#i take it. silently. because my mom would get sad if she knew i make her mom angry on purpose

[mxwhore]

BEGONE! URGE TO ANTAGONIZE MY GRANDMA, BEGONE!

[ahsxual]

William Afton x Fem!Reader who is his stepdaughter, Y/N being a person that dresses very feminine and a lot of short skirts and dresses. Y/N would have a boyfriend that she learns had cheated on her with her best friend and she goes to her mom and stepdad house for comfort from her mom before quickly, realizing her mom was not home and it’s instead gets cheered up by her stepdaddy 😏

Daddy's Comfort

Genre: Smut & Angst

Warnings: minors dni +18, sad reader, Soft!Dom!William x Sub!Reader, cunnilingus, fingering, Perv!William, married!William, nipple play, praising, William calls reader a slut twice, cheating, age gap (reader is +18), daddy kink, almost getting caught

Word Count: 2,2k

Tagging: @aliceblxck @wolfman-moony

Warm tears streamed down your face the moment you discovered that your boyfriend was cheating on you. And to make things worse, it was with your own bestfriend, the girl you were supposed to trust the most. But oh, how wrong were you. You never saw the bad side of people, because you didn't believe that people could be so cruel and untrustworthy. Whenever you felt down, you would go to your best friend's house to cry on her shoulder, but now that wasn't an available option, leaving you alone with your broken heart and no one to talk to about your pain.

You never liked to vent to your mother about your heartbreaks, feeling embarrassed to be vulnerable in front of her. Your stepfather William Afton, on the other hand, always gave you advice about how boys your age only wanted to play with naive girls and take advantage of their fragile hearts, which was why he was so strict about you having affairs or boyfriends. Right now, as you were heading home to get some comfort from your parents, since there was no one else who would listen to you, you realized how William was absolutely right.

You were hoping that your parents would be home at that moment, comforting you with the right words and the reassuring physical touch that you so desperately needed. However, when you opened the door, you noticed that only your new parental figure was home.

"Hi sweetie! How was your day?" William immediately noticed you weren't well the moment he looked at you. Your red face and puffy eyes weren't fooling anyone, especially your stepfather who was such a intelligent and perceptive man, and who apparently knew you too well.

He was sitting on the couch watching a criminal documentary to which you didn't pay much attention, as your mind was occupied with other thoughts. He was already in his pajamas, so he must have gotten home some time ago. He got up quickly the moment you didn't answer him and instead you just cried on the spot, as his tall figure approached you carefully so as not to elicit any negative reaction from you.

"Hey hey come here, honey. It's alright, daddy's got you now, baby." he reassured you in a soft tone, as he hugged you against his strong frame. You instinctively returned his gesture, the feeling of hugging your stepdad being much better and needed than you expected.

"Do you want to talk about it?" you nodded, allowing him to carry you over the couch and sit you on his lap, while he rubbed your back and grabbed your exposed thigh to hold you closer. You hadn't realized the effect you had on him because you were wearing a short, pink dress with a bow that hung just below your cleavage.

"You were right, William... guys are all the same. M-my boyf-, I mean, ex-boyfriend cheated on me... with my bestfriend! How could they do this to me??" you started crying harder now that you had verbalize what had been haunting you since that morning, but you still felt much better for being able to talk about it with your stepfather. Suddenly, you felt William's hand squeeze your thigh harder, but you ignored that feeling for the moment. He remained silent for a moment before he spoke again.

"Sweetheart, boys your age don't know how to value a woman... Daddy tried to warn you, but you didn't listen. You need to find a real man who can take care of you and who won't break that soft heart of yours. You're too beautiful and young to cry over some idiot, and that's why I don't want you dating anyone. Do you understand me now, honey?" his voice was slightly deeper than before, but once again you let it pass. After listening to his "dad speech" about boys, you just nodded and leaned your head on his neck as you hugged him, looking for some kind of safety and warm physical touch.

"I'm sorry, daddy... I didn't mean to upset you. You were absolutely right... boys my age are real assholes." you stayed on his lap for a while, as he softly stroked your back and legs and kissed your head several times. As time passed, you noticed that his breathing changed its rhythm to a faster one.

"And there's one more thing..."

"What is it, daddy?" you asked innocently, having no idea what he was going to say next.

"You shouldn't... dress like that around men. You know how pretty girls are an easy target for men to take advantage of. You can... drive them crazy and make them do things that they can't... control. Do you understand what I'm trying to say, sweetie?" it was only then that you felt something getting hard under your ass, his thin pajama pants making it obvious that he was getting turned on by your outfit and vulnerable state. You blushed heavily at this and began to tremble a bit from embarrassment and nervousness.

"I'm sorry daddy, I didn't mean to..." you were left speechless, as you had no idea what to say or how to face this awkward situation.

"Do you want daddy to make you feel good?" he asked bluntly, his tone indicating that his intentions were far from innocent.

You didn't know how to react, but what you did know was that you desperately needed him inside you. You stared deeply into his eyes, trying to figure out if his intentions were the same as yours, and as soon as you realized this was confirmed, you simply nodded and spread your legs wide. His pupils were extremely dilated and his stare at your lips was becoming unbearable, while a small smirk appeared on his face.

"My babygirl is so good to me... I promise that daddy will take care of his sweet girl and make her forget about everything that upset her. Do you want that, bunny?" his hand was now dangerously close to where you needed him the most, as you felt your white cotton panties already soaked by his simple touch and voice.

"Yes daddy, please... I need you." you moaned softly, and that was enough to drive him crazy.

"Can I kiss you?" he asked cautiously, yet you could see he was getting desperate and impatient to touch you in such an intimate way. The moment you said yes, his thin lips glued to yours in a hungry, passionate kiss, a kiss you'd never experienced before. You could have sworn it was the best feeling you'd ever felt, until he rubbed his long, skilled finger against your clothed pussy and smeared your cum juices all over your already ruined panties.

"Oh fuck... is this all for me, baby? You're so, so wet... it'll make everything so much easier, you'll see." and that's when you felt him pull your panties aside to insert his middle finger inside your cunt.

You immediately moaned loudly as he curled his finger inside you, hitting your g-stop over and over again, so sweetly. He went from fingering you to drawing circles around your clit as you he kissed you slowly, his tongue dominating its territory inside your mouth. After a couple of minutes, you felt yourself getting closer and closer to your first orgasm, before he added a second finger inside you. Just as you were about to cum, he started fucking you faster and harder with his fingers, before bitting your neck and sucking on a purple hickey, making you reach your limit much more intensely. While you recovered, he never stopped kissing your neck and face, making you feel like the most special girl in the world.

"My sweet girl is so beautiful when she cums... What a beautiful sight to behold every day, every second... if only it was possible..." he whispered lovingly as he played with your lower lip. You wanted to please him too, so you took his thumb into your mouth and started sucking on it the best you could while gazing into his eyes.

"Can I suck your cock, daddy? Please, I want to pleasure you too." you were too eager to see what was under those pajamas, the hardness of it already promising that he could destroy you if he wanted to. He chuckled softly at you while shaking his head.

"Not now, sweetie. Daddy needs to taste his favorite girl first. You're the one who's had a bad day, right? So I'm going to pleasure you until you can't take it anymore... You can suck daddy's cock later, ok? I promise you'll see, feel and taste every bit of my cock sooner or later... I'll make sure of that. But right now, it's all about you, bunny." you smiled at his gentleness, and only wished you could have more time alone with him, since your mother would be home soon. Now you understood why your mother married this man after saying several times that she would never marry again.

William grabbed you in bridal style and took you to your room, where you would feel more comfortable and remember it every time you went there or slept. You were giggling in joy in his arms, his pecks on your lips made you feel hysterical butterflies flying around in your stomach. When you reached your bedroom, he gently placed you on your bed before undressing you. Your nipples hardened not only because of how cold it was in the room, but also with desire.

"Would you look at this... my bunny has such a perfect pussy. I can't wait to fuck you so good, princess. You're gonna love daddy's cock inside you. But for now... I'm gonna show you how a real man eats his pretty girl's pussy." his tongue trailed slowly through your wet folds, before leaving soft kisses on your clit. It was driving you insane and you desperately needed to beg him for more.

"Daddy, please... I need more please!" on another occasion William would continue to tease you, but your time was limited and he needed to make you cum again. He began to eat you out more eagerly, until you screamed his name over and over again. His skilled tongue never stopped pleasuring you, his beard and chin all covered in your juices, before you came again on his mouth.

"Just one more time and I'll let you go, baby... Come one, make daddy proud and cum all over my face." he demanded, before pinching your nipples harder.

His tongue didn't stop sucking on your clit, before it entered your empty hole until it reached the sweet spot inside of you. His beard scratched your tights and the slight pain only increased the pleasure you were feeling. A few minutes later, he grabbed your trembling legs and forced them over your chest with one of his strong arms, while his free hand fingered your pussy at a fast pace as he sucked on your clit. That was enough to make you moan loudly from pleasure as you came in his mouth and fingers, your cum dripping from your stepdad's chin as he stood up and looked at you.

It was only then that you heard some keys trying to open the front door of your house and you both immediately exchanged a knowing look. William wiped his chin with his sleeve, before leaning down to kiss your lips. However, you couldn't let him go just yet.

You knew that your mom's routine was to go to the bathroom before greeting her family, so when William was ready to leave your bedroom, you grabbed his arm to turn him towards you. He frowned at you, not believing that you were willing to risk getting caught, before you pulled his pants down and freed his cock.

"Honey, what are you do-" you didn't let him finish his sentence, as you put his long, thick dick inside your mouth and started sucking him off as if your life depended on it. "Oh fuck, you needy little slut... you just can't resist daddy's cock, can you? You're so desperate that you're willing to get caught sucking off your own mother's husband. Bad, bad girl..."

And that's all he said, before forcefully grabbing your hair and fucking your throat harder than you thought, which made you choke around him as spit dribbled down your chin onto your exposed nipples. Your mother had already left the bathroom by then, so you had to be quick. You held William's hips firmly and helped him fuck deeper into your mouth, which helped him finish faster inside you. You swallowed every drop of his cum, before showing your tongue to prove that you were a good girl for him by swallowing everything he gave you.

"I had to thank you for making me feel better, daddy. I wanted you to feel good and proud of me too..." you smiled shyly, while blushing and bitting your lip seductively.

"Oh, you little whore... my baby is always surprising me for the better. Next time, I won't be so gentle with you. And this is not a warning... it's a goddam promise." he said with a satisfied grin, before leaving your room with a wink in your way that held a million promises.

[steviewashere]

Make a Home Out of Hurt

Rating: General CW: Death of a Grandparent, Mourning Tags: Post-Season 4, Post Canon, Grief/Mourning, Established Relationship, Alternate Universe — Future Fic, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, Love Confessions, Sad Steve Harrington, Steve Harrington Has Absent Parents, Steve Harrington Mom is Okay, Steve Harrington's Dad is an Asshole, Eddie Munson is a Sweetheart, Steve Harrington is a Sweetheart, Eddie Munson Takes Care of Steve Harrington, Moving in Together

Had an evil little thought. Also, all these Fenton bunnies I mention are real! My nana collects Fenton. (She's alive, don't worry, but I thought about her the other day and it spiraled into this.)

🏡—————🏡 We’ve already seen this neighborhood, Eddie thinks, but won’t say.

Even though they have. They’ve driven by the same three houses. Yellow, pastel pink, and navy blue. White door, white door, brown door. Bushes and bushes and a bushel of red roses. One garage, no garage, no garage but large driveway. He’s seen them. Over and over and over.

And each time they pass the last one, the leather of the steering wheel squeaks. And each time, Steve makes a muffled sort of noise. And each time, Eddie wonders if resting his hand on Steve’s shaking shoulders would anger him or mellow him. And each time, the car gets just a little slower as Steve loses his control more and more.

We’ve already seen this neighborhood, Eddie continues to think, but knows he’ll sit here with those words. He’ll sit in the passenger seat. Window cranked as far down as it’ll go—half-way since Dustin busted the actual mechanism. Beemer’s been through a lot, so it’ll be here for Steve’s end all breakdown, too. With the radio volume low, playing the same double-sided tape on repeat, flipped by Eddie because Steve’s hands have been shaking: The World We Knew by Frank Sinatra. Because it was her favorite. Nana’s favorite. Nana Harrington’s favorite.

On the fifth drive through, Steve finally parks the car. At the end of the long, slow winding driveway. He looks out the windshield, hollowed and not quite here. With limp hands in his lap. Messy, greasy hair he couldn’t bother to style. Eye bags so heavy, Eddie barely believes he can hold them on his face.

Eddie can follow his line of sight. To the edge of the white picket fence, worn down a little with age, scratched up from the curled nails of an old brown dog, carved with her son and daughter-in-law’s initials, and eventually stained with yellow handprints from baby Steve. Yellow because, as Steve has echoed, “Lello, Nana. Lello like your dress. Your favorite!” Well, Steve’s favorite too, he just won’t acknowledge it’s because of his nana. Eddie knows that the paint has faded a bit since then, given that it’s been fifteen years since Steve’s had hands that small, but Eddie can see him. In his little white and red striped t-shirt, hidden by a pair of nicely pressed denim overalls, white sneakers, and his mom’s bobby pins in his hair—something she did because it just wouldn’t stop growing so fast and thick. Or so Eddie’s been told.

He’s been told a lot in the last week. Since the call came through the landline of their apartment. Since Steve had gone silent and collapsed to his knees and wailed, screamed even. Since he dressed himself in a suit that fit well, but looked out of place on his curled in body. Since…since the obituary was finally in his hands at the funeral, and he got so sick in the church’s restroom, Eddie had to drive them home in a daze—a quarter worried, a quarter tired, and half hanging by a thread. He thinks he’s heard everything, but what is love if not more than everything? If not all the words in every language, all known objects and unknown, every species and race and sexuality and identities combined?

He’ll hear everything. Until their old and grey and forgetting everything.

“There used to be a tire swing on that tree,” Steve states flatly, pointing at the weeping oak in his nana’s front yard. It’s crooked like it’s been kissed by the wind. A lot withering because the weather’s been harsh on her. Grey against the navy blue of the house’s siding.

I know, sweetheart, Eddie wants to say, so soft it gets lost between them. Instead, “Yeah? Bet it was a good tire, too,” he coaxes, still soft, all sweet. Even if he’s heard it each time they’ve passed by.

Steve nods once in his peripheral. Sniffs. “Yeah,” he states wetly, “one of the expensive ones. She didn’t want it to pop under me. Didn’t…She didn’t want me to stop using it.” His head dips down, looking at his fingers, where they’ve begun to absently trace the seams of his jeans. “I stopped,” he whispers shamefully. “You think she got mad because I stopped?”

“No, baby,” Eddie answers honestly. “I think that she was happy you used it at all. Think she was always just happy to see you, Steve.”

A sharp intake of breath next to him. “I used to come over here when my parents were gone. Or when they’d scream at each other. Or when…when they’d forget I existed,” he relays, quiet as a mouse. “When they’d forget, Nana would open the door and kiss my cheek and make me something to eat. I was always too skinny. So she made me casseroles,” he explains, a wisp of a smile. Gone in the blink of an eye. “She’ll never make ‘em again, though. She won’t—”

“Steve,” Eddie calls gently, a small warning. A siren before the tsunami. 

“—Love me again,” Steve sobs, “Nana won’t love me again.”

“Oh, baby,” he breathes. Eddie steps out of the car, rounds over to the driver’s side, and yanks the door open. Carefully, he unbuckles Steve, scoots him so that his legs dangle over the side, and pulls him down into a gentle hug. “Baby,” he coos. “Just get it out, honey. I’m right here. We’re right here. I’ve got you.”

And Steve cries. Again; though Eddie’s lost count. He squirms against Eddie’s chest. Head nestled to his neck. Crying big sounds that sound too large, even for his adult body. Sounds that carry boats, that poison with oil spills, that home orcas. He slobbers onto Eddie’s skin, grand globs of hot spit that gargle in his throat before launching from his mouth. His unshaved stubble scratching at the side of Eddie’s face—where his skin is sensitive and smooth and will most definitely be raw with Steve’s aching.

He sobs until there’s no more tears. Until he’s a whimpering, shivering mess on Eddie’s chest. Bunched up and small and fisting Eddie’s t-shirt like a lifeline. Squeezing the fabric in his hands like two lemons.

Eddie runs his hands up and down Steve’s spine. From the small of his back to his hunched shoulders, squishing him. He sways them ever so gently like the rustle of the old oak tree. Hums something incoherent and unrecognizable. If only to get Steve to stop shaking.

“Eds?”

“Hm?”

He takes a long, slow breath. Breathes out, “Why’d she give me the house?”

Eddie pulls them apart. One hand on the middle of Steve’s back, the other cupping his left cheek. Swiping at the tacky tracks from his tears. “I’m not sure, baby. Maybe she loved you so much that she wanted you to have it? To always be safe there?”

“Shouldn’t she have given it to my dad? I don’t…” Steve’s eyebrows scrunch in confusion, his mouth frowning. “I don’t deserve her house?”

“Sweetheart,” Eddie sighs. “She chose you for a reason. You, Stevie. Not anybody else. Just you. If she wanted to give it to her son, she would’ve. But she didn’t. She thought of you, put you in the will, and now it’s yours.” When Steve doesn’t respond, Eddie gives him his moment of silence. Running his palm up to Steve’s shoulders. Pressing his thumb into his supple skin. “You may never know her intent, but she probably had a reason. It was a home you came running to, where you felt safest, where you felt…loved. Grandmothers always have this air to them, like they just know things about you before you say ‘em. Maybe she just knew you needed her and her space before you even realized.”

Steve sniffles. His eyes are still wet. Bloodshot and tired. Rumpled all the way around, exhausted and quiet. “She used to play with me in the yard.”

I know, Eddie thinks once more. He goes with the topic change though, if that’s what Steve needs.

“And when we played hide and seek, she always made sure to look until I was found. Because she didn’t want me to feel forgotten, her words.” Steve’s fingers are fidgeting with one another again. Picking at his fingernails, peeling at hangnails. Eddie moves down and takes them, rubbing soothing circles into their backs, just so Steve doesn’t harm himself on top of everything. Steve continues, hushed, “When I’d stay the night, she would sleep with me. Hold me close to her. Scratch my back and scalp and tell me stories…all the way until I fell asleep.”

“Kinda like I do, huh?” Eddie asks.

Steve nods. “Yeah,” he croaks. “Think that’s why I feel so loved and safe with you.”

And Eddie hasn’t cried, not really, not yet. But this may be it. Because he knows, beyond everything, that Nana was special to Steve—so special that just one negative comment, one complaint, one little fuss about her was enough to get you shunned by him. He’s seen it play out with Dustin, he’d been banned from coming over for two weeks. And with El, who didn’t understand quite yet, but had lost conversational abilities with Steve for two whole days—ergo, the Silent Treatment.

This means something. It means everything. Eddie kind of wants to cry about it.

But he reigns himself in for now. Because Steve needs him like water. For somebody to just be there and be present and be patient. Through it all.

“You wanna head inside,” Eddie offers, “I’ve got the key in my pocket.” He gestures loosely to the inside of his vest, the safest pocket near his heart. When Steve nods, Eddie leads them inside silently. Opens the door first, per request made by Steve days prior. Sets his shoes by the front door—not told to, but just out of respect. Hangs up his jacket, his vest. Takes Steve’s jacket, too. Unties his Nike sneakers. Smacks a quick kiss to his cheek. And then he waits by the front door for Steve to say or do something.

The first thing he does is gasp. Eyes roaming the hallway, the living room, and the fireplace that connects the kitchen and living space together. He takes a few tentative steps before stopping in front of a tall, full China cabinet.

“Her Fenton bunnies,” Steve breathes.

Eddie slowly approaches behind him. Wraps an arm around his waist, tugging him into his side a little. “Are these the ones your mom was talking about on the phone?”

“Yeah. I just…Didn’t think my mom was telling the truth,” Steve murmurs. “She told me Dad didn’t want these. Takes up room or whatever. But they’re so pretty here, how could you not want these?” His left hand reaches for the knob of the cabinet. Twisting it gently as to not rattle the glass shelves. With the doors swung open, the bunnies under the cabinet’s lighting are free to touch. And so Steve picks one up, carefully in his hands like it’s alive. Maybe it is, Eddie thinks for a moment, alive with her spirit.

He breathes silently by Steve as he investigates the glass item in his hand. Running his thumbs over the ears. Down the smooth back.

“Satin glass,” Steve states, “It’s like touching the fabric, which is so weird. Nana used to talk about it all the time, but I never believed her. She never let me touch. You wanna?” He holds the bunny up to Eddie’s face. In offering, for him to pet. So he runs a slow thumb down its back. And sure enough, soft as silk, cold to the touch. “All of them are here.” He replaces the silk, purple bunny on the shelf. Picking up a chromatic shifting one next. “Carnival glass,” Steve explains, “it’s heavier than the other one, feels like. But so shiny. Think Nana used to say it was amethyst or something, but that might be what the color shift is called?”

“You sure listened to her well,” Eddie murmurs, “know a lot about this.”

Steve chuckles, a little choked to Eddie’s ears but he makes no comment. “Yeah, I guess I did. Mom used to say that I had selective hearing. That I listened when it was something I cared about.”

“And you cared a lot about Nana,” Eddie concludes.

“Yeah,” Steve whispers, “cared a lot about Nana.” He sets the carnival glass bunny back on the shelf. Standing idle in front of it all, taking it all in. “She has one upstairs, in a different glass cabinet. It glows green under the special blacklight upstairs. Said it was radioactive.” He chuckles again. “I gave her that one. As a gift for Mother’s Day in…I think ’77? Mom helped me pick it out—she was nice about the bunnies, about finding this stuff. She loved Nana, too. And she…” He laughs low in his chest and Eddie blossoms a little at the sound, unheard in so long. “Mom would pull out the long box of tissue paper and gift bags from the crawlspace. She’d unfold the prettiest gift bag—this one was a little brown one, covered in peach colored peonies. Stuffed some off-white tissue paper in that one. Wrapped the little yellow—well, it was supposed to be yellow—Fenton bunny in bubble wrap, covered it up with a bunch of caramels. Gave it to Nana, and she squealed! Apparently, she already knew it was radioactive? Thought it was the best gift ever. Which, ouch Nana, I gave you other bunnies for Mother’s Day, c’mon.”

Eddie snorts. “Maybe that’s what earned you the house? That radioactive bunny was probably the key to her heart,” he jokes. Though his stomach turns at the possibility it wasn’t appropriate to make.

Steve laughs loudly, though. Shaking his entire body with it. He slips his hand into Eddie’s back right pocket, sighs, and leans against him relaxed. “Dad should’a tried harder if he wanted Nana’s heart,” he comments, “all it took was a damn bunny.”

“Among other things, I’m sure.”

“Probably,” Steve sighs. “I think she was just excited to have a grandkid. She had a weird relationship with my dad. They didn’t get along very well. So maybe she was sorta…trying again?”

“Stevie, I think she just loved you. There doesn’t have to be some grand, deep meaning behind it. I think she just loved your company. How your laugh fills a room and your smile is seen from across the yard. And how you’re always polite, despite having reasons to not be. Maybe because of your terrible puns and how awful you are at quoting Shakespeare? You charm everybody, Steve,” Eddie monologues. “There’s not a reason to not love you.”

For a moment, the room falls completely silent. Distantly, there’s the slow tick of a wall clock. A few birds singing out in the backyard, where the bird bath probably is—only known through Steve’s memories. A slight hum from the radiator. The cars passing by on the main road just around the corner. Hawkins is quiet when there’s mourning; maybe it’s felt through the whole town, through the soles of Steve’s socked feet, from the beating of his ever love absorbent heart.

She died November 7th, 1993. Just a few days ago. Maybe it’s the anniversary of Will Byers going missing that Hawkins is feeling. Maybe it’s just tragedy. It’s love persevering—even in the most dire of situations. Where Joyce Byers was screaming about where her son may be, all those mismatched theories, and the ways in which the town thought she was crazy—even when they believed her and cried over her son’s body being pulled from the water. Where Will is actually thriving now. Where Sandra Harrington no longer is, though she was a fixture in several communities and families, Steve’s own being included.

“How’s your boy doing?” Wayne asked the day after her funeral. Eddie had shrugged, admitting he wasn’t sure because Steve had gone terribly quiet and sick. “Tell him I’m sorry. That he has a home with us. That he can come over and cry and I’ll make him hot cocoa. Alright, Ed?”

God, even Wayne knew. And there was silence after his condolences.

There is so much silence.

Until, finally, Steve asks, “Will you live with me here?”

“Wh—What?” Because surely he didn’t hear that right.

“Live with me here,” Steve repeats, a little more urgent. “I don’t think I can handle this place alone. And…I know how to use her gas stove. I can make you the spaghetti dish she used to make. And the casseroles she used to bake. We can open up her recipe box and I’ll teach you how to make her apple pie—the one she gave me for your birthday two years ago?

“And we can read your Lord of The Rings books on the porch on the bench she has out there? Grill in the backyard when we have everybody over. Robin can have the room that used to be my nursery. We can…We can live our lives here.”

Stunned, Eddie gapes momentarily. Before gripping harder at Steve’s waist, drawing him closer even when there’s no more room. Two solid bodies connected from shoulder to foot. “Are you sure, Steve? You don’t wanna—“

“You’re my family, Eds. I have loved you since that bullshit in ’86. We have seen each other through our absolute worst. Of course I’m sure. Of course I want you here,” Steve swears. “I know what I’m getting into. Even if it hurts to look around here right now. But you’ve been here by me through one of the worst heartbreaks I’ve ever experienced. I want you here—preferably always.”

“Stevie,” Eddie breathes. He reaches out with his free hand and cups the right side of Steve’s face. Swipes over his glistening cheekbone. Under his shadow beaten eye. The tickling brush of Steve’s bottom eyelashes on the tip of his thumb. And he kisses him tenderly, with every word he could ever imagine to say, all emotion he could ever feel, with an intensity seen in atomic bombs. He pulls back to see Steve’s eyes closed. Flushed and bright in the cabinet’s full white lighting, doors still open, and fragile glass bunnies as witnesses. Promises, “I want to, Steve. I want to be here with you. Through it. All of it. As long as I get to love you.”

And on his thumb there are fresh tears, gone cold but skin scalding. Steve’s lips trembling with silent cries. His eyelashes fluttering. Him and him and him. Beautiful and raw and open. Gentle like flowers and strong like wind. Aching and romantic and with a heart the size of the universe itself. Because Steve Harrington is everything—

Or so his nana has said. But Steve doesn’t know. And that’s Eddie’s own secret.

“Okay,” Steve mutters, “make a home with me, Ed.”

🏡—————🏡

[louloulemons-posts]

Tea and Toast

Eddie Munson X Reader

Summary : Eddie shows up at your house in the middle of the night.

Word Count : 1.1k

Warnings : Not proofread, another 2am fic, angsty, happy ending?, reader isn’t described with any pronouns or psychical features, Eddies dad, Eddie gets hurt, physical assault, talks of Eddies mom, sad Eddie, cuts and bruises, reader takes care of him.

A/N : This one is a heavy one, so please don’t read if you don’t feel comfortable 🤍

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

“Baby,” you hear, brain foggy with sleep. Whining in reply, you try to block out the noise. “Sweetheart,” you feel your body being shook.

You’re awake, rubbing your eyes, to wake up your mind. Looking around in the darkness you find Eddie. “Hey,” you say, voice thick with sleep.

Pushing up, you look at him, leaning over to your lamp. He stops your hand. “Eds?”

“Just leave it off.”

“What are you doing here, thought you weren’t coming over tonight?”

“I know, I’m sorry I shouldn’t have come.” He stood from your bed, but you pulled him back gently.

“You know you’re welcome anytime,” you said softly. You pulled him closer to you, “But I know you, and I know you wouldn’t show up at,” you paused and looked at your clock, “2am, randomly without a reason.”

“I couldn’t stay there,”his voice broke.

“What?” you instantly become concerned.

“Im sorry I didn’t know where else to go. He showed up and Wayne’s at work and I-I couldn’t,” his breathing sped up.

“Hey, hey slow down it’s okay. You’re safe,” you pulled him into your arms. Rubbing his back and playing with his curls the way you know he loved. “It’s okay Sweet boy, I’ve got you.”

Slowly you felt him calm down. “My dad,” he began, you didn’t rush him, “I got back from dropping you home and he was at the entrance of the trailer park.

“Wanted to talk to me. To Wayne. Started yelling, saying we ruined his life, his reputation. I tried to get him to leave but he wouldn’t … a-and then … then he um ..”

“Baby did he hurt you?” you asked carefully, not wanting to overwhelm him. He nodded into your neck, letting out a sob. “I-if he wasn’t being so loud, and the neighbours didn’t come out … I just shut down … just like I used too.”

“It’s okay. You’re okay. You’re safe.”

“One of the guys at the front of the park threatened to call the cops and he bolted.”

“Cause he’s a coward,” you didn’t like bad mouthing people, but Al Munson was the worst.

“Eddie my love, will you let me see your face?” you softly kissed the top of his head and he nodded, sniffling. Pulling back slightly, but not letting go, you turned on your lamp.

Looking at his face, tears came to your own eyes, “Oh my baby, let’s get you cleaned up, yeah?” leading him to your bathroom, you pulled out your first aid kit.

His lip was popped, the side of his face bruised, he had a black eye coming and his eye brow was cut. “Can you sit here for me?” you motioned to the closed toilet. He sat on the lid silently.

Making your way to stand between his legs, “This is gonna sting,” you spoke, antiseptic wipe in hand. He hummed, you tried to be as careful as possible, touching his eyebrow, but he let out a hiss.

“Sorry, oh I’m sorry baby. I know it hurts.”More tears fell but you knew it wasn’t out of pain, well not physically, this was in his heart. “Why does he hate me?” he sobbed, resting his head on your stomach.

“Because he’s an awful person. You are everything he could never be. You are kind and loving and sweet and gentle. He is a mean man, a broken man.”

“H-he said it was my fault mom-“

“Don’t you dare. Don’t you dare listen to him, it was not your fault, it wasn’t anyone’s fault.

“B-but he said-“

“I know, but that is because he is a broken man who never learnt how to deal with his emotions. He didn’t talk about your mom and took out all his feelings on you, but Eds you were a baby.

“You were your moms pride and joy, she would hate the way he’s treated you. You have such a good heart and soul, and you honour your mom everyday by being so strong and kind,

“The way you look after Wayne, the kids, me. She’d be so proud. So please do not listen to a thing that nasty man says.”

He calmed in your hold, still holding you tightly. “I love you, thank you for being here,” he said, pulling away from your tummy, his face now splotchy and swollen with tears.

“I will always be here. I love you so much.” You kissed his lips softly, not wanting to hurt him anymore. “Tell you what, if you’re feeling up to it in the morning, we can go and talk to Hop. Tell him what happened, how does that sound?”

“You’ll stay with me?”

“Always. Now let me finish cleaning you up.”

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Eddie had changed into a pair of clothes he’d left here, whilst you went to make him some toast and tea. Something your mom did whenever you were upset.

You also decided to call Wayne’s work place. “Hello?” an unfamiliar voice answered, clearly tired. “Hi, um I was wondering if I could talk to Wayne Munson please.”

Soon enough you heard his voice, “Munson,” he said simply. “Hey Wayne it’s me.”

“Oh hello Honey, is everything okay?”

“Not really,” you then explained the events of the night. “Is he okay?”

“He was shaken up. I’ve cleaned him up, we’re going to talk to Hopper in the morning. I just wanted to tell you so you could be careful, keep an eye out for him”.

“Well thank you for letting me know. Just … tell him I love him okay, and thank you for taking care of my boy.”

“I always will Wayne, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

You wandered up to your room, finding Eddie sat on the bed, legs crossed, eyes skimming across your bookshelf, to keep himself distracted.

“Hey,” you said softly, not wanting to make him jump. “Hi,” he smiled weakly. Passing him the plate and the mug you sat next to him, sipping your own drink.

“I spoke to Wayne, just so he can keep an eye out. He wanted me to tell you that he loves you.” Eddie paused mid bite, almost choking.

“Really?”

“His exact words, he loves his boy. I love him too,” you nudged his shoulder.

“I love you.”

The rest of the night was quiet, you and Eddie drank your tea and ate toast. He lay on your chest, listening to your heartbeat, as you played with his curls.

Soon his soft snores were filling the room. He would be okay. He was surrounded by love, maybe not Al. But Al didn’t deserve him.

People like you, Wayne, your friends. Those were the ones he needed. His family, definitely strange and not at all normal, but a family nevertheless.

~ / / / * \ \ \ ~

Thank you so much for reading! Please leave any requests 🤍

[marvelobsessed134]

i know you already did a story of Nikki hooking up with Tommy daughter

But I have an idea for one you could make

Modern day Nikki has a crush on the reader aka Tommy's daughter

Tommy and daughter go to visit Nikki in Wyoming they eat dinner at Nikki's house

As they all eat Nikki and her sit next to each at the table when Tommy isn't looking Nikki starts finger her a little later that night Tommy goes to bed

Nikki and her sneak out to his truck and have sex then just as they finish Tommy comes out outside Nikki and her hide in back of the truck Nikki throws a a blanket over so y'all won't get caught

Lol sorry this long it just came to me real fast

Sneaking around part two

Part one is here

Pairings: current!nikki sixx x fem!reader, current!tommy lee x fem!daughter!reader

Warnings: smut, vouyorism? (I totally spelt that wrong too), brief daddy kink, sneaking around, (almost) getting caught, Nikki cums inside reader, unprotected sex

It’s been a few months since you and Nikki hooked up and your father still doesn’t know about it.

This weekend Tommy dragged you along to visit Nikki in Wyoming which you were more than happy to do. You knew that after he falls asleep…the real fun happens.

Your step mom Brittany had a gig at the Laugh Factory in LA so she couldn’t join you guys. Which you were a little sad about but you decided to focus on Nikki.

Once the two of you arrived at his large house in the mountains, with a breathtaking view might you add, you got settled into guest bedrooms. Luckily there were enough rooms to where you didn’t have to share a room with your dad.

Because sneaking around would be a lot harder.

“Well it’s great to see you Y/n.” Nikki greeted you with a hug. He subtly felt you up which made your cheeks flush.

“It’s great to see you too Nikki.” You never really call him “uncle” anymore ever since you got older and started to become attracted to him. Your dad didn’t suspect a thing he was oblivious.

“I made dinner so come sit.” The bassist said as he led you to the dining room. During dinner all was well, just catching up with each other until Tommy was distracted on the phone.

Nikki’s hand creeped up the side of your legs before making its way under your skirt. Your eyes widened as you quickly turned your head towards him.

He put his finger over his lips a silent “shh” before pulling your panties aside and running his finger through your wet folds.

You hissed slightly as he toyed with your cunt before entering two fingers inside of you tight entrance.

“Yeah. Okay see ya.” Your dad hung up the phone and Nikki was eating his chicken as if his fingers weren’t knuckles deep inside of you.

You tried your best to act normal but the bastard made that very hard as his thumb caressed your clit. You hissed again as you tried to pick up your fork and take a bite.

The drummer had a concerned look on his face, “Are you okay sweetheart?”

“Yeah, dad. I’m fine just feeling some of those menstrual cramps coming on you know how it is.”

“Do you want to lay down?” Nikki interjected.

You nodded and smiled as best you could. You silently whined at the loss of his fingers inside of you but quickly got up to your room.

~Time Skip~

Later that night you laid restless wondering if Nikki was going to continue those little game of his.

Your phone pinged and you looked to see a text from the man himself.

Meet me in my truck. Now.

You quickly got out of bed and rushed outside quietly as to not wake anyone else. You ran outside in the cold Wyoming air in your thin pajamas. Making your way to Nikki’s truck you got inside and sat in the passengers seat.

The older man eyed you up and down, noticing how your nipples pebbled against the thin fabric of your tank top. He grabbed your head and pressed a hot, passionate kiss to your lips. You kiss him back, wrapping your arms around his neck.

The two of you pulled away, breathless.

“Been waiting all day for this.” He groaned.

“Yeah? Well you clearly couldn’t wait when you fingered me at the dinner table with my dad across from us.”

“I just couldn’t help myself. I had to feel you again it’s been to long.”

“I didn’t even get to cum.”

His hands slid up to your waist and he leaned in, “Oh honey,” he said, “you’ll be cumming a lot this weekend.” That sent a shiver down your spine and he took the opportunity to pull your tank top over your head.

Nikki groped your breasts and toyed with your nipples as you rubbed the bulge in his pants.

“Jesus baby you’re too good to me. You shouldn’t be shacking it up with an old man.”

You moved to straddle him, “Yeah but I’m doing it anyway.” You grinned and he grinned back.

The bassist slapped your ass, “Dirty girl.” You grounded in his crotch, moaning at the friction.

He quickly pulled his cock out of his pants and you pulled your shorts and panties off before lowering your all yourself onto his shaft. You both moaned at the stretch and his hands gripped your hips as he started to move you up and down.

“Rub your clit for me baby.” He commanded and your hand moved down to your clit as you rubbed it in deep circles.

Your eyes rolled at the back of your head, your mind blank as you screamed. You knew why Nikki wanted you I his truck, so you could be as loud as you wanted.

“Such a good girl squeezing me so tight. Ah fuck!” The older man groaned, thrusting up into you hitting your g spot every time.

“I’m gonna cum!” You moaned breathlessly.

“Go ahead babygirl. Cum for daddy.” His words sent you over the edge as you clenched around him, your release dripping down his cock.

But Nikki didn’t stop, fucking into you as he came in your pussy.

The two of you were trying to catch your breaths when the light came in the foyer. The two of you froze and you dove into the back seat. Nikki grabbed a blanket and covered you completely.

Tommy came up to the truck and opened the door. “Hey man, what are you doing out here I heard some noise.”

“Oh uh….” His cheeks were red, he was embarrassed. “I was going to the corner store to get some snacks but I got distracted.”

Your dad looked down at his friends cock still leaking with his cum, “Clearly. Well I don’t judge I’ve jerked off in weirder places.” And he was off into the house.

You peaked out of the blanket, “Is he gone?”

“Yeah. That was close.”

[barcalover86]

My heart can't take it 2- Pablo Gavi

The first part here - is one of my favourite fanfiction of him

Masterlist

Finally, I managed to end this one. It's been some time, and I'm sorry for the wait, but I wanted to write it in the right way and to give you a well-deserved ending. Thank you for your messages and unconditional support! I see every request of you, and seeing that you want me to write your ideas makes me the happiest! Have a nice day, love yourself, and enjoy this! Love to all of you!🫵

I couldn't answer to only one of you because it wouldn't have been fair, so I tried to mention all of you here and announce you whenever it's ready.

I've been writing this for days..

-------

'Que las noches sin ti duelen'

"How many times do we have to listen to this song, Pedri?"

"What? You don't like it?" he turned to look at his friend who was next to him in the car.

"It's not like I don't like it, I just got bored of it"

Pedri laughed.

"Are you sure that's the reason?" he teased.

"Ok, end it here" Gavi said before the two of them sat silent in the car, while the music was still on.

Pedri was taking Gavi home again after the training. It was already 5 p.m. and tomorrow, they have to do some videos about the new Barca kit, so the moment Gavi went to his house, he went directly to his bathroom to take another shower.

"Why is he showering again?" his sister questioned her mom, being concerned about her little brother. He already showered after his training in the changing room with his teammates.

Her mom remained silent until she decided to continue the conversation.

"It doesn't seem like he is good. Are you sure you don't know what happened to him?"

Of course, she knows. He's been acting weird since the night their friend groups went together on the beach. She knew that you were the reason for his sadness. She stayed with the boy all night while he was crying in her arms. He never told the reason, nor did she asked, because as his older sister, she knows when Pablo is suffering towards a girl. Although, Aurora never told their mom this thing. She respected her brother's privacy.

"No" she just answered simply, before going to her room to not continue this subject.

It was true that Pablo Gavi was showering more lately, which doesn't seem so weird until you question yourself about it. He stays hours in his bathroom.

Crying.

He hadn't seen you since that day and it had been almost 4 weeks. He missed you a lot, and he had no one to talk to. He knew that his sister would be mad at him for falling in love with her friend, who didn't even talk to him, and Pedri.. he was going to make fun of him. He had to keep it all to himself, and the emotions sometimes got him. Crying while people think that he's showering was the best idea that came into his mind. Like that, his family wouldn't hear his sobs.

He didn't eat.. not yet. Aurora started to get more concerned, so she knocked at his door.

"Mami made you some pollo con arroz, want to come down to the kitchen to eat?" she asked hoping for a positive answer.

"Maybe later, gracias"

She barely heard him, but it was enough to know that his voice wasn't his normal one.

"Estas bien, hermanito?"

"Si"

That si had to be a strong word, but it only came from his mouth as a sob.

His sister felt like someone had just broken her heart. Hearing her brother at the edge of crying was something so hurtful. Pablo was one of the sweetest guys, and he doesn't deserve anything that could make him sad.

She waited a few seconds after talking again, trying to find the perfect way to say what she wanted.

"Come here, Pablo"

"Come outside, I know you aren't showering right now. Let's meet in the kitchen in 10 minutes. You have to eat and we to talk. I'm gonna tell our parents to leave, we'll be alone."

After that, Aurora left.

She managed to find a reason for their parents to go out of the house, and when Pablo came and sat on the chair that was in front of her, her heart broke again.

His eyes were red and puffy. The boy clearly had been crying for hours!

She didn't say anything more, only went to him and hugged him. Tight. Pablo returned the hug, trying so hard not to cry in front of his older sister. He accidentally escaped some sobs, but Aurora didn't mind. She hugged him until he calmed down completely.

"You have to tell me what is happening to you, Pablo. This is something serios"

"It's nothing, Rora."

"I know you, Gavira" she said with a serious face.

"I am just scared that the next season I won't play that much" he lied

"Oh, you're getting on my nerves. I really want to help you, but if you keep lying to me, then we won't go anywhere. I won't get mad, I promise you."

"I..I really like one of your friends," he said after some time.

"Go on" she encouraged him.

"And she doesn't give me attention at all. We barely even talked, and I'm sure that she doesn't feel the same way as me. She doesn't even look at me as a friend."

"Y/n, right?"

He started to panick at the thought that she knew.

"I'm so -" he wanted to apologise until he was interrupted again.

"It's ok, Pablo. No worries, ok? It's not your fault that you like her-"

"Kinda love her," he said sadly before turning his head to another direction, afraid not to cry again.

Aurora smiled. Pablo Gavi was never this soft. He was a sweety, of course, but she never saw his little brother like that, and she kinda likes the idea of having you even closer.

"You don't have to worry about me, hermanito. Go talk more to her and I'm sure she will like you. You are a great boy, and let's be serious. Who wouldn't fall in love with you?"

They both laughed.

The next day, Aurora invited her friends to their house.

------

"Will Pablo stay with us?" asked one of Aurora's friends.

"Yes, he has some plans to do," she said, and they all looked confused.

"What do you mean?"

She just winked at them and then started laughing.

"Ohh, he is in love, isn't him?" You finally spoke after being quiet for a while.

"Oh, you wouldn't know," answered his sister before you borrowed your eyebrows, confused.

You decided not to say anything anymore, but you felt some pain in your chest, and when you saw Gavi walking past you to sit on the couch near some girl, your heart felt like it just had broken. Your eyes couldn't not look into his.

He wasn't looking at you. Of course, he wouldn't. He is a famous football player, he is for sure in love with some influencer or with a beautiful lady that has the perfect body.

The truth is that he wasn't looking at you because he knew that if he would, he couldn't stop moving his eyes away from you. He knew that if he saw you, even for a second, he would lose control. He couldn't even stand the fact that you were there, far but so close to him.

Aurora saw you looking intense at her brother, so she decided to help both of you.

"Hermanitoo, come here a second, por fa"

"What?" answered the boy after standing up while going near his sister.

"If you really want to stay with us, then we should play something together. God knows when we will stay together again like this. We have to enjoy every minute!"

"What game?"

"Truth or dare!"

"Oh, I'm not playing that stupid game of yours"

"Then you won't stay with us"

Everyone was cheering for Gavi to play, but the only thing that made him not go was you. He really wanted to stay with you. He even sat down beside you, really, really close to another.

The truth is that you hate this game. You never enjoyed playing it, but this time, you felt like you wanted to stay.

You feared that something was to happen, and when it really happened, you couldn't do anything but panick hard. Of course, Aurora would ask you something like this after you said dare.

"I dare you to kiss my brother!"

"What-no"

"It's a dare, y/n"

You argued a lot with his sister, and you didn't even realise when Pablo turned your face into his, and he touched your lips with his. The kiss was everything you've ever imagined, and it was the best one you've ever had.

When you looked into his eyes, nothing was coming out of your mouth. You couldn't love this boy, could you? He barely even talked to you.

Gavi, on the other side, was the happiest that he finally managed to do that, and he for sure winked after to his sister as a "thank you". She only returned his smile, being happy for the both of you.

You didn't say anything until it was late and you decided to go home.

Pablo somehow excused himself, finding a way to be only with you. He didn't even know where this courage came from, but he was so thankful for it.

"I'm sorry you had to kiss me" you finally spoke.

"It was just a game after all, it didn't mean anything"

Oh, and how stupid he was for saying that. Full regret starting to feel in all of his body.

You couldn't say anything. You froze there, not being able to leave the room.

You knew he didn't feel the spark that you felt. Even yourself couldn't believe that this past weeks all you thought about was him. The moment he kissed you, your heart felt like it healed and was the best feeling you've ever felt in a while. You felt alive and.. happy.

He knew he fucked everything up.

"I'm so-"

"It's ok. Really. Like, I get it!"

"What-"

"No, like- I get it you don't.. like me. I get it that you don't even want to.. talk to me? See me? I completely understand you. Maybe I would ruin your career if people see us together. Maybe-"

"Para!"

"Maybe you just stood with us, because your girlfriend couldn't meet you today or-"

"Y/n, para!!"

You did anything other than stop yourself from talking.

"And I can't even believe myself how I managed to be like the other girls. To.. start to like you and-"

"You what?"

Now you only stopped, just because you realised that you said it out loud. It was like you admitted yourself to what you feel for him.

You started to panick and quickly got out of his house, with him following you.

"No, wait!"

He managed to take your hand and stop you.

"You like me?" he said softly with tears in his eyes.

"No, it's just-"

"Dime la verdad, y/n"

He had hope in his eyes.

"Por favor.."

You looked at him. You just couldn't stay there and lie to him. Lie to those pretty eyes.

"I don't even believe myself for this-"

"Tell me!"

"Joder, yes! Yes, I like you!"

He smiled.

"I can't believe this."

"Lo siento, Gavi. I know you-"

"No! Don't say anything anymore. You know nothing. You have no idea how long I wanted to hear you say it. To hear that you like me."

He looked into your eyes and smiled.

"Can I kiss you..please.." he finally found the courage to say it.

You were shocked. Completely shocked.

He laughed at your face, but knew that you wanted it so he did it. He kissed you.

This time, it was different. It didn't feel like it was something rushed. It was slow, full of love and adoration.

"I've liked you for so long, you have no idea. Now, can I finally call you mine, amor?"

You smiled widely.

"Por supuesto!"

I hope I didn't disappoint you with this one..

I have so many ideas of how could I have continued this, but it would have been too long, but I could make a part 3???

When they say "I love you" for the first time or when they introduce their relationship to their friends and families?

I can also do one where we have y/n's version of the story????

What do you say about it?

Shall be a part 3 to this one??

Thank you for the waiting, and thank you if you are reading this. It means a lot to me that you also read this part and took some time of yours to enjoy my stories. I wish you a nice day and don't forget.. love yourself!!

I have a request that asks him "Jealous Gavi," so it will be out soon. I hope that it will be really soon done. I'm working on it

Reminder:

@its-astrotea-love

@rens-daylight

@http-isabela

@madelineorionswan

@lilians17

@gavisuntiedboot

@barackosteaa

@magdis-things

@iheartgavi

@coco657

@httpskay

[12pt-times-new-roman]

c3e79

They have some convos in Morri's manor, and Orym does not seem happy that they've decided to run away into the Feywild. But he's rolling with having been mostly silent, brooding, and working out over the past day.

Fearne goes to talk to Birdie. She and Ollie were able to escape to the Feywild gateway, but Hondir took off toward Ashanadoor instead to reconvene with his allies.

Upon mentioning Tevon, Fearne -- apparently the party's lie detector -- can tell that Birdie isn't lying about not having had dealings with devils or demons, but she's still being guarded about something. "Fearne, you may not know how your father and I met, but know that he is a good man in his morals, and I've met no man greater than him. We met because we were both briefly entangled with the Unseelie Court; Ollie was a prisoner of theirs, and I was once enthralled by the wiles of one among them. This gentleman of whom I was romantically entangled with promised much, and delighted in my darker impulses... I was whisked away into the arms of this dark lover who danced with me, he waxed poetic about taking the moon from the Moonweaver herself, and he was beautiful as he was terrifying... I was in an odd place, and I do not like who I was then... my Unseelie suitor talked of the importance of our union, and when it was time for me to give birth to you, he brought me to a hilltop on Exandria beneath the red moon Ruidus, as he had planned and we had discussed."

Fearne's biological father is Atheon Zathuda, the Sorrow Lord of the Unseelie Court -- the person who chased them from the Malleus Key, who Morri fought for them as they fled. He had dealings with Otohan and Ludinus, who promised him that he'd be freed from the Moonweaver's imprisonment if he helped them make the key. Birdie notes specifically that Zathuda spoke with an "Exandrian high magus" to plan Fearne's birth so that she would be Ruidusborn.

Once Fearne was born, Zathuda stopped giving attention to Birdie and treated her badly, so she fled, taking Fearne and Ollie with her. When Ollie had his vision years later, they did what any parents would do: they kept Fearne safe. They knew that the Unseelie and Zathuda would be looking for Fearne, so they left her with Morri. "I don't ever want you to think that I'm asking for forgiveness, I know you can't give me that, but I'll try to make it up to you in time."

While that happens, Orym goes to talk to Ashton. "I realize that I didn't say a lot yesterday. I've just been thinking. To be honest, Ash, I was as freaked out as everybody else by what happened, but that's not what I want to say to you right now. I just want you to feel what you're gonna feel -- be angry, sad, confused, questioning, guilty, shameful, whatever. But we do care about you. I care about you. [Yeah. I think I believe that now.] Well, time, right? Whatever you're gonna feel, we're all going through it, and I get it, I do. You and your dad, Imogen and her mom, and me with everything I carry around -- it's hard not to let it be personal, and of course it's personal, but we can't let this be about our every little hidden heartbreak right now. [No. I mean, I'll admit that the positive reinforcement after jumping into a pool of lava may have been... I can see the escalation, the more I think about it.] I listened to everyone lay into you yesterday, and that's not what this is about. I care about you, and with everything that's coming, feel what you're gonna feel but also don't let perfect be the enemy of good. This group, as fucked as it is, this is the play. This is the angle, there are no legends coming in to save us -- it's just us, and we gotta pick up and do. When we leave, it's gonna be hard, but try not to spend all your time grappling with your demons, because I need your hands free so you can pick up that hammer and fight." Orym gives him a kiss on the forehead.

Allura assures them that every group of people who cares about each other falls out from time to time, sometimes drastically.

Imogen takes off the circlet because if she hadn't been wearing it, she would've known what Ashton was planning. Which is a massive fucking invasion of privacy and such an overstep that the people around her definitely need to interrogate her on

They start putting the pieces together between Zathuda, Otohan, and Ludinus, and decide to ask Allura about Sammanar (the leader of the Unseelie Court). "Sammanar is one of the five major archfey of the Fey Realm, Keeper of the Sun's Shadow (a region), master of the Unseelie Court. They are a moody entity, a rare sight out amongst the rest of the realms; they are the watcher of the twilight, the stiller of violent emotions, a bit of a prick." Archfey collect titles like rotten fruit. Zathuda himself is a brutal warlord who finds poetry in violence, and he has no other children; and he is the wielder of the Dusk Hunger, Blade of the Black Flame.

They show Morri the fire shard, and Laudna has to walk away into another room. (There's a point to be made here, I just don't have the bandwidth to make it.)

Allura speculates on why the Unseelie Court might want to depose the Moonweaver. It could be that they want to create a power vacuum, because the Moonweaver has significant influence in the Fey Realm — being generally good-aligned, she's definitely not a favorite of the Unseelie.

The leaders of the Fey Courts control who can and can't pass through fey gates, but some powerful archfey can mess with that "permission" — including Morri.

From what Allura knows of Morri, she is a "stalker of dreams, a voyeur of insecurity, a promiser of many things and a robber of others. There are stories that say she is an entity of balance, and others that say she is a reaper of sadness... in scholarly circles, she is a dubious and dangerous entity, in the sense that there are few that can even attempt to ascertain her true nature."

And thus, we begin the scavenger hunt. Morri gives them drinks, and says she has chosen three items from her collection, and has devised three different adventures for them: communciation, truth, and honesty. For each adventure they succeed, they gain an item. For each they fail, they "know what they have to work on."

They choose Honesty. Smoke fills the entire chamber, the temperature drops, and they feel a breeze — they're no longer inside the Manor, and instead find themselves in a dense fey jungle. In front of them is a massive cliff with no visible bottom, with broken stone and ruins across it. Morri gathers them and procures a brass monocle with a deep viridian lens — a veilscatter lens. "This, my friends, is the first item: the monocle of true essence. It will be your job to find this." She throws it into the ravine, and it disappears. "You all must work together to find it. The chasm is unclimbable, but it listens, and as our agreement, it only listens to honesty. Speak of your secrets, speak of your truth about each other, reveal something about yourself, and the land may show you a path forward." She puts all of them into a giant fucking hamster ball and tosses them into the chasm, like those levels of Super Mario Galaxy, and we go to break!

As they hit the bottom of the chasm, the magical shield dissipates, and they land in a muddy bog.

FCG is the first one to try "honesty," and admits that they like eating silver more than copper. Stone platforms move into place for about 15 feet — the bigger the truth, the bigger the gain.

Imogen's turn: she's genuinely scared to meet Liliana again. More steps appear.

Chetney attempts to argue that wood is fundamentally better than metal. Leeches start eating them.

Laudna: "Deep down inside, both Delilah and I kind of want the shard!" A jut of stone forms a 30-foot spike up to a vantage point.

Imogen: "I love Laudna deeply, but I'm disgusted at the idea of Delilah watching us all the time." A crumbled city begins to push out of the mud at the bottom of the chasm.

Orym: "I'm super lonely, even at night, and it doesn't matter if I'm bunking with one of you guys."

FCG: "Sometimes I pity some of you, because you have beating hearts and opportunities and you don't do enough with them." (bonus 4th-wall breaking Travis: "We're still in the game, right?!")

I actually fucking love this so much, because it's the fact that the Bells Hells fundamentally want to be honest with each other and to trust each other, but they've never done that outside of dire consequences, and this is giving them an opportunity to be honest without direct consequence.

Also Orym: "I guess I've always laughed it off, but I do kind of wonder if Chetney is my dad!" Laudna's vantage point that she climbed up to extends another 30 feet.

Ashton: "Oh, fuck it. I am the reason that the Jiana Hexum robbery went wrong, and the reason I got thrown out of that window!" Remnants of this ruined city's culture continue to emerge. This truth is the reason Ashton believed the Nobodies were right to leave them.

Fearne: "I feel like we are very ill-equipped for this job and we're gonna fail at saving the world."

Chetney: "I do fear that children will find my toys and thereby myself obsolete with every year that I grow older."

FCG: "Every time I hurt or kill something, it feels really good. It makes me relax a little bit, and some of my stress goes away." (hold up do we have BG3 dark urge characters in BOTH ongoing CR campaigns right now??)

Imogen: "I know we're supposed to save the gods, but none of them will ever respond, so I think I'm tainted. I don't know if I want to save gods that don't love me." *sigh*

Laudna: "You know we could all ripcord right out of this whole 'saving the world' thing any time, right? And I fantasize about it all the time."

Amidst the rain, Orym spots the lens and points it out. He leaps toward it, Laudna gives him a feather fall, and he lands on the roof where it is. He retrieves it and tucks it away, but they still need to get up to the top of the chasm.

Fearne: "Sometimes I do stuff to you guys while you're sleeping. Not weird stuff! I just look at you. You're so content and comfortable, and I can look at your faces real close and twiddle your hair."

Ashton: "Any time it's too quiet, I start worrying that one of us is going to end up killing another of us accidentally. Except for Orym, you're the one I worry about the least." Orym, in response: "I have all the faith in the world, all of you. And I have also thought about how to neutralize each of you."

FCG: "I kinda worry that I put all my eggs in the Changebringer basket and that she might betray us all. I had a weird conversation with her and she seems out for herself, and she might not really care about me, but she might and I'm saying awful things, and I'm sorry!"

Imogen: "Fearne, I was disappointed in you for running away from your power! You should take the shard!" (This one isn't enough of a truth.)

Orym: "I really miss Dorian, and sometimes I think that's okay but sometimes I think it isn't!"

Pate, out of left field: "I'm barely alive! What do you want from me?! I don't have feelings!"

Ashton: "I feel worse because I just fucked up Fearne's live way more than mine, and I should've died instead of that happening!"

Chetney: "I grew up in the Bramblewood, and when I was a kid, I came back and realized my whole family had left. All they left behind were toys. They left because oft he Rimelord, so I'm afraid of dragons — I had five siblings, and I was so angry I never looked for them so now I think they're dead, and I'm afraid that any family I have will leave me, so that's why I don't get attached to anybody."

Chetney's last confession bridges the gap. Zebra-striped manta rays, flying, with hands where their head would be, grab the Bells Hells and drops them at the top of the chasm. Morri waits for them there. "Well! It looks like you succeeded. Congratulations on your first team building exercise. I hope you got a lot out of it."

The monocle they got can cast detect magic once per day, arcane eye once per day, and see invisibility once per day, and gives advantage on insight and perception checks. It also doesn't require attunement.

They choose the Communication trial next. Morri brings them to a barely-lit, underground chamber with a tall rock ceiling that goes endlessly in all directions. There's a glowing yellow orb in the middle of a round platform; it's textured and odd, almost organic. There are three thin walkways that curl away from the platform. "Welcome, friends. This is a thunderwasp hive. Be mindful not to panic or speak too loudly; they get riled." She asks for three volunteers: Chetney, Ashton, and Imogen. The three of them are blind as the skin grows over their eyelids, and Matt has them put blindfolds on. The three of them vanish, and are placed on the ends of the three winding platforms.

OHHHHH I SEE

Each of the blindfolded players has a small map with a path drawn on it, and a mini they must guide along that path. The non-blindfolded players must guide their hand using instruction alone along that path. If they get too close to the edge, that player rolls a dex save to avoid falling into the pit below. Then, if the instructions get too loud, the wasps create an obstacle.

I honestly love that Orym/Liam is taking the lead here. It makes so much sense — Orym was a soldier. He knows how to command, knows how to communicate, knows how to make sense to people. In challenges like this, a leader will always emerge, and here it's Orym.

Chetney succeeds, and the two major contributors — FCG and Orym — are silenced for Imogen's trial, while Chetney is able to contribute. And yes, the interplay between Travis directing Laura as her husband and Laudna directing Imogen as her in-game girlfriend is exactly as entertaining as you'd think, but it's also working far better than I thought it would

Imogen succeeds, and Chetney and Laudna are silenced because they were the two major contributors. Only Imogen and Fearne are left to communicate with Ashton. Somehow, this is the calmest group so far, but because a single failed saving throw that had absolutely nothing to do with either Ashton or his directions, they fail the trial — a planned outcome.

Morri gives them an ultimatum. They can try one more time, all-or-nothing: if they fall, they die, but they get to choose who is being directed and who gives direction. Orym volunteers to go, and chooses Chetney and Imogen to give directions. (This is, objectively, the correct choice. Orym has the best dexterity, giving him an advantage on every check associated with this test; and Travis and Laura proved themselves to be the best direction-givers in the previous trials. I'm honestly amazed at Travis here, because he's giving directions like "lift up your 3 fingers" because he knows that makes it easier to maneuver.)

"Go, go, straight line, put your arms out to Nana Morri, you are there honey!"

Morri claps, congratulates them, and gives them their prize: the scarf of intrusive intent. The bearer can cast suggestion twice per day, magic mouth twice per day, and fear once per day.

Lastly, trust. The cold gives way to warmth, and the sound of birds, insects. They find themselves standing in a deep fey forest. Above is an enclosed canopy, and they are surrounded by runes, archways partially crumbled, extremely sharp thorns. In the center is a large well, filled with mirror-like water.

"Well, friends. We're here at your final test. Here, in this interesting site of lost fey history, you all learn to trust one another. There are three altars somewhere in these surrounding ruins, and upon each of these altars lays a section of a blanched ivory branch. I need you all to work together to bring all three of those back here and lay them into the water. Do you think you can do that?" "What's the catch?" "Let me introduce to you some friends." Two figures step out, humanoid but not, elongated and gray. "These are two doppelganer friends of mine, and they've been studying all of you, in and out. Two of you will be removed, and doppelganer taking their place, but you have to figure out who that is before they ruin this for you."

It's a literal game of werewolf! Two of them will get doppenganer cards, their objectives, and clues to the map.

Matt is out here playing mini games within mini games within mini games, I swear to god–

[gaym0m]

Something people find very interesting about me and my likes, is that I find jawline, necks and collarbones very very very attractive. Like literally makes my knees week and my— ya know.

Anyway, because if this I’m so sad no one has done this so imma do it.

Not smut. Like at all, but definitely suggestive. I don’t think I could write coherent smut.

Just Ellie for now since I owe her one.

One more not before I start, the way you can see her whole neck AND the drool im—

Okay okay sorry. Back to the one shot.

Warnings: mentions of Jay, of course suggestive stuff. Uhhh I dunno Beth being a little shit lol.

Soft lips gently pressed along the knuckles the tattoo artist, the kids with their auntie meant you two had all the time and space in the world to enjoy of each other, mind, body and soul.

Emphasis on body.

Ellie couldn’t help but chuckle at you’re actions, the kiss on certain body parts she wasn’t sure had ever been kissed. At first she found it cheesy, but after months of dating she didn’t know if she could be without it.

Just like she was no longer sure if she could live without the gentle kisses you would place on her cheekbones, or even her jaw.

She wasn’t sure she could live without your arms squeezing her waist or how you would nuzzle again the area where she shoulder and neck meet.

Ellie didn’t know what she would do without your playful kisses that started on her lips and lead down her jaw to her chest.

Or the ones that started at her knuckles and followed up her tattooed arms till giggles bursted from her lips. (Although she’s sure you had gotten that one from the Addams family).

Jay was a lot of things, he was a good husband while it lasted and a great dad but he could never compare to the next door neighbor that stepped in when she crumbled.

He would never compare to you, the one that immediately had everyone (even Beth and herself) wrapped around your finger with your kind nature and over all loving attitude towards the family.

Her ex would also never compare to you, from the way you sensually ran your fingers through her hair. The gentle tug when you wanted to break a long kiss just to aim for her jaw.

Then from her jaw, to her neck and her collarbones.

She didn’t understand your fascination with that area, but she appreciated the restraint you showed the first few times when she still had her ‘no marking’ rule. (She wasn’t ready to explain to the kids that the much you get neighbor who helped them and babysat them every once in a while was also her. . . Lover?).

Eventually they figured it out, from shy smiles and “hidden” kisses when you two were too caught up in eachother to see that Bridge had entered the kitchen for a soda. . . Poor kid didn’t get a soda but she was happy her mom seemed happy.

Of course, Ellie sometimes still got a little (not really) upset when you’d loose control. Then again those were also the more fun she had on bad days.

Those were the nights when your teeth grazed her jaw, her neck, her chest. The nights where she almost couldn’t look down at you, her body too strung up in pure white pleasure that her head was stuck thrown back.

Sometimes those where nights where she was stressed out, and you took every second to appreciate every inch of her. Your jaw sore, same as your arm but that didn’t stop you. Nothing really did stop you until Ellie unraveled beneath your touch, with a silent mantra of your name and twitching legs.

Other nights, you had a rough day. Of course you would never take it out on her, but she would still notice. And she would tell you a story of a day filled with struggles for her, because while she wasn’t a fan of lying, she knew just how relax you felt after you carried her to the edge and back.

Those nights where slightly different, with you hands gripping her hips enough to leave pretty bruises (which she sometimes wanted to outline and tattoo on herself). The same nights where you’d leave a few more marks while laying out a roadmap of the love and adoration you held for her.

Those nights, her fingers were sore from gripping the bed or at your hair while she remembered to cut her nails next time as she felt the skin of your back warm up after she raked her fingers down the soft skin.

Every night was a pleasurable ride with you, but those nights left her legs weak even the day after. And marks which lasted more than a few days.

Those were the nights that would cause her to flush as red as her hair when remembering.

She could still remember the smirk on Beth’s face the day after one of those nights, they were meeting up for lunch after Beth dropped off the kids at school. Ellie’s legs were still slightly trembling and her voice still hoarse.

“Not. A. Word. Betty-Boo.”

“Hey I wasn’t the one getting ra—“

“I said not a word!”

“Okay okay! I would ask how it was but clearly it was good.”

“I hate you.”

“Yes I’m aware.”

As much as the teasing annoyed her, she did find it slightly amusing just how much of a mess you made her (and her pants).

[hyunjinners]

Can i request more Ahn Jun-ho one shots? 🥺👉🏽👈🏽 I started watching the series recently and i'm in love w that man 😩 i need fics about him 😭

✧:･ﾟComfort Home → Ahn Jun-ho x reader ˚₊· ꒰💚꒱

꒰ 命 𝐒𝐔𝐌𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐘 ꒱┊Jun-ho's family is full of ups and downs, but his days become better when Jun-ho ends up in the arms of his beloved.

꒰ 命 𝐏𝐀𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 ꒱┊Ahn Jun-ho x fem¡reader.

꒰ 命 𝐆𝐄𝐍𝐑𝐄 ꒱┊cute, comfort, a little sad (because of his family, but nothing too distressing).

꒰ 命 𝐖𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 ꒱┊fights, family issues, possible trigger (?), Jun-ho in his delicate moment, reader being a good girlfriend >>> 🤍, let me know if you have anything else to add! :)

꒰ 命 𝐖.𝐂 ꒱┊2,3k

꒰ 命 𝐀/𝐍 ꒱┊hey! ;) I'm finally able to write something after a while. It's amazing how creativity comes at the most unexpected moments. I hope you like the chapter, as I didn't specify the genre of the chapter in the request, I decided to do something in the middle of the road, a little sad, but happy. English is not my first language! I apologize in advance for any spelling and/or grammatical errors. Good reading! 🤍 ^-^

⊹₊˚ʚ❛masterlist.❜ɞ

Jun-ho runs his hand through his hair for the thousandth time during the conversation, more specifically an argument. His eyes burned with a suppressed desire to cry, but he needed to be strong and he knew that showing his true emotions might make him lose his credibility..

“Mom, you need to listen to me. I love you, but everything is very troubled. He does not deserve you. Let go of him, mom… please. If not for me or for you, then for your youngest daughter. Jun-ho speaks a little calmer after his tired sigh. It was the third time this week alone that Jun-ho learned that once again his mother's husband, or the sperm donor as he likes to say, was disrupting the lives of his mother and younger sister.

The abusive relationship between his mother and father is something that has happened since he was little, small signs of a toxic relationship tracing the years before he was even born. Jun-ho's father was extremely intolerant and reckless, always taking small amounts of money that his mother managed to earn to buy food, only to spend it on drinks and more, and if she didn't want to give it, he would beat her like a damn punching bag. And the worst of all was not only that he witnessed these atrocities when he was little, but his younger sister is going through the same process even though he tries to advise his mother to finally open her eyes.

She wasn't an idiot and he understood very well that it wasn't an easy thing to do, but it was still very frustrating, even more so when she called him to ask if her younger sister could stay in his care for a weekend or at least until things got better.

Small and tragic situations like this were what drove Jun-ho to work from such an early age and focus on his studies to have a better life, leaving home as soon as he saved enough money to rent a small apartment in a simple condominium.

But here he was, after finally getting his leave from the army, sitting in his mother's backyard while drinking peanut soju. His mother said she just wanted to talk to him, find out how he was doing and if everything was ok with his girlfriend and events in his life. But after Jun-ho saw the small purple bruise near his mother's cheekbones, he immediately tensed and, what was supposed to be a calm conversation between mother and son, ended up accumulating into a big snowball that was about to explode.

“My son, everything is fine. We're fine, how many times do I need to tell you this?”

“Until the day you leave him and live a happy life. Tell me, mom, when was the last time you gave a sincere smile of happiness? Or the last time you felt happy to finally get home after a hard day at work? You created me and I am very grateful for that, so I just want to repay you by looking out for your good.” She stays silent, seeming to absorb Jun-ho's words, but quickly looks down at the floor with shame and pure sadness, not wanting to have that conversation with her eldest son.

“Please, Jun-ho… let’s not talk about this anymore.” Jun-ho's jaw tightened, but he nodded silently. Jun-ho quickly grabbed his coat, looking straight into his mother's eyes, before walking out the front gate with a pounding in his head..

.

The girl happily turns off the heat of the tomato sauce, placing it on top of the noodles she lovingly prepared for her boyfriend. It had been a year and a few months since Jun-ho joined the army and it was the hardest time of both of their lives. Neither of them were away from each other for that long and both Jun-ho and Y/n knew that the challenges that awaited Jun-ho in the army would require a lot of effort from him, making him feel that his.

Everything became more distressing when Jun-ho barely called or responded to the girl's messages. He was going through an extremely delicate moment with this whole thing about deserters and bullies in the camp, causing him to reserve himself and set aside a period to think alone.

But everything got better when she had the most irresponsible and crazy attitude she had ever had in her life: discovered the location of where Jun-ho was during one of his missions looking for defectors, and went to Busan after a tiring bus ride just to say that whatever happened to him and everything around him, she would always be there to support him and remind him that he was never and will never be alone.

Initially he was desperate and afraid that you would get hurt because you were “invading” a mission, he snapped at you for your irresponsibility but his stance changed after realizing his girlfriend's determination just to make him feel better from all the pressure put on his shoulders. He felt like she was a breath of air in the middle of a cold night that made him shiver as she gently filled his lungs, reminding him of what it is to truly live.

A few months later he finally came home for a month of rest and you couldn't be happier and more grateful. It's been three days since he arrived, and even though he initially seemed a little hesitant and distant, you knew that Jun-ho needed to be home. In your home.

The password verification noise from the front door sounded shrill in the empty and slightly dimly lit apartment, where you could see light and hear the low noise of dishes and pans coming from the kitchen. Jun-ho tried to silently sneak down the hallway towards the bedrooms. Y/n knew he had arrived, so she quickly finished everything in the kitchen to call him to eat.

Turning on the lights in the apartment, Y/n walked calmly towards the bedroom, opening the door ajar, then hearing the low thump of the shower water bathing Jun-ho's body. Smiling, the girl knocked lightly on the bathroom door, happy that he was finally home. She was a considerably anxious person, so she planned and scheduled an entire night together, including a movie and hugs, all for Jun-ho's rest and comfort.

“Hey, Jun-ho.” Y/n speaks in a tone loud enough to overpower the sound of the water, which was turned off when Jun-ho heard his girlfriend's voice. "Hey my love. I'm already going, I'm just going to finish my shower. You can eat if you want.” His voice was considerably lower than normal, but she just brushes it off by muttering a small confirmation.

Almost half an hour has passed when Jun-ho finally sits down on the chair opposite Y/n. His hair was wet and he was wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt. Comfortably beautiful, she thought. He directed a slight smile at her, which unconsciously showed his tiredness and discouragement. A wave of worry flooded Y/n's thoughts, imagining what must have happened at her house.

Y/n was aware of her mother-in-law's abusive relationship and knew that Jun-ho didn't approve of any of it, getting frustrated every time she spoke to her mother or saw her in person. With a knowing smile, Y/n reached out, cradling Jun-ho's hand in hers. "Everything is fine?”

The short sentence of just three words was the trigger, the direct impulse for him to break. His eyes were slightly red and burned from the tears shed during the shower, but now it didn't matter because they came back with full force, making Jun-ho's face moist.

Y/n immediately went to his side, wrapping him in a tight hug, Jun-ho's head resting in the crook of her neck. Seeing Jun-ho cry meant that he was at the height of everything, that everything came together and came crashing down with a thunderous thud.

Jun-ho was the type of person who prioritized maintaining a firm stance so as not to have to explain his weaknesses and concerns, but when he was around his girlfriend it was like that whole facade fell and he felt the need to spill everything to her. He felt heard and loved when he was with her, he didn't feel like a burden or a nuisance, he was just him. He could be him around Y/n because she was her around him too, she prioritized his well-being before hers and he sometimes didn't know how to show his gratitude.

Feeling Jun-ho's shoulders shake and hearing his painful sobs was like a stab in her back, making her feel helpless because she couldn't do anything to take away all the pain and weight from him, everything.

With a gentle squeeze on his shoulders, she hugged Jun-ho affectionately, feeling him getting impossibly closer to her. The smell of her perfume made Jun-ho feel more comfortable, she smells like home, he thought. This made him cry even more, feeling unworthy of having such a caring person by your side to not only listen but also understand your emotions and help you deal with them.

Y/n can feel her own tears falling down her face, her heart almost comes out of her mouth at the thought of her love, her world, the most important person in her life being in pain. Not just any pain, but the worst pain ever. The emotional pain. The pain of not being able to do anything, the pain of feeling unable to help the people you love.

He knew the situation was beyond his reach, which was why he felt so frustrated. He didn't need to say anything to her, his tears told a silent story of an ongoing event that unfortunately affects Jun-ho's life. She understood him, so she didn't ask anything. Her sobs stopped and her tears lessened considerably. Y/n gently pushed Jun-ho away from him, but not far enough to break the hug.

Jun-ho's now red and swollen eyes widened at the sight of the tears that now graced his girlfriend's face. She reached out with her hands and her thumbs wiped away the tears so gently as if Jun-ho would break down at any moment. He repeated the process, wiping away Y/n's tears, doubt dancing across his expression.

“Why are you crying, dear? I hurt you?" His voice, hoarse from crying, was almost a whisper, hesitantly low. She smiled, resting her hand on Jun-ho's that rested on the girl's cheek. “No, that's not it. I just hate with all my might to see you sad. You make me so happy, Jun-ho, that seeing you sad is like seeing clouds cover up the sun on a summer afternoon.” He absorbs the words and for the first time that night she shows a smile. He admired the empathy that Y/n had not only for those she loved, but for all people and without expecting anything in return.

“You don’t need to cry if you weren’t the cause behind my tears…thanks for supporting me, darling.” As a simple answer, Y/n leans slightly towards Jun-ho's lips, her breath tickling his face. Jun-ho connects their lips in a needy kiss, a reciprocal comfort being silently placed upon each other.

“Promise me that when you have a problem you won't keep it to yourself? I'm here for and for you, Jun-ho. You can tell me things that there is no need to repress within yourself. You are a wonderful human being and deserve love like anyone else. And I love you, that's why I'm available for everything. Even if it’s just to sit next to you in silence.”

Y/n watches the light reflect on Jun-ho's face from the new solitary tear shed, but there was no sadness this time, just the happiness of understanding that he was not alone on the walk. That I had a home to return to in bad times. Without saying anything else, this time he hugs her tightly, drawing small imaginary circles on her back.

“Thank you for caring about me. I don’t know what I would do without you.” They both knew that this was not the first nor would it be the last fight between Jun-ho and his family, but this time he was aware that he had arms waiting for him to rest on difficult days.

⊹₊˚ʚ❛A/N: It was supposed to be a short chapter, but I guess I can't even complain because I finally developed something after so much creative block. I hope you liked it, tell me what you think! :) If you made an ask, don't worry, I just haven't had enough creativity yet to develop a chapter, but we'll have news soon. like × reblog. by:: @hyunjinners .❜ɞ

[griffin-girl-r]

Tea party

Created: 09.09.2022

Finished: 27.02.2023

Edited: 14.09.2023

Age: 4

Word count: 1,325

Warnings: None

Request: Yes (Tumblr user)

Summary: Natasha and her daughter have a tea party together.

—

Natasha briefly looked up from the papers and files she was so caught up in due to the fact that she needed to hand over to Fury a report about her latest mission in a few hours.

Her eyes immediately looked towards her left where you were sitting on the ground, playing with your toys.

Natasha always took you to her office whenever she had a lot of work to do so she could watch you.

She smiled at how cute you were while pretending to talk with your stuffed animals.

But before your mom looked back down to the paper in front of her, you got up from the ground and started to arrange your stuffed animals and your toys, getting them ready for your next game.

"What are you playing, sweetheart?" Natasha curiously raised an eyebrow

"Tea party." You answered as you put your plastic tea set on the little pink plastic table you had "Do you want to play with me?" Your voice was full of hope

Natasha fell silent for a moment as she contemplated what should she choose.

She looked in between the pile of files on her desk and you.

You sadly sighed as soon as you saw the hesitation in your mom's eyes "It's okay. You can keep working."

Natasha's heart broke when she looked at the sad expression on your little face and at that moment she dropped the pen from her hand and sat up from her desk.

"I'd love to play with you." Natasha smiled widely as she got closer to you "Where can I sit down?"

For Natasha, nothing was more important than you. No work, no mission, no one. You were her number one priority and she didn't want to lose any moment of your life.

This was the perfect opportunity for Natasha to spend quality time with her daughter.

Screw the work and Fury.

—

You excitedly grabbed Natasha's hand and led her to the table "You can sit next to Benny." You pointed to your stuffed bear

Your mom happily complained and took a sit on the floor next to Benny the Bear.

"What tea would you like to drink, Ma'am?" You smiled at your mother as you put a menu in front of her that was just a paper filled with colorful doddles and set your roleplay into action

Natasha took the paper from the table and pretended to read it as she tried her hardest to hide her smile, failing miserably.

"Hmm..." Natasha tapped her chin "What would you recommend me, Miss?"

"We have lots of tea." You beamed up but took your serious face once again "But I love the strawberry tea more."

"Then strawberry tea it is." Natasha nodded

You turned around and pretended to pour some tea from your plastic teapot into one of your small pink teacups.

You very carefully lifted the cup that was placed on a small plate that was the same color as the cup and slowly handed it to your mom.

"Thank you, Miss." Natasha smiled as she took the plate with the cup from your hands

Even though for you the cup was a normal size for your little hands, for Natasha it was very tiny and she struggled to lift it with two fingers and not just one.

"Mama!" You whined as you saw your mother struggle with the cup "You have to keep your pinky up!"

Natasha awkwardly smiled at you as you proceeded to demonstrate to her how the cup should be held.

"Like this?" Natasha asked as she clumsily tried to mimic your actions

"Exactly!" You cheered with a bright smile "Good job, Mama!"

Natasha smiled at how sweet you were.

"So how has your day been, Miss?" Natasha asked as she pretended to take a sip from the cup, trying to make small talk with her 4-year-old

"My day was fantastic!" You replied "Aunt Wanda made me some pancakes." You stated, even though Natasha knew pretty well that, because she was the one that fed them to you

"Wow, baby!" Natasha gasped impressed "That sounds wonderful!"

You were so happy to be playing with your mama and to talk with her about everything and anything.

You knew how important her work was for her and yet she let it all aside to be able to spend some quality time with you.

"Would Mr. Bear like to have a biscuit as well?" Natasha held up a biscuit in front of your favorite stuffed teddy bear, as she pretended to talk with your stuffed animals "Oh, sure, Mr. Bear." Natasha answered herself as she put the biscuit on a toy plate in front of Benny the Bear "I'll leave it right here."

Natasha's actions sent you bursting into a fit of giggles as you found her actions absolutely hilarious.

Natasha looked at you with a smile on her face and an adoring look in her eyes as she listened to your cute giggles that were like the music of the angels to her ears.

—

About half an hour later, Natasha was still pretending to have a conversation with your toys, all while she also kept on asking you different questions about what would you like for you two to do in your next vacation.

"How about we go down the big waterslide for the first time, together, Y/N?" Your mother proposed, turning to look from your stuffies at you, knowing how much you wanted to be able to go down the big waterslide once you were old enough to do it.

You hummed as a response to Natasha's proposal as you were having the toughest battle with the sleep that was threatening to take over you as you tried your best to keep your eyes open for as long as you could, wanting nothing more than to be able to spend as much time as you could with your mama before she went back to her paperwork.

Natasha spared a glance at the clock on the wall in front of her and noticed that it was way past your afternoon nap time.

Of course you were tired and sleepy.

Quickly but carefully, Natasha shifted from the place she was sitting in, closer to you, and gently scooped you up, placing you on her lap as she started rubbing your back in a soothing motion of up and down.

She proceeded in starting to sing a quiet lullaby.

Your favorite lullaby, in fact.

She knew you wouldn't be able to resist this one specific song, as every single time was successfully lulling you to sleep in your loving mother's arms and this time was no exception.

Mid-song, the older redhead glanced down at you as she felt your body relaxing in her arms with your head resting on her chest.

She was hoping to find you asleep but to her great surprise, you were still trying your hardest to fight sleep back.

She moved from rubbing your back to stroking your hair with one hand and instead of singing, she settled for quiet humming and rocking both of your bodies from left to right.

"It's okay, sweetheart." Natasha whispered in your ear "Mama is here. You can sleep."

That seemed to do the trick because before knowing it, you were out like a light.

Natasha smiled at your cuteness, as she kissed the top of your head, placing a soft kiss on its crown.

She carefully stood up with you in her arms and sat back down at her desk in order to be able to keep writing those reports for Fury.

You kept on sleeping undisturbed in your mother's arms as Natasha kept on aweing at your sleeping form from time to time and kept an arm protectively around you.

This is the quality time Natasha would give everything up for, so she could be able to keep having this bond with you forever.

[genyasglockk]

warnings: brief mentions of suicidal thoughts. like very brief. this is a steve whump. nothing super awful but i do make my boy very sad.

Nobody was there to celebrate Steve Harrington finally getting his high school diploma. Steve didn't look out to the crowd and search for familiar faces when he walked across the stage. He knew he wouldn't find any. Nobody came to the ceremony just for him. There wasn't an uproar when his name was called. There wasn't anyone proudly shouting that's my boy! Steve wasn't anyone's boy. He was barely anyone's son. After the final speeches and the "congratulations class of '85. you've made it. we know there's so much in store for all of you," Steve drove himself home. He pushed through the clusters of families and slowly made his way to his car. He tucked his diploma into the passenger seat and pulled out of the parking lot. The radio didn't play, and Steve didn't notice.

He decides to stop at the diner and treat himself to some pancakes to go. When the waitress brings him his box of food, she smiles and asks "Oh, you just graduate? Congrats! These are on the house then, big guy." Steve had forgotten he was still wearing his cap and gown. He desperately wished he'd remembered to take them off as he sat in the car and tried not to cry over the fact that some stranger decided to be nice and give him some free shitty pancakes because he graduated and that's something worth celebrating. Steve had spent every day for the past month telling himself that he didn't care about people celebrating him today. He didn't care. He didn't want anything from anyone, and he didn't need anything from anyone. Especially not today.

He graduated from high school. Big fucking deal. Plenty of people get that done all the time and they do it way better than he did. Graduating was something he was supposed to do. He wasn't special. Today was not special. It's not like he fought tooth and nail to be able to walk across that stage. It's not like earning his diploma felt more special than surviving literal monsters did. Because Steve hadn't expected to graduate. He hadn’t expected to scrape by the way he did. When he realized he’d actually passed, he was surprised. The kind of surprise that wasn’t present when he survived his first Demogorgon. Don’t get him wrong, the thought of holy shit I’m gonna fucking die had most definitely crossed Steves mind a few times during every encounter with the Upside-down, but deep down, Steve knew that some interdimensional monster wouldn���t be the thing to end him.

That would’ve been too kind. Too merciful. Life was too cruel to Steve Harrington and that’s why he was so sure it wouldn’t let him have the easy way out. Steve wasn’t suicidal. He’d never kill himself. His will to live was just weaker than others. The only reason he tried so hard to keep himself alive was for the sake of protecting his kids.

The diploma in his passenger seat meant more to him than the life flowing through his veins. And wasn’t that just sad? 

The drive home was long and silent. Steve could barely remember pulling into his driveway and making his way to the front door with his pancakes and diploma in hand. He didn’t come back to himself until his back hit the couch. 

The house was as quiet and sterile as he left it. Pathetically, a small part of Steve, the part of him that was still young, had thought that maybe his parents would come around this time. That he’d see his dad’s car parked out front and his parents would be waiting for him inside with a cake. Waiting for him with a kiss on both cheeks from his mom and a pat on the back from his dad. As if his parents had ever bothered to do anything like that before. As if they’d care.

Steve opened his box of food and decided to dig in with his fingers. He chewed quietly and stared forward at nothing. His pancakes had gone cold. He was still wearing his cap and gown. 

“Congratulations to me.” 

[wrenreid]

Off Limits

Spencer Reid x fem oc

Content warnings: talk of death, violence, daddy issues, alcohol consumption (legal age), guns…

Part One

College life has been great… is what I would say if just six months ago I didn’t get a call from my father saying my mom died because he didn’t catch some criminal. I’d known a little bit about the jackass who’d been hunting and tormenting my father only because Dad bothered to share minor details for my safety.

When I had refused to put my last year of undergrad on halt because the great Aaron Hotchner had pissed off an unsub so bad that he began hunting my family, I was granted a body guard instead. Granted isn’t exactly the word I would use though. I would say forced to have some big guy follow me around while my mom and little brother hid out in an undisclosed location. But Dad told me it was either that or I join my family and put graduating on pause.

For the two months I had Marcus following me around and not letting any cute guys near me - which I thought was ridiculous because clearly the gorgeous basketball player from the neighboring housing dorm, Andre Taylor was not George Foyet - I had the audacity to feel sorry for myself. But then that self pity turned to rage and despair when Dad called me crying and told me what happened to my poor mother.

Haley Hotchner was not just my mom; she was my friend, my confidant, my lifeline. My dad and I have always been close, but I could tell Mom things I could never have him knowing.

I moved back home for the rest of that month and well into the next. I did my college work online; luckily my professors were lenient with me given the situation I was in.

Come mid October, I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to go back to New York. My dorm room was waiting for me, and the house I grew up in was suffocating my entire being. Everything in there was sad, not just my father and Jack. Mom’s things that remained untouched would taunt me, making me miss her even more. The house reeked of depression and death.

Dad was upset when I told him I was going back to the university, but he understood. He knew he couldn’t lock his 21 year old daughter in a depressing household and use her as a baby sitter while he avoided his sadness by diving into work. He also knew that if he did, I would’ve grown to resent him even more than I already had.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my father. We had a great relationship while I was growing up. However, there had always been a hole in the house, a hole in my life. He was always gone for work, especially when he started at the BAU when I was ten. He started missing more and more important days in mine and my mother’s lives. My twelve birthday for example: Dad was supposed to pick up the big surprise present my parents had bought for me, but he answered the call from Agent Gideon and headed to Oregon instead.

My mother left some very “nice” words for him on his voicemail that day. I didn’t cry though, or even tell Mom I was sad. I just sat beside her and watched all my friends play while I secretly and silently hoped my father was planning some big surprise and a case was his cover up. But the real “surprise” was that my hopes were horribly crushed as I waited hour by hour at the door for him to show up.

“C’mon, baby,” my mother brushed my hair out of my face with gentle strokes. “It’s passed your bedtime.”

I had fallen asleep in my hopeless wait. I nodded to my mom and stood up, half consciously letting her guide me to my bedroom upstairs.

I began to grow some sort of spite for my dad that day. Of course he was still my father, and I loved him, but I never quite saw him the same. Sometimes I would feel as though me, his baby girl, was less important than work.

I thought that this would end when my baby brother Jack was born. Dad was home for a while, and the four of us were a happy, functioning family. I was a senior in high school, so my father was running out of chances to be with me, my mother made sure he knew that. I thought I would get to have my dad back.

But soon enough, he went back to work and was only there 2-3 days a week most of the time. I think Mom grew to have spite for him as well. Actually, I know she did because she called me one day after class and told me she was divorcing my father. I felt sick to my stomach. Our family was falling apart, and I was at university 230 miles away. And my poor baby brother was only 2.

Anyway, after going back to school things started to get a little better. My aunt became Jack’s practically live in nanny, and Dad seemed to be doing much better after a few months.

Now, it’s March, six months after my mother’s gut-wrenching death, and I think our family’s going to make it. We’re the Hotchners after all, and we’re nothing if not stubborn, so I think we’ll survive this just out of spite of George Foyet and everything he stands for.

Sometimes, when I drink a little too much (or not enough), I can imagine the horror of the moment Foyet almost took my father from me too. He told me a little about both times he was attacked, and every time I think too much about it, my stomach hurts, and I feel sick.

I’ve been asked before what if I think my dad killing Foyet was too harsh, but I don’t. I don’t find it harsh enough for what that evil thing deserved. It’s obvious that he would’ve gotten to Jack then maybe even me - I’ve seen his female victims, I’m just his type - if Dad hadn’t finished him off.

“Jade,” my best friend since middle school waves her hand in front of me. “Jade, you’re doing that thing again where you drift off into space.”

I shake my head a bit then look at her. “Hm? Oh sorry, I was doing that again.”

“Where’d you go this time?” She asks, a look of concern on her face.

“It’s not important,” I shrug her question off. “Let’s do body shots!”

I grab her hand and drag her to the living room of some guy we’ve never even met. The too-loud music guides my hip swaying as I lead CeCe to the crowd of people cheering and laughing. Two hot guys lay on the table as some chick older than me places a shot class full of clear liquid, Tequila, on top of his belly button.

“Who’s next?” She asks with a drunken smile.

“Me,” I say and step forward as annoyed sorority girls whine about me ‘cutting in front of them’, which is an elementary term for it, but the only one I can see fit.

The girl grins and looks me up and down. “Brave of you to go against these cult chicks,” she tells me. I make the safe assumption that she’s not a fan of sororities.

I shrug and move my hair out of my face as I lick the salt from the guy’s abs, take the shot of tequila, then take the lime from the girls teeth, all in one pretty smooth motion I think. I suck the juice off the lime and make a scrunched up face before opening my eyes again. I see CeCe laughing at me and shaking her head.

“You are something, Jade,” she chuckles as I walk back over to her with a little skip in my step.

“I’m a fun- haverer,” I say then laugh at my stupid made up word. “Why aren’t you having fun? You’re being so lame.”

“I am having fun. I’m just worried about you.”

“Don’t be! I’m just making this spring break amazing,” I say, wrapping my arm around her shoulders.

“But I j-“

“Nope. Do not pull the dead mom card. Only I can pull the dead mom card because It’s my mom who’s dead,” I say. I know she’s worried about me because I’m back in DC for the first time since my mom’s funeral, but I don’t need her worries.

CeCe sighs but nods. “Okay. I won’t pull that card.”

“Thank you. Now I need some fucking beer,” I say, heading to the kitchen.

“Don’t you think you’ve had too much to drink?” my best friend asks.

“You sound like my dad.”

“Actually, I have not warned off every guy here, thank you very much,” CeCe laughs softly.

I join in on the chuckle, rolling my eyes. “As funny as that is, it’s not inaccurate.”

Protectiveness is not a word used lightly when used to describe my father. I know he’s showing his love in his own way, but it’s overbearing at times. I wasn’t allowed to date until I was 16, and even then he let every possible suitor know that he was fully trained and armed.

Basically, no guy wanted to go out with me because they were scared my dad may ring them by their necks. And I suppose my father can be kind of intimidating when he wants to be, but I don’t quite see it. Sure, he’s serious a lot, especially now that my mother is gone, but I’ve seen his soft, goofy, smily side. I guess the bitch boys I tried to date hadn’t, so they were on the verge of pissing their pants when thinking about what FBI agent, Aaron Hotchner would do to them if they even just kissed my cheek.

Even when I moved off to college, the guys still were scared to do anything with me because they knew who my dad is.

“No way, dude. She’s an FBI agent’s daughter, your balls would be shot off and stuffed into your mouth if you tried to tap that.”

That is a literal quote from a frat boy I heard talking to his friend in the common area. It was quite the visual and quite the obnoxious thing to hear.

I take a swig from a bottle I dug from the cooler. As the liquid hits my taste buds, my stomach does an unsettling flop. “You know what? You’re right, I’ve had too much to drink,” I tell CeCe and hand her the beer.

“Let’s just dance instead?” She suggests.

“I like your thinking!”

The two of us head over to a group of people and dance with each other and the cute guys we’re around.

A guy with straight blonde hair makes eye contact with me, and I smile bashfully. He makes his way over to me and asks if I would dance with him.

“Well, I’m already dancing, so why not?” I shout teasingly over the music.

He chuckles and moves to the beat along with me. Feeling a little flirty, I wrap my arms around his neck.

“You’re a pretty little thing,” he says to me.

“Thanks.” I say, but it’s more like a question because he called me a thing when I am, if it wasn’t obvious, a human being.

“So what brings you to this party?”

“Oh you know, just wanting to have some spring break fun. I just got back in town fro-” My sentence is cut off my lips crashing onto mine. His mouth is hot and taste like alcohol, but then again that could also be my mouth. His hands roam too far down my back, and I free myself from his grasp.

My hand connects with his cheek with a satisfying sound. “You can’t just-”

I’m cut off once again by the man who’s now holding his redden face, my hand print on it. “You bitch!”

“Maybe that’ll teach you something, jackass,” I huff and make my way out of the house.

I can hear guys “oh”-ing dramatically, half laughs in their voices.

The music is getting way too loud; I can barely hear my heart pounding in my chest even though it feels so harsh and loud.

My name is being called from behind me, but I don’t turn around. Instead, I sit on the porch of the house and take a deep breath.

CeCe finally pushes her way past the crowd of people and catches up to me. “Jade,” she says. She sits down next to me but doesn’t say anything else for a moment.

“That was pretty badass of you to stick up for yourself like that,” she finally says, a small grin on her face.

“I don’t have a law enforcement dad for nothing,” I chuckle softly. “Plus he had it coming.”

“He for sure did. Someone definitely needed to smack that cocky grin right off his face.”

I grin faintly and run a hand through my now extremely loosely curled hair.

The two of us sit on the porch for a while until I feel sober enough to go home. CeCe, who was kind enough to be DD tonight, drives me back to my dad’s.

He moved into a two story apartment when Mom filed for a divorce. We stayed in the house for a while after her death, but eventually Dad moved him and Jack into his apartment. I think that was the best for all of us, so we weren’t surrounded by the memories of what happened between those very walls.

“You sure you’re good to walk up there on your own?” CeCe asks me.

“Yes. I’m mostly sober now,” I say, grabbing the empty bottle of water she made me drink on the car ride here. I’m not lying to her, the affects of the alcohol have lessened tremendously since it’s been a while since I had my last drink.

“Be safe! I’ll see you later,” she says.

“You too.” I walk up to the apartment complex’s front door, use the extra key my dad gave me, and make my way to the lobby’s elevator. I wave to CeCe who’s waiting on me to get safely to the elevator as I step into it. She waved back and begins pulling out of the parking lot.

I press the button “7” and feel the elevator take me up to the seventh floor. I find my dad’s apartment number, unlock the door, and walk in.

Luckily, no one is here to scold me for being home so late because Dad is at a five-day-long conference with Agent Rossi, and Jack is staying with Aunt Jessica.

I put my keys on the ring my dad has beside the door and kick off my docs. I notice the kitchen and living room lights are on, which is strange. No lights are on upstairs.

I look around, making sure nothing is out of place. Which is kind of hard since I haven’t been in this apartment in months. I freeze in my place by the couch as I hear something in the kitchen. Shit. Of course something like this would happen when I’m the only one home.

I sneak on my tippy toes, careful not to make a sound as I go to the safe my father has hidden behind a family picture. I pinch in the key, my birthday, and grab the gun Dad bought for me when I was 18. I’ve never used it, and never planned to use it, but tonight it seems like it could come in handy. I load it quickly and proceed toward the sound of footsteps and clinging in the kitchen.

Gun pointed, I sneak into the kitchen to see the back side of a man at the counter.

“Hands up!” I yell as if I’m a cop.

The man whips around immediately, obviously startled. I’ve caught him off guard. Good.

“Hands up! This thing is loaded, and I will shoot if you try anything.”

“Woah, woah, woah! Put that down,” he says, hands up and eyes wide.

“What? No. You can’t just break in without consequences!” I say, keeping my sim at his leg.

“Break in? Wh-”

Suddenly, I know where I recognize that raspy, almost high pitched voice from. I recognize the face too even though it’s changed since I’ve last laid eyes on it. “Dr. Reid?” I ask, baffled.

I see the recognition click in his eyes as well. “Wait, Jade?”

two

tags: @pauline5525mgg @theintimatewriter @lilibet261 @greysviolets @jazzymariexoxoc @one-sweet-gubler @thatsonezesty13 @necromaniackat @reidsprettygirl @awhoreforspencerreid @sebs-oxygen @yazzyu @crynroom @scarredelirium @lena-1895 @preciousbabypeter <3

[cellard0ors]

They move to a small suburb just outside of Detroit.

There's no real reason for the move, other than neither of them wanting to stay where they'd been. Travis had retired as sheriff of North Kill, Laura had already abandoned Landis - it just made sense to start somewhere new.

The location choice was helped by the fact that one of Travis's old work buddies ran a P.I. firm out of the city and had offered Travis a paying gig as a consultant a while back. He takes it.

They find a small three bedroom (one room for Travis, one for Laura, and one for the baby) and two bath in a cozy neighborhood with a decent front and backyard.

Everything between them is worked out in an amicable, bloodless fashion. They're partners, for now, for the sake of the child and their own personal finances.

Once the baby is born, once either of them has earned more than the other, things may change. But for now, they agree to work together.

Laura gets a job as a receptionist at an animal hospital - so close to the field she once wished to be a part of, but not quite.

Travis, it turns out, has his own issues with 'close, but not quite' and he unexpectedly reveals it to her on a random Thursday night.

It was, by all means, a normal evening. A heavy snow had fallen the previous week and they'd traveled together into the city earlier for their first check in with a doctor.

Travis had been even more tight lipped than usual, fidgety and restless, but the doctor reported nothing but good news as to the health of the growing infant.

One of the nurses did ask if Travis was Laura's father and that had caused no end of discomfort, but once informed of the error, the nurse had been embarrassed and apologetic and everything just sort of settled into place.

But, with that moment in mind, it explains why maybe Travis ends up having too much wine at the dinner he and Laura share. That maybe the wine and the nurse's remarks lead him to blurt, "She's not wrong."

Laura, who'd been reading by their small fireplace, huddled up in a fleece blanket, looks up in surprised confusion, "What?"

"The nurse..." He sighs with the air only the slightly drunk can manage, "She thought I was your father... she's not wrong. I could have been."

Laura shoots him a look, "I don't think you knew my mom."

"No, no - I mean..." He runs a hand through his hair, making it stick up in odd angles. He sits across from her, wine glass still in hand, the light catching and the lines in his face well, "I'm old enough to be-"

"But you're not." Laura interrupts tartly, placing her book to one side, because it's clear this is bothering Travis, and she'd rather address it now rather than later.

"Yeah, but if things had been different-!"

"They're not."

"But, you don't get what I'm saying-!"

"Travis, why does it matter-?"

"Because I had a family." Travis suddenly stresses and this makes Laura sit up, take notice, because this isn't a fight, this is a confession, and he looks miserable, "And I'm not just talking about Chris and his kids. Not even just my folks.and Bobby, I'm talking about..."

Suddenly he looks...lost. Small, sad, and older than she's ever thought of him, as he whispers, "I was married. Once."

It falls silent between them after this. Not even the sound of their breathing seems audible. The fire crackles, the snow picks back up outside, falling noiselessly against the window across from them.

Their living room is dimly lit and Travis just told Laura something she never would have guessed. Or, considering the air of anger and sadness he always seems to carry, maybe something she should have known.

Regardless, when his voice returns it's reedy and thin, "We got married young. Mom hated her. I didn't care. I loved her. She loved me. It was all that mattered."

Travis looks out the window. He looks outside and speaks more to the falling snow than to Laura, "We joked about having kids. Didn't seem to happen though. Which we thought was a little strange, but-?"

A simple shrug, "We thought we had all the time in the world."

He brings his glass up, takes a deep, healthy sip, "She died. Three years in. Car accident."

Laura feels as if she's choking, her throat full, chest aching. For him. For the man who once imprisoned her, scared her. The one she had once hated more than anyone in the world.

She ached.

For him.

Travis shakes his head, "Anyway. My point is. I could have been. That's all."

"Travis..."

"Are you sure this is what you want?" He turns to her suddenly, dark eyes serious.

"What do you-?" She starts, but he ignores her, "It's only been a few months. I know we haven't talked about it much, but...if you'd-? If you'd rather have this place to yourself..."

"Travis..."

"I don't mind paying for-!"

"Travis!" Laura cuts in sharply, neatly, her book and blanket forgotten and she's standing across from him now. He looks up at her and she can see it now.

He's afraid.

Terrified.

More than she'd ever been of him, ever, and she takes the wine glass from him, setting it firmly aside, "Travis, I made my choice."

He closes his eyes, face a grimacing mask of sheer pain, "It's just...I'm not good at them. At families. I've already lost two. I don't think-!"

"Good. Don't. Thinking's not your strong suit."

It's a dry joke, but it pops the bubble of tension between them - just a smidge - his lips twisting about his face to show he's clearly fighting off a smile at the apt insult.

Laura clears her throat, "Travis, listen to me. I made my choice. Okay? So did you. We agreed to do this together and we are. And that's that."

"But-!"

"No." She makes sure he hears the authority, the certainty, in her words, "This is you. And this is me. And this is them."

She presses a hand over her stomach, "And that's all that matters now."

He looks like he wants to object again, so she reaches out and takes one of his hands. She takes it and presses it over the same spot she was just touching and something within him seems to break at the touch.

Under his hand is where their baby is growing and she can feel his fingers flex there, can feel them wanting to hang on, so she covers them with her own, "We're in this together. All three of us."

His eyes are wet now, his throat clicking and unclicking audibly as he fights off tears, his head giving a wobbly nod of agreement.

Laura lets his hand rest there as long as he needs.

[moonshoon]

Concrete Jungle Where Dreams Are Made Of

MASTERLIST

pairing: bully!riki x reader genre: fluff word count: 2.9k

summary: reader’s class goes on a school trip to new york, her dream city, she thinks she can’t attend because of money issues, but someone pays for her and so she goes with them. she ends up having to share a room as well as a bed with her bully, nishimura riki.  what might happen?

warnings: bully!riki, verbal bullying (kinda), mean/harsh comments, bullies to lovers 

shortenings: y/n > your name

"... and, our class trip this year will be next week!" mrs. jung joyfully announced to everybody in the class. everyone was cheering and loudly exclaiming how happy they were about having another class trip this year. everyone besides me. i was quiet as always, in the back of the class, not talking to anyone. i knew i couldn't go to the class trip. my parent's didn't have enough money to also pay for a trip, because all their money already went into my education, paying for the private school i was going to. we weren't poor, but not rich either, and class trip meant a lot of money would be involved. it wasn't something unusual though. i stayed at home the last two years too, no big deal, i didn't have anyone to hang out with on the trip anyways so i wasn't that sad about not being able to go. "and I guess the poor girl won't be coming with us, huh? your parents don't make enough money, don't they? what a loser!" jay said, not loud enough for the teacher to hear though, but all of his friends started laughing with him. i felt humiliated once again, i wouldn't mind if it was about me, but if someone talked about my parents like this, it made me very angry. but i stayed silent, not wanting to get in trouble with their friend group. the whole bunch of them always meant trouble.

when i got home, i took off my shoes and put my backpack away, walking into the kitchen to dinner already being on the table. "the class trip will be next week mom..." i muttered quietly as i entered the kitchen. "sweetie, you know we won't be able to pay for it, hm? i'm very sorry. we're still saving up so we can pay for the one next year. at least in your last year you should be able to go." mom explained. “i know mom. it doesn't matter anyways."

i was lying to myself. i knew it. we would be going to new york for a week. my dream city. i would love to live there one day, studying at college and living in a flat with my friends. but it was only a dream. i knew i would probably never be able to accomplish it, but m hopes were still high up.

friday at school the teacher announced the names of the people going on the class trip. i knew i wouldn't be on the list, but as said, no big deal. "... beomgyu, chaeryeong, danielle, heeseung, jongseong, jaeyun, jungwon, kai kamal, keeho, lia, ryujin, riki, sunoo, sunghoon, soul, shotaro, taehyun, yeji, yuna and y/n!" my head shot up in a millisecond, a confused look on my face. "i guess you are surprised y/n, but someone anonymously called and was willing to pay for your trip, lucky you!" i was even more confused now. why would anyone pay for MY school trip, i didn't even have any close friends, especially none that were so rich they could afford to pay two trips. but i just let it be. i would be able to go to my dream city for god's sake!

and when the day of the trip finally came, i was nervous to say the least. i still couldn't believe i was actually going to new york and spend a whole week there. the school had paid for a bus to take them us, even though the ride would take them almost four hours, but it was worth the time.

as i entered the bus after putting my suitcase in the storage space, i looked for a free seat. i quickly walked over to one, as i saw the only free double seat was left was in one of the very back lines. quietly sitting down and putting my little backpack – which contained all the necessities for the ride – on the seat next to me and putting in my headphones, i relaxed. out of the corner of my eye noticed six of the trouble boys sitting in their seats, always two next to each other. heeseung and sunoo, jay and jungwon and sunghoon and jake. one was missing. riki. where was he? didn't he want to go to the trip?

ten minutes later everyone was ready to leave. the driver was about to close the doors as we heard someone yell "wait!" everyone looked out the window, and there was riki running while dragging his suitcase behind him. "sorry for being late, I overslept" he explained when he entered the bus, his eyes wandering around to find a free seat. when he realized the only free seat was next to me, he groaned and walked over to his friends. "can one of you sit next to her?" "no my friend. you are the one that came late, you need to suffer from the consequences" jungwon said strictly and pointed at the seat next to me. i put my bag on the ground in between my feet for him to sit down, but he just wouldn't budge. "riki, go sit down please or we won't be going." he let out another groan but eventually gave in and sat next to me, not wanting to ruin the trip for everyone else. "don't talk to me, okay?" he said harshly. "as if I would want to talk to a jerk like you, tsk." i mumbled under my breath. "what did you say" "nothing." "what. did. you. say." "nothing." "okay, then" he cupped my cheeks with his hands and squeezed tightly, making me pout a little bit. "repeat what you said. now." i quickly nodded my head, wanting to free herself from his tight hold. when he let my cheeks go, i just quietly said "i don't want to talk to you anyways." riki just let it be after that, sitting back into his seat and putting on his – probably very expensive – headphones and closing his eyes.

the ride was silent for the most part, a lot of the students were just listening to music, watching a movie, sleeping, or reading. well, i was the only one that was reading, listening to my favorite song on repeat. and i was so focused on my book, not even realizing they arrived at our first stop. all the people got out of the bus, running to the toilet, or going to a store to buy some snacks and drinks, while i just stayed there reading. when all of the students were back, we continued driving. it didn't take riki ten minutes to fall asleep again, his head falling onto my shoulders and resting there. i didn't do anything about it. why should i? one of the popular boys was literally sleeping on my shoulder, i had to enjoy this feeling of someone being close to me for the time being.

riki only woke up when they arrived at their hotel, the bus stopping and letting everyone get off. his eyes slowly opened; sleepiness still seen in them. when he realized he was laying on my shoulder, he pulled his head back quickly, hitting mine by doing so. "ow!" i breathed out, moving my hand to hold the side of my head, hoping the pain would lessen that way. and guess what he did? he just left, without saying sorry or anything. just standing up and leaving me there. jerk.

when we all had gathered in the lobby of the hotel, the teacher announced what our plans would be for the rest of the day.

"since it's two in the afternoon now, i'll let you go to your rooms, which i will be announcing right after this, and let you unpack your stuff and maybe shower. you are free to leave in the afternoon to do some shopping or any activity you would like. one rule though, be back before eight, because the dinner time starts then. now, you will be sleeping in randomly selected rooms. i have a box with little papers here. on these papers you will see a number from one to fifteen. there are always two papers with the same numbers on them, the people that have pulled the same numbers will be sharing a room. we won't be separating boys and girls on this trip."

she held up the box with the papers and everyone rushed to get one. i was last, just taking the paper that was left and opening it. "11" the paper read.

*meanwhile with the troublemakers*

"come on guys! let's switch all our papers and then take that room. that would be way more fun!" jake suggested. all of them agreed. they each switched paper with someone and then opened it. "I have 15!" jake said, the others joining in "4 here" "7" "13" "1" "4" "...11" "oh won, we'll be sharing a room!" sunoo exclaimed happily, and the other guys went to look for their assigned roommate. jake's roommate turned out to be taehyun, jay was with lia and sunghoon with soul. riki was still looking for his partner when his eyes fell on me, the paper in my hand being turned to the outside he read the number.

11

"let's switch back jakey, come on brooo~" riki tried to convince jake to switch back but he wouldn't do it, not even for a night at the club financed by him. when no one wanted to switch with him, he just went over to me, taking my hand and putting his paper on it. i just looked up at him and nodded, then he went over to the teacher to get their key. room number 143.

the elevator ride was once again silent, no word was uttered until we opened the door to their room. "no! i won't be doing this."

i just sighed and entered the room, putting my suitcase on the floor and opening it, before taking one of the blankets and one of the pillows, taking it from the bed and putting it onto the floor. "happy now?" "better, yes." he spoke. "i'll be taking a shower now." i said, taking out my shampoo and bodywash and making my way into the bathroom.

when i finished, i got out of the shower and was about to reach for a towel, but there were none. shitshitshit... i thought. then eventually i decided to just ask riki for help. the door to the bathroom slowly opened, and riki looked up to see my face peeking out, hair dripping wet and leaving water drops on the floor. "uh... can you maybe check if there's towels somewhere here?" he nodded and quickly stood up to look for some. "yeah, there are some here in the wardrobe. what now?" "can you bring me one please" i said, my face flushing red as i held a hand out of the crack of the opened the door. he hurried over to me, handing me the towel while covering his eyes with his palm even though the door was covering my body already (what a gentleman). i left the bathroom when i finished drying up, walking over to my suitcase, and started to unpack my clothes. "i'll be out now, bye." the he stood up, took his phone and wallet, and left.

now i was alone again, i was glad. i then finished unpacking my stuff, taking the book i was reading from my bag and going out to the little balcony space we had. the metal chair was cold, but i didn't mind. i just sat there, reading, and enjoying the sound of the rain falling from the sky and trying to ignore the car horns sounding everywhere. and as expected, riki and his friends weren't back by 8PM, they were probably out partying somewhere. it shouldn't bother me, but what if they were hurt? no. that couldn't be. they were all used to being in big cities like this.

their dinner was served, a nice, noble looking pasta with salad on the side. i didn't eat everything, even though i was very hungry, then went back up to the room. deciding to read a few more chapters, i went back out to the balcony again, sitting back down on the cold chair and opening my book where i left.

when riki came back, he saw me laying on the floor, covered by the blanket. i was moving a lot, turning, and tossing. probably because it was so uncomfortable to sleep on the floor. he slowly made his way over to my sleeping figure, lifting me up in his arms and putting me down onto the bed. then he went to take a shower and change into his nightwear, one sweatpants. he lifted his own covers and quietly made his way onto the bed too, moving closer to me. suddenly, he felt me move beside him, then he felt me moving closer, cuddling up to him in my sleep. i had my face in his chest, one of my legs thrown over him. his heart warmed at the action.

riki honestly didn't want to be so mean; he just really liked me and didn't know how to confess because he was pretty sure he knew that i would reject him. in the bus when he woke up with his head on my shoulder, he was shocked, he quickly got up and really didn't want to just leave when he heard i was hurt by his sudden move, but he had to catch up to his friends. "i'm glad I can hold you like this right now, darling"

i was still sitting on the balcony when i heard a few familiar voices from the streets under me. my book was left on the table as i quickly stood up and leaned over the edge of the steel fence. under me, on the sidewalk, he saw the boys walking, i could make out everyone, but there were four girls i didn't know, one of them clinging to riki's side. jealousy flared up inside of me and i quickly moved back to my book. i took it and made my way back into the warm room, laying down on the floor where my blanket and pillow were. tonight, i didn't have any more energy to listen to riki's mean comments about me or him ignoring me, so i just changed into my pajamas quickly and laid down, closing my eyes and pretending to sleep.

not a few moments later the door opened and he entered quietly. i readjusted my sleep position, and hoped he didn't notice me still being awake. when i heard him move over, i stayed still quickly, slowing down my breaths and closing my eyes tightly. two arms moved under me, lifting me off the ground with my blanket and putting me back down on the bed. i was fighting the urge to open my eyes and check if it really was riki that put me onto the soft mattress. the person moved away from me and i heard the bathroom door shut, i opened my eyes and took a look around the room. riki's expensive prada shoes were next to the door, so it was definitely him (or someone with the exact same shoes as him). i heard the shower running for a few minutes, then it stopped. i closed my eyes quickly, before riki left the bathroom and walked over to the bed. the mattress sunk a little bit, and then i heard him get under his cover and shuffle closer. i couldn't resist and moved closer to him, cuddling up to his warm body, throwing a leg over his hips and moving my head to lay on his chest.

again, this was a very suspicious move, but he wouldn't mind if he even put me back on the bed. or maybe he was just very generous tonight and wanted me to sleep comfortably at least.

just as i was about to move away from him because of my mind overthinking again, i heard him say "i'm glad i can hold you like this right now, darling" his arms wrapped around me, lifting my cover from my body and pulling me under his cover. now we were skin against skin, my bare arms and shoulders not being covered by the spaghetti strap top i was wearing. i could feel his naked torso.

they fell asleep, cuddling, bodies pressed against each other, feeding from each other's warmth. and perhaps the next morning when i woke up, riki was already up, staring at me. he quickly looked away, embarrassed about being caught staring, but eventually looked back. "uhm, you know... you're not actually as bad as I said you were... and I kind of really like you if that makes sense?" i was shocked to say the least, even though i could have expected this based off of his actions yesterday, but i was happy at the same time. who thought that nishimura riki, the popular, handsome, angel with a perfect face and a sexy body would like me, a nerd who liked to write and read books.

"i wanted to apologize for acting this way towards you. and i am very sorry for teasing you and laughing about you with my friends. and uhm... would you like to go on a date with me sometime?" he asked me. "uh... sure. and, you know, i really like you too so... yeah. i don't know what to say." riki chuckled at my cuteness, and at the redness spreading over her cheeks, wrapping his arms around me tightly and kissing my nose softly.

"by the way, i was the one that paid for your trip, since i know you really love new york" he whispered before pecking my lips.

[qupiikaaa]

In which, I write angst(?) for the first time. Also, this isn’t X reader. It’s not X anyone really.

(Oh, and Fyodor got the Mother Wishes She Had a Daughter treatment)

Tbh, this is just a test. I might delete it after a few days.

Told from Fyodor’s POV

My mother and I were never the closest. It’s not like she was a bad mom. She never neglected me. She never said or did any hurtful things either. I doubt she harbored any true love for me though. That was okay because I never held true love for her either. In a way, I favored my dad more. Always trying to follow him to work, wanting his constant attention. He, like my mom, also probably never loved me. Of course, he’d attend to my needs, take care of me, and buy me the things I wanted, but his eyes never held anything but either disgust or pure hatred. When he rid his eyes of these feelings, they were empty. He would just stare down at me with an emotionless, blank stare. It would never creep me out, though. I’d always prefer his cold stare rather than to see the true when I’d accidentally make eye contact with him. Everything he did and said was always perfectly fine with me. He never loved me, but I never loved him either. Despite my parents not loving me, and me not loving them either, they seemed to love each other a lot. My dad bought me things, but he bought my mother more. When my dad looked at me, it’d be with hatred and disenchantment, but when he looked at my mother, it’d be with love and a sort of sympathy. I always wondered why he’d give her such looks, until I figured it out at last. He looked at her with sympathy because he felt bad she had to deal with me. Normally, I’d just question why he felt that way, but I already knew the answer to that. It’s simply because I didn’t meet their standards. Like all parents want, I got good grades, I’m not a very bad kid, and I have an acceptable social life. Those things were all easy for me, but I was missing one thing. That one thing ruined everything. I was always dressed as the one thing they wanted, a girl. That never seemed to be enough for them, though. Sure, my mother dressed me up in feminine clothing, but deep down both of my parents knew I would always be the opposite of what they wanted. I don’t get how someone could get so upset over a small thing such as your child not being born the gender you want them to, but I was always taught that things might be small to me, but big to someone else, so I just went with whatever they put me in. It’s not that being dressed like a girl was a completely bad thing, but it made me feel weird because of the reasoning. I never said anything to them, though. It would just cause our family more woe, so I stayed silent. I never grew into it as some people might assume. In fact, I just felt worse every year. My sadness quickly turned into anger, but I still said nothing. As I grew older, I learned to act as my parents wanted me to, but it didn’t help at all. Nothing changed. My mother continued to stay silent, and my dad kept giving me the cold looks.

This is terrible and not proofread. Plz enjoy. Plz.

[c-atm]

A gems djinn: chapter 7

"So..." Connie rubbed her nape bashfully, "If you guys have no reservations...I kind of was hoping to stay here with you." Connie asked Amethyst, Garnet, and Pearl.

Pearl stayed silent at first as she folded her arms. "It's not my choice. I don't live here," she spoke, her voice full of mistrust but a bit of guilt. "It's up to you two." She turned to Amethyst and Garnet.

"Well, if that's the case. The little fusion said, jumping and catching Connie in a glomp. "I say stay, Nini." Garnet smiled up at the Djinn.

"Well, not like we don't have the room or you don't have a room yourself. We can change it to be more than a chest temple," Amethyst stated before joining Garnet in hugging the Djinn. The three friends reunited after centuries.

"They're really close, aren't they?" Steven stated, looking at the three.

"They were old friends, hell, Kahanni...Connie and her parents were basically being crescent gems themselves," Onyx stated with a sad smile, "except for not being gems, but you know being friends and all."

Steven hummed at that before stretching. "Guess we should make our way home then."

"Aww, you don't wanna stay for a bit, Stevie!?" Amethyst asked, rubbing his head like an aunt or a big sister, "Today was a victory for the Crescent gems. We should celebrate."

Pearl hummed, unsure of that as well, thinking that the return of Connie was a bad omen. 'Who sent Kanaraka after Connie's chest, and who even knew about her,' Pearl wondered internally as she rubbed her chin, her black sclera and lightly gray Iris eyes narrowing a bit.

"Well, we can't ignore the fact that those Kanaraka was after Connie's chest," Pearl finally spoke up, her tone still reserved. "We need to be cautious. We don't know who is behind this or what their motives are."

Amethyst and Garnet exchanged glances, understanding the gravity of Pearl's words.

"You're right, Pearl," Amethyst acknowledged. "We can't let our guard down just because of Connie's back. We need to be vigilant and protect her."

Connie pursed her lips in a thin line of annoyance. "Hey now, I'm quite the powerful Djinn, you know? I don't need to be put under house arrest."

"No one was thinking that, Nini." Garnet assured her before turning to Pearl and Amethyst. "Right?"

Amethyst nodded, rubbing the small gem head. "Of course not. Though, Ni' here been out of commission for the better part of a millennia. She needs to accumulate to this new world."

Onyx looked at Pearl, who gave a curt nod before facing away and seeing a slight hidden sneer on her face. She sighed, knowing her old friend well enough that she could see what was going through Pearl's mind.

'Of course, she would be suspicious.' Onyx rubbed her eyes, only feeling the conversation that Pearl would want to have with her over Kahanni... Connie's return and Steven's new role as her 'lamp'.

Onyx looked over at the Djinn and how she was sitting down with crossed legs as Garnet, Amethyst, and Steven spoke with her, explaining what a tablet was seeing the Djinn's eyes widened in amazement. It was difficult to see anything more than a curious nineteen-year-old girl.

'Definitely hard to see her as an envoy for the Arcana.' Onyx thought as Pearl tapped her shoulder, getting her attention.

"Can I talk to you?"

Onyx pursed her lips, humming in slight discomfort. Pearl's tact could still use work after all these years.

Onyx nodded before turning to the four younger residents. "Steven, gonna speak with Pearl a bit before going. Be ready by the time I'm back."

"Come on, Ma. I'm Eighteen, you can trust -"

"Not today I can... remember, your new bond is still very unstable, and the increase need to be with Connie it brings," Onyx reminded her son, causing Steven to blush a bit. "Besides, school starts back in a couple of days. Take the time to relax and study a bit during your last days of spring break."

"Mom, I'm fine, and I-"

"Study!?" Connie called with a smile as she changed into a blue wisp and floated from Amethyst and Garnet to appear behind Steven, hugging his neck gently as she hovered behind him, "Studying what?" She asked, an excitable and ravenous look in her eyes.

"You ok?" Steven questioned, chuckling a bit at the Djinn's excitement

"I love learning new things!" Connie all but bounced in mid-air, "I've been dead for so long, and despite our bond giving me enough knowledge to operate socially, I still want to learn about this new modern world."

"Maybe I should let you go to class in my place then." Steven joked with a laugh while Connie's eyes widened at the thought, a look of excitement on her face.

"I can do that!" Connie nodded, " I can shapeshift into you and go in your place."

"Wait, can you do that?"

" I'm a Djinn, I'm magic! That ain't nothing!" Connie smiled.

"I'll never miss a day again," Steven whispered in shock.

"You can up your Crescent gem training while Connie goes to class in your place," Garnet added excitedly.

Amethyst smirked, saying nothing as she rubbed her chin in thought. "I mean.. that's not a bad idea... Would definitely help you get more use to the magic side of the world if you had a few more field missions and excursions."

"Hey, no. Don't even think about it, Steven," Onyx chuckled, her heart warming at the sight of their antics. "Don't renege on our deal now, Nero," Onyx reminded her son using his middle name.

"You do remember our deal, right?"

"Yes, mom." Steven sighed, "Have to balance normal life and magic life."

"and." Onyx urged her son, who muttered the next part, "I can't hear you."

"gotta maintain at least a B average in school."

"right and you can't maintain that if Connie goes for you." Onyx gently reprimanded him. "Besides, wouldn't you want to impress her with your knowledge and dedication."

"I guess that's true."

"Awww!" Connie moaned disappointed, pouting a bit, "How am I supposed to learn about this new world?"

"Same as you always did. Exploration and discovery, sure Garnet and Amethyst would love to show you around." Ony smirked as the two gems nodded

"Me too," Steven announced, squeezing the Djinn's hand.

Connie giggled, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Fine, fine," she said, releasing her hold on Steven. "I'll let you have your precious school days. But you better teach me everything you learn!"

"Deal!" Steven exclaimed, a broad smile spreading across his face.

"Just don't forget your studies," Onyx reminded him again, "last semester or not, you can't just jump to being Connie's full-time tutor."

"Aw, come on, Mom," Steven protested. "It'll be fun! And Connie's really smart. Sure, she could teach me a lot as well, and we could teach each other a lot."

"I'm sure she could, and you two will." Onyx agreed with a nod. "But that's not the point. Connie needs to learn how to live in this world without relying on you." Onyx relented a bit. "and you both gotta learn to live with your new pact you two are in, making sure you balance your individuality and independence while nurturing your bond naturally." She reminded the two.

"We know." Steven and Connie spoke simultaneously before looking at each other.

"You're doing it again."

"Me, you're talking when I'm talking."

"See!"

Steven and Connie glared at each other before their eyes narrowed, chuckling and giggling, respectively.

As they continued to chat and laugh, Onyx smiled at the sight of her son and his newfound companion. Despite the lingering concerns about Connie's return, she felt a sense of hope and optimism.

She turned her attention to Pearl, who was waiting patiently by the door. "Let's go."

As they stepped outside, the sky was ablaze with a thousand stars. The air was crisp and cold, a welcome respite from the warmth of the house.

"Pearl," Onyx began, "I know you have your doubts about Connie's return. But she's changed, Pearl. She's not the same naive girl she was centuries ago."

Pearl remained silent, her arms crossed tightly over her chest.

"I understand that you're worried about Steven," Onyx continued. "But we need to trust that he knows what he's doing. He's not a child anymore. He's growing into a young man, and he's quite capable as he showed today and time again and again." Onyx proudly stated.

"but"

Pearl's lips parted slightly, but she said nothing.

"We can't keep him sheltered forever," Onyx said. "He needs to experience the world and make his own decisions. And he's doing so in a fantastic way. Today events alone are a testament to that."

"You mean when he all but chewed us out."

"He was going to attack me while we were in the room. After seeing me 'kill' Connie." Onyx told Pearl, rubbing her, "he has definitely harnessed his power as Connie's lamp."

Pearl's gaze softened slightly. "I suppose you're right," she said. "But I still have my reservations."

"I know," Onyx said. "But I think we need to give Connie a chance. She deserves it."

Pearl nodded slowly. "Very well," she said. "But I'll be keeping a close eye on her."

Onyx smiled. "As expected from Gracia Forest's Black Shogun."

Peael let a small snicker, "The old epitaph, trying to butter me up?"

"Just a bit." Onyx teased as They walked in silence for a few moments before Pearl spoke again.

"So," she said. "What's the plan, we can't ignore the fact that Kanaraka was after Connie's chest," Pearl spoke up, her tone still reserved. "We need to be cautious. We don't know who is behind this or what their motives are.

"That's true," Onyx said. "We need to start searching some of our channels, maybe their loose lips that are willing to spill some information."

"agreed I'll put out some feelers," Pearl said. "but we need to be careful. I doubt it was the Kanaraka plan. "

"Right, they are usually the odd-jobbers of the magic community," Onyx said. "Someone knew about Connie's chest and sent someone to get it. We should assume they knew about Connie and the Djinn as well."

Pearl nodded, "I hope this doesn't turn out to be something world-changing."

Onyx's mind raced, considering the implications of Pearl's words. She hated the thought but the Kanaraka's presence could very well be a sign of an advent, of something momentous that would affect not only her son and Connie (while paramount in her mind), but so too was the well-being of the entire magical community.

'I hope I'm being paranoid.' Onyx thought as they headed back to the beach house, hearing the joyful commotion as they opened the door.

Meanwhile, on a city street a ways from the beach house, A Kanaraka was struggling to get away from her attacker. Stumbling into an alley and leaning on a green wall. Their body littered with burns as they heard footsteps coming.

"STOP!" They pleaded as saw their attacker, "Let me leave, I Finder, beseech you!" the Kanaraka pleaded.

"Hmm? Finder what are you looking for in my city. And why do you smell of magic, not of earth?"

"I...that Is to say..."

"You were fighting those aliens weren't you, that how you got those cuts and whip marks to think I'd be cleaning up after them."

"I....we were sent to capture the half-breed!"

The attacker let free an animalistic snarl as her eyes glowed, her silhouette cast by the evening dimming black sun changed as something sprouted behind her.

" no...You're a..."

The Kanaraka's words turned to screams as a bright orange consumed them, leaving no blood, no bone, no ash.

"Hmm... what have you got wrapped in, Nero?" The attacker spoke in a gentle concern to herself.

"Seem you've finished up." A man who looked 21 spoke from behind her, a staff in his hand. "come on, let's go home...We got school in a couple of days, treetop."

The woman hummed before leaping towards the man her body bursting into flames as she turned to a fox sitting on his shoulder and licking his cheek.

At the click of his staff, the colors of the world return to normal, Gray graffiti walls and a reddish setting sun.

no normal humans the wiser as the duo made their way home, preparing for the next day.