#i was typing whole wrong words towards the end of it :') | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

starlightkun · 6 months ago

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⇢ word count: 16.3k ⇢ genre: fluff, college au, brother's best friend trope, christmas/holiday themed, baseball player!jisung, rich kids!reader and chenle, part of my 2024 hallmark movie marathon ⇢ warnings: chenle and reader are annoying as hell together lol (they love each other but would die before saying ily), everyone’s parents suck!, only minor proof-reading bc i wanted to post for christmas, FAKE pro baseball players mentioned (idk anything abt baseball and was not going to research any real baseball players and be wrong abt them ok) ⇢ extra info: this is part of my 2024 hallmark movie marathon, three short, unrelated fics starring jisung all with cheesy hallmark christmas movie-esque premises. there’s no continuing plotline between fics in this series, they’re all standalone fics ⇢ author’s note: ok so this one isn’t exactly “short” but as always, i got carried away. im just happy i got this one out in time and it didn’t end up being 20k+ lmao. anyway, this is my last fic of my 2024 hallmark movie marathon, and of 2024, and i hope you guys had as much fun reading them as i did writing them! happy holidays and i will be back with even more fics in 2025! ⇢ 2024 hallmark movie marathon

“I know what you’ve been trying to do this whole time. You’re not ‘very into baseball,’ you’re into Jisung.”

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 20

Clicking the ‘submit’ button for your last final paper of the semester, you let out a sigh of relief. You were done, for now. The time in the corner of your laptop read 10:58 p.m. You’d submitted with an hour to spare. Usually, you hated cutting it so close, but four of your five classes this semester had assigned fifteen-page papers, and you wanted to take your time researching, outlining, drafting, and editing all of them before the deadlines.

There were only a few other students scattered around the library so late on the last academic day of the semester. One table away from you was another student, a boy who had also been hard at work on his laptop for the greater part of the past four hours. You had seen him around campus, not in any meaningful way, but enough that his face was familiar to you. And tonight, you had been stealing glances at him—when he let out a groan or a sigh that rang a little too loud in the dead silence, pushed his hoodie off his head to reveal his dark hair and handsome features, or stood up from his chair to go to the vending machine around the corner and walk around the library to stretch his obscenely long legs. Yeah, you’d done a bit of ogling, you also needed a break every now and then.

He was still typing away at his laptop when you had packed up for the night and were heading out, your path taking you right by his table. You were never usually this bold, but maybe it was the rush from finally being done with finals week, or how late it was, but you found yourself stopping next to the end seat the cute boy was occupying.

Upon realizing that you were there, he looked at you with wide, uncertain eyes, slowly taking his headphones off. “Hm?”

“Are you going to be here till closing?” You asked him knowingly, a playful smile on your lips and bag of gummy candy in your hands. You had bought it during a vending machine break earlier in the night but never ended up opening it.

“Oh, I don’t know,” he smiled sheepishly, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m hoping only another thirty minutes…”

“Here.” You offered the candies out to him. “I’m done for the night.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” You set them down next to his laptop. Not wanting to take up any more of his waning time left to submit his assignment, you started off towards the exit again. “Good luck. Have a good break.”

“You too…”

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21

“You didn’t get his number?!” Your roommate gasped in horror after you told her about the cute guy from the library. She had been asleep when you got home last night, and now the two of you were packing in preparation for your respective winter break plans. Sooyoung was heading back home while you and your brother would be driving to meet your parents at your family’s winter house in the mountains.

“Or his name,” you confirmed sadly. “I mean, the poor guy only had an hour left of the semester to submit whatever he was working on, there was no way he would’ve wanted me wasting it.”

“You have got to find him when we get back.”

“I’ll try,” you agreed.

There was a long honk from outside your dorm, and you rolled your eyes before peering out your window. Sure enough, your brother’s sleek black SUV was outside.

“Alright, I’ll see you in two weeks, Soo.” You hugged your roommate goodbye. Before you could even grab your bag, there was another obnoxiously long honk, followed by a series of shorter honks.

You immediately videocalled your brother.

Chenle picked up, already complaining. “Y/N, hurry up! You always take forever—”

“Shut the fuck up!” You retorted, flipping off the camera. “You’re so fucking annoying, I swear to—”

He laid on the horn again, and you could hear complaints start up outside from other people yelling at him to shut the fuck up. Then, you swore you heard another voice in Chenle’s car, quietly suggesting that he stop, but it was too indistinct for you to properly identify.

“Who was that?” You squinted at him suspiciously.

“I told you I was bringing a friend—”

“I know, I meant which one?”

“Get your slow ass down here and find out, or we’re leaving you!” With that, he hung up.

You pocketed your phone with a quiet scream, then turned to your roommate. “Ugh! Can you believe we’re related?”

“Yes,” she answered immediately, not even looking at you.

Hauling your stuff downstairs by yourself, you were a little out of breath by the time you shoved the front door of your dorm open. Your duffel bag started slipping down your shoulder, and as you readjusted that, you weren’t even looking out for the uneven slab of concrete that you knew stuck up in front of the entrance. Your toe caught on it, and you let out an unfortunate ‘eep!’ as you tripped forward. Your bag slid off your shoulder again, catching on your elbow and swinging around, the weight making you stumble a little more. You stayed upright, and you were thankful that only your brother and his friend saw all that. Yeah, Chenle was going to tease you for the entire three-hour car ride, and Mark or whoever was coming with would definitely get in on the ribbing, but you had plenty of dirt on them too. It was the natural order of things.

“Clumsy ass,” Chenle yelled at you from the car, the driver’s side window rolled down. You flipped him off on instinct. “Jisung, go help her before she hurts herself.”

Jisung. That was a new one. Admittedly, you didn’t know all of your brother’s friends, you two ran in different circles at school. You were usually introduced them in passing if you happened to run into each other at events, or some you knew from before college, like Jeno and Jaemin, the twins who lived next door to you guys growing up, or Mark and Donghyuck, who you all went to high school with.

A car door opened and closed before a tall figure was walking around the front of the car to meet you on the sidewalk. You blinked in surprise as you recognized Chenle’s friend that was approaching you, and not because of your brother. The cute boy from the library was standing in front of you, seemingly having a similar sense of déjà vu as he froze, hand already outstretched, reaching for your duffel bag.

“Hey again,” you chuckled, putting your bag strap in his hand. “Did you get everything turned in on time?”

“Yeah, I did.” Jisung unfroze and smiled at you, and you swore the sun seemed dim in comparison. “Thanks for the candy, by the way. Completely forgot to tell you that.”

“It’s okay, you were busy.”

“I’m Jisung, by the way.”

You nodded towards your brother’s car. “I had guessed.”

He rubbed the back of his neck. “Right.”

“I’m Y/N.”

“I had guessed,” he quipped back.

Chenle honked again, then yelled, “Come on!”

You rolled your eyes. “Pain in the ass.”

Chenle popped the trunk for you from his seat, and Jisung put your duffel bag in among their things that were already packed, then he took your suitcase to put away as well. As you opened the passenger door, your brother immediately shook his head.

“Nuh-uh.”

“What?” You looked at him incredulously. “I always get shotgun!”

“And Jisung gets carsick in the backseat.” He pointed at the boy standing awkwardly behind you. “I’m not having him puke all over my car. You’ll survive the backseat for once.”

Hating his condescending tone, but with no other option, you graciously stepped aside. Jisung gave you a quiet ‘sorry, thanks’ as he opened the back door for you. After buckling yourself into the middle seat and Chenle starting his music, everyone was ready to go.

“Y/N, Jisung,” Chenle made introductions over his shoulder, jabbing his thumb between you two. “Jisung’s on the baseball team and was in my bio lab last semester. Y/N is my annoying little sister.”

You kicked the back of his seat. “By ten months. As soon as you popped out, Mom and Dad were so disappointed they immediately decided to have another kid.”

“Regret saying yes yet, Jisung?” He asked his friend smugly.

Jisung, meanwhile, had been staring straight ahead at the road, clearly feeling uncomfortable as he didn’t want to get in the middle of your typical bickering.

“Ignore him, Jisung.” You leaned forward between their seats over the center console, your tone much more friendly. “So you’re on the baseball team? Do you have an athletic scholarship or something?”

“Yeah, yeah, I do,” he answered hurriedly. “Uhm, it’s the only way I could afford to go here. Full ride as long as I keep my grades up.”

You all did go to a rather expensive private university—your parents were alumni, they wouldn’t have sent you anywhere else, of course.

“Wow, so you must be really good, then.”

“I mean, I don’t know—”

“A full ride, I would think they only give those out to the best players, right?”

“Well—”

Chenle cut in, “You’re making him nervous, Y/N. Back up, for fuck’s sake.”

You didn’t back up. “Am I making you nervous, Jisung?”

“No, it’s fine,” he rushed to reassure you, finally turning around in his seat to face you. He let out a squeak as soon as he did, probably not anticipating that you’d be as close as you were. He sat back in his seat, propping himself up against his seatback on his forearm. “Uhm, it’s just that this is only gonna be my second season. Still a rookie, you know. I don’t think I’m that good.”

Jisung sort of reminded you of a little hamster when he was nervous like this, and your lips twitched with amusement. He really was cute.

“When’s baseball season?”

“Practice officially starts in January, first game’s in February.”

“Don’t you get cold out on the field?”

He shrugged self-consciously. “I mean, we’re moving around a lot. And we have hand warmers and stuff for when we’re on the bench.”

You kept eagerly asking him questions. “What position do you play?”

“Pitcher. I’m a switch pitcher—I can pitch left or right-handed—so they like that.”

“So it’s a surprise for the other team?”

“No, you have to declare which hand you’re going to pitch for each batter beforehand,” he admitted, then quickly tacked on, “But it still kinda throws them off!”

You hummed thoughtfully. “What about when you’re hitting the ball?”

“I could do either, but I prefer my right.”

“You’re never this interested in my friends,” Chenle interrupted accusatorily.

“Because I already know like, way too much about the twins, Hyuck, and Mark. Wish I could unlearn some of it, actually,” you snorted. “And you’ve been trying to get me into sports for our whole lives. What’s the problem?”

“Basketball,” your brother corrected you. “I’ve been trying to get you to watch basketball with me. Jisung plays baseball. Wrong sport.”

“Stop talking to me like I’m five,” you snapped, kicking his seat again.

“Stop kicking my seat like a five-year-old and I might,” he retorted.

You scowled at the back of his big head.

“I can see you pouting in the rearview mirror.”

You rolled your eyes and crossed your arms, flopping back against your seat.

“Saw that too.”

“Wasn’t trying to hide it!” You snipped back childishly. Turning your focus back to Jisung, who was looking out the passenger window, you asked, “Is he like this to you, Jisung?”

“Don’t answer that,” Chenle directed him before the other boy could open his mouth. “She’ll tire herself out.”

“Oh, you’re insufferable!” You spat. “Talking about me like I’m not even here! Or like I’m Daegal!”

“Well, Daegal is actually trained.”

“Pull the car over, I’m going to beat your ass!”

“Hey!” Surprisingly, it was the soft-spoken Jisung who raised his voice over the sounds of you two fighting, shocking both of you into silence. He continued, “Chenle, you’ve been antagonizing Y/N ever since we pulled up in front of her dorm, man. Then you act like she’s crazy for being pissed off at you. It’s honestly pissing me off.”

Chenle huffed loudly, drumming his thumbs on the steering wheel, before he finally said, “Fine. Sorry, Y/N.”

“Yeah, whatever. Thanks for apologizing because Jisung told you to.” You unbuckled and scooted over to the seat behind Jisung, buckling back in and looking out the window at the scenery rushing by.

The car was silent other than Chenle’s music, which he turned up as you pulled out your phone.

[you: i found out cute library guy’s name]

[soosoo: omfg the cia has nothing on u]

[soosoo: SPILL]

[you: i didn’t stalk him, turns out he’s my brother’s friend. his name is park jisung and he’s on the baseball team]

[soosoo: your brother’s friend that you’re going to be ALL ALONE WITH in the mountains for the next TWO WEEKS???]

[you: not ALL ALONE, chenle will be there, remember?]

[soosoo: unfortunately]

[soosoo: WAIT i found him on the team’s roster online and WHEW GIRL]

[soosoo: attached image.]

It was a screenshot of Jisung’s athlete profile on the university’s sports page. The small ID photo he had on there honestly did him no justice.

[soosoo: how is ur brother always friends w the HOTTEST GUYS who ALSO PLAY SPORTS????]

[soosoo: i need him to hook me up fr]

[you: don’t tell me ur thinking abt jeno and jaemin rn]

[soosoo: always]

[you: u don’t need chenle to hook u up if u rlly want, im friends with them too??]

[soosoo: YOU WOULD????]

[you: but you’d have to pick one]

[soosoo: god i am not your strongest soldier]

[you: exactly what i thought]

At the mountain cabin, you three were the first ones there, of course. You parents wouldn’t be arriving until Christmas Eve due to their work schedules. The house was already decorated like something straight out of a Hallmark movie—lights, red and green bows, candy canes, baubles, and other decorations all throughout.

“Wow,” Jisung breathed out, stopping in the foyer and turning around, his eyes wide as he took it all in. “Your parents are really into Christmas, huh?”

“Not really.” You had also stopped to watch his slow circle of awe. “They pay somebody to set it up.”

The wonder dropped off his face and was replaced with confusion, his brow furrowing. Chenle yelled for him from further in the house, and you jerked your head for him to follow. Your brother was at the threshold of the hallway where all your rooms were located.

“Yours is there,” Chenle pointed Jisung to one end of the hallway as you slipped by him to head to the bedroom at the other end. “Y/N’s is on the other side.”

“We share a bathroom,” you called over your shoulder as you opened the door. “Don’t use all the hot water in the morning!”

“And I’m upstairs.” Your brother indicated to a small ladder between Jisung’s room and the bathroom in the middle. “I got the loft. Won it in rock-paper-scissors almost two decades ago.”

“You cheated!” You reminded him loudly from where you had started unpacking your things in your room.

“Sore loser!”

“Sore winner!”

“Anyway, holler if you need something.”

You were still unpacking when there was a soft knock at your open door. It was Jisung leaning in your doorway.

“Hey,” he greeted you quietly.

“Hey.” You smiled at him brightly. “Bathroom’s the middle door. We both have doors that connect to it, so knock before we go in? Even if the light is off?”

“Yeah, sounds good.”

Jisung continued silently watching you unpack, then finally blurted out, “You egg him on.”

“Huh? Who?”

“Chenle.” He held his hands up in front of him defensively as you opened your mouth. “I know he started everything back in the car, but you didn’t help.”

You sat back on your feet in front of your open suitcase and dresser drawers. “Yeah, I know I’ve got a temper problem. I need to work on it.”

“I didn’t say anything in front of him because I kind of got the feeling that he was being extra mean because I was there.”

“When we’re hanging out with friends that we kinda share, like Jeno and Jaemin or whoever, it’s fine. You know, they met both of us at the same time. But I think when we’re with people that are his friends, it’s different,” you explained, gesturing to an armchair in the corner for Jisung to sit in while you talked. “We were always in the same grade and stuff, so obviously people assumed we were twins. That’s also why he really gets on the ‘little sister’ thing. When we got to college, we were both relieved to finally be different people, you know? Have different friends, different things that were ours.”

“You seem to understand him really well.”

“Known him my whole life,” you pointed out. “And just because I understand why he acts like this doesn’t mean it still doesn’t piss me the fuck off.”

“To answer your question from the car, no, he doesn’t treat me like that. He’s sarcastic, sure, but not like that.”

Zipping up your empty suitcase, you started on your duffel bag that was on your bed. “Sorry you had to deal with us like that, even more so that you had break us up. I’m sure the next two weeks were flashing before your eyes, huh?”

“Honestly, I’m just glad you didn’t actually start beating him up,” he chuckled.

“Me too, that would’ve been embarrassing.” You added, “For him. To get his ass beat in front of one of his buddies.”

He looked out the room down the hallway, checking to see if Chenle was coming, then admitted, “Don’t tell him, but I was sort of calculating how many swings to let you get in before it would look unreasonable for me to not intervene.”

“Oh really? And how many would you have ‘let me’ have?” You grinned, using finger quotes over ‘let me.’

“One good punch and a hair pull, I think.” He looked to be sizing you up, a teasing glint in his eye. “You seem like you fight dirty like that.”

“Could claim you didn’t want to hurt your friend’s little sister, let me get a few more in.” You mimicked punching and kneeing the air. “At least let me knee him in the balls.”

“I’ll consider it in the event you two do actually brawl while we’re here.”

You looked up at the ceiling, thinking about your brother up there somewhere. “Eh, we’ll make up properly soon. One thing about us, we fight a lot, but it’s never for that long.”

“Okay, now I’m worried about the next two weeks.”

You laughed, maybe a little harder than his joke warranted, but you couldn’t help it—he was cute, he was funny, and he was making your chest feel tighter and your head spin faster the longer you were around him.

“Why are you in here?” Chenle had appeared in your doorway, looking genuinely perturbed at the visage of Jisung sitting in your chair.

“Because we’re talking?” You answered for him. “Or is he only allowed to talk to you while he’s here and I have to take a vow of silence?”

“Pretty much, yeah,” he snickered, walking in and flopping on your bed.

“You first.”

“You want to do lunch in town then get the tree?” He checked the time on his phone. “Mom and Dad know how much you like Christmas tree shopping so that’s the only thing not done.”

“Or is it just another responsibility to pawn off on someone?” You snorted, opening the door into the adjoining bathroom to put your toiletry bag away.

Your brother’s distant voice called after you, “Even if it is, we can still have fun!”

You took a deep breath, and came out of the bathroom with a smile on your face. “You’re right. Let’s do it.”

“Ew, stop that, it’s creepy.” Chenle threw a pillow at you.

You caught it and chucked it right back at him. “What? Smiling?”

It hit him in the face before falling to the floor. “Yeah, exactly. I’m done trying to cheer you up, keep being a little Grinch, it suits your face better.”

You climbed on the bed and grabbed a pillow to smack him with it. “Quit being fucking rude!”

He laughed and cackled, rolling away from your pillow attack until his eyes went wide with panic as he went right over the edge of the mattress and landed on the floor. It was your turn to burst into laughter at the sound he made, and when he started groaning and complaining, you knew he was fine. Jisung was also laughing from his seat.

You finally gathered yourself enough to peer over the edge of the bed, looking down at where Chenle was sprawled out dramatically like a cartoon character that had been crushed by an anvil. As soon as he looked at you, he started giggling too.

“What about this one?” Mr. Song, the elderly man who had run the Christmas tree farm in town for as long as your family had been coming for the holidays, was showing you around to the various trees they had for sale.

“Ah, too skinny.” You shook your head. “We have a lot of ornaments. And a vaulted ceiling too, so we can get a taller one.”

“Right, of course. How could I forget?” His eyes crinkled fondly as he walked you around by the elbow. “You and your brother have gotten so big, Y/N. I remember when you two were up to my knee. Always playing hide and seek in the trees.”

“We used to think you were Santa Claus,” you giggled, gesturing to his big, bushy beard. “We told everyone we knew that we got our Christmas tree from Santa every year.”

“Good to see that Chenle and your boyfriend get along so well.” He nodded to where Chenle and Jisung were throwing snowballs at each other. More accurately, Jisung was pelting them at Chenle with scary precision, and Chenle was doing his best to throw some back in between peals of laughter.

“Oh, Jisung is Chenle’s friend from school, he’s not my boyfriend,” you clarified quickly.

“My mistake.” Mr. Song patted your arm.

After circling the next one Mr. Song showed you, you were content, inspecting how dense the branches were, the height, and general shape.

“Guys!” You yelled out to get Chenle and Jisung’s attention. They ceased their (unfair) battle, meandering over to you. “What do you think?”

Chenle gave it a once-over before nodding. “Great pick as always, Y/N.”

“Is that going to fit through the front door?” Jisung asked skeptically, trying to fit his arms around it to gauge the size.

“It will,” you promised as Chenle pulled out his checkbook.

Two of Mr. Song’s grandsons brought the tree up to the cabin in their truck, and you had to open both front doors all the way for them to carry it in. They got it set up in the corner for you, and you sent them on their way with an extra cash tip.

“We’ve got to let the branches settle before we can decorate it,” you advised Jisung. “So we’ll do that tomorrow.”

“Y/N’s got a whole thing about the tree,” Chenle added from one of the couches, turning the TV on.

“Smells nice,” Jisung piped up.

“Did your family have real trees or artificial ones?” You asked, taking up the other couch.

Jisung seemed to momentarily panic about where to sit, before taking the empty space at the end of Chenle’s couch, facing you. “A fake one. It came with the lights already on. Easier for my mom to set up.”

“One or two?” Chenle asked abruptly.

“What?”

“Two!” You answered, and Chenle immediately played a movie from whatever streaming service he was scrolling through. You went to fill Jisung in, “It’s a game we like to play. One of us will assign numbers to things in our head without telling the other, and you have to reply with a number without really knowing what you’re picking.”

“I couldn’t decide which movie to watch,” Chenle added.

“So, instead of a coin flip, you used Y/N?” Jisung clarified.

“Sort of. You can do it for more than two options. Like…” You tilted your head back and forth as you tried to think of one on the spot. As soon as you had, you perked up. “One, two or three?”

“Three?”

“Hot chocolate it is.” You stood up from the couch and headed towards the kitchen.

Jisung turned in his seat to keep you in his eyesight. “Wait, what were the options?”

“That’s part of the fun.” You smiled. “Sometimes you never know.”

A few minutes later, you came back into the room with three mugs of hot chocolate, and handed one each to Chenle and Jisung before sitting back on your couch.

Several movies, rounds of various video games, and large pizzas later, you were beat. Standing up from your couch, you stretched and started grabbing everyone’s plates.

“I’ll get these if you guys put the food away?”

Chenle gave you a thumbs-up, his eyes locked on his phone screen.

“Night!” You tossed back over your shoulder as you traipsed out of the room.

“Night!” Your brother echoed.

“Goodnight!” Jisung replied.

As soon as you were bundled up in your blankets in your room, you videocalled Sooyoung. She picked up, the familiar scenery of her childhood bedroom in the background.

“Hey!” She beamed. “How was day one? Kill Chenle? Make any moves on cute library guy?”

“We know his name now, Soo!” You laughed.

“But a nickname is so fun and mysterious!”

“I did almost kill Chenle in the first ten minutes of the car ride,” you groaned. “Jisung surprisingly came to my defense.”

“Your brother’s friend took your side against him? Wow…”

“He’s really sweet, he’s making an effort to be my friend too.”

“Friend? Or something else?” She waggled her eyebrows.

“I don’t know, it’s been one day,” you giggled, rolling over onto your back. “Anyway, how’s your family?”

You stayed up chatting for another hour before finally going to sleep, giddy with thoughts of what could happen tomorrow.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 22

In the morning, with no alarm for class to get you up, you woke up, rolled over, and went back to sleep several times. Eventually, you decided that it was time to get up, and slowly shuffled out of your room. Chenle was already up, by the stove cooking something. Jisung was nowhere in sight, probably still sleeping.

Upon hearing your footsteps, he looked over his shoulder. “Morning.”

You grunted back.

“Mom called.”

You made another noise of acknowledgment, still rubbing sleep out of your eyes as you lumbered over to your seat at the table. Your brother set a plate of pancakes down in front of you, and you squinted up at him suspiciously. Typically he would’ve made you get your own plate, or more likely, make your own food. Actually, it was kind of weird that he was up before you. He must not have gone back to sleep after talking to your mom. It wasn’t unusual for her to have called early in the morning—your parents’ work took them all around the world, and often the only free time they could find had them calling at odd hours.

“They’re not going to make it for Christmas, Y/N,” he told you softly, still standing next to your chair.

“Of course,” you scoffed, lip curling with distaste as you picked up your fork.

“They’ll be here on the 26th, and we can do everything with them then.”

“Are they staying for New Year’s?”

His silence was all the answer you needed.

“Of course,” you repeated with more venom in your tone than before, dropping your utensil back down onto the table. “What the fuck else should we have expected? Honestly, why do they even fucking bother?”

He put a hand on your shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

“No, Chenle, don’t apologize for them.” You patted his hand. “It’s not your fault.” Pushing your chair back, you stood up. “I’m not hungry right now. I’m going out back.”

“I’ll save your plate.”

Shoving boots on your feet and pulling a heavier coat on, you opened the door in your bedroom that led directly out onto the back patio. It had snowed last night, so you had to shuffle through the fresh layer to get to the swing seat back here. The cold morning air bit at your nose and cheeks, and you tucked your hands into your pockets to keep them warm—you’d forgotten gloves. Sighing, you watched your breath fog up in front of your face, until your tears overtook your vision and you couldn’t see anything past them.

You pulled your knees to your chest on the porch swing, pushing your face into the thick material of your pajama pants. Why did it still hurt so bad? They did this all the fucking time.

The sound of feet crunching snow came to your ears, and you wiped at your face as you looked up at who was approaching you. It was Jisung, two steaming mugs in his gloved hands.

“Uhm, Chenle said you weren’t hungry. Does cider count?” He offered one out to you.

You chuckled, accepting it, grateful to have something warm to wrap your chilly fingers around. “No, it doesn’t. Thanks, Jisung.”

“It’s pretty out here,” he commented, looking around at the scenery. “Or not, if you want me to go back inside.”

You laughed again, gesturing to the empty half of the porch swing next to you. “You can stay.”

Jisung brushed off the snow from the rest of the porch swing before sitting down. He wedged his mug of cider between his legs and you watched him curiously as he started taking his gloves off. He offered them out to you, making you shake your head.

“I’m fine, I’ve got the cider—”

“So do I.”

“Then how about this.” You plucked one glove from him and put it on your right hand, which was holding the handle of the mug. Your left cradled the body of the mug, where all the warmth was. “Glove goes on the colder hand.”

He chuckled, slipping his remaining glove on his left, and wrapping his right hand around the mug. “Innovative.”

“Thank you.”

The smile faded as he turned more somber. “I’m sorry to hear that your parents’ plans changed.”

You took a sip of the cider, staring out at the still landscape of snow-covered trees and mountains. “Me too. You think I would be used to it by now.”

“Chenle was talking about maybe going to this ice-skating place later. If you’re feeling up to it.”

“That��s what’s nice about having him. No matter how much stupid shit we fight about, we’ve at least got each other when they do stuff like this.” You half-smiled to yourself. “You know, sometimes I think they did that on purpose. Had two kids instead of one so they wouldn’t feel guilty about leaving us alone all the time.”

The tears had come back, and you wiped at them with your bare hand, not wanting to soil Jisung’s glove that he had given you. Shaking your head at yourself, you said derisively, “I’m sure I seem pathetic to you. Rich girl crying in her family’s winter vacation home because mommy and daddy won’t make it for Christmas.”

“I don’t think you’re pathetic.”

You turned your gaze to Jisung to find him already looking at you, so sincerely, too. Swallowing down more tears, you asked, “Why aren’t you home with your family? I’m sure you’d much rather be with them than stuck here with us.”

“My parents are divorced. Every year, my dad and his wife go on some cruise for Christmas, and my mom spends it with my stepdad’s family. They say I’m welcome there, but they’re all strangers, except my mom.” He shrugged half-heartedly, blowing across the surface of his cider. “I know it’s kinda my fault too, I’m not making an effort to get to know them or whatever. But I just… don’t want to.”

“How’d you end up coming along with Chenle then?”

“Last year I stayed at school for Winter Break. Met Chenle in the spring, and when Winter Break plans came up this year, he was appalled at the idea of me eating at the dining hall for Christmas dinner.” Jisung chuckled, and you smiled fondly, able to imagine your brother’s horrified face. “It wasn’t even an offer, he decided for me.”

“Well, I’m glad you’re here instead of eating dining hall food by yourself.”

“Me too.”

“And I’m sorry your parents suck too.”

“Shitty parents club.” He held his mug out to you.

You clinked your against it in a commiserative toast. “We need Chenle out here for our full membership.”

“Yeah, but this swing only fits two people…”

You smiled a little as you sipped your cider. “Then I guess it’s just us for right now.”

Jisung smiled back. “Guess so.”

That afternoon, as promised, you three went ice skating. The local nature reserve had a lake that always froze solid, and would rent out ice skates and sell hot chocolate and other treats to earn a little extra income—free admission if you brought your own skates. You were the first one to get your skates on, and shuffled onto the frozen lake excitedly. There were a few other people out here—couples, families, groups of friends—but the area cordoned off for ice skating was big enough that everyone had plenty of room to spread out. A wide smile immediately spread across your face. Chenle knew you well, which was a blessing and a curse. He knew exactly how to push your buttons and cheer you up.

Speaking of, your brother smoothly skated up next to you, smug look on his face. “Better?”

“With a head that big, I’d hope you’d have a good idea every so often,” you teased, lightly bopping him through his beanie.

“Ungrateful.” He snapped one of your earmuffs against your head, not hard enough to hurt.

You two had been milling back and forth waiting for Jisung, and you looked back over at the bench where you’d all been tying up your skates to find him still sitting there, fiddling with the laces.

Chenle followed your gaze. “What is he doing? He had them tied when I got up, I thought he was right behind me.”

You shrugged, exiting the ice to stop in front of Jisung on the bench. “You alright?”

“Yeah, I just—” Jisung swallowed, squinting and scrunching up his nose nervously. “I’ve only been ice skating once, and I was a kid, so…”

“You don’t know how,” you finished.

“I mean—Yes.”

“Come on.” You offered out your arm out to him.

He waved his hands as he refused. “I’m going to do something stupid like fall and end up breaking your arm or—”

“No, it’ll be fine,” you assured him. “Seriously, I did ice skating lessons as a kid.”

“You did?”

“You’re in good hands, I promise.”

Jisung grabbed your arm, and using both you and the bench as leverage, stood up. He looked around warily as you patted his back.

“There you go, you got it. Now, you get to walk until you get to the ice.” As you coached him through the basics of operating his skates, you slowly guided him closer to the edge of the ice. You stepped onto the ice first, keeping a hold on both of his gloved hands for him to cautiously join you, one foot at a time.

“You didn’t think to tell us you’ve never skated?” Chenle questioned dryly as he joined you two.

“I have!” Jisung defended himself. “Once…”

“Well Y/N can teach you,” he offered you up. “She used to do lessons, till she got kicked out.”

“Wait, for what?”

You rolled your eyes at your brother just having to bring that up. Nudging Jisung forward to start moving his legs, you began relaying the story, “I called my coach a bitch to her face and refused to apologize.”

“Just because or…?”

“First of all, I was seven, so impulse control wasn’t even in my vocabulary. Second of all, she called another little girl in the class fat to her face! She had just gotten a new competition dress, it was this really pretty purple one with sparkles and stuff all over it, and the teacher told her she shouldn’t wear it because something about the pattern made her look bigger or something ridiculous. A seven-year-old! She’s just lucky she didn’t get an ice skate to the face!” Your rant picked up steam and volume as you continued, feeling freshly pissed off as you recalled the incident.

Jisung frowned, looking troubled as well. “That’s awful.”

“I know! Honestly, I’m glad I got kicked out. I hated that woman.” You pulled him away from a divot in the ice. “Watch out. Don’t want your blade getting caught in that.”

“Thanks. You seem to have retained a lot.”

“I didn’t get very far before I was booted,” you scoffed. “But I guess we still went to rinks and out here pretty frequently, so I haven’t lost the basics, at least.”

“So are we decorating the tree later?”

“Yep, should take the rest of the day.”

“Seriously?”

“We’ve got a lot of ornaments.” You snickered at his wide eyes, looking to your other side where Chenle had been skating for confirmation. Instead, your brother had disappeared. Confused, you scanned the figures on the ice, finally spotting him far ahead of you, skating backwards at an impressive speed. “He left us.”

Jisung finally detached his eyes from where they’d been glued on his feet, chuckling when he saw Chenle as well. “He’s not very patient, is he?”

“Not a virtue he was born with, no.” You turned your attention back to Jisung. “Think you’re getting the hang of it?”

His grip tightened on your arm. “If I say yes, are you going to let go of me?”

“No,” you laughed. “Not until you’re ready.”

“Oh, thank God.”

“But let’s try this.” You moved to hold both his hands, skating backwards in front of him. “Okay?”

“You can’t see behind you,” he said, nervously glancing between your face and over your shoulder.

You checked over your shoulder. It was clear, and you redirected your path to make sure you weren’t heading directly at the next closest people. “I’ve got it.”

“I feel like I’m leaning forward too much, how do I—Wah!” The distinct clank of Jisung’s skates hitting each other rang out, and he fell forward.

Not wanting him to faceplant into your skates or the ice, you braked and tensed your arms to try to keep him up. However, since you had braked and he obviously did not, his forward momentum sent him catapulting directly into you. His arms wrapped around your waist as his legs scrambled against the ice trying to find his footing again. You readjusted your hold on him to clutch him under the arms in an attempt to keep him up, but with all the layers that you were bundled up in and the slippery ice, it was a losing battle. You were a good skater, but you couldn’t haul him back to his feet like this. So you decided to just let the two of you slowly descend, squatting down until you could plant your butt on the ice and kick your feet out on either side of Jisung, careful not to hit him with your blades.

“You alright?” You asked him, pulling his beanie back from where it was entirely obscuring his eyes.

“Please tell me I’m dead,” he groaned, the half of his face that you could see was completely pink and his eyes were squeezed shut. His head was pressed against your middle as he was still clinging onto you.

“No, you survived that,” you laughed. “And so did I. No broken arms or other bones.”

“Will you kill me anyway?”

A spray of ice showered both of you as Chenle stopped next to you guys, proceeding to double over with laughter. “Clumsy ass.”

“Nice, thank you,” you scoffed, wiping off the cold ice from your face, then a couple drops that had gotten on Jisung’s cheek. “Anytime you’d like to quit being an asshole and help us up.”

“I don’t know, you two look pretty cozy to me.”

Jisung somehow turned even redder, squirming in your grasp. “Y/N, I’m sorry!”

“Chenle, shut up!” You scolded your brother. “You’re making Jisung freak out and he’s going to hurt himself!”

“You make him sound like a scared prey animal,” he snickered. Letting out a sigh, he patted his friend’s back. “Alright, Jisung, come on.”

With Chenle’s assistance, Jisung got to his feet, and you were then able to stand back up on your own. Brushing snow off your legs, you shivered, and saw that the entire front of Jisung’s pants were soaked through thanks to the ice, and you could feel that the back of your own had suffered a similar fate.

“I think that’s enough ice skating for today,” you declared. “My ass is quite literally going to freeze off if we stay out here any longer.”

Jisung nodded quickly from where he was clinging onto Chenle to stay upright now. “I’m skated out.”

“Good thing my car has heated seats then,” Chenle said, beginning to drag his friend back towards the exit.

After a hot shower and in a fresh change of warm pajamas, you were in front of the Christmas tree with all of the boxes of decorations for it. You had already wound the lights around it when Jisung joined you in the living room, hair still damp from his shower—he’d given you first shower out of guilt.

“Hey, you know where Chenle is?” You asked, flipping open boxes of ornaments. Chenle’s loft bedroom had a private bathroom, so you figured he’d be out by now.

“He got a call—Mark, I think,” Jisung informed you.

“Oh, that’ll take an hour,” you snorted. “You can help me. Put any ornaments that have Chenle’s name on them aside, he gets to put those up whenever he’s done.”

“Any ornaments with your name are yours to put up?” He guessed, reaching into a box and pulling out an ornament in the shape of a bear with a Santa hat on. The white band of the hat had ‘Chenle’ written in cursive.

“Yep. Everything else is fair game for you. Quick tip, any bear ornaments will be Chenle’s. That’s his parent-assigned motif.”

“Got it. And what’s yours?”

You held up the honeybee ornament that you’d just fished out, letting it dangle and twist in the air, the yellow gems catching the light. “Bees. They had a theme, kind of.”

“I’ll keep an eye out.” He reached up to hang a blue and gold ornament on a higher branch, though you could feel his eyes on you as you put your own up on a middle branch. Finally, he blurted out, “Are you sure you didn’t get hurt earlier?”

“Yeah, Jisung, I’m okay,” you chuckled. “Really, we were both wearing so many layers we were practically bubblewrapped.”

He visibly relaxed. “Okay, good.”

“Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah. But I crashed into you, not the other way around.”

“True, but you had a much less graceful descent.”

He visibly grimaced, a bashful smile on his face. “Mm-hm. Thank you for bringing that up again.”

“Pretty sure you brought it up again,” you teased, nudging his arm with yours as you reached in front of him to hang an ornament.

“And I would love to change the topic now.” He grabbed an ornament in the shape of a snowman.

“What’s your major?” You decided to save him this time. “You and Chenle had bio lab together, but I know he took bio for non-majors, so you’re not a STEM major either…”

Jisung made a buzzer noise, and you blinked at him in surprise. He cracked a grin as he said, “Cybersecurity.”

“Ah, so you’re a baseball jock and a little computer geek…” You nodded slowly, grabbing another ornament. “The duality of man, truly.”

“Geek?” He repeated incredulously.

“What? I think it’s cute.” You giggled and put up the glass snowflake in your hand. Then, you turned back to him hopefully. “Ooh, actually, my laptop gets possessed sometimes ever since Chenle clicked on one of those sketchy porn pop-up ads when we were fourteen. You don’t think you would be able to take a look at it sometime, would you?”

Jisung visibly sustained whiplash at your words, his head jerking back and eyes going wide before he furrowed his brows. “Wait, what? How old is your laptop? He did what to it? What do you mean it gets possessed? What exactly does it do?”

“Uhm… it’d probably be easier to show you.”

“Y/N, this thing is old enough to drive.”

You put your hands on either side of your laptop’s screen as if you were covering its ears, giving Jisung a stern look. “Sh! You’re going to hurt her feelings!”

He continued to look at you over his glasses, entirely unamused. This was the first time you’d seen him wear them—even in the library, he’d had contacts in. Now, with him wearing his casual clothes, glasses, sitting on your bed and attempting to fix your laptop, you felt like you were going to lose it, truly. Especially when you’d catch a whiff of his shampoo, and you’d have to stop yourself from leaning in to follow the smell of cinnamon.

“Seriously, why do you still have it? Chenle has the newest Macbook,” he asked, fingers flitting across the keyboard.

“Because it works fine!” You insisted, removing your hands. “I get the internal stuff cleaned out regularly, and make sure all the software is updated and everything.”

“It still gets software updates?”

“It just… gets possessed every so often.”

“I wouldn’t call the occasional possession ‘working fine.’”

“When it’s not possessed, it works great! And it doesn’t even happen that much, only like, once a month.”

“Once a month since you were fourteen?” He squinted at you in disbelief where you were sitting on the opposite side of the laptop screen. “And you kept the damn thing?”

“No, once a month now,” you clarified. “It happened the first time when Chenle clicked on that porn ad, then maybe once a year for a few years after, and slowly started happening more and more often.”

“And he was watching porn on your computer because…?”

“So it wouldn’t be on his internet history.”

He snorted. “Of course. I should’ve realized.”

“Can I watch?”

“Oh, uhm, sure?” He readjusted to make room to his left side on the mattress, angling the laptop that way as well.

You shuffled around to the other side of the computer, dropping to lay down on your front, propping your chin up with your elbows to observe. Tilting your head, you rested it against Jisung’s knee that was next to you. His hands froze over the keys, and you lifted your head back up, looking up at him through your eyelashes.

“Sorry—Is this okay?”

“Y-Yeah, you’re fine.” He nodded quickly and pushed his glasses up as he returned his attention to the screen.

Leaning your head back against his knee, you settled in to watch him work on your laptop. You couldn’t follow what exactly he was doing to the computer, opening and closing different windows, folders, and applications. You zoned out, watching his hands and fingers deftly move over the keys instead. He was muttering to himself under his breath, his low voice pleasant to listen to even if you couldn’t make out the words he was saying. This close to him, you could smell the cinnamon better, and were starting to think that maybe it was actually a body wash or cologne.

“Y/N?” He said your name, making you snap out of a daze as you realized he was calling for you. “Hello?”

“Hm?” You perked up a little.

“We need to do an exorcism.”

That woke you all the way back up. “Wait, what?”

“Complete reset. Wipe everything and redownload the OS.”

“But I have everything on there!” You pleaded, stretching your hands over the keyboard to prevent him from doing anything else. “We’ve been through so much together! You can’t kill her!”

He sighed regretfully. “Is there an electronics store or something around here? We can get an external hard drive to back up all your personal stuff.”

“There’s a mall like an hour away. Chenle and I need to go gift shopping anyway so we can go tomorrow!”

“Why did I hear my name?” Chenle’s voice came from further down the hallway. He must have finished his call with Mark. Your brother poked his head into your room, briefly pausing when he saw you and Jisung. “I thought you guys were decorating the tree…?”

“Remember how you downloaded a virus trying to watch porn on my computer in high school? Jisung is fixing it for me,” you said pointedly, never missing an opportunity to bring that moment up. “But we need to buy something. I was telling him you and I need to go gift shopping anyway, so we can all go to that mall tomorrow.”

“Please tell me the thing you’re buying is a new laptop.”

“Never! She’s going to outlive you if I have anything to do with it!”

“Based off the fact that it sounds like a jet engine taking off right now, I’m pretty sure that was a threat on my life.”

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23

“Okay, so you’ll need at least this much storage for the files that you have right now,” Jisung explained, motioning to a few different options of hard drives that the electronics store had. He then gestured to a few more. “But if you really want to have her until Chenle’s dead, you might want to consider some more storage.”

You grinned, bumping his shoulder affectionately. “You said ‘her.’”

He covered his mouth as he let out a sputtering laugh, his cheeks turning pink. “Oh God—I didn’t even realize. That’s—Ah, you’re rubbing off on me.”

“I like that one,” you declared, pointing to one hard drive that was a similar colorway to the laptop case you had.

“Yeah, that’s more than enough storage.”

After purchasing your hard drive, you and Jisung headed out of the electronics store together. Chenle had already gone off to gift shop on his own so you and Jisung couldn’t see what he bought you.

You turned to Jisung. “Want to help me shop for Chenle?”

“Sure.”

The two of you meandered around the mall, popping into stores that seemed promising from the outside. As you passed by a jewelry display in a window, you tapped on the glass in front of a pair of earrings.

“Those are cute,” you commented, slowing down but not stopping entirely.

“You think so?” Jisung questioned, looking at them over your shoulder as you kept walking.

“Mhm.” You nodded, then clicked your tongue. “I’d get them, but I already have a pair like them.”

“You do?”

“Yep.” Keeping your gaze on the passing storefronts, you said levelly, “I don’t want to assume anything about what you think of me, Jisung, but I want you to know that I don’t expect a present from you. We only properly met two days ago.”

“Yeah, that’s… really reasonable,” he chuckled, the relief evident in his voice.

“Seriously, if you fix my computer, that’ll be the best Christmas present I get this year, hands-down. I don’t care what expensive crap my parents get me or surprisingly thoughtful, niche thing Chenle somehow manages to find.”

“I didn’t realize how much my computer exorcism skills were worth.”

“To me, they’re priceless,” you assured him. “I wish I had something to offer in return.”

“Hey, you already taught me how to skate,” he insisted, nudging your arm.

You tilted your head side-to-side contemplatively. “One could argue whether I was successful at that…”

“Completely my fault that the lesson got cut short, not yours.”

“Alright, alright. I suppose a computer exorcism can be our quid pro quo for ten minutes of ice-skating lessons.”

“I didn’t pay much attention in my high school history class when Mr. Yoo was talking about the bartering system, but I’m pretty sure those two things are equivalent, yeah.”

You burst out laughing, covering your mouth and squeezing your eyes shut as you started to go a little light-headed from how hard you were laughing. You were still walking forward alongside Jisung, and felt him grab your arm and tug you towards him at the same time he warned, “Watch out.”

You couldn’t see whatever you must’ve almost walked into as you were still trying to sober up from your chuckle fest, covering your face as more giggles bubbled up every time you tried to close your mouth. Jisung kept you right next to him, guiding you through the mall crowd with a gentle but steadfast grasp on your arm, not letting you bump into anybody or trip over anything.

“Are you really still laughing?” He asked, and though his words were exasperated, his tone was overly fond, letting out a soft laugh of his own at the end. “I don’t think it was that funny…”

You narrowed your eyes playfully at him, shook his hand off you, and suppressed your giggles to say, “Fine. I don’t think you’re funny at all and I hate you, actually.”

Jisung’s mouth parted as he stared at you in shock, and you couldn’t keep the bit going for very long when faced with his adorable look of being totally caught off-guard and floored, even if both of you knew it was all a joke. You grabbed his arm this time, your laughs getting muffled in his sweater as you buried your face in his shoulder and leaned against him for support.

“Oh my god, you looked like I ran over your dog or something!” You gasped for air between guffaws, apologetically rubbing his arm.

“You’re…” He trailed off, letting out a sigh instead, reaching for your purse that was on your arm and now awkwardly crushed between you two with you holding his arm. “Here, I’ll take that.”

He had already been carrying your shopping bags that you’d been acquiring from the various stores, and you now stopped to wordlessly shimmy off your purse for him to shoulder on his opposite side from you. You reattached yourself to his arm that you had been holding, and though his cheeks were turning pink, he had a small smile on his face as he looked down at his phone to check the time.

“Did your family assign you an animal too?” You asked him, your eyes getting caught on a kiosk of Christmas ornaments as you continued your journey through the mall.

“What?”

“Like how my parents decided when we were born that Chenle’s a bear and I’m a honeybee,” you explained, quickly looking back over to Jisung. “Did you ever have an animal or something that was like yours?”

He scrunched his nose as he thought, then shook his head. “No, not that I can remember. I always had a bunch of different stuffed animals.”

“I think you look like a hamster,” you informed him. “Especially when you do that with your nose.”

“Do what with my nose?” He questioned, his nose unintentionally twitching and scrunching up again as his eyes flitted around nervously.

You giggled, squeezing his arm tighter as you couldn’t help but coo over how cute he was. “That!”

He covered his nose with his hand, and though it obstructed half his face, you could tell he was pouting behind it.

“I didn’t mean to make you self-conscious, I’m sorry!” You apologized, grabbing his hand and trying to pull it away from his face. “I think it’s really cute!”

He stubbornly kept his nose concealed. “You still haven’t told me what it is…”

“You just scrunch up your nose sometimes, like this—” You imitated it, doing your best not to make it look like you were mocking him. “Seriously, it’s adorable! Please don’t ever stop, I might die!”

Jisung’s eyes crinkled and he dropped his hand back down as he chuckled. “Well we can’t have that.”

Your phone buzzed in your hand then, and you saw that it was your brother calling. “Mm, hold on, it’s Chenle.”

“Hey, where are you guys?” Chenle asked on the other end.

“We’re still on the first floor,” you told him. “By the pretzel stand. Where are you?”

“What have you two been doing? I’m on the third floor; I’ve been through the whole mall already. I’m done,” he scoffed. “Stay there, I’ll come to you.”

“I had to get my hard drive first, remember? You got a head start.”

“Anyway, are you done?”

“No, I have a couple more people to find gifts for.”

“Alright, hold on, I see you.”

You craned your neck looking for Chenle, still with your phone to your ear. “Damn bitch, how many old ladies did you take out on your way here?”

“Only two,” Chenle’s voice came through your phone and from directly beside you at the same time. He was loaded up with shopping bags on both arms.

You jumped out of your skin before rolling your eyes and hanging up the call. “Did you see a place that sold bath bombs and stuff?”

“Yeah, second floor, directly to the left off the escalator.”

“That’s my next stop, SooSoo loves that stuff,” you declared.

“There’s a baseball specialty shop on the third floor,” Chenle stated, eyes lingering on where you were still holding onto his friend’s arm. “If you want to go check it out, Jisung?”

You perked up, giving him an enthusiastic smile. “That sounds awesome! You totally should.”

Jisung turned to Chenle and nodded. “Yeah, sounds cool. Let’s do it.”

“I’ve still got a couple people on my list, so I’ll call you guys when I’m done so we can meet up and go,” you said, reaching for your purse that was still on Jisung’s shoulder. He handed it back to you, and you hurried off to take care of your final errands.

Back at the house, you watched on with bated breath as Jisung performed his laptop exorcism. The screen turned on, which already was good news. After a few more progress bars, you eventually saw your homescreen and looked at him with guarded hope.

“I still need to transfer your personal files back over. And you won’t know if it worked unless it just never gets possessed again, but…” Jisung gestured to your laptop with a certain finality.

“Ahh, thank you! Thank you!” You cheered, hugging him.

“O-Oh, you’re welcome,” he mumbled, hesitantly hugging you back.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 24

Christmas Eve was ushered in with a fresh snowfall overnight, and maybe the Christmas spirit finally possessed you, because all three of you were outside playing in it like little kids. A rather lumpy snowman had already been built and decorated with various rocks, sticks, and kitchen utensils. Snow angels were scattered around, and Chenle had just thrown the very first snowball, hitting Jisung squarely in the back of the head.

You laughed incredulously as the pitcher turned around and calmly started packing snow between his hands.

“Are you stupid?” You snickered at your brother, who was also preparing another snowball.

Before he could finish readying that one, Jisung wound up and launched his snowball, nailing Chenle in the face. You weren’t even focused on your brother as he desperately wiped the snow off his face with both hands, however, your eyes still watching Jisung, who was chuckling to himself. You’d been too preoccupied at the Christmas tree farm to really watch any of their snowfall fight that had happened there, and obviously hadn’t gone to any of Jisung’s games before, so this was the first time you’d seen him really use any of his pitcher skills. While it wasn’t a proper pitch, the practiced ease and skill that he clearly possessed even in doing something as silly as throwing a snowball was admittedly really attractive.

Chenle had taken his loss and grabbed a stick to start writing something in the snow, a good distance away from where you and Jisung were, his back to the two of you.

Stepping deliberately closer to Jisung, you said, “That was really cool, Jisung.”

He fidgeted with making sure his beanie was down over his ears. “Ah, I mean, it wasn’t a real pitch or anything—”

“Then can you teach me how to pitch for real?” You requested sweetly. “I’m very into baseball these days.”

“Uhm, y-yeah,” he agreed, clearing his throat and nodding. He stooped down to pack more snow between his hands into a round sphere, then held it out for you. “Here, that should be the right size.”

You graciously accepted it, then looked at him expectantly.

“Do you prefer to throw with your left or your right?” He asked.

You held up your dominant hand holding the snowball, and he nodded.

“Okay, uhm, you should stand with your feet like this.” He demonstrated the correct positioning himself, and you copied.

Jisung went through the basic steps with you, making minor adjustments here and there, and you were actually finding it sort of interesting, outside of the cute boy teaching you something he was passionate about. Learning a new skill or something to that effect. When he was showing you how to actually move your arm when throwing, you were genuinely trying to do it per his verbal instructions, but apparently there was still something wrong with the way you were doing it. And so he walked behind you, covering your gloves hand with his. You could feel his warm breath on the back of your neck, and his other hand grabbed your opposite shoulder to correct your posture as he manually moved your arm through the correct motion. Slow at first, talking through it.

“Feel how it’s different than what you were doing?” He asked, doing it again, a little faster this time.

But you were long gone, your brain white noise and your vision blurring a little bit (but that was mostly due to the cold wind hitting your eyes). He still smelled like cinnamon, and you wanted to listen to his voice all day. Jisung could read you a car manufacturer’s manual for all you cared.

“Mm, mhm,” you agreed absentmindedly.

“Alright, I’m going to step back and let you throw your first pitch.” He patted your shoulder and did just that, leaving you feeling even colder.

You momentarily panicked as you grappled in your short-term memory for anything that he had just been saying. Taking a deep breath, you closed your eyes, deciding that you would probably suck anyway, and to just fucking do it. Trusting your gut and muscle memory of what Jisung had just been walking you through, you did your damndest to throw that snowball in something akin to a pitch.

Amazingly, the snowball actually hit the trunk of the tree that you had been aiming for, and you stared at it in disbelief, hands hanging down by your side. Jisung clapped, the sound dampened by his gloves, but his cheers were surprisingly upbeat for how soft-spoken of a guy he was.

“Wow! That was a really good first pitch!” He congratulated you, holding up both his palms for you to high-five. “So awesome…”

You high-fived him, but stayed holding onto his hands, wide smile overtaking your features. “Thank you.”

“I—You’re welcome.” He held onto your hands too, throat bobbing up and down as he swallowed.

“Jisung!” Chenle yelled out, reminding the both of you of his presence. “Can you get my phone? I made Daegal out of snow and I want to take a picture. It should be charging on my bed.”

“Yeah!” Jisung called back. He gave you a regretful look, letting your hands go to trudge back up to the cabin.

Rounding on your brother, you stomped over to him, observing the admittedly cute snow-Daegal for a moment before addressing him.

“You can get your own phone,” you scoffed, crossing your arms.

“I thought I might hurt Jisung’s feelings if I told him to leave to his face,” Chenle replied nonchalantly. He looked at you over his large-framed sunglasses. “I feel like I have to warn you, as your big brother—”

“By ten months.”

“—about Jisung.”

You gave him a sour look, knowing that he knew that you wouldn’t be able stop yourself from asking a follow-up question to a statement like that. “What about him?”

“I know what you’ve been trying to do this whole time. You’re not ‘very into baseball,’ you’re into Jisung.”

You immediately got fired up, hands balling into fists at your sides. “Don’t you dare start pulling the ‘my friends are off-limits’ card now. You’ve never—”

“Hey, I like Jisung.” He held up his hands defensively, an amused smirk on his face. “If I had to make a tierlist of my friends for you to date, he’d be like, the only one in S-tier.”

You snorted and rolled your eyes. “Do you have a fantasy draft of boyfriends for me too?”

“I’m genuinely trying to help you here, alright?”

“So, what? Does he have a girlfriend or something?”

“Not exactly…” Chenle sighed. “Right before we left, during finals week, he met this girl in the library and just absolutely fell head-over-heels, okay? Like, he’s never even looked once at all the girls who show up to his games, but this one says three words to him and gives him some candy and he’s a goner. I don’t get it.”

It took everything in you to suppress your giddy grin and instead cock your head, playing dumb as you asked, “Wait, did he even get this girl’s name?”

“No, he never got a chance since they were both working on finals stuff,” he answered. “Anyway, I’m just trying to warn you. You’ve got to compete with the romanticized version of mystery library candy girl that he has in his head.”

“Mm. Tough competition,” you nodded with mock solemnity.

“I’m serious, Y/N. He called me at like midnight walking back from the library to tell me about it. He’s got it bad.” As if suddenly realizing everything he had just told you might dampen your spirits, Chenle’s entire demeanor shifted, and he gingerly patted the top of your head. “But uh, you’ve totally got this. I’m rooting for you, lil sis.”

“Right. Thanks… big bro,” you replied with intentional stiltedness, softballing a punch to his shoulder.

That night after dinner, you all sat down around the Christmas tree for your family tradition of opening one present on Christmas Eve. You sifted through the presents under the tree, some of which were ones that had been shipped here ahead of time by your parents or other extended family, others from Chenle.

“Hmm… one or two?” You asked, your eyes on two particular gifts.

“One,” Chenle and Jisung answered unanimously.

You grabbed the one that had been under your left hand, returning to your seat next to Jisung. Chenle had already picked his box, and fished out a gift bag, plopping it in front of Jisung. He seemed surprised, blinking down at it.

“But—”

“I got you more than one gift, dummy,” Chenle cut him off, already guessing what his confusion was about. “Go ahead.”

“No!” You stopped Jisung. He looked at you with alarm as you snatched the gift bag away, putting it back under the tree and replacing it with a different, much smaller one instead. “Open mine.”

Jisung looked even more confused, and slightly betrayed. “I thought we agreed we weren’t doing gifts…?”

“Yeah, but then I saw this and…” You smiled sheepishly. “Just open it!”

Shaking his head, he pulled out the tissue paper, then removed the object at the bottom of the bag. It was wrapped in more tissue paper to protect it, which he carefully wrapped, revealing the ornament that you had bought yesterday while you were split up. It was in the shape of a hamster popping out of a present box, and as soon as you saw it at the mall kiosk, you knew you had to get it for him.

Jisung turned it over his hands, looking up at you still a little confused, but with a smile. “Wait…”

“It looks just like you!” You giggled, taking it from him to hold it up next to his face. Aiming your next question at Chenle, you asked, “Doesn’t it?”

Your brother started laughing, reaching forward to tweak one of Jisung’s cheeks. “Ha, she’s right. How adorable.”

Jisung pushed his hand away, rolling his eyes. His gaze softened when he looked back over at you. “Thank you, Y/N. It’s great.”

“Hang it up!” You urged, giving it back to him and gesturing to the tree.

He got up on his knees to reach forward and affix it to an empty branch, between a bear ornament and honeybee ornament.

“Okay, Y/N, you next,” Chenle directed.

Ripping the wrapping paper off the small box, you were met with a small jewelry box, and took that lid off. Inside was a pair of ornate, bejeweled earrings, a little flashy for your taste. You checked the card.

“Great-Aunt Ying,” you announced, and Chenle let out an ‘ahh’ sound in understanding. You put the lid back on the box and set it aside. “SooSoo will love those.”

“Who’s that?” Jisung asked curiously as your brother started unwrapping his present. “Not your great-aunt.”

“Sooyoung, my roommate since freshman year,” you explained. “She’s also like, my best friend. And those earrings aren’t really my style, but I know she would wear them like, all the time, so I’ll just give them to her when we get back.”

Chenle’s box was a bit larger than yours had been, and was similarly stylish. He turned it over to shake the lid off and make the contents fall out all in one go, catching the fabric that fell out in his hand. Holding it up, it was a tie in what looked like a nice material, a monochrome and not exceptionally busy pattern on it.

“Another tie, wonder who it’s from…” he snorted, picking up the card. “Oh, Great-Uncle Feng. Surprise.”

“Does he think you’re eating all the ties he gives you or something?” You snickered.

“I think he’s so old he forgets he’s given me a tie before and thinks I don’t own any.” Chenle then offered it out to Jisung. “You need a tie? If not, I’ll ask the other guys.”

“I would need a suit first…” Jisung admitted, rubbing the back of his neck.

Chenle stared at him in disbelief, then sighed. “Okay, so we’re getting you a suit when we get back to school.”

“What do I need a suit for?”

“Don’t you have formal stuff that you have to go to for baseball? Awards or press conferences or something?”

“That’s maybe once a year. I just rent a suit!”

“Jisung, don’t say another word, you’re going to kill me.” He put a hand over his heart as if it were going to give out any second.

You chuckled at their antics, starting to clean up the trashed wrapping paper. “Christmas movies?”

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25

You felt like a little kid, unable to sleep the night before Christmas morning. It was after midnight, so it technically was Christmas now. And even thought you knew that neither Santa nor you parents were coming, you were still oddly giddy. You had already videocalled Sooyoung to recap the developments of the day, but you were still replaying everything in your mind, kept up with thought of Jisung. How it felt being that close to him when he was teaching you to throw a snowball, the information that apparently he was just as smitten with you after the library as you were with him. Even Chenle’s unofficial blessing put your mind at ease—not because your brother determined who you dated, but he knew Jisung better than you did and was brutally honest, so if he said that he liked Jisung for you, you knew he meant it.

Pushing your covers off, goosebumps immediately popped up on your legs that were now exposed to the cool air. You treaded over to the bathroom door. The light was off, but you still knocked. When there was no response, you opened it. You didn’t stop there, however, continuing on to the opposite door, which you knew led to Jisung’s room. Taking a deep breath, you knocked softly on that one too.

You heard the rustling of sheets and quiet padding of footsteps before the door handle twisted and opened, Jisung on the other side. He looked down at you, nose scrunched up in bewilderment.

“Hey, is everything okay?” He asked, rubbing one of his eyes behind his glasses.

“Yeah. Uhm, sorry, did I wake you up?”

“No, I uh, I couldn’t sleep, actually.”

“Me neither.”

“Oh.”

There was a pause, and you fidgeted with the ends of your longsleeve. “Do you want to hang out for a bit? Since we’re both up…”

“Oh! Y-Yeah, sure.” He stepped back from the door, motioning you in. “Uhm, come in.”

“Thanks.” You stepped inside, and he closed the door behind you.

The bedsheets were rumpled on one side, so you sat down on the other side, pulling the blanket over your chilly legs. Jisung watched you, frozen halfway from the bathroom to the bed for a second.

“I’m cold,” you told him, turning your phone on.

“Of course, right,” he breathed out, snapping out of his trance.

He climbed under the covers as well, putting a headphone in his ear opposite from you and pressing play on a video on his phone. Curious, you peeked over at his screen to see what he was watching. It looked like a bunch of clips of professional baseball pitchers.

“It’s my favorite pro pitcher,” Jisung blurted out, pausing the video again. He had apparently noticed you snooping at his screen. “Well, that’s currently active. He’s a lefty, and he does this thing on some of his pitches where he gets this spin and—”

You blinked as he had abruptly cut himself off in the middle of his sentence. Tilting your head, you asked, “What? Why’d you stop?”

“You’re not really interested in baseball, are you?” He questioned, turning his eyes down to his lap. “You’re just being nice.”

“Hold on—”

“It’s okay, you can go back to what you were doing, I don’t want to bore you.”

“Jisung,” you giggled, turning over on your side fully to face him. “You really haven’t figured it out?”

His brow furrowed and he pouted slightly as he seemed to genuinely be confused. “Figured what out?”

“I’m interested in baseball because I’m interested in you,” you said bluntly, watching the gears turn in his head before his eyes widened.

“Wh—Oh. Really?”

“Mhm. But Chenle did warn me that apparently you’re head over heels for some mystery girl that you met in the library during finals week who gave you candy,” you teased, letting out a wistful sigh. “So I have no chance…”

Jisung dropped his phone to cover his face with both hands, letting out a noise of embarrassment from deep in his chest, shaking his head. “Oh my God…”

“I told SooSoo about you too,” you informed him. “After the library.”

He opened his hands to peek at you meekly. “Really?”

“Really.”

Jisung glanced upwards, and you snickered.

“Chenle’s not like that. He’s not going to care unless you’re a dick to me.”

“Because only he gets to be a dick to you?” He joked, slowly removing his hands all the way from his face.

“Yep. Same for the girls he dates. Nobody gets to be a bitch to him except me.”

“So, now what?” He asked nervously, glancing around the room.

“Now, you’re going to finish telling me about your favorite pitcher,” you stated, scooting over until you were snuggled into his side, head resting on his shoulder so you could see his phone screen better.

Jisung grabbed his earbud case from the nightstand, bringing the other one out. He offered it to you, and you put it in as he turned his phone back on. He restarted the compilation, but didn’t press play yet, instead launching back into his explanation from before, excitedly talking faster now.

“So this is Hwang Myungjun. Like I said, he’s my favorite pitcher that’s in the league right now. He’s a lefty and—you’ll see it in this video, but—he does this really cool thing on some of his pitches where he can get this certain spin on the ball and…”

You listened to him go on and on with a smile on your face, breathing in the warm smell of cinnamon.

In the morning, you stirred a little, sighing and pulling the covers up to your nose. Covers that smelled like cinnamon. Opening one of your eyes, you were greeted with Jisung already wide awake, sitting up against the headboard, staring at you from behind his glasses.

You rubbed your eye and yawned. “Christ—Did you sleep at all?”

“Yeah, we get up early for baseball conditioning, so I don’t really sleep in even on days off.” He rubbed the back of his neck, ears turning pink. He cleared his throat awkwardly. “Good morning…”

“Morning,” you mumbled, yawning again. “Sorry for falling asleep here.”

“It’s okay. Sorry for talking you to sleep.”

“No, it was nice. I like your voice.” You pushed yourself into a half-sitting position. Pecking his cheek, you added, “Merry Christmas.”

His face flushed as he smiled down at his hands. “Merry Christmas…”

Climbing out of bed, you stretched your arms over your head, then wrapped them around yourself. “Anyway, I should emerge from my own room. Just because he doesn’t care if we date doesn’t mean Chenle needs to think something other than watching baseball compilations happened in here last night.”

Jisung squeezed his eyes shut and nodded his head. “Good idea.”

“See you in a few.” You bid him a momentary farewell, opening the door to the adjoining bathroom.

Shuffling back into your own bedroom, you almost screamed when you saw a figure sitting on your bed in the dark. You grabbed for the closest thing in your reach, a candlestick on the dresser next to you, ready to swing. The figure turned on the lamp next to the bed, and you saw that it was Chenle, still contemplating hitting him anyway. You decided to set your weapon down, however.

“What the fuck?!” You hissed, stalking up to your bed and grabbing a stuffed animal to chuck at him instead. He caught the stuffed bee, holding it to his chest as he smirked at you.

“Something you want to tell me?” He raised an eyebrow. “About where you’ve been?”

You followed his line of sight between you and the bathroom door that you just came out of. “What are you, the piss patrol? Can’t a bitch pee in peace around here?”

“Toilet didn’t flush, sink didn’t run,” he immediately shot back. “Also, I’ve been in here for the past hour.”

“Don’t be weird about it—” You held up a finger in his face threateningly, and a victorious grin immediately spread across his features. “Jisung and I talked about how we felt, and I fell asleep in his room. Nothing else, okay?”

Chenle gave you a look that told you he didn’t entirely believe you, but he didn’t press you any further. “God, how am I going to choose between being your brother of honor and his best man?”

“We haven’t even gone on a date!” You grabbed a pillow and tried to pushed it over his face to shut him up. He narrowly saved himself from being smothered, cackling as you resorted to smacking him with it instead. “As if I’d even ask you to be my whatever you just made up! You’ll be lucky if you even get an invite, I swear to—”

The door to your room was thrown open from the bathroom, Jisung looking around the room wildly. “Y/N! Are—”

You stopped your assault on your brother to smile breathlessly at Jisung. “Oh. Hi.”

“I heard you yelling, I wanted to make sure…”

“I’m fine,” you reassured him. “Thanks, Jisung.”

“I know!” Chenle announced loudly. “I know everything, Park Jisung! Last night, you and my little sister—”

You succeeded in smothering Chenle this time, muffling whatever obnoxious things he was about to spew.

After breakfast and opening presents in the morning, Jisung excused himself to go call his parents. Chenle tsked, turning the gaming console on to start up one of the new games he’d gotten and tossing you a controller.

“He tell you how he ended up coming with us?” Your brother asked, his gaze on the screen.

“Yeah. His dad goes on a cruise and his mom is with his stepdad’s side of the family. So he would’ve just been at the school if you didn’t bring him,” you replied, only paying half-attention to the opening cutscene.

“At least ours pretend to make an effort,” he scoffed. “His mom didn’t even offer to pay for his plane ticket.”

“Hm?”

“His mom and stepdad live on the other side of the country. They technically ‘invite’ him to Christmas every year, but he’d have to get himself there and back.”

“So it’s hardly a genuine invite.”

“And you know what his stepdad does?”

“What?”

“CEO of that logistics company that Mom and Dad are always talking about. The big one.”

“Shit, really? And he can’t be bothered to pay for his wife to see her own son once a year?”

He clicked his tongue. “Apparently not.”

A few levels into the video game, Chenle’s phone lit up with a text. He paused the game, and sighed upon reading the message. “Jisung says we can eat lunch without him. He’s suddenly not feeling well.”

You winced. “I take it his phone calls didn’t go well.”

“You go check on him. You can handle crying people better than me.”

You nodded in agreement, getting up from the couch. Outside of Jisung’s bedroom door, you listened carefully first, just in case he was still on a call. It was quiet, and you knocked softly.

“Jisung?” You called out. “Can I come in?”

“Sure,” he replied, his voice sounding far away.

Opening the door, you saw him laying on the bed on top of his covers, his back to the door. You stayed in the doorway, asking, “Do you want to be alone?”

“No.”

You sat down on the bed behind him, still giving him his space. “Do you want to talk or do you want quiet?”

“My dad didn’t even pick up,” he muttered. “And my mom—God, I got to tell her about school for all of five seconds before she started gushing about how her grandbabies are learning how to write or whatever. I’ve never even met those kids, honestly, I don’t give a fuck about them. They’re not even her grandkids, they’re her husband’s. Apparently, one of them is on a little league baseball team. When she started saying I could teach him how to pitch when I come to visit for summer, I pretended the call was dropping and hung up. ‘When I come to visit’—I live with my dad in the summer because he didn’t move away from me.”

“I’m sorry, Jisung,” you said, feeling the hurt in your heart as his voice tightened and cracked.

“It’s funny, they used to have these-these blowout fights every year about who got me for Christmas,” he sniffled. “And now that they moved on and got their new families, they couldn’t care less about me.”

“Lucky for me and Chenle, then. Because we got you this year.”

He laughed, finally rolling over to face you. He wiped at his eyes, but you still saw the tears that had run down the side of his face. “You really mean that?”

“Of course I do.” You gently stroked his hair, brushing some of it out of his face.

Jisung scooted closer, until he could pillow his head in your lap instead, his eyes fluttering shut as you resumed your ministrations. “I’m glad you guys got me too…”

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 26

A knock on your bedroom door woke you up. It opened, and somebody who was neither Chenle nor Jisung peered in.

“Merry Christmas, sweetie,” your mother hummed lightly. “Are you up?”

“Mm, yeah,” you grunted, pushing yourself up against your pillows.

She came over to press a kiss to your forehead. “Good morning.”

“Hi, Mom. Merry Christmas,” you smiled up at her, letting her take your hand in hers. “Did you and Dad just get here?”

“A few minutes ago. Your father’s getting Chenle.”

There was a loud thunk from above you, followed by a yelp and two very familiar and similar laughs that you recognized as your families’. You chuckled as your mom rolled her eyes fondly.

“I think he was successful,” you snickered.

“We’re going out for breakfast when you’re ready,” she informed you, squeezing your hand before letting it go.

“Mmkay.” You yawned as she headed for your door. “I’ll let Jisung know.”

She paused, tilting her head. “Who?”

“Didn’t Chenle tell you his friend was coming? Park Jisung?” You pointed at the room next door.

“Oh, I thought he was bringing Mark for some reason.” She looked at you with concern. “Does Jisung like basketball too?”

“I… don’t know? He plays baseball?”

“Oh. Hm.”

“So, what are you studying, Jisung?” Your mother asked, stirring sugar into her coffee.

The five of you were at a diner in the small town at the base of the mountain, you, Jisung, and Chenle packed into one side of a booth and your parents on the other. The car ride had been filled with you and Chenle filling your parents in on your various happenings from this semester, but now your parents seemed to have zeroed in on the newcomer.

“Cybersecurity,” he rushed to answer.

Both your parents seemed impressed by that. Your dad spoke next, “And what do your parents do?”

“He’s got an athletic scholarship, Dad,” Chenle cut in before you could. You both knew what he was really asking about.

“Full ride,” you added proudly. “Baseball. He’s the pitcher.”

“Really?” Your dad’s interest was piqued—he was a bigger sports fan than your brother.

“Yes, sir,” Jisung replied.

“The school doesn’t give out full athletic scholarships frequently. You know that?”

“No, sir, I-I didn’t know that.”

Your dad took a sip of his own coffee, regarding Jisung like he was evaluating his investment portfolio. “So what makes you so valuable?”

“W-Well, uhm, I-I don’t—”

“He’s ambidextrous,” you answered for him. “He can pitch with both hands.”

“Switch pitcher?” Your dad hummed thoughtfully. “You know who the best switch pitcher in the history of the league is, right?”

“Kim Beomjin, sir,” Jisung replied firmly.

“Has he passed your test, yet, Dad?” Chenle scoffed. “Come on, stop treating him like he’s interviewing at the company.”

“I was trying to get to know—”

“You were being a bit much, dear,” your mother interrupted your dad’s attempts to defend himself.

“Alright. My apologies, Jisung.”

“It’s fine, sir, really.”

You didn’t understand why your mother had asked if Jisung liked basketball until you got back to the house. Your parents had brought a few more presents with them, including, kindly, a couple for Jisung. Except they hadn’t been expecting Jisung, they had been expecting Mark, which evident in the gifts. Both Chenle and Mark loved basketball, so the matching jerseys for their favorite team would’ve made the perfect present, if it had been Mark receiving it.

“I’m so sorry, Jisung,” your mother kept apologizing, clearly embarrassed at the mistake.

“No, I-I like basketball too, ma’am,” he tried to reassure her.

“It’s a requirement for being my friend,” Chenle helped him out. “If only I could’ve made it a requirement for being my sister.”

“If we got to pick, I would’ve made not being annoying as fuck a requirement for being my brother,” you retorted.

“Language!” Your mom scolded you, at the same time that your dad warned Chenle to “Be nicer to your sister!”

Your parents were gone again after dinner, leaving in a flurry of hugs, kisses, and promises of celebrating Christmas together properly next year. As soon as he’d shut the door behind them, Chenle turned to you, cynical disbelief on his face already.

“No way,” he chuckled and shook his head. His phone rang then, and he tutted. “Gotta take this. I’ll be in my room if you need me.”

Jisung was already in the living room, and you plopped down next to him on one of the couches, dropping your head into your hands.

“Your parents seem nice,” he said quietly.

“Mhm, they’re really great when they’re here,” you agreed bitterly. “Sort of makes it hurt worse. It’d be easy to just hate them if they left us all the time and changed plans last-minute and were awful when we did see them. But they do all that shit, and then I see them and it’s good. And it makes me start thinking that maybe it’ll be different, maybe they’ll really keep their promises next time.”

“I get that.” He seemed to be choosing his words very carefully. “But maybe this time you just don’t get your hopes up. Might be easier on you.”

“Yeah, probably.”

With a sigh, you sat up, turning into Jisung’s side and snaking your arms around his waist. He wrapped his arms around you as you buried your face in his chest, one hand cradling the back of your head. His other hand slowly rubbed your back, encouraging you to relax into his embrace even more.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 31

The morning of New Year’s Eve, the three of you were sitting around the kitchen table silently eating breakfast scrounged together from various leftovers and the singular grocery store trip you’d taken since Christmas. Then, there was a knock at the front door, and with your cereal spoon sticking out of your mouth, you gave Chenle and Jisung a bewildered look. They, however, didn’t seem put off at all.

“Y/N, can you go see who it is?” Chenle asked you, returning his gaze to his phone screen.

“Are you expecting someone?” You retorted. “You go answer it.”

The knocking came again, more insistent this time.

“Y/N! Just get it!” Chenle demanded loudly.

“Fine! Fine!” You got up, stomping over to the front door.

Opening the solid wood door, your jaw dropped when you saw six figures on the other side, before you were tackled in a hug by the one at the front.

“Surprise!” Sooyoung squealed, nearly squeezing the air out of your lungs.

“Soo!” You gasped, hugging her back. “What are you doing here?”

“We were invited!” Jaemin informed you cheerily, grabbing you for a bear hug next.

“We’d never pass up an invite to a Chenle-Y/N party,” Jeno’s eyes twinkled as he pecked the crown of your head.

“Especially a New Year’s Eve party,” Donghyuck added.

“Since when have we been throwing a New Year’s Eve party?” You spluttered, still in delighted shock as you took in all of your friends standing in your foyer.

Mark hugged you too. “Chenle texted us a couple days before Christmas to see if we could make it for New Year’s.”

You grabbed your roommate’s hand, bewildered the most by her presence. She wasn’t friends with Chenle or any of the other guys standing there, to your knowledge. “But how did you…?”

“Jisung’s idea,” Chenle had joined you all, standing at the threshold of the foyer with the baseball player. “We figured out that Renjun and Sooyoung were in a study group together this semester and…”

You’d spotted Huang Renjun, one of Chenle’s friends from college whom you’d met several times before, hanging back on the fringes of the group. You smiled at him before beelining for Jisung, throwing your arms around his neck and kissing his cheek a couple times in your excitement.

“Thank you!” You were smiling ear to ear, so much that your cheeks hurt, but you couldn’t help it.

“You’re welcome, Y/N.” Jisung returned the hug, rubbing your back. “My late Christmas present to you.”

You let him go to hug your brother next, hooking your chin over his shoulder and squeezing him so tight you felt like your chest might burst, and you hoped he could feel how much all of this—how much he—meant to you. Despite everything you may say or do to each other. “Thanks, Chenle.”

“Of course,” he whispered, hugging you back just as tight.

“SooSoo, I’m serious, not that much has happened!” You promised, laying on your bed to watch as she got settled in your room. She had of course insisted that you filled her in on every details of everything that’s happened between you and Jisung, including things that she had already heard before since you two talked almost every night. “It’s only been like a week, and my brother is literally here.”

“We all saw those little cheek kisses earlier,” she replied pointedly. “You’re at least going to kiss him at midnight, right?”

“Maybe,” you giggled, quite literally kicking your feet as you thought about it. “Onto you—You just spent three hours in a car with them, have you figured out if you want me to set you up with Jeno or Jaemin?”

“We took two cars. I was in Renjun’s with Donghyuck,” she informed you with a desolate sigh.

“Why did you—”

“He offered because he knew I didn’t know anybody except him, and I didn’t know how to explain why I wanted to go in the other one!”

“Foiled once more by empathy and kindness.”

“I’ll figure it out before we go back to school!”

“Maybe you can get one of their numbers on your own before then.”

Despite the reputations that ‘Chenle-Y/N’ parties carried amongst your friends, and your friends also bringing enough alcohol to host a full-blown kegger, the event itself was pretty low-key. You’d gotten the firepit on the back porch going, food ordered, music going throughout the house, and had already completed several different games.

You were fixing yourself a cup of eggnog in the kitchen when you spotted someone out by the firepit. Pouring another mug, you took both out with you. Jisung looked up when he heard the back door open. He smiled as he recognized that it was you, scooting over on the bench to make room for you to sit with him.

“Eggnog?” You offered a cup out to him. “I didn’t spike it, but I can go add something in if you really want.”

“No, this is perfect,” he chuckled, his laughs rising as white wisps in the cold air. “I’ve been thinking…”

“About?”

“Were the three options hot chocolate, cider, and eggnog?”

It took you a second to catch up, but once you had recalled your first night in the mountains, you burst into laughter, nodding. “Yeah, those were the three options when I made you pick a number.”

He smiled, taking a sip of his drink. “There was something else, that I was thinking about.”

“Oh?”

“Are-Are we going to kiss at midnight? Do you want to? I know we haven’t gone on a real date or anything—”

“I do want to kiss you,” you admitted. “Do you?”

He nodded hurriedly. “Yes, god.”

“You still seem… fidgety. We can wait, if you—”

“That’s not it.” He set his cup of eggnog down, and you did as well. “I want to kiss you. I just don’t want the first time I do to be in front of a bunch of our friends.”

You smirked, tilting your head curiously. “Are you asking to practice before?”

He blinked. “I don’t think I was before, but I definitely am now.”

You snickered a little, leaning in and gently touching your lips to his in a feather-light kiss. He let out a small sigh against your lips, one of his hands coming up to cup your cheek and pull you closer, sealing his mouth over yours. Everything was warm, no matter the fire or the cold wind or the thick jacket you were wearing, you were being heated from the inside out.

When Jisung pulled back, he had such a dazzlingly soft smile on his face that you couldn’t help but stare, wanting to burn that image in the back of your eyelids forever. He moved to duck his head shyly, but you grabbed his face.

“I think we might need some more practice before midnight,” you teased, nuzzling your nose with his affectionately.

“Mm, of course,” he agreed humorously, kissing you again. And again, and again, and again.

⇢ 2024 hallmark movie marathon

TAGLIST

@annenakamura @bee-the-loser @lotties-readings @ppddpjdr @reiofsuns2001

@classicroyalty @giirlfriendd @shaqs-oatmeal @sofipolii01

@tearinka @yoursyuno @yutasputa69

@winkeuu

717 notes · View notes

goldfades · 7 months ago

Text

surprise! | JOE BURROW⁹ [002]

free palestine carrd 🇵🇸 decolonize palestine site 🇵🇸 how you can help palestine it's crucial that we stand in solidarity with those who need our support. right now, the people of palestine are facing unimaginable hardship, and it's up to all of us to do what we can to help. whether it's raising awareness, donating to relief organizations, or supporting calls for justice and peace, every action counts. we can amplify their voices, shed light on their struggles, and work towards a future where every individual can live with dignity and freedom. your support can make a difference! FREE PALESTINE!

MASTERLIST

⟢ ┈ 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 | 3.8k

⟢ ┈ 𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐲 | you and joe had just come back from your honeymoon in barbados, you may have had a little too much fun. when you see the faint lines in the little white stick, your whole world flipped on its axis.

⟢ ┈ 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 | hurt to comfort, maisie being the bff we all want, joe being a little bitch but very much redeeming himself, accidental pregnancy

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐀𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐎𝐎𝐌 𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐃 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍𝐒𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐁𝐀𝐑𝐄 𝐅𝐄𝐄𝐓, a sharp contrast to the warmth lingering from the honeymoon sun still clinging to your skin. The little white stick in your hand shakes as you hold it up to the light, as if a change in perspective might make the impossible go away.

Two lines.

Not one. Not a faint maybe. Two.

“Oh my God,” you whisper, though the words barely make it past your lips. Your stomach churns, a cocktail of disbelief and panic swirling with the remnants of the overpriced airport mimosa you’d barely finished that morning.

You set the test down on the counter, its presence looming over you like it’s about to sprout arms and legs and start screaming mommy. The mirror stares back at you with wide eyes and a flushed face, betraying the calm you’re desperately trying—and failing—to summon.

This wasn’t in the plan. Not yet, anyway. Sure, you and Joe had tossed the idea around like kids dreaming about what they’d do if they won the lottery. Someday, you’d both said, voices warm with the kind of certainty that comes with knowing someday was still miles away. Except now it wasn’t. Now, someday had packed its bags, booked an early flight, and was knocking on your front door with a freaking plus sign in tow.

Your phone buzzes against the counter, breaking the spell. A message from Joe. You grab it with shaky hands, hoping it’ll say practice is running late because you’re not ready to face him—not yet.

“Just finished. Home in 20. Love you.”

Your throat tightens. Love you too, you type back, fingers trembling, though it feels like a lie of omission. You toss the phone aside and sink to the floor, staring at the ceiling like it might offer you some divine revelation. It doesn’t.

"Maisie," you mutter, your voice steadier than your heart. You fumble for your phone, pulling up her number with muscle memory born from years of late-night calls about heartbreaks and bad decisions. She picks up on the second ring, because of course she does.

“What’s up, Mama Burrow?” Maisie chirps, the nickname rolling off her tongue like she’d been waiting all week to use it. “You finally settling back into boring married life, or is Joe still parading you around town like he’s the first guy to ever marry someone hot?”

You open your mouth to reply but nothing comes out. A beat of silence stretches long enough for her to pick up on it.

“Uh-oh,” Maisie says, her tone shifting. “What’s wrong?”

“I...” Your voice cracks, and the word sticks in your throat like glue. You take a deep breath, trying to sound normal, but Maisie’s already caught on. She always does.

“Spill it,” she demands, no-nonsense now.

“I think I’m pregnant.”

The words feel foreign, clumsy, like they don’t belong to you. There’s a beat of silence on the other end, and for a second you think Maisie might actually have dropped the phone.

“Holy shit,” she finally says. “Are you sure?”

You glance at the test on the counter, its little pink lines glaring back at you like a smug toddler. “Pretty sure.”

Maisie whistles low. “Okay, okay. Don’t freak out. Deep breaths. Are you freaking out? You sound like you’re freaking out.”

“I’m definitely freaking out.”

Maisie’s sharp inhale is audible even through the speaker. “Alright, first things first—how the hell did this happen? And don’t give me the when two people love each other very much spiel.”

You let out a nervous laugh, your free hand rubbing at your temples. “Maisie, I don’t know! Everything was so... perfect on the honeymoon, and I guess we weren’t exactly strict about—”

“Girl,” she interrupts, “did you honeymoon baby yourself into a panic attack right now?”

“Maybe!” you squeak, voice climbing an octave. You glance at the test again, as if its tiny, pastel-pink lines might have disappeared in the past thirty seconds. No such luck. “Oh God, Maisie, I don’t know how to tell Joe. This was not in the playbook.”

Maisie snorts. “You mean Joe’s playbook? The one he probably memorized while you were still deciding on your wedding shoes?”

You groan, dragging your knees up to your chest as you sit on the floor, phone cradled between your ear and shoulder. “I’m serious! He’s going to come home and think we’re on the same page about unpacking, settling in, maybe rescuing a dog before we even think about—” You choke on the word. It’s too big. Too real.

“Parenting,” Maisie finishes for you, voice softer now. “Hey, listen at me—well, pretend you’re looking at me.”

“I’m on the floor, Maisie. I can’t even listen at myself right now.”

“Drama queen,” she mutters, then clears her throat. “Okay, listen. Joe Burrow is, like, the definition of cool under pressure. Super Bowls. Heisman speeches. The guy even pulled off that stupid cigar picture—”

“It was kind of hot,” you admit weakly.

“Exactly my point. If anyone’s going to handle surprise baby news like a champ, it’s him.”

You press the heel of your hand to your chest, trying to calm your heart, which feels like it’s attempting a touchdown dance. “But what if he doesn’t? What if he’s not ready? What if I’m not ready?”

Maisie scoffs. “Girl, you’ve been ready since we were, like, fourteen and you made me play house with you and pretend our dolls had perfect marriages.”

“That was your idea,” you mumble, cheeks flushing despite yourself.

“Details,” she says breezily. “Point is, you love Joe, right? And he loves you. Like, disgustingly so. This is just... an early plot twist in your love story.”

You nibble on your bottom lip, her words seeping in despite the chaos in your head. “A plot twist,” you echo softly.

“Exactly. You guys are basically the rom-com of the century. This is the part where you freak out, but then you tell him, and he gives you that stupidly dreamy look he always gives you, and everything’s fine. Better than fine. It’s Burrow-level fine.”

A laugh bubbles out of you, shaky but genuine, and for a moment, the knot in your chest loosens. Maisie always has this way of dragging you back from the ledge, even if it’s with an eye roll and a smack of reality.

“Okay,” you say finally, exhaling. “Okay. You’re right. I can do this.”

“Damn straight, you can.” There’s a pause, and then Maisie’s voice is smug. “You’re not gonna, like, practice how to tell him, are you?”

“I might.”

“You’re such a nerd.”

“Shut up, Maisie.”

Her laugh is warm, grounding, and you lean your head back against the cabinet, clutching the phone like a lifeline. The thought of Joe walking through that door still sends your stomach into somersaults, but Maisie’s words cling to you like armor.

“You’re going to be an amazing mom,” she adds softly after a moment.

Your throat tightens again, but this time, it’s different—like the panic is starting to make room for something else. Something softer.

“Thanks, Maisie,” you whisper, voice cracking.

“Anytime. Now go splash some water on your face before Joe comes home and thinks you’ve been crying over a pet shelter commercial or something.”

“I don’t do that!” you protest weakly.

Maisie snorts. “Sure you don’t. Call me after you tell him, okay? I’ll be waiting with popcorn.”

You hang up, her voice still echoing in your ear, and stand on shaky legs. The test is still there on the counter, quiet and unassuming, like it didn’t just upend your entire universe.

You stare at it for a moment longer, then glance at the clock. Fifteen minutes until Joe walks through the door. Fifteen minutes to figure out how to tell him the most life-changing news of your lives.

No pressure.

And like clockwork, fifteen minutes pass and the door creaks open. You immediately straighten up from where you’re perched on the edge of the couch, legs tucked underneath you. You’ve spent the past fifteen minutes trying to look casual, which is surprisingly difficult when your insides feel like they’ve been twisted into a pretzel.

Joe steps into the house, duffle bag slung over one shoulder, his usually confident posture slightly slumped. His hair is damp with sweat, his cheeks flushed, and the moment you catch sight of his expression, your rehearsed speech evaporates into thin air.

“Hey,” you call softly, plastering on a smile. “How was practice?”

Joe groans in response, dropping his bag by the door and toeing off his sneakers with more force than usual. He doesn’t answer right away, just runs a hand through his hair and flops onto the armchair across from you, his long legs sprawling out in exhaustion.

“Terrible,” he finally says, dragging the word out like it’s physically painful.

Your stomach sinks. This is not the Joe you were expecting to walk into the room. You were braced for smiles, maybe a kiss hello, and definitely a much lighter mood. But this version of him—frustrated, clearly in need of venting—throws all your plans into chaos.

“Terrible?” you echo, hoping he’ll elaborate so you can stall a little longer.

“Terrible,” he repeats, throwing his head back against the chair and closing his eyes. “Nothing clicked today. The line wasn’t holding, the receivers were off, and I couldn’t hit a damn target to save my life. It’s like the entire offense forgot how to play football overnight.”

His voice is tight, his usual even-keeled tone replaced by an edge of irritation. You watch as he pinches the bridge of his nose, the familiar gesture making your heart ache a little. He’s so rarely like this—usually the calm in any storm—but when he does get frustrated, it hits hard.

You shift on the couch, unsure of what to say. Normally, you’d jump in with words of reassurance, tell him it’s just one bad day and he’ll bounce back like he always does. But right now, your mind is too preoccupied with the secret still tucked away behind your lips.

“You okay?” he asks suddenly, cracking one eye open to look at you.

Your heart jumps into your throat. “Me? Oh! Yeah. Totally fine. Why?”

Joe squints at you, like he’s trying to read something between the lines, but after a moment, he lets it drop. Maybe he’s too tired to push. Maybe you’re better at faking normal than you thought. Either way, he slouches further into the chair, his head lolling to the side.

“I’m just over it,” he mutters. “Sometimes it feels like everything has to be perfect, you know? Like, I can’t afford to have a bad day. Not with the season coming up. Not with everything riding on me.”

The weight in his words makes your chest tighten. You know he puts so much pressure on himself, even when no one else is. It’s one of the things you love about him—his determination, his drive—but hearing it like this makes you want to wrap him in a hug and take some of that burden off his shoulders.

Instead, you sit there silently, because your secret feels like a tangible wall between you, keeping you from saying what you really want to.

Joe lets out a humorless laugh. “Can you imagine throwing a kid into the mix right now?” He shakes his head, running a hand down his face. “I’d lose my mind.”

Your stomach drops.

He doesn’t mean anything by it. You know that. He’s venting, speaking off the cuff, probably not even thinking about what he’s saying. But the words hit you like a brick anyway, sharp and unyielding, and suddenly your palms feel clammy against the soft fabric of your leggings.

You manage a small laugh—weak and wobbly, but hopefully passable. “Yeah, that’d be... a lot.”

Joe doesn’t notice the crack in your voice. He stands, stretching his arms over his head with a groan before glancing down at you. “I’m gonna hit the shower. Try to shake off the rest of this day.”

“Good idea,” you say quickly, nodding like a bobblehead.

He leans down to kiss your forehead—a brief, automatic gesture that still makes your heart flutter despite the weight in your chest—and then heads toward the stairs, his footsteps heavy against the wood.

The moment he disappears, you sag against the couch, letting out a shaky exhale you didn’t realize you were holding. Your eyes dart to the bathroom down the hall, where the pregnancy test is still tucked away in a drawer like some kind of incriminating evidence.

What are you supposed to do now? How do you tell him something this big when he’s clearly already carrying so much?

You pull your knees to your chest, wrapping your arms around them as your mind races. Part of you wants to march upstairs, blurt it out, and deal with the fallout. But another part—the louder, more terrified part—wants to bury the news under a mountain of throw pillows and pretend it doesn’t exist.

Joe’s words echo in your mind, sharp and unshakable. I’d lose my mind.

Maybe Maisie was wrong. Maybe this plot twist wasn’t something Joe was ready for. Maybe you weren’t ready for it, either.

And yet, deep down, you know you can’t keep this to yourself forever. This isn’t just your story to tell; it’s his, too.

You just have to figure out how.

┈┈┈

The smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the kitchen, warm and inviting, a small comfort in the midst of the chaos swirling inside your head. You’re standing at the counter in your robe, staring at the dark liquid as it pours into your mug, willing the caffeine to work its magic and steady your nerves.

Maisie’s already at the table, legs crossed, scrolling through her phone as she sips from her own cup. She’d shown up at 7 a.m. sharp, a whirlwind of energy even in yoga pants and an oversized hoodie, the perfect distraction from the tangled mess of your thoughts.

“So,” Maisie says, finally looking up. “Did you tell him?”

Your heart skips a beat. You turn back to the coffee maker, suddenly fascinated by the machine’s little blinking light. “Not... exactly.”

Maisie groans, setting her phone down with an exaggerated thud. “Girl. What do you mean, ‘not exactly’? That was the whole point of last night!”

“I tried,” you say defensively, glancing over your shoulder. “But he came home in a mood, and it just didn’t feel like the right time.”

Maisie gives you a look—a mix of sympathy and exasperation that only a best friend can pull off. “Okay, but there’s never going to be a perfect time. You know that, right? You just have to rip off the Band-Aid.”

Before you can reply, you hear the familiar creak of the stairs, and your chest tightens. Joe’s footsteps are heavy as he descends, his presence filling the kitchen even before he appears.

When he finally walks in, you can tell immediately that he’s still carrying yesterday’s frustration. His jaw is tight, his hair slightly mussed from sleep, and his movements have that sharp, impatient edge that screams not a morning person.

“Morning,” you say tentatively, hoping the coffee might soften his mood.

Joe grunts in response, heading straight for the counter without sparing a glance in your direction. He grabs a mug and pours himself some coffee, his shoulders hunched as he takes a sip.

Maisie watches him with raised eyebrows, her own cup paused halfway to her lips. “Wow,” she says dryly. “Good morning to you too, Sunshine.”

Joe doesn’t even acknowledge her, his focus fixed on the steam rising from his mug. You wince, already anticipating what’s coming next.

Maisie sets her cup down with a clink, crossing her arms. “Alright, what’s your problem?”

Joe finally looks at her, his expression dark. “I don’t have a problem.”

“Uh-huh,” Maisie says, leaning back in her chair. “Because stomping around the kitchen like a grumpy giant definitely screams ‘everything’s fine.’”

“Maisie—” you start, but she holds up a hand to stop you.

“No, seriously,” she says, her voice gaining heat. “What’s with the attitude? You’re acting like the world’s ending, and she—” Maisie gestures to you with her free hand, “—is bending over backward trying not to stress you out.”

Joe frowns, glancing at you for the first time that morning. “I’m fine,” he says, but it’s clipped, like he’s trying to end the conversation before it starts.

Maisie narrows her eyes. “Well, maybe you should try being a little more considerate. Especially with her condition.”

The room goes silent.

Your blood runs cold, and Maisie freezes, her face paling as she realizes what she’s just said. You stare at her, wide-eyed, your heart pounding in your chest.

“What condition?” Joe asks slowly, his brows furrowing as he looks between the two of you.

Maisie presses her lips together, looking like she wants to melt into the floor. She flicks her gaze toward you, silently pleading for help, but your mind is too blank to come to her rescue.

Joe’s eyes narrow, his focus shifting entirely to you. “What’s she talking about?”

You open your mouth to say something—anything—but no words come out. The silence stretches, heavy and suffocating, and you can see the wheels turning in Joe’s head as he pieces it together.

“Wait,” he says, his voice dropping an octave. “Are you...?”

He doesn’t finish the sentence, but the look on his face says it all. Confusion, realization, and a flicker of something else—something you can’t quite read—flash across his features.

Maisie clears her throat, breaking the tension. “Well,” she says awkwardly, standing up and grabbing her mug. “This feels like a good time for me to leave.”

She doesn’t wait for a response, practically bolting for the door. The sound of it closing behind her echoes through the suddenly too-quiet kitchen.

Joe’s still staring at you, his coffee forgotten on the counter. You take a deep breath, trying to steady yourself, but it feels like the ground is shifting beneath your feet.

“Is it true?” he asks, his voice softer now but no less intense.

And just like that, there’s no more hiding.

Your hands tighten around your coffee mug as if it’s the only thing keeping you tethered to reality. Joe’s gaze is locked onto you now, his exhaustion melting into something else entirely—a mix of confusion, worry, and a dawning realization that leaves no room for escape.

Your throat is dry, words caught somewhere between your heart and your mouth. The longer you stay silent, the heavier his question hangs in the air.

“Y/N,” he says again, more urgently this time. “Is it true?”

You set your mug down carefully on the counter, afraid it might slip from your trembling hands. His eyes follow the motion, then snap back to yours, searching for confirmation in your expression. You can feel your heartbeat thudding in your ears, loud and insistent, drowning out every coherent thought.

“I—” you begin, your voice cracking. You clear your throat, trying again. “Yes. It’s true.”

Joe takes a step back, blinking as though he’s been physically struck. His hands drop to his sides, and for a moment, he just stands there, staring at you like he’s trying to process a foreign language.

“I’m pregnant,” you add, the words tumbling out in a rush before you lose your nerve completely.

The silence that follows is deafening.

Joe drags a hand down his face, his features tense and unreadable. You hate that you can’t tell what he’s thinking, that the connection you’ve always shared feels out of reach in this moment.

“How long have you known?” he finally asks, his voice low and steady, but there’s an edge to it that makes your stomach twist.

“A few days,” you admit, your voice barely above a whisper. “Since we got back from the honeymoon.”

He lets out a sharp exhale, shaking his head as if trying to clear his thoughts. “And you didn’t think to tell me?”

“I was going to!” you say quickly, stepping closer. “I just—” You falter, searching for the right words. “I didn’t know how. And yesterday, you were so upset, and I didn’t want to make things worse.”

“Make things worse?” Joe repeats, his tone incredulous. He sets his own mug down a little too forcefully, the sound making you flinch. “You thought this would make things worse?”

You swallow hard, tears prickling at the corners of your eyes. “You were so frustrated about practice,” you say, your voice trembling. “And then you said that thing about how everything has to be perfect right now. I didn’t want to drop this on you and have you feel like—”

“Like what?” he interrupts, his eyes narrowing. “Like I wouldn’t want this?”

Your breath hitches, and you look away, unable to hold his gaze any longer. “I don’t know,” you admit quietly.

The room feels too small, the air thick with the weight of everything unspoken. Joe runs a hand through his hair, his frustration giving way to something softer, something almost vulnerable.

“Y/N,” he says, his voice gentler now, “I’m not mad that you’re pregnant. I’m mad that you felt like you couldn’t tell me. That you thought I wouldn’t be ready for something like this.”

You glance up at him, tears slipping down your cheeks despite your best efforts to hold them back. “It’s not that I didn’t want to tell you,” you say, your voice cracking. “I was scared. This wasn’t part of the plan, Joe. We just got married. We’re still figuring things out. And I know how much pressure you’re under right now—I didn’t want to add to it.”

He exhales slowly, stepping closer until he’s standing right in front of you. His hands find yours, pulling them away from where they’re wringing the hem of your robe. His grip is warm, grounding, and you cling to it like a lifeline.

“Look,” he says, his voice steady now. “I won’t lie—I wasn’t expecting this either. And yeah, it’s not perfect timing. But when has anything in our life ever gone exactly according to plan?”

You let out a shaky laugh, and he smiles, just a little, the tension in his shoulders easing.

“We’ve always figured things out together,” he continues. “This isn’t any different. It’s just... a bigger adjustment. But if there’s one thing I know, it’s that there’s nobody I’d rather figure it out with than you.”

His words hit you square in the chest, and you feel a fresh wave of tears threatening to spill over. But this time, they’re not born of fear—they’re from relief, from the overwhelming love that’s been there all along, even in the moments of doubt.

Joe reaches up, brushing a tear from your cheek with his thumb. “We’ve got this, okay?” he says softly.

You nod, a small smile breaking through despite the storm of emotions still swirling inside you. “Okay.”

And for the first time in days, you believe it.

↳ make sure to check out my navigation or masterlist if you enjoyed! any interaction is greatly appreciated !

↳ thank you for reading all the way through, as always ♡

#nfl players #nfl picks #nfl football #nfl imagine #bengals lb #joey b #quarterback #cincinnati bengals #cincinnati football #bengals wags #joe burrow #joe burrow x reader #bengals #joe burrow bengals #joe burrow fan fic #joe burrow smut #joe burrow imagine

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tarotbyjam24 · 1 month ago

Text

Pick a card :What do people say about you at back of you ?

Disclaimer: this is general reading . It may or may not resonate . If reading doesn't resonate let it fly and choose another pile or simply there were no messages for you through this reading 😊 Take the reading lightly as nothing's set in stone until you believe so 🕊️

I also offer paid readings you can book one as it'll help me a lot and don't forget to check the free readings offer ✨

Masterlist \pick a cards feedbacks piggy bank

pile 1 pile 2 pile 3

This reading has been in my drafts since Feb 3 NGL this pac sucked whole energy out of me :)

Pile 1

Ace of swords reverse Six of pentacles King of swords Three of cups reverse King of cups reverse

Right off you give they ate and left no crumbs energy to people. You can be the most sarcastic person ever but plus point is that you've calm personality lol . You are person who likes to be private and not put your nose into other's matters . You don't like to have cloudy thinking for yourself and because of others . You may even think that what's the point of giving off my energy to others when it doesn't even matter to them . You're not type of person who cries or gets for their lover after breakup . You give yourself solace and say that happened for my and their best , for better things coming towards us and to become the better versions of ourselves. You're big on LESSONS LEARNT AND MOVE ON ENERGY. You take the rest and nurture needed while prepping for your next hit . You're also always in constantly moving energy . You don't like static-ness in your life .

I'll say you have this giving energy to you but you don't like it to give to wrong persons . You only give your kindness , help to those which are indeed in need like you can't be easily get scammed by people for your kindness . You know how is real and who is faking the cry for help. You also own this aura to yourself which attracts people to you . You come off as open minded person and someone who has a great sense of discernment too . Annd if somebody has won your heart not saying romantically but in generally probably like a cute kid smiled at you you will just want to shower that kid with all the love you have and with everything their parents allow you to haha . You're genuinely kind but don't wanna take advantage of it that's why you put this cold demeanor to you through your outfits and facial expressions . Sometimes you may also do partiality with people and don't think about end results that much .

People say that deep down you may feel bad for others and cry silently about it when noone is watching you . You've this lover energy to you which makes you want to be close with other's but then you remember ohh you're meant to be alone and cold . Cancel this plan of being with someone I must enjoy my loneliness. People also say that you live and love a life with structure. You can't function with life's flow . You need strategic planning beforehand . My advice is to loosen up a bit and leave the diploma in micromanagement. I get your desired to be at top in everything but then again doesn't it feel too lonely up there ? Ofc if you like it then strive for it but if you find someone in midway your goals don't shove them off . Take them with you and you both will make the path your goals more wonderful than it ever was . People also love your striking confidence I don't care if you fake it or if it's real . The tea is that people are in awe with your confidence. And they also love your walk and talks of confidence.

A homebody reading this pile ? Hello 👋🏻 from another homebody . People also talk about how you not socialise very much and keep it limited and only to your closed ones but that's too limited too . You just don't like noises and the word PARTY . You may have grown without anybody around you whether emotionally or physically but it's the reason you don't like to connect with others and makes you least socialistic. People say you're typa person who is prolly journalling at home with a wine or champagne glass alone in their bed with some coloured lights dimmed off . People also talk about how you also don't have many photos or like being lowkey if you're out somewhere. My celebrity pile 1 connect and enjoy with people!! They all love your vibes and you as a person too .

People definitely want to socialise with you . You literally have high reputation among all of them. I get your tactics pile 1 , acting mysterious to get more attention and catching people's curiousity about what you're always upto . Pile 1 can have water and air elements dominance in their charts. People also love and talk about how you're always educating yourself on new topics, knowing it all and enlightening others . You all always hold the best convos out there cuz you always have so much you know to talk and share about . Your body language definitely oozes out very welcoming aura to others . You have great control over speech too you know when and what to speak . Every move of yours is CALCULATIVE! You always got plan B for every situation lol . That's all pile 1 I hope you loved the reading .

Do like and reblog it all means world to me . Consider tipping or booking a 1:1 session with me I'm saving up money to buy my 1st ever laptop 💞

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Pile 2

4 o pentacles 9 o cups reverse Page o pentacles reverse 5 o wands 10 o cups reverse Knight o pentacles

People talk about how you don't rely over money and how materialistic things can't make you happy . You don't even care about positions in your career if something is paying you enough to let you live off your daily needs . You don't chase over things . You either detach or attract them towards yourself. You believe in inner security and don't like to show off infront of others . You always look calm infront of others . You may also like to hold close on your loved ones and things you own , wanting to keep them infront of your eyes always .

People talk about how you went through so much emotional turmoil they may have held on your original potential of what you could have achieved. This pile seems so much mature to me . So many people have turned their back upon you , you faced so many closed doors and sadness but what people say is that it only made you strong minded and willed . You may have also learnt how to protect yourself physically too . People talk about your opposite personality a lot . You haven't showed you 'REAL SELF ' to them so they have lots of opinions and rumors on what you come off to them. Some think you're lucky person too and how you always get things easily because that's how you decided to appear infront of them .

They talk about how you don't interact with others . You all give off heavy melancholic vibes . Okayyy so people on street may talk about your fashion pile 2 y'all have such a perfect dressing sense . Show off your wardrobe to everyone . You give off polar bear vibe to everyone . Icy , resilient, strong , independent, a minimalist who don't like heaps of people or things , a person who like cleanliness , calm and collected . Not everyone can survive on poles but you did and do ! I'll say you're quite competitive with others and to yourself too . You don't like your old self you're always evolving into something new . You don't want to stuck in same old places forever and you're okay with moving on alone if that benefitting you. For thriving you want to have healthy competition that's what keeps you going in life and not loose the interest.

People think that you see your family , friends and relatives as distraction. You are actually so soft pile 2 and you don't wanna break off that shell you built for long time and get in comfort zone just to get uncomfortable back again . I also feel most of you reading this pile can be highschoolers , ,in college or trying to land a job interview. You've this mindset 'its okay to be uncomfortable but not being comfortable to get uncomfortable again ' 😭😭 and I relate to it way too much.

You're actually very loyal and if you ever make connections with someone you intend to make it last forever not just keep it superficial. You believe in quality instead of quantity. And you're the ride and die friend. People believe that your story have a good ending and it's not always will be melancholic for you . You feel like park hyung sik from burried hearts who risked his life to get where he wanted to and even gave up on his lover . He had enough money but didn't had the support and emotional bonding with others which he longed for but didn't had time to do so . That's all pile 2 I hope you enjoyed the reading .

Do like and reblog it all means world to me . Consider tipping or booking a 1:1 session with me I'm saving up money to buy my 1st ever laptop 💞

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Pile 3

The emperor 3 o wands 5 o wands reverse King o swords reverse Ace o pentacles

Okay pile 3 , you're everyone's inspiration , you come off as rich person to everyone doesn't need to be materialistic one but it can be like your are very secure in yourself and don't need anyone to compare yourself with . Wherever you're in your life you're pretty much satisfied with it . You're the go with life's flow person. You are also very structured person too . You need routines in your daily life to keep going on . People talk about how strong minded person you are and how you can do anything you out your mind on . You don't care about time too because it feels limiting to you . You want to live off limits which makes you comfortable with doing whatever you want to do and your only goal is to reach there you don't wanna be worried with this superficial human made time . You're also very passionate and I'll say your mind is iron like strong noone can change it if you put your mind on to something. People say that you have said many goodbyes probably your friends and family keep moving out and you never got a permanent house too which you could call a home so I'll say that you're pretty adaptable and you are good at making connections too , such a good talker you're . Your talks are always in controlled manner , have good control over speech , feels like your speech is full of richness and maturity your tone makes it feel like that .

People may also come to you for taking gardening tips you can have your little garden at your home which means so much to you and the care you pour into it is always talked about among the people like how you manage water level , manure ,etc when you're away from your house . You're seen as compassionate , someone who focuses of themselves only and don't usually care about people around them 'self focused ' your back is also something to talk about haha you may have sleek back or prolly venus dimples too that when people see they goo crazyy. Your back is like a whole scenery people feel happy after watching it . Since we're on physical trait that people talk about I'd like to add another one that is your sweaty face and hairs . It's so sexyyy y'all 🎀 people may even cum because of that 😭 y'all are way too photogenic too !!! People love taking photos with you as if you're a celebrity your poses are always unique. You may have Aquarius placements.

People also talk about how clear your decisions always are and how you don't get confused with many options . You know it is for you if it catches your eye and rest other options don't matter at all then . You may like to play a lot with words . You're literal 'pen is mighter than sword ' version of human . Your actions are subtle everything action you take there's always something behind it that people may usually not know . You're the looks like cinamon roll but will ki*l you and that's so hawwwt . Your connections at work or in general is something to be talked about you may have many friends which are in different different fields and which basically opens path for you in many places . You like to have people who are career oriented cuz they help you grow and level up too . Your network matters to you a lot and people like your innovative ideas because they're most of the times commissionable . Thank you for reading pile 3 . I hope you enjoyed the reading.

Do like and reblog it all means world to me . Consider tipping or booking a 1:1 session with me I'm saving up money to buy my 1st ever laptop 💞

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I hope you liked the reading . Thank you so much for letting me read for you . Wishing you best ahead . 🎀Bless you and have a nice day

Loads of love , jam

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softtdaisy · 6 months ago

Text

it takes what it takes / Charles Leclerc

summary. When you heard Charles was bringing his new girl to you and your friends' annual winter holiday, you decided to bring someone too. That isn’t your boyfriend. But it takes what it takes to make your ex jealous, right? Well, that was something Charles had in mind too.

words count. 1,854

a/n. it feels so good to write for Charles again?? This was supposed to be a mix of Is It Over Now? and Last Christmas but I wanted to do something sweet and fun and I really love it??? So I hope you will too 🤍

F1 masterlist | general masterlist | request

“It’s a bad idea.”

You had been thinking that for the whole ride, that’s for sure. But you didn’t realize you were thinking this loud that even your friend could read your mind and say the same thing. You turned to look at Andrew, your ‘date’ for the holiday. A date that was clearly more stressed than you were about the situation.

“It will be fine.” you replied, focused on the road. “You don’t have to do much except being nice and pretend to love me.” you heard him laugh softly to which you replied with a smack on his thigh. “Two hard things to do, I know.”

“You’re not hard to love honey, you’re just not my type.”

You rolled your eyes. One thing was true, the other was harder to believe. You knew that asking Andrew to come would be easy, you were offering him a free snow holiday with one of his best friends: you. And you knew things couldn’t be awkward between you since there were more chances for him to fall for your ex than for you.

On the other hand, the first part is harder to believe. Especially when your ex broke up with you to “focus on his career” and was now dating someone else. As if his career was to be a serial dater and not a Formula One driver.

When your friends told you Charles would bring his new girl, you couldn’t accept being there by yourself. It would be hard enough to pretend to not be jealous, you couldn’t do that alone.

So there you were, finally parking in front of the luxurious cabin you all rented with your fake boyfriend.

Andrew was the first to leave the car so he could take your baggage off the boot. When you finally stood next to him, he took your hand in his and kissed it. “Let’s get in here, my sweet jellybean.”

You laughed so loud you probably woke up the neighbourhood. “Ugh, don’t call me that idiot.”

Your exchange was heard by your friend who rushed outside to greet you. It was nice to see them all again. You had some doubt after your breakup with Charles that maybe they would all choose him and forget about you. But there you were with them, feeling loved and appreciated like nothing ever happened.

Andrew was introduced and played his boyfriend role so perfectly that even you believed it for a minute.

But just for one single minute. Until Charles came outside too.

It wasn’t like you could have escaped him this year. You saw interviews of him, you were in Monaco when he won. It was hard to see your ex boyfriend everywhere yet you couldn’t contain the pride of seeing succeed.

You didn’t rush to hug him like he didn’t move from the door. You just both acknowledged each other’s presence. You noticed the small smile on his face when he looked at you and for a few seconds, it was enough.

Enough to think you could handle the whole holiday with him.

Enough to forget all the bad things you thought and said about him these past months.

Enough to consider being friends or, maybe more if things came to an end with his girlfriend.

Said girlfriend that ruined everything you had in mind the second she stepped outside.

Not that she did anything bad. She stayed quiet, almost hiding behind him. You were even sure she nodded towards you to say hello. You couldn’t blame her for being arrogant, possessive or mean to you. She didn't do anything wrong.

Charles did.

By simply picking someone that looked exactly like you.

You gave a short look at Andrew that looked as surprised and confused as you were. At least you had the decency to not choose a fake boyfriend that looked like your ex boyfriend.

“We are all finally together!” one of your friends said, putting his arms around you and Andrew’s shoulder.

“For better and for worse.” Andrew whispered to you, to which you replied again with a smack on his back.

If Andrew played his role to perfection, by always staying by your side and having a hand on you because he knew how much you crave physical affection, you were far from being the best actress in this play.

You spend the first evening noticing every single thing that reminded you of yourself on Charles’ girlfriend. From her hair colour, the way she styled it to her sweater that was the same as one of yours -like did he seriously look at your closet to offer the same? You were convinced Charles did all of that on purpose. Or he really had a type and it was you.

Still, you tried to be nice to her. Because she was a nice girl. But anytime you started a conversation, you just kept noticing more and more things in common with her. And it was driving you mad that Charles not only broke up with you for stupid reasons but was now dating some kind of clone of yourself.

You tried to analyze their relationship without being creepy but it was harder than you thought.

And being curious doesn’t always bring good things.

Not when you were so focused on the way Charles and her were acting during the afternoon outside that you didn’t notice the rock under the snow and fell on your knees. Of course, Andrew was living his best life as a passionate skier and wasn’t close enough to help you.

Compared to Charles that saw your fall.

“Are you ok?” he said once he was close enough to help you back on your feet.

You gave him a bad look, do you seriously think I need your help? You thought so loud that you hoped he would hear.

But that would have been terribly ironic considering you almost fell in his arms once you were standing again. “I might have hurt my knee.” you admitted.

You looked down at your legs, reprimanding them for letting you down literally in front of him. “Go meet the others.” you heard him say. You thought he talked to you until you looked up and saw his girlfriend leaving you. Of course, skiing perfectly compared to you. At least that made a difference between you two. “I’m bringing you back to the cabin.” he added

“I can do that by myself.”

“No, you can’t.” you opened your mouth to reply but he stopped you. “But we can try and see how many times you fall without me. I’ll bet on three before your call for my arms again.”

These types of squabbles were typical of your relationship. You kept doing that when you were together for every little unserious thing. Mostly because it always ended up with kisses and laughs. Nothing was ever serious with Charles and that’s what you loved the most in your couple. Nothing except your breakup.

“Fine.” you mumbled. When you looked at him, you noticed a little amused smile on his face. You weren’t the only one remembering the good days.

Once inside, Charles helped you sit on the sofa and stretched your leg. But he didn’t seem to leave. Instead, he took off his coat and made himself another coffee. “What are you doing?” you asked, confused.

“Making myself a coffee.”

“No shit Charles, I never would have guessed.”

“Another stupid question?” he said with a big smile while coming closer to you. The thing is, your “yes” came out of your mouth faster than you thought. And you found yourself trapped in a conversation that you had multiple times in your head since you arrived yesterday. “I’m waiting.” he added when you tried to avoid his eyes.

“Why did you find someone that looks like me?” you finally asked.

Charles laughed on his coffee, putting some on his sweater. That was far from the question he imagined hearing. But it wasn’t a big surprise either. “She doesn’t even look like you,” he replied. He hid his smile behind his cup. Which wouldn’t have worked if you weren’t that concentrated on your conversation.

“Are you kidding me Charles? This is some kind of Ross and Russ situation in Friends!” but you didn’t get any answer to that except for another laugh from him. So that was it? You were just a joke for him? Someone he wanted to make fun of? You felt your joy and curiosity fall immediately at that revelation. “Why do you do that? Why are you dating someone that looks like me?” you asked in a lower voice.

Charles had left for the kitchen so you missed his expression when he heard you. A strange mix of happiness that you were jealous and sadness that he hurt you, which wasn’t the plan. “I wanted to make you jealous.”

You turned your head, which caused an immediate neckache. “What the hell are you talking about?” you sighed with your eyes closed. Did it make the pain go away? No.

But it made Charles sit next to you.

“You told everyone how you hated me this year.” He said, looking you right in the eyes.

“You broke up with me.”

“You said so many bad things I thought you wanted me dead.” he laughed.

“Well, you broke up with me.”

“You ignored me the whole year. And don’t say it’s because I broke up with you! Because I know, ok? And I regretted it the moment you left my place.”

Confusion wasn’t strong enough to explain how you felt at that moment. Not when on top of what he said, Charles took your hand in his and started gently rubbing your skin with his thumb. “I was an idiot, ok? I still am for what I know. And I didn’t know what to do to make you realize that maybe you still love me.”

“So you brought your girlfriend here?” you asked in a whisper, like it was some kind of secret nobody had to know about.

Charles moved his face closer to yours so he could whisper back. “I’m not dating her. And I know you’re not dating Andrew either.”

You felt ridiculous keeping this position to whisper in an empty place like that. But the feeling of finding that you love again was stronger than everything. “What would you have done if I wasn’t jealous?”

“I would have played pretend until I left and accepted that I was the biggest idiot for letting the woman I love go.” Then a smile grew on his lips. “But it worked, didn’t it?”

“Oh I’m not done with you Charles Marc Hervé…” you started. But you never finished this sentence. Because Charles was quicker to put his lips on yours and kissed you like he always loved to. Softly, with so much love that you could feel it right in your heart.

That was how you realized that maybe your heart had been switched off this whole year. Because for the first time in months, you felt lighter. Happier. Loved.

And in love, again.

#charles leclerc #charles leclerc x reader #charles leclerc imagine #charles leclerc x you #charles leclerc fanfic #charles leclerc x female reader #charles leclerc angst #charles leclerc story #f1 #f1 x reader #f1 imagine #f1 fanfic #f1 fic #f1 story #f1 angst #my writing

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formulaonecrumbs · 2 months ago

Text

we’re meant to be just friends

Lando Norris x best friend!reader

summary: lando and reader have been best friends since birth (their mums have been best friends since year 10) and now they have to navigate having secret feelings for each other while still growing up.

warnings: angsty, weird ass ending, girlfriend and girl best friend type trope, both of them being dicks, not really a happy ending ? idk tbh.

A/N: HIIIII this is long but i got very passionate with it. i went thru a break up recently (not a terrible one, we hadn’t been dating for that long but still sad) i felt like writing about something sad to make myself feel something. it worked. i hope u cry to this THATS THE GOAL 🙏 but enjoy nonetheless. this is low-key cringe, cheesy and i don’t even think the fight is very reasonable 😭 it’s also very badly written, especially towards the end, i got very tired as i wrote it even tho i kept going 😭 i have chapters and chapters written on these before any of this even happened (like happy cutesy ones) so if u want those LEMME KNOOWWW i love yaaallllll ❤️❤️

୨ৎ ୨ৎ ୨ৎ ୨ৎ

you texted him at exactly 12:00am.

happy birthday lando. sixteen looks good on you.

you stared at the message for a long time after sending it. he responded a few minutes later—something with hearts and too many exclamation points, asking when you were coming over, if you were still making him that dumb cake you promised.

you didn’t reply.

you turned your phone off.

because the night before, everything fell apart.

your mum crying in the kitchen. your dad packing a bag. voices raised and cold silence and the word divorce tossed out like it was just another sentence.

and now you were supposed to get up, put on something cute, and act like nothing had changed—because it was lando’s birthday. and if anyone deserved a good day, it was him.

so you did it.

you curled your hair. wore his favorite color. even smiled when you walked into his house with the stupid chocolate cake in your hands. you didn’t let your hands shake.

his whole family was there. some of his friends too. people he knew from karting, from school. everyone buzzing around, excited for him. and lando—he was glowing.

he pulled you into a hug the second he saw you. he held on a little too long.

you didn’t mind. in fact, you kind of wanted to stay there forever.

“you okay?” he whispered near your ear.

you pulled back fast, smiled bright, and nodded. “yeah. just tired.”

he didn’t believe you. but he didn’t push it either.

you sat through presents and cake and cisca’s terrible off-tune singing. you watched lando laugh and light up every room he entered. you even teased him for crying a little when his older brother gave him a new watch.

you didn’t cry once. not even when he sat beside you later and leaned his head against yours for a minute.

but then your parents showed up.

together. for once.

and that’s when it cracked.

your dad was late. your mum was snappy. one wrong comment turned into another. then it escalated. right there—at the door. in front of everyone.

“you said you’d be on time for once.”

“i wouldn’t be late if you didn’t change the plans without telling me.”

“oh right, because you’re so good at communicating—”

“don’t start, not here—”

you froze on the stairs, halfway down. every muscle in your body tense.

lando was near the kitchen, eyes locked on you. he looked scared. for you.

cisca stepped in fast, soft but firm. “sweetheart, why don’t you head upstairs for a bit?”

you didn’t argue. you couldn’t even speak. you just turned around and walked to lando’s room like it was instinct. like it was the only place you could breathe.

you sat on the edge of his bed, shoes still on, hands clenched in your lap. the quiet was suffocating. your ears were still ringing from their voices. from the memories.

lando walked in a few seconds later and closed the door behind him.

he didn’t say anything at first.

just sat beside you. close. not touching.

after a minute, he quietly said, “you should’ve told me.”

you stared at your hands. “i didn’t want to ruin your birthday.”

“you think this is better?”

you laughed, sharp and small. “i thought i could keep it together.”

“you have been keeping it together,” he said, turning toward you. “too well. that’s the problem.”

you looked at him finally. and god, the way he was looking at you—like you were breakable, like you were everything—it made your throat burn.

“i don’t know how to do this,” you whispered. “i don’t know how to pretend that everything’s fine anymore.”

“then don’t pretend with me.”

you blinked fast. your eyes burned. your chest hurt.

“i don’t want to cry on your birthday,” you said, voice cracking.

“then cry with me,” he said. “i don’t care if it’s my birthday. i care that you’re hurting and i didn’t know.”

you didn’t mean to—but the tears came anyway.

and when they did, he was already there. arms around you, pulling you in like he was afraid you’d disappear. his hand on your back, soft and steady. his chin resting on your shoulder.

you buried your face in his hoodie and let it all out. you sobbed until your throat ached. until your fingers curled into his shirt like you needed him to hold you together.

and he did. every second of it.

when you finally pulled back, red-eyed and exhausted, he reached up and brushed your hair away from your face. his thumb hovered near your cheek.

“you’re still my favorite person,” he said, so quietly you almost missed it.

your breath hitched.

“even when i’m a mess?” you whispered.

“especially then.”

and there it was again—that moment.

the air between you shifting. your eyes flicking to his lips. his hand still on your cheek. your heart pounding so loud it hurt.

but neither of you moved.

not this time.

just a look. a feeling. a thousand unspoken things resting in the space between your faces.

and then—

he smiled.

not the usual cheeky grin. a soft, knowing one. like he’d wait as long as it took.

“come here,” he said, tugging you gently back into his chest.

you curled into him like it was second nature.

because it was.

and maybe you didn’t kiss him.

but god, it felt like everything still changed anyway.

୨ৎ ୨ৎ ୨ৎ ୨ৎ

he missed her thing.

he didn’t mean to, but he did.

he’d been racing that weekend—some big european karting event his team wouldn’t let him skip. the timing was awful, but he told her he’d be back. swore he’d make it for her art showcase. even booked an early flight.

but delays happened. schedules changed. his phone died halfway through the day. and by the time he made it to her school, the lights were off. the gym was empty.

her project—some massive sculpture thing she’d been working on for weeks—was still standing in the corner.

he stared at it for a long time.

he didn’t know a lot about art, but he knew it mattered to her. and she’d asked him—just this once—to show up.

he went to her house straight after.

her mum let him in, gave him this soft, tight-lipped smile like she already knew how this was gonna go.

she was in her room, headphones in, sitting cross-legged on her bed with her sketchbook open. her eyes flicked up when he walked in, and something behind them just… shut off.

“hey,” he said, standing awkwardly in the doorway.

she didn’t answer. didn’t even pause her music.

“i’m sorry,” he said, stepping closer. “my flight got delayed, and then i—“

“save it,” she said flatly, pulling out one earbud.

he blinked. “wait, what?”

she closed her sketchbook with a sharp snap. “i don’t want to hear the excuses.”

“it’s not an excuse. i tried to get here. i wanted to be there—”

“but you weren’t.”

his chest tightened. “it wasn’t my fault.”

“it never is,” she snapped, standing up now. “you’re always off racing somewhere, always too busy, too far, and i’m just supposed to be okay with it.”

“that’s not fair—”

“isn’t it?” she cut in, voice rising. “you missed something that actually mattered to me.”

he stepped back like she’d slapped him. “i know. and i’m sorry. but it’s not like i was off partying—i was working.”

“yeah, and i’m tired of always being second place to your ‘work.’”

that one hit hard.

he opened his mouth to argue. to explain. to fix it.

but instead, something snapped.

“you think this is easy for me?” he said, louder than he meant to. “you think i like missing things? i hate it, alright? i hate missing you. but this is my life. this is what i’ve worked for.”

“and what about me, lando?” her voice cracked. “am i just supposed to sit here and wait for you to show up when it’s convenient for you?”

“you know that’s not how it is.”

“do i?” she asked, quieter now. “because lately it’s starting to feel like i’m just… here. like i’m just background noise to your main story.”

he flinched.

the silence stretched.

she turned away, crossing her arms like she was trying to hold herself together. “you used to be my person.”

“i still am,” he said, softer. “you’re still mine.”

“then act like it.”

his throat felt tight. “i don’t know what you want me to say.”

“i wanted you to be there.”

and there it was. simple. devastating.

“i know,” he said, barely a whisper.

she didn’t look at him.

and for the first time in their lives, he didn’t know how to fix it.

he left not long after.

she didn’t stop him.

he sat in his car in her driveway for a long time, forehead pressed to the steering wheel, trying not to cry.

and that scared him.

because fights were supposed to be temporary. but this—this felt like it might actually change something between them.

and he wasn’t sure if he could handle that.

୨ৎ ୨ৎ ୨ৎ ୨ৎ

the thing about drifting apart is that it doesn’t always feel like a storm. sometimes it’s just a slow unraveling. a little less texting. a few more missed calls. “sorry, i’ve been busy” and “maybe next week” and “i’ll let you know.”

after the fight, things weren’t the same.

you still talked, sure. still saw each other at school, at home when your mums made you. you even laughed a few times, shared inside jokes that hadn’t died yet. but the closeness—the everythingness of him—faded.

and you didn’t know how to get it back.

you were busy too. school, college applications, helping your mum through the new house paperwork. lando had racing, constant travel, interviews, training. life kept happening.

but still, sometimes at night, you’d catch yourself staring at your phone, wondering if he was thinking about you too.

it happened on a tuesday.

you were sitting in your usual spot at lunch, half-listening to the girls next to you talk about a physics quiz, when he walked in.

you looked up automatically. you always did.

he was with someone.

she was pretty. like, really pretty.

long dark hair, soft features, that kind of quiet confidence people didn’t need to announce. she wore his jacket—his—and she was laughing at something he said, like it was the funniest thing in the world.

he looked relaxed. light. like he didn’t have the weight of the last few months still sitting in his chest.

like he hadn’t even noticed the space between you anymore.

you looked away before he could see your face.

her name was sienna.

apparently they’d met at a karting event in italy. she was someone’s niece or cousin or whatever—lando hadn’t really explained much, just said she was cool, and funny, and they’d hit it off.

he started bringing her around more often.

you’d come over for dinner and she’d already be there. feet up on his couch. curled up with his dog. flipping through channels like she belonged there.

you told yourself it was fine.

you smiled when she hugged you. laughed when she made a joke. complimented her perfume, her nails, her hair. you were everything you were supposed to be.

and it felt like hell.

one night, you were at his house. a group hangout, supposedly. except it was mostly sienna, lando, and background noise.

you sat on the floor, pretending to scroll through your phone, while she talked about some race he had coming up. he watched her talk like she hung the stars.

your stomach twisted.

you got up, said you had to pee, and slipped away.

you ended up in his old room. the one that still had your hoodie in his drawer, your handwriting on sticky notes, your pillow tucked in beside his.

you sat on the edge of his bed, heart too loud, throat too tight.

you didn’t cry. not yet. but you were close.

“hey.”

his voice came from the doorway.

you didn’t turn.

“you okay?”

“yeah,” you lied.

he walked in, shut the door behind him. the soft click of it sounded too final.

“you’ve been quiet all night,” he said gently.

you shrugged. “guess i’m just tired.”

“you sure?”

you looked up at him. he was watching you with that face—the one he used to make when he knew something was wrong, back before he pretended he didn’t.

“you like her?” you asked, before you could stop yourself.

he blinked. “what?”

“sienna,” you said. “you like her?”

he rubbed the back of his neck. “yeah. i do.”

you nodded. it felt like someone had punched a hole in your chest.

he sat beside you, close but not touching.

“why didn’t you tell me?” you asked quietly.

“i dunno,” he said. “guess i thought you wouldn’t care.”

you turned to him. “why would you think that?”

“i don’t know,” he said again, voice smaller. “you’ve been… distant.”

“so have you.”

he looked down at his hands. “i didn’t mean to be.”

“neither did i.”

the silence between you stretched, long and heavy.

you stared at the space between your knees. “it just feels like you’re disappearing from my life one piece at a time.”

he flinched. “i’m not trying to.”

“but you are.”

and he didn’t deny it.

you didn’t cry until after he left the room.

that night, you stayed up staring at the ceiling, wondering when exactly it had changed—when he stopped being yours, even in the way that didn’t need words.

and the worst part wasn’t that he liked someone else.

it was that he didn’t even see that you were still right there, waiting for him to notice.

୨ৎ ୨ৎ ୨ৎ ୨ৎ

it’s been weeks now.

lando’s been busy. sienna’s been around. and you—well, you’ve just been… existing. you’ve kept up the act. the one where everything’s fine. where things between you and lando haven’t changed, even though they’ve completely changed.

the worst part is, it’s not like you even meant for it to happen. you didn’t set out to drift. it just sort of happened. one conversation at a time, one unanswered text at a time. it’s like you’ve been shrinking into yourself.

and the worst part is you’re not sure if lando even notices.

but you notice.

you notice when you don’t hear from him for days. when he’s always with sienna, his laugh easy and carefree. when you’re left standing on the sidelines, wondering if you’re still his best friend or if that title’s been handed to someone else.

you don’t say anything about it. of course, you don’t.

not when you’re still figuring it out, not when you still don’t know what’s worse: the way you feel about him or the way things are between you two now.

it happens one afternoon, when you’re sitting on his bed, trying to make conversation that feels like nothing—about school, about college, about races. anything to fill the gap between you. but it’s too late for small talk.

“i saw you with sienna last night,” you say quietly, looking at the way your fingers play with the edge of your sleeve.

lando’s sitting on the floor, leaning against his dresser. his brow furrows. “yeah? we were out for dinner.” he pauses. “it was fun.”

you nod. “i can see that.”

the words come out before you can stop them, too sharp to take back.

he looks at you, confusion in his eyes. “what’s that supposed to mean?”

you shrug, but it doesn’t feel like a shrug. it feels like everything you’ve been holding inside for so long, but not enough to let it spill over yet. “i don’t know. just feels like you don’t really need me anymore.”

lando goes quiet. he glances down at his hands before looking up at you again. there’s something raw in his eyes. something that makes your heart skip.

“you’re still my best friend,” he says, but there’s this uncertainty in his voice that catches you off guard. “just… you’ve been distant, too.”

“i haven’t been distant,” you snap, before you can catch yourself. “i’ve been right here. but you’ve got your new girlfriend now, and everything’s different, lando. i don’t know where i fit in anymore.”

he winces. and that’s all it takes for the dam to break.

“i don’t fit in anymore,” you continue, voice shaking. “and that’s fine. i get it. i just wish i didn’t feel like i was losing you. like you don’t even care that i’m still here.”

there’s this long pause, one that stretches so thin you’re scared it’ll snap. and then, lando finally speaks.

“i do care,” he says, his voice low. “but i don’t know how to make it right. i feel like i’m constantly messing things up.”

he runs a hand through his hair, looking lost for the first time in ages.

“i don’t know what i’m doing, either,” you say, more quietly now. “it’s just… we’re not the same anymore, lando. we’re different.”

he doesn’t say anything, but you can see the hurt in his eyes. you don’t want to be the reason he looks like that, but you can’t help it.

“maybe we need some time apart,” you say softly, the words tasting bitter on your tongue, like they don’t even belong to you. but you say them anyway.

lando doesn’t answer right away. instead, he just stares at you, his expression unreadable. and then, his voice cracks.

“do you really want that?”

it’s the way he says it that breaks something inside of you. like he’s already afraid of the answer.

you look away, the lump in your throat threatening to choke you. “i think we need it.”

the silence between you two is deafening, but it feels necessary. like it’s a breath that’s been held too long.

finally, lando speaks again. “i don’t want to lose you.”

“you won’t lose me,” you whisper, but even you don’t believe it.

he gets up from the floor slowly and sits next to you, but not too close. the distance feels wrong. you’ve never been this far apart before.

“i’m sorry,” he says after a long pause. “i didn’t mean for things to get like this.”

“me neither.”

you don’t know what else to say after that. nothing feels like it’ll fix it. nothing feels like enough.

so, you just sit there, in the quiet.

maybe you just need to be apart for a while. maybe this time will give you both the space you need. maybe it won’t.

but for now, it’s all you’ve got.

୨ৎ ୨ৎ ୨ৎ ୨ৎ

it’s been five months.

five months since you last heard from him. five months since you decided to give each other space. at first, it felt like a break—a necessary one. but now, five months in, it just feels like a silence that stretches farther than you ever imagined it would.

you tell yourself that you’re okay. that it’s fine. that you’re not missing him—because that’s a lie, right?

but you do.

you miss the way he used to laugh at the stupidest things. the way he’d always come up with excuses to hang out even if it was just for a few minutes. you miss the way you’d talk about everything and nothing at the same time. the easy connection you used to share.

instead, it’s just… nothing.

his name doesn’t pop up in your texts anymore. you’re not invited to his races, not even as a friend. sienna’s always there. and maybe, just maybe, that’s what hurts the most: the feeling of being replaced, the sense that you’re not needed in his world anymore.

the worst part is, it’s not even his fault. it’s yours. you asked for the distance. you don’t want to blame him for any of it, but you still do.

you’ve been busy, too. school, friends, other things that keep you distracted. at least, that’s what you tell yourself.

but in the quiet moments, when your thoughts wander, it’s like you can feel his absence in the pit of your stomach.

there’s a part of you that wants to text him. to break the silence. but you can’t bring yourself to do it. not after all this time. it’s like you’ve let the distance build a wall between you that you can’t tear down. and every time you think about reaching out, you wonder if he’s even thought about you at all.

one evening, as you sit alone in your room, your phone buzzes. it’s a message from your dad. you quickly check it, hoping for something normal, something to distract you from the thoughts that keep swirling.

but it’s nothing.

and in that nothingness, you feel it again. the void. the space that’s taken over every corner of your life, every place lando used to fill.

you push your phone aside, and the tears come anyway.

it’s stupid. it’s so stupid. he’s just… not part of your life anymore. and you shouldn’t care as much as you do. but you do. you care more than you’ve let yourself admit.

and then, there’s a knock at the door.

you wipe your eyes quickly, assuming it’s your mom. but when you open it, there’s no one there. instead, there’s just a single envelope on the floor, the handwriting on the front unmistakable.

lando.

you stand there for a moment, unsure whether to pick it up or leave it there. but your hand moves before your mind catches up. you pick up the envelope, heart pounding in your chest as you pull out the letter.

it’s short.

hey, it’s been a while. i hope you’re doing okay. i’m sorry. i never meant for any of this to happen. i miss you. - lando.

it’s simple. it’s too simple. and yet, it feels like the most important thing anyone’s ever said to you.

you read it again. and again. and for a moment, you let the tears fall without trying to stop them. because in the silence of the last five months, this is all you needed: an acknowledgment that he still thinks about you.

but you don’t know how to respond.

you want to. god, you want to. but it feels like it’s too late now. like five months of nothing is too much to fix.

still, you take a deep breath, grab your phone, and start typing a message.

hey, i miss you, too. i’m sorry, too.

you stop, staring at the message for a long moment. and then, you delete it.

maybe this isn’t the time to break the silence. maybe it’s not even time to start speaking again.

but for the first time in five months, you don’t feel so alone.

THE END :>

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bomber-grl · 2 years ago

Text

SAL FISHER RELATIONSHIP HC ! ₊˚⊹

₊˚⊹ PAIRING(s): Sal fisher x Gn!reader

He’s so sweet it hurts

Honestly, Sal is the best boyfriend ever, he’s always there for you and he always knows the perfect things to say when comforting you.

The two of you met because of the ghosts and the whole cult thing while at high school.

You were the more outspoken one out of the two of you since Sal was mostly against violence even when Travis was brought into the convo.

I can definitely see Sal being the first one to approach you.

It all started when Sal started becoming increasingly interested in you to the point that Larry and even ash started teasing and encouraging him to talk to you.

He would fluster, occasionally and say the wrong words out of nervousness however with luck, he managed to get your number.

It was hard not to fall for him, especially with how lovable he is.

He’s so genuinely nice and actually cares for others.

Of course, you eventually see his face, and although he was neutral about it since he trusted you he was still a bit nervous.

Definitely warms his heart when you not only accept his face but also kiss it.

He flusters and stutters so badly afterwards.

Continuing from that, he’s definitely the type to tease lightheartedly

Definitely not in the beginning though

So when you first started teasing and provoking him, causing him to get super flustered

He wouldn’t really know what to do except accept it, so imagine your surprise when he turns the tables once day and makes you a blushing mess

Most times when you hang out, you usually hang at the apartments in his room, or when sals an adult you’d hang out in his room in the house

During these hang outs you guys would usually listen to some music or just enjoy each others presence

Most times it’s just you and sal cuddling and ngl he smells rlly good

Like I’m not even joking and when you mention this, he can’t help but laugh and just tells you do too

However, when you guys hang out with Larry (which is more often than not) you guys end up in more than sus situations 😭😭

Then Larry is all like “I’ll leave you guys at it” and dips

Like??? We’re not doing anything 😭🗣️

Anyway

While you’re at high school ofc Travis has something to say, and if you’re a guy then he obviously calls you the f slur and a lot of homophobic nonsense

And if you’re a girl Travis still calls y’all homos in a negative way, and always says shit about you two

And I don’t think I need elaborate further about how Travis would probably hate crime you if you were non-binary, gender fluid, or basically anything under the trans umbrella

(Basically any gender identity that isn’t your assigned one 😭

Larry, ash, and Todd all get pissed at Travis , and they always come to the both of your guy’s defense

And ofc Sal is bit lenient towards Travis, well only ever when Travis is talking shit about him

If Travis talks shit about you he’d be pissed

But ofc younger Sal is less violent and more open so he’d obvs be kinder

Anyway, we all know what happens at the apartments and if you live there-

Let’s just say it pains Sal so much to have to kill you

I mean him having to kill all the people he grew up with and the people he cares for is horrible but he knows he has to

However, if you don’t, well let’s say you know about the cult and why he did it

Still doesn’t stop you from trying to find a way to get a lower sentence and from trying the convince ash of the truth

When sal dies, let’s just say you feel so alone

Of course you have ash by your side but it’s just horrible

Eventually you’re the person that sals soul would enter and you’d defeat the cult that way

But let’s all pretend that they were able to defeat the cult without having to kill the innocent tenants

Making sal a free man

Well if it were that way, you and Sal would be together for a long time, and if you both wished it, married too

———

Art credits : @/toasterdoodle22

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loveroffemmes · 27 days ago

Note

jackie taylor and reader are enemies but they play spin the bottle at a party and jackie lands on reader

Where The Bottle Lands | Jackie Taylor x Fem! Reader

warnings: one-shot story with smut at the end, bratty! sub! jackie, edging, enemies to lovers

summary: jackie and the reader always butt heads, especially on the field, so what happens when jackie spins the bottle and it lands on the reader?

mean jackie...bratty jackie...<3

"Stop staring at her, she's going to get the wrong idea." Natalie hums, taking a sip from the red solo cup in her hands.

"The idea is that I hate her. You saw how she treated me at practice! Jackie has never reprimanded anyone on the team before, she's never been the type of captain to do that, but of course I get scolded in front of everyone?!" Jackie was always extra hard on me during practice, but after practice today, she took it way too far. She never acts like that with any other Yellowjacket, she never treats them this shitty!

Natalie laughs, "I'm not a big fan either, but staring at her isn't going to do anything."

"You're right, staring won't do anything."

I set my cup down and Natalie's laughter dies down, "What are you doing?"

"I should confront her!"

Nat's eyes widen, "Yeah, okay, you're wasted." She responds, stepping in front of me, "Do you really think it's a good idea to drunkingly confront your team captain? Especially at a party that she is throwing?"

"Yes!"

"As your friend, I am telling you to cool off." Nat demands, but I shove past her and I can hear her audibly sigh.

My eyes were locked on Jackie, shoving past the random party-goers. Jackie stood there talking to Shauna. God, annoying #1 and annoying #2. I tap on Jackie's shoulder and she turns to face me, clearly confused.

"What is it?" Jackie asks, sighing before I can even get a word out.

"That!"

Jackie's eyebrows knit together, head tilting to the side ever so slightly, "Huh?"

"You...Your sigh!" Everything I say sounds like a mess of words, not coming out as authoritative or as sure as I wanted and it definitely doesn't help that half of them are slurred, "You always do that! Any time I speak, you sigh or refuse to look at me or...or..You reprimand me in front of everyone! Or you refuse to even pass to me!" Everything I wanted to say just falls from my lips before I can even stop it, "You think just because you're pretty you can do whatever you want or say whatever you want, but I am so sick of your shit, Taylor!"

Shauna and Jackie glance at each and then back at me before her cheeks flush red, probably from embarrassment, and then Jackie speaks up, "I wouldn't have to treat you like that if you knew how to kick a ball. It's my job as captain to lead you and any other Yellowjackets, you wouldn't want to be the reason we don't make it to nationals, would you?"

Before I could respond, a drunken voice called out to everyone, "Spin the bottle! Spin the bottle!" Mari chanted.

"Good excuse to get away from this whole mess." Shauna mutters. Shauna and Jackie walk over to Mari and Nat makes her way back to me.

"So..." Nat awkwardly hums, hands digging into her pockets, "That was..."

"Bad, Nat, I know." I groan.

"Do you want to go home?"

"No, it's fine, besides Mari will probably call your phone fifty million times until you agree to play."

Nat and I make our way towards the circle and sit down. It's mostly Yellowjackets and a few random party goers.

"So, who's starting us off?" Mari asks, placing the empty Titos bottle in the middle of the circle.

"I will!" Melissa says, a little too quickly...

She spins the bottle with full force and it spins and spins and spins...

And lands on Gen, who is already a blushing mess.

"Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" The circle of people childishly chants. Melissa and Gen meet in the middle of the circle, kissing.

"10...9...8..." Mari counts down as the group chants around the kiss.

"There's a countdown to this game?" Nat questions and I shrug.

"3...2...1!" Melissa and Gen break apart, both panting.

"Your turn, Jackie." Melissa says, nudging her side.

Jackie leans forward, grabbing the bottle and spinning it. It spins and spins and spins and it lands on...

Me.

Jackie's mouth falls open and I can't help but mimic her expression, equally shocked.

"This game is stupid!" Jackie whines, "I'm not playing."

"Brat." I mutter under my breath and Jackie shoots me a glare, her cheeks somewhat red -- probably out of breath from running her mouth constantly.

"Anddddd, that's time!" Mari announces and I turn to look at her, confused, "If you guys don't kiss within ten seconds of the bottle landing, then you have to French kiss for ten seconds!"

"What are you talking about, Mari?!" I shout, not being able to control the level of my voice. There is no way in hell I am kissing Jackie, with or without tongue.

"It's the rulesss!" Mari replies, laughing.

"Just kiss!" Lottie jumps in, "Melissa and Gen did it."

I sigh, "Let's get this over with, Taylor."

"Stop calling me Taylor!" Jackie angrily muttered, turning away from Mari to face me.

Jackie and I move towards the middle of the circle and the chanting begins again, "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!"

I glance down at Jackie's lips. Her stupid lip gloss made her lips shine and the way her teeth sank into her bottom lip when she got nervous...it almost made me forget how much I hated her.

"Are you going to keep staring or are you going to kiss me?" Jackie whispers.

I roll my eyes and lean in, my hand moving to grab her chin and bring her lips to mine. I hope she can't hear how fast my heart is beating. I hope she can't feel how much my hands are shaking. I hope she can't tell how much I want this.

How much I want this?

Jackie's lips brush against mine, they are unbelievably soft, so soft that it made my heart ache. My other hand moved to her thigh, resting there.

"Pick it up!" Someone in the circle called out.

I could feel Jackie smirk against my lips, her tongue brushing my bottom lip and before I even have the chance to open my mouth, Jackie's tongue has already forced it's way in. It's like I could taste her smugness through the kiss. She tasted sweet and I could taste the remnants of a drunk cig on her lips.

"Enough you two!" I felt Mari's hand on my shoulder and I pulled away, breathless.

"Way over the time limit." Nat mumbled, laughing to herself.

I look at Jackie, her tongue slowly slid across her own bottom lip as if she was trying to taste me on them. We both returned to our spots.

The game continued as normal, except for the occasional stares I would get from Jackie.

—

Where the fuck was Natalie? She was my ride. The party had almost entirely cleared out and I did not want to be stuck in Jackie's house any longer. I walked into the kitchen, hoping she was in there. It was empty except for Jackie who was picking solo cups off the ground.

I internally groaned and the words left my mouth before I could stop myself, "Do you need help?"

Jackie looks up at me, "Uh...yeah -- you're still here?"

"Yeah, I think my ride might be preoccupied."

"With...Misty? Lottie? Travis?"

"Don't ask me, because I honestly don't know." I reply, picking a cup off the ground.

Jackie laughed, it was light and carefree -- the side of Jackie I never had the fortune of seeing, "Fair. I was worried you were coming back for seconds."

"Worried? You wish I would come back for seconds." I respond and Jackie pauses for a second, her eyes meeting mine before inching down and this time, her eyes won't leave my lips, "Taylor?"

Jackie shook her head, her attitude returning once her eyes moved away from my lips, "Yeah, like anyone would want that."

"I don't know, Taylor, you were pretty quick to put your tongue in my mouth."

"It was Mari's stupid rule, not mine." Jackie pauses, her lips curling into a smirk, "You know what wasn't a rule of Mari's thought? Putting your hand on my thigh."

"I-It..." Why does she have to be so infuriating? "It wasn't like that! I needed somewhere to put my hand."

Jackie's moves closer to me and I can hear my own heartbeat thumping against my chest, I can feel my face getting hot, "If that's the case, then why are you always checking me out during practice?"

Busted.

I tried to think of anything I could, any reason why my eyes might linger on her a little too long, why I play worse whenever Jackie's jersey rides up, why...

Jackie's fingers were in my hair, her lips on mine. I return the kiss because the unbearable truth of it all is that one kiss wasn't going to be enough. Not when she felt this good, not when she tasted this good. I push Jackie against the kitchen counter, my body trapping her against it. While her hands run through my hair, mine are sliding every crumpled can and solo cup off of the counter behind her. Without breaking the kiss, I lift Jackie onto the counter with a small yelp from her. We both pull away at the same time, both thinking the same thing.

Jackie removes her dress and I follow by taking off my shirt, the desperation evident in the swiftness of our actions. Jackie was quick to grab my arm right after, her nails digging into my skin as she pulls me back against her. Her hands move anywhere they can; her nails running along my back, my arms, leaving scratch marks anywhere they possibly can as if Jackie was marking her territory. Her lips met mine and she was anything but gentle, her tongue slipping into my mouth, sliding against my tongue. My knees felt weak, her tongue felt so warm and I was so desperate for more. Jackie's lips left mine, kissing the corner of my mouth before kissing my jaw, then down my neck. Her kisses were soft at first, it felt restrained. The heat of her mouth hovering just slightly above my neck made me whimper and that's right when she sucked on my neck, leaving yet another mark on my body. My hands moved up her back, finding the clasp of her bra and undoing it as Jackie worked on my neck. I pulled away from Jackie's lips, throwing her bra wherever I had thrown everything else on the counter.

I couldn't stop staring at Jackie. Her chest heaving as she tries to catch her breath, the soft smooth skin of her chest, and the way her eyes darkened. My hands moved up, groping her chest, my fingers circling her nipples. Jackie's back arched, seemingly involuntarily, as if her body had been craving this for longer than she would ever care to admit.

My eyes linger on her body, taking in every inch of her as my hands remain on her chest.

She was wet.

I could see it clearly through her white panties (with a little bow on top, how cute). I shift slightly, moving my lips right to her ear, "You're wet." Jackie blushes, a soft moan leaving her lips.

"Are you going to do something about it?" Her tone was challenging. My hands left Jackie's chest, moving down her stomach. She knew I could never turn down a challenge from her. My hand moved past the waistband of her panties, running my fingers through her folds and feeling her wetness coat them. I circled her clit with my two fingers, slowly, barely applying any pressure. Jackie's hands found my collar and she pulled me into another kiss.

My fingers slid down further, "Are you okay with this?"

"Yes, yes, yes." Jackie desperately said against my lips and with that, I slid my fingers into her. Jackie moaned into the kiss, her hands moving from my shirt to my hair, tugging on it and trying to remove any space between the two of us. My thumb moved to her clit to replace the fingers that are now thrusting inside her. It was slow and I could tell Jackie wanted more, she made that clear by continuing to use my hair to pull me closer, "Mmm, More."

This was the opposite of the Jackie I knew, the one who demanded every little thing from me. This Jackie was falling apart in my arms, begging me for something -- but, she could do way better, "Beg."

Jackie's hands stopped moving through my hair, "W-What?"

"You heard me; if you want more, beg for it." My fingers didn't stop pumping into her, painfully slow, my thumb barely ghosting over her clit.

"You're such a jerk, (Y/n)!"

"That doesn't sound like begging to me."

"I hate you."

"You can keep saying you hate me, but I can feel you clenching around my fingers whenever I speak, so go on, Taylor, admit it..."

"Call me 'Taylor' one more time and I'll stop this whole thing right now." Jackie demands, but her shaky voice makes it hard to even consider it a demand. My fingers slow down even more and Jackie's hips jerked up in response, immediately trying to make up for the lack of movement, "W-Wait," Her voice falters, her words now coming out as pleas, "D-Don't slow down, c-call me whatever you want, but don't stop!" Jackie's hands move down to grab my wrists, trying to get me to move my hands and I can't help but smirk. Jackie Taylor is begging me to fuck her, Jackie Taylor is rocking her hips desperately on my fingers. Fuck.

"Better." I can feel Jackie tighten around my fingers at the smallest bit of praise and I decide to give into what she wants, moving my fingers faster now and pressing my thumb to her clit. A broken moan escapes Jackie's lips, her head is thrown back and her back is arched and she is practically riding my fingers with the way her hips jerk at every thrust.

I curl my fingers and I feel Jackie's hands claw at my back, "T-There...Please, right there..."

"Good girl." I coo, curling my fingers once more and Jackie begins moaning my name.

"(Y/n), gonna cum, gonna cum!" She moans out and I slow down my fingers. Her head snaps forward, her eyes wide, "What...What are you doing!?" Jackie's hips never stop moving as she scolds me, desperate for release.

"You didn't ask for permission."

Jackie's mouth falls open and her eyebrows furrow clearly about to protest when instead a needy plea falls from her lips, "Please, can I cum? I need to cum, (Y/n), your fingers feels so good."

My fingers resume their previous pace and Jackie's back to moaning, her hips moving with even more effort now, determined to get off on my hand.

"You can cum, Jackie." I whisper in her ear and I feel Jackie immediately tighten around my fingers. Her nails dig so hard into my back that I'm worried she might draw blood. Her movements slow down as her juices coat my fingers and I slow down my pace, "Good, Jackie, just like that." I whisper in her ear, helping her come down from her orgasm. Her breathing is rapid, soft whines leaving her lips as I pull my fingers out of her and pull my hand entirely out of her now completely drenched panties.

I hold my fingers up to her face and Jackie opens her mouth, her tongue reaching desperately for my fingers as if she had been waiting to taste herself. Her big eyes met mine as she looked up at me, her eyes never leaving mine as she sucks every drop off of my fingers. My fingers leave her mouth with a popping noise.

"Thank you." Jackie mumbles, breathless, and I smile at her and she continues, "Don't get an ego out of this."

"That might be very hard to do."

Masterlist

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whatdoeseverybodywant · 6 days ago

Text

TORN - Chapter 6

Synopsis: One night, that's all it took for Josh and India to fall for each other. One night was all it took for her life to turn upside down. She thought she had found the one. Then he had told her the truth... he had someone waiting for him... someone whom he had betrayed to be with India.

I do NOT give permission for my work to be translated or reposted on here or any other site, even if you give me credit. DO NOT REPOST MY FICS

Reblogs, comments, likes, and feedback ALWAYS appreciated ❤

All OC Characters belong to me

Series Masterlist

Main Masterlist

India stared out of her kitchen window, watching Josh push Egypt on the swing at the playground connected to her apartment building. It should’ve been a sweet moment. The kind that made her heart swell instead of twist.

But something felt off.

She had been feeling that way since she woke up that morning. The butterflies in her stomach were so bad that she could barely eat anything. Her coffee sat cold on the counter, untouched since breakfast.

She blinked and looked down at the sink, realizing she’d been standing still for too long. The soapy water had gone cold.

Grabbing a towel, she dried her hands and stepped toward the door. She wasn’t sure why she decided to check the mail just then. Maybe she needed the walk. The air. A moment alone.

The walk down to the mailbox was a short one. The wind was light, just enough to ruffle the ends of her hair. Somewhere behind her, Egypt's giggles rose into the air again, carefree and loud. The sound made her chest ache.

She reached the row of mailboxes and slid the key into the lock. It turned with a soft click. A few envelopes dropped into her hand. A grocery store flyer. A past-due notice for a medical bill she’d been ignoring. Something from the electric company.

Then her fingers brushed over a thick, flat envelope. No return address. Just her name. Typed, formal, impersonal. She turned it over. Her heart stopped.

Fayette County Courthouse.

“What the fuck” India muttered as she tore open the envelope. Her hands were trembling as she pulled the papers out of the envelope.

Petition for Full Custody Plaintiffs: Janae A. Rice & Joshua S. Fatu

Defendant : India M. Langston

Her chest rose and fell too fast. Blood roared in her ears. She tried to focus, to read the rest of the document, but the words were swimming now—negligence, unfit environment, primary custody, permanent.

The walk to her apartment felt like the longest walk of her life. He was trying to take her baby. He came back into her daughter’s life just to take her away.

By the time she got back to her apartment, Josh and Egypt were already there. Egypt was in her bouncer, bouncing happily to The Wheels on the Bus. Josh smiled over at India when she walked in, but the smile was wiped off his face when he saw the look on India’s face.

“What’s wrong?” He asked, standing up from the couch to walk over and check on her.

“Don’t.” She stopped him, holding a trembling hand up to stop him from coming near her.

Josh furrowed his eyebrows. “Indi.. what happened?”

India scoffed and held up the envelope and papers. “You tell me,” she said coldly, her voice shaking from the effort it took not to scream.

Josh took the papers from her, his eyes widening as he realized what he was holding.

“India…” He trailed off.

“How could you?” She started. Tears were already streaming down her face.

“India, listen to me - “

“No.” Her voice was low, but firm. “You listen to me. Out of all the bullshit you put me through, this one takes the cake.”

Josh opened his mouth, but India shook her head, cutting him off before he could even try.

“You lied to my face,” she said. “Every day you’ve been here, pretending to co-parent, pretending to care about me, about her, when the whole time, this was sitting in some courthouse, waiting to drop on me like a bomb.”

Egypt’s giggles set another wave of rage through India. “What fucking right does the bitch have to call me unfit? Huh? What the fuck have you been telling her?! Ain’t no way y’all think y’all winning this! Y’all wanted a fucking war… y’all got one!”

He stood, inching closer. “Please. Just let me explain. Let me—”

“I want you out.”

That stopped him cold.

“I want you out of my apartment,” she said, her voice trembling but firm. “You don’t live here. You don’t sleep here. You don’t get to be here anymore.”

Josh froze, the weight of her words sinking in. His eyes flicked to Egypt, then back to India, searching for any sign of softness, but her resolve was clear.

“India…” His voice was quiet, heavy with regret and confusion. “I never wanted to hurt you. Or her.”

She took a slow, steadying breath, hands clenched but voice firm. “Then why didn’t you tell me? Why didn’t you say anything?”

Josh didn’t know the answer. Yeah, the first time he came down, he was supposed to tell her about the custody paper, at least try to come up with a 50/50 solution, but the second he saw India again, all those thoughts left his head.

“You need to leave.” She said again. “Get your shit and get out my apartment.”

Josh nodded slowly, swallowing the lump in his throat. “Okay,” he said quietly. “I’ll go.”

India didn’t move. Didn’t soften. Her eyes never left his.

He walked over to his duffle bag, which was conveniently near Egypt. He bent down and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “I love you, Egypt.” All he got back in response was Egypt’s little giggle, which made him smile.

As he rose back to his feet, his eyes met India’s. He cleared his throat as he walked closer to her. She opened the door.

“India-”

“See you in court.” She cut him off, slamming the door and locking it behind her. India slid down to the floor, hugging her knees to her chest as her shoulders began to shake. It wasn’t just betrayal. It was devastation. He had taken something sacred and shattered it beyond repair.

Egypt let out a squeal of laughter from her bouncer, kicking her feet, as if the world hadn’t just been ripped apart. India forced herself up, wiping her face quickly before crossing the room and lifting her daughter into her arms. Egypt wrapped her arms around India’s neck without hesitation, still giggling.

“I got you,” India whispered into her curls, her voice cracking. “No matter what they try. I got you, baby girl. Always.”

The Uber ride to the airport was quiet. Too quiet. The driver had asked if he needed the radio on, and Josh had just shaken his head. He stared out the window, watching the city blur past him.

He was angry, not at India, but at Janae. She had gone and filed the paperwork behind his back. He pulled his phone out of his pocket and pulled up Janae’s contact. He stared at it for a bit before pressing call.

“Please leave your message for 740-”

Josh furrowed his eyebrows as Janae’s phone went straight to voicemail. That was odd. Her phone was always on, no matter what the circumstances. He called again, frowning deeper when it for the second to voicemail again.

“This you, boss?” Josh looked up as the Uber driver spoke. He hadn’t even noticed they had arrived at the airport.

“Shit, thanks uce,” Josh said as he exited the car. Josh slung his duffel bag over his shoulder and headed inside the terminal, his steps slower than usual. The weight of what had just happened and what was waiting for him on the other end felt heavier than the bag on his back.

He couldn’t shake the unease settling in his gut. Janae’s silence wasn’t just annoying anymore. It was alarming.

He boarded the flight back to Atlanta, but his thoughts never left Dallas. The look of betrayal in India’s eyes shook him to his core. He’d let things spiral, caught between guilt, confusion, and a fear of confrontation he could no longer avoid.

The plane touched down just after seven p.m. He was on autopilot as he made his way to his car, barely registering the bustle of Hartsfield-Jackson around him. He didn’t stop to grab food, didn’t check his messages again. He just needed to get home.

As he turned down their street, the hairs on his neck stood up. Janae’s car was parked outside. That wasn’t strange.

What was strange was the other car in the driveway. Black. Low. Familiar. Josh killed the engine and stared at the car in front of him. He knew that black BMW quite well. Jaw tight, he grabbed his duffel and stepped out of the car slowly. The breeze had cooled with the setting sun, but he felt hot all over. Like his blood had started simmering before he even made it up the driveway.

He quietly unlocked the front door, letting out a silent “thank god” as the alarm didn’t sound off. As he entered the home that he paid for with his hard-earned money, he froze as he got a look at his living room.

It was messy, clothes thrown everywhere, two half-empty wine glasses on his coffee table. His chest rose and fell with slow, measured breaths. He dropped his duffel by the door, hands balling into fists at his sides as he stepped further into the house.

His heart hammered in his chest as he moved toward the stairs. Halfway up, he heard voices. Laughter. He pushed open the bedroom door.

Janae was the first to notice him. She let out a loud gasp and jumped off of her ex’s lap, ripping her robe from the floor and covering her body with it. “Josh!” She called out, but he paid her no mind. His full attention was on Lawrence, who slowly stood from his bed.

“Aye, man -”

Josh didn’t even think; he swung. Janae yelled out his name, but Josh didn’t stop.

Lawrence, who was slowly getting to his feet, spat out some blood, which landed on Josh’s white carpet. “I’m tired of hiding this shit Nae! I’m tired of only seeing my son when this nigga on the road.”

Josh whipped his head around to face Lawrence. “Fuck you talkin’ bout.”

“Tell him the truth, Janae.”

Janae slowly shook her head, her eyes still on Josh.

“Janae, fuck is he talkin’ bout?”

Janae started to cry, hugging her arms to her chest as she slid down the wall. “Micah…” She sniffled. “Fuck! I’m so sorry, baby.”

Josh narrowed his eyes at Janae as he crouched down to her level. His glare hardened as her tearful eyes met his.

“Whatchu’ telling me right now, Janae?” Josh’s voice was low.

“He aint yours.” Lawrence’s voice cut through Janae’s and Josh’s starting contest. Josh blinked twice, and before he could stop himself, he gripped up Janae and pulled her to her feet.

“I wan’t you out my fucking house. Do you understand me?” He spat at her, eyes damn near black. “I gave up not seeing my daughter for months to please you! Trying make this relationship work cause I stepped out, but this whole fucking time you -” He stopped himself. He released Janae and took a step back. He covered his face with his hands and took deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. “You got ten minutes to get ya’ ass out my house ‘for i drag you out.”

Josh heard Lawrence quickly gather his things and leave. The sound of the front door opening and closing made Janae’s eyes widen. “Where am I going to go, Josh!? What about Micah?!”

“Shoulda thought about that shit before you lied to me for five years!” Josh yelled out. Janae jumped, making Josh scoff. In the 10 years they were together, he never once laid his hands on her.

Josh shook his head slowly, his voice dropping to a cold, flat tone. “Get out.. Now.” He turned toward the closet, yanking her suitcase from the top shelf and tossing it at her feet. “You got eight minutes left.”

“Josh—”

“I don’t wanna hear shit from you Janae! I wan’t you out my fucking house!” Josh took a step closer, his chest heaving. “Do you know what it felt like to sit in India’s apartment, listening to her cry, while I was plotting on taking her kid, our kid, because you made it seem like that was the right thing to do?” He laughed bitterly, his voice hollow. “Meanwhile, you sittin’ here lettin’ me play daddy to a child that was never mine.”

“Micah is your son,” Janae whispered, desperate. “You raised him—”

“Don’t,” Josh cut in, voice low but lethal. “Don’t you dare say that shit like it justifies anything. I loved him. I gave everything I had to him. To you. To us. And you threw that shit in the trash.”

“Micah can stay. But you… you gotta fucking go.”

Janae stared at him, wide-eyed and silent. For once, she had nothing to say. Josh turned away from her, heading for the bedroom door.

“You’ve got five minutes now,” he said without looking back. He walked out, closing the door behind him with a quiet click that felt louder than a slam. Downstairs, he sank onto the couch, elbows on his knees, head in his hands.

Everything was broken.

Authors Note : heh... sooo *clears throat* 🙃

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162 notes · View notes

heeluvv · 4 months ago

Note

UR FICS R GEN SO GOOD IM ASCENDING ONE OF MY FAVE WRITERS AAAAA ohmygod i have a req im sorry if its vague i lowkey just need more sunoo fics🙏🙏🙏🙏

so like sunoo and reader r like bsfs and lowkey reader has a crush on him but shes like gaslighting herself nd being like nah im not his type and then sunoo overhears her talking abt him to her friend and saying she likes him so then sunoo goes insane the whole week trying to figure out how to bring it up cuz he likes her too and then he loses control at the end of the week and just ROUGH SUNOO LIKE PLEASEE THIS MANS DUALITY IS INSANEEE

ty ohmygod that was long

omggg that is so sweet 🥲 and i totally agree with you, so i'm here to deliver them 🙂‍↕️

ALWAYS BEEN.ᐟ

pairing ᝰ.ᐟ bsf! kim sunoo x reader

warnings ᝰ.ᐟ oral (f), fingering, nipple play, unprotected sex, dom! sun, etc.

natty’s notes ᝰ.ᐟ mdni, hate comments will be deleted.

days passed, but sunoo couldn’t get you out of his head. every moment alone was consumed by the weight of what he had overheard, by the confession you had unknowingly laid at his feet. he wasn’t supposed to hear it, wasn’t supposed to be standing outside your bedroom that night, frozen in place as your voice cracked with uncertainty over feelings that mirrored his own. but he had, and now, every second he spent without you felt like time wasted. the knowledge sat heavy in his chest, swelling with the need to do something about it, to act. no more late-night thoughts of what if? no more lying next to you, pretending he wasn’t falling apart every time your fingers brushed against his.

so now, as he stood outside your apartment door, fingers gripping the spare key you had given him long ago, he felt his resolve solidify. there was no hesitation this time, no second-guessing. he slid the key into the lock, twisting it smoothly, stepping inside with quiet purpose. the soft glow of the television illuminated the dim room, casting a hazy light over you as you curled up on the couch, lost in whatever played on the screen. you didn’t notice him at first, too focused, too at ease. but then the door clicked shut behind him, and your head turned, your gaze locking onto his.

“sunoo?” your voice was soft, laced with curiosity as your brows furrowed at the expression on his face. he looked different, darker, his usual lighthearted demeanor replaced with something unreadable, something intent. you sat up slightly, your posture shifting as you took him in fully. the sharp set of his jaw, the tension in his shoulders, the way his eyes roamed over you like he was memorizing the sight before him. your stomach twisted with something between anticipation and uncertainty.

“what’s wrong?” you asked, voice quieter now, like you already knew something was about to happen but couldn’t put it into words.

he didn’t respond. there was no need for words, not when his body was already moving, closing the space between you in a matter of seconds. he dropped his things onto the coffee table carelessly, his focus solely on you, on the way your lips parted slightly as you watched him approach. then, without hesitation, his hands found your face, cradling it gently but firmly, fingers pressing against your jaw as he tilted your head up toward him. before you could react, before you could fully register the moment, his lips crashed onto yours.

the kiss was desperate yet controlled, slow yet overwhelming. his lips molded against yours perfectly, moving with a purpose that sent shivers through your body. your fingers clutched at his shirt instinctively, gripping the fabric as he pressed further into you, deepening the kiss as if he had been starving for this—for you. the heat of his body was intoxicating, surrounding you, drawing you in until nothing else existed beyond the feeling of his mouth on yours.

he pushed you back against the couch, but not fully—he kept you upright, his hands slipping down to your waist, fingers tightening just enough to make you feel the strength behind them. the kiss didn’t falter, didn’t slow, his lips parting just enough for his tongue to swipe along your bottom lip, teasing, tasting. the softest sound escaped you, a mix between a sigh and a gasp, and he swallowed it eagerly, his breath heavy against your skin.

his fingers twitched where they rested on your waist, holding back, resisting the urge to explore further. but there was something restrained in the way he touched you, something raw hidden beneath the careful movements. he was savoring you, memorizing the way your body responded, the way your lips pressed back against his just as hungrily, like you had been waiting for this just as long as he had.

but this was just the beginning.

because now that he knew, now that he had you—he wasn’t about to let you go.

“sunoo…” your voice is barely above a whisper, breathless against his lips, but it’s lost between the heat of the moment, swallowed by the way his mouth moves against yours. he only hums in response, the sound low and deep, vibrating in his chest as he tilts his head to deepen the kiss.

his lips work against yours with an intensity that leaves you dizzy, your thoughts dissolving into nothing but the feeling of him—his warmth, his taste, the way his body presses closer, fitting against yours like he belongs there. you barely register the way his hands slip from your waist, fingers trailing up your sides, fingertips grazing the curve of your ribs before he reaches the hem of your shirt.

he tugs at the fabric, a silent command, but he doesn’t pull away just yet. instead, his fingers curl into the material, gathering it slowly, teasingly, his knuckles brushing against your bare skin as he lifts it higher. the sensation sends shivers through you, your breath hitching slightly as his hands roam, his touch warm and deliberate.

finally, he breaks the kiss, just long enough to drag your shirt over your head, tossing it aside carelessly. his gaze flickers down, lingering over your newly exposed skin, his eyes darkening with something unreadable—something hungry.

his lips are swollen, flushed a deeper red from the intensity of his kisses, slightly parted as he takes in the sight of you. the air between you is thick, charged, electric. but rather than hesitate, rather than give you a moment to process, you move—your hands reaching up, snaking around his neck, pulling him back in.

your lips find his again, just as eager, just as desperate, the fire between you reigniting in an instant. the kiss is messier this time, less controlled, fueled by something raw, something needy.

his hands find your waist again, fingers pressing into your skin, holding you firmly in place as he leans in further, deepening the kiss like he wants to consume you, like he wants to ruin you.

and you let him.

his hands slide down the curve of your waist, past the dip of your hips, until they find purchase on the swell of your ass. his grip is firm, possessive, squeezing just enough to make you gasp softly against his lips. but he doesn’t stop there—his fingers trail further down, grazing over the back of your thighs before hooking under them.

without hesitation, he lifts you effortlessly, your body molding against his as your legs instinctively wrap around his waist. the motion presses you flush against him, your core rubbing against the hard outline of his arousal, drawing a sharp inhale from both of you.

but even as he moves, carrying you toward your room, the kiss doesn’t break—not once.

it stays heated, desperate, his lips moving against yours with an urgency that makes your head spin. his breath is warm, ragged, mixing with yours as he walks, his hold on you tightening, like he doesn’t want to let go for even a second.

by the time he reaches the bed, he wastes no time.

he drops you onto the mattress, the sudden loss of his body heat making you whimper as your back bounces slightly against the plush surface. but sunoo is already on you, already leaning over, his hands slipping beneath you in one fluid motion.

before you can even process it, you feel the soft snap of your bra coming undone, the straps falling from your shoulders as he peels it away, tossing it onto the floor without a second thought.

his breath catches the moment your bare chest is exposed to him.

his eyes darken, his jaw tightening slightly as his hands move immediately—palms cupping your breasts, squeezing, kneading with a roughness that sends sparks of pleasure coursing through you.

a deep grunt rumbles in his throat as his thumbs brush over your nipples, teasing them into stiff peaks, his fingers flexing, relishing the way you react under his touch.

“sunoo…” your voice is a breathy whimper, barely able to escape past your lips.

he leans down, lips parting as he attaches his mouth to one of your nipples, the heat of his tongue sending a sharp jolt of pleasure straight through your body. his mouth moves with purpose, sucking deeply, his tongue swirling before he bites down ever so slightly, tugging at the sensitive bud with his teeth. the sensation sends a shudder through you, a broken moan spilling past your lips.

his free hand isn’t idle—his fingers find your other breast, pinching and rolling the neglected nipple between his fingertips, the dual stimulation making your back arch off the mattress. the pleasure is sharp, overwhelming, your body reacting instinctively to every movement, every calculated flick of his tongue.

“s-sunoo…” your voice is barely coherent, breathy and desperate, your fingers threading into his soft hair, tugging as if grounding yourself.

but if you think pulling his hair will slow him down, you’re wrong.

instead, it only fuels him further, a deep, guttural moan vibrating against your skin, sending another wave of pleasure rippling through you. he sucks harder, the wet sounds of his mouth working over you filling the space between your heavy breaths. his grip on your waist tightens, like he wants to pin you down, keep you from squirming under his touch.

he pulls away from your nipple with a soft pop, lips glistening as he drags his mouth lower, his tongue trailing hot, wet kisses down the valley of your breasts. his breath is ragged, his voice husky, dripping with something raw, something needy.

“waited so long for this, baby…” he murmurs, his lips grazing against your skin, every word punctuated with another lingering kiss.

his hands slide lower, fingers ghosting over your ribs, your stomach, mapping out every inch of you.

“so fucking long…”

his voice is quiet, almost like he’s speaking more to himself than to you, but the weight of his words settles deep in your core, making your entire body burn with anticipation.

“please, sunoo…” your voice is barely above a whisper, trembling with need as you look up at him through half-lidded eyes. desperation laces every syllable, your body burning with anticipation as you widen your legs, offering yourself to him.

your fingers move on their own, hooking into the waistband of your pants, dragging them down your thighs before kicking them off completely. the cool air brushes against your heated skin, only making the ache between your legs more unbearable.

sunoo lets out a soft chuckle, his expression unreadable as he reaches for your wrists, wrapping his hands around them with ease.

“keep them up here, baby,” he murmurs, guiding your hands above your head, pressing them into the mattress as he settles between your legs.

the sight of him kneeling before you, his dark gaze locked onto the damp patch of your panties, makes your stomach tighten, anticipation coiling deep in your core.

before you can even register his movements, his tongue darts out, dragging a slow, deliberate stripe up the center of your panties, licking the slick arousal that has already soaked through the thin fabric.

the sensation is light, teasing, but it’s enough to rip a needy whimper from your throat. your thighs twitch, your hips jerking slightly, instinctively seeking more.

“so fucking wet…” he breathes against you, his voice laced with amusement, with satisfaction.

your breath stutters, your entire body trembling under his gaze as his fingers trail up your inner thigh, featherlight, barely touching where you need him most.

then, without warning, he hooks a finger into the fabric of your panties and rips them away with a single, effortless tug.

the sound of the fabric tearing is drowned out by the sharp gasp that escapes you, your head tilting back as your thighs instinctively try to clamp shut, but sunoo is faster.

he parts your legs again, his grip firm but gentle, his free hand tossing the ruined scrap of fabric to the side before finally, finally dragging his fingers through your soaked folds.

“for me, no?” his voice is dark, teasing, his breath hot against your exposed skin.

he strokes you once, slow and deliberate, spreading your slick, his fingers gliding effortlessly against your heat.

“this fucking desperate… only for me, baby?”

his words make your entire body shudder, your hips rolling into his touch as you let out a desperate whimper—because yes, only for him. always for him.

he doesn’t wait for a response—doesn’t need one. instead, he dives in, his tongue dragging a slow, deliberate path down your folds before sweeping back up, gathering every drop of your slick. a deep, satisfied grunt vibrates against your core as he tastes you, savoring the sweetness of your arousal.

his fingers follow soon after, trailing up your thigh before slipping between your legs, the pads of his fingertips barely brushing over your swollen clit. the teasing flick sends a sharp jolt of pleasure through you, making your back arch, a loud whimper spilling from your lips.

your head tilts back, eyes fluttering shut as your hands fist the sheets beside you. the way his tongue moves—lapping at you, slow and purposeful, before pressing firmer, licking you clean—has your body trembling beneath him.

but he doesn’t stop there.

his mouth moves with precision, alternating between licking and sucking, his lips wrapping around your sensitive bundle of nerves, pulling it into his mouth before releasing it just as quickly. the sensation is overwhelming, the rhythm relentless, and when he finally presses his tongue inside you, your breath catches in your throat, your vision going hazy.

the pleasure is all-consuming, leaving you breathless, barely coherent, reduced to nothing but the sensation of his mouth devouring you.

just when you think you can’t take any more, he pulls away—just enough to replace his tongue with his fingers.

the stretch is sudden, unexpected, and a sharp, needy moan rips from your throat as his fingers push inside you, deep and unyielding.

his lips brush against your cheek, warm and teasing, his breath hot against your skin as he murmurs, “fuck, look at you…”

his voice is thick with hunger, his hooded eyes never leaving your face, watching every reaction as his fingers pump in and out of you, curling just right, finding that spot inside you that has your entire body tensing.

his thumb finds your clit again, circling in slow, deliberate motions, his touch both gentle and devastating.

“s-sunoo! goddd—”

your cry is broken, desperate, your body arching into his touch, chasing the high that’s building rapidly inside you.

his smirk presses against the shell of your ear as he nibbles at the delicate skin, his voice low, taunting.

“hm? feels good, baby?”

his words alone send another shiver through you, your hands flying to grip onto his shoulders, nails digging into his skin as you nod frantically.

he chuckles, his pace quickening, his fingers thrusting harder, deeper.

your legs begin to tremble, muscles tightening as sunoo’s fingers work you open with merciless precision. every calculated thrust, every curl of his fingers inside you sends another sharp wave of pleasure rolling through your body, leaving you breathless and shaking.

the wet sounds of his fingers plunging into you mix with the quiet, broken gasps that fall from his lips whenever you clench around him. his mouth stays close to your ear, feeding you small, taunting whispers, his breath hot against your flushed skin.

“so tight, baby,” he murmurs, his voice thick with amusement, with hunger. “you keep squeezing my fingers like that—fuck—you really want to come that bad, huh?”

your body jerks in response, your hands flying to grip his forearms, nails digging into the taut muscle as you struggle to ground yourself.

“please! s-sunoo, m’gonna—gonna cum…” you whimper, your voice breaking, high-pitched with desperation.

his pace never falters. if anything, your pleading only spurs him on, his fingers thrusting harder, deeper, hitting that spot inside you that has your entire body tensing.

“aw, you are?” he coos mockingly, his lips brushing against the shell of your ear. his tone is teasing, dripping with false sympathy, but his fingers remain ruthless.

“gonna cum on my fingers, baby?” he goads, his free hand slipping down to press against your lower stomach, amplifying the pressure, making your toes curl as the pleasure becomes unbearable.

your moans grow louder, higher, your thighs squeezing around his wrist, but he doesn’t stop—doesn’t even slow down.

“then do it, baby,” he commands, his voice suddenly firmer, more demanding. “be my fucking good girl and cum for me.”

his words push you over the edge.

your entire body tenses before unraveling, a cry ripping from your throat as you come undone around his fingers. your walls clamp down on him, pulsing, the pleasure crashing over you in waves so intense they leave you shaking in his hold.

sunoo groans softly, feeling you fall apart beneath him, his fingers slowing just slightly, working you through the aftershocks, milking every last bit of your release.

“that’s it,” he murmurs, pressing a kiss to your temple, voice softer now, almost proud. “such a good girl for me…”

you lay completely boneless, limbs heavy as aftershocks ripple through your body, your chest rising and falling in uneven pants. your thighs still tremble, your nerves overstimulated, but sunoo doesn’t give you a moment to recover.

before you can even catch your breath, he withdraws his fingers from your soaked heat, only to bring them straight to your lips.

“open,” he murmurs, his voice deep, expectant.

your lips part instinctively, wrapping around his fingers as he slides them past your tongue. the taste of yourself coats your mouth, warm and slick, as you suck obediently, your tongue swirling around his digits. he watches you with dark, hooded eyes, his breath catching slightly at the sight.

“my good girl…” he praises, his voice barely above a whisper, more to himself than to you. his fingers flex against your tongue, feeling the way you suck them clean, completely compliant, completely his.

he pulls them out with a soft pop, his hand trailing down your cheek, his thumb pressing against your swollen bottom lip, smearing the remnants of your arousal across it.

“you’re my good girl, right, baby?” he asks, his voice softer now, but still laced with something dark, something possessive.

you nod weakly, unable to form words, your mind still foggy from the intensity of your orgasm.

he smirks at your fucked-out expression, shifting his weight as he leans back slightly, his knees pressing beneath your thighs, spreading you open effortlessly.

“then you’ll cum for me again,” he murmurs, more of a statement than a request.

your hazy mind barely registers the sound of fabric shifting, the rustle of his pants being shoved down, but your attention snaps back when you hear it—his moan.

low, breathy, raw.

your half-lidded gaze drops to where his hand wraps around his cock, so hard and sensitive that he shudders the moment he touches himself.

“fuck,” he groans, his head tilting forward as he strokes himself once, twice, his breath coming out shaky.

his free hand moves to your thigh, fingers pressing into your soft skin as he spreads you further, his cock dragging against your slick folds, teasing, rubbing, coating himself in your arousal.

your body twitches at the sensation, a gasp escaping your lips as the head of his cock nudges against your entrance.

and then—he pushes in.

the stretch is slow, deliberate, his cock sinking into you inch by inch, stretching you open, filling you completely.

his head falls back, his mouth parting in a sharp gasp, his fingers tightening against your thigh as he bottoms out, fully sheathed inside you.

“fuck, baby…” he exhales, his voice trembling slightly, wrecked by the feeling of you wrapped around him, tight, warm, perfect.

he stays still for a moment, savoring it, savoring you—before his hips pull back, only to thrust in again, deep and slow.

it only lasts for a second—that brief moment of stillness where he lets you adjust, lets you feel just how full he’s stretching you—before his restraint shatters completely.

his hips snap forward, driving into you with a force that steals the breath from your lungs. his cock fills you perfectly, each deep, punishing thrust pushing you further into the mattress. the sounds between you are filthy—the wet, obscene slap of skin meeting skin, the breathless moans that spill from your lips with every movement.

your legs tighten around his waist instinctively, ankles locking behind his back as you try to ground yourself, try to keep yourself from falling apart too quickly. but sunoo doesn’t let up.

he fucks into you mercilessly, his pace unrelenting, each stroke deeper than the last, dragging against every sensitive spot inside you with devastating accuracy.

“uh—fuck, baby!” he groans, his voice breaking into something almost desperate, almost wrecked.

his hands leave your thighs, coming up to cradle your jaw, tilting your face toward him. his fingers press into your cheeks, forcing your lips to part slightly, his gaze dark and burning as he watches your expression twist in pleasure.

“taking me so fucking good,” he grunts, his breath hot against your skin, his words punctuated by the sharp snap of his hips.

and then—his lips crash onto yours.

he kisses you fiercely, swallowing every moan, every gasp, every breathless whimper that escapes you. his tongue slides against yours, deepening the kiss, his teeth nipping at your bottom lip before soothing the bite with another slow, searing stroke of his tongue.

his pace never falters. if anything, the kiss only spurs him on, his thrusts growing rougher, needier, like he’s trying to claim every part of you at once.

his grip on your jaw tightens, keeping you exactly where he wants you, his mouth devouring yours like he’s starving—like he can’t get enough.

“fuck, baby,” he groans against your lips, his breath heavy, uneven. “you feel so fucking good—so perfect—”

his words dissolve into another moan as your walls clench around him, drawing him in even deeper.

and from the way his rhythm stutters slightly, from the way his fingers flex against your skin—

you know he’s just as close to breaking as you are.

“you love me, baby?”

his voice comes out in harsh, ragged breaths, each word fractured by the force of his thrusts, but you hear him clear as day.

the question slams into you harder than he does, your heart lurching in your chest, a tight, breathless feeling coiling in your ribs. your hands clutch at his back, your nails digging into his skin, because you know what he’s asking. you know he’s not just playing anymore.

sunoo knows.

he knows.

his lips are still close to yours, his breath hot against your skin, and though your mind is hazy from pleasure, from the overwhelming sensation of him inside you, you can’t ignore the weight of his words—the way they settle deep in your stomach, heavy and consuming.

“i know you do, baby…”

his voice drops lower, rougher, laced with something dark, something possessive. his cock twitches inside you, the sheer thought of you loving him—wanting him—making his pace stutter for just a second before he regains control, before he slams into you even harder.

his grip on your waist tightens, fingers pressing deep enough to leave bruises, his body leaning into yours, crowding you, owning you.

“should’ve told me sooner instead of me finding out like that,” he growls, his lips ghosting over your jaw before nipping at the sensitive skin beneath your ear.

you shudder, a sharp gasp escaping you as his hips snap forward again, relentless and punishing, dragging you closer and closer to the edge.

“but don’t worry, baby,” he murmurs, pressing open-mouthed kisses down your throat, his teeth grazing your pulse point before sucking hard enough to make you whimper.

his tongue flicks over the mark, soothing it, before he pulls back just enough to meet your gaze. his eyes burn into yours, dark and intent, his expression a mix of raw hunger and something deeper—something dangerous.

“i’ll just mark you up,” he promises, his pace never slowing, his cock driving into you like he’s staking a claim, like he’s branding himself into you.

“because you were always mine.”

just as the last word leaves his lips, the coil in your stomach snaps, shattering into pure, unfiltered pleasure that crashes over you in overwhelming waves. your entire body seizes, your muscles locking up for a split second before unraveling completely, pleasure crackling through every nerve in your body.

your pussy clenches around him impossibly tight, gripping him like a vice, milking him as you come undone beneath him. your back arches off the mattress, pressing your chest flush against his as your head tilts back, mouth falling open in a loud, broken moan of his name.

“sunoo—!”

his hands grip your thighs, his fingers digging into your skin as he watches you unravel, his breathing erratic, ragged. the way you convulse beneath him, body trembling, walls fluttering around his cock, has his own release slamming into him without warning.

“oh my fucking god, baby—”

his voice is strained, almost desperate, his jaw clenching as his hips stutter, losing rhythm completely. he barely manages a few more shallow thrusts before his cock twitches one last time, and then he’s gone—tipping over the edge with you.

a deep, guttural groan rips from his throat as he buries himself inside you, his grip tightening, keeping you exactly where he wants you as he spills into you, filling you to the brim with his release.

“fuuuck—oh, shit!”

his head drops to your shoulder, his breath hot and heavy against your sweat-slicked skin, his body trembling as he rides out the last waves of his orgasm. his arms tighten around you, like he needs to feel you, all of you, as the pleasure pulses through him, leaving him utterly wrecked.

his hips give one last, lazy roll before he stills completely, chest heaving, his lips brushing over your collarbone in a mix of exhaustion and silent reverence.

your bodies remain tangled, the only sounds in the room being your combined heavy breaths, the lingering echoes of pleasure still humming between you.

natty’s notes ᝰ.ᐟ i hope you liked it !!

#enha smut #enha x reader #enhypen #enhypen x reader #enha #enhypen smut #kim sunoo #sunoo imagines #sunoo smut #sunoo x reader #sunoo #enha sunoo

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blueberrybirdsworld · 2 months ago

Text

Collision 11/20

Summary:

Lando always had a type : blonde, models, not ready to settle down. Yet once he met her, all his world is changed and he slowly start to realises maybe he was wrong all this time.

It's a prequel story of The Cat Distribution System, on how Lando Norris fall in love with Ariana. Could be read seperatly.

Pairing : lando norris x original female character

Genre : SMAU, Fluff, slow burn, enventual smut and angst

Warning : none

CHAPTER 11 : SMAU

Serie Masterlist

Lando stirred in his room, wrapped in a sheet, limbs heavy with sleep. The ceiling fan above spun lazily. Outside, the sound of the ocean whispered in through the open windows.

He blinked once, twice, adjusting to the warmth, to the hum of tropical sun.

He had slept in, really slept in, the first time in days since he arrived, he’d let himself fall, maybe because it was easier than thinking. Than missing her.

The smell of fresh fruit and something sizzling wafted through the air.

Then came the music : loud, sunny, Brazilian pop with too much rhythm for how early it was. And laughter. A burst of it, coming from the kitchen, echoing across the patio. Rebecca and Kika, probably. Maybe Alexandra. His friends were already up and living.

Lando rolled out of bed, hair a mess, shirtless in old grey shorts. He scratched at the back of his neck and made his way down the hallway toward the kitchen.

He smiled briefly when he saw the scene, Pierre flipping pancakes, Max already halfway through a smoothie, Carlos and Charles mock-dancing by the coffee machine, all of them sun-kissed and laughing like the world was brand new.

But even standing in that sunlit room, the warm tile under his feet, the sound of joy all around him.

His heart was still in London.

In a quiet flat where a ballerina wore his hoodie and kissed him slow.

He walked past them with a quiet wave and grabbed a banana from the counter, mind still elsewhere.

And then, his phone rang.

Her name lit up the screen.

'Ariana '

His heart stuttered.

He answered before the second ring. “Ari?”

“Lando,” she breathed. Her voice was raw. Shaky. Wrong.

He straightened up fast, banana forgotten. “What’s wrong?”

“I—” Her voice cracked. “Something happened.”

His body went cold. “Ari, what is it? Are you hurt? Do I need to come back? Just tell me, I’ll—”

“No,” she said quickly. “No, don’t come back. It’s not that. It’s not life-threatening.”

The sound of her breath hitched, and he could tell she was crying. Really crying.

His voice dropped. “Talk to me.”

“I hurt my ankle, badly this time” she whispered. “ During rehearsal.”

He closed his eyes. “Shit.”

“It’s not broken,” she rushed to say. “But it’s badly bruised. The physio said it needs rest. Four weeks, at least.”

His mouth went dry.

“They’ve already transferred my roles to someone else,” she continued, her voice now trembling. “I can’t dance. I had to pull out of everything. They told me to stop immediately. They said if I push it, it could lead to a tear.”

Lando leaned hard against the wall.

“I’m so sorry,” he murmured.

“I don’t know what to do,” she said, sobbing now. “It's my fault, I push to much and now I pay the price, fuck what I was thinking...”

He could hear how broken she felt. The helplessness behind every word. Like her whole identity had cracked with that one injury.

“I feel like a failure,” she whispered. “Everyone else is working. They’re on stage. They’re doing something. I’m just… alone.”

“Ari, no—”

“I am. I’m alone. My friends are all busy. I can’t train. I can’t perform. My contract here is ending. I won’t have a salary until Paris in February. I don’t even know what I’m supposed to be if I’m not dancing.”

Her voice crumbled on that last sentence.

Lando’s stomach twisted.

And then, without hesitation, he said the one thing that came to him:

“Come to Brazil.”

Silence.

Ariana sniffled. “What?”

“Come here,” he repeated. “Come stay with us. With me. You wouldn’t be alone.”

“Lando…”

“I mean it.”

She went quiet for a moment, and when she spoke again, her voice was small. “I don’t want to intrude. It’s your friends. I barely know them. I’d feel out of place.”

“You know Max. You know Pietra. They already adore you. And the others? They’re amazing. They’ll love you, Ari.”

“I wouldn’t even have the budget,” she said, almost apologetically. “Not for a plane ticket. Or a share in the house. I have to wait until my contract kicks back in next month. I can’t just—”

“Ariana.”

He cut her off gently, but firmly.

“I’ll pay for it. Everything.”

“Lando—”

“I’m serious,” he said. “Flight, room, food, whatever you need. If you don’t have a swimsuit, I’ll buy you one. If you want mangoes for breakfast and iced tea and a playlist made just for you, I’ll handle it.”

“But—”

“I want you here,” he said, his voice steady now. “Not just so you won’t be alone. Because I don’t want to be here without you. I feel off. You’ve been in my head since I left. And if this injury is giving you a rare break, maybe it’s a sign.”

“A sign?”

“That you’re supposed to rest,” he said. “Not just your ankle. You. You give so much to dancing. Maybe it’s time to receive something back. Let people care for you. Let me take care of you, please.”

A pause.

He could hear her breathing through the line.

“I don’t know,” she whispered. “It feels too big.”

“It’s not,” he said. “You already matter to me. And this? This isn’t an obligation. It’s a chance. So just say yes.”

A longer pause.

“…okay.”

His breath caught. “Yeah?”

“I’ll come.”

He let out a sound somewhere between a shout and a laugh, running his hand through his hair. “Oh my God, Ari.”

She laughed too, broken, teary, but real.

“You sure?”

“I am,” she said. “I don’t know why. But I trust you.”

“You won’t regret it,” he promised. “Send me your passport info. I’ll book it now. I’ll be waiting at the airport. Everything’s going to be okay.”

She sniffled again. “You’re kind of wonderful, you know that?”

He smiled. “Only because you are.”

As soon as the call ended, Lando exploded into the kitchen.

“She’s coming!” he shouted.

Everyone looked up.

Max blinked. “What?”

“Ariana. She’s coming here.”

Pietra dropped her fork. “Wait, what?!”

“Tomorrow. I’m booking her flight now. She’s staying with us.”

Kika clapped her hands. “Yes. Oh my god, I wanted to meet her properly!”

Carlos grinned. “Is she okay?”

“She hurt her ankle,” Lando said. “She’s out of rehearsals. She’s struggling, and she needs a break, and I need her here, so she’s coming.”

Pietra was already grabbing her phone. “She can stay in the guest room next to ours. I’ll go into town for snacks and sunscreen. And dresses. She’ll need something summery!”

Max raised a brow. “You’re glowing, man.”

Lando grinned. “I feel like I’ve just won something.”

He didn’t care about the trip anymore. Not the parties. Not the beach.

He just cared that she was on her way.

And suddenly, the house didn’t feel like someone else’s vacation anymore.

It felt like something was finally beginning.

The airport was buzzing with the heat of midday sun, the air thick with humidity and travel and the scent of unfamiliar spices drifting from the cafés. Lando stood at the arrivals gate, pacing in a tight little loop in his hoodie and shorts, sunglasses pushed into his curls. He checked the board again. And again.

Landing: 11:42 — Paris to São Paulo.

He felt like he was going to explode.

When her flight finally touched down and the passengers began spilling out in waves of tired faces and dragging luggage, his heart jumped into his throat with every brunette who passed, every girl with ballet posture or a delicate tote bag.

And then, there she was.

Wearing a delicate, rosy pink camisole top that flowed around her like soft cotton candy, paired with a white skirt that barely skimmed the tops of her thighs. Her sandals tapped softly against the tile, one hand pulling her small suitcase.

Lando forgot how to breathe.

She saw him, and smiled.

It wasn’t the polite kind. It was relief and warmth and maybe a little disbelief that they were actually in the same place again.

“Ari,” he breathed.

She walked straight into his arms and he hugged her like he’d been waiting his whole life to do it. She smelled just like he remember and he get lost in the scent of her perfume.

“You’re really here,” he murmured into her hair.

“I’m really here.”

He pulled back slightly, hands on her waist. “How’s the ankle?”

“Still attached,” she said with a soft laugh. “Bruised, but okay.”

“And you? You need water? Food? Flowers for your hair?”

“I just need you,” she said, so simply it nearly shattered him.

The drive from the airport to the house was filled with low music and endless questions.

Lando had his hand resting gently on her knee, his other on the wheel. “Okay, so seriously. What do you need? Food? Sunscreen? Ice cream? I can buy you every flavor.”

She smiled. “Lando…”

“Or, do you want to nap first? Or maybe you want to shower? Or—”

“I just want to get there,” she said softly, lacing her fingers through his. “Be with you. That’s it.”

She turned to look at him, her hair catching the sun. “You sure you’re okay with me coming here like this?”

He squeezed her hand. “I’ve never been more sure of anything.”

When they arrived, the house burst with sunlight and laughter.

The open terrace was alive with movement, flip-flops, music, girls in bathing suits and boys tossing balls into the pool. It looked like the setting of a summer dream.

Pietra was the first to spot them.

She dropped her drink and ran.

“Ari !” she yelled, arms flinging around her in a blur of perfume and colorful nails. “You’re here! Oh my god, I was praying you’d come!”

Ariana giggled, hugging her back. “You did?”

“Of course! I already picked out a beach dress for you! You will look like a fairy.”

Then Max showed up beside them, offering a big grin and a warm handshake. “Welcome to paradise, ballerina.”

Ariana grinned back. “Thank you. And… thanks for letting me crash your trip.”

“Crash? Please. You’re an upgrade.”

Lando slipped beside her again, hand lightly at her lower back as he led her inside. “Alright, time to meet the others.”

One by one, the rest of the group came forward, Rebecca, Charles and Alexandra, Carlos, Pierre and sweet Kika, all smiles, all warm. There were compliments, hugs, drinks passed into her hands, plates made for her with fruit and little snacks. Someone took her suitcase. Someone else offered her sunscreen even though she hadn’t been outside for more than a minute.

“You look like you belong here,” Rebecca said, admiring Ariana’s outfit. “Seriously, adorable.”

“That top is so romantic,” Kika added.

Ariana laughed, blushing. “I wasn’t sure what to wear, so I just… packed summer.”

“You look like a spring goddess,” Alexandra said, already pouring her a coconut mocktail.

Lando just stood beside her, glowing with pride, watching everyone fall in love with her the way he already had.

Dinner that night was laid out under the stars.

They’d arranged long tables on the patio with glowing fairy lights, tropical flowers, candles. Everyone helped. Lando grilled meat. Max cut up fruit while Ariana was nestled beside Pietra, giggling as the group tossed jokes and playful jabs across the table.

“So, Ari,” Charles asked, “you’re the one who crashed the go-kart?”

Ariana covered her face. “No one was supposed to know about that.”

“Oh, we know everything,” Rebecca said. “Lando talks in his sleep.”

“I do not—”

“He said your name last night,” Max chimed in. “Swear on my life.”

Ariana glanced at Lando with wide eyes. “You did?”

Lando flushed red. “Fake news.”

“He said ‘Ari, don’t spin out!’” Carlos teased, laughing so hard he nearly spilled his drink.

Everyone roared with laughter.

Ariana leaned into Lando’s shoulder. “You’re never going to live this down.”

He looked down at her, eyes soft. “I don’t mind. If it means you’re here.”

After dinner came the talk of sleeping arrangements.

Pietra turned to Ariana. “So, we have the guest room, next to ours. It’s cute, has AC, and I put out fresh towels.”

Lando cleared his throat, standing behind Ariana. “Actually, I was wondering if she wanted to… stay with me.”

The group quieted just a beat, eyebrows raised.

“I mean, only if you want,” he added quickly. “I’ve got the biggest bed. No pressure. Just… I sleep better with you there.”

Ariana looked up at him. Her heart squeezed.

“I’d like that,” she said softly.

Lando led her upstairs, making sure she didn't hurt her ankle more and carrying her smaller bag while another friend brought the suitcase up. His hand never left hers.

His room was airy and clean, a big king bed dressed in linen sheets, a fan humming in the celling, and a sliding glass door that opened to a balcony looking out at the ocean.

As soon as they were alone, he dropped the bag and rushed to her, arms wrapping around her waist, lips pressing against her mouth in a kiss that was all relief and longing.

She laughed into it. “Missed me?”

“Missed you like air.”

She looked up at him, barefoot in his room, looking at him.

And smiled.

“I’m happy I’m here,” she whispered. “I’m happy with you.”

@landonorris sunset swims, cold drinks, best company 🌊🍻 📍Brazil

@maxfewtrell did you finally smile because i beat you at paddle or bc of the caipirinhas 🤔

@pietrapilao this energy >>> 🫶🏼

@charles_leclerc you forgot to tag your personal photographer

@alexsaintmleux you're literally glowing now 🌞

@pierregasly vibes immaculate tbh 😎

@carlossainz55 this beach trip aged you backwards mate

@landoeditz he looks like he’s breathing again omg 😭😭

@lantern.boy not to be that person but... this is love era vibes 🥹

@sunsetgrid the glow, the smile, the energy... someone is happy now

@f1shenanigans went from "lost boy" to "beach boy" real quick 🏖️✨

@brasilgpqueen this is NOT the same man from two days ago i fear 😭💛

@fastlanefever i’m not saying he’s in love but like... he’s in LOVE.

@drsopenpls the way you can tell he’s healed just by the sunset pics 😭🫶

@pietrapilao

girls summer trip (plus 5 annoying other guys we can’t get rid of) 💖

@maxfewtrell we’re literally the reason you’re having fun stop lying 😭

@charles_leclerc you wouldn’t survive without us be honest 😌

@alexandra_saintmleux girls trip supremacy though 💅🏻

@kikagomes literally forced to bring the boys 😭

@rebeccadonaldson pietra carried the vibes all week tbh ✨

@pierregasly i demand a recount i swear i’m more fun than you give me credit for

@landonorris i’m offended. i’m charming. and helpful. and i bring snacks.

@carlossainz55 5 girls against 5 guys… who's winning? 😎 (comment deleted)

@grandprixgossip HELLOOOOO WHY IS NO ONE TALKING ABOUT CARLOS COMMENT 😭

@sunsetpitlane WHO IS THE FIFTH GIRL I’M NOT OK

@paddocktea carlos SAID 5 girls before deleting it �� lando you got something to tell us???

@lantern.boy SOFT LAUNCH SOFT LAUNCH SOFT LAUNCH 🚨

@beachvibesf1 bro carlos accidentally exposed lando’s secret gf LMAO

@fasttracklovers not the ballerina girl rumors being alive and thriving again 🩰

@f1wildchild the fandom is in SHAMBLES over a deleted comment 😭

@drsmodeon lando if you’re happy just SAY THAT no need for mystery 💀

@gridgossipers and here we thought we were over sadboi lando… turns out he’s just secretly whipped 🫶

@arianawaves Off dancing for a while, got an injury but nothing serious. I miss my cat but it's good to take some alone time for me as well 🤍🌊

@worrywartsclub is the injury really nothing serious? 😭 sending love anyway!!!

@oceanbby this energy is so peaceful i’m obsessed 😭🩵

@goldenhourspells we love a girl healing and thriving ✨✨

@sunsetfairy the vibes are IMMACULATE 🌺🌊💫

@beachblossom wait is she in Brazil too or am i crazy ???

@balletbabes someone said she’s with “friends” but why it looks like she's in the same place as Lando ??? 🤔

@catmomari okay but who’s taking these pics if she’s “alone” 👀👀👀

@fairytalemess pls let it be lando i’m begging 😭

Comments have been restricted on this post

@f1teaspill 🚨 Spotted! #LandoNorris seen getting cozy with a mystery brunette on a beach in Brazil 🌊 The pair were photographed hugging, laughing, and looking very very close. Fans are speculating this could be the mystery girl hinted at during the past weeks... 👀 No confirmation yet, but judging by these pics, Lando might not be as single as we thought!

@pitlaneprincess NO BECAUSE WHO IS SHE ??? I NEED NAMES 😭😭

@lantern.boy lando was never sad he was just missing her LMAO

@sunsetgrid her looking at him like he hung the stars bye 😭🖤

@f1shenanigans the way he’s clutching her like she’s gonna disappear 😭 real romantic movie behavior

@sadboylando guess we really were clowning ourselves with the single lando agenda huh 🤡

@softforlando she’s so pretty even from the back this isn’t fair 💔

@carlossainzstan i knew it. i KNEW he didn’t go on a couple trip to thirdwheel he was hiding her 😭

@pietrasheart lowkey living for him being this whipped. happy for u king 🫶🏼

@lando4everr if this is who’s been making him smile lately, then i approve 👏🏼

@weneedbetter idk was not Lando more into blonde 👀 not feeling this one tbh

@saltypitstop watch it be another "model" who disappears by the next season 🙄

@haterzcorner why does he always downgrade like i’m sorry but you can do better lando 😭😭

@speedyheartbreak hope she’s not using him for fame

Taglist : @angelluv16, @httpsxnox, @anunstablefangirl, @chocolatemagazinecupcake, @mayax2o07, @freyathehuntress, @verogonewild, @lilyofthevalley-09, @esw1012, @its-me-frankie, @linneaguriii, @ezzi-ln4, @rlbmutynnek, @actuallyazriel, @sofs16, @thulior, @sltwins, @knivesdoingcartwheels, @henna006

Let me know if you wanted to be added to the taglist !

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nfr-girly · 2 months ago

Text

Unspoken Words ~ B. Bradshaw x f!reader

Summary: Upon finding out you’re leaving the state, Bradley realises he has less than a day to build up the courage to tell you how he feels <angst-fluff>

border by @saradika-graphics <3

“What do you mean you’re leaving?”

“I’m not leaving permanently, I’m just going out of state for a few months to take up a job position”

You and Rooster now found yourselves in the parking lot of the academy. You were planning on telling him a lot sooner, and not the day before you flew out, but how were you supposed to tell your best friend you were going away for 9 months?

You had been offered a job position in the South Atlantic, and you were hesitant at first. 9 months was a while, especially since you’d be in a completely new area with new people. But your officers thought you’d be best suited, and figured it would be good experience for you. So you took up the position.

You had confirmed everything a month prior, giving you time to sort out your belongings, and who would apartment watch for you. You had told everyone at the program two weeks ago, and they were sad to see you go, but happy for you to experience something fresh. On the other hand, telling Bradley was a whole other thing. Truthfully, you had gained feelings for him not long after becoming friends. It was stupid, falling for your fellow classmate, but you couldn’t help it.

He was your first friend, and immediately warmed up to you. But you also knew that you weren’t the only one with their eye on him. Every time you all went to the hard deck, you saw the way other women looked at him. Whenever he played that stupid piano, you could guarantee there were at least 3 women who gave him their number. He never ended up calling any of them, weirdly enough. But they were gorgeous, and probably more his type.

You didn’t want to leave him behind, but you had eventually accepted that your friendship with him would most likely stay a friendship. Which is mostly why you agreed to go away, maybe some time off would help you get over him?

But it surprises you now, that when you’ve finally told him, he’s acting like you’ve just stabbed him repeatedly in the leg.

“A few months? You’re going away for 9. I thought you liked it here?”

You huff and step closer to him, trying to reassure him

“I do! But this is a good opportunity for me”

He scoffed and looked around him

“Being here is a good opportunity. You finishing this program with m- us, is a good opportunity”

You furrowed your eyebrows, you couldn’t believe how angry he was. Why did it bother him so much?

“Why are you so mad about this? Jesus Bradley I thought you’d be happy for me”

He pressed his lips together and breathed out.

“I am. But going down south, at your level? You’re not ready.”

The moment it came out his mouth he regretted it. What the hell is wrong with me?? He thought

You paused and scoffed

“What and you are??” You respond

“I….” He didn’t have anything else to say, he had already said too much

You shake your head and point to him

“Go fuck yourself Bradley”

You turn and head towards your car, not sparing him a second glance

All he could do was watch you leave. All he could think about was how much of an idiot he was.

~~~~~ that evening ~~~~~

Bradley lies on his couch, taking the occasional swing of his beer bottle as he watches tv. He feels like a walking stereotype. Drowning his sorrows with alcohol to forget the fact he hurt the women he loved.

What the hell was he thinking? Jesus- you came up to him so excited. He had never seen light in your eyes like that. He was happy for you, of course he was. But how could he pretend he was happy about the fact you’d be leaving him for that long? He was just coming around to admitting to himself his feelings for you, now he has to watch as you leave him behind?

You’d probably find some better man out there, more taller, more muscular, someone who isn’t scared to love you. What was he supposed to do without you? You’re one of the few people he actually gets along with here.

He doesn’t know what to do now. His outburst yesterday doesn’t change anything. You’re still leaving. If he had acted better yesterday, he could have at least been able to say goodbye to you. Now he wouldn’t even get to do that, and you’d spend the next 9 months hating him.

He felt sick at the thought. Before he could spiral more, his phone pinged. He looked toward his phone, grabbed it and looked at the message. It was from Nat.

Nat 🐦‍🔥

She told me what you said to her earlier, why did you say that?

He huffed out, and started typing

Roos 🎹

I didn’t mean to. You know how I feel about her, I just panicked.

Lame excuse. He thought

Nat 🐦‍🔥

I know you didn’t. But she doesn’t know that, she leaves tomorrow. You should go talk to her, she’ll be packing right now

He stared at the text. She was fucking right, of course she was. Would you even be willing to talk to him? He typed out a response

Roos 🎹

I’m gonna have to tell her how I feel aren’t I?

Nat 🐦‍🔥

Absolutely. Let me know how it goes 😛

He lets out a chuckle and turned off his phone. He ran his hands through his hair, sighing. After a minute, he gets up and grabs his keys to the bronco.

Heading out the door, he comes up with different ways on how to not fuck it up this time.

You took a lot longer than you hoped it would to pack. Honestly, right now you’re just putting in random crap you don’t need. You’re trying not to think about him, he was an asshole earlier. But you still miss him, you were hoping you’d get to say a proper goodbye, or maybe ask if he wanted to see you off at the airport.

Now you were certain you wouldn’t get to do that, he was stubborn too, he wouldn’t apologise so easily. But you could see it in his eyes, you knew he felt guilty saying all that, but honestly? You couldn’t care less. You didn’t owe him anything, if you wanted to go on deployment away from him then you would very well do so.

You looked around, the apartment was cleaned up, but the pile of belongings in front of you still stood. You were supposed to choose which ones to bring and which ones to give away.

Before you got a chance to do so, a knock at the door was heard. You furrowed your eyebrows, you weren’t expecting any deliveries, no family members over either.

But a voice called out from the other side

“Hey, it’s Brad. Could we talk?”

Fuck. Speak of the devil. You sighed and stood up, making sure your footsteps could be heard.

You took off the chains and opened the door, revealing him. He looked like a mess. He was wearing a black top with cargo pants. Honestly, you’d be lying if you said he didn’t look hot right now, but that wasn’t the point.

“What do you need?” You say

He pauses and observes you. You didn’t even realise, but you’re wearing the hoodie he got you when it came winter. Said you didn’t have enough warm clothes and got it for you without you asking, no interest in you paying him back either.

You follow his eyes and land on the hoodie. Crap. You fumble your words as you speak

“I just put it on- it was cold”

He shakes his head and grins. “No no, not judging. You look nice in it.”

You nod and look down. His smile falters, he almost forgot what he actually came here to do.

“Could I come in? I really need to speak to you.”

You look up and nod. “Yeah.”

You open the door wider for him and he steps in, while you lock the door, he takes a quick look around your apartment. You’ve tidied up, and in the middle next to your couch lies your many suitcase. He isn’t surprised. 9 months? You’re bound to bring alot of things. He ignores the remaining pile of stuff that lies next to them.

“If this is about earlier, forget it. It’s not important” he turns to look at you, your arms are crossed, and your eyes wander around everywhere, but not on him.

“Hey. It is. I was an asshole I’m sorry.” He sighs and moves closer to you

“No- it’s fine. Forget about it” you still don’t look to him

He sighs, and before he can take it back, he reaches out and tilts your chin upwards, making your eyes land on his. You both ignore the feeling that runs through your body at the touch.

“Don’t do that. It’s not fine. I don’t know why I did that” he lets go of you, and you still feel the essence of his touch.

“I’m truly sorry, you know that? I am happy for you. I mean Jesus- south Atlantic? You’re doing better than any of us” he chuckles

“And… you’re more than ready for this. Forget what I said, about not being ready and all that crap. You are.”

You bite the inside of your cheek, taking in his words. You appreciate him apologising, you really do. But part of you was hoping he wouldn’t at all, because then leaving here would be a hell lot easier.

There’s a silence that holds, and it’s comfortable. But there’s words that are meant to be said. You both know it.

He breaths in, before speaking up again.

“I’m gonna miss you. A lot more than I think you realise”

Your breath catches in your throat.

“I’ll miss you too. I will.” You say

He nods and looks down. Looking back up, you take a closer look at his face. You almost miss the way his eyes start to glisten.

“There’s nothing I can say to convince you to stay. Is there?”

You press your lips together, and shake your head, your own eyes glistening

“No. But there’s stuff you could say to make me come back”

His heart skips a beat, he knows full well what you’re talking about. It’s right there. Haunting the both of you, it always has been. A lingering thought. Waiting to be told aloud.

Bradley doesn’t care anymore, if he doesn’t say anything now, will he ever?

He takes a deep breath, before he decides to put his all out on the line.

“I love you. You know that, don’t you?” He asks, and you could swear the floor falls below you

You didn’t, not until just 10 minutes ago. But somehow you wonder if you always did know, deep down. Just that you wouldn’t let yourself believe it. The lingering touches, the eye contact.

You nod. “I know. I was just waiting for you to say it.”

He chuckles, “I didn’t do a good job of hiding it.”

You smile, and move closer to him.

You bring your hands up and place them on either side of his face, stroking his cheek.

He takes the moment to look at you. To properly look at you. He looks at your eyes, the shape of your eyebrows, your nose, your eyelashes, your lips. You had always said you sometimes got insecure about your looks. But looking at you now, you’re the most beautiful thing he’s ever seen.

You look to him, and whisper

“I love you too, you know that?”

He grins slightly, and nods

“I know, I was just waiting for you to say it.” You chuckle, and he laughs

He brings his hands to your waist, caressing it. He moves closer and asks in a low voice;

“Can I kiss you?”

You smile and nod, he doesn’t give it a second thought before he pulls you in. Connecting your lips to his.

You meet him halfway, holding his face as he gently kisses you. The months of words unsaid are let free now, and there’s a relief that’s lifted off both your shoulders.

After a few seconds, you let go for air. He pulls you in to put his forehead on yours.

“There’s absolutely nothing I can do to make you stay?”

You chuckle

“Maybe if you told me all this a few months ago, I would’ve stayed”

He chuckles and looks down

“I know.”

You breath in and speak up, wanting to address the other problem in the air

“Bradley… I’m away for 9 months. If that’s too long of a wait, then I understand”

He shakes his head as soon as you say it, “I don’t care. I’ll wait. I’ve already been waiting a year and a half for you. This is nothing” he smiles, and you chuckle in return

He pulls away and looks towards the pile of belongings still left, waiting for someone to tend to them. “Do you need help with that?” He asks

You breathe out a sigh of relief “please”

He laughs and nods, taking your hand in his. “Cmon. Let’s go sort it out”

You two sit down on the floor as you arrange all your belongings, now, the atmosphere around you isn’t filled with unspoken words anymore, instead, it’s filled with love, hope for something good. Before, there was an invisible string tying you towards each-other, yet neither of you seemed to know where it led, and now, you had both found the other end.

————————————————————————

masterlist

#bradley bradshaw #rooster top gun #rooster #bradley bradshaw x reader #bradley rooster bradshaw #rooster x reader #rooster x you #top gun x reader #top gun #top gun maverick

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simplyhale · 4 months ago

Text

thanks for the distraction t.b.

tim bradford x fem! reader

summary; after having a hard shift tim offers to take you home and it leads to something you had been wishing to happen

notes; i did in fact love writing the most cutest fluff possible for the characters that haven't heard of peace. this is how my brain works and i fully blame @sleepymissy for the tim brain rot.

words; 2534

— 𝜗𝜚✧* ₊˚ෆ՞

The cold metal of your desk relaxed the pounding feeling in the right side of your head. The pain had been so bad that it caused your whole body to heat up. Of course, today was the day that the universe decided to align. Not only did you have a mind splitting migraine, but the weather had created a heavy monsoon. And the cherry on top were the countless people that thought that the rain would make them better at driving.

Today wasn’t your day.

But did it have to be this fucking bad?

The sound of ceramice hitting the metal next to your limp body. Picking your head to see the white mug with beige colored coffee on the inside almost caused your knees to buckle. Nothing was touching the pain in your head but you hadn’t had the time to try and chug anything with caffeine in it. Pushing your palms into the edge of the desk to help prop yourself up onto your elbows. Trying not to move too fast. Pulling the mug closer to you by the rim before lacing your hand through the handle. “If you’re about to say we’re going out on another call, I will throw you through that glass window.”

“And here I thought I was your favorite.” Tim’s voice remarked.

Looking up you watched as he leaned against the frame of the entrance of the meeting room. Bring his own mug up to his lips before taking a long sip from it.

You were one of Tim’s first boots. You were the walking blueprint on what he would now do in order to teach his current boots. Tim would be nitpicking every little thing that you did wrong on a call. In result causing you to challenge and argue that if it was as big of a deal as he made it then why did the call end pretty well. This would then result in an argument that would last till the next call where he would pick something else to complain about. People would start taking bets on how many arguments the two of you would have before lunch.

Your thoughts on him changed once you graduated from being his boot and becoming an official officer. His overprotectiveness, by-the-book attitude that made you want to throw something at him came from a place of care. Your life was in his hands and he wasn’t about to let anything happen to his first boot.

This realization caused the two of you to become more friendly, working yourselves up to friends. Still having moments where two of you would argue in the shop as both of your boots watched wondering if it would end a bloodbath or the back of a supply closet.

There it was again. That feeling in the bottom of your stomach that you had suppressed when he was your TO. Was now rearing its ugly head back to light. Taking a long deep sip from the mug as your eyes stayed on him. The way his shirt was tight around his biceps that you of course spent a little too long looking at. His hands were wrapped around his mug. The same hands that you had imagined the feel of them along your skin – Nope not this way. A distraction was something you wanted, needed right now. Anything to get away from the pain. But not this type of distraction when the muse of it was looking right back at you.

Throwing your head back, closing your eyes before the bright white hanging lights above you met your eyes. Taking a deep breath, bring your free hand up to rub your dry tired eyes. “The shift feels like it’s never gunna end.”

“It ended five minutes ago.”

Your head shot towards him with wide eyes and brows knitted in confusion. He wasn’t right. The last time you checked the clock it was still an hour and a half left. But the smug smartass smirk on his lips made you question yourself. His eyes not leaving yours, silently daring you to look away and prove him right. Watching the brim of the mug reaching up to lips. The things you had thought about doing to them. The things they could do to you.

He was right. The digital clock on your home screen of your phone next to you gave you the answer. “Guess I lost track while finishing up my last report.”

Pushing off the edge of the desk before taking a hold of the mug and tossing the rest of the warm liquid down your throat. Feeling Tim’s eyes never leaving you. Especially feeling the burning of his stare when you brought your thumb up to the corner of your mouth and whipped the bit that spilled out. But it was probably just because he was worried about you. Knowing how bad any migraine can be. Even though you two were both TO’s he was still considered higher ranked than you. Meaning that anything you may want to happen couldn’t.

Taking the blue bucket that was used for the leaky faucet of the farest left sink of the locker room. Making sure to wash it out before filling it up with as hot of water you could handle. Bring it over to one of the benches before dunking your feet into it. Quickly feeling the pressure from your head relief. The complete relief cleared your head from everything…well almost everything.

Absolutely nothing could happen between the two of you. Even though you two were both TO’s he was still a rank or so higher than you. You couldn’t risk the thousand different ways it could bite you in the ass. He was your coworker. He was Tim.

But of course the moment you try to shake off any type of thought about him, he always had a way of popping up.

This time it was leaning against the driver door of your car. Scrolling on his phone while his other hand was dropped by his waist holding onto his backpack. Clearly waiting for you. “And just when I thought I was rid of you.” His head shot up smiling ever so slightly, but enough for you to notice.

“You really thought I was gunna let you drive home?”

You rolled your eyes, there was the over protectiveness that drove you nuts. But that voice in the back of your head would always take over as it was his way of showing he cared. “I feel fine enough to drive Tim.”

“Okay, but I was mostly talking about the downpour.” His head nodded in the direction of the open area of the parking garage. The sounds of heavy rain echoed throughout the concrete building. It was peaceful and yet eerie.

“And my shift tomorrow?” You asked, already knowing what he was about to say. “Come on, we’re scheduled for the same time.” He answered, causing you to smile but quickly turned your head. Swallowing it down before looking back at him, “Only if we get coffee beforehand.” He nodded his head. “And we get doughnuts.” His smile became more prominent.

The drive was oddly calm. You would think after the amount of accident reports you had been filling out at the end of your shift you would have at least seen a few. Or almost be in one. It wasn’t that you thought Tim was a carless driver, he could be reckless when needed but in normal everyday life he was the opposite. This along with the rain hitting the windows almost made you fall asleep. The only thing keeping you awake was him, and all the distraction that the thought of him would bring.

Bring you back to reality the truck was now parked outside your apartment building. The rain was now pouring even harder than it ever had. Pouting at the thought of walking the few feet up to your building's door knowing you’d get drenched. “And of course it gets harder before I get out.” You complained turning around into your seat.

Tim let his body hit the back of the seat, fully relaxing after shifting into park. “We will just wait it out. I’m in no rush.”

Resting the side of your head onto the window. Allowing the skin to cool against the cold glass. Positioning your body to diagonally face Tim. Allowing for the second time all day for your body to relax. Even though your eyes were shut you could still feel him. His gaze burning into your body. “You’re staring.”

“I’m waiting for the rain to lighten.”

You let out a scoff, opening your eyes back to see his drawl back to the windshield. “Sure and I’m the Easter Bunny.” While you spoke you tried to reposition yourself. Hating the way the door was currently digging into parts of your back. Not taking in the factors of rain water and leather seats. Causing you to slip and almost fell face first into his center console. Inhaling deeping as every muscle from your shoulders up tensed. Bracing for the impact that was about to come. Knowing that it mixed with the previous migraine pain wasn’t going to make for a pretty night.

Instead your collar was forcefully gripping. Yanking you upwards and then forwards. Followed by a hand wrapped around your waist pulling you towards Tim. You breathed heavy trying to catch your breath. Finally opening your eyes to see just how close you were to him.

His eyes stared into you, never daring to leave him. Feeling the grip on his waist never leaving. His finger digging into the small bit of flesh that came from his hand slipping under your hoodie. It felt like every second that held caused a burning sensation to come from them.

Your heart was thumping out of your chest. Partly because of almost splitting your head open on the center console. But also because if you were to slip again you two would collide.

You were hoping for that to happen.

The pounding of the rain had relaxed your body enough to forget about your headache. And now the adrenaline rush of being only a few inches from the man you’d had dreams about. Everything in your body was screaming not to turn away. Not to even blink. Afraid that if you did then it’ll all fizzle out into an uncomfortable silence.

A far bright vein of lighting lit up the car. Followed swiftly with the cracking of thunder.

The sound somehow made you finally tear your eyes from his. Quickly darting down to his lips. Ones you had dreamed about feeling on your neck, on your shoulders. Looking back up to see his tense jaw. Watching from the corner of your vision his throat move as he swallowed harsh. This caused your heart to somehow race even faster. The pit in your stomach started to twist and move lower in your body.

With the countless times the two of you had gone over body language. Insisting that it was the way between life and death. He was giving you all the telltale signs.

He was debating on pulling you into him.

No he couldn’t be. Your mind had to be messin with you. A sick joke…But what if it wasn’t? What if him swallowing was a reaction from you looking at his mouth. There was only one way to make sure you weren’t thinking too much into it.

Down and back up. Your eyes trailing from his right to let and there it was. His hand still holding your waist tightened.

Another flash of light hits, as if a spark ignites inside of you. Causing any fear or anxiety about him washes away with adrenaline. It was now or never and you wanted this. With the crackling boom of the thunder you pushed forwards. Collide the two of your lips, allowing only a second before pulling back. His brows furrowed as he sat there like a deer in headlights. Watching as his eyes slowly opened, looking almost hurt that you pulled away. Lips hovering inches from each other for a few seconds before barely brushing against the other as you opened your mouth to say something. Wanting him to say something. To say anything. The hand on your waist pulled you right back in. Pushing you flesh against the center console and right up against his hard chest.

Melting into him as the kiss completely engulfed your body. Every sense of emotion being pushed towards the bottom of your body. Replaced in its wake was a warm, excited feeling. One that made you not want this moment to ever end. The smell of his musky cologne was just the right amount to not be overpowering. Mixing with the refreshing comforting smell of the rain had you intoxicated.

His fingertips pressing under their top, drawing gentle circles against that small strip of bare skin caused you to every so slightly pull back with a gasp. Allowing him to deepen the kiss even further. Your fingers slowly wrapped around the nape of his neck. Pulling softly at the roots trying to use it to your advantage to move in sync with him. It felt like you two were the only living things in the world.

Finally pulling apart resting your foreheads against each other. Trying to both catch your breath and wrap your head around what just happened. Blinking your eyes open, pressing your lips together feeling the swollenness and warmth of them. Your cheeks quickly hurt from how hard you were smiling. Looking back at Tim who was currently struggling to open his eyes afterwards. Trying to bask in the moment before fully opening them. But when they did his gaze never left yours and his lips quickly matched your smile. Looking at you with utter and complete awe.

Your eyes slowly drifted away towards the front windshield seeing that the rain was now turned to a light drizzle and not a downpour. An evil and yet sad smirk fell onto you. Knowing this was the only opportunity to not get drenched from head to toe. But you didn’t want to leave this moment.

Yet you were quick to climb out of the car, pulling the hood of your hoodie up over your head. Placing a strap of your bag on your shoulder. Looking at him as all he could do was watch you leave. His expression didn’t change, but his eyes now had a slight plea from them for you not to leave.

Using the seat as a brace you launched yourself towards him. Quickly kissing him once more before pulling back, all your weight now on your hand and foot on the truck's side bars. “See you in the morning.” You spoke with a small scrunch of your nose fully knowing you were a tease. Hoping back out of the truck and shutting the door. Running up to your building's door quickly putting in your code before walking in and over to the elevator. Your back hit the wall of the elevator, your smile only growing knowing you get to see him again in a few hours.

#maddie speaks ✩‧₊˚#tim bradford #tim bradford x reader #tim bradford x y/n #it being tight around his biceps 😫#the rookie #tim bradford x you #tim bradford imagine #tim bradford deserve the most tooth rotten amount of fluff #this took far too long but i needed to write this #i honestly kinda wish it was raining right now #writing this because if not my brain won't shut up about it

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loveu2themoonandsaturn · 3 months ago

Text

“SLUT!”

loosely inspired by the taylor swift song.

steve harrington x fem!reader

a/n: tried to get the word count but I fear I lost track at 3k and that was maybe only the halfway point 😭 also sorry for the potentially shit formatting, I’ve never done this before and I typed the whole thing in the tumblr app. hope it doesn’t ruin the reading experience 😅 all credit for dividers goes to @strangergraphics!

angst, hurt/comfort, fluff(ish), no use of y/n, second person, office gossip, way past upside down but hawkins is still that same small town, very 80s/90s attitude toward sex, slutshaming, sort of miscommunication trope (more like meddling jackass trope) minor injury (no blood), reader is mentioned as having meat in her freezer and consumes dairy once, only kinda beta’d because every time I try I just end up ADDING THINGS, smut 18+ MDNI, filthier tags below.

contains: porn with an unreasonable amount of plot, protected piv fucking (girls we cannot afford children in this economy, wrap it before you tap it), soft pleasure dom!Steve, needy Steve who may or may not be real big on talking you through it, oral (m+f), fingering, some ball sucking, intimacy, love confessions (i’m sorry😭), eye contact, hickies like a motherfucker, no body type mentioned, no hair type or length mentioned, y’all prolly know most of the drill.

hope you enjoy! 🩵

Steve swore he felt his soul leave this side of heaven when he felt a fist slam against the front desk of the Family Video, right next to where his head so happened to be resting, wrapped up in his own arms. Whoever just did that was about to hear a piece of his mind.

“Hey man, what the hell- oh. Hey,” He relaxes for a moment when he sees that it’s you, but only for just that moment.

Because then he sees your face.

Hot, angry tears are streaming stoically down your face from a pair of red, puffy eyes. He panics at the expression that paints the face he so adores.

His immediate instinct is to fix it.

“Baby, what’s wro—”

“Don’t you fucking call me baby right now,” you cut him off. Your voice is cold, almost devoid of emotion. It worries Steve. “Why would you say those things about me, why would you lie?”

Steve’s head is spinning now. Lies? Talking about you? Was he still asleep, dreaming? Had he accidentally shifted into another dimension? Hell, it wouldn’t be the first time.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about, slow down—”

You scoff. “I don’t believe that for a second. I believed you when you said you’d changed, that you weren’t that same douchebag we all knew back in high school,” you pause, throat catching on the lump nestled deep within it. “But I was wrong about that. I won’t make that mistake twice.”

Steve felt his heart shattering, and he didn’t even know why, didn’t understand what on earth was going on.

“Wait, no, I’m serious, I don’t know what we’re talking about here, please!” He’s desperate now, needs to know what he did, what transgression he forgot that he must now atone for.

“You expect me to believe you don’t know what your good friend Tommy got up to this morning?”

Tommy? Tommy Hagan? Steve hadn’t so much as spoken to that toxic jackass in years, what could he possibly have to do with anything-

“Because I walked into work today and was greeted by him, in front of all my coworkers, announcing that he had a gift for the new town whore,” you choke out, voice no longer cold, but bitter. Angry. Sad. “And he handed me what must have been the deadest, most rotten bouquet of flowers left from the supermarket, with a card. ‘To the SLUT, courtesy of King Steve,’” you say, voice raised enough to catch the attention of several now-nosy movie perusers.

Steve stands slack-jawed, floored at the mere thought. He wasn’t even sure how Tommy knew he was seeing you, let alone what he could have done to give him the impression that you had slept with him.

Unfortunately for Steve, you don’t take his silence for the shock that it is.

“Nothing to say for yourself? My reputation is in shreds, my boss won’t look me in the eye and my coworkers haven’t stopped whispering since 9 a.m., yet you have nothing to say for yourself?” you spit, incredulous.

Steve’s brain finally gets with the program and makes his mouth move.

“Honey, I didn’t know anything about this,” he pauses when you roll your eyes, crossing your arms in front of your chest, “I haven’t talked to Tommy since high school. I have changed, I’m not the person that I used to be, and even if I was still friends with Hagan’s sorry ass, I would never, ever lie about you like that. I like you. I care about you. I would never put that in jeopardy.”

Steve’s eyes are pleading, which you might notice if you could even bring yourself to meet them.

“God, Steve, please don’t treat me like I’m stupid-”

“I’m not, I’m not!,” he cuts you off. “I swear, I don’t know how he got that idea into his head, but I would never do that to you!” Steve is fighting the urge to raise his voice. You deserve his gentleness, even during a fight, he thinks. That gentleness is clearly not mutual, though, at least not right now.

“Is it because I said I wasn’t ready?” you say, voice at a low volume.

Steve feels his heart thud restlessly in his chest, hurt and pain lashing at the muscle.

“Wh… What?” He’s giving you an opportunity to back out, clarify, say you don’t mean what he thinks you mean. But you double down.

“Is Tommy doing this out of some weird bro-code respect for you because I said I wasn’t ready to have sex with you.” You ask it like it’s a statement, a sure thing, no real questioning to your tone.

He’s hit with a wave of this sick feeling in his stomach, this inescapable dread at the thought that you might believe even for a second that he would stoop that low. He swallows, a thick feeling as a lump in his own throat starts to make itself known.

“You really think that poorly of me?” he mutters out, pained.

You shake your head, tears falling faster now.

“I didn’t Steve. All my friends told me I was being stupid, too trusting of you, giving you too much benefit of the doubt, and I…” you prick your finger into your own chest, bone meeting bone as the digit presses into your sternum. “I told them they were crazy. That they were stuck in the past and that you were so different now. I defended you.” You let out a mirthless chuckle. “And look where that got me. Do you know what half the town will think by this time tomorrow? They’re gonna that I spread my legs for the first man to show interest in me, for the man who has a well-documented history of taking what he wants and leaving, and they’re going to think I’m pathetic and easy for it.” He’s never seen you like this. It’s agony.

“In a way… the truth is almost worse. Because I was stupid enough to let ‘King Steve’ come and pretend to be all sweet and gentlemanly and brand-spanking-new. I guess the punishment fits the crime, right? I believed you, and now nobody is gonna believe me.” You start to turn on your heel, halfway ready to walk out the door.

“Wait, wait!” Steve is frantic now. “I don’t know how this happened, but please, give me a chance, let me fix this for you,” he begs.

You squeeze your eyes shut, hands finally coming up to wipe away some tears so you can at least leave with some dignity.

“I don’t think this is something you can fix.”

And with that, the best thing in Steve’s life walks out the door.

Hurt doesn’t even begin to describe how he feels. But it’s quickly replaced by rage, blinding anger that someone would do this to you. More anger yet that Tommy-fucking-Hagan of all people would crawl out of whatever hole he’s been living in to, to what? Ruin his chance at happiness with you since Carol dumped him the second she went away for college? Hurt you just for being associated with Steve and a better future, not his past? What the hell is this?

He’s dialing Robin’s number before he can even think straight, asking if she can do him a favor and stay the last hour at the store, close up. He mindlessly agrees to whatever condition it is she sets; he’s hardly paying attention, because now? Now he has business to attend to.

The night is young, and Steve knew he’d luck out eventually by just going from filthy dive bar to filthy dive bar. After all, there were only so many places in Hawkins where a burnout could go to delude himself into thinking he’s not there to drown his sorrows.

It’s at the fifth one that he lays eyes on Tommy, looking worse for wear. He’s surrounded by a couple other guys that walk and talk and dress like Steve used to in high school, Tommy’s obvious attempt at replacing him. He almost wonders if he’ll find a pseudo-Carol somewhere in the crowd, waiting to dote on him.

Steve overhears Tommy talking, who clearly does not know he’s even been found and is being watched.

“I mean, you guys should have seen the look on her face. Harrington’s girl was basically a puddle, I guess she knew she got caught. You know what they say, though boys—”

“Yeah? What is it they say, Tommy?” Steve’s sudden interruption brings a mix of shock and satisfied jeers among the little crowd. Tommy turns whistles, rubbing his hands together in satisfaction.

“Well look what the cat dragged in! Big King Steve back from his latest conquest. What’s wrong, your girl can’t handle the consequences of her own actions?”

Steve’s jaw gets tight at that; he’s trying damn hard to maintain some semblance of control. All he can think about is how bad he wants to punch that smirk off Tommy’s face.

“And just what do you think you know about her, huh Hagan? Or did that half semester of college give you time to get into shitty creative writing?” Steve grits out.

“Oh, please Harrington, don’t act like half the town didn’t see you two heading into your place this weekend. Doesn’t take a rocket scientist to put two and two together,” Tommy says, cocky as ever.

A moment of realization hits Steve then. He had brought you to his house, at night, and you two were alone. He’d let you sleep in the guest room when it got too late. It never even occurred to him that someone was watching, let alone would assume something went down between the two of you and spread that assumption around.

He feels like such a fucking idiot.

He knows this town, knows these people. They love nothing more than a scandal. Something to gossip about. He should have been more careful with you. His own anger with himself turns into rage at the sorry excuse for a man now standing before him.

“You’re such goddamn dumbass, Hagan. She’s not a whore, a slut, an anything. She slept in the guest bedroom, and she only spent the night in the first place because I said it was too late to drive her home.”

Tommy and his gaggle of trust fund babies, one of whom surely paid for the flattening beer he takes a swig from, all elbow each other, exchanging knowing glances.

But they don’t know shit, Steve thinks.

“Listen, Harrington, it’s cute that you want to ‘defend her honor,’” Tommy mocks, “But at the end of the day, nobody in this town was born yesterday. I’m sorry her feelings got hurt just because people noticed how easy she is, but that’s how it i- what the fuck dude??”

Tommy is cut off quickly and finds the edge of the bar jamming into his spine, with Steve Harrington having rushed in and wrapped his fists into Tommy’s shirt collars.

“She is anything but easy, you son of a bitch,” Steve seethes, pushing Tommy back again for emphasis. “Six months we’ve been dating, and I haven’t touched her. You know why that is? Because I actually give two shits about her, I have respect for her, something you’re not capable of doing or having for anybody.”

Tommy is thrown off guard, but quickly recovers, slapping that smirk right back on his face. Steve decides then and there that he hates that smirk.

“Listen buddy. We all remember your track record when it comes to anything that involves fists,” Tommy sneers. “Unless you wanna get your ass handed to you, I suggest letting me go. It’s not like anyone would believe she’s the choir girl you want us to think she is.”

Steve laughs, the sound dark. He laughs, and that confuses the hell out of Tommy and his crew.

“Maybe you peaked in high school and forgot that other people grow past who they were at 18, but the rest of us didn’t. So if I were you? I’d get to work fixing this shit, unless you want to have to fix your goddamn teeth, buddy,” Steve says, his threat only cushioned slightly by his sarcastic remark.

“Like hell I will,” Tommy yells before shoving Steve off. He swings, and color quickly blooms across the apple of Steve’s left cheek. “Now get the fuck out of h-”

Tommy doesn’t get to finish. Or do much of anything, really.

With one solid, square hit to the chin, Steve lays Tommy out, leaving him with nothing more than a sure concussion and a nice sticky spot on the bar floor to come to on.

Tommy’s herd of friends stand in stunned silence, a strong juxtaposition from their earlier mindless chittering. It’s satisfying, if Steve is honest with himself.

Steve steps closer to them, causing a few of them to back off, clearly not wanting to be next.

“When he wakes up, you tell your little friend here to fix the mess he made, and that if I so much as have to hear someone utter his name again for the rest of my life, I’m coming back and beating his ass, and next time I won’t stop once he’s on the ground. Oh, and make sure he leaves me and my girl alone, yeah?”

Something about Steve’s energy is enough to have them nodding, no questions asked.

Steve storms out of the bar, only one mission left for the day.

You’re home in your apartment, taking your feelings out on a bowl of ice cream and watching Pretty in Pink for what must be the ninth time, when you hear knocking at your door.

You find yourself wondering who the hell would be knocking at this hour, only irked at the possibilities running through your head.

You’re already yelling through to the person on the other side as you make your way to the door.

“I don’t want to buy whatever you’re selling and I already know Jesu- Oh.”

You swing open the door to find none other than Steve Harrington, looking a lot more bruised than the last time you saw him.

Both of his eyes look apologetic, pitiful, and the quickly forming mark beneath his left one certainly isn’t helping your resolve.

You have the urge to kick him to the curb, but find that, in spite of what you believe he did, you didn’t leave your feelings for him at the doors of the Family Video when your hightailed it out of there earlier that day.

So that’s how you get here, with Steve sitting on your kitchen counter, right fist squishing into a bag of frozen peas, left hand pressing a freezer-burnt steak into the respective cheek. Your movie is forgotten, frozen in time, and what remained of the ice cream has been left to melt.

You’re silent, plaid pajama pants and your softest T-shirt hanging on to your form, only shielded somewhat by the fuzzy robe that sits open, mostly just draped around your shoulders. As you lean against your fridge, you take a long sip from your mug, warm liquid soothing as you fight to break the silence, the tension that seems to suffocate the room.

You don’t ask where those bruises came from. Curious as you are, you find you’re not sure if you really want to know. However, you’re not left to wonder for long.

“I’m pretty sure I put Tommy Hagan in the emergency room tonight.”

Your eyes nearly fall out of your head with how wide they get, head snapping up when he says that.

“I, um, got real pissed when you told me what he did to you, and I went from bar to bar until I found him. I told him to fix it, and he acted like it was some big joke, and I was just seeing red, but in my defense, he hit me first,” he rambles, gesturing vaguely to the slowly thawing slab of meat currently taking up half the real estate on his face.

You continue to stare at him, bug-eyed and unmoving. Steve finds himself unable to stop talking under your gaze.

“He said he or, someone, I guess, saw you come into my house the other night and never leave and so they like? Assumed the rest, and I’m sorry, because I definitely should have thought about how it might look before offering you the guest bed, or I should have taken you home, or I should have slept on the goddamn sidewalk so it was incredibly clear nothing was going on but I didn’t so I told him, or I guess I told his friends to pass along the message, to fix it and he was just out cold on the floor of the bar and I-”

“Steve.”

He finally stops, looking at you. He sees tears welling up in your eyes and immediately assumes it was something he said. He starts to apologize, but you hold up a hand, shaking your head.

“I just can’t believe you would do that for me,” you mutter, at a loss for words.

Steve, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world, says, “I mean, of course. You’re my girl and someone was mean to you. I’m crazy about you, why would I let anyone hurt you just to take you away from me?” He cocks his head when he asks, eyes innocent. “And I mean, it doesn’t hurt that Tommy is the biggest jackass in all of Indiana and has been earning that knockout since we were like, 16,” he laughs out.

For a moment, the cognitive dissonance is winning out. You’d fought with yourself all day about the kind of person Steve Harrington is. Who, until very recently, he always was. All day, you’d let the voices of high school friends permeate your head, losing trust in your gut, in your own instincts, in what you thought and believed. You had yourself convinced that you’d allowed yourself to be blinded, had just wanted the attention, the affection, and that Steve had never ever changed, just got better at hiding it. But maybe the truth wasn’t so simple.

A tear falls. In assuming he had broken your trust, had you broken his?

You know it’s not your fault. Not really. That blame belongs squarely on the shoulders of a loser who’s going to have to explain to a less-than-nice nurse just why he came through the doors of the emergency room with a concussed head and a dislocated jaw.

But you fell for it. A few mean looks, some workplace gossips whispering in the break room, and you fell right into Tommy’s trap. Hook, line, sinker.

What was it that made you so easily believe the worst of the man who has, throughout your relationship, shown you nothing but affection and kindness?

Guilt gnaws at you, because you think you know.

“I’m so sorry for not believing you. And for all the things I said earlier. I was… I was cruel. I was mean and defensive and let some pseudo-high school drama put me right back in that place mentally, put you right back to who you were in my mind, and that was unfair. I was punishing you for your past, and you didn’t deserve that,” you say, looking over at Steve now.

But Steve is having none of it.

“I spent years being the worst version of myself to everyone around me whose pants I wasn’t trying to get into. I was vindictive and, sometimes? Flat out evil toward people who weren’t high enough up on the social ladder for me. If I had been in your position, I would have thought the same thing, because I have thoroughly earned that reputation. I don’t expect you to get rid of that past version of me in your head. I know you can’t just forget. You’re only human.”

He slides off the counter, frozen goods abandoned as he crosses over to you where you lean and looks you in your eyes.

“It’s my job to make up for it. To prove I’ve changed. That’s not trust that forms easily, it’s hard earned, and I intend to do everything I can to win it fair and square. To earn the right to be yours.”

You feel heat burn behind your cheeks at his sweet words. “So does that mean you forgive me for being a real bitch to you in front of customers today?”

Steve laughs, the sound jovial and refreshing after the day you’ve had.

“Sweetheart, there’s nothing to forgive, but how ‘bout I say all is forgiven if you can forgive me for being a huge dumbass?” His lopsided grin and the way he’s looking at you, all heart eyes and pure adoration… all of it is too much, too good, and all you can do is nod, a small, hopeful smile on your face.

“Good. Now, would’ya c’mere and let me comfort you? Let me take care of my girl after the shitty day she had?” He holds his arms open to you, hands waving you in.

You roll your eyes just a bit before giving in, immediately accepting the familiarity and warmth of your boyfriend’s arms. You’re so glad he’s still your boyfriend.

He kisses the top of your head and lets your face press into his chest, allowing his own heartbeat to soothe you as he holds one arm firmly around your waist, letting the other rub a flat palm up and down your back.

“Sweet girl, you didn’t deserve how they treated you today…” he mutters just loud enough for you to hear. “Only deserve good things… gonna give you all the good things to make up for it, yeah?”

The sheer relief you feel being here, with him uttering sweet nothings into your ear and treating you like the you’re the only thing that matters in the whole wide world, it makes up for it all, you think. Maybe tomorrow will be hard, maybe people at work will still suck, but you won’t be facing it alone. You’ll have Steve. That feels like enough.

You let yourself peek out from where you’d tucked yourself in so you can look up at this wonderful man who did so much today to prove that he’s not who everyone thinks he is. He looks back down at you and just smiles, staring into your eyes.

It may have been less than a day.

But, God, you had missed him.

So you indulge yourself, removing one of the arms from around his body and placing a hand far back on his neck, just enough to be able to run your fingers softly through the short pieces at the base, brushing your thumb along his jawline.

His smile falters for just half a second, replaced by the shivers you give him.

Encouraged by his reaction, you don’t hold back, using your hand as leverage to drag his face into yours for a sweet kiss. Your lips lock, and neither one of you moves away or lets go until the need for oxygen wins out. It’s stupid and sappy and exactly what you needed.

When you do finally have to let go, you’re both breathing hard, but Steve still finds it in him to make a suggestion.

“I think I left some sweats and a T-shirt here back when I helped you move in that new couch,” he gestures to the spot where you had just been wallowing, “How ‘bout I change and we get comfortable on the couch and you tell me every thought on that pretty little mind?”

You two do exactly that. He’s pleasantly surprised to find you’d laundered the very clothes he’d left over, something you shyly justified with the possibility that he might get stuck and need to spend the night, a concept which clearly flustered you to no end.

So there you are, curled up in Steve’s arms, same paused movie frame still on the TV, and you just rant about your day.

“…And if all of that wasn’t enough, she had the nerve to whisper one last snickering ‘whore’ to me on my way out! I don’t know where she gets off, especially since it was just last month that everyone heard she got caught sneaking out of the supply closet with the assistant manager!” Steve chuckles at that, “But it just sucked! I don’t mind being the center of attention, but good grief, not like this! These people are like vultures! It made me sad and mad and just a bunch of other things and it was ridiculous because it was all for something I didn’t even do!” you finish, Steve pressing comforting kisses into your temple.

“That’s just not right, honey. I’m sorry you had to go through that,” he says.

You lean into his chaste kisses, hands playing with his fingers where they sit clasped in your lap.

“I just… it’s ridiculous. I mean, half the reason I told you I wasn’t ready for sex was because I was so anxious, so terrified that somehow people would know and then they would judge me for it,” you shake your head. “And I know, that’s like bullshit, but it’s where my head was at. Today though? All I could think to myself all day was, I wish I would have just done it. I didn’t do anything and they still talked all their shit. If I’m going to be called a slut, a whore, easy, I should at least have gotten something out of it. Give ‘em something real to talk about, make the their bullshit worthwhile,” you muse. “Maybe I still should.”

You’re so lost in those musings that you barely notice the way Steve is staring at you, wondering if he’s had a stroke.

“What do you mean?” he says, certain he’s misheard.

He definitely knows what you mean. Being called on it, however, has you almost backtracking, your face so hot now he would surely get burned if he touched it.

You don’t look him in the eye, instead appearing very focused on each individual finger on his hands as they sit in your lap. You’re unfortunately noticing that he takes very good care of his nails, keeping them short and clean, perfect for— Stop that, you chide yourself, finally responding to your boyfriend, who is maybe having an aneurism behind you.

“I mean, just… it’s so stupid, the only reason I didn’t do something that I really wanted to do was because I was worried what people would say about me. That all seems pretty moot now so, I dunno… maybe we should… do it… sometime,” you mumble out, not sure if you’re embarrassed more by your seriously weird concerns about the opinions of others or the fact that you’re all but asking Steve to have sex with you.

Steve is not thinking about either option, though, being ever the opportunist.

“I would take you right now.”

Maybe you’re the one having that stroke?

You whip your head around and look at him, that same hungry look, the one he always gets when the two of you make out for just a liiiiiiittle bit too long, now gracing his face.

You whisper out, “Are you serious?”

He nearly scoffs at that. “I don’t play games when it comes to you,” a phrase that has a more than one meaning after his bar-side activities this evening, “I’ll always wait for your yes, and I’ll always stop at your no but… for that time in between? I’m making love to you like it’s my last day on earth.”

Your breath hitches, something deep within you warming and stirring at his words.

“Can I tell you something, Steve?”

“Always, gorgeous.”

You gulp.

“You’ve got my yes.”

Suddenly, you’ve been moved. You’re laying on your back on your couch and your very gorgeous boyfriend has one leg between your thighs, holding your face between both hands as his spine arches over your body and leans his face toward your face so he can kiss the air right out of your lungs.

You two had made out before but compared to this? Jesus H.

You hear the sound of your own soft whine as he readjusts and the movement presses his strong thigh firmly against your core. You watch as he breaks the kiss just to groan, already so satisfied, so intoxicated by you.

“That’s right pretty girl, just let yourself feel good, I’m gonna take care of everything, gonna take real good care of you,” he rambles, eyes squeezed shut as he nods at nobody in particular.

“You want that, baby? You gonna let me make you feel like you deserve?” He forces his eyes open to stare at you. Good God. You nod, another desperate sound that could maybe pass for a “Yes” pressing its way out of your chest.

“Atta girl,” he says before tearing his own shirt off, the garment landing somewhere on your living room floor.

He pushes his fingers beneath the fabric of the robe you’re still wearing, slowly slipping it off of you, saying, “Now anything you don’t want me to do, anything you want me to stop, you let me know, yeah? Let me hear you, baby.”

The robe is quickly abandoned beneath you as you all but blubber out a “Yeah, yes, Steve, I will.”

He stands up, leaving you confused for a moment.

“I’m not doing this with you for the first time on your couch. C’mon, sweet thing, up,” he says, reaching for your hands.

You take his and let him lead you to your own bedroom, shutting the door behind the two of you despite your living alone. In a way, it’s perfect, isolated in a way that makes you feel like it’s just you and him.

He turns to you, walking up to your form and kissing you again, his hands reclaiming their space on the sides of your face. You’re sure you’ll never get tired of that feeling.

His kisses last long, but almost not enough, his lips moving down to your jaw, your neck, searching for that spot that makes you—

“Oh, fuck, Steve.”

Found it.

He hones in on the spot, kissing and licking at it gently. His aim isn’t to leave a mark — not here, anyway — but just to make you feel good.

By the way you’re panting in his ear? He’s pretty sure he’s succeeding.

He walks you backwards, careful, only detaching himself from your neck to help lay you down gently. He crawls over top of you, his body caging yours.

Your shirt has ridden up, revealing a touch of midriff to Steve. It only makes him more feral.

He plays with the hem of your shirt, warm fingers brushing against the skin below.

“Can I take this off for you?” he asks.

You’re nodding, already moving to help him strip the fabric from your form. You weren’t wearing a bra because, truly, why would you be wearing one in your own home, so his eyes are free to land right on your chest and watch the soft jiggling as you breathe in and out.

You had worried that he might pick out spots on your body that made you insecure, but that worry flies out the window when you see that same hungry look back in his eyes.

Frankly, he looks so desperate, you almost feel bad.

“It’s okay, Steve, do what you want. I’ll tell you to stop if I don’t like it,” you say, encouraging him.

You truly do not have to tell him twice.

First he’s kissing that spot on your neck again, earning a breathy sigh and a pleased smile from your lips. Then he travels, lips attaching to your collarbone, and you feel it as he kisses his way down to your breast, sucking a nipple into his mouth, thumb rubbing over the other one as his tongue works at this one.

That earns a good bit more than a sigh.

“Holy shit, Steve… that feels so, ah,” your voice grows pitchy as you bite back your moans. Your refusal to let him hear you doesn’t bother him one bit. It just means he has to work harder to pull those pretty sounds from you.

He switches his lips to your other breast, mouth laving messily over this nipple as his other thumb slips and slides across the one he just left.

You already feel so good, but you know he’s just getting started. The thought makes you shiver.

Once he’s satisfied with the attention he’s given to your nipples, he expands his journey across the map of your skin and starts sucking at the underside of your breasts, leaving marks only you and he will ever get to see. Whichever breast he’s not busy leaving darkening splotches on is being squeezed and squished, only adding to the feelings that all seem to be directed right at your quickly-soaking cunt.

Having left you littered with marks, some even landing on your torso and the soft skin of your belly, Steve looks up at you, lips swollen and wet from his hard work.

“Please say I can go down on you,” he sighs out, sounding like he’s in another world.

You balk at that for a moment, worried.

“You don’t have to Steve, I know guys don’t really like-”

“I want to. So, so fucking bad. I want to make you feel good and I need to taste you or I might actually explode. I don’t care how you keep it or what it looks like, I just, fuck!” His voice is pleading, his desire bleeding through every syllable.

He takes his kisses down to your hips, pushing your sweatpants and panties down just a touch to reveal more of your entirely-too-kissable body. He’s sucking at the thin skin there, leaving his mark on yet another inch of you.

“Please baby, if you want it, please let me,” he whines out, an incredibly sweet and needy sound.

Well shit. Who are you to say no to that?

“Okay, yeah, yes, you can, Steve,” you rush out, turned on beyond belief.

“God, yes, that’s my girl,” he mutters out, not even pausing to consider the effect those words are having on you.

You’d find it inconsiderate if it didn’t make you want him so much more.

His fingers are quick to hook back into both your bottoms, tapping the side of your hip so you’ll lift them as he all but tears the clothing from your legs. He easily spreads your now-bare limbs, eyes laser-focused on the absolutely sopping wet pussy that he unveils.

“Holy shit… is this all because of me?” he questions, experimentally sliding a finger through your folds, gathering your slick.

You laugh, breathless. “Have we been in the same room this whole time? I don’t think I’ve ever been this turned on in my life.”

His dick has been hard for a hot minute now, so that confession earns an almost painful twitch.

He can’t find it in himself to ask any more questions, just sliding your pretty thighs over his shoulder, kissing them as he makes his way down to where you need him most.

The first lick is thorough, but gentle. A trembling whimper leaves your lips, then the sound of his name.

He finds himself moaning at your taste, desperation to drink you in winning out.

He presses his tongue right into your waiting hole, occasional moans against you earning him yet another flood of your juices to taste, a tantalizing squeeze of your walls around him only complimenting the flavor.

He moves to lap at your folds, greedy, head only coming to a stop once he’s got the flat of his tongue rubbing circles over your clit. You finally lose the battle you’d been fighting, letting out a moan that makes you thankful your last next door neighbor just moved out last week.

Steve, cheeky as ever, smiles at this, hot breath from a laugh billowing past his tongue and onto you. He’s almost too good at this.

He gives thick, teasing licks to your clit, each one serving as punctuation as he talks to you.

“Best fucking pussy… Fuck… could eat this pretty pussy… mm… for the rest of my life… so good,” he murmurs, absolutely drunk on you.

“Steve…” you whine out, needing him so badly it nearly hurts.

“Oh, darlin’, I know,” Lick. “I know, pretty girl,” Lick. “Just need’ya,” Lick. “To be patient for me,” Lick. “Doing so good,” Lick. “Making me so proud.”

He picks right then to properly dive in, licking and sucking on you until you can hear your own heartbeat, feel it in your throat. The sounds you make for him are downright debauched, curses and expletives floating in between the sound of his name. He couldn’t be happier.

You’ve been clenching around nothing for some time now as been pleasuring you, though, and that doesn’t sit right with him.

So, before you know it, Steve is working one, then two fingers into your dripping heat, reaching farther inside of you than you ever could. Your hands quickly seat themselves among the roots of his hair, holding his head exactly where you want him.

Your cries ring out freely through the air, a weak, “I’m so close,” the only interruption. Your thighs have begun to squeeze around Steve’s head. He’s not sure if you’re trying to keep him there forever or shut him out but, it’s all the same to him. He’d happily wear you like a pair of earmuffs for the rest of the night. Best damn pair he ever owned, if he did say so himself.

He holds steady with his actions, moving his fingers just so inside you, repeating the same motion of his tongue against your clit until it hurts, but he’s well rewarded for his efforts.

“Oh, fuck, Steve, I think I’m… fuck, I’m gonna—” you’re forced to cut yourself off as an orgasm overtakes your body, pouring pounds of pleasure over you all at once like one of those giant buckets at a water park. It’s electric, overwhelming, and so, so good. Your moans lilt out, high pitched and shaped something like Steve’s name.

He works you through it; he doesn’t stop until you peel his head from between your legs, pulling him up for a kiss that leaves you both lightheaded, exchanging moans between each others mouths as your bodies press together. You can taste yourself on him, something you didn’t expect to make you as feral as it does.

Steve breaks the kiss, sitting back on his knees to admire his handiwork. Gorgeous, angry little hickies have already begun to bloom beneath your satin skin. He’s excited for the day they fade so he can go back and replace them.

You watch him, laying breathless while he ogles you with a smirk, scanning your body up and down to appreciate the beautiful mess he’s made of it.

It makes you decide that payback may be due.

Steve stands, ridding himself of his bottoms, hard cock swinging free. You can’t help but think to yourself how pretty he is, how unfair it is that he’s so pretty everywhere.

You move to get up on your knees in front of Steve where he stands next to the bed, kissing his face, his jaw, his neck, his chest, his—

“Wait, wait, baby, wait,” he stops you mid-descent. “As hot as it is that you want to return the favor, I don’t think I’ll last and I really, really need to be inside you.”

It’s your turn to smirk now, but before you do, you turn those same pleading eyes he weaponized against you right back at him.

“Please, Stevie? I’ll be gentle, I’ll go real slow,” you say, fluttering your eyelashes up at him.

He presses his palms into his eyes, losing the fight for control going on in his head.

“…Fuck, just please be careful, no funny business, yeah?” he sighs out, looking down at you.

You let on that smirk now, and finish kissing your way down his body, laying on your stomach. Your tongue just barely teases the tip, a small kitten lick that grants you a drop of precum. He tenses at the feeling, sheer pleasure already making him regret his own weakness toward you. It’s all he can do not to blow his load at just the idea of what’s going on right now.

Gently, you place a hand beneath his dick, feeling the weight of it, your mouth watering. You wrap your fingers around it, careful not to use too much pressure. You look him in the eye as you pull just the head into your mouth, moaning around him.

“You’re gonna kill me, holy shit,” Steve says.

You giggle a bit, moving your mouth up and down just a bit, cautious of any sudden movements that might prove too overwhelming.

“Feels too good baby, won’t be able to keep going like this,” he pants, sensitive and whining.

You pull off of him with a soft pop. “Compromise, then?”

He’s not sure what you mean until-

“Jesus fucking Christ baby, holy shit, shit, shit!” Steve is fighting for his life at the sight of you softly stroking his cock with one of his balls pulled securely into your mouth.

You can tell by that reaction and by the purely distraught look on his face that he won’t let you stay down here for much longer, so you make the most of it.

You suck gently, continuing to stroke. You switch to the other side, but not without licking a fat stripe from his base to his tip, earning a strangled noise of pleasure.

“God, you’re cruel,” he whimpers out, unable to contain his own soft moans and sighs as you work.

Steve feels himself getting a little closer than he’d like. “Alright, that’s enough of that for you, missy,” he says as he pulls away from your touch, laughing at the noise of protest you make as he does.

“Don’t worry darlin’, just lay back for me,” he says, walking over to the jeans he had discarded earlier.

You do as he says with only a slight grumble, but can’t help yourself as you watch Steve walk. Even his ass is pretty, you think as you watch him bend over and pull out his wallet, plucking a foil packet from its confines.

He turns around then, and you’ve been caught staring.

Steve smirks when you rush to meet his eyes, feigning nonchalance. “Perv,” he teases before getting back into the bed with you.

You’d protest, but then his hands, those hands, are working deftly to unwrap a condom and roll it on, and suddenly you find yourself entirely uninterested in your status as a pervert.

He crawls back on top of you, moving to kiss you softly, a sharp contrast to the intensity of the moments you two just shared.

He breaks it only to say three words: “I love you.”

Forehead pressed into his, you know you should be shocked, but you aren’t. It feels right. You tell him, too.

“I love you, Steve.”

He smiles at you dopily, and you’re sure a matching smile adorns your face.

“Are you ready, baby?” He asks, interlocking one of his hands with yours, nothing but adoration and loving concern in his eyes.

You nod. “I want this, I want you,” you tell him honestly.

Steve presses one last sweet kiss to your lips, selfishly savoring the taste of them for just a little too long. He breaks it with a sigh. “I’ll go slow at first, sweetheart. You let me know if you need me to stop.”

You hum in agreement, focus resting between the two of you where he’s got your legs spread, kneeling in between them as he guides his cock to your entrance.

Slowly, almost too slowly, he pushes himself in, both of you groaning in relief when the head is in. He presses forward, meeting little resistance from your slippery heat. He sighs happily once he’s seated in you fully, just enjoying being enveloped in your warmth.

He probably would have stayed there if it wasn’t for the wiggle of your hips and the sudden clench he felt from inside of you.

“You can move, Stevie. Need it,” you sigh.

He takes the instruction, and both of you are wrecked as he works into a rhythm.

Your eyes flutter shut as you moan, but that won’t do for Steve.

“Nuh uh,” he says, dropping the hand he’s holding and getting down, shifting his weight to his elbows so he can hold your face in his hands. “Eyes on me. I don’t want to miss a thing.” His tone urges your compliance, so you give it to him, looking into his eyes.

Fuck.

The way your eyes bore into each others is nearly too much, the feeling of his hands splayed across your cheeks, your jaw, your temple… your senses are being flooded, and all your brain can compute is Steve, Steve, Steve, Steve, Steve.

He can see every reaction you give him, every hitch of your breath, adjusting until he’s in the perfect position for you, the squeezes of your fluttering cunt driving him wild.

You’re helpless, being held captive by your own pleasure, and Steve is only adding to it, talking to you in ramblings of his own pleasure.

“God, you know what you’re fucking doing to me?”

“Feels so good, sweet girl. Never wanna fuck another pussy again, only yours.”

“That’s it, baby, take it, take it. Doing so well for me, my gorgeous girl.”

“You like that? That feel good? Oh, I bet it does, huh?”

“Taking me like a champ, always knew you’d be good for me.”

You want to respond, you really do, but the way he’s talking to you, the way he’s pounding into you just right, the way he’s looking you right in your eyes as he speaks this utter filth, has left you wordless, only moaning and whining out little ah, ah, ah, fuck’s that only spur him on.

You feel your undoing start to form and begin to reach down, needing some attention on your clit to cross there.

“Don’t do that baby, let me. You close?” he says as he shifts all of his weight now to the one elbow, keeping your face in that hand as the other snakes down to rub circles just where you need them, making you whimper, fighting to keep your eyes open.

You nod at his question. “So close… gonna make me cum again, Stevie,” you manage to get out, snaking your arms around his neck, clinging to him desperately.

His eyes never leave yours. “Tell me what you need. Wanna feel you when you cum, feel you soak my cock.”

“F-faster.”

You barely get the word out before he starts to nearly double his speed, desperate to get you there, sharp, shallow, fast thrusts leaving you to just wail.

“Oh, fuck, Steve, please, please, fuck, please,” you ramble out, unsure what you’re begging for.

“C’mon, give it to me, you’re right there, cum for me.”

The perfect circles on your clit, the pistoning of his hips, the way he stares at you so intensely, egging you on? It all proves to be too much, and you feel yourself thrown off that cliff and into pure, sweet pleasure as your release rolls through you, Steve’s name on your tongue.

Steve cants into you desperately, rhythm breaking as he chases his own high, which is coming on much faster largely because of you. Feeling you grip him like a vice, and having watched just how angelic you look when you cum? He wasn’t going to be able to hold back much longer.

Overstimulated and desperate, you start to egg him on the same way he had egged you on.

“Please, cum, Steve, I wanna feel it. Need to feel you finish so bad, feels too good, please, baby,” you breathe out. “Do it just for me, yeah?”

That’s a wrap for Steve. His thrusts grow lazy as you feel him twitch inside you, condom filling quickly with his load. He keeps thrusting until it hurts, only then settling down, pressing his forehead into yours, kissing all over your face gently as you both bask in the afterglow.

“You’re so perfect,” he mutters, his desperation for you to hear him, believe him, making his expression look almost pained as he squeezes his eyes shut. “It’s always gonna be you for me, you know that?”

You’re unsure how to respond, really. You find yourself so wrapped up in a warm, buzzy feeling, your adoration for him leaking all over your brain’s wiring, causing it to short circuit. So all you do is nod and close the distance between your mouths, giving him a kiss so gentle and loving that catches him in the moment. He wishes he could stay like this forever.

You both fight to end the kiss several times, but each time either of you pulls back even a little bit, you find yourselves pressing right back in for just one more.

When it finally does break, you look up at him and see the man you always knew, deep down, was here to stay. Your Steve.

“Thank you.”

He cocks his head. “You’re welcome, but what for?” Ever the gentleman.

“Just for being you.”

The two of you lay on your couch, Pretty in Pink over and quickly exchanged for When Harry Met Sally, an appropriately raunchy film for present company and previous activities.

You called out of work for the next day shortly after the two of you finally peeled out of bed. Steve had wrapped his arms around you from behind, pressing soft encouraging kisses into your neck, your back, your shoulder as you rang your boss. You didn’t care if they thought you were only calling out because you were embarrassed; you know the truth doesn’t matter to these people, so you won’t waste it on them. All you want to do tomorrow is spend the day with your boyfriend, so you decided that that is what you’re going to do.

So there the you are, curled up in Steve’s arms for the foreseeable future, lips occasionally pressing into his wrists and hands as you held them. He hadn’t bothered with putting his shirt back on, and you let your robe sit where the two of you had ditched it earlier in favor of the warmth radiating from the chest against your back.

Sally fakes her orgasm in the diner, earning a laugh from both of you.

“I’m sure glad that I don’t ever have to question if you actually came,” Steve mutters, prompting you to tease.

“About that…”

“Bullshit!”

You giggle as his arms squeeze you in tighter, his lips attacking the side of your face and neck.

“Alright, alright, I yield, I yield! You are a true man in a sea of boys, you had me coming like a freight train, you win!”

His attack softens, smiley kisses becoming more intentional. He doesn’t let go of his now-tightened hold on you, though. He just likes having you close too much.

Steve mutters into your ear, shaking you gently in his arms to make his point. “I meant what I said earlier, you know. It wasn’t in the heat of the moment, I do love you.”

Somehow you find yourself far more flustered when he says that to you with his clothes on, but you know you feel the same.

“And I love you, Steve. Thank you for everything you did for me today… and I do mean everything,” you say, only a bit cheeky.

He nips at your ear, but still says, “Anytime, pretty girl. Anytime.”

You turn just a bit, hands tracing over his bruised knuckle and face, worry forming behind your eyes, just a small frown playing at your lips.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to try to cover those up for you? A quick run to the pharmacy and I’m sure I could find what I need to color correct,” you muse, but Steve just shakes his head.

“Nah, I kinda dig them. Makes me look a little badass! If anyone asks, I’ll just tell them they should see the other guy,” he pauses, but then says, quietly, “Plus, it’s pretty much like a shining badge of having defended your honor. Why would I ever cover that?” There’s a teasing tone behind his words but you can tell he really means it.

“Alright. You’re sweet. But please defend my honor without fists next time, I don’t want to have to look Hopper in the eye when I bail you out.”

“No promises, sweetheart,” he says, mischievous. You can hear his grin.

You roll your eyes, but you still smile.

You think you could get used to a life like this.

Thank you for reading! 🩵

#mars fics #i’ve never posted creative writing before please be nice or i might combust #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington angst #steve harrington smut #steve harrington fluff #steve harrington #stranger things #stranger things fanfiction #stranger things smut #stranger things fluff #hurt/comfort #baby’s first fanfic #robin buckley mentioned

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gracieheartspedro · 1 year ago

Text

More Than Friends

how to help the Palestinian people

pairing: best friend!ellie williams x fem!reader (set in the jackson era)

description: you and ellie have been friends for awhile. while at a party for tommy’s birthday, you try to catch the attention of your crushes. sadly, they are all over each other. in a childish effort to get them to pay attention, you two try to make them jealous. 'cause that always ends the way you think, right?

word count: 3.3k words

warnings: MINORS DNI! this is 18+, smut, wlw, f!receiving oral (reader), fingering, jealousy, semi-public sex, dirty talk, tons of nicknames, no mentions of reader's appearance. talks of sexuality, but it's vague. reader wants to fuck whoever, it doesn't matter lol. let me know if I missed anything!

author's note: I wrote this after watching one too many ellie edits on tik tok. it was written in two hours, so it's not my finest work but it scratched my little ellie itch. okay, much love xoxoxoxxo

“So… you really like Dina, huh?”

Her face twists immediately at the question. She throws herself back in the wooden chair, cursing under her breath. Her arms cross over her chest, her t-shirt riding up a bit above her jeans.

You saw the way Ellie looked at Dina. She looks at her like she hung the moon. She was always fumbling over her words around her, nervous to say the wrong thing. When she did try to flirt, it came up awkward and strained. And you understood her predicament because you were the same way about Jesse.

You both were pining after two people in a committed relationship.

“It doesn’t matter anyway,” She mumbles, gesturing towards the center of the room where Dina and Jesse slow danced. He was leaning down to whisper something in her ear and it made your stomach flip. “She would never go for me.”

You felt bad for Ellie. She was everything you wished you were yourself; beautiful and funny. You felt like you were the only one, besides the Millers, who got her dry humor. You two had met in class about two years ago, now. You were a newcomer to Jackson, arriving about two months prior with your mom. When you got seated next to Ellie, you could tell her give-no-fucks attitude would mesh well with your give-too-many-fucks attitude. Over the years, you two had really rubbed off one another. You two were inseparable.

“You’re the whole package, Els,” You say before nudging her shoulder with your elbow. You two are moping at a table near the exit of the food hall. It was Tommy’s birthday celebration, so everyone in Jackson got together to plan a big bash for him. Ellie felt obligated to come and your mom was pretty close to Maria. More time spent with your best friend wasn’t time wasted, so here you are.

“At least she shows you the time of day,” You say under your breath.

Jesse had been pretty flippant with you. He could never remember your name, let alone that you two shared the same street in Jackson. You also once shared a table at the mess hall. He was so tall and strong. Your crush on him was more physical than it was emotional. He was funny, sure, but you mainly just wanted to get him alone.

“Why are we doing this to ourselves?” She ponders, finally looking away from the canoodling couple across the room, “We could do so much better!”

You know she’s just trying to convince herself of something she doesn’t really believe. The tone of her voice changes when she’s lying.

“Like who? Slim pickin’s out here, Ellie. We have them and maybe 4 other undesirable people. There’s always the butcher’s son, he always had eyes for you.”

She grabs her cup from the table in front of you, “Yeah, men are… not my type.”

You turn your body so your legs are nudging her thighs, “Then, you really don’t have any choices.”

She nods her lips in a thin line. “I wish I could just.. Just go up there and talk to her. Ya know?”

“Why can’t you?”

“The same reason you can’t just go up and talk to Jesse.”

You roll your eyes, leaning forward on your knees. Your body is practically in her bubble, but she just sits back with her arm over the back of your chair.

You and Ellie had no real boundaries. You had no qualms about physical touch and Ellie never said anything or seemed to mind. You two have shared a horse countless times and even a bed. She never steered away from you.

“Well, Dina will talk to you if she sees other girls talking to you,” you state, reflecting on the last time everyone in Jackson got together. Some random girl came up to you two and as soon as Dina saw Ellie laughing with the other girl, she scrambled across the room to see what the fuss was about. You saw the same glint in her eyes that Ellie had.

For some reason, it made you kind of jealous.

You never tried to explore those knee-jerk emotions you had for Ellie. She was your best friend and you were positive she never felt romantic feelings towards you. Plus, you weren’t sure of your feelings about your sexuality. You always told Ellie you just liked who you liked, not really putting any importance on what was between their legs. You weren’t very experienced, but you had hooked up with both genders and liked it all equally.

“That was a coincidence, bug.”

That stupid nickname that she called you. Born from the one time you practically attracted every infected in the area with your scream over a huge beetle. She could not let it go and ended up calling you bug, just to annoy you.

You finally look up at her freckled face, waiting for her to crack a smile. When you squint at her with contempt, she smirks.

“Why don’t we find another girl and test the theory?”

She glances around the populated party, “Everyone here is over the age of 40.”

You turn back to the crowd of people around you and see that she’s right.

You mull it over, your brain working to find a way that you both could get their attention. You two could simply say fuck it and go watch a movie and forget this stupid encounter happened. Joel would probably chew Ellie out, but when doesn’t he do that?

Your next idea is something dangerous but something you had thought about before. You had never brought up the idea to Ellie because you were afraid of her reaction.

“What’s your idea?”

She could read you like a book. You pursed your lips, wondering if you should even propose the idea to her.

“How desperate are you?”

She laughs out loud, completely taken aback by the query. “Jesus, what are you thinkin’?”

You lick your lips, trying to make sure the idea comes out as a whisper.

“Why don’t we make them jealous? Just you and me?”

“How though?”

You bite the inside of your cheek, “Well, I’m a girl.”

You glance back at where Dina and Jesse were just dancing. They are both now facing you two’s direction, Jesse engrossed in a conversation with Tommy. Dina is just sipping from her glass, not really staring anywhere specific.

You look back at Ellie who’s also looking at her, but meets your eyes when your face gets closer to hers.

You would tell her how beautiful she was all the time and she just would roll her eyes and change the subject. You were physically attracted to her and there had been a couple of times you had thought about kissing her and wondered what her lips would feel like against yours.

But she was your best friend.

“Wrap your arm over my back,” You are still positioned, your elbows on your knees, your knees facing her thighs, “And rub it.”

She furrows her eyebrows, but she submits and brings the arm that is slouched over the chair to your lower back. You nod, watching as her lids lower. Her hand creeps up and down your side, her fingers grazing your ribs, up to your side boob. “Now what, bug?”

“Now, slowly move your hand up my back,” She does it as you’re speaking and the movement makes the hairs on your arms stand up, “Grab the nape of my neck.”

“Why are you making me do this?”

You lift up off your hands, bringing your face closer to hers. She doesn’t budge, sitting still and only focused on you and your words.

“Because,” Her hand grabs the back of your neck, before slowly bringing it forward to collar bone. The gentleness of her touch and the fact that it’s your Ellie, makes every sense heightened. You don’t even realize how her touch is making you feel until you see her crack a smile.

“Because why?” She whispers, her voice teasing.

“Cause I want them to see you touch me.”

It comes out needy and desperate. Her eyes change when it slips from your lips, instead of being playful, she’s looking at you like you’re her next meal. She leans forward, her face millimeters from yours.

You had never talked to Ellie like this but at this moment, you were completely transfixed on her. She was wearing a flannel over her shoulders covering her usual gray t-shirt. The sleeves were rolled up exposing the tattoo Cat did on her a year ago.

You always thought it was hot, the way it trailed up her arm from her delicate wrist.

Her jeans are ripped and her legs and man-spreaded like she was carrying something in her jeans.

And she smelled like pine. You loved it when you got the privilege to sleep next to her because her linens always smelled like her. You would love the idea of getting into bed with her right now.

“How do you want me to touch you?”

You chew the inside of your lip, “Any way you want to.”

She chuckles before brushing her hand down your exposed arm, “Is this for the bit or do you want me to genuinely touch you?”

You notice her being sincere. You think back to all the times you joked about sleeping with Ellie, and while at the time you chalked them up to being jokes, deep down, maybe it’s actually what you wanted.

With the way she’s looking at you now, you prayed on every star that she would continue pushing your buttons. That somehow she would forget Dina even exists and realize it was you all along.

“Hey guys,” Her voice brings you out of your horny daze. It was the last voice you were expecting, and you can tell by the look on Ellie’s face, she is thinking the same thing.

“Oh, hey Dina!” You quip up, not moving all the much to ensure she sees Ellie’s hand on your bicep.

“You two busy?” The way she asks is almost too demanding. You glance back over at Ellie whose color is draining from her face.

You shake your head, finally sitting up. Ellie’s hand doesn’t leave you though, instead, it just drops to your thigh. You try not to acknowledge it, as you notice Jesse coming up behind Dina. But now it feels so heavy against your legs, the weight of the situation finally hitting you.

It worked.

“We are just talking,” Ellie manages, her voice cracking.

Jesse comes up behind Dina, wrapping his arms around her. You’re suddenly grateful that Ellie’s hand is still on you, the jitters hitting your system subsiding by the physical feeling of her being so near.

“Looked like more than that,” Jesse jokes, his smile taking up a lot of his face, “You good Ellie?”

“Ellie was just telling me about the patrol she just went on with Jesse,” You explain quickly, making sure to look at Dina and not Jesse. “She told me about the infected y’all ran into!”

“Oh yeah, shit was crazy,” Jesse squeezes Dina tighter, “We gotta get back out there again, Ellie. You were a beast at taking those suckers down.”

“U-uh yeah, absolutely.”

You grab her hand as a reassurance. The exchange gets awkward quickly, none of you knowing what else to say.

“Well, we should get goin’,” Dina says tapping Jesse’s arms, “See you two around?”

You two just nod. They walk away, not saying much of anything else. You stare at the wall, humiliated by the last 10 minutes of your life. You were unsure if you could even look Ellie in the eyes again.

Ellie huffs loudly, sitting further back in her chair. “Well, that failed.”

You start to agree until that little bit of Ellie that’s rubbed off on you starts to come up your throat. The not-giving-much-of-a-fuck is creeping up on you.

“Did it? Because I think it went exactly how I wanted it to.”

You finally return your eyes to her bewildered expression. You pull her hand off your lap as you stand up, yanking her up after you.

“You wanted it to go like that? What was the point?”

You pull her closer to you before raising your lips up to her ear. Her hair is tucked behind the crest of her ear, so it tickles your nose a bit before you speak.

She turned you on, so now you needed her to do something about it. Here’s to not giving a fuck.

“The point was to get you to finally touch me.”

The temperature in the room rises a million degrees. Ellie’s eyes light up at the statement and you know that was exactly what she wanted to hear before Dina came up to you.

You start to pull her towards the kitchen door, right near your table. You remember finding a hidden supply closet back there last Christmas party. Your skin was on fire as you dragged her through the appliances to the somewhat large closet. It was practically empty, void of anything anyone at the party may need, so it was safe. Plus it had a lock.

As soon as the door shuts behind her, Ellie’s on you. Her lips hit yours and it was exactly how you imagined it. She was quick and eager with her kisses, her tongue plunging into your mouth immediately. She was grabbing your hips, pushing you towards the wall where all the brooms and mops were. You try not to trip, giggling as you pull her face closer to you.

“So this is what you wanted?” She pulls away from you for a breath, “Using making Dina jealous as a ploy to get to finally kiss you?”

Your hands find the spot above the hem of her jeans, right under her t-shirt. Out of instinct, you start to unbutton her pants.

“Actually, that wasn’t the plan.”

Her eyes are trained on your lips, “Is that so?”

“No, but you were playing the part way too well and I realized something.”

“What did you realize?”

The overhead light was so dim but you could still somehow see her cute freckles.

“That I want you more than I want anyone else. I need you to touch me more often.”

She chuckles, her fingers still pressed into your hips, “Well, bug, I’m touching you just like you asked.”

She drags kisses up your jaw and neck. You try not to fall apart over that alone. Ellie always talked about how inexperienced she was, but she’s probably the most tentative kisser you have ever encountered.

“Can you touch me here?”

You press your hands to the zip of your jeans. She looks down at your body to where you’re touching and she clicks her tongue.

“Ask politely, baby, and I’ll do anything you want.”

The nickname change makes your heart stop.

“Can you, my sweet best friend, touch me and get me off? Please?”

She groans at the question, a sound you never thought she’d make for you.

“Of course,” She grabs the belt loops of your pants before yanking them down your legs without resistance, “What are friends for?”

You know you’re soaked by the way she smiles up at you. She gets down on her knees, looking up at you, as her hands slowly start to spread your legs. You are standing against a wall, watching your best friend’s face creep close to your center.

It’s the hottest thing you’ve ever seen. She pulls at your panties, toying with the fabric before you take matters into your own hands and pull them down your legs.

She brings her lower lip between her teeth, “This wet for me?”

You could slap the stupid smirk off her face, but before you can even say something snarky back, she slips her digits between your glistening slit. Your body practically buckles at the prodding, so you brace yourself against the shelf next to you.

Your normal reaction to feeling good is to close your legs together tightly, but Ellie has her left hand mounted to your inner thigh, keeping you open for her, while the other one is slowly creeping up to your weeping hole. She’s gentle when she puts one finger inside you.

Once your body reacts around her, she pulls her finger out to inspect how wet you are. After she’s satisfied with her findings, she adds another which causes you to mewl at the sensation.

“Ellie, please,” You beg, trying to get more friction. She’s not letting you do anything but watch.

“Mmm,” She hums before moving her face closer to you, “Love to hear you moan my name, bug. You wanna be a good girl? Keep begging.”

You never took Ellie as someone who loves to hear her sexual partner beg, but it turns you on even more.

You watch her close in on your clit, her tongue finding the bud and flicking it a couple of times. The moans that come out of your mouth are so deprived. Her fingers slip so seamlessly in and out of you, that you try to remember a time you were so wet. Nothing comes to mind because all your brain is thinking is Ellie, Ellie, Ellie.

“Please, please,” you plead, trying your best to egg her on so she goes faster. It works because she picks up the pace fucking you. Her mouth suddenly closes around your clit, and she sucks.

Your one hand is still gripping onto whatever is next to you, but your other hand has to rest somewhere. Her short brown locks are right there, so you grab on.

Her mouth leaves your clit, and instead, her tongue licks up and down your weeping hole. When you bring her closer in, her nose starts to stimulate your sensitive bud.

The sounds are so wet and depraved, you’re sure the bubbling in your stomach is about to come to a tipping point. You find yourself grinding forward, trying to get friction on your clit again. Her nose prods the spot over and over again as you grind down onto her face.

Ellie hums as she fucks you, trying her best to push your limit. You know you’re close and you are sure she can feel how tight your pussy is gripping onto her fingers. She knows you’re close so she kicks it up a notch and shakes her head between your folds. That motion alone sends a tidal wave within you crashing to the shore. You pull her hair so hard, you know it probably hurts but fuck, you needed her to feel how good she was making you feel.

The white-hot feeling starts to subside and you are panting like you just ran a mile. You finally release Ellie’s head, letting her come up for air. Her lips are saturated with your slick and it looks like she’s drunk on you by the way her eyes are half shut. She pulls her two fingers out of your tight hole, making you whine at the emptiness.

She stands up, bringing her two fingers up to your lips.

“Wanna see how good you taste?”

She’s so fucking dirty. It gets you so riled up.

You grab onto her wrist and bring the fingers up to your mouth. You suck them dry, giving into how absurd this is.

“You’re a freak, too,” She beams at you, before bringing you into another feverish kiss. You were so mesmerized by her. She grabs onto your hips, pulling your naked bottom half to her still-clothed legs.

“Why didn’t we do this sooner?” You grumble, still recovering from the drilling you just had. Her hands travel up your sides, under your t-shirt. She is holding onto your ribcage, looking at your exposed tummy as the shirt rides up.

“I didn’t think you’d go for me, especially when guys like Jesse are your type,” She explains, so enthralled by the way your body looks to her, “I don’t know if I can let him have you, now.”

You smirk, your hands twisting around her shoulders, “Oh, I see. Well, if he can’t have me, then Dina can’t have you.”

“Well, thank God they have each other, then.”

#ellie williams #ellie williams x reader #ellie williams tlou #ellie williams oneshot #ellie tlou #ellie x reader #ellie the last of us #ellie x fem reader #tlou2 #the last of us 2 #gracieheartspedro #tlou ellie #ellie williams x you #ellie williams smut

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