#jake can't be left in charge either

[streets-in-paradise]

Andy: While I go, Junior, you are in charge. 

Junior: Yes!! 

Andy * whispering*: Devon, you are secretly in charge. 

Devon: Obviously

[roosterforme]

Don't You Want Me, Baby | Rooster x Reader

Summary: It was like a fairytale, the way you stole Bradley's heart with your gorgeous face, retro denim jacket, and karaoke skills. But when you disappear into the night, leaving only one small trinket behind, he's left wondering if he didn't just dream you up. 

Warnings: Fluff, swearing and karaoke

Length: 3200 words

Pairing: Bradley "Rooster" Bradshaw x Female Reader

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Bradley's favorite thing about '80s throwback nights at the Hard Deck was seeing how his friends dressed for it. Nat usually went with neon spandex. Bob had a vintage Nintendo tee shirt. Jake found a windbreaker and matching pants at a thrift store. Even Penny got in on things by wearing a hideous blazer with enormous shoulder pads. 

But Bradley just wore what he always did: one of his dad's tropical print shirts from circa 1983, his snug Levi's, and his slick mustache. 

When he arrived at the Hard Deck, he realized that his least favorite part of this kind of night was the fact that he was always the odd man out now. He'd been single for such a long time, and it didn't usually bother him. But the way Javy had his arm around Nat, and the way Bob's girlfriend was making him blush... well, Bradley was starting to feel like he was missing out. 

Nat handed him a beer as soon as he strolled up to the bar. "I can't decide if it's funny or sad that you don't even have to try," she told him, eyeing him up and down. 

"Says the woman wearing a neon pink jumpsuit? What even is that thing?" he asked, gesturing to her outfit. Frankly, it was scary, but Javy seemed to like it as he kissed Nat and whispered in her ear before he walked away, turning to look at her several times. 

She rolled her eyes and told him, "It's '80s workout attire! I'm going to sing the song Physical for karaoke, and I thought it would be fun to match the theme. You, on the other hand, wore the same thing the other day when we went out for pizza. You live in the '80s my friend."

"Whatever," Bradley grunted, sipping his beer. 

"Rooster, did you sign up for a song yet?" Fanboy asked him, jerking his thumb to the karaoke setup in the corner. 

Just as he was about to reply, Nat smirked at him. "How about I pick a song for you?"

Bradley just shrugged. "Sure." He liked singing. He was pretty good at it. And with tonight's theme, he'd know all the lyrics even without the video prompt. But he didn't like the smug look on his friend's face as she strolled away in her hideous pink outfit.  

He sipped his beer. There were a lot of people here tonight that he'd never seen before. It was usually the same Naval officer crowd every weekend, so this was interesting. And there were a lot of cute girls with their hair all teased and hair sprayed wearing things that made Bradley smile. 

Then his eyes caught on a denim jacket and a mini skirt on the cutest girl he had seen in a very long time. "Oh," Bradley gasped, finishing the last of his beer and setting the empty bottle down on the counter. You turned to laugh at your friend who was behind you, but your eyes caught on Bradley's, and he started stumbling through the crowd in your direction.

Then the DJ in charge of karaoke night called up the first singer, and the crowd closed in on the stage. "Shit," Bradley muttered. He lost sight of you amongst the too bright neon strobe lights. The song Sunglasses at Night started blaring, and Bradley couldn't find his friends either. The more he tried to shove through the crowd, the more dirty looks he got. 

Two more singers performed terrible renditions of songs that Bradley used to like until he heard them here. He figured you must have left, because he couldn't see you anywhere. With a sigh, he leaned against the back wall. And then Nat was there, pressing another beer into his hand. 

"Why do you look so pissy?" she asked over the music. 

He just shrugged and rolled his eyes at himself. "It's so dumb. But I saw the cutest girl, and then she vanished...."

There you were, not far from the DJ booth. You were dancing along to someone butchering Billie Jean. Bradley could barely see you through the crowd as he smacked Nat's arm. "It's her. Denim jacket. Little skirt. Fucking gorgeous face."

"Go talk to her," Nat told him with a grin that made him a bit nervous. 

"What do you think I'm trying to do?" he asked, looking for the best way to get over to you. The way you were dancing and laughing had Bradley smiling as he squeezed past Bob. 

When you spun in a slow circle with your friends, you froze, eyes meeting Bradley's again. This time you bit your lip and waved to him. 

Bradley laughed and mouthed, "I'm coming." He watched as you pressed your lips together and ducked your face down.

"Hurry up!" you called when the song ended. 

Bradley was about to start throwing elbows to get as close to you as possible. Then he heard his name.

"Rooster is up next! Where's Rooster?" called the DJ. 

Bradley let his head tip back as he groaned. He waved to the DJ and then winked at you. "Sorry," he mouthed as he smiled at you. 

You smiled and shrugged and that's when the DJ announced, "Rooster is singing that iconic song from Dirty Dancing, I've Had The Time of My Life."

He turned to glare at Nat where she stood against the back wall. "You picked a duet, you jerk! I can't sing that alone!"

But his attention snapped away from Nat when he felt your hand on his arm. You had managed to close the distance to him, and Bradley met your eyes as you let your fingers glide down his arm until they met his hand. 

"I'll sing with you, Rooster."

Bradley laced his fingers with yours, and you led him up to the stage as the bar was filled with applause. Bradley took the microphone from the DJ. You and he were going to have to share it, and he didn't mind that one bit. 

"Ready?" Bradley asked you, keeping his flingers linked with yours. 

"Let's do it." 

Bradley nodded, signaling they were ready to sing, and when the music started, you smiled up at him. He missed the first few words as his heart pounded, scrambling to pick up the lyrics as you giggled. 

Now I've had the time of my life. No, I've never felt like this before. Yes, I swear it's the truth, and I owe it all to you.

Then when it was your turn, Bradley was hypnotized by your voice. He could come up with about a hundred more duets he was dying to sing with you. Either here at the bar, or maybe back at his place. Maybe you'd let him have your number. 

He missed his next line again, completely distracted by you biting your lip and holding the microphone for him. "Shit," he said with a laugh, finally getting back on track again. But you seemed to know you were the reason he was distracted, and he could tell he was blushing. 

And when it was time to sing together, your voice blended perfectly with his. 

So we take each other's hand, 'cause we seem to understand the urgency.

And then you started to dance with him a little bit, just a sway of your hips, but Bradley moved along with you. It was perfect, the way you shared the microphone with him. The way your smile made the song even better. The way you laughed at the end when Bradley's face was close to yours and the room erupted in loud applause. 

"Thanks for bailing me out," he told you as he handed over the microphone. 

"You're welcome, Rooster," you told him with a smile that made him want to taste your lips. Then you were slipping your hand free from his as your friends called you over. You glanced at him over your shoulder, and Bradley turned back to the DJ while another singer took the stage. 

"I need you to let me sing again," Bradley told him. 

"One song per person, sorry."

Bradley rolled his eyes and pulled fifty bucks out of his wallet. "One more song? Right after this one?" 

And then, just like that, Bradley was signed up. When he turned your way, you were already looking at him, challenging him to make a move. 

"Excuse me," he said, encroaching on your friend group and holding out his hand for you to take. "But, my friend accidentally signed me up for another duet. Think you can help me out again?"

You slipped your hand into his and smirked. "Really? It looked like you signed yourself up this time."

He shook his head and pulled you closer to him. "Nah. Just a trick of the lighting, I think. It was definitely my friend."

Your laughter had him reaching his free hand gently around your waist, tucking it inside your denim jacket.

"That's a cute mustache," you told him, reaching up to touch his lip. "Did you grow it just for tonight?"

Bradley shook his head. "It's a permanent fixture."

"Oh, even better."

Bradley was thinking about it. He was going to do it. He was inching closer, ready to kiss you, when the DJ called his name again. "Rooster, you're up for an encore!"

The room erupted in more cheers as Bradley led you up to the stage, hand still at your waist. 

"Which song is it?" you asked over the applause, your lips next to his ear.

His smile grew as he promised, "You'll know it."

Then Don't You Want Me started playing, and you laughed as Bradley danced around on the stage, singing just to you until the chorus when you joined him. Your perfect, smiling lips were so close to his as you both sang "Don't you want me, baby! Don't you want me, ohhh!" together. 

And then he let you have the microphone for your part, and your voice sounded even better than the original song. He let his voice blend with yours again and again, but then too soon, the song was ending. He briefly wondered if he could get away with bribing the DJ for just one more song with you. 

He had the microphone in his hand, about to check if he had more cash in his wallet, when you wrapped your arms around his neck and kissed his lips. Right in the middle of the stage. Right in the middle of the applause and the neon lights and the DJ introducing Nat as the next singer.

Your lips tasted as sweet as you looked, and Bradley almost dropped the microphone trying to get his arms around you as well. You kissed his lips softly and then laughed before you let your lips skim over his mustache. 

"I had fun, Rooster," you whispered over all the commotion as you stepped off the stage with Bradley in tow. When Nat snatched the microphone out of his hand with a wink, you took his hand in both of yours. 

"Think they'll let us sing another song together?" he asked, watching the smile on your lips as you took your denim hair scrunchie off your own wrist and pushed it over his hand. He looked down at his left wrist, now adorned with it. "What's this for?" he asked with what he was sure was a dopey grin.

"Keep it, Rooster," you said, but suddenly your friends were there, slowly pulling you away from him. 

"Where are you going?" he asked, his heart lurching as he ran his fingers over your scrunchie and tried to follow you. But the crowd was closing in on him, everyone going wild for Nat singing Physical. "I don't even know your name!"

You called out to him as you blew a kiss, but he couldn't hear you. He shoved Javy out of the way, trying to get to you again. As the crowd thinned near the exit, Bradley ran outside after you. But you were gone. There was no sign of you or your friends. All that was left was your scrunchie, the songs stuck in his head, and the feel of your lips on his. 

--------------------------

"I imagined her," Bradley said for the sixth time at work on Monday. "She was perfect, but she wasn't even real." He was stretched out on the couch in the aviators' lounge with your scrunchie in his hand and a pout on his face.

"She was real, Rooster," Nat told him with an eye roll. "We all saw her. We all saw her kiss you before she left. Maybe it was your choice of song? Maybe she didn't want you, baby?" she asked with a devilish smirk. 

Bradley launched the scrunchie at his friend's face, making her squeal. But then he was up off the couch immediately, running to collect his precious souvenir from the ground before anything happened to it. He balled it up in his hand and tucked it into the pocket of his flight suit. 

"It would be impossible to find her again. I don't even know her name," he mumbled, kicking his foot along the floor as he sighed. "She was just..." He was thinking about your voice as you sang and your pretty face and your vintage denim jacket. "Perfect."

Nat took a step closer and patted him on the chest. "There has to be some way... Oh!"

"What?" Bradley asked, meeting her bright eyes with his hopeful ones. 

"There would have to be other '80s karaoke nights around San Diego," she said quickly, pulling her phone out of her pocket. Bradley's heart filled with hope as she said, "We could go to them, and maybe she'll be there."

"Nat. You're a genius."

When Friday night rolled around, Bradley picked Nat up in her hot pink spandex, and they drove to a bar in Oceanside where a throwback night was in full swing. 

"See her anywhere?" Nat called over the loud music. 

Just then someone started singing Don't You Want Me. Bradley's heart leapt. But it was a guy with a terrible voice and a girl who wasn't you. 

"No," Bradley groaned, his heart full of frustration. "She's not here," he confirmed after walking through the entire bar. 

And the following night, Bradley and Nat went to a bar in Balboa Park, ready to search for you again. They walked into a room full of people dancing around and singing to a Bon Jovi cover band. 

After looking everywhere, taking his time to search the crowd, a dejected Bradley shook his head at Nat, and she followed him back outside to the Bronco. 

The following Friday was no better as they hit up a club downtown. After they had no luck there, Nat told him about another karaoke night in Pacific Beach. 

"This is it, Nat. This is the last one," Bradley told her, glancing at your scrunchie on the shifter as he drove. "If she's not here, then I need to stop looking."

"But, she could be-"

"Nat, come on. I've been like this for two weeks. I can't stop thinking about her, which is absolutely ridiculous. We sang two songs together, and then she bailed. I'm starting to think that even if I do find her, she's not going to remember who I am!"

She sighed in the passenger seat, and said, "I really hope she's here, just so I can see you proven wrong."

So Bradley searched the bar for you while he listened to so many bad singers in a row. He felt desperate now, knowing there wouldn't be another chance after this. And every time a denim jacket and a cute face caught his eye, he did a double take. But you weren't here either. The search was off now. 

"Let's go," he told Nat, swallowing hard as he headed outside. And then he tossed your scrunchie into the center console, started up the engine and left.

-------------------------

"Come on," whined Nat, pulling on Bradley's arm. "I'll be fun!" Bradley was trying to head home after working late on Friday, but she wasn't going to let him.

"I don't feel like going to the Hard Deck tonight." He just wanted to go home, relax and pretend like he didn't still have your scrunchie in his pocket half the time. 

But she stomped her foot. "No. You've been pouting. Javy, Bob and Jake are already there. We're going."

Bradley groaned and agreed to follow her to the bar to have exactly one drink. But when he walked in and realized that it was set up for karaoke, he turned to try to sneak back out.

"There he is!" Nat called, rushing forward to grab his hand before he had a chance to leave. "You promised. One drink."

"Fine," he grunted, sitting at the bar with his back to everyone else who was rushing up to pick a song to sing. And when Penny handed him a beer, he drank half of it in one sip, trying to finish it as quickly as he could. 

When he was done, he reached into his pocket to get his wallet, pulling out your scrunchie at the same time. He shook his head, ready to toss it into the trash can behind the bar. But then he heard the opening chords of I've Had The Time Of My Life start playing. He'd been listening to the song nonstop for weeks, and when he spun to face the stage, he saw you. In your denim jacket. 

"Rooster!" You had the microphone held up to your lips, and you were calling out to him. 

"It's you!" he called back, trying to make his way through the crowd to get closer as his heart pounded.

"It's me," you told him with a bright smile. "Looks like I accidentally picked a duet as soon as I saw you. I need a partner. Are you available?"

He pushed his way through the crowd and jumped up onto the stage. "Yeah, I'm available." Then your hand was grabbing the front of his shirt, and his lips met yours. The crowd was screaming and cheering as you smiled against his mouth. 

"I thought I dreamed you up," he told you, resting his forehead against yours. "Like a fairytale Princess in a denim jacket. Please don't leave this time."

"I won't," you promised, kissing him hard before turning to the DJ and giving him a thumbs up. When the song restarted, Bradley took the microphone and sang to you. 

Now I've had the time of my life. No, I've never felt like this before. 

Yes, I swear it's the truth, and I owe it all to you.

And then he opened up his hand, showing you that he still had your scrunchie. You gently took it as you smiled up at him in surprise, and then you slid it onto his wrist before taking his hand. But after that song, Bradley didn't even bother trying to bribe the DJ for more, because he had you in his arms, your name on his lips, and your phone number saved for later. 

-------------------------

If your man won't search the kingdom for you and then turn to a pile of mush when he finds you, then he's not the one. Thanks @mak-32 and @beyondthesefourwalls

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[givemefevrr]

Enhypen as Subs (OT6 only)

Pairings: sub!members x fem!reader

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Heeseung

We all know he has a praise kink, it’s cannon at this point. This boy would just melt if you told him he was doing a good job.

His moans would be so pretty, because we all know, being able to sing means he definitely has a good voice. He wouldn’t be loud though, he would be on the quieter side, like the polite boy he is, but he for sure does loose control every now and then.

He would love having his nipples played with–he'd be such a sensitive little thing, begging you to keep going and that he feels so good.

He would call you mommy on accident, muffled by pillows or your skin, and not even remember when you bring it up later, feeling humiliated about it.

Heeseung would be the type of sub who just wants to be taken care of and showered with love. He would beg you to peg him and he’d whine into the pillows as you do so. And when he's sub!topping, he would want you to ride him while he nuzzles into your neck or chest, holding onto every part of you he can.

He would want to make you feel good so badly, but he can’t do two things at once. He probably gets overstimulated very easily. He’s legit a pillow princess when both topping or bottoming (which I guess lives up to his nickname, Princess). But he’d make up for it afterwards if you didn’t cum and would eat you out just the way you like it because he just wants to be the good boy he knows he is. He’s just so sweet honestly.

Jake

Don’t even get me started on this man. It could go one of two ways, Jake could either be the brattiest sub or the sweetest sub ever. But one thing's for sure, he is needy as hell which overrules pretty much everything.

He may start off with slow and soft kisses, wanting to savor every moment, but he can't help but rut against you like a desperate little puppy. His sex drive is endless and he can cum over and over again, but still beg for more.

Bro would not be subtle whatsoever. He’d be LOUD loud, letting out whiny moans left and right, basically screaming curses, and he wouldn’t give a shit. In fact, he might even enjoy the idea of being heard by others.

Now, when he's feeling bratty, he becomes a total menace. Not in a teasing, tempting way, but more like borderline annoying. He'll push all your buttons and run you ragged until you're begging him to let you touch him. It's all just a game to him, and at that point, he's just messing with you for his own amusement.

He’ll ask to take things slow but he’ll end up humping anything he can come in contact with until he gets his cock in you. Sure, he might be up for getting pegged every now and then, but let's be real, he loves pussy too much to pass it up.

Let's not forget his insane oral fixation— this man would give the best head you've ever had. It's like a mind-blowing, life-changing experience. He loves to look up at you while he's doing it, hoping for some hair pulling or praise because he craves your validation, even though he knows he's doing an amazing job.

Sunghoon

Okay despite my first post, I think Sunghoon could actually be a really good sub. He's just such a sweet and considerate guy, and that quality would definitely translate into bed.

He's the type to shower you with affection and want nothing more than to please you beyond measure. Unlike Heeseung and Jake, Sunghoon would beg for you to use him for your own pleasure. He loves the feeling of being at your mercy and would eagerly give control over to you.

This possibly shifts over into more service!top territory, but the sub is definitely still there. He enjoys giving up control and letting his partner take charge. He'll never make demands or ask for something, but instead he'll wait for you to tell him what to do. He likes the feeling of not being in control of himself for once.

He would love to finger you with those pretty hands of his because you love it. He loves anything you love. If you love the weirdest shit ever, so would he, just because it makes you happy. He’s not even the most into pegging, but if you wanted to make him fall apart on your fingers, he’d let you.

Sunghoon would likely be more on the quiet and calm side, but not because he's shy like Heeseung. Instead, he's focused on paying attention to your needs and reactions. He loves seeing you feel good and it brings him joy to be the source of that pleasure.

Jay

I'll be honest, I have a hard time picturing Jay as a sub. But if he were, I imagine he would also be head over heels for you and would do anything to make you happy.

He would constantly crave physical contact and would be the clingy type who wants to be pressed against you all night long. He would even whine if you try to separate from him.

Contrast to Sunghoon, he wouldn’t wait for you to tell him what to do every time—he’s more desperate and beggy than Sunghoon is. If he wants to touch you, he’ll beg for it. If he wants to eat you out, he’ll beg for it. He’ll take initiative for himself and beg you to ride his face.

He would be more reserved than Sunghoon too. He may not be as open to letting you try new things on him, but when it comes to trying new things on you, he'll do you want him to.

He would be open to being tied down though, and quite likes it when he gets the chance to be. He would be quieter too generally, and not make much noise—but that depends on the situation. When he’s tied down and has no control over what happens, his inhibitions die and the moans flow right out.

He would want to see your face at all times, always needing to make sure you’re okay and happy. Again, just another sweet guy.

Sunoo

While Jake may seem like one of the only bratty ones, but Sunoo would take it to a whole new level. He would be the brattiest brat ever and tbh, it's great. It’s not annoying, and he would do it in a way that, unlike Jake, would be tempting and teasing.

He would initiate it with small touches and when you eventually react, he would act all innocent. He loves it when you take control and would like things a little rougher too. And we all know he would be loud asf, as his singing voice is no joke. So, you can expect him to let the whole building know how good you're making him feel.

He’s definitely more of the sub that just wants to be taken care of. Another pillow princess indeed. His thought process is that you wouldn't do anything to him that you wouldn't enjoy yourself. And let's be real, he's probably right. And with that reasoning doesn’t think he’ll have to do much work in return.

The whole the brat persona would hold up throughout the whole experience. He would tease and push your buttons, knowing just how to turn you on—like whining phrases he knows you like or pushing you away because it’s “too much”— but then giggles soon after upon seeing how worked up it gets you. He would be able to suppress his reactions when certain things he’s into (maybe if you degrade him a little) affect him, but you can see through him, with the slight falter in his expression and a gulp of his Adams Apple as he tries to ground himself.

Afterwards, Sunoo would beg for aftercare cuddles and snuggles. He would be so sweet, endearing and needy for love and kisses.

Jungwon

With his hardworking and dedicated nature, I can see Jungwon being a service!top sometimes. But I think with him being so hardworking and dedicated, he would find it hard for him to wind down normally, so subbing would probably be his way to be able to do so.

Jungwon would probably be a bit similar to Heeseung in the way that he would turn into a full on sub—like just lay there and whine while you bounce on his cock type of stuff. He would be the type of person to fall into a subspace really easily, as he’s stressed out so much all the time.

He would just want you to take care of him and hold him and give him whatever you’re willing to give. He would be quiet for you too, only able to make out small punctuated moans on every beat.

He’s the type to crawl into bed with you and immediately lock onto your lips, clinging to you, looking halfway to falling asleep and halfway to falling under into a subspace, begging you to make him feel good and to make him forget about his day.

He would also likely have some sort of kink for praise or affirmation, as it would make him feel all comfortable and giddy inside knowing that all of his work and effort is being seen and appreciated.

Jungwon would be a whore for sleepy sex, he would beg you to do it in the morning, if not to just let him slip into a subspace and eat you out to mentally prepare himself for another hard day.

On times where he’s not in a subspace, he would be so eager to please you, he would go to above and beyond to make sure you love every second with him, whether it be sucking extra hard on your clit or fucking into you faster, he’ll do it with out you even asking, waiting for you’re words of approval soon after he does so.

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[royaltyoon]

GUN X READER

Deal with the devil

[A/N]

I actually like this one, it's a little long but I made the reader badass asf.

It's not the most realistic, but which fic ever is?

Tw: mentions of weaponry and death threats. Implied intercourse (?)

You stood at the entrance of the bigdeal streets. According to your calculations, he should be here soon. You were in charge of all the money statistics in the crew and you knew the amount was falling short. You knew he would visit sooner or later.

His entrance was right on cue, as if you summoned the devil himself. It wouldn't be beneath him to be the incarnation of the devil either. So the aim wasn't far off.

"We need to talk." If gun had as much as seen your face before he would've thought you both knew eachother. "And who are you?" He stopped right in front of you, holding his umbrella, shielding him from the rain. You couldn't say the same with your wet clothes and hair matting up, falling flat in its place.

"that doesn't matter. But I can't let you meet jake. Not when I know what the conversation is going to be about."

"so you know." He said, dropping his cigarette and putting it out with his foot. "I wondered who was in charge of all the finances after Samuel left. Guess that's you."

You bit the inside of your cheek, so much for being a secret. "I'm not here to beat him up, you should've known that too." His dark eyes stared straight into your soul.

"I do. But it's not a good time to have that conversation either." You knew jake was under too much pressure, especially after whatever happened with sinu. This topic would only put more on his plate than there needs to be. Jake was like an older brother to you, and you tried your best to repay whatever kindness he paid you.

"unfortunately, I don't take orders from you." He took a step to the right, dismissing your presence. You move in front of him again, blocking his way. "Are you planning on fighting me? Even you should know that's a losing bet for you." He raised an eyebrow.

He was not phased by your determined stance. "Alright let's make this interesting. Land a hit on me and I'll leave. You have a minute." His voice had a daring tone.

"I'm extremely good at taekwondo, are you sure a hit is all I need?" Pretending to be tough doesn't always pan out, but it's still worth a try.

You took his silence as a yes. You knew your skills weren't nearly enough to even touch him, so you had to work around it. You needed more than simply brawns.

"predictable." His voice was bored when he blocked your kick. "Pathetic." It rang out again. He didn't even have to keep his umbrella down, the power gap was just that much.

He held your ankle right before it could hit his face. Using it to your advantage, you try to twist your way out of it. "You know it's no use-" He fell silent as a small *tak* sound was made.

His left his grip on your foot and brought his hand to his eye. "Was that a stone?" His voice grew louder. "Mh-hm. My aim is impeccable." You shrugged, a grin breaking out but it dropped just as quickly.

You ducked as his fist reached out to you. "Hey now. A deal is a deal. You said you'd leave if I land a hit. And I did. You didn't mention it had to be physical contact" You could tell he wasn't happy to hear that. "Joongoo would've approved of you" he mumbles. Before turning back.

He stops half way, "Next time we meet, I won't go easy." He says without looking back.

"Next time we meet, I'll bring a gun." (I mean like a pistol. Lol)

--- (few months in the future)---

You take a deep breath, preparing yourself to open the door. Knowing the devil is on the other side really made you not want to. Big deals monetary status hadn't improved much since the last time. And you knew the next visit by him wouldn't be just a warning.

So you thought of the only way this would play out in your favour was if you went to him before he came to you.

Finally opening the door to his office and making your entrance. "Missed me?" You grin, putting on your tough facade again.

He took a few seconds to register the scene before he spoke. "Not in the slightest." His tilted his head to look behind you, seeing a body laying unconscious. "So the taekwondo wasn't just a ruse?" He asked. "Maybe not" you shrugged.

"I kept our promise, you know." You dug into your pocket, bringing out a gun (a pistol) and lazily twirling it around your fingers. It didn't do much to change his expression. Rather it seems you intrigued him more.

"There's one bullet in this. And you know I won't miss. So hear me out." You demanded, a smirk laying on your face and you leaned forward against his table. "Give big deal some more time."

He leaned back on his chair. "And why would I?"

"Or I'm the only one walking out of this room alive."

He smirks, "what do you have up your sleeve this time? You couldn't have just walked into the lions den without a plan?" Gun was more interested in your guts to stand against him rather than worry if it would be his last. He knew it wouldn't be.

"Of course." You smile. "If a big deal member takes out the infamous 'gun'. Big deal would make too many enemies. Stronger ones even. So you see, I left big deal three days ago." His eyebrow arched in surprise. But his silence urged you to continue.

"I left a note and everything." Your hand flailed in the air. "In these three days, I met with your precious leaders of the other crews."

"If you die today. The entire workers affiliate would come to aid bid deal if your acquaintances still manage to pin the blame on big deal. That little nerd with specs? He seemed too enthused to get rid of you." You twirled the pistol in your hand again.

Gun smirked, it gave off creepy vibes which almost made you lose your confidence. "God dog? He didn't seem too inclined to make a deal. He's got that lone wolf drama going on. But I know he wants to get rid of you too and he doesn't like being in-debt to anyone. He'd come to the rescue if the problem ever rises."

"Olly." You sighed. "He was a little tough to convince. But the second i mentioned Eli Jang, he was on board." Gun's expression turned serious at the mention of Eli's name. "And guess what?" You smiled wider. "I have a lead on his whereabouts."

"You're lying." Gun straightened himself. "Or am I?" You challenge him with a grin.

"So, what's your decision. The balls in your court now." You stood up straight, aim the gun(pistol) where his stone cold heart should be.

"You won't pull the trigger." He laughs.

"why not?"

"I see your hand trembling. You don't have the guts."

"or was it all an act." As if on the cue of your words, your hand steadies itself, moving to aim at his head now. "Oh, and if you think you fight i won't be able to shoot you." You throw a decorative piece from his table up in the air and shoot a bullet hitting it perfectly causing it to disintegrate in the air. "My aim? Impeccable. Even on moving objects."

"Didn't you say the gun had only one bullet?" He raised an eyebrow. "Or was that a lie?" You say, bringing back the gun and aiming it at this head. "So, your answer?"

"I shouldn't have called you Samuels replacement. You're better." He grins creepily again. "How do I know you're not lying about making deals with the other crews?"

"you don't." You smile. "It's up to you to risk it."

He laughs, "You've impressed me. I'll give big deal 2 months."

"Make it four and I might let you in on the lead about Eli Jang."

"Alright."

---(few weeks in the future)---

"How did you know you'd find me here?" You said lighting a cigarette. "Where else would you be other than the big deal streets. It had to be a lie that you left the crew." He said, stepping out of the dark.

"it was." You smile, the cigarette hanging between your lips. Taking it out and passing it to him, you blew out smoke.

He accepted the cigarette, leaning against the alley wall beside you. It was silent for a while "What brings you here?" You looked at him from the corner of your eye. He dropped the cigarette and put out the butt. "You." He said and pushed himself off the wall.

"wha- before you could complete your sentence, he brought his lips against yours. His hand traveled under your ear bringing you closer. It was hard not to kiss back when it felt so intoxicating. You were convinced he was the devil, no one else could be this tempting.

You pulled away to breathe, but he pulled you back to him. Pushing you into the wall with rough hands. He tasted like cigarettes, the addictive kind.

You took him up to your room that night after he snaked his hand under your shirt and you had no will to stop him. That gave rise to a 'no strings attached' agreement between the two. You made a deal with the devil.

---(three months in the future)---

"This ends the second you hurt jake." You said in between breaths. "Why." He shoved you against the wall harder, his hands pressed against your waist. "Are you talking about someone else when I'm right here." He bit down on your lower lip until you voiced out a moan. And he smirked in satisfaction.

Gun had come to grow accustomed to you, to your body. He knew what would make you moan or even scream. And he got accustomed to hearing your sounds more than he'd like to accept.

It had been a while since someone had impressed him like you did. He liked the danger, the thrill. He liked the sensation, he liked yo-

No, no he didn't. It is a 'foes with benefits' situation. That's it, nothing more nothing less. That's what gun told himself.

---(one month in the future)---

Gun stood in the rain. He just took care of jake and disqualified big deal.

For some reason, it felt heavy. Everything did. But mostly, it was his chest.

*tak* a small pebble hit him on the back of his head. He knew exactly who it was.

Another pebble followed, and then another.

He finally turned around and looked at you. Your eyes red, but no tears escaped them. You flicked another stone at him. Your last one. "Fuck you." You seethed

"That's exactly what you've been doing all this while." He smirks

"Go to hell." You hissed, turning your back to him. You couldn't stay there a second longer.

"That's exactly where I'll be going." He mumbled loud enough for you to hear. He looked at you, as your figure got smaller and smaller and finally merged with the horizon.

He clicked his tongue and himself left the place. But not before he bent down and picked a pebble you threw at him and shoving it into his pocket.

You should've known a deal with the deal would never end well.

[shu-box-puns]

Hello there mate!

Hope you're doing good and I'm here to say I ADORE you're Dad!Tsu'tey works and they bring me my daily dose of serotonin.

But also, since I've read (and reread) the "Grumpy dad and his feral son" work I've been having some thoughts. Like, what if Tsu'Tey was just a second too late and they managed to take Spider away? How would he react (I mean obviously he would hunt the shit out of them down) ? When would he and Spider reunite again? In the forest while he was with the recoms? In the battle of the Sea Dragon? I mean he would most def come to his rescue if the letter is the case to come and get him (+ to aid the Sullies), but then I also wonder what would happen. Would the whole Neytiri holding him hostige infront of Quaritch so he would release Kiri thing happen? How would he react to that? Or what if he got shot instead on Neteyam (not dying tho cos I want both my faves to live a happy life) ? I bet Tsu'Tey would be fucking terrified cos it woul remind him of how he got shot and almost died.

Anywho I'm sorry for the long line of questions and suggestions I left but when my brain finds something to hyperfixate on it will not stop coming up with questions and possible scenarios for the said thing 😅

I love the way your brain thinks Anon. (The fact I literally had most of these scenarios either thought out or planned :D) This got long. All the questions just gave me so many ideas and I RAN with it. Enjoy the memes and I hope there's no obvious spelling mistakes.

>_<

If Tsu'tey were too late to grab Spider before Quaritch got to him:

I could definitely see him tearing off after the recoms. Maybe he springs from the bushes too late, and Quaritch has already hoisted the boy up over his shoulder. Naturally, Tsu'tey still tries to attack him with his bow, but Lyle opens fire too fast and he old instinct has him retreating. Man definitely has some PTSD from getting shot during the war, and although mentally he still wants Spider back, his body goes on auto-pilot and throws him out of the line of fire. Lyle keeps shooting in his direction as the recoms retreat, but Tsu'tey isn't gonna let something as silly as instinct keep him down for long.

That's his boy, they'll have to kill him to keep him from getting him back. Thankfully, Jake knows exactly where his brain went and literally had to throw himself at this man so he didn't end up getting himself shot (again). Jake likes Spider well enough, but he thinks regrouping is a better course of action than charging in guns blazing - shocker, he's actually matured since having his kids.

Tsu'tey definitely fights with all he has against Jake, cursing at him and trying to wrestle himself free. He can't focus on anything but the distant roar of the enemy ship as it soars in close to the canopy. He can see the lights, and through the trees, the vague outlines of the recoms strapping themselves in. Lo'ak definitely has to wrestle the hunter's knife out of its sheath before he remembers it is there. But no one can save Jake from Tsu'tey biting the shit out of him. Man does not give a shit at this point.

When he gets free. (Of course it's a when not an if.) The airship is already long gone. A distant hum in the distance, even to his superior hearing. The pure, unbridled rage on this man's face is terrifying. Instead of explosive, loud anger, he's cold, almost unnervingly calm. A whole new level of terrifying.

Jake is definitely too scared to try and coax him out of the clearing and instead focuses on reassuring his children. Neytiri has to approach him, she's known him the longest afterall. Had stuck with him through the loss of Sylwanin, the fall of HomeTree, the war, she knows how best to handle him when he is like this. That doesn't mean her words are effective however. Tsu'tey needs a moment of stillness to collect his thoughts and recollect himself after the adrenaline burst, but Neytiri is already grabbing him roughly by the bicep and trying and drag him to his ikran.

He's still seething. Barely seeing straight. Half baked plans of him attacking the demon airship before it could get to Bridgehead were sounding more tempting by the moment.

Somehow Neytiri drags him out of the clearing and into the branches of the trees. Hauling his weary body to safer ground. But in his musing, Tsu'tey recalls the figure of Neytiri in the trees when Spider fell. He remembers seeing her dragging Kiri away with half a nod of acknowledgement sent Tsu'tey's way. It sends a fresh wave of rage crashing over him.

"You left him." He suddenly snarled, ripping his arm from her and pointing an accusatory finger at her. "He was right there, and you abandoned him!"

Neytiri's ears droop and she doesn't deny it. She doesn't back down either. "My priority was Kiri. I assumed you could handle it." She doesn't apologise for her actions or inaction. Just holds his gaze and holds her ground. Her expression neutral.

Tsu'tey knew she'd never taken much of a liking to Spider, despite her relationship with Jake and his heritage. Despite Tsu'tey unofficial adoption of the boy. There had always been a sense of hostility between the two. With Neytiri acting colder to Spider and the boy refusing to call her out on it. Tsu'tey had never thought to address it or try and help them mend that gap, now look at them.

And that's the real kick to the teeth. Not that Neytiri didn't care enough to be sorry that it was his kid taken instead of her own. It was the truth in her words that had his anger faltering. He should've been able to handle it. Spider was his son. And he let him slip through his fingers. He should've fought harder, dirtier. Should have resorted to teeth and nails if he had to.

So what if he got shot? If he'd angled it right, he would've had enough time to get Spider to safety.

If it had been Neteyam or Lo'ak in Quartich's hold, Jake would've torn himself apart to ensure their safety. Neytiri would've fallen into a blind rage to keep her children safe. Would have used every resource at her disposal to protect her own. She would have stared death in the face and kept snarling. And what had Tsu'tey done? Allowed a past experience to still his movements. To make him hesitate, and now he might have to pay the price for the rest of his life.

His retort dies on his tongue as his heart clenches painfully. But Tsu'tey had never been one to give up easily. He kept a tight hold on his anger, allowed it to guide him as he shoved past Neytiri and called for his ikran. His face was set in his trademark scowl, but there was a predatory fluidity to him that only came out during the war. When what he loved was threatened.

As his ikran lands beside him and he makes the bond, Lo'ak sidles up to his side, offering him back his knife. There is a familiar fire burning in the depths of the boy's eyes. A desire for vengance, and a sea of guilt and pain. Tsu'tey allows his face to soften for a heartbeat, he bends over the side of his ikran and squeezes Lo'ak's shoulder tight. "I will get him back." He promises.

Lo'ak chews on his lower lip, his eyes flickering to Tsu'tey and holding his burning gaze. He must see Tsu'tey's determination, his drive, his stubbornness, because he cracks a small smile and nods.

The family prepares to return to High Camp. Jake warning Tsu'tey that any attempts to go after Spider now was a suicide mission. He didn't argue, but neither did Tsu'tey agree. He also chose to ignore Neytiri handing Tuk off to him. Just kept his gaze ahead, and his hand loosely wrapped around the little girl's stomach so she was secure in the saddle in front of him.

If they reunited in the forest:

Lets say by chance Tsu'tey gets word of the Demon ship in clan territory again, or he's just riding around the forest on a pa'li because it helps him clear his mind.

He hasn't slept since Spider was taken. He's worried for his boy and severely regretting not letting him know what he meant to him before this shit show got so out of hand. In typical Tsu'tey fashion, he's been spending his time gathering Spider's belongings for when he returns.

Norm had already handed over most of the boy’s prized possessions when Tsu’tey asked for them from his bedroom in the compound. He’d packed everything away neatly in preparation to wherever Jake was planning to flee, so his son would have what he needed the minute he was retrieved. Spare exo pack, rechargeable batteries, etc. 

He's in his head so deep, that he takes a double take when he spots Spider through the trees. His pa'li makes an abrupt stop, the large animal mirroring Tsu'tey's shock as he stares wide eyed at the image of his boy stood on a log, above a group of recoms. Even from a distance he can see the bruises. He can see the tense set of his shoulders, his swift glances to the forest, despite pretending to be at ease.

Tsu'tey's shock melts into a scowl as his bow groans under the tightening on his hands. He steels himself with a long, deep inhale, mentally calculating the space within the small clearing. The sight of the guns on the recoms have his heart pounding, and his scars tingling with phantom pain. He knows deep down that his bow will be useless in a one on six fight. His only advantage is surprise, and he only gets one chance.

Tsu'tey's mind is made up before he takes his next breath. He knows he needs to try. Even if it ends with a bullet between his shoulders and his pa'li throwing him off from the pain, he needs to die trying. Whether it kills him or not, he needs to return Spider to the clan, where he will be safe. Where Jake and Neytiri can take him to a fresh start, a safer alternative to the clan at war.

The recoms are distracted. Only one wearing sunglasses is actually taking stock of his surroundings. Spider is talking, commanding most of the group's attention.

Sucking in a deep breath, Tsu'tey lets out a sharp call that could easily be mistaken for some distant herd animal. None of the recoms react but he sees Spider visibly stiffens. Tsu’tey grins despite himself and readies his mount. 

He notches an arrow into his bow and urges his pa'li forward. He erupts from the undergrowth with a war cry, and skewers the closest unsuspecting recom. It scatters the group like startled yerik, who immediately scramble for their guns.

"TSU'TEY!" Spider yells, sounding shocked and elated to see him. The hunter spares only a moment killing a second recom before he's charging for that log. His pa'li races past faster than the enemy can load their weapons, and it gives Tsu'tey large enough of an opening to lean down and grab Spider's by his extended hands. The child immediately latches onto him, grabbing whatever he can as Tsu'tey swings him up into the saddle in front of him and together they disappear off into the undergrowth.

Shots were fired at their back but no one got hit, much to Tsu'tey's relief. But the adrenaline rush isn't over because Spider turns around and yells in a rush about a tracker in his mask.

Not to worry though, because Tsu'tey is very up to date on all the old compound location. Even as his triumph sours, he takes confidence in the distant yells of the recoms and the light pressure of Spider at his front. He snarls softly to himself as he makes his pa'li change course.

Yes they get the masks switched out without issue and toss the bugged one into a fast moving river to send Quaritch on a wild goose chase and buy the Sully's more time to run.

Side note: In this possibility, Tsu'tey was definitely convinced Spider wasn't safe enough with him and he had to go with the Sully's to the Metkayina clan. And Tsu'tey was NOT planning to go with him. HAVE ANGST!!

If they reunited on the Sea Dragon:

In this scenario, Tsu'tey ends up visiting the Sullys when the Sea Dragon turns up. He just wanted to check up on his friends and see if they've heard anything about Spider, and the next thing he knows, he's got nieces and nephews to save, and a score to settle.

Tsu'tey is definitely going straight for the ship.

It's during the stand-off where the Colonel has his gun to Lo'ak's temple and Jake isn't telling anyone over the comms what is happening - preparing to hand himself over like the idiot he is. Tsu'tey was circling above the clouds on his ikran with Neytiri, carefully listening to his ear piece as he tries to decipher what is going on. The minute he catches sight of Spider being escorted back into the ship, all rational thought leaves this man's head. Of course he has enough sense to remain undetected - he's not stupid - but he's also not on board with Jake's self-sacrificing bullshit. In Tsu'tey's books, failure is not an option this time around. He is getting Spider back if it kills him.

Tsu'tey and Payakan being on the same wavelength.

The tulkun YEETING himself onto the ship's deck and giving Tsu'tey big enough of an opening to land his ikran and send the beast back up into the sky undetected. He makes brief eye contact with Neteyam who's circling the shallows around the belly of the ship, getting ready to leap up and help out his siblings.

The oldest Sully boy points to the kids tied to the railing, Tsu'tey nods. He motions behind him, where the RDA sailors took Spider and Neteyam nods his understanding.

On the horizon, the Metkayina clan are inbound. Tearing through the waves and heading straight for the ship.

Tsu'tey decides that they've got this covered and finds the nearest doorway that will lead him into the belly of the metal ship. He's too tall for the corridors and either has to knuckle crawl or walk at a constant stoop. His bow is a pain to hold loaded in the tight space, so he opts solely for his knife.

He navigates the ship blindly. His ears pricked for Spider's voice, but otherwise killing anyone he comes across and moving swiftly. He knows the destruction caused by Payakan would've damaged something valuable and he needs to move fast.

I love the idea of Tsu'tey stumbling across the control room in time to find Spider steering the ship towards the rocks and then brutally killing the controls with a fire extinguisher. (Boy was eyeing that lever heavily whenever he was in the same room as it). Just Tsu'tey letting out a half formed growl as the crewmates try to tear Spider away and fix the lever, but his oncoming attack getting put on hold as the enormous ship speeds for the rocks and promptly takes off.

The minute that bitch lands back in the water, you can bet Tsu'tey is the first on his feet. He erupts into the room with a sound so unnerving that the crew forget that they are armed. It's an unfair fight. And despite the tight quarters and being outnumbered, Tsu'tey wipes the floor with everyone.

They find Spider an exopack and get the fuck off the sinking ship to meet back up with the Sullys out on the rock.

Just the crew out cold or dead at his feet, and Tsu'tey closing the distance between himself and Spider. He drops into a crouch, all hard scowl and sharp eyes, and gently tucks Spider's dread behind his ear. "Are you unharmed?"

Spider nods, dumbfounded and thrown off by the raw concern in Tsu'tey's voice. Tsu'tey grumbles. He can see spots of blood all over Spider, small grazes and nicks that shouldn't be there. His stripes are faded and his hair needs a retwist. But he's alive, and Tsu'tey isn't going to let anything else happen to him.

Bonus:

The standoff:

I feel like throwing Tsu'tey into the mix would throw so many scenes off course with his sheer presence that the stand off between Neytiri and Quaritch where they're holding the kids hostage wouldn't happen. There would be too many variables changing for it to occur the same way, but lets pretend it does.

(Neteyam is alive btw, just resting on his rock with Tsireya kindly mixing him up a poultice she learned from her Tsahik training. Lyle didn't kill him, but Neteyam definitely had to protect Lo'ak's dumbass in some way. That child is accident prone.)

Anyway, we've got Quaritch holding Kiri hostage. Jake is trying to keep Tuk out of harm's way. No one knows where the fuck Lo'ak is, but he's slippery enough to get himself out of anything. And then we've got Neytiri making a last ditch effort to protect her daughter by threatening to take away the last thing Quaritch loves; Spider.

In the background, we've got Tsu'tey. Breathing hard, slightly wounded from throwing himself around on a ship with broken equipment and guns getting fired at him from all directions.

Raised voices draw his attention. He's standing on the walkway overlooking the deck where the standoff is occurring. He spots Spider first, under Neytiri's blade, begging for Kiri's life instead of his own. Anger like he's never felt before curls hard in his stomach. The betrayal is worse than when Jake and Neytiri first mated. It was one thing to let his son get captured, it was another to murder him right in front of Tsu'tey.

Kiri's voice stops Tsu'tey from doing anything stupid in his blind rage. Every molecule of his body screams to defend his child, but common sense makes him take in the situation.

His head snaps to Quaritch holding Kiri hostage. To Jake within arms reach, but preoccupied with Tuk. To the knife drawing blood at Kiri's neck.

Tsu'tey also takes note of the clear shot he has from his vantage point. There is no conflict within him as he notches his bow. No concern for Spider's reaction, or the conflicted feelings he might have towards his birth father. Tsu'tey's mind is clear. His hands are steady. And his mind is made up.

He takes the shot, and nail's the recom through his right eye. The arrow - fired with all the strength he could muster - goes straight through bone and wedges in up to two thirds of its shaft.

Quaritch sways for a heartbeat, his knife clattering to the metal deck as Kiri tears away from him and throws herself at Jake. Then he collapses with a painful thump. Limps sprawling and his head lolling.

Slowly, Tsu'tey lowers his bow, his gaze narrowed and his tail whipping behind him. He catches Neytiri's eyes as the huntress and her family follow the direction the arrow had come from.

"Unhand. My. Son." Tsu'tey snarls, his voice ringing out over the soft crash of the waves and the pop of fire. His gaze is venomous, fingers twitching for another arrow if Neytiri doesn't back down. There's still a crazed edge to her gaze, a look Tsu'tey is sure he shares. He hasn't felt this shaken since Spider was taken.

Neytiri nods once. An acknowledgment. And lets Spider go.

His son stumbles away, furiously scrambling to put distance between himself and Neytiri. Kiri was quick to soothe him, check him for injuries as Jake carefully approached Neytiri to take the knife off of her.

Tsu'tey leaps down from the upper level. He can't be bothered to find the stairs and the height is nothing compared to what he has to deal with back in the forest. He keeps an eye on Neytiri, but knows that Jake has her now. Ears pricked in case of further enemies, Tsu'tey spares a few moments to kick Quaritch's corpse and make sure he fired a killing shot. The last thing he needed was to grow comfortable again and then in fifteen years have to deal with this bullshit all over again.

"Dad?" The quiet utterance has panic straightening his spine. It's not one of his nieces asking for Jake's attention. It's Spider's voice. Quiet and shaky and so vulnerable that Tsu'tey just wants to wrap himself up in his arms.

Instead, all he can think about is Quaritch's body at his feet. Tsu'tey's arrow protruding from his eye socket. His blood pooling at his feet.

Then it hits him all at once. Spider's birth dad is dead at his feet, and Tsu'tey put him there. Tsu'tey killed him. He didn't even ask. Spider spent months with this man - against his will - but not everything is black and white. They might have come to some understanding. He might of grown to know him outside of his video logs and the fleeting stories he overheard from the Omaticaya. Spider may have gotten to know Quaritch without the biased lense of hate everyone else talks about him with. And Tsu'tey murdered him. What's worse, he felt triumphant doing it.

Tsu'tey can feel his hands shaking, regardless of how tightly he grasped his bow. His ears were flat against his skull, his tail tucked in close to his legs. He prays he just looks like he's reflecting, in contrast to being crushed by the weight of his actions. And he keeps staring at Quaritch's corpse. The arrow. The blood.

"Dad?" Spider says again. A little louder. More confident. And it kills Tsu'tey as he cringes, eyes squeezing shut against the guilt.

A brush of a hand to his wrist. His eyes snap open, and there's Spider. Gazing up at him with wide, tearful eyes. His mask is slightly cracked and he's bleeding from his chest where Neytiri caught him with her blade. But there is no hatred in his expression. Only relief and exhaustion.

"Dad, are you okay?" Spider asks him, and he looks at Tsu'tey as he says it.

The realisation hits him like a sturmbeest stampede. That Spider was calling him Dad, not the corpse at his feet.

With a deep, shuddering breath, Tsu'tey pulls himself together. "I am." He reassures his son as he drops into a crouch. It is evident from Spider's expression that he doesn't believe him, but the boy doesn't push.

Instead, he throws his arms around Tsu'tey's neck and burries his face under his chin. Tsu'tey chuckles wetly, his arms wrapping around Spider and dragging him close. It soothes every raw instinct in him to finally have his boy back in his arms. Tired and injured, but safe.

Around him, he can hear the Sully family beginning to wade into the surf, so Tsu'tey tucks his arms under Spider's thighs and hoists him up onto his hip, like he used to when his son was still a toddler. Despite his age now, he's still the perfect size for Tsu'tey to carry unhindered out of the shipwreck.

BONUS:

[dollyyun]

𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐬 | 05

SYPNOSIS: wherein Hwang Stella's life is tangled in a predicament involving her clandestine identity as a racer, her seemingly daily life as the official heir to the Hwang Empire, and seven guys with whom she has a complex history with. PAIRING: non!idols enhypen members x fem!oc. GENRE: 18+ (mdni), reverse harem, chaebols, semi-college, racing, eventual adulthood, eventual enha being f1 drivers, multiple povs and written in first pov. WARNINGS: violence, drama, expletives, suggestive themes. WORD COUNT: 5K+ TAGLIST: @aishigrey @kgneptun

✘ SERIES MASTERLIST ✘

"Sunghoon!"

Heeseung attempts to stop me, holding my arm tightly just as I am about to run past him. The others in our vicinity divert their attention to us while Heeseung looks at me with bewilderment. "What are you trying to do??"

"Let go of me." I try to yank my arm away from his strong grip, but he holds it tighter. "Fuck! Heeseung, if you don't let go of me this instant─"

"Don't even try to involve yourself between the two sisters." Heeseung cuts me off sternly.

"Fucking hell, Heeseung! Stella can't swim!"

The rage amidst the desperation in my voice is resonating, enough to draw more attention from the rest of the crowd while Heeseung's eyes go wide, but I use this chance to forcefully yank my arm from his grasp before making a run for the pool, despite the fact that this infuriating crowd is blocking my way.

The longer I delay, the higher the chance that I might lose Stella for good. I hear gasps from some, including the insufferable Hwang Rena, before I dive into the pool without any hesitation. Thank fuck that I left my phone and wallet in the car.

I see her, and she's getting pulled down further and further. With my swimming expertise, I expeditiously swim towards her. To anyone else, the height of this pool is not a big deal, but for someone who can't swim, it is. Especially when Hwang Stella has been traumatised once, and it was my fault.

Reaching near her, my hands grip her before pulling her close to me. I wrap an arm around her waist before quickly swimming back to the surface. Once we return, I spot Heeseung and even Sunoo preparing to assist me in getting an unconscious Stella out of the cold water, while the rest of the guys can be seen squeezing their way past the crowd before they are able to see what is happening.

With a grunt, I lift myself up and swiftly get out of the pool. From my peripheral vision, I see Rena attempting to reach out to me. "S-Sunghoon─"

"Don't ever try to touch me." My tone sounds venomous enough to make the others flinch before I direct my glare at the rest of them. "What the fuck are y'all waiting for? The party's over, so get out before I make you! Don't crowd around Stella!" I bark out orders, not caring that my reputation on campus could be tarnished by how I'm behaving right now.

I make my way towards Heeseung, who is attempting CPR on Stella, but she still remains lifeless. "Heeseung, move."

Surprisingly, Heeseung complies and steps aside, allowing me to take charge. Recalling the CPR lessons I've attended and learned, I utilise my skills as I place both palms on her chest.

"What the hell just happened?!" Ni-Ki asks, but nobody answers him as we are all too focused on Stella.

"Stella," Jay says, seeming hesitant. "Is she─"

"She will make it." Heeseung tells him firmly.

"Come on, Hwang!" I grit my teeth, the panic and guilt coil in my tummy. Finally, I lean in, providing her with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. The thought of our lips touching does not even faze me a bit. Her life is literally on the line, for fuck's sake.

"Hoon!" The urgency in Jake's voice doesn't help with the trepidation in me either.

"She's not waking up!" Jungwon adds in.

"I'm trying, damn it!" Why the fuck are my eyes burning?

By some miracle, we are all startled as soon as Stella snaps her eyes open and abruptly sits up, throwing up the water and retching painfully. I don't know why or how, but I find myself supporting her upper body, which seems to be weakening each second.

"Shit, Hwang. You scared the fuck out of all of us." I speak beside her ear as I rub her back while the trepidation I felt earlier subsides.

From the corner of my eye, the movement from the other guys can be seen, as though they want to be the ones in my position, but they refrain themselves.

"Sunghoon," She cough out painfully, her arm locking itself around my shoulder. "Y-You saved me?"

I look at her with a slight smirk. "Your knight in shining armour for the night, Princess."

Though her face is still evidently pale and weak, she shoots me a scowl. "Help me up."

I comply, now standing with my arm still supporting her. "Careful, Princess."

There is a fury of vengeance in her eyes. "Where the fuck is Rena?" She doesn't bother to conceal the indignation in her voice, and she attempts to push me away. "I'm going to─ Woah!"

I manage to catch her swiftly, though at the same time, Heeseung instinctively steps forward to catch her, but upon seeing my swiftness, he awkwardly steps away from us.

"Let go of me, Park." She weakly protests against me. "I need to─ Hey!"

In a blink of an eye, I carry her in a bridal style, wanting to get this done. "If you want to take your revenge on Rena, do it any other day. For now, you need to go home and rest."

As always, she is stubborn. "But I don't need rest!"

"Say whatever you want, but I intend to drive you home." I say gruffly, and thankfully, she yields.

I feel her stiff body begin to relax in my arms before her head rests on my shoulder. She heaves a weak sigh, her eyes fluttering close. "Thank you, Park. I owe you."

My heart clenches with a familiar sentiment. "You don't owe me anything. You've never had." Besides, I was the reason why she first drowned back in elementary school.

"I still hate you, though." She murmurs, sounding languid.

A smirk tugs at the corner of my lips. "The feelings are mutual, Princess."

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

I cover Stella with my jacket, which engulfs her whole body. My eyes trail to her face as she is sound asleep, with her chest heaving up and down steadily. Though she is not entirely dry, I don't care that the passenger seat will be soaked.

After I manage to pull myself back to reality, I close the passenger door and pinch the bridge of my nose. A loud sigh leaves my lips. What the hell is wrong with me? One moment I hated her, and the next, I didn't hesitate to save her. For a moment back there, the thought of Stella being gone forever terrifies me, when I should've been glad since she's my enemy.

"Sunghoon," I hear Heeseung call for me from behind.

"Yeah?" I turn around to face him, but I am taken aback when the other guys are with him as well. I raise my eyebrow at them while nostalgia hits me. This feels like old times. "I thought you guys had headed back."

"We just─" Ni-Ki pauses. "We just wanted to make sure that Stella is─"

"She's more than safe. I know that you guys have known me as Stella's number one hater, but I would never do anything that jeopardises her safety. Heck, I even saved her life!"

"About that, how did you know she couldn't swim?" Heeseung asks, raising an inquisitive eyebrow at me.

"Hold on, we weren't aware of what happened." Jungwon intervenes, gesturing to himself, Jay, and Jake. "How did Stella drown?"

I click my tongue in annoyance. "Because Hwang fucking Rena pushed her. Speaking of Jake," I settle my eyes on him, which seem to be hardening by the second. "Try to keep your girlfriend under control, or who knows what she might do the next time?"

Instead of getting mad at me, Jake appears to be nonchalant but still curious. "Like Jungwon said, I don't have the slightest clue what happened."

"Rena was mad at Stella because she claimed that Stella was the reason things fucked up between you and her." Sunoo tells Jake sternly. "Is it true?"

Jake clenches his jaw and looks away briefly. "It's complicated."

I sigh loudly, enough to garner their attention. "Listen, I've had a crappy night, and I'm still freezing in my damp clothes." I pause, scanning their faces while my lips unfurl a smirk. "Don't worry. My feelings for Stella remain the same, if you guys are worried."

"Worried? Why would we be worried?" Sunoo scoffs as he folds his arms.

"I may be an ass, but I'm not stupid enough to notice that some of you clearly like Stella." I cast a side glance at certain faces. "Including those who had history with her. But what do I know?" I shrug my shoulders, preparing to get into my car.

Whatever I said is true, including my feelings for Stella. My actions towards her tonight don't mean that I hate her any less. So unless pigs started to fly, I would never fall for my enemy.

Last night's fiasco feels like a fever dream. I can't believe that was the second time I almost drowned to death and that everyone had witnessed it, especially my great nemesis. Yet, I didn't expect Sunghoon out of all people to be the one to save me.

Sunghoon saving me is ironic, given that when we were nine, we had an after-school activity that was mandatory for all students in our batch to participate in, an activity involving how to learn to swim. I remember when I was busy in my own world, walking by the edge of the pool, when Sunghoon and his fellow associates taunted me, and before I knew it, Sunghoon had roughly pushed me into the pool.

I heard their laughter above me as I was struggling, and I cried, feeling panicked because of how deep the pool was. I drowned, and nobody came to my rescue at the instant. I felt myself losing consciousness, almost succumbing to the darkness, when strong arms lifted me, who turned out to be one of the coaches.

From then on, I was specifically exempted from attending the after-school activity due to how bad my anxiety was after the incident. Even though the school alerted my parents about what happened, they couldn't care less about their daughter, who almost drowned to death.

So, yeah, I'm still astounded by Sunghoon's actions last night. It was as though he wanted to repay his sin by saving me. Though, that doesn't mean we're friends. At the end of the day, he hates my guts just as much as I do to him.

A sigh leaves my lips before I reluctantly lift my upper body up, sitting on my bed and reaching out for my phone on the nightstand, which has been chiming with notifications since earlier. Though I'm at the mansion and settled in my room, I didn't bother to step a foot outside my room.

Last night, I recall Sunghoon speaking with one of the helpers whom I'm a little close with and thankfully, my parents were out. He brought me to my room before leaving me in the hands of the helper.

I shake my head at the thought of Sunghoon again before looking down at my phone and seeing bunch of texts from different people.

HEESEUNG: Call me once you're awake.

▰▰

RIKI: I'm worried. Text me back once you see this.

▰▰

SUNOO: Your sister was a bitch.

▰▰

JAY: I know that we're no longer friends, but I hope you're fine now.

▰▰

UNKNOWN: It's Jungwon. I got your number from Sunoo. I need to know that you're fine.

I ignore the disappointment when a certain someone doesn't send me anything. Of course, he didn't. He's probably busy with Rena. I shove away that feeling before I contemplate who to reply to first.

My finger finds its way to Riki's text, but it hesitates. Instead, I find myself replying to Heeseung's first.

STELLA: I'm awake now. You're free to call?

After I hit the send button, I wait for his response. Seconds become minutes, and I find myself getting impatient. I let out a huff before proceeding to call him and hitting speaker mode. As I await his response, my heart seems to be racing at an odd pace.

"Heeseung, hey." I greet him with a subtle sense of nervousness as soon as he's on the line.

"Stella?" His morning husky voice erupts the butterflies in my tummy. "I thought you wouldn't call."

I guess he must've been sleeping, given how evident he sounds on the speaker. "Of course I would. You're my friend."

There is a brief silence before he speaks up again in that attractive morning voice. "I'm sorry, Stella. I didn't know you couldn't swim. If I had known, then I would've saved you."

"It's okay, Hee. Knowing that you're worried, I'm already grateful."

"I was more than worried, sweetheart." I hear shuffling on the other line. "I thought we had lost you. You looked so lifeless, and I don't know what I would do if you hadn't woke up."

I feel a pinch in my heart. Amidst the relief, he sounds devastated. I press my lips thinly before I make a firm decision. "Heeseung, are you free right now?"

"For you, yeah, I am."

"Can I head over to your place?"

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

It turns out that Heeseung lives alone in a two-bedroom apartment, which is more spacious than I expected. Instead of driving on my own here, I took an Uber, as I still feel debilitated from last night. Thankfully, when I left the mansion earlier, I didn't see any sightings of Rena. I don't know what I would do if she had shown her face to me.

"Here." Heeseung places a mug of hot chocolate on the table as I lean back against the kitchen island.

Feeling cold, I reach for the hot chocolate and place both palms on the sides of the mug, getting the warmth I need. I flutter my eyes up to take a glance at Heeseung, who is standing in my view as he is busily texting on his phone.

He is merely dressed in a white graphic tee with a pair of grey sweatpants, and yet he manages to look good. His jet-black hair is slightly damp as it falls over his forehead, and there is a discernible softness in his eyes. He doesn't appear as intimidating as he usually is on campus or the last time I saw him. Then, my gaze falls to his pouty pink lips.

I feel my cheeks heating up the longer my gaze stays on his face, especially his lips. Before he can catch me staring, I look down at my mug and proceed to drink it. The thought of what it's like to kiss him mortifies me, because why the hell would I think of kissing him?

"You're quiet." Heeseung points out as I feel his gaze on my face.

"I was just thinking." I place my half-empty mug on the table. "About last night."

It isn't exactly a lie. Whatever Rena said before she pushed me into the pool got me thinking deeply. Why would I be the reason behind their failing relationship when Jaeyun clearly doesn't love me anymore? And Rena, I didn't expect her to be capable of pulling a stunt like that.

"Right. I don't know what that sister of yours was thinking, but now I'm more worried that you live in the same house as her." Heeseung sighs. "Who knows what stunt she will pull next?"

"She wouldn't dare kill me in our house. Plus, I'm the official heir. My parents could never replace me with Rena as the heir." I smile faintly. "Despite their blatant favouritism towards Rena, they can never deny that I'm worthy of the position instead of her due to how incompetent she is."

Heeseung's gaze never strays from my face, as he appears to be thinking deeply. "You know, if you ever need a place to crash, you're always welcome here." He rubs his nape sheepishly. "Besides, I have an extra room that hasn't been used."

My heart races again, but I remain composed. "That's so thoughtful of you, but I don't want to be a burden."

"You're not a burden." Heeseung counters sternly, but the softness in his gaze remains. "I meant what I said before about whatever you need or want, I'll always be at your service."

The atmosphere in the kitchen seems to shift while there is an unspoken tension between us. I keep my eyes trained on his while noticing how he seems to be stepping closer. My heart begins to pound harder against my chest as the distance between us decreases.

I gulp. "Heeseung─"

"You have no idea how close I was to going fucking insane when you weren't waking up." His voice sounds deeper while his gaze darkens. "It doesn't matter that she's your sister. I would hurt anyone who hurts you."

I accidentally flicker my gaze at his pink lips. "Do you get protective of your friends like you do of me?" I ask, feeling oddly breathless.

"What if I say no?" He leans his face closer until the tips of our noses graze against each other's. "What if I told you that I hated whenever you brought up the fact that we're friends?"

"We are friends, Hee." I feel myself getting weaker, failing to resist the temptation to close the gap between our lips.

"Fuck," He cusses lowly, his hot breath fanning above my lips. "Say my name again."

I am utterly hypnotised by whatever spell he has cast on me. "Heeseung."

"No." I feel his hand latch on the side of my waist, igniting the spark I feel on my skin. "The other one."

"Hee." I utter his name softly, and my eyes flutter close before our lips finally meet. In an instant, I melt into the kiss like butter, my arms finding their way to drape around his neck. He kisses me as though he needs air.

I'm not stupid to know that he has quite a reputation amongst the females in our university, but I don't give a fuck about whether he's a playboy or not. I just need to be one of his girls for now.

As if he knows that my knees are about to give up on me, he swiftly lifts me up and places me on top of the kitchen island without breaking the lip lock.

"You have no idea how much you drive me fucking insane, sweetheart." He rasps against my lips, pulling away from the kiss, while I am panting heavily with desire. His hand gently brushes my hair behind my ear before his finger trails down the side of my neck. "I've been wanting to do that."

I don't know if I am driven by the desire or if I'm being desperate, but I need his lips on mine again.

Before I can make a request, he presses his lips on mine, this time kissing me twice as hard, leaving me completely breathless. His body is pressed against mine, and I feel a familiar heat between my legs. Slowly, I wrap my legs around his waist.

"Hee," I gasp as soon as he pulls away to leave trails of kisses down my neck. I close my eyes in pleasure while my hands tug gently at his hair. "We shouldn't be doing this. We're friends." I protest weakly.

Heeseung nips at my skin, enough to bring out another gasp from me. "You're right, but just for today, let me have you."

I understand the hidden message behind his words. So the moment our eyes meet, which reflect the same thirst, I nod my head in agreement. He leans in to kiss me again but stops when the doorbell chimes throughout the apartment.

"Shit." Heeseung runs his fingers through his hair, and I feel disappointment when he steps away from me.

I give him a tight smile. "Were you expecting guests?"

"No." A muscle ticks in his jaw, and there is pure annoyance in his eyes. "Be right back."

I manage to even out my breathing pace while my heart returns to its original rate. I clench my thighs together, feeling the heat that hasn't dissipated. I am annoyed as well. I guess I'll just have to relieve myself later.

As I get off the kitchen island, my ears perk up at the sound of familiar voices. I don't even have the time to hide myself from them, because the moment I turn around, my eyes lock with Jungwon's. His eyes go wide, obviously surprised to see me here.

"Stella, darling!" Sunoo's cheery voice prompts me to break eye contact with Jungwon, and before I know it, I am immediately engulfed in a hug by Sunoo.

"Sunoo." I deadpan, but the guy continues to squeeze me into his strong arms.

"I was worried that my only servant wouldn't be able to serve me anymore." Sunoo speaks with a pout while I scoff in disbelief.

"She's not your servant, dumbass." Riki's deep voice causes me to look up, and I chuckle when Riki smacks Sunoo at the back of his head, prompting the latter to release me.

"Thanks." I chuckle, smiling at Riki.

Riki's eyes soften as he looks at me before he cups my cheeks with his warm palms. "I'm glad to see you vertical, but what are you doing here?"

"Yeah, and you didn't reply to my text." Jungwon adds in, and the bitterness in his tone is evident.

I don't know what to say because I am feeling a little overwhelmed by them. Thankfully, Heeseung comes to the rescue as he comes in view. "We were just chatting."

"Hwang?" Sunghoon appears out of nowhere, shocking me. I look at him with mixed emotions, but soon, my eyes narrow at his smirk. "You came to Heeseung instead of me? The guy who saved your life last night?"

I roll my eyes. "I was feeling grateful to you, but now you're just overdoing it."

Heeseung's loud sigh garners our attention. "What are you all doing here? At least give me some heads up before coming here."

"Why? So you could have Hwang all to yourself?" Sunghoon's smirk widens, and his eyes seem to be scanning the other guys' faces, but I'm uncertain why.

"Anyway, we're here because of Sunghoon." Riki says, diminishing the awkwardness that surrounds us. "He said it's important."

"But we have an unwanted guest." Sunghoon fakes a cough, but his gaze remains on mine.

I clench my hand into a fist. "Says the guy who came here uninvited."

Sunghoon raises an eyebrow at me. "I'm always welcomed here, whereas you, on the other hand─"

"Enough." Jungwon cuts us off, sighing deeply. "Hoon, it's fine. Besides, isn't it related to Stella as well?"

"What do you mean?" I ask sternly with no intention to back down. "If it's related to me, then I should stay."

"Fuck, no─"

"Sunghoon." Heeseung glowers at him, resulting in the latter cussing at me once more with his piercing eyes.

"Fine, but don't say I didn't warn ya." Sunghoon invites himself to sit on the island's stool. "It's about Jake."

I manage to catch the way their eyes divert to me briefly, but I ignore them as I keep my eyes trained on Sunghoon's face.

"Jake doesn't know about this, so you guys better keep this info to yourselves and don't even think about pulling some stunts involving him." Sunghoon warns the guys while it is evident that he isn't including me in the conversation.

Heeseung sighs annoyedly as he leans his back against the wall with his arms crossed. "What is so important about this matter?"

"It's important because I think Jake is being controlled by his mother." Sunghoon pauses. "Actually, fuck that. He is being controlled, and the reason behind his abrupt behaviour was related to the fact that he had tied himself to Hwang Rena."

The more I listen, the harder my heart seems to pound against my chest.

"We kind of got that the moment he started dating Rena." Sunoo says.

"No, you don't get it. He's being forced to date Rena." Sunghoon grits his teeth, and the revelation hits me like a whiplash. "On one of the nights, I met him at the arena, and we talked, which led to his accidentally revealing the truth."

I want to listen more, but I can't. Everything feels overwhelming.

"I gotta go." I tell them briskly before quickly making my way out of Heeseung's apartment. I hear some of them calling out for me, but I'm too busy reeling in all of these emotions.

It isn't long before I begin to head towards the elevator before I feel a hand firmly latches itself around my wrist, prompting me to look at him.

"I'm here. Let's go." He tells him firmly before pulling me along with him.

I don't bother to protest against Jungwon as I succumb to the numbness.

─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

"Here." My vacant eyes look down to see the bottle of water in his grasp, to which I shake my head before returning my gaze to the scenery in my view.

Jungwon has brought me to an unfamiliar park with a riverside. Even though I should be mad at him for taking me away without consent, I am actually appreciative, especially when he didn't ask me anything while we were on our way here in his car.

Jungwon mirrors my action, settling himself next to me as we lean our backs against his car. The wind gently breezes past us while the sound of laughter and squeals from kids can be heard in the background. Bit by bit, my mind is at ease.

"Are you fine now?" Jungwon asks, breaking the protracted silence between us.

"I don't know what I'm feeling right now, Jungwon." I reply calmly.

"I'm sorry, Stella."

A sad chuckle leaves my lips before I take a glance at him. "Don't you think that you're too late to be apologising?"

"Stella, please─"

"Don't, Jungwon."

I look down, refusing to look at Jungwon as he positions himself in front of me. But he tilts my chin up, forcing me to look into his eyes, which I used to love.

"I need you to know this. Please." He pleads, the desperation and regret glimmering in his glistening eyes. "I'm truly sorry. I shouldn't have abandoned you and broken our friendship."

I don't want to cry and never planned to, but the back of my eyes starts to burn with the incoming tears. "I hate you for leaving me. I thought our friendship meant something to you."

"It did, it always did." Jungwon says softly before his eyes harden. "It was all on me. I was a fool for believing in that note."

My face contorts into confusion as the tears that are threatening to spill cease. "What do you mean? What note?"

Jungwon hangs his head low. "The note that I thought you had it slide into my locker."

What the hell? "Tell me." I say sternly, but he refuses to look at me. I sigh and grab both of his hands, prompting him to meet my desperate gaze. "Tell me everything, please. Help me understand why you did what you did."

As I hold his hands, I feel his thumb caressing the back of my hand. "Seven years ago, you had written a note, telling me that you didn't need someone pathetic like me anymore."

It feels as though my heart has dropped to the pits of my stomach. "What? But I didn't and would never─"

"I know, Bubs, I know." He interjects me softly, cradling my face. My cold heart melts at the familiar nickname he used to call me. "It took me some time to realise that you would never do any of that."

I hold his wrist, squeezing it as our eye contact remains unwavering. "Tell me more about what else was on the note."

Jungwon visibly gulps. "You just befriended me because you pitied me, and you found me disgusting, and that you hated me. Stella, the note was written in your exact handwriting."

"Oh my god." I feel like puking. My eyes begin to blur with each blink, while my lips quiver. "Jungwon, I never did that─ oh my god."

Alas, the waterworks erupt, with sobs leaving my lips. Instantly, I am engulfed in his warm embrace. His arms feel like a safety blanket. His arms, which are now big enough to make me feel protected.

I can feel his hand holding the back of my head. "Naturally, I was extremely hurt, so that's why I did what I did."

"Who could've done that?" I continue to weep into his shoulder. Seven years of loathing Jungwon, all because of a fucked-up misunderstanding.

"I don't know, but I have a hunch who." Jungwon's arms tighten around me. "Though, I can't be too sure and blatantly start accusing."

"I'm sorry, Jungwon." I cried out, my hands fisting the hems of his shirt. "I've spent seven years loathing you and trying to erase our memories."

"Not as sorry as I am, Stella." Jungwon murmurs sadly as he presses his cheek against the side of my head. "I should've confronted you. I shouldn't have abandoned you."

I pull away while I am still in his embrace, tilting my head to look at him in the eyes. I catch a single tear rolling down his cheek, prompting me to raise my hand and gently brush it away from his cheek.

"You were hurt, Jungwon. You were rightfully hurt and angry because you thought I meant those things when I wasn't the one who had written the note." I smile sadly, allowing my tears to continue running freely.

"Stella?" Jungwon grabs my hand and places it on his cheek before he positions his hand on top of mine.

"Yes, Jungwon?" My heart flutters unknowingly with the way he gazes at me with such tenderness.

Another tear falls from his eye. "I've missed you."

A chuckle leaves my lips, followed by broken sobs. "I've missed you too, Wonnie."

We bask in each other's embrace, holding each other and, with me, listening to his heart, which seems to be beating fast. I feel a mix of emotions within me. Relief, regret, and fury. Without solid evidence, I can't make baseless accusations, but there is only one person I know who can copy my handwriting exactly the way it is.

PREV CHAP | NEXT CHAP

[theflyindutchwoman]

You were on the run from the cops -- a bank robbery gone wrong. You ended up in my building -- frantic, looking for a place to hide, and [breathes deeply] -- and I opened the door for you. I lied to the cops for you. And -- Ooh. And it got me so hot that we hooked up while they were still searching the building. Okay. That -- That -- That's pretty good, actually.

| ANATOMY OF A SCENE - CHENFORD EDITION 4.22 - Day In The Hole

I could talk about this moment for hours… This scene is so rich, with many incredible moments, all different from the other… with Tim and Lucy running the gamut of emotions… This is such a game changer, a pivotal point that left them reeling and completely shifted their relationship.

Right from the start, there's this feeling of coziness and intimacy that is emanating from Lucy's apartment… All the dim lights and candles around them help create this warm atmosphere. Now, to be fair, this isn't the first time her home is lit this way : her living room was illuminated in a similar fashion when Nyla and Angela were at her place. Only here, with Tim, it's even more striking. And it definitely sets the mood… Maybe not for work, but then again, they didn't really need to create a back story for Dim and Juicy either : they simply could have asked the real Sava and Jake how they met to make sure their story would fit… They both went all-in for this op, using every opportunity to get closer...

The way they have to immediately bicker… They're just getting started and Tim is already complaining, offended that Lucy dares mocking his little meet-cute idea, and challenging her to do better. Which she does, turning the tables on him - and honestly, how did he not see that coming?! She thrives when under pressure and he knows that better than anyone. His facial expressions during that whole segment are absolutely amazing : he goes from annoyed to skeptical… from intrigued to completely gobsmacked, his jaw on the floor… And you will never convince me that he wasn't picturing her little scenario in that moment. As for Lucy… She looks so smug for breaking him! What makes this part even better is that, his suggestion to practice physical intimacy was something he was already contemplating - he didn't just suddenly thought about that… So it's no wonder his brain short-circuited after Lucy came up with this back story. And listen, if she created that story a little bit too fast, what does it say about Tim that his main concern was practicing displays of affection. I'm pretty sure that when Nyla and John went undercover as a couple, they never even thought about that. Their subconscious was being very loud...

Still, the way Tim is essentially reduced to a blubbering mess, stuttering and beating around the bush, is priceless. I don't think we have ever seen him this flustered before, even when random women were to hit on him while on the job. He's usually more unflappable, but here his discomfort is so evident that Lucy can't help but take advantage of it and play dumb. She is enjoying this way too much, showing him no mercy for a while and to be fair, I can't blame her : seeing him in this state is hilarious. But for all her bravado, once they get to the matter at hand, she is not fairing much better than him. She goes from mischievous to awkward in a beat… Both of them looking everywhere but at each other. Both waiting for a cue from the other… Until Lucy takes charge and put them out of their misery. I love how she clearly is the one who is more confident here - I think it was important : Tim is still technically her superior officer. This is a smart way to have them on more equal grounds, so to speak, while staying in-character. The way he's already puckering his lips before she starts giggling… He just wants to kiss her. And he is so done. Although who is he trying to fool with his 'we're professionals'? I seriously doubt this is part of their job description. Despite her awkwardness, Lucy is being so playful - her little routine to prepare herself is adorkable… and nervous. In light of how crushed she looked when she thought Tim was proposing to Ashley, it's understandable...

And it all leads to their very first kiss… Or first little peck, as the case may be. The contrast in their reaction is positively the best : it's how happy and proud he is for this, with his little head tilt and shrug, as if asking how it was, while Lucy is looking so underwhelmed, clearly having expected something more passionate. He barely has time to get defensive before she shuts him up with a real kiss… before they start making out. All the little details are amazing : the way she just grabs his face and goes for it, how he's caught off-guard and has to stomp on his feet to regain his equilibrium, how he smiles into the kiss trying to deepen it, their hands… THAT SHOT : the circular pan is brilliant. And they were seriously going to deepen that kiss when Tamara interrupted them. Their immediate reaction - jumping apart, going on opposite sides of the couch - is so entertaining… and the opposite of smooth. They really were caught up in the moment and now, they don't know how to behave… Lucy's 'this is work', pointing her finger at Tim, who's stuttering his agreement is not helping their case at all. Neither is the fact that he was going to go grab his stuff before realising he didn't have anything. Way to act not suspicious at ALL. This is peak comedy. Tim pointing his finger as well… they seriously have adopted the same mannerisms unknowingly and unfortunately for them, this isn't helping their case here. Lucy's face when she blurts 'good work tonight'… her wince once she realises what she just said… It can't get more awkward than this. Tamara doesn't even have to ask anything, these two are being unsubtle as hell. Melissa and Eric are killing it with their facial expressions : they deserved all the credit for elevating the script and making this scene so wonderful.

Lucy trying to process what just happened and trying to play it cool under Tamara's gaze… Tim's short-circuited brain trying to process this epiphany as well, with the crickets sound in the background… He spent the whole scene being knocked off his feet by how forward she was, by how she just oozed confidence, by his sudden awareness of his feelings and that moment of realisation is so beautifully portrayed on his face. This kiss changed everything. It completely affected them and as much as they're going to try to downplay it, they know it… They're just not ready to admit it to anyone yet - including themselves.

[beezelarts]

I've always wondered what Nat and Jake's backstory is. I like to imagine that they were friends at some point until a fight got in between them. So naturally, I tried to write it.

Please don't feel attacked by what I wrote about Nat. I was just kind of imaging how Jake feels about her and the situation and well... we all know that Jake can be an asshole. But in my opinion, Jake also has a point in some aspects that he mentions down there and I like it like this because if there's anything I enjoy when it comes to writing characters it's definitely giving characters some rough edges. And yes, even Natasha. Especially Natasha.

Because I like strong characters that have flaws. Not even childhood trauma - you can't really do anything about that - but actual flaws when it comes to personality. Because everybody has them. Everybody can be a shitty and unreasonable person in their own way.

So, here's my (sort of) controvers take on the topic, part of my mission to make the Top Gun characters as unlikable as possible.

Context: Nat and Jake are on the same squadron, aiming to go to Top Gun. Every training excercise and performance matter. So therefore, Jake puts himself first.

---

“What the hell was that, Jake? Damnit!” Natasha swears as she follows Jake to the locker room, struggling to match his pace. He’s not running, definitely not fleeing, but it’s close.

“What do you mean, Tasha?”, he asks tries to sound confused and non-chalant about it, even though he knows exactly what she’s talking about. This thing between them has been going on for weeks now, ever since their CO told them they were both being scouted for Top Gun.

Top Gun. The place, the goal, Jake’s been aiming for from the moment he crossed the doorsteps of the naval academy – hell, perhaps even before that. The place is legendary, mythical. He’s seen it. Fellow aviators being called to North Island, leaving their squadrons with shining eyes and their heads held high, coming back with their heads held even higher, glowing with an aura of confidence and sancticity.

They get promoted and praised and recognized, leaving the others in the dust because they’re chasing the sun.

Recognition.

Something Jake has been chasing after his entire life.

He wasn’t recognized by his father when he was at his best, trying his hardest to be the son the old man wanted him to be. He wasn’t recognized by his mother when he was at his worst, crying alone in his room after his brothers made it clear that he was not welcome in their circle. He wasn’t recognized by his classmates, by the football coach when he tried out for the team for the start of every school year. It was like he wasn’t even there. Like he was a nobody, destined to be dismissed for eternity.

But he is an adult now and there are no more excuses for being insignificant. So, Jake decided to take charge of his life for the first time. Even if it means leaving one of his best friends hanging.

“You hung me out to dry back there, what the fuck!”, Tasha says, her voice rising in pitch like it always does when she’s upset. And Jake can’t blame her, honestly. He’d be pissed, too, if their roles were reversed. But it’s either him or Natasha. Of course, also the rest of their squadron, but, in all honesty, they’re by far the two most talented pilots of their group.

“Just did what I had to do,” Jake says, quietly, because even though he was doing something for his career Natasha was still right. He left her hanging.

Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, Natasha doesn’t let it go. “What you needed to do? Seriously? You do realize that if this were a real-life scenario I’d be dead right now, don’t you?”

“Then you should be grateful that this wasn’t a real-life scenario, right?”, Jake answers, and seriously, how long until they reach the locker rooms?

Natasha huffs, finally fully catching up with Jake but he refuses to look at her. He made his bed so he’s going to lie in it and he’s not going to give Natasha the satisfaction of seeing the shame that’s probably written all over his face.

“You know, Jake, I thought you were different. That you weren’t one of those assholes who think that just because I’m a woman I don’t deserve a place among the best.”

At that, Jake can’t suppress the dry burst of laughter that’s been clawing its way up his throat since their argument started. Of course, Tasha’s playing the woman-card, now. She tends to do that these days. Admittedly, sometimes it’s justified. Other times, it just seems like a lame excuse. Jake is not sure whether she actually believes that every minor inconvenience she experiences is simply because of her sex. It’s also likely that she simply wants to justify her own failure. Jake can’t blame her, honestly. It’s always easier to blame other people and their biases for your own lack of success. It’s definitely better for your ego. But blaming others will only get you so far in your life. Natasha has yet to learn that lesson, apparently.

“It’s not because you’re a woman, Tasha. I would have done it to anyone, and if you truly wanted that spot at Top Gun, you would’ve done it to me, too.”

Natasha scoffs loudly. “You see, that’s where we’re different, Jacob. I wouldn’t do that. Ever. Because being a pilot means being able to work with a team. With a wingman.”

“Being a pilot also means finishing the mission. There’s no benefit in flying in pretty formations and making sure no one dies if you can’t manage to get the job done while doing it. We’re not being sent up there to help each other stay alive. We’re up there for a greater purpose. Otherwise, why bother even having a military.”

They’re standing in front of the locker rooms now. The door is only a few feet away. Almost there. But Natasha is not having it. She steps in front of him, blocking his escape. It reminds Jake again of how much her new callsign fits her. She’s a force to be reckoned with. Her anger is like a fire storm and when it’s directed at you, you’re basically fucked. Once she’s worked up enough there’s no more reasoning with her. You just try to get away. “This is life or death, Natasha, so you need to give it your all. And if that’s still not enough, well, then maybe you shouldn’t be here. Perhaps the ground crew is still looking for reinforcements.”

He almost regrets saying it. Almost. But it’s that comment that finally makes Natasha freeze in her spot, allowing Jake to side-step her and flee into the safety of the men’s locker room. It’s not the first time someone has questioned the young woman’s place among the naval aviators. As far as Jake is aware she’s become more or less immune to those comments at this point. However, that’s probably mostly because the guys that are saying bullshit like that were in no place to criticize Natasha’s character or performance. To be fair, when it comes to judging someone’s character Jake can begrudgingly admit that he doesn’t exactly have the high ground either. He’s been called an asshole ever since he started having his own opinions. But performance-wise? He’s pretty sure that his point of view holds some weight.

And apparently Natasha thinks so too if the look she gives him before he closes the door in her face is anything to go by.

Disappointment. Betrayal. Jake doesn’t turn back though. Maybe he regrets what he said to her but that doesn’t matter anymore. What’s done is done and Natasha would never accept his apology. Especially not since they both know that what Jake said might be at least partially true.

[thegeminisage]

sigh ok star trek update time. wednesday we watched tng's "force of nature" and last night we watched ds9's "second sight" and tng's "inheritance."

force of nature (tng):

this one is so infamous i knew about it way before we watched it...as predicted, it made me mad

i've heard something about a lower decks episode retconning this? which just goes to show how little human beings want to like. work on a problem

like, the episode is about fossil fuels and climate change. we rely on fossil fuels but theyre damaging our environment to the point these people are willing to completely isolate themselves in space bc they have no other choice

and like, the point of the episode is that this lady has to essentially self-immolate to get any attention and everyone gets the runaround from the people in charge because no one wants to believe it will get that bad and no one wants to change...

...and then they just. didn't change. like nobody stopped using warp. nobody brought this up ever again. in fact, it got RETCONNED? so why write it at all in a series where you KNOW everything has to go back to the status quo...tng is even worse than merlin in this regard, why would they do this!!!

aside from that, i feel like they gave us a b plot or multiple b plots in the first half of the ep (training data's cat, geordi's rivalry with that other engineer) and then completely dropped and forgot about them?? the whole ting feels just so poorly thought out...

second sight (ds9):

MIXED FEELINGS. under one hand i've been absolutely DYING for more sisko content under the other girl what the fucj was that

the lady was sooo mysterious i was CERTAIN she was either evil or a ghost...what she actually was turned out to be closer to ghost ig but it was so out of the left field the ending didn't leave me feeling very satisfied. also, what a shit deal for fenna to be dying either way when all she wants to do is hang out and make out with sisko

sisko and jake scenes <3

i did like the bits with dax being like oh i get it you cant tell me about girls anymore because i AM one. does the time we fucked twins together mean nothing to you

the ending was really good also. i mean, i think the plot of this episode was kind of ???, but the guy playing sisko is a GREAT actor and his struggle over this ridiculous situation was so palpable you felt for him in spite of it.

the guy she was actually married to was SO ANNOYING but i thought him killing himself was stupid and i was also a little more annoyed everyone seemed so chill about letting him do it - like, there was quite literally no way they could have stopped him, but sisko seeing him off with a sad smile instead of getting angry wasn't really what i expected

THAT SAID, reigniting a star and going out with the words "let there be light!" is pretty fucking metal. like i don't even like him, but you HAVE to hand it to him. that was really REALLY good, especially considering it came from a character i would have happily murdered myself right up until the instant he said it

inheritance (tng):

mixed feelings...2!

first off, i can't help but feel mister terraformer who reignites stars from that ds9 ep would have been able to help here. he killed himself out of fucking vanity and now he's totally useless to people who need him. jesus.

secondly, what the FUCK

i love data episodes, but the last few data episodes have been rough ones. i like him being skeptical of his "mom" and them eventually getting to know one another better, and i DEFINITELY like the subplot of her secretly being a little racist towards androids

like, there's so much complexity in that. what if you were data and you were alone in the universe but you found out you had a mom but she fucking sucked? like, lore traumatized her so bad she wanted a metaphorical abortion and when her husband refused she wanted to leave that baby outside the fire station, if the fire station had a big crystalline entity trying to eat all the firefighters.

i think that would have been a FINE episode on its own. like, her learning about data's loneliness, his failed attempt at having children, his success as not only a starfleet officer but a person, in SPITE of her fears and his rough beginning, his difficulties in not knowing who he was and his accidental reactivation of lore born from that loneliness and separation from his parents which is HER FAULT...all of this is fine drama

why did they have to make her also secretly an android, is my problem. it's a STUPID plot twist, and one tos did to MUCH better effect. like, is that android chapel's long-dead fiance just because he thinks he is? does having a person's memories and personality make you them, or is the copy always going to be different no matter what? tos seemed to decide the answer was that you can't implant a human consciousness into an android and be left with no changes whatsoever. you can't ever truly cheat death - even spock didn't get out of it entirely.

and what REALLY grinds my gears is that now they know this woman is an android WITH A KILL TIMER SET IN HER BRAIN so she can "die of old age" instead of like, working on changing the timer and letting her be friends with data or even telling her and asking HER if she wants the knowledge of what she is wiped from her brain, they're like, well she would be happier being human! WHICH IS STILL RACIST AGAINST ANDROIDS. and data's like yeah damn i guess she would be it would be selfish of me not to let her keep believing she is one. guess we'll lie then. it's not like there's any danger of her finding out from a stranger someday or anything

absolutely nuts by the way that deanna voted lie and picard voted truth. normally picard is the one with the rancid takes but this time it really was deanna :/

there's also logistic concerns. why doesn't she glow like data in geordi's visor? how does she digest food? if she was that advanced why did dr soong not make more androids or at least go retrieve data? why did he let her divorce him without telling her what she really was? like, let's make an android but a WOMAN, which means she gets no agency whatsoever. nevermind her HUSBAND - like, if they fuck, i do feel like he has the right to know he's fucking an android? it sounds bad when i say it like that bc if she wanted to keep it a secret then its none of his business but it just feels so weird that he's married to a copy of a person and neither of them know it and he's only gonna find out after she dies and someone tries to do an autopsy on hr. like what the HELL

also lmao the aside about data aging. threw that in there just for fun did we

anyway, that was an episode with huge potential that missed the mark so fucking completely because they prioritized a dumb shitty plot twist over actual interpersonal shit and character development. SIGH.

TONIGHT: ds9's "sanctuary" and tng's "parallels."

[thepaintedlady00]

Nightshade Chapter 17 Sneak Peek

🎂

Enjoy the peek y'all!

"Where is she?" I asked Prue as I slid into the seat across from her. 

"Work." Prue glances around. "She should be off soon, though."

"Arcade again this year?"

"Hell yes!" Her enthusiasm was infectious as Will followed the conversation without a clue as to what we were talking about, but still, he got excited anyway. "It's her favorite place."

"Do we need to book it?"

"Already done."

I grinned, giving her a quick high-five. "You're a saint!"

Jake sat down next to me. "What are we talking about?"

 "Quinn's birthday party. You wanna join the planning committee?"

He leaned forward with that mischievous grin of his. "Desperately."

"You can be in charge of the cake," I offered, relaxing back in the booth. It wasn't something I thought would be particularly challenging, especially considering how little Quinn cared about the cake, but the slight widening of Jake's eyes told me he considered it quite the task. "You don't have to."

"I can manage a dumb cake," he insisted with that deep-set scowl that was starting to grow on me.

"Quinn could care less about the cake," I continued. "She doesn't usually even eat it. It's more for everyone else."

Will's brows furrowed. "What does she eat then?"

"Candy apples!" Patrick proclaimed as he and Peter slid into the booth, shoving Jake into my side. "Nana makes 'em special for her every year."

Peter smiled fondly. "Nana makes sure everyone gets something special on their birthday."

"An angel, that woman," Patrick added lovingly. "Always makes me the best, booziest rum cake."

Will tapped Peter's shoulder, asking with a dumb grin. "What does she make you?"

Though it was a simple question, I could see Prue's eyes light up as she answered, "Jam. She takes Lena and Quinn berry picking and makes me my jam and a big plate of jam tarts."

Peter leaned back, closing his eyes slightly. "Can't wait for my batch of cookies this year."

"Same," I replied. "I won't have to try and smuggle them to you."

"What does she make you?" Jake asked, glancing at me as he took a drink of his beer.

Before I could answer, Patrick spoke, "The real question is, what doesn't she make on Lena's birthday?"

Jake turned to my brother with a chuckle. "Should've guessed Lena got the royal treatment."

"Lena's not special," Pat insisted. "She just gets a big party because that's when she got back."

"Got back from where?"

My brother's mouth shut. He scratched the back of his head, chuckling nervously as he talked over himself, trying to find something to say. Something that wasn't a lie, but that wasn't the truth either.

The truth. How was a person supposed to casually discuss how they narrowly escaped death at the hands of a rich and psychotic "ex" just a few days before turning sixteen? How could anything I said possibly explain the horrors every birthday previous to that had been filled with? The mixed emotions my birthday brought were a can of worms best left untouched, so I didn't meet Jake's curious eyes, instead letting my eyes lock onto Quinn as she emerged through the crowd. "There's the birthday girl!"

She welcomed the attention, not stopping until everyone had wished her a happy, almost birthday. "All this love and attention is good for my skin." She sat down next to Peter, smudging glitter onto his shirt. "What'd I miss?"

"Nothing," I said quickly. "Just discussing your birthday."

She clapped. "Let me guess! Prue already booked the arcade, and now you're trying to find people to dump cake and booze on?"

I rolled my eyes. "We all know I'm on booze duty."

"Til the day we die bitch." Quinn laughed. "So, who's the poor bastard on cake duty this year?" Narrowing her eyes, she pointed at Peter. "Kiwi?"

Peter rolled his eyes at her new nickname for him, a term almost everyone had adopted upon seeing the fuzz growing on his head. Secretly, Peter enjoyed it. The kiwi fuzz meant he could get his old hair back. "Nope."

Her finger turned toward Patrick, who nearly rolled out of the booth to avoid it. "Don't even try to curse me like that."

Quinn frowned, shifting her gaze to Jake, who gave her a shrug. She clicked her tongue. "Oh, you poor boy."

[zablife]

Bad Day

Jake "Hangman" Seresin x wife reader

Summary: Jake has had a bad day training for his mission and he comes home to his wife looking for a little stress relief.

Author's note: This was inspired by the scene where Hangman has to do all those push ups and doesn't look too happy about it. (I can't remember how many he did exactly so I made up a ridiculously high number to make him really mad.)

Warnings: 🔞, smut, dom!Jake, oral sex (f receiving), fingering, overstimulation, impact play, rank kink, unprotected sex, porn with very little plot

You checked the clock on the microwave once more, wondering what could be keeping Jake. It was nearly dinnertime and he hadn’t called yet to say he was on his way home. It must have something to do with the new mission, you thought. He couldn’t talk much about it due to security clearance, but you knew it was causing him anxiety not knowing if he would be one of the pilots chosen to fly. 

You had just turned your attention back to the sauce you were stirring when you heard his bag drop in the hallway, followed by the sound of his heavy boots clunking onto the hardwood floor. Jake didn’t call to you the way he normally did to announce his arrival so you wondered if he needed some time to himself. Some days were harder than others and he occasionally needed time to mentally decompress after work.

You were surprised when you suddenly felt him looming behind you as you stood at the stove singing along to the radio. Jake didn’t say a word as he placed his large hands at your waist. Following his lead, you didn’t speak either, simply swaying and humming with satisfaction as his hands wandered lower, massaging your hipbones with his fingertips. You reached a hand behind your head to bring him close and he buried his nose in your hair, inhaling deeply.

Intoxicated by your scent, his grip on you became tighter by the second until you could feel his nails digging into you possessively. His head ducked to your neck and he began nipping at the spot below your ear that drove you wild. “Jake, honey, I’ve gotta finish dinner,” you said with a giggle, patting his cheek lightly.

“Leave it.” His voice came out in a low growl against the shell of your ear and you felt his hand clamp around the back of your neck stopping your motion and sending a shiver down your spine. You realized his words were neither a suggestion nor a request, but an order.

“I want you right now,” he said with urgency, pressing himself into your back. You could feel every hard inch of him rubbing against you with growing need. He was making it clear that he was in charge and there wasn’t anything you could do about it. Taking your hands away from your work, he spun you around to face him and tilted your chin up toward him. Squeezing your chin between his thumb and forefinger he asked, “Now are you gonna be a good girl for me?” You nodded slowly watching his eyes darken with lust at your submission.

Looping one arm around your waist and snaking a hand behind your head to hold you at the nape of your neck he pulled you impossibly close for a searing kiss that stole all the oxygen from your lungs. He kissed you like a man who had been starved of your taste and touch for ages even though you’d just made love this morning.

Whatever was going on in his head was coming out in his touch and you let him take what he needed from you, too turned on to care what his motives might be in the moment. You knew he’d talk to you about it afterward. For now, all you wanted to do was savor the side of Jake he rarely showed you.

When he finally pulled away for air he pawed at the hem of your sweatshirt pulling it over your head quickly and cupping your breasts in his hands to feel the weight of them appreciatively. Taking your right nipple into his mouth he sucked softly as his other hand rolled and pinched the nipple of your left breast causing you to moan in pleasure. As his arousal grew, he sucked a deep bruise into your plump flesh, refusing to let you go. Your fingernails raked through his hair sharply, fingers tugging on his blonde locks with more force than you intended and the stimulation aroused his aggression once more.

He captured your wrists in one hand and warned you to behave. Then he hoisted you up onto the kitchen island suddenly, sending utensils, measuring cups and dishes clattering to the floor. He pushed you down against the cool surface, hooking his fingers into the sides of your shorts and underwear to remove them in one swift motion. “Keep those hands by your sides,” he instructed. 

He stood over you, taking in the sight of you laid bare before him even though he was still fully clothed. The cocky smirk that graced his handsome face only grew as his hands raked down your body from your throat down the valley of your breasts to your soft stomach and finally to the tops of your thighs where he found a home to rest his palms. 

Spreading you as wide as he possibly could, he knelt before you at the edge of the counter and leaned forward to lick a stripe through your folds with the flat of his tongue. From there he wasted no time lapping and sucking at you with vigor, adjusting your body to his liking by sliding his hands under your ass and holding you up to him for better access.

When he began flicking his tongue over your clit, you began to buck your hips from the building pleasure. However, this was not the obedient behavior he expected and he quickly let you know placing a stinging slap to your pussy. “Stop squirming,” he warned you in a dark voice. You held as still as possible for him and you were rewarded with two fingers pressed into you as he placed open mouth kisses to your inner thigh softly.

However, he knew what he was asking was impossible once he began the irresistible come hither motion of his digits within your walls, hitting the perfect spot that made you see stars. You bit down on your lip hard trying to control yourself, but were unable to keep the pathetic moans from escaping your throat. He could feel you were close, cooing at you sweetly, “That’s it, baby, that’s right. Cum for me.” You didn’t need to be told twice, allowing the pool of warmth in your lower stomach to grow until the waves of pleasure crashed over you with Jake helping you ride out your orgasm. 

You were still coming down, only vaguely aware that his mouth was still sucking at your clit with firm, even pressure. He continued his worship of your body even though you were reaching the point of overstimulation. “I can’t…” you whined. 

“My pretty baby can give me one more, I know it,” he said, quickly dragging you back to the edge of pleasure. You rocked slowly on his hand suddenly wanting more, needing him inside you. “Need you, Jake.”

His head snapped up at the sound of his name and he stood to eye you harshly, still fingering you slowly, thumb replacing the spot where his tongue had just been at your apex. You rolled your hips involuntarily and he chuckled. “You know what you need to say.” When he was like this Jake preferred his rank not his name and you knew it, but it was hard to think as he brought you close to another orgasm. 

You gripped the side of the counter and tried to form the words. “Pl…Please.”

“Please, what? Who do you want to fuck you baby doll?” he asked wanting you to say the words.

You pushed yourself up on a shaky elbow to look him in the eye as best you could in your fucked out state. “Please fuck me, Lieutenant,” you said with glassy eyes. Jake’s mouth hung open at the sound of you begging. He licked his lips and withdrew his fingers quickly, sucking off your juices with a moan and proceeded to undress as quickly as possible. 

He yanked you to the opposite side of the counter and allowed you to lace your arms around his neck as he pumped himself a few times saying, “Darlin’ you look so pretty and you beg so sweet. That gets you my cock.” Then he plunged himself into you in one deep thrust that made your eyes roll to the back of your head. 

He was so worked up it didn’t take long for him to set a punishing pace, hips pistoning into you as you held onto him tightly. You locked your ankles behind his muscular back, meeting him thrust for thrust. Your head fell forward onto his chest as you bounced and felt his heart rate increase.

As you were climbing toward your second peak, he jerked your head back by your hair to look you in the eye. “You gonna thank me?” Slamming into you with enough force to make it hard to catch a breath much less talk, you moaned instead as his thumb circled your clit. “Thank you, thank you, thank you” you mumbled over and over and the smirk returned to his face as he watched you come undone once again. 

He continued to hold you up, splaying a hand along your lower back so you wouldn’t fall. You were spent from your high, but he was still intent on reaching his own. You knew he was close when his thrusts became sloppy and erratic. Finally his hips stuttered with his release and he pushed deeply into you one last time, dropping his head into the crook of your neck with an exhausted huff.

He lazily ran a hand over the smooth skin of your leg that was still wrapped around his hip and brought his gaze back to you. The pent up tension and agitation gone, leaving only pure adoration sparkling in his green eyes. He leaned forward to place a gentle kiss to your lips saying, “God, I love you so much. You’re perfect, you know that?” 

Before you could answer the smoke alarm went off, producing an ear piercing siren that broke the tranquility of the moment. Looking around you realized the kitchen was filling with smoke. Pulling out of you, Jake donned his boxers quickly and rushed to the stove to turn it off. He threw the pot into the sink and ran the cold tap over it as you jumped down from the counter and opened a window to let out the smoke. Soon the situation was under control and the alarm had stopped blaring. 

“Jake, what was that?” you asked as you pulled your clothes on.

He ran a hand through his sweat dampened hair. “Looks like you burned dinner, sweetheart,” he said coyly.

“Not that! I mean you,” you clarified. “Did something happen at work, baby?” you asked sympathetically.

“Let’s go take a hot shower and grab some food. Then I’ll tell you all about it,” he said draping an arm over your shoulder. You nodded and snuggled into him as he winced slightly.

“Everything ok?” you asked looking up at him with concern as he pulled his arm back and rubbed his shoulder.

“I did 600 pushups today,” he said shaking his head.

“What? Why?” you asked.

“It’s a long story.”

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[tabloidtoc]

National Enquirer, March 15

You can buy a copy of this issue for your very own at my eBay store: https://www.ebay.com/str/bradentonbooks

Cover: Tiger Woods' car crash

Page 2: Bruce Springsteen has beaten the DUI charges leveled against him after federal prosecutors couldn't find a drop of evidence he had been drinking over the legal limit -- with an acceptable blood alcohol level of 0.02 well below the 0.08 threshold at the time of his arrest in Sandy Hook, New Jersey, prosecutors backed off two of their charges for drunken and reckless driving -- the rocker did plead guilty to a third charge, admitting he had two small shots of tequila on federal parkland and for that, he was fines $500 plus $40 in court costs

Page 3: Patrick Dempsey's dreamy return to Grey's Anatomy was a big hit with fans but his well-received cameo left series star Ellen Pompeo seething with jealousy -- Ellen may have permitted Patrick to revisit his old stomping grounds in Meredith Grey's fever dreams in season 17 but she doesn't want him coming back permanently and swiping her hard-earned glory and she considers herself the anchor of the show and thought she was rid of this guy after making the show her own, but now fans are begging for him to be brought back and Ellen is furious -- it's no secret Ellen hated the first 10 years of the show when Patrick was the star and she feels the series got better after he left and she became a big-shot producer, something she'd been demanding for years -- she likes being in control and calling the shots and clearly thinks she got this deal on her merit alone but it's also because she's the star who's lasted the longest; most of the original cast had already left and bosses had to cave in to keep her -- unfortunately being in charge hasn't amounted to better ratings and show has been slipping consistently in recent years and the main reason they brought Patrick back on was to spike the ratings, which it did and now producers are considering offering Patrick a full-time gig but Ellen will do everything in her power to prevent Patrick from stealing her thunder again

Page 4: Home reno gurus Chip and Joanna Gaines are clashing over his wild spending, and she's desperate to rein him in before they land in the poorhouse -- Chip and Jo are rich on paper and worth $20 million in property and assets but they were hit hard by the pandemic like everyone else and recovery has been sluggish to say the least -- they're just getting back on their feet and under a ton of pressure to get their Magnolia network off to a running start but Chip, as usual, is casual when it comes to money and it frustrates Jo to see him buying things they don't need, like new tools and equipment when the old ones work just fine and overpaying on lumber and masonry -- Chip is always shopping and not always for the house; he's got a boot fetish and has dozens of pairs, plus he treats the crew to free cappuccino and treats from their coffeehouse several time a day and Chip wants the best of everything for himself and everyone else

* Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are ready to welcome baby number four through adoption -- the couple who are parents of daughters James and Inez and Betty hope to find their next child in South America and they've invested time and money sponsoring immigrant children and they're warming up to the idea of providing an orphaned baby or toddler with a forever home -- a 16-year-old girl they sponsored through the Young Center for Immigrant Children's Rights was deported back to Honduras and they were heartbroken, and Blake and Ryan are now determined to provide a child with a happy home and opportunities he or she wouldn't have in their native country

Page 5: Newlyweds Pamela Anderson and Dan Hayhurst are itching to start a family and are already trying for a baby of their own -- 53-year-old Pam tied the knot with the 40-year-old handyman on Christmas Eve at her Vancouver Island home and she's been telling pals they hope to have happy news soon -- Pam wants to build a whole new clan with Dan and he's on board even though they each have kids with their exes and Dan's two kids from a previous relationship are living with the couple at Pam's pad -- the couple love the idea of adopting or going the surrogate route and it's not something they want to waste any time over

Page 6: Weary Kelly Clarkson is juggling her skyrocketing career and brutal divorce battle with estranged husband Brandon Blackstock on less than six hours sleep a night and Kelly has also been pushing to sell her homes in Nashville and Encino, while running her L.A.-based talk show and recording new music -- she's been running herself ragged for months and she's feeling the burn in a big way but despite her exhaustion, she can't sleep and nothing she tries works and the most shut-eye she catches is two, three hours at a time; she lays awake in bed at night worrying and crying

* Suddenly remorseful Kanye West has spiraled into depression and despair since soon-to-be ex-wife Kim Kardashian filed for divorce -- for all their problems, Kanye realizes she was the one person who was there for him whenever he went off the deep end and now he knows he's alone and seriously doubts he can hold his life together -- without Kim and her family to keep his wild impulses in check, he may succumb to the poor judgment and wild mood swings that have marked his chronic bipolar disorder as they were the ones who reminded him to take his meds and steer clear of recreational drugs and now all he has is a circle of yes-men he doesn't listen to anyway -- since the split, Kanye has shuttled between his ranch in Cody, Wyoming and a hotel in L.A. near the sprawling mansion he once shared with Kim and he's been blowing up her phone to beg forgiveness, but she won't take his calls and it's driving him off the deep end again

Page 7: Kourtney Kardashian is fed up with Shanna Moakler's online barbs and is plotting her revenge against the ex-wife of her new squeeze -- since Kourtney and Blink-182 drummer Travis Barker went public with their romance last month, former pageant queen Shanna has been throwing social media shade and Kourtney's tired of taking Shanna's crap and she's going to fire back soon and Kourtney's using her wide network of contacts in Hollywood to bad-mouth Shanna and she's placing calls to casting directors and perspective suitors to put as many potholes in her love rival's path as possible and she plans to make Shanna regret messing with her

Page 8: Nearly two years after Johnny Depp was forced to exit Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean franchise following ex-wife Amber Heard's allegations of abuse, the company has kicked him while he's down by considering her for a plum part -- Johnny is fuming over news that Amber is reportedly in contention to play fairy-tale heroine Rapunzel in the studio's upcoming live-action remake of Tangled -- for Amber to be in the running for a Disney pic is the ultimate insult to him especially because he believes the company made millions of dollars off his name

Page 9: Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle had a whopping $500 million motive to betray Queen Elizabeth -- outraged at being cut loose by the British royals, the couple retaliated by secretly negotiating backroom Hollywood megadeals and going public on TV -- Harry and Meghan see themselves as victims of an out-of-touch monarchy and want revenge and selling out Harry's family is the way to get it and cash in big-time; Meghan's convinced they'll have deals totaling $500 million by the end of the year but they better act fast because Hollywood is a fickle town where even royalty can be chewed up and spat out

Page 10: Hot Shots -- Amelia Hamlin stuck to the shore while pink-haired beau Scott Disick made waves in Miami, Steve Martin nibbled on a pretzel while filming Only Murders in the Building in NYC, Floyd Mayweather turned 44 and celebrated with a birthday bash in Miami, Bachelorette reject Tyler Cameron showed off his toned tummy in Florida

Page 11: Drew Barrymore feels deeply for dad-controlled Britney Spears because she's been there: she said her mom locked her away in a loony bin for over a year when she was just 13 -- Drew said it's hard to grow up in front of people and she empathizes with Britney and Paris Hilton and any star who can't escape the glare of celebrity -- Drew's mom put her in a place that was a full psychiatric ward and says she used to laugh at those Malibu 30-day places because she was in a place for a year and a half called Van Nuys Psychiatric and you couldn't mess around there and if you did, you would either get thrown in the padded room or put in stretcher restraints and tied up

* Eddie Murphy famously bragged he has never changed a diaper in his life despite having so many kids and now he's set on having another baby with fiancee Paige Butcher and this will make baby No. 11 for Eddie -- he says his genes are incredible as ever, so why stop; he's super fit and Paige is in amazing shape at age 41 and wants at least one more baby so they're going to go for it and are already trying

Page 12: Straight Shuter gossip column -- CNN could blitz news veteran Wolf Blitzer as the network revamps its lineup and TV is a young person's game and no one knows that better than Wolf and after 31 years at CNN, he sees new faces getting promoted and knows his days are numbered and Jim Acosta and Poppy Harlow are the future of CNN, not Wolf -- although Wolf's airtime has been cut as Jake Tapper's role expands, he isn't bitter or angry but instead he's grateful for an amazing run

* Love It or List It star Hilary Farr is moving on to her own show and leaving partner David Visentin in the dust -- Hilary's new show is basically the same one she and David have been doing for years, with him edited out and David was blindsided by the news and he knows HGTV has sent out a casting notice for the new show and he's hurt and angry especially because Love It or List It hasn't been renewed yet

* Sacked Dancing with the Stars host Tom Bergeron has reached out to Chris Harrison after he stepped away from The Bachelor amid a racist scandal -- Tom wasn't fired over a scandal, but he knows exactly what Chris is going through because both of them thought they had a job for life, but nothing lasts forever -- Tom is a good guy and wants Chris to know he's around if Chris needs anything

* Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter films, spruced up for the camera (picture)

Page 13: Brooke Shields isn't letting a busted leg keep her down but she's taking her recovery one step at a time -- she shared an Instagram video showing her cautiously hobbling on crutches and explained she broker her femur and she was beginning to mend -- she didn't reveal what caused the unlucky break

* Outspoken actress Rose McGowan is living a charmed life in Mexico and the Harvey Weinstein accuser has headed south of the border and vows never to return to the United States -- she got her permanent residency card from Mexico and is grateful to have it and says it's a really healing land and it is truly magical -- she moved at the dawn of the COVID-19 pandemic because she knew it was going to get really bad in America and she had a moment to figure out where she wanted to be

* Picky perfectionist Blake Shelton listens to around 300 songs to choose what to record for each of his albums, according to his longtime producer -- music pro Scott Hendricks said he wades through nearly 3000 tracks by professional songwriters to select tunes for Blake to consider and then Blake methodically whittles down the nominees until he's certain which songs he wants to record but Scott admitted that process is more difficult for him culling the 300 from the 3000 -- Scott, who has worked with Blake for most of his career, said of their close professional relationship that the chemistry works and they have recorded several hundred or more songs together and they are getting ready to go do some more

Page 14: Crime

Page 15: Killer kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman's busted beauty queen bride will be marked for death behind bars -- if Emma Coronel Aispuro snitches to the feds about the bloodthirsty Mexican Sinaloa drug cartel long run by her caged husband, she'll put a big fat bulls-eye on her back -- according to a federal complaint, Coronel was intimately involved in her husband's multibillion-dollar drug-running racket and acted as his criminal agent while he was on the lam and the mother of El Chapo's two young daughters helped mastermind her spouse's daring 2015 tunnel escape from a Mexican prison and also paid him $100,000 for another failed bust-out a year later -- they are going to put the heat on her to spill more details on other top operatives in the cartel and take them down, too, but if she spills, it will be open season on her on the inside

Page 16: Dr. Dre appears to rap about estranged wife Nicole Young in a song filled with angry, explicit lyrics calling someone in his life a greedy bitch -- DJ Silk previewed part of a new track from Dre full of digs presumably at Nicole, with whom he has been locked in a nasty divorce -- his lyrics include: Trying to kill me with them lies and that perjury/ I see you trying to f--k me while I'm in surgery / In ICU death bed on some money s--t / Greedy bitch take a pic / Girl you know how money get

* Hollywood Hookups -- Lorenzo Lamas is set to wed for the sixth time to model Kenna Scott, Justin Hartley and Chrishell Stause are officially divorced, Adam Rippon is engaged to Jussi-Pekka Kajaala

Page 17: Former Home Improvement kid Zachery Ty Bryan has pleaded guilty to two felony counts of domestic violence -- Zachery, now 39, has been sentenced to three years of probation and will also have to take part in a batterer intervention program

* John Mayer has dated a succession of famous singers including Katy Perry, Taylor Swift and Halsey and he hopes they write chart-topping songs about him and admitted he'd be jazzed if his exes enshrined him in song, saying sometimes a song is so good he hopes it's about him and he even scours their lyrics for clues -- Taylor already has several tracks that have been linked to John including Dear John

* Ruthless chef Gordon Ramsay said he's cooked up his own plan to keep his kids humble -- he has five kids with wife Tana: Megan, twins Holly and Jack, Tilly and Oscar but said he plans to leave most of his reported $200 million fortune to charity -- Gordon explained his kids must tidy up after dinners, can only fly coach and are expected to learn how to cook for themselves and he's forbidden them from taking costly taxis and the foulmouthed foodie insisted they don't swear

Page 18: American Life

Page 19: Roseanne Barr was blindsided by a humiliating new scandal after risque photos from the early '90s recently emerged which appear to show her teenage daughters licking her boobs -- Roseanne posed for the shots with her two youngest girls at a Glamour Shots studio in Iowa more than 25 years ago and the photographer who claimed he snapped the fake lesbian lovefest but did not want to be named dished Roseanne and daughters Jessica and Jennifer who are now in their mid-40s happily hammed it up for the camera but decades later Roseanne and her daughters are all mortified and embarrassed by these pics; they were horsing around years ago and never thought they'd see the light of day

Page 20: Cover Story -- Still recovering from agonizing back surgery, Tiger Woods was pushing himself to the limit when he flew off a California cliff into a career-crushing car accident -- lawmen said the golf legend was lucky to be alive after the horrific wreck that shattered his right leg -- the accident only added to Tiger's physical problems; his movement has been restricted since a fifth back operation in December and he was unable to play golf despite an appearance at a local tournament the weekend before the bloody wreck -- at a press conference days before cheating death, Tiger admitted he was worried about his physical condition and his ability to play again, saying a lot of it is based on his surgeons and doctors and therapist and making sure he does it correctly and he doesn't have a lot of wiggle room left -- Tiger could barely move, and it seemed to get him down and his back rehab has been brutal and he was hobbling around and distraught but he refused to give into his condition and his tough-as-nails mindset could have contributed to the crash: when a person is overwhelmed by physical pain, that dominates everything they do and if you're behind the wheel of a car and in physical pain, it can distract you and likely lead to this kind of disaster -- Tiger was eager to get to a TV taping on the morning disaster struck and he seemed impatient when he left the Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, an L.A. suburb, just after 7 a.m. and although traffic cameras show he was driving within the speed limit, his Genesis GV80 SUV crossed the center median onto the opposite side of the road and flipped -- authorities said Tiger appeared lucid to first responders and there were no signs the recovering addict was under the influence of alcohol or drugs and they did not request a blood test when Tiger was rushed to the hospital from the crash site and the incident was an accident -- Tiger was taken to nearby Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, where doctors said his broken bones protruded through his right leg and they put a rod in his leg and used screws and pins to stabilize the break and his ankle -- it will take three to four months to heal and then eight months of physical therapy and it is unlikely he will ever run again and he may have a limp and in terms of golf, just walking for extended periods of time will be a big deal and recovery will be agonizing; it's a very real possibility that Tiger's taken his final swing

Page 21: Addiction experts warned Tiger Woods' recovery will test his sobriety after his stint in rehab for prescription painkiller use and it is very, very common for a patient in recovery to relapse after a trauma like the one suffered by Tiger and exposure to painkillers administered directly or prescribed after a physical trauma is highly likely to trigger a relapse -- Tiger will probably need painkillers to get through this, but he'll also need to be connected with like-minded people to keep him away from his old thinking that pills are the solution to his problems

Page 22: Desperate Ghislaine Maxwell has offered to renounce her British and French citizenships in a new bid to get out of jail -- the disgraced socialite's last two stabs at freedom including one package offering $22.5 million as bond money were rejected by a judge who deemed her a flight risk -- now according to her lawyers, Ghislaine will formally commence the procedure to renounce her foreign citizenship to satisfy any concerns the court may have that she may try to seek a safe haven in France or the U.K. -- Justice Department officials were concerned Ghislaine would flee to France, where she was born, since the country has no extradition treaty with the U.S.

* Woody Allen claimed his own words are being used to attack him in the bombshell Allen v. Farrow documentary -- Woody has repeatedly denied adopted daughter Dylan Farrow's claims he sexually abused her when she was seven at her mom Mia Farrow's home -- Woody blasted the documentary which rehashes the claims as a shoddy hit piece and a hatched job riddled with falsehoods adding the filmmakers stole from his autobiography

Page 26: Twice-divorced Ricki Lake's engagement to California attorney Ross Burningham has insiders fearing she may suffer yet another heartbreak -- she announced her happy news on Instagram but Ricki has seen far more than her share of bad luck in the romance department and everyone is praying this final shot at love doesn't end in despair and it's never Ricki's fault, but she's never found a man who could keep her happy

Page 28: A lurid landscape of drug-fueled orgies, suicidal thoughts and fake sexual enthusiasm will play out in a new television series based on model and reality star Holly Madison's X-rated confessions from her shocking 2015 biography Down the Bunny Hole -- Madison first exposed the sleazy details of how she and other young women were plied with drugs and coerced to participate in sex parties with Playboy founder Hugh Hefner in exchange for acting as his girlfriends and getting to live inside the iconic L.A. mansion along with a weekly $1000 stipend -- the limited series will star actress Samara Weaving as Holly, who was a member of Hef's harem between 2001 and 2008 -- Holly, Kendra Wilkinson and Bridget Marquardt became the notorious stars of the reality show The Girls Next Door which debuted in 2005 and focused on their seemingly glamorous life with Hef but glossed over the dark secrets behind the scenes -- in her bombshell confessions, Holly revealed the 22-bedroom manor was actually a foul pigsty filled with stained mattresses where Hef's live-in ladies were forced to perform weird bedroom rituals and look excited by it

Page 29: Jack Osbourne has listed his sprawling California home for rent at $16,500 a month -- the 35-year-old son of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne is offering the five-bedroom, 5600-square-foot home in Studio City unfurnished -- Sharon was recently seen outside the home with moving vans helping Jack prep the property -- Jack, who suffers from multiple sclerosis, bought the home in 2014 when he was married to Lisa Stelly; the couple divorced in 2018 and share three children: Andy, Pearl and Minnie

* Heidi Klum has snipped all threads tying her to dad Gunther Klum after the cosmetics and modeling honcho skipped her wedding -- Heidi dumped her manager dad after he snubbed her August 2019 ceremony in Capri with guitarist Tom Kaulitz of the band Tokio Hotel and she has also ended her German enterprise Heidi Klum GmbH, originally overseen by Gunther -- Heidi and her dad had a falling out over Tom and Gunther never really approved of him and was dead set against the marriage and it drove a wedge in their relationship

Page 32: Health Watch

* Ask the Vet -- an African Gray Parrot with a feather-picking problem

Page 34: Barack Obama broke a buddy's nose over a racist remark -- he revealed the two classmates were playing basketball when his friend hurled a racial slur and he popped him in the face and broke his nose, Obama told Bruce Springsteen on their podcast Renegades: Born in the USA -- Obama said he doesn't think his pal even knew what the word meant, just that it was meant to be hurtful

* Country singer Keith Urban has shrunk to 140 pounds as the former addict is hooked on a bizarre diet of nuts and berries and even worse, the five-foot-ten crooner appears to be growing thinner and friends are worried the stress of his demanding career and his desperate desire to be a good husband to Nicole Kidman may push him over the edge -- no one sees him eating much more than handfuls of raw almonds or sunflower seeds and berries washed down with gallons of water -- though he's been sober since 2006, pals fear the struggle to avoid giving in to temptation as well as hearing Nicole purportedly mended fences with ex-hubby Tom Cruise may be weighing on the star -- despite his bony appearance, Keith thinks he looks great

Page 40: Evil ISIS terrorists are using the COVID-19 pandemic as cover while they rebuild their network and mastermind new attacks and both Iraq and the U.S. are in their crosshairs -- because the West has been focused on dealing with the pandemic, ISIS and new groups sprung from their shattered forces have been reloading and plotting revenge, according to Ryan Mauro of the terrorist-monitoring Clarion Intelligence Network -- the pandemic has brought decreased confidence in Western governments, which has emboldened the terrorists to launch sleeper cell attacks on foreign soil

Page 42: Red Carpet -- Anya Taylor-Joy

[xplrsquad7137]

How I Met Your Mother-

Colby Brock × Reader

Chapter Eleven is here...

Chapter Twelve: Room 333

**disclaimer** in this story, Y/n goes with them to the Langham hotel, the one that they filmed for their channels.

Word Count 1,653

Warnings: light angst and cussing

_____________________________________

Sam and I have been planning this trip for a long time. We have been wanting to go to this haunted hotel for what feels like forever! I want to take Y/n along with us because she has never been to anything actually haunted before. She has been to events for Halloween before but this is different, it is actually real. 

"Baby, do you want to come on this trip with us?"

Y/n "I'm down, where is it?" I told her where the hotel was and how far away it is from Los Angeles. "Yeah! What time do we leave?"

"In a couple of hours, it is still pretty early so we can stay in bed for a bit if you want."

Y/n "mmm yes please." She climbs back on top of my body and falls back asleep for another hour.

___________________________________

It is now 12:23 p.m and we are all eating before we hit the road. 

Corey "Are you excited?"

Y/n "Hell yeah I am!"

Jake "You're not at all scared?"

Y/n "Not really. I mean I'm sure it'll be scary if shit happens but if nothing happens then what's so scary about staying in an old hotel?"

Sam "She is your soulmate, Colby."

I blush and start laughing, "I know this! She is like me but a female!"

Y/n "It's the best, isn't it?!"

"It's pretty cool, baby girl." 

Sam "Well this place seems legit. Everything that I have read about it is all haunting stories. Shit flying off of the walls and dressers. Blankets moving off of guests while they sleep...it's insane."

Y/n "great….not at all scared now, thanks Sammy."

Sam "Hey, don't shoot the messenger!"

"Don't worry baby, I'll keep you safe." She leans into me so that I can kiss her forehead. This is going to be so much fun having my girl tag along with us!

….

I drove my red Corolla while Sam sat passenger, Y/n sat in the middle between Jake and Corey. The drive was three hours long, straight shot. Once we got to the hotel, we got all of our cameras and the rest of our belongings and headed to the front desk. 

Corey "This place just screams haunted..jesus!"

Jake "Really Corey? Already? We just got here."

Corey "Sorry Jake...I can't help that this place just screams demonic!"

I grab Y/n's hand and start laughing at Corey's crazy response. Even though he was being dead serious, it was hilarious the way he said it. 

Y/n "I will have to agree with you, Corey...it looks way scarier in person."

Corey "THANK YOU! We should bring her more often, now I can have someone to agree with me that this is a fucking bad idea!"

Sam "brother….it's only for the next...12 hours."

Jake "Oh yeah...only 12 hours...easy peasy!"

…

The front desk Manager "Hello, welcome to the Langham hotel!"

"Hello, yes we have a reservation for room 333 and 334"

The Manager "Oh yes, under Cole Brock and Corey Scherer?"

"Yes, that is us!"

The Manager "Very good, I'll just need a way of payment and then you all can be on your way." I handed him my credit card and then he handed me the room key.

Jake "Bro..I have to ask you, is this hotel really haunted?"

The Manager smirks "Well you will find out sooner rather than later."

Corey "Oh fuck this bro! Are you kidding me?!" Y/n's face dropped and I could see the little bit of nervousness in her face. 

Sam "This is gonna be a fun night boys!"

Y/n "haha! Yeah..super fun boys!" I wrap my arm around her shoulders to keep her close to me. 

I whisper to her, "You good baby?"

Y/n "Yeah..just creeped out."

"It'll be fine, I'm sure that nothing will even happen. It's just for fun okay?" She giggles and agrees with me. Oh I was so wrong...so wrong!

____________________________________

As soon as we got in the room, our equipment started going off the charts. The meter spiked red immediately.

Corey "I am not staying here, bro."

"Yes you are, I already paid." 

Jake "These meters are a joke. Anything electric can set it off, this means nothing." I hate how negative Jake can be sometimes during these trips. He isn't completely wrong but it has to be more, right?

Sam "Wow! Did y'all hear that?"

Y/n "I heard it! It sounded like a little kid screaming!"

Sam "Yeah! You guys didn't hear that?" We all say no.

Y/n "Babe..that was so loud, how did you not hear it?"

"I wasn't really paying attention."

Jake "I never pay attention."

Sam "Yes, we know Jake."

That made her laugh a little bit. I hand Sam the camera and go behind Y/n and wrap my arms around her waist. 

"I'm not gonna leave your side, okay baby?" She nods and relaxes a bit. She can fool the other guys into thinking that she isn't scared but not me, I know her better than anyone and she is terrified. 

The night goes on. We walked around the whole hotel, getting some spikes on our meter and heard some voices that we couldn't really pinpoint where they came from. I didn't let go of Y/n's hand the entire time, even when I filmed so that Sam could have a break I either had her hand or she had her arm latched on to mine. Once we got back to our hotel room, Y/n laid down on the bed while Jake and Corey got their room set up for the night and Sam charged the camera. 

Sam "That was spooky, huh?"

Y/n "yeah..some of the voices I heard were really strange."

"Do you think we caught everything on camera?"

Sam "I don't know here," he hands me the camera so that I can look through the footage of the night. As soon as I started scrolling through the videos, we heard a soft moan come from the bathroom. I looked up at Sam for validation and he looked at Y/n and we all heard it.

I immediately got up from the bed, pulled Y/n into my side and we got our belongings and headed to Jake and Corey's room.

"Dude, dude, dude, dude! There was a moan!"

Corey "what?!"

"There was a fucking moan coming from our fucking bathroom!"

Sam "We all heard it."

Y/n "it sounded like one of us made the noise but we didn't...that's how clear it was!"

Jake "Alright...I am kind of freaked out guys."

Y/n "can we please leave?"

Sam "We only have 4 more hours to stay here...why don't we just all go to bed?"

Y/n looks up at me with fear in her eyes, I grab her face and kiss her quickly. 

"Everything is fine baby...let's just go to bed." That's where I regretted it...we should've left when she wanted too.

____________________________________

Sam slept on the left side of the bed, Y/n was in the middle and I am on the right side. We fall asleep after a few minutes of chatting. In the middle of the night, Y/n jolts up from a dead sleep and screams.

"WHAT? WHAT BABY?" I look down and the blanket is completely ripped off of the entire bed.

Sam "Oh my god! Go, go, go!"

We all got our belongings packed up and we walked towards the door but before we reached it, the door bangs. As if someone is trying to break into it. We all scream and Y/n falls into me. 

Sam "WHAT THE FUCK?!"

"HOW CAN A SPIRIT DO THAT?!" Sam walks up to the door and looks through the peephole.

Sam "there...is no one there."

Y/n "Oh my god let's get the fuck out of here!" Sam yanks the door open and we run out of room 333. The boys heard all the screaming and they packed up in a hurry and we got out of there by 6:52 a.m.

We got in the car and everyone is out of breath and really shaken up. I told Jake and Corey everything that happened and they almost didn't believe me.

Corey "I heard a loud bang..I thought it was one of you using the bathroom or something!"

Sam "No brother! That was the freaking door!"

Jake "I think that this was the most evidence that we have ever caught."

"Just wait until you all see the footage, we caught more than ya think."

____________________________________

Once we got home, we immediately went through the footage of tonight's events. We got all of the whispers and moans that we heard throughout the hallways. We got bangs and creeks that we didn't even hear! We caught the blankets being ripped off of our bed and the loud moan. Lastly, we got the bang on the door. 

Corey "I'm so glad I didn't stay in room 333 dude...that shit was crazy!"

Jake "Yeah..nothing happened in our room."

Y/n "Awesome."

Sam "Well we got the proof that we needed! I say we edit it later on today and we all shower and go back to bed." We all agree and Y/n and I go to our room.

….

"Wanna join me in the shower babe?" She sleepily agrees and we both wash each other. Once we got into bed, we melted into the mattress like it was butter.

Y/n "That was scary...I didn't believe in the supernatural until last night."

"Yeah...I haven't experienced anything like that before, are you okay?"

Y/n "Yeah, I'm good. Thanks for not leaving my side babe."

"Never."

_____________________________________

@moriartysringtone7137 @multistanimagines @kid-that-likes-to-xplr @azurebrock @taradummy @daddydobrock

[usrlocalshare]

Meanwhile, on a fictional radio station...

(the first person to correctly figure out what exactly this format completely rips off gets, iunno... respect?)

DISCLAIMER: The story, its characters, names and incidents portrayed are purely ridiculous. Any coincidences to real people or incidents are purely similar. (Also, this was largely written before the Charlottesville incident.)

Announcer: Default Public Radio's programming is made possible thanks to the contributions of listeners like you. Please donate in order to help us bring our informational programming to listeners in Default City and across Redmond County, or else we are going to despise you as the freeloader you are. Thank you. Next up is "In the Crosshairs" with Raul Rodriguez, a.k.a. "that traitorous deadbeat".

RR: ...and welcome back, everybody, to another entertaining episode of "In the Crosshairs", DPR's top political and social debate show, hosted by yours truly, Raul Rodriguez. As always, this show is all about taking people with wildly different views, throwing them into a single room and hopefully, maybe once in a while, coming towards some sort of agreement _without_ starting a fight or committing property damage.

RR: And today's topic is gonna be... freedom of speech. Ever since man first learned to form sounds in order to communicate with others in their tribe, speech has been a vital tool in our civilization. From the first cries of help by a hunter-gatherer in prehistoric Africa all the way to some jerk shouting about chemtrails in the Default City Public Library yesterday, we've always been wondering what kind of speech should or should not be considered acceptable. And what could be the best way to settle this thousand-year-old question once and for all than on public radio in 2017?

RR: To help us today, we have three very different guests. First, on the right, we have Duane Lee Roberts, chairman of the Redmond County branch of the "National Enlightened Identitarian Network" movement and author of the 2008 book "Marxists in Disguise: how liberals are about to turn our nation into Stalinist Russia".

DLR: Good to be on this show!

RR: And on the opposite side of the political spectrum, there's Jake Springer, local left-wing activist and outspoken anarcho-collectivist recently released on parole after spraying graffiti at the headquarters of a local conservative organization.

JS: That's me!

RR: Let's start with you, Mr. Roberts. What's your position on freedom of speech?

DLR: Obviously, I'm following the path of our forefathers here. Our nation's top law specifically protects free speech. Therefore, everyone who wants to shut someone up just because they have different political views is inherently unpatriotic.

RR: What about _you_, Mr. Springer? What do you think?

JS: Well, that's obviously untrue. Sure, freedom of speech is our sacred right as citizens, but we have some limitations. We're not allowed to shout "fire" in a crowded theater, and others are not obligated to provide a pla--

DLR: This again... Is that your universal leftist excuse or something? "platform this, platform that"... My view here is simple: if you can't stand listening to opposing opinions, you're not worthy of being part of the debate in the first place.

RR: Sorry, Mr. Roberts, but _please_ refrain from interrupting other panelists. Not this early in the show, OK?

DLR: Fine, _Raul_.

RR: Back to you, Jake. You believe that speech should sometimes be limited, but why? Could you give us some examples?

JS: Well, to protect marginalized communities, for a start. It's much harder for, say, a woman to speak up online if there's thousands of trolls ready to bombard her account with rape and death threats, right?

DLR: I have to disagree. Men get death threats online just as well, and they don't immediately run away into their safe spaces every time that happens!

JS: ...but studies have shown that women do, in fact, get targeted much more often and much more aggressively than men online. So much, in fact, that a lot of them just prefer not to express their political views at all.

DLR: And the only thing _that_ proves is that their opinions can't stand to any scrutiny. Can't take the heat? Get out of the kitchen!

RR: Wait, Duane, didn't you say _at the very beginning_ that anyone who wants to silence others for their political views is unpatriotic?

DLR: Uh... yes, but obviously there's a difference between having your speech banned and simply being criticized, right?

JS: If your definition of "criticism" is receiving hundreds of death threats every day and getting your personal info released out in the open...

RR: So looks like whichever one of you is right, some speech is getting silenced. Either it's women or minorities unable to speak out of fear of retaliation, or some neo-Nazis --

DLR: Hey!

RR: -- unable to spread their hatred out in the open. Sounds like _such_ a difficult choice...

DLR: It's not about neo-Nazis! In some places, like college campuses, even regular conservatives are afraid to reveal their views for fear of being branded bigots and racists.

JS: Well, if you expect the left to put up with right-wing trolls, you should also tolerate other people calling people like you racist, right?

DLR: Not when the only thing these "racists" want is to have less taxes, regulations and welfare.

JS: Sure, they might not actually _be_ racist, but don't you think that cutting welfare might hurt minorities harder than it would white people?

DLR: Whatever. Simply preferring meritocracy and free market economics doesn't make one racist.

JS: Neither does complaining about constant catcalling or toxic masculinity online make one, quote, "a filthy feminist whore" or, quote, "a degenerate cuck".

RR: Yeah, as insults go, gonna side with Mr. Springer on this one.

DLR: Listen here, you public radio freak. Colleges are already an instrument of socialist indoctrination. And people like Jake will drive campus conservatives into _extinction_ if not contained.

JS: Seriously? Have you even _visited_ a college? Our economics de--

DLR: Oh, God, no. Do I look like some sort of socialist?

JS: You say "socialist" like it's a bad thing.

DLR: Of course it is! Have you seen what they've done to Russia?

JS: Yes, and most of us hate _that_ kind of socialism with a passion.

RR: Okay, guys. You both have clearly gone off-topic here. Let's get back on track. So, Jake, if you had to put a limit on free speech, where would it be?

JS: Um... Banning Nazism would be a good start?

DLR: So predictable. You leftists call pretty much anyone you dislike a Nazi. With you in charge, we'd have no free speech left!

JS: Hey, not true!

DLR: The commies in East Germany literally called the Berlin Wall an "anti-fascist barrier"!

JS: And today, everyone, even "the commies" agree that the Wall was a massive failure, okay? Remind me once again, who is currently planning to build a huge wall on America's southern border?

DLR: Okay, fine. Just answer me this -- would _I_ be considered a Nazi in your world?

JS: Well, judging by the fact that there are photos online where you are doing the Nazi salute...

DLR: Says the person who responded to a pharma company raising prices on medicine by quoting Karl Marx!

JS: And that's supposed to be worse than a Nazi salute?

DLR: First of all, it's actually a Roman salute. Totally different, just ask any history geek. Second, I'm fighting against the cancer that is cultural Marxism. I'm not gonna stop just because _a literal actual Marxist_ is accusing me of being a Nazi.

JS: "Accusing"? With your conspiracy theories about white genocide on social media, you pretty much are one already.

DLR: So is this how it's gonna go? *rolls up sleeves* Well, how about this? *punches JS*

JS: I didn't want to do this, but... *starts a fistfight with DLR*

RR: ...and looks like it's time for me to phone security once again and call this program to a close. I hope the listeners at home learned something new, and I also hope I'll be able to get out of here before either one of them punches _me_!

RR: ...What's up with this show always ending in violence? Whoever picks these topics and guests must really hate me...

Announcer: And that was "In the Crosshairs". I hope Mr. Rodriguez really learns his lesson this time... How does he still show up at work after all these years?