hand into yours when she walks you back home after your fifth date. The first night you spend together, her thumb slips against your cheekbones and she smiles,

“You are so beautiful.”

She kisses you and your body and your thighs. She fucks you the way she had promised over texts late at night. Kisses your eyelids afterwards, a love that blooms between you both.

“Did you ever get bullied about it?” She asks one morning.

You’re both naked, the sunshine glinting on the sheets and into the kitchen where you’re making coffee. The question is asked unsure, a train passes by in the distance.

“I did. Not too much, but yeah.”

“Me too.” Mizu shoves on her shirt, a button down that she leaves open, the space between her breasts littered in marks, “Kids can be mean.”

You nod, tilting your head to the side when Mizu comes up behind you and kisses your throat. The muscle in your shoulder. Your back: the bone there.

“You’re stunning.” She whispers. Moves her hands up your body, a warmth that stirs between your legs, “Fuck what anyone says—kids especially.”

You laugh, twisting around to face Mizu. Her eyes meet your own, a clash of colors and you let her gaze win. You tuck your face into her neck and blow a raspberry to the skin there.

“It’s not so bad now. Usually, people just think I forgot to put in my other contact.” Mizu huffs, lets her hands wander lower, “The plus side is that I got a hot girlfriend out of it.”

You pull back and peck Mizu’s unassuming lips. She stutters around the sudden labeling, and you smile to let her know it’s okay. It’s okay.

You spend the day together, a lazy Sunday. And when you see the scene you both make in the bathroom mirror after a shower you flush at it all: Mizu, naked, her eyes boring into you and tracing the lines of your body. And you, the color of your eyes, each a separate hue. Yet, the love inside them the same and as blatant as ever.

“You’re beautiful.” You say, grabbing Mizu and kissing her. Pushing her bangs away from her eyes, hand settling on her back. There’s a freckle there you’d kissed earlier. You press into it.

Mizu chuckles, finds your lips and pulls away to whisper into the opening of your mouth. A secret, a wish, a promise.

You keep every single one.

———

Haha, so I really just miss FamilyMart and affordable food and the stellar Japanese public transportation so here this is. Didn’t specify reader’s eye color so you can imagine whatever colors you want—including your own!

title inspired by about you by the 1975

[chrisstopherfilmed]

🍒CAUGHT (part 3)🍒

NATE DOES x SLS (Sturniolo little sister) Y/N

A/n: finally posting the long awaited caught part 3 so sorry for the wait yall ik. I’ve been busy and had no ideas for this one at the start so it took me a bit, my bad. Anyways here it is. HOPE YOU LOVE IT‼️

Summary: After Chris, Matt, and Nick find out Nate and y/n their little sister have been dating for a while Nate and y/n get a little too comfortable around her older brothers. Secrets are found, drama is started. Will this be the end of Nate’s friendship with the triplets?

Warnings: suggestive (no actual p in v), fighting, cussing, yelling, dom!/nate sub!/reader, fingering/eating, teasing, I think that’s it idrk NOT PROOFREAD

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Y/n’s pov:

I wake up next to Nate from when he stayed the night before. Ever since my party my brothers have been very supportive of mine and Nate’s relationship. Still strict because all 3 of them were older than both of us, but supportive, Or atleast you thought they were,.

I try to crawl out of bed without waking Nate but I fail like always. “Nooo, come back princess” Nate says grabbing you by the waist pull you back into bed. You try to wiggle from his grip but also fail as his grip tightens. “Nate, baby I have to take a shower” you say turning over now to face him.

“Ok I’ll come with” he says jumping up and almost throwing himself out of the bed. “No nate, lay back down” you say patting the sheets next to you. “Ok fine, but you have to stay too. Just for a bit…. Please?” He says begging, his eyes fluttering. “Ok” you say rolling your eyes while smirking as he crawls back into bed, rapping his arms you again and pulling you impossibly closer.

Your nose hits his chest and squishes against it. “Natee” you whine and he pulls you even closer. “I can’t breath” you say laughing tapping his shoulder. “Ugh, I just can’t get enough of you” he says rubbing his hands up and down your body. “Please let me come with you” he says

“Where?” You say farrowing your eyebrows pretending I have no idea what he’s talking about. “Baby don’t act like you don’t want me in shower with you” he said pulling me back to look me in the eyes. We stare at each other for a bit before we lean in to kiss.

He kisses me hungrily, wanting more. He flips on his back and pulls me on top of him, holding me in place by my waist. I lean in to deepen the kiss. He pulls his hands down to my ass. Then the door opens and we both snap our heads to the door. 

“Ew” Matt says “Nick made breakfast, waffles and fruit” he says closing the door and walking away. You and Nate bust out laughing then get up to go get some food.

As we walk out of my room Im punched in the face by the smells of amazing food. “Wow it smells great” I say running to sit at the table, ushing (waving down) Nate to come sit next to me. Nate sits down next to you, Chris and Matt across from you and Nick making the plates for y’all. Nate rubbed your thigh as Nick brought the food to the table for you all to eat.

You helped Nick with the plates and cups, setting them down. “Thank you, this looks sooo good” you say smiling at Nick “yeah it’s smells good too” Nate chimes in after “yeah thanks bro” Chris said stuffing his face with waffles “Chris don’t talk when you have food in your mouth” Nick say hitting Chris in the back of the head “ew, yeah that’s gross” Matt said “Shut up” Chris say

AFTER BREAKFAST

Me and Nate went for a walk down to the lake, we always went there when we were together. It was our spot. There was a big tree and bushes surrounding it and the lake was in front of the tree, on the other side of the lake was the forest. We always went out there for alone time when my brothers were home.

We already had a basket of pillows and blankets by the tree since we went down there a lot. My brothers never really knew what we did down here, to be honest I don’t think they would want to know anyway. I tell my brothers that I’m going to the lake before walking out of the house and grabbing Nate’s hand pulling him down the hill.

As we approach the high tree with our basket of freshly cleaned and folded blankets and our arrangement of pillows we sit down. Nate grabs one big blanket and two small ones for us to snuggle up in. “I love being down here with you, watching the lake glisten and see your pretty face next to me. My two favorite things” Nate says pulling my head onto his chest.

“I love you too Nate” I say snuggling into him. We lay here in silence for a bit before he places his hand on my tight, running his hand over my legs. We are still quiet but I can feel the heat growing between my legs. I squeeze my legs together to relief some of my friction, Nate releases I’m doing this and looks down at me.

“What’s up baby?” He says acting clueless. It’s been a little bit since me and Nate have done anything because of the situation with my brothers. “What do you mean?” I say pretend nothing happened “baby I can feel you squeezing your legs, do you need me?” He says nonchalant acting like it’s a normal thing to say.

“Please” I say practically begging for him, anything of him, anything. “You don’t have to beg princess, you know I’ll always be ready for you” he says pulling you over his lap to straddle him. You instantly kiss him passionately. Wanting more, more than you can take.

He peppers the kisses from your lips to your cheeks, down to your jaw, then your neck. “Do you want this?” Nate asks teasing you “Nate don’t tease, just please” you say eyes fluttering from the warmth between your legs “you sure baby?” He say running his hands down to the inside of your thighs.

You moan softly begging for him, he was so close to where you needed him. He pulls his hands up and takes off your shirt, his following right after. You’re wearing a black Lacey bralette that goes around the back of your neck and the middle of your back and underwear that matched. You knew it was going to drive Nate crazy, so you wore it just for that.

“Fuck baby, I’m definitely not lasting long.” He says look at your chest, and bringing his hands down your body to pull your shorts down. He goes as slow as he can, peppering kisses here and there. “Nateee” you whine just wanting more, as the feeling between your legs almost hurts from the lack of friction.

“Ok ok” he says kissing your neck before moving your panties to the side. “Someone’s eager” he says laughing kinda. “Shut up, just please I can’t take it anymore” you say squeezing your eyes shut. “It’s ok baby” Nate says running his fingers through your folds finally

You moan from the sudden contact, making Nate react by dipping his middle finger inside you. “Fuck” you say in a broken moan. He goes slow at first to give you time but when you grab his arm and throw your head back he speeds up going faster. “Fuck fuck fuck fu-” you say in between your mildly loud moans “more” you say

At this, he adds his ring finger. Picking up the pace and repeatedly hitting your g-spot, making your eyes roll back so far you see stars. “Nate” you moan “I’m gonna cum“ you say in a moan “let it out baby, cum all over my finger, I know you can do it” he says. That’s all you need for that knot in your stomach to snap, your cum dripping down his fingers.

He slowly pulls his fingers out, considering you’re sensitive. You watch as he puts his fingers into his mouth and sucks off all your cum till theres not one drop left. “You happy now?” Nate says kissing your lips “very” you whisper. You get your clothes on and Nate cleans everything up. You and Nate walk back to the house and go inside.

Your brothers are sitting on the couch talking as you all walk towards the living room. Once you enter they all go silent. There’s a lot of tension and awkward silence before Matt breaks it “y/n? Can you please go to your room for a moment?” Matt asks calmly “why?” You say “we need to talk to Nate” nick says.

Chris doesn’t say a word but he looks PISSED and you don’t wanna find out why he looks like that so you let go of Nate’s hand and just go your room. You make it all the way up the stairs and into your room before you hear your brothers talking.

“WHAT THE FUCK NATE” Chris says yelling. After that all you could hear was little mumbles here and there. You remember there’s a vent in your room that connects to the living room. You run over to it and put you ear up to it. “We saw you guys” Chris says, his voice angrily sounding “Nate I get you and her are dating but you can’t do that shit. She just turned 18 and you’re only the second boyfriend she’s ever had.” Nick says in a stern tone.

Technically Nate was the first real boyfriend I’ve had since the other one was in 7th grade and nothing ever happened, we didn’t even talk that much. “Nate, you can’t and won’t do that again” Chris says, gets up and walks away. You can hear his footsteps coming up the stairs, so you jump up and sit on your bed.

Chris opens your door, comes in your room and closes it. “Y/n, I need you to listen to me” Chris says aggravated. “Ok?” You say “you aren’t going to do that stuff with Nate anymore. Not in the house, in his house, outside this house, not anywhere, ever.” He says very sternly. “He’s my boyfriend. Chris you can’t decide what I do” you say crossing your arms and rolling your eyes.

“Fine then, if you don’t wanna listen he won’t be your boyfriend anymore” he says shrugging his shoulders “what?” You say fear in your voice. “He. Won’t. Be. Your. Boyfriend.” He says slower, starting to leave your room. You get up and follow him. “Chris you can’t do that, that’s not fair” you say running down the stairs after him

“I DONT CARE, YOU CHOSE TO LIVE WITH US, YOU CHOSE TO FOLLOW OUR RULES. IF YOU DONT WANNA FOLLOW THEM, THEN GET OUT OF MY GODDAMN HOUSE” he screams in your face “NO” you scream back tears in your eyes. “Then you’re going to follow my fucking rules.” He says turning back around walking into the living

“Chris please stop, don’t do this” you say running after him in tears. As you and Chris enter the living room Nick, Matt, and Nate are sitting on the couch awkwardly. Nate immediately stands up when he see you crying, and try’s to get to you. Nick puts his hands on his head and Matt just looks down at his feet.

Chris moves in between you and Nate as Nate walks over to you “Nate I think it’s time for you to go” Chris says point to the door. “What?” Nate says. “It’s time for you to go, and don’t talk to y/n again!” Chris says grabbing Nate’s arm and dragging him to the door. You follow them to the door. Chris pushes Nate outside the door and Nate turns around to face inside the house. “What did I do wrong?” Nate says concern on his face.

“I’m sorry” you whisper to Nate tears still streaming down your face before Chris slams the door in Nate’s face and walks back into the living room. “I HATE YOU” you scream at Chris, running upstairs to your room and slamming your door shut and locking it “DONT FUCKING SLAM OUR DAMN DOORS” you hear Chris scream up to you.

30 MINUTES LATER

It was already dark outside and you were still crying. You couldn’t believe Chris just broke up you and Nate? All because you were being intimate? When Matt had his girlfriend over before the broke up they would do worse things then what you and Nate did. So why was Chris so mad?

You’ve cried so much eventually you just fall asleep. As your eyes close all you can think about is Nate. You pretend his still next to you, holding you, kissing you, cuddling with you. And with that you finally fall asleep.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

A/n: HOPE YALL ENJOYED, sorry for the sad ending Also sorry this took so long, I’ve been superrrrrr busy but here it is 💖

@miloisdone1 @iluvm4ttsturni0l0 @chr1sgirl4life @starsturniolo @miloisdone1 @mattsaq @evie-sturns @worldlxvlys @ineedchriscock @sturniozo @strniohoeee @strawberrysturniolo @st7rnioioss @sturnioloskies @nickgirl4l @nickgirl54

[angstywaifu]

Surprise - Liam Mairi x Reader

Prompt - It’s your first Valentine’s Day with Liam, and you’re pulling out all the stops to make it perfect for him…complete with a special surprise

Enjoy the last of my Valentines Day prompts! Thank you to all who sent these in, I had a lot of fun making them!

Since the night of threshing, Liam and I had been in this weird limbo. We had taken our friendship a step further that night. And neither of us regretted it. It was amazing. And it happened again frequently. But neither of us dared to label it any more than just a casual thing. Because that’s all it was. But recently it had felt like the dynamic had changed. Whenever Liam touched me, his hand would linger longer than normal. Anytime there was a free seat next to me, he would be the one to fill it. If it was taken? Then he asked whoever was there to move over. The one that had peaked my interest the most was when I had gotten injured during a challenge. Which wasn’t unusual for me to walk out with some sort of injury. In the next class Liam and the other guy were absent. I later learned Liam had started a fight with them after challenges. Yes my injuries were worse than normal. But still healable. That night I had left him to be on his own. Mainly cause I hadn’t seen him either. Almost as if he had been avoiding me. The next day it had all gone back to normal.

But the shift in dynamic had made me…. Hopeful. I couldn’t deny I wanted more. I’d always had a slight crush on Liam. After the rebellion, we had been sent off to different families, but luckily we were sent to ones close by and frequently did events together. As the only rebellion child at my family I was very much on my own. So Liam became my light in my darkest time. My knight in shinning armour so to speak. Which was very fitting with his tan skin, and soft blonde hair. And those eyes. Eyes I could get lost in and had quite a few times. Valentine’s Day was fast approaching, and surprisingly it seemed to be a big thing here in the quadrant. I guess you have to make the most of the little things around here. And that’s what I had planned to do. Even if I was scared shitless.

”Stop freaking out. It will be fine.” Rhiannon reassured me with a nod from Violet who were both sitting on the floor of my room helping me.

I had decided to leave Liam a bunch of surprise gifts throughout the day. Each with a letter. The last one leading to a surprise I had planned and would reveal it was me all day. Though I was sure he would figure it out pretty quickly. He was very smart. Rhiannon, Violet and even Ridoc and Sawyer had agreed to help me with my plan. They were going to be my couriers so to speak. Each of them giving Liam one of the gifts I had worked on over the last few weeks. The last of which I was working on now. I had managed to convince some of the black smiths to give me some materials to work with, and with the help of my dragon, I had melted it down and made a matching charm for Liam and I to wear on a leather bracelet I had also made. I wanted everything I gave Liam to be hand made. He was always making people things with his wooden carvings. Not long after threshing he had given me one of my own dragon. I kept in on my bedside table. He often teased me about it if we ever came to my room.

“I can’t help it.” I say with a sigh as I struggle to get the charm on one of the bracelets. “What if I do all this for nothing.”

Rhiannon gives me a very unimpressed look. “Girl, it won’t be. Trust me.” She holds her hand out to me. “Now give me that before you throw it out the window.”

I hand her the bracelet and she attaches it almost immediately. The cuff I had made for Liam was far easier to attach than the bracelet I had decided on for myself.

”How about we go over the plan again?” Violet suggests as she notices me start to fidget and pick at a fingernail.

Rhiannon nods in agreement. “So Violet is giving him the first present correct?”

I nod. “Yes, the candle I made.”

Violet holds up the neatly wrapped package I had given her just before.

”And at lunch time, I will give him the new wood working set you’ve gotten him.” Rhiannon adds. “Leaving Ridoc and Sawyer to cause chaos and essentially drag him to the tower where you will be waiting.”

”Yes, and I will have the bracelets and be quietly shitting myself that he might reject me.”

Rhiannon and Violet both look at me with very unimpressed looks.

”He is not going to reject you.” Rhiannon scolds me. She’s been doing that a lot the last few days.

”Rhi is right, he won’t. It will all go to plan.” She reassures me.

The girls bid me goodnight and good luck for tomorrow. Luckily no classes are on, so I will be doing my best to be around as little as possible. Hopefully Liam doesn’t try to come looking for me. But Violet assures me she will find a way to keep him busy. Which I’m sure involves the likes of Xaden. That man would do anything for her.

The next day I hide in my room. I need to make sure Liam is gone before I leave. I can’t risk him seeing me. I hear feet stop outside my door and I freeze. It was him, there was no denying that. I vaguely hear Violet call out to him. My heart is pounding too loudly in my ears for me to hear anything they say as I stand there frozen to the ground. A few minutes pass and I watch the shadows outside my door walk away. I let out the breath I had been holding for god knows how long. I open the door slowly and peek out, just in time to catch Violet following Xaden and Liam around the corner. As if she knows I’m there she looks back at me and smiles. Liam was taken care of for the day. I grab my pack with the stuff I had packed last night and made my way to the tower I had planned to use. In the many times I had gone there to escape the quadrant for a few moments, I had never seen anyone there. And today was no exception. Honestly I don’t think anyone had really been up here in years till I found it. It had a beautiful view of the valley and mountains that surrounded the college. Especially in the afternoon as the sun was setting. Which was when I planned for Ridoc and Sawyer to lead Liam up here.

Just as I’ve finished setting up the blanket, some small mage lights strung on some string and some food I had gotten from the kitchens I hear the faint sounds of commotion down below. Ridoc and Sawyer were right on time. I hear foot steps walking up to where I am. I quickly rush over and sit on the ledge of the tower, trying to act as if I’ve been patiently been waiting and my heart isn’t trying to escape my chest. The foot steps stop behind me.

“Y/N?”

I turn around to see Liam standing there, his chest rising and falling as if he’s been running. I was going to have to ask Ridoc and Sawyer what the hell they had done to get him over here. He looks confused at first as he takes in the blanket and pillows, and everything I had set up.

”All the things today, that was all you?” He asks as he walks over to where I am sat.

I nod. “Yeah it was all me. Though I will say I have no idea or had any say in how Ridoc and Sawyer got you here.”

He laughs. “Lets just say they went to a lot of effort to get me here.” He rests his hands on my legs as he stands right in front of me. “Guess I should say thank you for everything you’ve done today.”

“Don’t say thank you just yet.” I tell him.

He tilts his head to the side with a confused look as I reach into the pocket of my jacket and pull out the small bag I had put the leather cuff I had made him. I hold it out to him and he slowly takes it from me. His eyes go wide as he reaches in and pulls out the black leather cuff I had made, a small metal charm in the shape of the protection rune his mum had made us. As he looks back up at me I swear I see tears in his blue eyes. He moves so fast I barely have time to react as he wraps his arms around me, pulling me off the ledge and into a kiss. We had kissed before but not like this. This was different.

We’re a tangle of limbs as I wrap my arms around his neck, my fingers locking in his blonde hair. His arms around my waist. He quickly manoeuvres us so his back is against the pillar and I am leaning up against him between his legs. He breaks away from the kiss, one of his hands reaching up to cup my cheek. A goofy smile on his face that I can’t help but mimic.

”Thank you. You have no idea how much that gift means to me. What you’ve done all day. I had a feeling it was you. That candle instantly reminded me of the orchard back home. I just knew it was you.” He says to me quietly. “And now I can do what I’ve been wanting to do all day. Hell what I’ve been wanting to do for weeks. What I went to do first thing today.”

“And what’s that?” I ask nervously.

”Will you be my girlfriend?”

[thewalkingwillowtree]

Safe Haven

Series Part Listing Found Here

Neteyam x Original Na'vi Female Character

Summery: Seeking refuge, Xilä and her father venture to the lands of the Omatikaya clan, in the hopes that the Toruk Makto would be generous in allowing them to stay. This is her story about not only finding her strength, but finding love. 

Image by the amazing @cinetrix

Warning: This story contains smut, violence & abuse (please don't read if these topics will affect you)

Some characters have been aged up. Neteyam in particular is 23.

Xilä is my own creation.

~

Part 6 - More

“Sweetheart you’re going to get us caught if you don’t quit it,” Neteyam hissed, biting the tip of Xi’s ear in rebuke.

“Sor-mmm!” she yelped loudly when he sucked her short lobe into his mouth.

“Xilä,” he warned again.

“I can’t help it, okay? You keep doing things that make me- !” he cut her off and she purred happily when he moved to continue his assault on her lips.

Neteyam swallowed another one of her moans with an eager kiss, fingers tightening their grip on her outer thighs before trailing higher under her skirt to smooth over the flesh there.

Her hips rolled, trying to worm their way closer to his, but he kept a firm hold, preventing her from feeling just how badly she was affecting him.

“Why do you taste so fucking good?” he growled, licking and biting his way down her neck.

“Wait wait wait,” she panted, trying and failing to push him away. “You can’t leave a mark like last time. Kiri wouldn’t let it go if she saw another one and you know I’m a terrible liar.”

“Mmm, fine,” he mumbled against the skin he had sucked into his mouth a few seconds ago. “No promises,” he said, nipping her collar bone, causing her to arch with a hiss.

In the few weeks since their first make out session, Xilä and Neteyam’s friendship had completely blurred the lines from platonic to increasingly sensual.

At first, the day after it happened, Neteyam had put his foot down and said they couldn’t ever do it again……the kissing that was, and she, although disheartened by the news, had agreed.

But Neteyam was weak.

By the end of that very same day, he was wound tight and ready to snap. During their entire lesson he was a ball of frustration and irritability. Being in close contact with Xilä was too much temptation for him to handle apparently.

And before she knew it, he was ripping her practice dagger from her hand, caging her in and bending at the waist to claim her lips.

Pretty much since then, they both made terrible terrible excuses to find some way or the other to kiss or make out. Xilä also had a sneaky suspicion he was using those said kisses to bribe or reward her during her Iknimaya preparedness lessons- which he of course, down right denied.

Neteyam’s favourite thing as of late however, was jumping out at random to drag her into whatever hiding spot he was in.

Like now for example. They were currently in a small storage tent, hidden by a wall of chopped wood used for the cook’s fires.

He sat with his back leaned on said wall while Xi straddled his lap, trying to inch her body closer and closer to his. But Neteyam, being the only somewhat level headed one of the two, always kept their lower halves as distant as possible. He knew he’d be goner the moment she touched him.

When a third breathy moan escaped her he pulled away, face stretched as if in pain. He was aching- badly.

“What’s wrong?” she frowned, smoothing her hands up to grip his thick biceps.

“Nothing,” he said, pecking her lips. “We should probably head back now,” he suggested, getting to his feet easily with her in high his arms. “I have to finish some arrangements for later tonight and you have a healer lesson soon, remember?”

“But I don’t want to get back yet,” she whined, tightening her arms and thighs around his neck and sides when he tried to put her down.

He smirked and gave her butt a playful smack. “And neither do I sweetheart, but I have quickly learned that you clearly have no self control for stopping, which means I unfortunately always have to. We’d never get anything done if it weren’t for me.”

“That’s rude. I have self control!”

He raised an eyebrow, glancing down at their current position- her still tightly clinging to him, while her tail was locked around one of his arms.

“Fine,” she said offended, leaning in to give him a final parting kiss.

She unhooked her legs and slid down his front with a scowl, but her offence was momentarily diminished when she felt something poke her upper stomach.

Xi turned a vibrant shade of purple when she saw the obvious bulge poking her but the look she gave him when she glanced back up had him twitching in his loincloth.

It was fucking sinful.

Stepping back, he clenched his jaw and shook his head profusely at her. “Nuh-uh. Nope. No, Xilä,” he said sternly, pushing her away with a palm to her stomach, trying to create as much distance as possible.

She frowned. “But I haven’t even-”

“Your face is telling me everything I need to know sweetheart. And I’m telling you no. So march your sweet little ass outside right now or I swear to Eywa-”

She lit up. “You think my butt is sweet?”

Neteyam groaned out loud in frustration, wiping his palms down his face. “For fucks sake Xilä, I swear you are literally going to be the death of me! One of these days they're going to find my body sprawled out somewhere and not know how I died.”

She was too good he thought, too innocent and sweet for him sometimes. Although a small dark secret side of him relished in it- most days he felt as if he were corrupting her. Which was why he tried his hardest to keep things as controlled as possible.

Nothing but kissing, he told her- from day one. That was the rule- although it was slowly losing its hold. Everyday she kept pushing him and tempting him. It was only a matter of time before one or the other had enough of holding back.

“Alright alright, sheesh. I’m going.” She shot him a pouty disgruntled look then turned to leave, tail swinging low.

Before she could cross the threshold however, his fingers circled her wrist to tug her back, while his other hand cupped her jaw turning it to face him.

She smiled against his soft apologetic kiss, savouring the taste of him as their tongues fused.

Going onto the balls of her feet, she deepened the kiss, hooking an arm around his neck, not yet ready to let him go.

Reluctantly breaking off, he kissed the tip of her nose then finally released her. “Okay, now you can go,” he said with a playful grin which made her weak.

In the last few weeks of their sneaking around, Neteyam seemed to have awoken something inside of Xilä- a maddening neediness, a constant want, a fire. His kisses were addicting and made her feel as if she would burst into flames.

They always left her wanting more.

Xi had never known she could feel like this. She had despised touch for most of her life. Yet from the start since she arrived at the clan, Neteyam had always been quite tactile with her.

It made her realize just how touch starved she truly was. He taught her how to feel and be cared for- he was the reason she wasn't a flinching, terrified mess anymore.

Sure she still had her moments where she’d revert to that broken girl she once was, but the people surrounding her would quickly bring her back- make her feel safe.

Neteyam especially, just had a way of getting her out of her head.

~

Xilä hoped she didn’t look as flushed as she felt as she made her way to the healer tents.

She stopped and spoke with a few clan members on the way- some extra chatty elderly folks, a girl from Lo’ak’s not so secret “fangirl club” as Kiri liked to call them and a couple kids from Tuk’s class.

After that she popped in quickly and quietly to check in on a Na’vi and her new born baby who she assisted Mo’at in delivering last week.

The baby boy was the cutest, tiniest creature she had ever seen and Xi felt a pang of longing when she saw the little family all cuddled together.

Realizing that she was running late now, she bid the new parents goodbye with a promise that she would visit again soon and then she was off, darting around the busyness surrounding her.

The clan was all hustle and bustle today. Apparently a war party was returning tonight after a four month long mission to lend aid to the Anurai clan.

Salveen and the other cooks already had an early start that morning- beginning to prepare a grand feast in celebration of the returning warriors.

“Hey Kiri,” she greeted when she walked into the Tsahìk’s tent. Xi sent a smile and wave to Mo’at who was currently tending to a poorly looking female on the other side of the room.

“Hey, oh great. Come help me with this.” Kiri was frowning over a little pot on the fire. “I’m trying to get this sleeping tonic to stabilise but it’s not cooperating, what did you do last time grandmother asked you to make it?”

Xi crouched beside her and sniffed the bubbling concoction, stirring it a few times. “It’s good actually, it only needs a bit more skillyweed,” she said, turning to pilfer through the table of cluttered ingredients to find some.

“Skillyweed! Right,” Kiri said, sounding upset that she hadn’t thought of it first. “Ugh, I cannot wait for tonight to be done and over with,” she muttered when she spotted the bustling commotion through the open tent flap.

“Why?” Xi asked amused, as she began to neatly dice the skillyweed.

“Because, it’s going to be a pain in the ass with all the ceremony brouhaha, which reminds me I can’t sit with you and Spider tonight. Mom and dad are making all us Sullys sit together- a united front and all of that,” she said with an eye roll, scooting forward to mix the brew again.

“It’s only one night though, right? It can’t be that bad.”

“Xilä.”

Turning to the sound of Mo’at’s voice, the Tsahìk jerked her head to the tent’s entrance where a worried looking father held his quiet sobbing toddler.

Xilä got to her feet and ushered the pair to an empty station, immediately asking the man to explain the situation.

“He got into my fishing gear,” the father said panicky, shifting his son into the cradle of his legs when he sat on the bedroll. “I didn’t even notice until I heard him cry out.”

“Oh no,” she murmured. “Well let’s see what’s happened, shall we?” She smiled reassuringly at the teary eyed boy. “Hi there, have you gotten hurt?” she asked gently. “Can I see please?”

Xi managed to coax him from his curled up position to check the small bleeding gash on his palm. She praised him for being brave as she cleaned the wound then treated it with a yalna bark paste before wrapping up his pudgy little hand.

All the while and unbeknown, the Tsahìk and Neytiri who had entered not too long ago, were staring at her interaction with great interest.

“Are you certain of what Eywa has shown you, mother?” Neytiri whispered, her gaze fixed on the young girl as she tickled the toddler’s stomach, gaining a happy squeal in response.

“Yes. I am certain. It is Eywa’s will, ‘Tiri….You do not approve?” the elder asked amused, watching her daughter’s expression carefully.

Neytiri pursed her lips. “I admit…she is not who I envisioned.”

“And did you think your JakeSully was who I envisioned for you, daughter?” the Tsahìk enquired.

Neytiri frowned. “You know it is not the same thing, mother.”

With twinkling eyes Mo’at said, “Is it not? How is it any different? Have you truly seen your son, Neytiri? Have you seen him with her?”

Contemplating, the Olo’eykte nodded because in truth she had seen. It was hard not to notice how her son would light up whenever he spoke about the Li’ona girl.

Neteyam had always worried, her. He was her eldest baby and as such, most of the pressure and responsibility fell on him. He was the future of the clan. She and her husband tried their best to protect him when and where they could, but there had always been high expectations of him- there would always be high expectations.

When Xilä entered their lives however, Neytiri began to notice a change in her son. His shoulders weren’t always as tense, he smiled and joked more. He seemed relaxed and happy overall- something she hadn’t seen in him in a long time.

“Do you approve of her mother?” Neytiri questioned, glancing at the elder.

“If you were to ask me that three months ago, I’d have said no…but now, now I see it. She is strong, that one and the people have accepted her as Omatikaya…. You should be proud of your son ‘Tiri….he has transformed that girl entirely. She is no longer the meek thing he dragged in almost seven moons ago.”

“No. She is not,” Neytiri agreed, her stare once more locked on her now future daughter in law.

~

Xilä flitted around, tidying and sweeping the confines of the small tent with a little hum as she went.

“I don’t know who’s worse now, you or mother,” D’avi said exasperatedly from her seated position on the floor. “Did I tell you she banned me from helping out with the preparations for tonight’s celebrations? She practically shooed me away! See this is why I hid my pregnancy for as long as possible!”

“You know she means well,” Xi grinned, packing away a set of crumpled clean loincloths. “She will be finally getting grandchildren, she’s terribly excited.”

“Just you wait Xi, she will be the same way with you when it’s your turn and then you will understand my pain.”

Xilä paused at that. “What do you mean?”

“Exactly what I just said. Now come sit with me will you? Tell me anything. I’ve been bored out of my mind lately. My husband insists on keeping me locked up,” she said with an eye roll as she rubbed her protruding stomach with a little wince.

Chuckling, Xilä sat beside the woman who she secretly considered an older sister, reaching out to feel the kicking babies. “Are they giving you terror today?”

“You have no idea. I think Eywa has an odd sense of humour since she decided to bless me with twins.”

“D’avi, are you really surprised? Your mate is a twin,” Xi pointed out.

“Ugh, don’t remind me. Okay okay, enough about me. Tell me about you.”

“Alright.…ahhh let’s see. Oh, Spider taught me a new knife trick yesterday.”

“Always weapons or something dangerous with that one. Lo’ak too,” she said with a fond eye roll. “What else?”

“Umm, oh! My healer lessons have advanced. Mo’at says it will take me a few years but she thinks I can be a brilliant healer. She’s already allowing me to brew simple tonics or treat minor injuries. I love it.”

“That’s amazing Xi. I’m honestly impressed. I’m sure mother is incredibly proud of you as well and I bet she can’t contain herself and is off boasting and singing your praises to anyone who would listen, especially since you’re training directly under the Tsahìk herself.”

Xilä smiled bashfully. “Sometimes I feel as if I have taken your mother, D’avi.”

“Don’t!” D’avi insisted. “There is more than enough of Salveen Te Eyla Nouayate'ite for us to share. And in any case...I know she’s always wanted another child- she loves doting on you.” She squeezed Xi’s hand with a watery smile. “And I get my wish of finally having a little sister.”

“D’avi…” she whispered. “That means a lot, you…you have no idea.” Xi felt a bit choked up by her words.

“Okay, no. Enough of this sappiness. I have cried six times already for the day and if we continue I know I’ll make it seven. Tell me something else, something juicy and dramatic, come on Xi. I need some excitement! I have been stuck in this tent for days!” she explained dramatically.

Xilä laughed at the older woman’s theatrics, she was so very much like her mother.

Hesitating, she seemed to make up her mind about something. “....D’avi, can I ask you something…secret?”

The pregnant woman’s eyes lit up and she leaned in excitedly. “Of course Xi.”

“Can you tell me everything you know about- ,” she cleared her throat nervously, “about, you know...intimate acts?”

“Okay you’ve lost me.”

Xilä turned a deep shade of purple and as if finally understanding D’avi’s eyebrows rose high.

“Ohhhhhh,” she breathed out. “Xilä, are you asking me about, sex?”

“Ugh!” she hid her face behind her palms with a groan. “It’s humiliating, I know.”

“Why?” D’avi laughed. “There's nothing to be ashamed of. It is a beautiful act. What do you want to know?”

Xilä peaked out, surprised by her willingness to share. Feeling less embarrassed she faced her adoptive sister head on.

“I want to know everything about it. The mating, the bonding ceremony, how everything…fits? Other…things. Just everything. I have an idea of how it all works, but no one has ever really explained it all to me.”

“Well alright then. We can do that,” D’avi smiled, as if it were no big deal. “Wait, if you’re asking me this, then there’s a someone…right? Is it who I think it is?” she asked, turning giddy.

“D’avi,” Xi whined as she blushed. “I’m not ready to share that yet.”

“Oh fine, fine. Keep your secret for now then.” She settled into a more comfortable position then said, “Okay, where to begin…”

Before she could start however, her mate walked in, a grin stretched wide across his face at the sight of his wife.

“Hello my love,” D’avi greeted, accepting the kiss he bent to offer her. “I am terribly sorry but I’m afraid I’m going to have to kick you out now. Xi and I are about to have a sisterly discussion that requires the utmost privacy.”

~

When Xi finally made it to the grand gathering later that night, the celebrations were already in full swing. Music, chatter, laughter and the sounds of merriment filled the forest air.

It always amazed her whenever the clan held a celebration or some sort of gathering. She could feel the spirit of Eywa heavily and the love and bond the people shared.

It was a stark difference to the lonely days she’d spent huddled in her shack of a home back in Li’ona.

Xilä spotted Spider amongst his and Lo’ak’s other friends and decided to go sit with him.

It was not hard to locate Neteyam. He and the other Sully’s were seated on a lavish tapestry in the center of the gathering, all dressed in their best garb as they ate.

As if sensing her gaze on him he turned and paused, eyebrows raising high, jaw gone loose. His shock turned into a heated, hungry expression which made her heart speed up and her cheeks flush.

D’avi had done her hair in a series of loose twists and curls, littered with pearled beads. The top and skirt she wore tonight, while still modest to any other Na’vi, showed much more skin than her usual sets and the glass-stoned jewellery she worked hard on all week to create, glittered around her neck, arms and wrists.

Images of what D’avi had described to her that evening during their extremely educating talk, flashed through her mind as she too, openly stared.

Her mouth went dry at the sight of him in his royal blue and golden embroidered loincloth. His skin glistened from where she stood, and all she wanted to do was run her hands all over it.

“Ahem.”

Jerking out from her stare off with the Na’vi she was falling for, she turned and saw Spider smirking up at her with an “I knew it” grin. She quickly sat down and prayed to Eywa that she and Neteyam weren’t too obvious.

“You two done eye fucking each other?” her friend taunted.

She spluttered pathetically. “W-what? We- no, we weren’t- Spider!”

He let out a bark of laughter. “Don’t worry Xi, your secret is safe with me,” he winked. “Though let’s really try and keep it on the down low for a little while longer, yeah? Lo’ak called it first and I really don’t feel like giving up my favourite dagger just yet.”

Xilä choked in shock. “Wait what? You betted on us?!” she shrieked- eyes widening in the realization she was being too loud. She hissed quieter, “Spider, tell me you two did not bet on Neteyam and I.”

“Mmm, alright yeah, us two didn’t bet on you guys. It was more like ten of us,” he whispered back seriously.

She stared at him incredulously but all he did was give her a mischievous wink.

Halfway through the night Jake stood to give his praises to the war party as Neteyam and Neytiri flanked him. The clan broke out into a round of howls and applause when they’d heard the good works of the team of warriors.

The group was called out to be thanked and given tokens of honour by the Toruk Makto. They stood out, all mighty and fierce looking.

Once the ceremony ended, they all broke off to head back to their respective seats. One warrior however stopped and made her way straight into the arms of a mildly shocked Neteyam.

Spider was busy chatting to his friends so he had not noticed, but Xi sure did. She stared at the way the gorgeous female smiled and peered up at Neteyam through her lashes, slapping her palm jokingly on his chest over whatever he’d said.

She was flirting with him, and openly so, as if she’d done so all the time. The female did not leave his side after that, instead she sat beside him as if she intended to stay there until the feast was over.

Neteyam didn’t pull away when she leaned over his arm to get food, clearly and intentionally brushing her chest against him- she wasn't sure he even noticed honestly. And even though when he smiled at her as they spoke, it didn’t reach his eyes, Xilä still felt a hot flash of unfamiliar jealousy.

“Spider,” she murmured, catching his attention. “Who is that?” she asked, trying to sound indifferent.

“Oh. Uh….Umm, that’s Li…? No Lea…Leati!” He said, finally remembering. “She’s the warrior who led the mission trip.”

“She seems close with Neteyam, are they good friends?” Catching the look on Spider’s face she rushed out, “It’s just well, I was only wondering.”

Spider looked uncomfortable, like he was hiding something. “I wouldn’t say friends no, but maybe you should ask him instead. I don’t really know anything about her.”

She nodded with a forced smile.

Neteyam was already staring at her when she glanced his way again. He mouthed something to her she didn’t catch. Tilting her head, she watched as he glanced around inconspicuously before mouthing the four words again.

“Ten minutes. Your tent.”

‘Your tent?’ she wondered. ‘Oh…OHHHH. My tent.’

She bit her lip as excitement flooded her and nodded at him- looking away quickly when the Leati girl caught her eye and raised a suspicious brow.

~

Sure enough ten minutes later, Neteyam was eagerly backing her into Salveen and Jxo’s tent and scoping her up into his arms as he made his way to her little closed off corner.

“You really are trying to kill me aren’t you, sweetheart,” he teased, easily holding her one handily so he could secure the tie on her privacy curtain.

“How am I trying to kill you?” she grinned, staring at his handsome face as she clung to him.

How could one person make her so insanely happy all the time? How was that even possible?

“Have you seen yourself tonight Xilä?” his palm slid from her thigh, curving around her knee to smooth down her bare calf. “And no boots, baby?”

“Surprise,” she whispered breathlessly, loving the sound of her new nickname coming from his shocked voice. “I’ve been practising to go without them.”

“Well you look fucking edible,” he growled, gently laying her onto her nest of a bed, caging her in and capturing her mouth with his own.

Her arms reached up, fingers tangling with his braids as she arched her spine- hardened buds brushing against his smooth skin.

His kisses were breath taking and relentless.

Hands roaming, his palm trailed down her side and over the flat of her tummy before edging higher to the underside of her breast. Just when she thought he’d finally make contact with her breast, his fingers changed their route and moved downwards instead.

Xilä felt dizzy in her haze of lust. She moaned when his tongue lapped and tangled with hers- kisses, turning eager and desperate. His fingers reached the edge of her skirt, dipping under to continue their journey up the skin of her thigh- bunching up the material as it went.

She whined unhappily when his hand suddenly withdrew. She was needy and frustrated and he was giving her absolutely nothing!

“Neteyam,” she breathed, breaking their locked lips. “You’re driving me insane. I need more.”

He gave her a naughty grin. “Kissing only, remember? It’s the rules.”

Her eyebrows narrowed in fury. “I don’t want to do that any more! I- ” she scowled, annoyed by his amused expression and tried to push him away, but he did not budge. “Get off Neteyam….please.” She looked away when he wouldn’t let her go.

“What do you want Xilä?” he asked gently, keeping her in place.

She peered up, tempted by his words. “I want more than just kissing. I- why do you keep stopping us from that?” she asked, genuinely confused.

They’d been at this for weeks now and every time he stopped them, he could never give her a straight answer whenever she questioned him.

Neteyam rolled off of her with a heavy sigh, wiping his palms down his face in mild frustration. She sat up with a frown, feeling slightly hurt by his actions.

Biting the inside of her cheek, she braced herself for rejection. D’avi had warned her these things could happen.

“It’s not that simple, Xi. We shouldn’t even be doing any of this.”

Xi kept her eyes averted from his tented lower half and stared at his face dejectedly. “Then why did we even start it in the first place?”

“Xilä-”

“No Neteyam!” she said, jumping to her feet to avoid his touch, straightening out her skirt. “You clearly don’t want more and I need to respect that. So we should probably stop while we're at it. Like you said we shouldn’t be doing it in the first place, right?”

Neteyam sat up alert, staring at her as she got ready to flee. “Xi, wait-”

“I think I should get back to the feast.”

He snatched her wrist before she could escape and pulled her into his lap, ignoring her flaying and words of protest.

With a shocked gasp, she instantly went quiet when he tugged her closer, sitting her directly on top of his twitching bulge, rolling his hips against hers.

“Does that feel like I don’t want more Xilä?” he asked sternly.

Xi went mute. Screwing her eyes closed, she dug her fingernails into his forearms when he did it again, mewling at the sensation of her soaked core rubbing against his.

“Eyes, Xilä,” he ordered in a strained voice.

She blinked up at him, panting slightly. His pupils were full blown as he fixed her with a dangerous glower.

“Tell me what you want sweetheart,” he whispered huskily against her lips- their breaths mingling.

She licked her lips and blinked again, trying to focus but it was difficult because all of a sudden he had her rocking against him at a sinfully slow and torturous pace.

“What?” she asked, confused.

He sucked her bottom lip into his mouth, releasing it with a soft pop. “Tell me what you want and I will give it to you.”

Overwhelmed, her head fell forward, clashing with a hard pectoral. She inhaled deeply, whimpering from the sensations uprooting inside of her- the swooping flutters in her stomach, the pulsing need between her thighs, the aching peaks of her nipples.

Then there was the feeling of him between her thighs. It was incredible. He felt big……very very big.

Xilä was burning up from inside out and desperate for any kind of release.

Neteyam wasn’t doing so well either, he was hanging by a thread and the mess she was making on his loincloth was not helping one bit.

He could smell her arousal and the only thing stopping him from flipping her over and burying his face between her thighs was the fact that he did not want to scare her off.

“Xilä,” he called again, soothing a palm down her spine which caused her to shiver. “Baby you need to talk to me. Tell me what you want.”

Tilting her head back, he stifled a groan at the sight of her glazed over expression. If she looked like this already and he had barely touched her, how the fuck would she be when he actually did?

“Anything. Everything. Just touch me, I don’t care! Neteyam please-”

As if her words were a command, Neteyam flipped- he suddenly turned them over with a growl and she was on her back before she could even blink.

He licked a hungry path down her throat, fingers reaching up to yank down her top, exposing her breasts to the cooled air.

Without pause he bent to suck a pebbled nipple into his mouth making her cry out- back bowing.

He parted her thighs easily, sailing a large palm down her stomach and under her skirt to cup her through her thin covering- she was completely drenched.

With the flick of a wrist the material was gone- baring her completely.

She gasped. “You ripped it.”

He released her nipple and gave her a boyish grin. “Sorry,” he said, not sounding sorry at all before swallowing her other breast entirely.

Thick fingers traced the outline of her, circling and gathering slick as they went.

“Neteyam,” she whined, squirming and shifting to try and get him to make proper contact. He was back with that damn teasing thing again.

He gave her one last lap of her nipple, then raised up so he could see her face.

Her mouth made a little O and her eyes shut when he began to stretch her with a thick digit.

“Eyes, Xilä,” he whispered with a groan, feeling her warm and wet and tight around his finger. “I want to see those gorgeous eyes.”

She peered up at him and a dreamy smile etched across her face when he sank deeper, still keeping his leisurely pace. He smirked. “You alright there sweetheart? You’ve gone all quiet on me.”

“I- ” Xi’s words were cut short with a pleasurable moan when his long finger sank all the way in, moving a minuscule amount faster.

“More,” she babbled, and he complied, adding a second digit. Her hips rolled in time with his thrusts and warmth turned to heat which began to slowly consume her.

The moment his thumb met her hidden nub her spine bowed deeper and her thighs clamped together, trapping his working hand.

“Breathe Xi. Just relax okay?” he cooed while his tail wrapped around her thigh to spread her wide again.

“‘Teyam, I feel so good,” she whimpered, biting on her lip when he began to curl deep inside of her.

“Yeah?” he grinned, speeding up a little- hitting a particularly spongy spot that made her mewl.

The music in the distance from the clan’s festivities was dying down which meant people would start to make their way back home anytime soon.

Neteyam kissed Xilä, licking her lips as he pulled away. “Xi, sweetheart, I really hate to rush your first orgasm but you’re going to need to come soon if you don’t want us to get caught.”

She tugged him down for a kiss again, arms hooked behind his neck as her hips jerked and grinded against his hand, walls clenching around his fingers.

“Neteyam!” she moaned out loud, panting and shaking as she began to near her high.

“Come on Xi. Come for me sweetheart.”

Xilä’s thighs trembled and her toes curled as she shattered, shockwaves of overwhelming pleasure rippling throughout her body.

Neteyam swallowed her cry with a biting kiss and instead of stopping he sped up his finger work faster than before, his thumb pressing down on her clit.

Babbling incoherently Xilä thrashed in his hold as he quickly led her into another orgasm. A hoarse shout fell from her lips. Body tensing and gone taut, she gushed all over his hand for the second time.

Little tremors of aftershocks shook her as she came down from her high. Neteyam pressed soothing kisses all over her face and slowly extracted his fingers to rub soft circles around her swollen, dripping flesh as her hips twitched from the overstimulation.

Locking eyes, he smiled lovingly at her. She was so pretty he thought. Even in her post orgasmic haze, the fucked out look she had endured him.

“How do you feel?” he asked, brushing his nose along hers.

She blushed as she came back to reality, unhooking her arms from his neck to trail down his chest, with only one thing in mind.

“Incredible,” she whispered, hooking her fingers into his loincloth, with much determination.

He didn’t stop her, if anything as she tugged him free from his ties he gathered as much of her slick as possible on his fingers.

He did however stop her when she tried to touch him directly. He gave her an apologetic kiss and murmured, “I’m sorry Xi, but it sounds like the feast is over and I need to be quick.”

“I can be quick,” she pouted, causing him to chuckle.

“Next time baby.”

“Fine,” she agreed, leaning up on her forearms and spreading her thighs further to properly see him grip his length- slathering it up with her juices. “Oh my Eywa,” she whispered, goggling at the sheer size of him.

That thing was supposed to fit inside of her? No. No way. D’avi must have gotten it wrong. Right?

“Xilä, you’re going to make my ego grow too large if you continue to stare at me like that,” he smirked, starting to pump himself.

She licked her lips. “Sorry, it’s just so- so…”

“So, what baby?”

She blinked at him incredulously. “Big Neteyam!” she hissed, as if it were obvious.

His lips rolled over his teeth to hide his need to laugh- how the hell should he respond to that?

He grunted when he tightened his grip on himself and began a rapid jerking pace.

Xilä bit her lip and stared, completely entranced by the sight before her. She didn’t even care that she could now hear the sounds of chatter and footsteps as people started to return to Camp.

Her eyes darted between the wild, dark look upon his face to the hypnotising view of his hand working himself over- beads of liquid seeping from his tip.

“Oh fuck,” he gasped out, staring down at her- concentrating on her brilliant eyes and pouty lips.

An image of those lips sucking him dry as her eyes stared up at him flooded his mind. “Fuck fuck fuck. SHIT.”

Mimicking his habit, she gripped his neck and pulled him down, crashing their mouths together. He was getting too loud so she tried to smother his grunts with her tongue instead.

A strangled noise escaped him as his body seized. Xilä couldn’t see, but she felt spurts of warm liquid hit her- coating her inner thighs.

With one final pump, he slumped onto her with a breathy laugh. “Holy shit.”

She grinned too, hugging his broad shoulders as he nuzzled her neck- sticky palm gripping the bunched up fabric on her hip.

“Holy shit,” she echoed, making him shake with more laughter.

The voices of returning people grew louder. Neteyam quickly stretched an arm out to flick off the switch of her lamp, bathing them in darkness.

Xilä held her breath as Salveen’s boisterous voice rang through the air, clucking on about the festivities with complete excitement.

“Xi? Xilä? Are you there? Xilä? Did you see when she returned tonight Jxo?”

Neteyam slipped his palm over Xi’s mouth, just in case she was silly enough to actually respond.

“She’s probably sleeping Sal, let the kid rest,” came Jxo’s low voice.

“Oh fine, I am a bit pooped myself, today was my busiest day in such a long...” Salveen’s voice grew distant and muffled, meaning she and Jxo had retired to their private corner of the room.

Both Xilä and Neteyam released hushed laughs again.

“Will you stay with me tonight?” she whispered, brushing her thumbs across his cheeks.

Neteyam smiled at her sweetness, taking one of her hands to kiss her fingers. “Yeah baby. I’ll stay.”

~

It's here!! And longggg over due.

Let me know what you think lovelies! Was it too much touchy touch? Lol. And hey, we get a glimpse of Leati. Who is she???

Okay so I'll try my best to get Part 7 out by this weekend, we'll see how it goes, but it will definitely not be as long a wait.

FYI & PS for those of you who want to know: this is a no cheating fic mkay :)

@jakesullyfatjuicypeen @granddearduck @riatesullironalite @strawberri-blonde @earthling55 @innercreationflower @duckworthbean @gyuventure

If you'd like to be tagged or I forgot you by accident, please let me know.

[changingplumbob]

Chopra Household: Chapter 6, Part 11

Rahul and Cassandra get some time to themselves then it's time to taste test the golden egg!

CW: Moderate sim spice

If Viola is attempting to say something it will be in brackets, otherwise you can assume it's just trying out sounds Mercedes has a speech delay and may get words wrong, correct wording will be in brackets if that is the case Savannah aka Honeybee Mercedes aka Little Ladybug Viola aka Green Bean

Cassandra takes a nap after a long shift while Rahul and Lavina get the kids to bed. Rahul finds his wife snoring softly when he heads to bed. He doesn’t want to wake her but past experience has taught him that if he doesn’t she’ll wake up cold.

Rahul: My darling, time to get in bed

Cassandra: Hmm… Oh, but… I missed you at work. I want to talk *sleepily* I like your voice

Rahul: *chuckles* Will you at least get under the covers? Then I promise I can talk to you until you fall back to sleep

Casandra: Deal. I love you

Rahul: I love you to

He pulls back the covers and replaces them as she climbs in. He leans against her hip and takes time to admire her. Sometimes he forgets how lucky he is that Cassandra ended up loving him back.

Rahul: Are you comfortable now

Cassandra: Very. And I won’t get cold so you can stop worrying about that

Rahul: Sorry my darling, I’m always going to worry about you. It’s part of being married

Cassandra: So you married me so that you could worry about me

Rahul: Well that and…

Cassandra: Lots of woohoo and babies

Rahul: Something like that

Rahul massages the top of the sheets and duvet that runs over Cassandra’s hip, enjoying the spark in her eyes. He still doesn't know what possessed him to show up at her house the day she turned 18 and propose to her, but sometimes there's no fighting your feelings. He'd been making deliveries to her house since he was 16 and once the 13 year old let him inside the house rather than making him leave the bags on the stoop they formed a close if unconventional friendship.

Rahul: How are you handling everything

Cassandra: With the girls? I mean I know it’ll likely be tough for Mercedes at school but Savannah sticks to her like glue. And Viola, she’s hitting so many milestones. I didn’t know if having your mum here was going to help but it’s nice to have an extra set of hands. What about you?

Rahul: *sighs* Savannah, I mean we knew right away she was going to be a handful didn’t we? Mercedes seems more unsure of herself under the bravado, we need to make sure she doesn’t feel invisible. Viola is still holding her first word in *pouts*

Cassandra: *giggles* She’ll speak when she’s ready, Mercedes did. Don’t worry big guy, we’re doing good

Rahul: Are you doing good

Cassandra: Very. Although I do feel like a bit of misbehaving

Rahul: Is that right

Cassandra: Mmhmm

Rahul: We’ll have to be careful mum doesn’t hear us

Cassandra: She didn’t hear us this afternoon, she won’t hear us now

Cassandra pulls Rahul’s hand closer and begins kissing it. Rahul manages to maintain his composure until she begins to slide his fingers into her mouth and his lust overcomes him.

After more than a decade of being intimate the pair know what each other likes in bed and other less conventional places. It’s like Cassandra said, they make a symphony together. Every time Cassandra is amazed at how lovingly Rahul looks at her, his green eyes flooding with emotion.

For Rahul, he feels accomplishment every time he brings her pleasure. When she first said she thought she was demisexual he had no idea what it meant, but she talked him through it. That for her it meant that she didn't perceive someone as attractive until she got to know them, really know them. It took him months after that to work up the courage to ask if she thought he was cute, but he was certainly pleased with the answer.

Now he knew every sigh, shiver and squeal Cassandra made meant that she loved him. She had learned who he was, the good and the bad about him, and that connection opened her eyes to seeing him as desirable. Rahul knew it may be foolish but he did feel a sense of pride knowing he was the only one his wife was attracted to.

When they were finished they felt like they were the only two people in the world.

Rahul: I hope we made another baby

Cassandra: Me to but…

Rahul: Tell me my darling

She stroked his head of curls and like usual his eyelids grew heavy. He fought to stay awake though, he wanted to listen.

Cassandra: Savannah wants to go camping. I don’t know that I’ll be great doing that pregnant

Rahul: If I remember you got pregnant halfway through our last trip there and managed splendidly

Cassandra: *chuckles* So you’re saying don’t worry… just like I was telling you

Rahul: *smiles* yeah. See, we’re the perfect pair

After being put to bed early Viola needs a change and a feed in the early morning. Luckily nana Lavina is here to help!

Lavina: Okay, open up

Viola: *keeps mouth closed*

Lavina: I know you must be hungry, don’t you want some nice food

Viola opens her mouth to try and babble that she’s bored of carrot but before she knows it the spoon is in. Reluctantly she swallows but as nana feeds her she ends up smearing the food all over herself. She may have a good appetite but really she just wants a nice bottle.

Lavina: Oh now, we can’t put you to bed like this now can we? Best have an early morning bubble bath

Viola: ga loo dun (no more carrot please)

Cluckton: *crows* Hear ye, hear ye... I'm the boss, that's the message

Rahul: That’s Cluckton. I think I’m going to hire a ranch hand

Cassandra: Really? You love gardening

Rahul: I know but I have other skills I need to work on and I want to make sure you have enough time for your music. Now, go have a nice bath and I’ll sort out breakfast

Entering the kitchen Rahul decides to use the golden egg for the household’s breakfast. After a quick call to hire a ranch hand his mind wanders back to the fun he and Cassandra has last night. He is indeed a lucky man.

Mercedes: Papa are you daydreaming

Rahul: Why

Mercedes: The stove is on fire

Rahul: *scoffs* the stove is not- oh damn, fire

Mercedes: *sighs* I told you

Rahul: Let’s not panic. It may seem like fire but it’s really just broken

Mercedes: Umm, it looks like fire to me

Rahul: If it were fire I’d be able to extinguish something but repairing seems like the only approach

Mercedes: Papa, does the watcher make things break

Rahul: I don’t think so. Some sims think the watcher does but I reckon the watcher fixes things for us

Mercedes: If not I’ll scratch their watching eyes out *hisses*

Savannah: All done in the bathroom! You can have it now Mer- Papa why is the stove on fire

Rahul: *sighs* It’s not full fire, just give me a second honeybee

He manages to fix the oven and resume the eggs. Good thing to as we do not want to waste our golden egg.

The golden egg mixture leaves the household dazed BUT they also get a nice golden glow for the morning, as well as some cute cartoon stars.

Golden eggs, now Mr Cluckton approved!

Previous ... Next

[sweet-honey-fruit]

heeello there, i just got done having the biggest cry i've had in awhile so i've come to ask for some comfort with itto, gorou, heizou and scara if possible comforting their s/o (preferrably gn) who's hiding away having a breakdown bc they're the designated therapist friend everyone goes to for support while they have no one to support them. Ty for your time and sorry for throwing this on ya

I’m sorry to hear that dear, I hope you’re feeling okay. And I’m sorry for getting to this so late. I understand how you feel, I too was a designated therapist friend, so this hits close to home. I’m more than happy to provide you some comfort ❤️. I’m sorry Scara’s is so short, I couldn’t see him do anything else other than violence dfjfdngfd.

Genshin Men Comforting Therapist Friend Reader

Genre: hurt/comfort

Warnings: toxic friendships, implied violence (scara), manipulation (heizou, not towards reader), mentions of spreading STI’s (heizou)

Gorou

Gorou was starting to get worried when he couldn’t find you anywhere. With everything being tense between the Shogunate and the Resistance, he was starting to think of the worst possible scenarios that could've led to your disappearance

But when Kokomi came up to him and said that you were hiding in her own hiding place crying, he felt a sense of dread and relief. Relief because you were still here and not kidnapped by the Shogunate. Dread because, well, you’re hiding and crying

He rushed over to you immediately, and prompted to comfort now and ask questions later

He held you to his chest, tail wrapping around your waist as he hushed you, rocking you back and forth

His presence alone was enough to make you calm down a little

He even let you pet his ears to help you stop, and it worked surprisingly

His eyes scanned you over as you played with his ears, seeing if there were any physical injuries plaguing your skin

When he was sure you were okay in that aspect, he whispered out, “What has gotten my beloved upset? If you wish to tell me, then please do. But I won’t rush you either. I’m here to help.”

His words almost made you start crying again. Finally, someone who is caring for you

Gorou is lowkey panicking when you start to tear up again

But when the words spill from your mouth about how people you delcared as friends in the Resistance are using you for emotional support without providing back, he finds it hard to hold back a growl

His arms hold you tighter, playing with your hair. He’s going through every logical solution to the problem, but he keeps circling back to snapping at the ‘friends’ that left you in such a state

Once you’ve calmed down a bit, he’s carrying you back to the shrine, whispering words of encouragment

Saying how good you are, that you’re such an amazing person. That you’re worth it, you’re more than a therapist. You’re sweet, kind, loving, and worth fighting for

He sits down with Kokomi to talk about the issue once he sees you getting some much needed rest

They both come up with a plan to form a seminar about the importance of caring just as much as being cared for

Gorou is glaring at a specific group of people throughout the whole thing

Heizou

Heizou was about to form a search party with the whole Tenryou Commission when he came home and you weren’t there

He’s normally level headed, prompting to think things through way before flying off the handle. But when it comes to you? His first instinct is to internally freak out

Once he managed to calm himself down and start thinking rationally again, he started going through more logical reasonings as to what happened. And knowing you, he can figure it out quite easily

Ever the clever little detective, he boiled it down to one possible situation: An emotional event happened that caused you to seclude yourself. With that being said, he knows you’re somewhere in Inazuma City considering how you couldn’t have gone too far. Further thinking, he knew the exact place you’d go: Under the cliff side down by the harbor.

As always, he was correct. Seeing you leaning against the rocks with a blank look, tears staining your flushed cheeks. He’s never seen you so defeated and heartbroken before. It shattered his heart to see you like that

Prompting to keep up with his flirty boy persona, he walks up to you with a beaming smile “There’s my dreamy love, what’s gotten you so down in the dumps?”

At first you’re truly adament on not telling him, trying to say that you’re fine. you’re okay. That you’re just overreacting and he doesnt need to worry

And to that he’s saying bullshit. He’ll get it out of you one way or another. He’s good at that considering how that’s practically part of his job description

Slowly but surely, he’ll work you to slipping up, ending up venting to him about how exhausted you are. How you’re just tired of being used to solve your ‘friends’ problems. Tired of the toxic mentality they’re leading you to believe. You’re. Just. So. Tired

The whole time he’s listening attentively, holding you close and kissing your temple every now and then. He’s secrelty plotting what to do with these…friends of yours

He coaxs you to allow him to carry you back home. He’ll lay you in bed, cuddle with you, and wait till you’re asleep to slip back out again

He finds the people that put you through so much pain and oh boy is he making sure they don’t hurt you again. Lets just say he did some back ground checks on them

“Unless you want the whole city to know that you two are the reason for the STI pandemic a couple of months ago, then I suggest you, how do I put this? Be more mindful of people’s feelings, yeah?”

Although he recommends you get new friends all together. He’ll even introduce you to Yoimiya!

Scaramouche

He. Is. Raising. Hell.

No one is coming out alive, I’m sorry

Not when he stumbles upon you curled up on the bathroom floor and baaling (haha) your eyes out

Not when you’re so hysterical from the amount of emotional and mental build up from those who you call friends caused you

Leaving you out to dry when you’ve done everything for them? That’s rich, especially for the guy who uses people for his own benefits for a leaving

Maybe if it was someone else, he would congratulate them on a job well done

But since it’s you, the one and only person he cherishes, he’s losing his mind

The most he’ll do to comfort you is to lead you back to bed and drape a blanket over you, allowing you to cry it out

Comfort is his weak point, he doesn’t really know how. But what he does know what to do is to cause pain

And pain he will cause

He’s marching over to them, a wicked grin on his face

To save the gory details, lets just say he used them as target practice

When he comes back, all he says is “You’re going to need new ‘friends.’ Or, just, don’t have any at all. They’re pathetic anyway.”

[fookinavocadosman]

episode 6: good as hell {HS}

relationships are tested, rules are broken, the girls bond and more secrets are made

warnings: like a dash of smut. 

word count: 2.7k

As the morning comes around we all lay in bed talking about if we think Zayn and Ava broke the rules. I defend them thinking they were able to hold back but Harry thinks differently. The room is split between if they broke the rules or not and we can only wait til later to see who was right. We all break off outside while Kate stays inside and I can tell that something is not right. I tried to talk to her but she bruised me off and I got the message that this was something she needed to figure out on her own so I left her be telling her that if she needed to talk I’d be there for her. When afternoon rolls around the girls go into the dressing room to change. Ava eventually joins us and I jump up trapping her in a hug as she laughs. 

“How was it?” I ask after I let her go sitting back down at my mirror as she goes to hers. 

“It was amazing.” She smiles from ear to ear and everyone looks at her smiling. “We took a bath together and talked, we drank champagne and it was absolutely magical.” I smile as I remember my night back in the suite with Harry and a soft look is on her face. She looks truly happy. 

“Did you guys break any rules?” Riley asks her and Ava bites her lip looking down at her hands. 

“Uhm yeah, we just kissed but that was it.” She mumbles embarrassed and I walk over to her wrapping her in a hug. 

“Hey, I’m glad you’re happy.” I mumble in her ear and she lets out a soft breath tightening her arms around me. 

“Thank you.” She whispers and when she pulls away relief is across her face. We all gather at the cabana at Lana’s request and she fills us in. 

“Hello everyone, Zayn and Ava, you have broken the rules.” She starts and everyone sits back ready for the damage. 

“Your kiss has cost the group $3000. The prize fund now stands at $53,000.” She finishes and in a way, everyone is relieved that was the only rule break. No one is angry, maybe a little upset but not angry. Kate stands up, turning our attention to her. 

“Hey guys, so I have done a lot of reflecting and I think it’s time for me to go.” She announces and some of us sit back in shock while others express their shock by saying no. 

“It’s what’s best for me and it was really hard for me to come to this conclusion, but I’ve learned a lot here. I’ve made some amazing friendships here but I think in order for me to continue my progression I needed to make a romantic connection but that didn’t happen.” She sits back down before continuing. 

“I genuinely enjoyed my time here and this was an amazing experience so thank you for everything.” She finishes her explanation and we all send a sad smile to her. We all hug her as we say goodbye, everyone solemn that she’s leaving. 

Kate truly was an amazing part of this experience. She was a good friend, she wasn’t afraid to speak her mind but was also there for you when you needed her. As we watch her leave silence falls upon us as we take it in. 

Once we all settle from the shock we disperse spending the rest of the day in careful thought. Everyone seems to be more aware of how serious this retreat is and how much we’ve grown in the past couple of weeks. 

As the night comes to a close we all find our way back to the bedroom, the sleeping arrangements changing once again. Zayn and Ava, Louis and Sage, Harry and I, and Riley and Niall are the ones who stayed the same. But tonight, Brooke has climbed into Luke’s bed and Michael and Kenzie share.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A new day has begun and luckily for us, no one broke the rules overnight. Harry and I stay back in bed bickering about how certain things are pronounced while everyone else has left ready to start the day. I take in our alone time here as we have only a little less than a week left here and I feel myself get a bit sad. 

“What are you thinking about babe?” Harry asks me when he notices I’ve gone quiet. 

“Just a bit sad that we’re leaving in a week. I mean this has been an eye-opening experience for me and it just feels surreal.” I explain to him and he hums, placing a kiss on my forehead. 

“Yeah, but we’ll be alright love, I intend for us to continue once we leave, we’ll work through everything.” He reassures me and I nod, lifting my head to look at him. His eyes are puffy from sleep and his curls are flopping on his head. He looks absolutely breathtaking. 

We eventually climb out of bed heading our separate ways and I walk in on Brooke talking about Luke. I smile as she tells us about her alone time with him last night and I can tell she’s genuinely forming a connection with him and I’m glad she’s starting to change. The day is uneventful, all of us lounging around as we don’t have anything planned for us to do. Riley, Niall, Louis, Sage, Harry, and I are all hanging out in the cabana when Lana dings. We all look confused until she starts speaking. 

“Riley, as you know this retreat helps you make meaningful connections but it also tests those connections. Your company has been requested on a date.” She stops letting the anxiety sink into all of us. Harry readjusts and Niall sits up a bit more looking at her. 

“By Luke.” Lana finishes and everyone’s jaws drop. 

“What the fuck.” Niall huffs under his breath and I bring my knees up to my chest wrapping my arms around them in a protective manner. Harry moves his hand to comfort me as I look at Riley’s reaction. She sits her mouth open in shock and Niall curses. 

“I don’t want to go on a date with him.” Riley says to Lana and she accepts the rejection. Riley and Niall get up leaving the group as the rest of us sit in shock. 

“Jesus too much has happened these last couple of days.” Louis mumbles and I laugh agreeing. 

“Someone should tell Brooke.” Sage brings up and I sigh standing up. 

“I saw her in the dressing room earlier with Kenzie and Ava. I’ll go talk to her.” I look back at Harry as I grab my drink, sending him a small smile as I head to the dressing room. I push open the door seeing Brooke dressed in a tan dress with Kenzie sitting next to her as they talk and I send her a soft smile. 

“Hey, hun.” I start as I close the door behind me feeling genuinely bad. Here she is ready to go on a date with the guy she likes and I have to tell her that he doesn’t want her. 

“So I was in the cabana with Riley, Sage, Louis, and Harry, and Lana dings telling us that someone requested to go on date with Riley and it was Luke.” I break the news to her and I instantly see her deflate. 

“That’s fine.” She speaks confidently but it doesn’t hide the tears forming in her eyes. 

“Riley said no to the date if that's any consolation. I’m really sorry.” I tell her and she just nods, shaking her head. 

“I just wish he would’ve told me straight up that we weren’t going anywhere instead of doing this.” She says and Kenzie and I comfort her. 

As the night comes to a close there's now tension between Niall, Brooke, and Luke. Niall and Brooke are absolutely fuming still by the time we all go to bed and if looks could kill Luke would be 6 feet under. The anger is suffocating but I try my best to stay out of it enjoying the rest of the night with Harry instead.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Groans are all I can hear as the lights invade the darkness we were in. I bring the covers over my head as I try to fall back asleep. It doesn’t work. Everyone reluctantly starts their day and the atmosphere is still off from last night. With people coming and going, and relationships being tested, everyone is drained. 

Harry and I spend most of the day by the pool hanging out in the shade as we talk about everyone at the retreat. We both have no opinion on Michael and Kenzie as they have both been staying out of trouble, both of them keeping to themselves. We agree that Luke was shitty for doing that to Brooke and I feel bad for her even though it’s exactly what she did to me. 

Zayn, Ava, Louis, Sage, Riley, and Niall join us for a little bit and everything is going well. I’m so genuinely happy that I’ve made friends with these people and I make a mental note to ask if we can all hang out before we go back home. 

Eventually, all the girls get summoned to the workshop area and we all head there standing on the wooden platforms. The instructor is Nicole who was here for the shibari workshop and she tells us that we are doing Yoni Puja. We all stand confused as she explains what Yoni Puja is. 

“Yoni is the Sanskrit word for vulva, vagina and puja means to worship. And that's what we are doing today. We are worshiping our divine femininity.” Some of us stand in shock while some laugh still slightly confused. 

“Tell me some of the negative things you’ve heard about female genitalia before.” Nicole asks us and I look around not knowing what to say. 

“Smells like fish.” Sage is the first to speak up and Nicole nods waiting for others to answer. 

“Loose.” Kenzie says and I turn to face Nicole opening my mouth. 

“Disgusting.” I answer and Nicole lets out a breath before speaking. 

“I want everyone to let go of all of the things we’ve heard to have our sacred Yoni a certain way. I want you to look down on the ground.” We look down and that’s when we all notice a mirror at our feet. 

“Oh fuck no.” I mumble under my breath and the feeling is somewhat mutual. Producers bring out boxes that cover our lower body and I let out a sigh not believing this is happening. Once everyone is covered Nicole tells us to drop our bottoms and I reluctantly do so. 

“Now pick up your mirror and explore at your own will.” She tells us and everyone bends over picking up their mirror. I start doing what I’ve been instructed to but I’m honestly a bit weirded out. I never liked looking at it in the first place and I don’t particularly want to look now. Everyone is cracking jokes trying to ease the tension in the air. 

After a bit, Nicole comes up to us asking how we felt exploring ourselves and everyone agrees that it was nice to realize that our bodies are normal the way they are and that not everyone looks the same way. 

The next task involves us having a canvas in front of us and she instructs us to draw a representation of our yoni. I pick up the paintbrush and start drawing a heart. I paint it blue and I begin to write a couple of words. Once she calls time I finish the last letter and look at it smiling. We all go around showing our pictures and I’m the last to go. I flip my canvas around showing everyone my work. 

“Uh, so I decided to draw a heart and write some words. I think my yoni is powerful, strong, independent, and worthy.” I speak and everyone smiles at the meaning behind it. 

When the workshop is finished we all gather around and hug each other. The vibe between us has completely changed. We all feel connected once more and it’s nice that we have finally found a common ground. 

At the end of the day, all the girls meet up at night by the campfire, and we all talk. Brooke tells us she set it straight with Luke that what he did was shitty but he couldn’t care less about what she had to say. Riley tried to apologize to her but Brooke told her that she wasn’t even upset at her, she was upset over the fact that Luke had lied to her and went behind her back and that she knew that Riley wasn’t going to do anything with him. 

We all talk until Michael comes by stealing Kenzie away to go have a couple of drinks. We all leave them alone heading up to the cabana and spying on them. They talk and when they kiss we all express our shock not seeing that coming. 

We all head to bed ready for the next day to kick off. Except I can’t fall back asleep. Everyone else is fast asleep and for some reason, I can’t slip away back into my dreams. I had a very vivid sex dream and I thought it was real but just as it was getting to the good part I was thrown out of my dream, left hot and bothered awake. 

Harry holds me close to him, his chest rising and falling evenly. My brain is only focusing on how horny I am and Harry next to me isn’t helping at all. I try to slip out of his grip but he just pulls me tighter against him. I let out a long sigh, pulling his arm off of me and he wakes up slightly, seeing my state. 

“What's wrong baby?” He asks, voice raspy from sleep. 

“I’m so fucking horny” I mumble and he lets out a small smile rolling onto his back. 

“Lay down.” He whispers, pulling the covers over us as I follow his instruction. His hand finds its way onto my lower stomach as he nuzzles his head into my neck placing a soft kiss there. 

“Is this okay?” He asks me and I nod my head feeling the pressure building in my stomach. His hand makes its way down my body, dipping under my shorts and underwear and I let out a soft moan as his fingers make contact with my clit. 

“What got you so worked up?” He wonders, continuing his movements on my clit and I shake my head trying to form words. 

“I had a dream.” I answer him and he hums wanting me to continue. He puts more pressure on my clit, making me muffle a moan. 

“We were about to have sex and then I woke up.” I whisper shakily as his fingers dip into me before going back to my clit. 

“I’ve got you, baby.” He mumbles, placing a kiss on my jawline as he continues to please me. The pressure in my stomach is about ready to burst and I move my head down biting on the pillow to try and hold back my moans. His head follows mine and he whispers in my ear one sentence causing me to explode. 

“Be a good girl and come for me.” My orgasm washes over me and his free hand comes up covering my mouth as his other works me through my high. Once I start coming down I’m hypersensitive and my hand flies to his wrist stopping his movements on my clit. 

Once my breathing returned to normal Harry gets up holding his hand out for me to grab. We leave the bedroom and he brings me to the bathroom, hoisting me on the counter and telling me to stay there. He leaves me alone before coming back with another pair of panties in his hand and he removes my shorts and underwear before slipping the new pair on me. 

I sigh, finally feeling the adrenaline crashing and I am ready to pass out. I wrap him in a hug and I sponge kisses on his neck as he wraps my legs around his waist picking me up. He walks us back to the bedroom dropping us into bed and sleep finally finds me.

tag list: @golden-hoax @nikkisimps @matildasatellite @tiaamberxx @behindmygreyeyes @panicattheuc @jessitpwk @my-munson-styles @hislcstyles @that-one-little-soybean @harringt8ns @rafaaoli @tenaciousperfectionunknown if ur name is in red ur tag doesn’t work :(

[writingcold]

Hi there.  Welcome to Chapter 16.  We’ve had some fluffy healing.  It’s time to start buckling up.  We have a few chapters left of Act II, and Act III is… fast.  

If you are just joining us, you can find the Master List to the series here

A very huge hug and thank you goes out to @lvnterninthenight, @gardensgatedaisy and @whitesuitjake.  You’ve heard me gush about them all the way through, and there’s still more to go.  Yeah.  Pretty amazing humans there.

This is a work of fiction, and is totally mine.  Please do not take it for your own personal use.  I’ve put in hours of research, hours upon hours of writing, re-writing, screaming, yelling and vomiting over this epic of a story.  But it is mine.

Content warning:  Again, just saying this is an 18+ story for a reason.  This has elements of violence, so please be ready.  There is harm to women, there is harm to two major characters.  

Word count: approx. 6000

Chapter Sixteen: Dark Horizons - Cora

     Late Autumn storms shedding rain and snow had descended on Kingsford.  The last week of October was encroaching.  She felt like she blinked and six months had culminated in so much life that she scarcely believed it ever happened.  To be away from the farm and to be free of Kilbourne was a feat unto itself.  But to have the love of Jacob was unbelievable.  To have found an equal footing and beginning of a friendship with Joshua made her smile.  This family had welcomed her without hesitation, without warrant, supporting her, sheltering her and her own.  Jacob wanted a family - with her.  The notion filled her with something she had very little of six months prior: hope.

      “Morning, Joshua!”  she called as she walked through the back door, tucking her key into her bag.

      “Morning, lovely,”  he called back, his nose already buried in work.

      “Going to have lunch with Jacob today,”  she said as she started pulling out her first tasks.  “Are you going to come along?”

      He appeared in her doorway.  “Actually, I have lunch planned with the Reading brothers.”

      They laughed.  The Reading brothers owned the feedlot that Josh had offered to purchase several times.  It had become a running joke that the brothers so enjoyed Josh’s free lunches only to turn him down when it came time for him to pitch his deal.  Josh would shrug it off and continue laying in wait for the time that he would offer half of his original purchase offer and they would have to take it as they had no one else interested in their fading business.

     Cora settled in at her desk.  Josh had asked her to start looking into the balances of the bank in prior years, essentially making sure that the business of the bank itself was sound.  She had been reading line by line entries in the bank’s records, noting anything that looked odd or did not line up with accounts.  Though she had come across a few errors, she had yet to truly find anything that would be considered riveting. 

     Sitting up and looking away to refocus her eyes, Cora felt a shiver.  The bank was awfully silent for the hour at hand.  There seemed to be no customers in the lobby at all - a true rarity.  Closing her eyes to rest them just for a few moments, she felt her brain readjust.  Standing, she went to the bookcase by the door to retrieve the next ledger.  The scent of tobacco struck her nose and a grin tugged at her mouth, thinking perhaps Jacob had arrived early.  As she turned back to the desk, another scent struck, it was dark and mildewy.  The hairs on the back of her neck stood up as a chill touched her cheeks.  Pain flared at the back of her head as a hand grasped hold of her braided bun, yanking her frame backwards.  A surprised yelp was cut short as another hand wrapped around her throat, crushing the air from her.      “Where’s my wife, bitch,”  Harold Archer's voice filled her ears.

     Her body slammed against him but he slapped the side of her head.  Her ear exploded in a fit of ringing while stars cast across her right eye.  He yanked her backwards once more, dragging her from her office into the short hall.

     “Are you really this stupid?”  Josh’s voice came from behind.

     Archer spun them around, his free hand moving out to steady them.  She gurgled for air, her body flinching with shock.  

     “Think it through, Harold,”  Josh said calmly.  “This cannot end well for any of us if-”

     Cora felt something sharp run across her forearm like a thousand bees were being dragged by their wings, followed by pain that forced a whimper from the bottom of her gut.  Josh’s face grew hard.  His dark amber eyes went flat with rage.  Cora gritted her teeth as the sharp point was pushed into her ribs as she started to be dragged away from Josh, Archer’s hold on her tightened as he laughed over the situation.

     “Come on, little man.  Come on out here so that we have more room to play,”  Archer taunted.

     “Fine, Harold,”  Josh replied, his voice kept low and calm.

     Cora’s insides twisted and jostled as panic began to pool in her feet.  She could feel her arm bleeding, the shock of injury making it feel hot and itchy.  Once to the main area of the bank, her eyes went right to the tellers.  Both ladies were behind the locked counter, their faces wild with fear, but both seemed unharmed.  The windows were all covered.  Cora’s breath began to stutter as her own fear began to stab and twist in her, much like the knife that was digging in her side.

     “Cora,”  Josh called out, trying to get her attention.  “Cora, listen.  Don’t fight.  Hear me?”

     Archer laughed.  “Oh, I think she’s gonna want to fight.  If she knew what I wanted to do to her, she'd want to fight.  She owes me a wife, I can just take it from her.”

     Her body quivered.  This was Junie’s daily experience.  This man who presented such respectability was a monster.  Involuntarily, she strained, only to have him dig the blade deeper.

      “Cora,”  Josh soothed, despite his eyes widening with emotions.  “Please…”

      “On your knees, Kiszka,”  Archer seethed.

     She watched as Josh complied, sinking to his knees, hands out before him.  Her heart raced, but she stayed as still as she possibly could as the hand slid away from her neck, down her chest, grabbing a breast in a painful clutch.  She did not give him the satisfaction of a reaction, keeping her eyes directly on Joshua.  For a moment, there was comfort.  Whatever Archer planned, Josh would ensure they survived together.  She ignored the shredding of her pretty blue dress - the one that Molly had given her and had insisted she wear it on the last day of shop trial, and wear it for Jake.  She ignored the man’s hand as he attempted to humiliate her before Joshua.  However, the sight of Josh’s face flashing panic as he lunged forward cued icy fear to flood her brain.  Archer kicked him, landing a solid blow to his face.  The clerks screamed.  

      “You should’ve been mine,”  Archer oozed.  “That twin of his has been fattening you up, hasn’t he?  You’re not all skinny like your sister.  Has he put his cock in you yet?  Shown you what a man is?”

     “Harold!”  Josh said sharply, rising up again.

     Archer kicked him again, this time in the ribs.  Before she could move, Cora felt something sharp stab into her right buttock.  She hissed over the stark sting.  Archer laughed before planting a wet kiss against her cheek.  His body shifted against her as he reached into his pocket.  The knife dug against her side causing her to gasp.  Archer slammed his hand against her mouth and nose.  Cora choked as powder invaded her, chalky and bitter.

     “Yeah, I think I’ll enjoy taking that,”  he said crudely.

     “Please, no,”  she whispered, tears hitting her cheeks as Josh struggled forward once more, blood smeared across his face.

     “Cora?”  he asked, his eyes full of fright.  Each letter seemed suddenly drawn out, like she was watching him speak in symbols.  “Cora?  Lovely, stay with me.  Keep your eyes…”

     Pain exploded against her side as she was shoved down.  She brought her hand up, unable to understand the fluid that was so sticky that covered her hand and arm.  The world started to dim, as if colors were beginning to not exist.  Her head felt heavy and her neck could no longer hold the weight.  She shivered.  Her whole body felt cold and hot in intermittent waves as she struggled forward.  She knew Joshua was calling out to her, but the words made her eyes want to flutter.  She needed Jacob.  Her Jacob.  She needed his warmth and gentleness.  Each time her eyes drifted closed only to open again, leaving her more confused if it was real or dream.  Nightmare or hell.

Chapter Sixteen: Pt. 2, Jacob

     The sky was heavy with clouds that would eventually spill snow as he walked towards the bank.  He had set up Mr. Thornaby in the Tiger.  He had dropped in on Sam as he continued to make adjustments to the Moon now that he could take the time to really study and experiment on the rig.  When he arrived at the Northern Trust door, he was startled to find it locked.  The curtain on the main window was drawn obscuring anything that may have been going on.  His gut twisted.  His breath steadied as he listened to anything that may be happening on the other side of the door.  The quiet made his mind sizzle with panic.

      “You’re one of them Kiszka brothers,”  a voice called out.  “I’ve been waiting to get in there.”

      Jacob looked up at the man that was walking towards him.  “Oh, so sorry.  I’ll get right on that, sir.  It’ll only be a few more minutes.”

      Turning, he walked across to the post office, all the while trying to make his face look calm.  The clerk behind the counter looked up as he entered.

     “I’m sorry to be a bother,”  he said, forcing his voice to sound friendly.  “I’m -”

     “What can I help with, Mr. Kiszka?”  the gentleman asked.

     “I need to borrow your telephone,”  he said, looking back out the window across the street.  “I fear I have forgotten the key for the bank and it was my morning to open the doors…”

      “Oh, of course.  Here, step this way,”  the clerk said with a wave of his hand.

      He waited until the man moved out of earshot to call the garage phone.  Sam picked up, his tone annoyed.

      “Get heavy back up and meet me at the center with keys,”  he said firmly before hanging up.

      He flashed his biggest smile.  “Thank goodness for baby brothers, right?”

      He paused to glance out the window once more.  The thought that it was Archer in that bank with Cora and Josh prickled just underneath his skin.  There was no telling how long the man had been inside and what damage he had already been entailed.  He dug in his breast pocket for his cigarette holder as he crossed the street.  By the time he was rounding the back of the building in the alley, he had one out and lit.  He paused at the windows, listening for whatever was going on, only to be met with silence.  The minutes felt like days as he waited for Sam and Marcus and anyone else his brother would be able to rouse.  

      Two smokes lay crushed to the pavement beneath his feet.  Jake’s panic was beginning to choke his throat.  A muffled scream from inside chilled his heart.  His brain could not identify if it was Cora or someone else in the bank.  Was it one of the clerks?  Was it Cora?  His brain registered the tone as feminine sending his blood to raging.  His thoughts raced faster than his body could keep up with them.  Just as he was about to say the hell with it and break the door down, Marcus jumped down from the running boards of the Kissel as Sam parked.

      “What the hell is going on?”  Sam asked, holding out the keys.   

      “Everything’s locked up, windows are covered,”  Jake said, moving towards the doorknob.  “It’s gotta be Archer.  I can’t hear anything, and it’s been too long to be a fucking bank job.”

      Marcus stopped him, his face hard.  “You two stay behind me.  Jake, no matter what you see, do not feed into him.”

      The vein in his forehead began to throb.  Marcus had been the darkness of an enforcer for so long for the Diamante family that nothing surprised the man.  Jake nodded, turning the key in the knob as slow as possible to not make sound.  They moved through the short hall into the rear offices of the bank.  Jake noticed that Cora’s door was open and the room empty.  Josh’s door was closed, but it was easy to figure out that he was not in his office as Jacob heard his brother’s voice sharp and cold in the main lobby of the bank.  The words were followed by a hard slap and grunt.  Marcus had his pistol out.  The man’s grizzled face was hard with the duty at hand.

      He crouched his frame down and nearly crawled to the edge.  Jake and Sam followed suit.  

      “Don’t know what the fuck you think you’re going to get out of this Harold,”  Josh muttered, his voice thick.  “No one will trust you after this.  No one will allow a sick assed bastard who likes to hurt little girls to be a part of their community, let alone the head of their largest bank in town.”

      Jake felt Sam flinch as Josh was struck.  He couldn’t see anything around Marcus.  Mentally, he tried to picture anyone who would be in the space aside from Josh and Archer and Cora.  There would be two clerks.  Or, would there only be one…  His brain fuzzed over as he heard Archer hit something, but no sound followed except for Josh growling and spitting venom.  Marcus looked back at him hard.

     “Jacob, no matter what, do not come around this corner until I say.  Do you understand?”  the elder said, his voice thin with anger.

      “What the fuck did he do-”

      The man’s eyes held death.  This was the enforcer that Sastrato Torello had sent to them for protection of his daughter for a reason.  Jake felt himself melt into the wall behind him.  Sam held onto his shoulder as Marcus snuck out into the main space.  Archer was absolutely rambling in his fury.  He anticipated a gunshot, but instead was surprised by the sickening crunch of bone, followed by screaming.  Screaming of the women behind the counter bounced off the walls.  Screaming of a man in pain pierced the ears.  There were wet thuds that made his stomach turn.  

     “Marcus,”  Josh’s slurred voice called out as another hit landed.  “Marcus stop…”

     “Fuck it, Sam,”  Jacob hissed standing up.

     “Marcus!”  Josh called again, his voice a little stronger.

     Jake stepped out into the open with Sam right behind him.  The narrow room froze as his heart pounded like it was lurching from his chest and back.  Sam rushed forward as Josh was trying to reach out to Marcus.  The youngest grabbed hold of the enforcer’s arm to capture his attention, nearly incurring the man’s wrath.  Archer was gasping for air beneath him.  Josh was holding onto his ribs, cheek pressed to the wood floor.  Wild-eyed, he searched for Cora.  Following his twin’s gaze, he discovered she was hunched over between the wall and counter.  Her eyes were closed and her head was slumped against the brick of the wall.  No air reached his lungs.  His jaw grew slack.

     “Jacob,”  Josh groaned as Sam dragged him up to sit upright.  “I don’t know what he doped her up with, but I wouldn’t let him touch her, Jake.  I took it.”

     He looked at her, realizing that her dress was in pieces on the floor.  Shrugging out of his coat he started to move quickly towards her, but her head snapped up, panic in her face.  There was no recognition in those blue eyes he so loved.

     “Sam, go get Sheriff Moore,”  Josh was saying behind him.

     “Finch,”  Jacob whispered, holding his hand out to her.  He wanted to weep as she tried to claw herself away from him.  “Baby, it’s me.”

      He tried to hush and soothe.  All the while, he wanted to turn and rip the skin from the sick fuck that lay in a bloody mass behind him.  The fury that bubbled in his stomach made him want to vomit.  Cora’s body folded once more and took advantage of her weakness, covering her body with his coat and wrapping his arms around her.  He repeated his love over and over as he smoothed her hair.  

     Gentle hands came down on his shoulder.  He moved slowly so as not to startle Cora.  Mrs. Cooper and Miss Klass were behind him, their weary faces full of concern.  He was about to turn back, but Mrs. Cooper held out Cora’s long, lined coat.

     “This might work better, Mr. Jacob,”  she said.  “Can we help?  Maybe get her to a chair.  Marit, go get her chair from the office.”

     The younger lady moved away without a word.  Jacob slid himself backward, while trying to keep his hands soft on her.  The emotion choked him at the sight of the blood on her hand, arm, and on her side that seemed to be from a deep slice.  His breath rushed from him as her eyes flared but her mouth remained mute.

     “Steady, Mr. Jacob,”  Mrs. Cooper whispered, as she moved to his side, her hand wrapping around Cora’s other shoulder.  

     Together, they got her from the small space.  Cora started shrieking, clawing at the air, her blows landing on Jacob’s back in hard thunks.  Mrs. Cooper tried to catch the flailing arms, but could only catch one before the other broke free.  Marcus moved around to come behind them, clutching Cora around the middle.

      “Jacob, sit down,”  he directed.  “You’ll have to hold her.  Move that chair over, close to the wall.  She needs a small space.” 

      Jake sat down, uncertainty pounding through his body as Marcus lowered his girl into his lap.  He held on as tightly as she would allow.  He caught Josh’s gaze.  He could not hide the heaving emotions that pushed at him.  The fear that pulsed in his brain, to the love that quivered in his chest, all of it lay bare for everyone to see as Cora writhed against him, her whimpers piercing him like blades.  Marcus draped her coat over them, effectively covering her, and tucking it around her frame for modesty.  

      “Miss Klass, go fetch Doctor Boone.  Tell him it’s an emergency,”  Mrs. Cooper ordered, her voice firm, despite the tremble of fear that still resided in the moment.

      “Marcus,”  Josh said, his voice thin.  “You need to get out of here.  Sheriff Moore can’t see you.”

      The enforcer’s eyes closed for a few beats of breath.  Jake watched as the man was struggling.  

      “You take care of her, Jake,”  he said quietly, the hardness evaporating from his face, replaced by concern. 

      “I will,”  he whispered.  “Tell Rosemary for me.  Tell her mama that I will care for her.”

      He watched as Marcus moved quickly out the back door.  Cora’s cries softened.  Her body shook under his touch.  His eyes landed on the fabric of her dress, the swirls of color on silk that lay hidden just beneath the chiffon.  The tip of his tongue pressed against his upper lip as if trying to hold back the anger, the fear that was merely the front for the guilt that loitered along the fringes of his thoughts.  

      He vaguely recognized that Sheriff Moore had entered with Sam, a few deputies were with them.  Martin quickly posted the extra men around the front to control the crowd that had gathered.  At the sight of Archer, the man needed little explanation of events.  Josh was fading fast.  Jake kept whispering against the soft perfume of Cora’s hair, trying to will her back to him through the drug haze that the monster had unleashed on her.   

      Doc arrived.  One look at Cora and he was dismayed.  There was no telling what Archer had shot her with.  The hypodermic needle that he utilized would be helpful, but only if they had some notion of what was in it prior to injection.  The doctor identified the wounds as being knife stabs and slashes that needed stitches.  The puncture on her ribs was going to need attention.  Josh was in rough shape.  He had broken ribs, the left arm was dislocated at the shoulder, a few fingers were snapped.  Archer had yet to rouse from the beating that Marcus had unleashed.  Jake silently thanked the man for each shattered bone, each break of the skin, each bruise.  The remorse that he was not in the building pounded only as bright as the shame he felt for wanting to have been the one to dole out the terror that had been unleashed by Marcus.

     Josh’s sharp yelp brought him out of his thoughts.  Doc had popped the arm back into the socket.  He watched as his twin slumped to the floor, eyes closed, nearly mirroring the unchecked mass that Martin stood over.  Boone wanted all three to the hospital, just to have a quieter stage to clean everyone up.  Jake had not realized the noise outside the bank.  A crowd had gathered, some panicked about not being able to get inside the bank, others loudly yelling about a bank robbery.  Martin had the deputies load up Josh and help Jake get Cora into the Kissel.  Sam drove across town, leaving the sheriff and his men to figure out what to do with the now destroyed Harold Archer.

Chapter Sixteen: Pt. 3, Cora POV

     She could feel sunshine - cold - but sunshine on the skin on her face.  Her mouth felt like sand had been poured inside until she could hold no more.  She barely moved and her body erupted in hot, throbbing pain.  Cora instantly froze, keeping her eyes closed.  She drifted into the silence.  Sleep rolled across her like she pictured how waves would feel if she were ever to visit Lake Superior, or dared to really travel and see the ocean.  She could hear Jacob’s voice from time to time, leaving her to wonder if it was just in her dreams or if he was really talking to her but she was unable to answer.  Mingled in, she thought perhaps she heard her mother.  All the while, she longed for Junie.  The brutality that she faced - alone - was unforgivable to be put through such a state and still call her family for what they still needed to be: family.

     Cora wanted to move.  She wanted to whisper through the thick mud that resided in her throat.  Her limbs felt like concrete; heavy and unmoveable.  Her brain wanted nothing more than stillness.  She felt drawn under once more.  The dark was rich and velvety, like Jacob’s voice when he would whisper to her in the night against her ear.  The way he would talk to her as they made love.  The way he would tell her he loved her.  Her heart swelled over the notion that this man chose her.  This man saw his life with her.  The quiet stretched into dreams filled with color and warmth.

      The next time she surfaced above the sleep waves, she could hear Joshua talking.  His voice seemed so distant.  He had been her protector for as long as he could.  She wondered if her body accepted Archer in her frozen state.  If her body allowed him to be inside.  If her body betrayed her heart and mind.  How was Jacob going to look upon her when she did fully wake from her haze?  She wondered if she would still be the object of love for him.  She wondered if Josh would have to explain it to his twin what he was witness to.  The thoughts tore at her spirit.  How that monster clung to the fringes of her - did he have to touch her?  Did he have to violate her?  Would she even know fully what he had done not just to her, but to her sister?  They were not questions she needed to truly answer… did she?  Instead, she allowed the wave to carry her away once more, settling into remembrances of the way Jacob walked at her side, treating her as equal.

     “You would’ve been proud of her, Jake,”  Josh’s voice echoed through her thoughts.  “She gave that fucker no satisfaction of any kind of reaction.  She was beyond brave.”

     “I don’t want her to…”  Jacob’s voice cracked.  “Josh, I don't want her to remember.”

     There was silence.  Cora focused on the hurt in his voice.  The strain.  Whatever Archer did after the end of her memory must’ve been awful.  

     “Why would she need to?  He -”

     Josh’s words tumbled through the abyss as she plunged downwards once more.  How one could feel like they were underwater but walking through the desert at the same time was beyond her reckoning.  There was blood here.  There was pain.  That monster’s laugh pierced her with each twist of his knife.  But Joshua was there.  Those eyes, so much like her Jacob, but more like dark caramel, more bits of gold and mischief.  Those eyes kept her rooted, kept her with him.  It was not just her blood, her pain, was it?  He barked and badgered, insulted and whined, anything to bait Archer away from her.  So much of those moments were shrouded in gauze that was stickier than spider silk.  

      Sunshine on her face.  She could see the light on the outside of her eyelids.  It was a warm, fuzzy light that beckoned her; welcomed her home.  She experimented with sliding her arm up to touch her face.  Then she flexed her toes.  The pain wasn’t so bad.  She turned her face against the pillow, hoping to breathe Jacob’s scent in, but it was a sterile smell, one that was foreign.  Blowing out a breath, she tried to clear the debris from her throat.

     “Finch?”  Jacob whispered, his voice next to her.  

     Her fingers landed on her throat.  She tried to form words, but she was so dry.  The grit of whatever dirt was in her windpipe kept her from saying anything.  Instead, she tried to open her eyes to look upon him.  Sharp rays of sunshine stabbed at her and she was quick to shut them back out.  He pressed his hand to her shoulder and the sunshine dimmed against her.

     “Finch?”  he whispered again, his face close enough for her to feel his breath.  

     Cora tried again, opening her eyes to a haze of light.  Her eyelids felt like each one weighed tons, fighting against herself to look around.  His fingers touched her mouth before sliding across her cheek.  He let out a soft laugh as she struggled to focus.  She could only imagine what she looked like with her eyeballs feeling like they were moving in opposite directions.

     “I’m so glad to see you, baby,”  he whispered, planting little kisses across her face.

     She tried to say something… anything…  Only air escaped through the throb that pulsed on the inside of her throat.  She tried to whisper, to get something out, but the air caught, leaving her gasping to fill her lungs.

     His brows knit together as he shook his head.  “It’s all right, Cora.  Doc said things are bruised in your throat.  Don’t force it.”

     Joshua appeared behind Jacob’s shoulder.  His eyes were warm as he looked at her with a little wave.  His face was swollen and cut and bruised badly.  If he looked like that, she was sure she looked similar.  

     “Hello, lovely,”  he whispered.  “I’ll let you have your fella, hmmm?”

     She felt the corner of her mouth tug.  She grimaced as she tried to move, to create space.  Jacob tried to stop her, but  she frowned.  Cora continued to slide and rock until she was on her side and there was enough room for Jacob to lay down next to her, belly to belly.

     “Oh, Finch,”  he sighed, brushing back her hair.  “Are you sure?”

     She tapped against the pillow.  He smiled as he carefully lay next to her.  

     “You’re probably wondering where you are.  You’re in the hospital.  You’ve been here for two days.  You scared the shit out of me, baby.  I’m so glad you’re awake.”

     He was careful in where he set his fingers, where he touched and brushed against her.  However, each touch was full of light and love just for her.  Cora stared into his face, searching for what he saw in her in the moment.  There was only concern and honest joy.  He whispered against her, telling her about how Rosemary had stayed through the nights with him.  He had the boys at the house, sleeping in the parlor after too much sweets and hot cocoa each night.  Sam was already honed in on educating Matthew about auto engines and Jon about actual engineering.  It had been two days that she had lost.  Two days that she had slept.  She managed to ask about Joshua and Jacob smiled.

     “You find a scrap of voice and you ask about him?”  he teased, brushing his thumb across her bottom lip.  

     Broken fingers.  Fractured right arm.  Left arm was dislocated.  Four broken ribs.  Stabbed in the thigh and left arm.  She wanted to weep.  Joshua had placed himself before her as a sacrifice.  Jacob’s voice warbled as he whispered his love for her.  His fear for her.  His regret that he hadn’t been fifteen minutes earlier.  

     The next time she awoke, she was in her own bed, in her own home.  She remembered being wheeled out of the hospital and Jacob helping her into the Kissel.  She could recall Matthew grabbing Georgie’s collar and holding him back when she caught her toe as they moved through the front door.  She could remember her mother telling Jacob to take her into the bedroom and how his cheeks warmed as he helped her sit down on her bed.  When she stirred, she could hear the boys swarming around the house, and the base of Jacob’s voice calling to Matthew from the kitchen.  

      “He slept on the sofa last night,”  Rosemary whispered as she was buttoning up her dress.  Cora frowned, unsure of if her mother disapproved.  The woman smiled softly as she was reaching for her brush.  “He stayed with you the whole time.  By the time we got you here, he was completely exhausted.  He sat down and was asleep in moments.  I dared not wake him, and neither did the boys.”

      She smiled as her chin dipped.  The idea that he would not be far from her made her heart skip a bit.  Rosemary twisted her hair up into her typical thick bun before moving towards her with the brush.  She grimaced as her mother started on some of the blood matter in her hair.

     “Tell you what, I’ll get the boys through breakfast, then I’ll run you a bath,”  she said with a gentle squeeze on her shoulder.  

     “Thank you, Mama,”  she whispered through the fire that still burned in her throat.  

     “Still pretty raw,”  Rosemary remarked.  “I’ll send Jacob out for some honey.  It will help your throat and we can put that on the …  on the …”

     “Cuts, Mama,”  she answered, hurting over the struggle that her mother allowed herself to show.  “I’m sure he would be happy to.”

      Rosemary continued to brush through the thick hair, her fingers holding firm to each section.  “I do not expect you to understand fully, Cora.  To have one daughter harmed by my choices, only to have a second fall prey to the same hands…”

      Cora stopped her mother’s hands, looking up into her face.  She appeared old and young at the same time.  The woman had aged considerably since the loss of her husband, but all the more so in the past weeks after the plight of her daughters.  

     “I can send you and the boys to Junie if you wish,”  she whispered, enclosing her mother’s hand with her own.

     “I won’t go until my whole family can,”  Rosemary answered, her blue eyes sharp with care.  “And I don’t just mean you and the boys, Cora.”

     Her chin dipped at how her mother had brought back her own words, but tailored it to her own fashion.  “Thank you, Mama.”

     “You just sit back and rest.  I’ll have one of the boys bring you a plate,”  she said as she tied the thick hair back in a simple plait.

     She felt like a stranger in her skin.  Slipping underneath the blanket once more, Cora stayed up, sitting against the headboard, her hands quiet in her lap as her eyes drifted closed.  Her whole body still ached.  The wounds pulsed.  Not quite as bad as when they were fresh, but they throbbed in a way as if they were calling out to her attacker like he could hear the pain they still caused.  She focused on bringing breath in and pushing it back out as her ears took in the sounds of breakfast beyond the door.  Jacob’s voice wove in between Matthew’s and Jon’s with Georgie’s trill over top in excited bursts.  She sighed.  Jacob sitting at the table with their children trickled through her thoughts.  The smile that would grace the man’s face would incinerate the room in joy.  She felt herself drift upon that hope, her mind focusing on each detail in dreamlike quality as her breathing evened out and tugged her into the stillness of her heart's desire.

     The warmth of him drew her from her slumber before his touch against the ridge of her cheek.  Sleepily, she opened her eyes as she leaned into his touch.

     “Hey, Finch,”  he whispered.

     She realized the house was silent.  Her brows pinched as she sat up.  “Where is everyone?”  

     “Rosemary needed to get to work, the boys left for school,”  he said, trailing his fingers down her bare arm.  “You fell asleep and your mother did not want to wake you.  I volunteered to stay until after lunch.”

     Her gut began to sink as she continued to wake.  “She was going to run me a bath.”

     “I can do that, although I told your mother that Molly could help you,”  he smiled, his eyes soft with care.  “In fact, I don’t think it would be good to miss getting those cuts cleaned.”

     He stood and disappeared for a few moments.  She could hear the tap clunk on and the water hit the bottom of the enameled tub.  Jacob returned with a towel and a sleepy grin.  He helped to get her night dress off and covered her lean frame in the towel.  Into the tub and he knelt down beside it, keeping his fingertips at the water to make sure it stayed the right temperature.  He helped to take the linen bandage off her side, a near inaudible hiss escaping him at the sight of the bruising, puncture, and gash that marred her ribs.  

     Cora reached out to him, her fingers sinking into his hair as he rested his forehead against the rim of the tub.  “Jacob?”

     “I’m sorry I wasn’t there, Finch,”  he whispered.  “I’d give anything for your body to not know violence.”

      When he looked at her, the emotion that was etched in his features stirred her, strengthened her.  He moved around her, washing her hair and limbs and body as if he loved each piece, each perfect and each flawed morsel of her.  He dried her and redressed her wounds before following her back to her room to help her dress.  

     “Rosemary left you some biscuits and jam.  Does that sound good?”  he asked as she finished buttoning up.

     When she nodded, he kissed her cheek before leading her out to the dining table.  He was talking about nothing important as he rummaged around the kitchen.  Cora just listened to his tone, the rumble of his words as they escaped him.  The vibration of him washed over, comforting, vanquishing the harm within and replaced it with a softness that was only for him.  She watched as he finally settled down next to her.  He reached for her, touching her cheek with the tip of his finger.

     “I’m glad I picked you,”  she whispered.  The sight of the joy in his eyes made her smile wider.  “I’m so glad you picked me.”

     He leaned forward, kissing her forehead.  “Always, Finch.  You’re my always.”

Yeah.  That just happened.  I hope you stayed with me through this chapter.  Like I said at the top, we only have two more chapters until the end of Act II.  Now that I said that, I guess I should say that there’s 25 total chapters and an epilogue.    So, we have a lot of story left, and much of that is going to be rough.  Be aware the violence only amps up as our characters hope to survive leaving Kingsford.

I do have a tag list - you can find it here

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[da-mous]

Every day, from the day he arrived to the day I escaped, I hid in my room from the monster who lived in my house. The monster my mom seemed to love more than her daughter

If I stayed out of sight, maybe he would forget about me, and he wouldn't come charging up the stairs to pull open my skull and scream into it again

Sometimes I was right for a month. Sometimes it was only an hour. But he would always come again. Charging up the stairs without warning, tearing open my skull, screaming into me. Jets of blood from his throat leaking into my brain, pooling inside my skull while I apologized profusely for deserving it yet again. Sometimes he screamed about one mistake I'd made. Sometimes it was every mistake I'd made since he came here. Sometimes he screamed about how his father would come home every day when he was a pup and tear into him with his gigantic teeth. But it was always my fault.

I should have just been grateful it wasn't as bad as being cut open by an even bigger monster so teeth every day

As my body grew away from me, as my friendships started lasting shorter and shorter, as I started to lose hope I could ever stop deserving this, I found more and more patches of his white fur growing on my body. Whatever I couldn't hide under my clothes I'd tear out of my skin. It hurt like hell, but monsters deserve to hurt

Even after I became an adult and escaped, I could still feel his blood coursing through my body, through my head, through my heart. I felt strong every time I tore out his fur. As the years passed it would take root more firmly in my skin, and so when I tore it out it would take patches of my skin with it, and his blood would pour out of my body in red streams. It was soothing to watch and it hurt like fucking hell and it was what a monster deserved

I spent years in isolation, keeping my distance from good people. I regularly tore out his fur, watching his irredeemable blood leave my body, until I was sure I was a good person too. Then I went out to find new people to bring into my life, to cherish and to thrive with. They wouldn't leave like all my friends did growing up. The monster had finally left my body

I made a home with some amazing, gentle, forgiving people. It went well, and it was everything I ever wanted. Until his fur started growing in faster and stronger. Every time I was told I had made a mistake, I would tear out some of his fur and show them his blood leaving my body, showing them I wasn't like him. Please. I'm not like him. I'm not him. This is all I've ever wanted. Please!!

His claws started to replace my fingernails, and I used them to hold my loved ones as close as I could

I learned to hide myself away in my room, to protect them from the monster, but when I did see them again I would dig his claws in deeper, holding them there with me. They didn't tell me I was turning into a monster. I already knew

I cursed him out. I tore and tore at his fur, finding more and more catharsis in showing myself, showing everyone, that I wasn't an unforgivable monster like he was

Until they finally left for good.

I sat, curled into a monstrous ball among the shattered glass of my mirror, the apologies I never got to make echoing through my empty home. They finally left because I'm a monster, because I'm just like him. Just as terrifying, just as evil, just as unforgivable. The absence of their forgiveness echoed louder off the barren walls than my apologies to them

Just barely visible in a small shard of the mirror was a little monster, curled into a ball, sobbing to herself. Terrified, because she'll never see her loved ones again. Or because she's just a kid, who will never be ready for the next time he comes charging up those stairs. Or... because his father hated him. Because he had no power to avoid being crushed between his own father's massive teeth. Because surely all he needed to feel secure, safe from those teeth, was control. However he had to get it. By screaming a child into submission or by digging his claws into his terrified partner's flesh

He... I mean I... I mean we, looked so small, so alone in this little shard. I tried to reach out to us, but my claws just dripped my loved ones' blood onto their image. There, in the shard, was my monstrous face, among droplets of the blood of the ones I held closest. My face, surrounded by my white fur. Vulnerable, afraid, alone all over again

I wrapped my patchy, bleeding, furry arms around myself in a hug, and so did the crying little monster in the shard. And as I did, my claws retracted. I hadn't known they could do that...

I held myself close, and thus I held him close too

"I forgive you"

[babyjakes]

angel's aid. [blurb.]

〈 disclaimer: this blog posts content not suitable for individuals under the age of 18. minors are strictly prohibited from viewing, sharing, or interacting with this blog. for more information on this blog's commitment to protecting minors, read our full statement here. 〉

event | feb '23 blurb night

summary | when the tail-end's chaos gets to you, curtis knows just what you need.

pairing | friend!curtis everett x reader

warnings | me not (ever) really knowing how to write snowpiercer, curtis and reader don't have any established relationship (i imagine they're just friends in this), mentions/depictions of sensory overload and being overstimulated, soft sweet comforting understanding curtis, this seems to be some sort of routine for the two of them- curtis helps whenever she needs it

word count | 474

requested by @brandycranby | for the hc blurb night, maybe curtis + reader being sensory overloaded? 🥺

an | ooooh yes yes yes yes yes thankyou for this request friend!! i was hoping to write soft!curtis for this event and i love this idea so much, i imagine being on that god-awful train would just feel like a literal prison at times so i love the concept of curtis trying to help you through that- i hope you enjoy!! (also thanks so much to my bestie @starksbabie for helping me focus on writing this lol you are such an angel and a blessing i could not do this life without you)

"Come on, y/n- I got you. Almost there."

All you can do is keep putting one foot in front of the other as you trail along behind Curtis, your hand wrapped firmly in his as he guides you through the mayhem of the train car. It's nice to have his hand; it always is- it's something to focus in on, a singular sensation to hold your attention amidst the whirlwind of chaos surrounding you. Warm and steady, his support is tangible.

When the two of you reach your destination: the tiny closet tucked away at the back of the cabin, Curtis ushers you in gently before securing the door behind you. "Alright petal, we made it. You're okay, you're safe."

Your body knows where to go- over to the small makeshift bench in the corner where you can finally collapse into a mess of shaky, uneven breaths. Curtis is down beside you before you can even blink. Not too close, careful not to crowd you in, "Easy, angel," he soothes, "let's get that coat off of you." It's amazing how he knows, he just knows. This is certainly not the first time he's been through this with you. "Can I help?" he asks, not wanting to bring his hands near you without your permission. Trembling, you nod.

His movements are heedful as he eases off your outer layer. Noticing just the slightest improvement in your state after the simple modification, Curtis smiles mildly at you. "There you go, sweet girl. You countin' your breaths for me?" You offer him another nod. It had been surprising the first time he guided you through the breathing techniques; you never would have guessed the cold, rough man would be so adept at aiding in a situation like yours. But if there's one thing you've learned about Curtis over the course of your friendship, it's that he's so much deeper than he might seem. Beneath his grumpy, distant, quiet-and-damaged front, so much empathy and care exist within him.

"You wanna talk, honey? Or not yet? It's okay, there's no rush, y/n." You raise your hand slightly, signaling the need for more time. The man nods understandingly.

"Curtis?" As he glances up at you, a hint of warmth shines in his eyes, his brow softening at the sound of your voice. Swallowing down your hesitation, you ask, "h-hand?"

There isn't a word that could describe the tenderness that graces his face as he stares back at you, there in that dark, lonely closet. "Of course, angel," he coos, taking both of your smaller hands in his. "Just focus on me, sweetheart. Hands and breaths, that's all you gotta think about."

"Hands, breaths," you repeat.

Curtis smiles kindly at you, giving one of your hands a gentle squeeze. "That's right, petal. Doing so good, you're sounding better already."

[blackaleycatt]

Ordinary Things: Chapter 1

AO3 link: Here

5 times Aviva and Koki were clearly a couple + 1 time the guys realize.

Title named after Ariana Grande's song "ordinary things".

1

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Each member of the Wild Kratts crew has their own room in the Tortuga. Usually, they slept in their hammock in the Tortuga’s main room but on the weekends they liked to have little hangouts in each other's rooms. It was a way for them to bond outside of work.

They would watch movies, play board games, play some of Jimmy’s video games, listen to music, and Aviva liked to do everyone's makeup sometimes. Martin, in particular, enjoyed having his makeup done by Aviva, who was practically a pro at it.

Tonight they were in Aviva's room for a mini spa day. The weekend was coming to an end so Aviva suggested doing a “Sunday refresh” to prepare for the start of the weekday. Aviva prepared customized face masks for each of them, taking into account their skin types including retinol for Jimmy’s greasy pizza face and high SPF for Chris and Martin, who spend a lot of time in the African savannah creature adventuring. Koki had her own supply of face masks too, as she and Aviva had been doing spa days with each other since college.

As they relaxed in Aviva's room, the soothing aroma of face masks and incense filled the air, and the gentle hum of "NewJeans" played in the background. They chatted and laughed, enjoying each other's company, and the warmth of their friendship. It was moments like these that made their adventures all the more special. The boys absolutely loved having a spa day and were sad when it came to an end. They were already planning the next spa day as they were leaving Aviva’s room. It was getting pretty late and they had to get up in a few hours. Koki stayed behind, which wasn't surprising since Koki and Aviva spent a lot of time together in each other's rooms, even more than the guys.

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The next morning the crew woke up feeling rejuvenated and relaxed. Martin couldn't help but comment on how amazing the spa treatment was, "That spa day was incredible. My skin feels so rejuvenated and fresh," he said while rubbing his cheeks. "Mine too. My face was so clear this morning I almost didn't recognize myself," Jimmy said, rubbing his hand on his now less pimply forehead. Chris turned on the electric kettle to prepare hot water for everyone's morning beverages.

"I'm glad everyone enjoyed it," Aviva said as she stretched and went over to the counter to prepare her coffee. However, as she sat down at the table, the boys noticed several red blotches on Aviva's skin, going from her jawline to her collarbone.

Jimmy drops his fork and starts panicking. "Aviva, you have a rash on your neck," he says while covering his mouth. He looks like he is about to pass out or something. He's so dramatic.

Martin stops eating and looks at them. He gets up to examine her. "Yeah, you do. It's all over your neck. Are you feeling alright? Did you come in contact with anything?"

Chris soon joins them to look at Aviva's neck too. It had to be serious if it made Jimmy and Martin stop eating.

Aviva looks at them, worried and pulls out her phone to look at her neck. She did have reddish-purple blotches on her neck, but it wasn't a rash. She knew exactly what or who caused it. She covers her mouth, and her face turns as red as Lost and Found, their baby red panda friend. She stutters, trying to come up with an excuse. "Uh, it must be from a product I used last night or the new detergent in the laundry. Um, I'm sure it's fine, guys. Please don't freak out."

She tries to calm them down. She didn't want them to look too closely at the "rash" before they realized it was not actually a rash.

“Hold on, I have some ointment in my first aid kit,” Chris said before rushing out of the room just as Koki walked in.

“What’s wrong, guys? What's with all the commotion?” Koki asked. Aviva was covering her neck, and Jimmy still looked scared as he replied, “Aviva has a weird rash on her neck, and we don't know what it's from.” Koki immediately knew what this “rash” was that they were fussing about, but she tried to hold back a laugh as she approached.

“Koki, why are you laughing? This is serious. She might be dying!” Jimmy exclaimed.

“Jimmy, please calm down. She's gonna be fine,” Koki reassured them, with a grin on her face, both from Aviva’s embarrassment and the way Jimmy was acting.

“Yeah, Jimmy. Freaking out is just gonna make her more scared. Look at her,” Martin motioned towards Aviva, whose face was still red with mortification.

She covered her face and groaned, “Guys, please.”

Koki tried to comfort her by resting her arm on her shoulder, but Aviva glared at her. Chris ran back to her with some ointment. He took a handful and rubbed it all over her neck and chest. Aviva wanted to curl up into a ball and die.

Chris finished applying the cream. “There you go. It should go away soon, but I think you should lie down until it goes away. We don't want you to get any worse.”

“Guys, I'm fine, seriously.” She protested.

“No, Aviva. I think you should rest a little bit. As much as we don't want to, we can go a day without a new awesome creature power if we have to,” Martin sighed sadly.

"I'll take a day off if it'll make you guys feel better," Aviva sighed and finally gave in.

"I can watch her and make sure her rash doesn't worsen. I think Jimmy still needs to calm down," Koki assured the brothers.

The brothers nodded in agreement. "Okay, sounds good. We'll get the dishes cleaned up and head out in a bit. Keep us updated."

Koki smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, I will," she said with a smile on her face.

Aviva glared at Koki once again and headed towards the bathroom.

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Aviva stands in front of the bathroom mirror. Koki comes in after her. “What are you doing?” Koki can see that Aviva is scrubbing the ointment off her neck and chest and has a bottle of foundation and concealer on the bathroom counter.

“This is all your fault,” Aviva snaps, ignoring Koki’s question. “You left this huge mark on my neck and then you had the audacity to laugh about it.”

Koki bursts into laughter, “I'm sorry. I thought you knew I was gonna leave a mark.”

“I didn't know it was gonna be that big. I've never had a hickey before,” Aviva complains.

“The guys must have never had one either. I can't believe they didn't realize it wasn't a rash.”

“Me neither. But I'm just gonna cover my 'rash' with some makeup so they won't be concerned anymore,” Aviva answers her question, holding up the foundation and concealer.

“Yeah, because Jimmy is acting like you have some kind of deadly disease.”

Aviva chuckled lightly. “Yeah, I guess it was funny. But next time be more careful.”

“OK, ok. I'm sorry,” Koki says as she hugs Aviva from behind and kisses her cheek.

"I guess I'll forgive you this time." Slowly turning around, she leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on Koki's nose.

[asshlyyyy]

Fairytale

Series Warnings: Language, fake relationship, lying, drinking, major depressive disorder, mommy issues. Mentions of occasionally sexula interactions/ wording. Maybe eventual smut. Individual chapter warnings will appear as needed.

Masterlist | Previous Part | Next Part

Chapter 4: Time Spent Together

The car ride was rather quiet and slow that you could have a few minutes of shut-eye. Yet, it was still too quick for your nerves. The house you grew up in came quickly to view and it was at this moment you realized you and Austin were taking this friendship to the next level. You two were obviously going to share a bed, and your mom had a strict no-lock policy.

It was in case of emergencies, so if someone from your family walked in and saw either you or Austin sleeping on the floor they would immediately know. It will be fine… it will be okay. Austin has your back and you know he will find his way through any question. It was all going to work out.

Austin was very kind to take all the luggage and so as you made your way towards the door, it swung open and your mother walked out. She gasped and quickly closed the distance between you too. You smiled gently and returned her hug. It was nice to see your family again after your very rough years.

 ‘It’s been too long,” Your mom whispered and rubbed your back.

“It has,” you nodded in agreement and looked at her. “Mama, this is Austin, he’s my boyfriend.” You held your hand towards Austin. He smiled in return and looked at your mother.

“It’s nice to finally meet you.” Austin smiled. 

The introductions went quickly and soon you were stuck looking at the clock. Every time you spoke up, it seemed that it was time for someone to talk over you. It wasn’t really on purpose, but you were over it. You wanted to take a nap, but yet, here you were sitting on the couch barely listening to the conversation.

Austin was doing amazing, he was answering every question hit with confidence. You looked down at your phone and let out a sigh. You stood up and figured it would be best for you to just head to your old bedroom. It’s better than just saying… hey I’m going to bed, and no one listens.

However, before you would make it far, Austin grabbed hold of your wrist gently. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” you nodded with a soft smile, “just tired.”

“Want me to come?” He didn’t even have to wait for a response. It was like he already knew your answer. Maybe it was your eyes that were giving off some kind of response. Maybe he saw something that you didn’t even process yet. 

Austin stood up and took your hand in his. He looked around at your family and gave them a smile. “It was nice meeting you all, but if it’s okay Y/n and I are probably going to get unpacked and head to bed early. It’s been a long day.”

“Want me to wake you guys up for dinner?” Your mother asked. Austin looked at you for a response, but you were just stuck staring at the stairs that lead towards your room.

“You can just knock on the door. I’ll come down and make seem plates, but Y/n’s real tired.” Austin replied as he gave your hands a small squeeze. You turned to look at him and nodded.

“All right, you guys get some sleep then. I put some fresh towels and toiletries in the bathroom.”

“Thank you, we appreciate the kindness,” Austin said and soon you two were heading upstairs to your room. 

As you entered the familiar room you reached for the bed and flopped down on top of it. Austin closed the door behind you and watched you. He let out a small smile and walked over to you.

“How about you sleep, and I go ahead and unpack?” He suggested. You hummed a response back and crawled under the covers. “Where?”

“Closet it there, draws there.” You lazily waved your hand in their general direction. “Shouldn’t be any clothes in them.”  

You closed your eyes and brought the covers up over your head and found sleep quickly finding you. While you were catching up on missed sleep, Austin spent that time going through your bags and suitcases. If it was a short trip he wouldn’t have bothered. However, since you guys were staying for a few months, he figured it would be best.

He pushed the suitcases into the closet and left out your carry-on bag. He figured you would go through it and put them where they belonged. When he finished, he found himself crawling under the sheets with you. He pulled your sleeping body closed and pressed a soft kiss on your head.

It didn’t take long before Austin was lightly shaking you awake. You opened your eyes gently and found Austin’s blue eyes looking down at you. Letting out a small yawn you sat up in your bed.

“Got you some food,” Austin said as he held the plate out to you. Looking at the plate you saw that everything was perfectly not touching. You never had an issue with your food touching, but it was nice that Austin did that. He didn’t know which way you liked it and he thought it was better to play it safe. 

“Thank you,” you replied with a smile and took the plate out of Austin’s hands. 

“You feeling better?” He asked.

“Yeah,” you nodded and started to eat. Austin leaned against your dresser and ate his own food. The two of you ate in silence, but it was a comforting relaxing silence. You knew that if you were out eating with your family they would be talking and asking questions. This was a nice break after the long trip you had. 

You finished your food quickly and went to stand up. “No no, don’t worry bout it. I’ll go down and clean them.” Austin spoke up. He took your plate out of your hand and placed it under his plate.

“I could’ve done it Austin,” You pointed out to him. You were very able to do it yourself in fact. 

“I know, I just want to make sure you have a stress-free evening.” You blushed gently and looked down at your hands.

“Thank you,” you said softly and watched as he left your room. You looked up and towards the clock that was on your shelf. You figured now would be the best time to take a shower, so as you stood up you went for the drawers. You pulled out a fresh pair of pajamas and underwear and went for your toiletries bag.

Making sure you had everything, you walked out of your room and found Austin walking back. You sent him a smile and headed toward the bathroom. Maybe being stuck here with Austin won’t be so bad. 

As you locked the bathroom door behind you, the only exception to the lock policy, you placed your things down. You turned on the vent and started your shower so that the water could warm up. Using the bathroom quickly first, you opened your toiletries bag and started to undress.  You got into the shower and let out a light squeal from the water being too hot. 

You turned down the temperature and run your fingers through your h/c hair. You let all worries pass out of your body and reminded yourself that things will work. Maybe even in the end you and Austin will be in a relationship. 

Of course, it passed your mind. The thought of actually developing feelings for one either while in a fake relationship? If it was for a week you probably would’ve shrugged it off. But you two will basically be spending months together. You knew it yourself that you would fall for him. You were just wondering if Austin would fall for you.

Part of you didn’t want to, because then you would have to admit it to your family. Which meant you would have to admit to your sister… She would squeal and comment that it was like one of her favorite books. Fake relationships to being in a real one. It would drive her crazy. 

Then again, maybe you were over your head. No one would want to date someone like you. You were broken in more ways than someone should be. Austin was a busy busy man, you were thankful he was even your friend. Leave it at that, Y/n.

After finishing your much-needed shower you got out and wrapped the towel around yourself. You grabbed another towel to throw your hair in for the time being and dried off. You pulled on the clothes and went to tend to your hair. Which you just towel-dried and said fuck it. There was no way you were going to blow dry it right now. 

You were back in your room before you knew it. Austin was laying on the bed on his phone. With the sound of the door opening though, he turned to look towards you.

“The shower is open if you want to take one.” You said as you threw your clothes into the hamper. Austin nodded and grabbed his things before heading into the bathroom himself. 

You got yourself situated in your bed and turned on your tv. You went to Netflix and went to find something to watch. You couldn’t promise that you would stay awake during the whole film, but it was at least worth a chance. 

You grabbed hold of your phone and unlocked it. You went to your messages and found your conversation with your friend. Technically she was your best friend. She knew all about your situation, and you wanted to keep her updated at every possible moment. 

You shot her a quick update and place your phone onto its charger and wait for Austin to come back. You didn’t want to start the movie without him in case he wanted to watch it with you.

He was back before you knew it, and you two were watching the movie. Your head was rested on his chest, and his arm was wrapped around you. Of course, you fell asleep, and Austin turned off the tv. You two would end up finishing it up another night, but for right now… you need as much energy as you could get.

Mutual Taglist: @darlinboypresley @emmymaehereeeeee @venus-haze @austinstyles