#like sure it could be tidier

[petraforgedyke]

Encounter: Neighbourhood Gossip Aggressively Demanding To Know Why You Don’t Have A Tidier Front Garden Cause The Weeds Are Blowing Into Her Yard. All The Plants On The Dyke Two Houses Over Aren’t The Source At All, And That’s Not The Point Anyway

Damage Type: Psychic Debuff

Difficulty Rating: Medium

Reward: None

[upsidedownwithsteve]

Simmer #7

CH7. Spice Box | The Menu [4.1K] Eddie Munson x shy fem!reader: a line cook au.

Eddie held the door open for you as you approached the trailer, hand waving you in as he smiled, shy. 

The trailer was tidier than you’d ever seen it before, a valiant effort made in anticipation for your arrival. The usual piles of washed laundry were moved from the dining booth bench, the ashtrays moved from the living room coffee tables. The trailer was unusually quiet, smelling like mountain cedar, if the can of air freshener on Wayne’s armchair was anything to go by. 

You did your usual, despite the way you felt like you were there for the first time. For a first date. But you toed off your shoes by the door and lingered in the kitchen, fingers twisting together as you wondered what came next. This? This part was new, this was different. 

Eddie smiled shyly as he followed behind, hands skimming your shoulders as he squeezed past you and the counter, opening the fridge. The white-yellow glow filled the room, clashing with the pink sunset that came in from the living room blinds. 

“Okay, what are you feelin’?” Eddie said into the refrigerator, his fingers tapping on the door. “We got stuff for omelettes, I could do pasta, oh, hey, I make a mean gnocchi.” Eddie emerged with a quart of pesto, wiggling one of the diners' plastic containers at you. 

You smiled, shrugging easily because you’d be happy with some toast if it meant Eddie kept looking at you like that. You leaned against the dining table edge, lips pressed together and trying your hardest to keep it together. Eddie looked too pretty in the sunlight, that peachy pink golden flow, the last rays turning his brown eyes the colour of caramel as he looked at you. 

“I don’t mind,” you told him softly, “anything you make will be good.”

Eddie grinned, bashful, cheeks pink and he held his hand out to you, coaxing you into holding onto his fingers so he could tug you forward. You were supposed to look in the fridge too, check out the mountains of fresh ingredients he liked to pack into it, the tubs of homemade sauces and pickled veg. But instead, you stumbled into the boy, socked feet touching his boots, knees bumping. 

It was awkward in an innocent way, your smile shy and matching Eddie’s, his faltering a little when he realised how close you were. His hand held yours a little tighter and when he realised you weren’t moving away, well shit, he didn’t bother to either. His fingers twisted in yours, thumb running over the backs of your knuckles and he swallowed hard as he looked down at you. 

“Uh, we could, uh, I could make some lasagna. Or, or a stir fry?” Eddie stumbled over his words, brows furrowed in concentration as he studied each part of your face. The line of your nose, the fan of your lashes, the curve of your lip. “If you want. I don’t, I don’t mind cookin’ whatever.”

You felt bolder than ever when you let your hand slip from Eddie’s and climb up his forearm, finger wrapping around the cords of muscle there, thumb rubbing at the sensitive skin on the inside crook of his elbow. It made the boy still, lips parting in surprise. It felt nice to be this close, chests almost touching, Eddie’s hand falling to hold your waist instead, fingertips pushed to the soft cotton of your sundress. 

“I’m not, I’m not really all that hungry, right now,” you told him softly. You were nervous, wondering if this was supposed to happen this way. If this was supposed to happen this soon. But you couldn’t bring yourself to step away. 

The refrigerator door was still open. 

Eddie nodded, agreeing. “Yeah, sure. No, same. We can eat later, if you want.” You watched his Adam’s apple bob, felt his fingers squeeze a little tighter at the plush of your hips. “How’s your head feelin’?”

You smiled at his concern and met his gaze. This much eye contact wasn’t all that surprising but the fact you hadn’t been interrupted yet by someone yelling about hot dog bugs or asking where the napkin refills were was. “It’s fine,” you promised him. “Doesn’t hurt anymore.”

A lie, it was a little tender. But definitely no concussion. You’d iced it when you’d gotten home but for a shorter time than you should’ve, too preoccupied with the idea of jumping into a warm shower and shaving every inch of your leg in preparation for your date. If anything, the idea of spending time alone with Eddie was what had your head spinning. 

“Good,” Eddie nodded and you could see him thinking, too much, before he sucked in a quiet breath and lifted a hand to cup the back of your neck. His hand was big enough that it curled all the way round, his thumb tucked into the space under your ear, right along your jaw. You wondered if he could feel your pulse - he probably could. You wondered if he could feel that way it was fucking racing. “Doesn’t hurt, if I do this?”

You were scared to move, worried if you shook your head it would break the spell, scared that Eddie would stop touching you. So you whispered instead, one word on a shaky breath that made Eddie’s eyes get a little wider. “No.”

Eddie pushed his thumb to your jaw a little firmer, suddenly not as worried about touching you, holding you now like you wouldn’t shatter underneath him. “So this is okay?” He whispered back and oh my god, it was more than okay, it was exactly what you wanted and you were still in the middle of his kitchen with the refrigerator light casting over your socks, your shins. 

You licked your lips and gave a small nod, eyes trained on his mouth and you heard the boy suck in a breath. “Yeah, it’s okay.” You swallowed, throat bobbing and Eddie felt it under his hand, the movement making him dizzy. “More than okay.”

His thumb moved up, skimming over the apple of your cheek, fingers fanning out over the side of your neck until they were pushing into your hairline and pulling goosebumps from your skin. You didn’t realise you were both walking you backwards until your hips hit the counter. It was a soft bump, everything Eddie did was gentle and his eyes were watching yours the entire time, searching for any hesitation. 

It’d been a while since he’d been in a situation like this, but he was pretty fucking positive there was none there. 

You confirmed his thoughts by clinging to the front of his shirt, fingertips tugging the material so he’d take the hint and move closer, meeting his chest with yours and it was as much of a first move as you could manage. Shyness still swallowed you, your heart beating embarrassingly fast and all you wanted to do was push up onto your toes and press your lips to Eddie’s but if he rejected you now - for whatever reason - you think you’d have to quit your job and move back to Chicago. 

Your back was against the worktop edge, softened only by the way Eddie let his other hand cup your hip and your chest was against his, chin tilted up to look at him, eyes half lidded and matching his own. You could see every freckle, the fan of his lashes, a tiny silver scar on the left corner of his bottom lip that you’d never noticed before. You wondered if he was close enough to feel the heat from your face, the way your bones must’ve been rattling from the thunder of your heartbeat. 

It was delicious, the way he crowded you, thumb pushing into your cheek so you’d tilt your head up for him, noses almost brushing now, just waiting for something to give. It had been two months of working alongside Eddie Munson, two months of being his friend, learning how he worked, what each of his smiles meant, how lucky you were to receive one. 

Two months of wondering how much longer it would take until he would kiss you. 

He licked his bottom lip, tongue peeking out just slightly, eyes studying every move you made, so hesitate, so unsure, as if the way you were pressing yourself against him wasn’t enough of a clue. “We could, uh,” Eddie cleared his throat, nervous. His hand was squeezing the dough of your hip over your dress, the soft material bunching in his palm. “We could watch a movie, if you wanted.”

He said it so distractedly that you were sure the boy didn’t actually know what he was asking. Eddie’s pupils were blown wide, eyes dark, a familiar sight except there wasn’t the haze of smoke between you both now. You smiled, nervous and shy and giddy and brave all at once. 

“I don’t wanna watch a movie, Eddie,” you breathed and out and the boy folded, the boy melted like butter under the hot sun and you saw his brows draw together, his tense shoulders fall in relief and then he was nodding, eyes on your mouth and moving closer and closer—

“Oh, thank fuck,” he sighed in return, pushing into you in a rush, his lips crashing to yours before he even finished talking. 

 It felt like kismet, that first kiss. It felt like it was supposed to happen, because after your heart soared and your stomach somersaulted, Eddie moved his head one way and tilted yours the other, drawing him closer still with your fingers hooked into the collar of his T-shirt. He made the softest noise, nose pushed to your cheek, his thumb dragging over the corner of your mouth and when you gasped for him, his tongue touched your bottom lip, a silent question. 

More?

You parted your lips for him, kiss deepening, Eddie’s hand on your waist gripping you tighter as your tongue licked over his and you couldn’t remember when kissing someone felt like this. It felt like a summer heatwave, like someone taking care of you, it felt like a bowl of the most perfect food pushed in front of you, like cracking your fucking head off a table and watching the world spin. 

There wasn’t any noise in the trailer except for the hum of the still open fridge door and the soft, breathy sounds from both of you. A sigh, a gasp, a muted groan. It was easy to get caught up in it, no one to interrupt, a whole evening, just for you two. It was a long time coming, a simmering pot, finally bubbling over and when you let out a little moan when Eddie’s hand trailed from your jaw down to your neck, fingers splayed over your throat, the boy pulled back to pant heavily and swear. 

Any shyness you’d ever felt was gone with the way he was looking at you, curls falling across flushed cheeks, lips swollen and probably a matching yours. You reached for him, desperate, your hands tangling into his hair as you tried not to pout. “Don’t stop. Please, Eddie,” you whispered and your voice cracked with need and god, it made Eddie’s eyes stutter shut, jaw dropping before tensing. 

“Fuck, fuck,” he was whispering, moving back to you with an eagerness that was almost overwhelming. 

You thought he was going to kiss you again, but he ducked just slightly and you squeaked when you felt his palms, warm and calloused and so fucking big, wrap around the backs of your thighs. He hauled you up, setting you on the edge of the kitchen counter so you were at his height and both of you ignored the angry squeal of the coffee container, the bread bin and mug stand as your body pushed them out of the way. A new pace was set now and Eddie’s mouth was back on yours before you could ask. 

A desperate, messy kind of kiss, deep and longing and all tongues and teeth. The boy nipped at your bottom lip, groaned when you whined and you didn’t even think twice about bringing your legs up to his hips, caging him in and pulling him against you until you felt the scratch of denim again the cotton of your underwear. 

It should’ve been too much too fast, it should’ve. 

But it wasn’t. 

“This okay?” Eddie asked you breathlessly, words gasped between kisses. He pulled back just slightly, hands cupping your hot cheeks, thumbs soothing over the apples of them. His forehead pressed against yours, a grounding touch. “We don’t have to— just tell me if you wanna stop, yeah?”

You nodded, eyes fluttering shut because you were already pulling him back to you and Eddie followed willingly, one hand dropping to your knee, coasting upupup until he was squeezing at the dough of your thigh and groaning into your open mouth. You felt like a couple of teenagers, making out somewhere you weren’t supposed to, getting felt up by your crush in his parents kitchen. It made you dizzy, it made you wet, embarrassingly so. A dirty, hot throb that wrecked your body and lit up, electric, every time Eddie touched you somewhere new. 

He didn’t go any higher, his hand stayed there, respectful as he could be when you were kissing him like you didn’t ever want to stop. A few inches below the hem of your dress, practically a gentleman, but his tongue was doing wonderful things against yours and when you rocked yourself a little, using your arms around his neck to press yourself against him, Eddie’s own hips canted forward and he moaned.  

It made it easier to drop his other hand from your neck, fingertips skimming just along the curve of your breast before he was dripping your waist and pulling you into him. It wasn’t the best place to be grinding against each other, not when the sofa and his bed were both so close by. But the height of the counter made for the perfect kind of friction and it was dizzying being so close, to be so wrapped up in Eddie. He smelled the same, like lemongrass and smoke and a little bit of cologne. 

And when you gripped his curls a little tighter than before and tugged, Eddie fucking whined into your open mouth, barely kissing, just panting into each other's lips and his gentlemanly touch on you wavered. His hand skirted up, fingers sliding under the hem of your red dress and when they skimmed over the elastic edge of your underwear, he was swearing, eyes squeezing shut tighter and raking his blunt nails back down your thigh.

You shuddered, ripping away from Eddie’s lips to suck in a breath but the boy only moved to your neck and you keened at the touch, opened mouth kisses along the line of your throat, his tongue peeking out to lick across your skin, teeth grazing and fiu let him, head thrown back until the already tender spot hir against the kitchen cabinets. 

It didn’t matter. Nothing else mattered. 

Not when Eddie was dragging his fingers across the neckline of your dress, pushing your sleeve out of the way to expose your shoulders, kissing and sucking at the crook of your neck, mouthing his way down your chest, no bra straps to get in his way. You sighed, the sound coming out with the letters of his name, a noise that made him groan aloud and fuse his lips back to yours, your fingers splayed out over his jaw so you could keep him there. 

You were on fire. It was hotter than being in the kitchen. The simmering pot was spilling over now, the flames were licking higher and the lid of it was crashing to the floor, jolting you back to reality. 

You pulled back, sucking in air, eyes unfocused and the world was spinning too fast and god you just needed to—   

“We should slow down,” Eddie gasped, sounding as wrecked as you felt. His hands were still on you, his forehead resting on your shoulder as he tried to catch his breath, two hands smoothing up and down your thighs. “Fuck, you’re— that was—”

“Yeah,” you agreed and god you sounded drunk. “I know.”

You tried to diffuse the heat, tried to turn down the flame so everything went back down to a simmer, smiling softly as if the kitchen was on metaphorical fire and Eddie wasn’t harder than he’d ever been in his life. “Umm, do you, d’you wanna eat now?”

Eddie laughed into your neck, cheeks flushed rosy pink and he was hot all over, breathless and the happiest he’d been in a long time. He hummed, nodding before he pulled back, dotting a kiss to your lips, much more chaste than before. He couldn’t help himself, placed another on your cheek, your jaw, the slope of you nose too. 

“Yeah, yeah,” he grinned. “How does a grilled cheese sound?”

You laughed too, nodding, because you didn’t think you’d be able to focus on chopping up ingredients or kneading out a dough right now either. “You gonna make it real fancy for me?” 

Eddie beamed, brows scrunched together in disbelief, like he was shocked you had to even ask. “What? Sweetheart, please,” he pushed one last kiss to your lips, grimaced at the open fridge door and kicked it shut witn his foot. “S’gonna be the fanciest grilled cheese you’ve ever had.”

—————

“You have a hickey,” Robin poked at your neck, stating the news very matter of factly as she leaned in between the drivers seat and yours. 

You batted at her hand, eyes wide, cheeks hot as you leaned back to glare at her. “What? No I don’t.”

Steve snorted and pulled into the diner parking lot, joining Eddie’s van and the other few cars that were waiting for a late breakfast. “Wow, that sounded so believable,” he deadpanned. “Enjoy your hot date with the chef last night?”

The day after your dinner with Eddie only egged on your good mood. A bright day, with blue skies and warm air, the kind of Sunday morning that was straight out of a photograph, big white clouds, sunflower fields in the distance, the smell of coffee and waffles coming from the diner doors. 

Eddie had dropped you back at your apartment late, later then he should’ve when he was starting work at six am the next day but you’d stayed to eat grilled cheeses on the sofa with him, pretending to watch some B-roll horror movie as you talked about everything and nothing, legs draped over his lap. 

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” you tried to say but your words got tangled in a grin and they came out too happy, making Steve’s eyes roll as he climbed out of the car. 

“You’re a fuckin’ awful liar,” he told you over the roof and Robin snorted in agreement, bending down to peer at her reflection in Steve’s window. She snapped her gum, baby pink against rose coloured lip balm and flipped Steve off when he popped her bubble. “And we’re all late, ‘cause someone couldn’t find their keys, c’mon.”

It felt like a proper friendship, the way you walked around the side of the diner with Steve and Robin, jostling each other and laughing when they took it too far, the girl shrieking when Steve pulled her into a headlock, encouraging you with a grin to give her a noogie. And the laughter bled into the kitchen when you all stumbled into the fire exit door reserved for staff, smoke breaks and crying sessions in the alleyway. But the laughter stopped when you caught sight of Eddie at his station, whisking a bowl of egg yolks and butter, exactly like you expected him to be at eleven am on a sunday. 

You didn’t expect the girl, though. Or recognise her.

Strawberry blonde and petite, her uniform shorter than yours, her elbows leaning on Eddie’s station as she beamed up at him. She was pretty. Really pretty.

She turned at the noise of the three of you coming into the kitchen, laughter still on Steve’s lips, a faux argument brewing between him and Robin as they tailed off towards the lockers. You stayed standing, a little shocked. You weren’t sure why, you knew there was staff you hadn’t met before, seasonal members of the diner who split their time between Jim’s and other jobs. She wasn’t doing anything wrong. 

She was just— standing too close to the boy you spent the night making out with. 

Eddie had put down the bowl and whisk, cleaned his hands on the front of his apron and smiled at you,  his face lighting up at the sight, a genuine slice of joy in what was about to be an awkward moment. He said your name, almost shy, looking like he didn’t know how to greet you. 

“This is, uh, this is—” he gestured to the girl, trailing off when she bounced over to you, hand extended. 

“I’m Chrissy, it’s so nice to meet you,” she gushed. “You’re new, right?”

“Uh, kinda,” you laughed a little weakly. You didn’t feel new anymore. You felt like you belonged. You told her your name, even though she’d already heard Eddie say it. “It’s nice to meet you too.”

No one else really knew what to say then and your plans to greet Eddie with a kiss seemed ruined. The boy looked at you as if he were thinking the same, his smile lopsided and sweet. But he dished the eggs into a pot and started scrambling them, brushing away a stray curl with the back of his hand and he asked you, “have you had breakfast?”

You rolled your eyes, affection lingering there and you relaxed a little, knowing this routine, loving this routine. You grabbed your apron from the hook, tying it round your waist as you brushed past him, a hand skimming his lower back, the closest thing you could do to a greeting. 

Chrissy tracked the movement with curious eyes. 

“Not yet,” you told him softly and you ached to perch yourself on the stool by his station - your stool - but Chrissy had already walked back over and claimed it. “You gonna tell me off?”

You said it shyly, a hint of flirt there, cheeks warm and smile soft as you gazed up at the boy. Eddie responded in kind, the tips of his ears turning pink and he tried to scowl at you, brows pinching together but he grinned like he couldn’t help it. “I would, if I knew it would work,” he smiled down at you, head tilted to the side all lazy. “You want some eggs? Or I could make you some pancakes?”

And before you could tell him that eggs were perfectly fine, Chrissy’s voice interrupted, she was pushing herself onto the table, leaning on her hands, cheeks coloured with a pretty pink blush and squished together. “Don’t tell me I leave for the summer and you’ve got another favourite waitress already,” she pouted, lips shiny and glassy and pink. “I thought I was your number one, Ed.”

Her words made you feel too warm. That rolling heat that creeped across your chest, your neck, your face. An awfully uncomfortable sensation, anxious, unsettled. You tried to laugh when she did, but the sound came out weak, stilted. Chrissy was looking at Eddie, confident, playful, so sure of herself. 

She looked at him like she really knew him, like there was an inside joke that you didn’t know about. 

You backed away, ignoring how Eddie’s hand tried to catch yours. “Uh, I’m actually not that hungry,” you smiled but it wavered. Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry. “Thanks though. I’ll, um, I’ll catch up with you later. It was nice meeting you, Chrissy,” you nodded at her, hoping she didn’t see your glassy eyes before you turned and left them in the kitchen. 

[gurugirl]

ex-boyfriend's dad!harry part 4

Summary: You and Harry are both missing each other and despite Tyler's sudden interest in talking to you, Harry's determined to finish what you both started.

A/N: This is the final part! I have more blurbs and extras up on Patreon if you'd like to see more of them! xoxo

Word Count: 10k+

Series Warnings: explicit content, smut (including anal, rough blow jobs), age gap, angst, daddy kink, dom/sub dynamics, spanking, choking, slight degradation, use of small implements (collar and leash, anal plug)

Part 4 Warnings: 18+ only, smut (including anal sex), daddy kink, angst, age gap, sub/dom dynamics, uncomfortable confrontation, fluff!

ex-boyfriend's dad!harry masterlist

. . .

Harry didn’t want to push. He knew that you two were treading a delicate line. You were so much younger than he was and you were his son’s ex-girlfriend. This wasn’t an easy thing to navigate emotionally. He was having fun, but he hadn’t anticipated you suddenly feeling whatever it was you were.

He thought maybe he’d done something wrong at first. He thought maybe he moved the scene along too quickly because he had been eager to get to the good part. He couldn’t wait to press his cock into your other hole. You wanted it so bad and he really wanted it too.

But of course, he wanted it. He was a man who loved the female form. A man who enjoyed sex. Kinky sex. A man who adored anal sex as long as the receiver adored it just as much. So maybe that’s what it was. Perhaps he rushed you along too quickly.

So if you needed space to think about what had happened, he’d give it to you. But what he wouldn’t do was pretend nothing had ever happened between you. That would be too easy. To have a fun little thing with a beautiful younger woman and then suddenly back up and cool off and then – poof – strangers.

He could let you ghost him. He could move on and chalk up the time you spent together as just a little fun fling. No one would ever need to know. That would certainly be tidier. And he’d be able to maintain the relationship with his son as it was before you’d come along. It could just be a fun little secret that he looked back on fondly as he moved on with his life.

He could do that. But he wasn’t going to do that.

Why? Because somewhere along the way he accidentally started to let his big, heavy emotions come alive with you. It was an accident. But he couldn’t help it. Harry’d always been a lover. Someone who enjoyed sex, sure… but he was also someone who enjoyed the relationship that went with sex just as much.

And it wasn’t like he hadn’t had easy flings before; One-night stands and no strings attached relationships. But that wasn’t always possible with him. It wasn’t possible to feel nothing with you. It was quite the opposite.

He started imagining your smile and the way you made him laugh while he was doing mundane things like laundry or typing up an email at work. He began to imagine you waking up in his bed every morning with your croaky little voice and sleep lines on your face smelling like warm sheets and that unique scent that was just… you. He would be in the middle of watching something on television and feel the need to text you so you could turn it on and watch it too because he knew you’d love it.

So yeah. He started to really like you. As more than he should. It stung him a little to know you needed space to figure out whatever it was that went wrong. But he wasn’t going to stay away forever. He’d let you process but he had things he needed you to know and he’d never forgive himself if he didn’t at least tell you what those things were. You’d probably reject it all. You’d probably tell him that wasn’t what this was at all. You’d probably end it right then and there and that would be okay. If you didn’t feel the way he did that would be fair enough, Harry figured. But he wasn’t going to let things fade away and fizzle out. He was going to make you hear him out and if you didn’t like it then he’d step back and respect your wishes.

“Think I’m gonna call Y/n,” Tyler spoke as he walked into the kitchen behind Harry.

He turned to look at his son with confusion, “Why?”

He shrugged, “I feel like breaking up was a mistake. She probably regrets it too. I’ve been thinking a lot and I feel like I kind of just threw away everything because I was too scared to try stuff with her. I don’t know if I’ll ever find someone like her again. I was talking to Jay about it and he told me I was an idiot for letting her go like that. He said that a lot of girls don’t even really enjoy sex that much and if I had to pick between someone that’s into all kinds of weird things and someone that’s not into anything…” Tyler sat down at the kitchen table as he looked at Harry, “… that I might be better off with someone like Y/n. Because she loved sex. That’s for sure.”

Harry sighed and shook his head as he looked out the window over his sink. His son was still so stuck on the wrong reasons for your breakup. You didn’t just break up with him because you were sexually incompatible. You broke up with him because he was kind of a dick to you. Jealous all the time, manipulative. But of course, Tyler didn’t know his dad knew some of those details. You had told those things to Harry.

“She was a great girl, Ty. Do you think that’ll be enough for her to see you again?” Harry swallowed. He hated this. Hated that his son still had feelings for you. Hated that he missed you so bad and it’d only been two days. Hated that you hadn’t called or texted.

“I hope so. I miss her, ya know? Tried seeing this one girl a couple of weeks ago but there was just no comparison. Kept thinking of the way Y/n did certain things a lot better. I still love her too. I have to at least give it a shot.”

“You seemed so upset by her when she broke up with you. Kind of surprised by this a little.”

He really didn’t want Tyler calling you and mucking things up. It was selfish of Harry to think the way he was but if Tyler was still in love with you and tried reaching out that could be it for Harry. That would just complicate things further. But what could he do really?

“I was mad at first but I think the time apart helped me a little. And maybe her too. Maybe she’s missed me just as much, ya know? And she’ll want to compromise a little? Like we were together for 2 years. Almost two years. It would have been two years tomorrow actually so I was thinking about just giving it a shot. I’ll see if she wants to meet up tomorrow or something.” Tyler looked at Harry, “Should I get her flowers? Maybe make some grand gesture to show her how I feel about her? Jewelry even?”

Harry sat down at the table, his brows stitched together as he swallowed down the lump he felt in his throat., “Don’t buy her jewelry. What if she’s not interested in anything anymore? Don’t make any rash decisions, Ty. Okay? Just…” he sighed as he was about to give his son actual advice, against his better judgment, “Take it slow with her. Call her and see if she wants to meet up first. Flowers could be nice if she does. But don’t expect anything. Don’t push her.”

“Okay. So flowers might be good. Yeah. Okay,” he stood up from the table and pulled his phone out, “Would a text work? Or should I call? I should call shouldn’t I?”

Harry watched his son pace in the kitchen with his phone in his hand. Tyler was looking for advice from the wrong person but Harry wasn’t going to tell him that.

He couldn’t stop Tyler from reaching out to you and he couldn’t stop you from agreeing to meet up with him if that’s what you chose. But that didn’t mean Harry wouldn’t do something rash. Something he might regret in the long run. But sometimes those heavy and deep feelings you get for someone can make you do crazy things.

. . .

You were shocked to see the text from Tyler. And a missed call with a voicemail. You’d been busy with work all day so when you were finally seated in your car and the quiet of the day could sink in you hadn’t expected to see anything from him. He hadn’t been on your mind at all.

Please call me back. I’d like to talk about how things ended. I miss you.

You sighed and put your phone down into your cup holder. Tyler was not the man you wanted to hear from. Not anymore. Now all you could think about was Harry. It’d only been a couple of days since you’d seen him. You figured if you could hold out seeing or hearing from Harry for a little longer, your feelings would start to evaporate and then you could move on. You didn’t want to get your heart broken by your ex’s dad. And you were sure that’s where things were headed with you two.

You imagined scenarios where you told Harry how you were developing feelings for him and it would go one of two ways.

The first more likely scenario had Harry gently letting you down. Telling you that you were amazing (because he was so sweet like that) and that you had your whole life ahead of you but that you were too young and deserved to be with someone you could share your life with in a healthy way. That he never intended for feelings to get involved. Plus he would remind you that you dated his son and he couldn’t very well get into some kind of serious thing with you. Ever.

The second very unlikely scenario had Harry admitting his own feelings to you and telling you that you two could make it work despite the age gap and despite the fact that you dated his son for almost two years. He would hold you close and tell you all those sweet things you wanted to hear and he’d make love to you after, full of promises and he’d tell you not to worry about Tyler.

So to see that you’d gotten a text from his son and not him was disheartening. You were absolutely no longer interested in Tyler. In no way was there any love left for him. His father, however? You were dipping your toes into those messy feelings of attachment that started to ebb on the L word. You weren’t ready to face that thought quite yet though.

You decided to listen to his voicemail. Mostly so you could just clear the notice from your phone and get it over with.

“Y/n, hey, it’s Ty. I’m sure you’re busy with whatever right now but I just needed to call you and tell you a few things. I miss you a lot. I realize that I kind of fucked up. I think we can still work things out if you want to try and compromise on a few things. Ya know? And… Oh! Guess what tomorrow is? It would be our two-year anniversary. I don’t know if you even care or not but I still do. I was hoping to meet up with you. Just so we could we could talk. No pressure. But I think we owe it to ourselves to just give it one more shot or at least hear me out in person. Call me back, please. I miss you, Y/n.”

You rolled your eyes and leaned your head back into the seat of your car. You didn’t want to see Tyler at all. You thought it was interesting that he assumed there was anything left to salvage after the way you broke up with him. And you’d forgotten about the 2-year mark. Harry had basically taken over your thoughts. You wondered what Tyler would think about you then. You laughed to yourself at the idea of you telling Tyler the kinds of things his dad had done to you. Surely then he’d despise you and move on.

But you’d never tell him those things because Harry wouldn’t like that. And you never wanted to do anything to disappoint Harry in any way.

On your drive home, as you felt the stress of your day begin to fade you wondered if it would be a good idea to see Tyler. Perhaps you could just meet him somewhere public, let him talk, and then set the record straight once and for all. You had zero intentions of getting back with him. That was just no longer an option. Not after Harry. Not after anything actually.

And when you heard your phone ping with a text you groaned. God was he persistent. You just needed some time to think first.

You didn’t owe him anything. You could just ignore it and move on but you were one of those people who felt like others deserved to be heard out whether they deserved it or not. You had dated the guy for almost two years after all. And maybe the smallest part of you hoped he’d tell Harry he was meeting with you. You weren’t sure why you hoped he’d tell his dad. You didn’t know what that would achieve. Just the notion of contact even if indirect perhaps.

But when you pulled your phone out of your cup holder you were surprised to see that the new text wasn’t from Tyler. It was from Harry.

H: I know you’re just getting off work right now. Hope you’re okay and that this isn’t overstepping but I miss you and would like to see you so we can talk. There’s a lot I need to tell you. Whenever you’re free.

Your heart leaped and your breaths grew shallow as you read his words twice more. You hadn’t expected him to reach out to you. It felt like such odd timing but you quickly text him back as you sat in the parking lot at your apartment.

You: Hi. I’m okay and you’re not overstepping at all. I was thinking of texting you soon. What are you doing tomorrow night?

You felt shaky as you stepped out of your car and made your way up to your front door, all the while checking your phone to watch the screen and see that he was typing a response. You were giddy. Beyond excited.

H: No plans tomorrow night. What’s on deck?

You let out a puff of breath as you entered your apartment with a cheesy grin.

You: I’m going to Bet’s Bar with a few friends at 8. Just super casual. But maybe you can meet me there and we can get away to talk a bit? I’d like to see you too.

This was one of those nights out that you’d been dreading. Your friend invited you with two of her friends who you didn’t know all that well. So it was already going to be awkward. But if you had the opportunity to scoot off somewhere and cozy up at the little table with Harry that could make the night so much better. Especially if you could leave with him after.

H: Yes. Okay. I can meet you there. Would you like me to come at 8 or do you want to spend time with your friends first?

You typed your response quickly.

You: Come at 8 if you want. I’ll tell my friends you’re going to be there too. They won’t care if we get a different table to talk.

Your heart was pounding in your chest. But that’s how it always was when you made plans with Harry. But this time felt different.

H: Great. I’ll see you at 8. I’m looking forward to seeing you.

You grinned and peeked into the kitchen to see your roommate cooking something.

“Hi Goose! What are you making? Smells good.” You leaned over the pot she was stirring.

“Marinara. For pasta. Thought we could stuff our faces on starch tonight if you want.”

“Oh that sounds fabulous,” you grinned at her and looked down at your cell phone. “I’m gonna go changed and then I’ll be right here to help you eat this,” you laughed as you walked to your room.

Somehow texting with Harry and knowing you were going to see him tomorrow made you feel more confident in calling Tyler back. You needed to get it over with.

The phone rang twice before he answered, “Y/n! Hi! How are you?”

“I’m good. Got your message and figured it would be nice to talk. Like you said.” He already sounded too keyed up which meant he had false confidence and probably thought this meant more than it really did.

“Where are you? Can I meet you somewhere?” Yup. You called it.

You pinched the bridge of your nose in annoyance as you shook your head, “Not today, Ty. I just got off work and–“

“Okay. Tomorrow then?”

God was he pushy. And he was crazy for thinking you’d spend a moment of your precious Saturday with him.

“I’m busy tomorrow. Uh… how about lunch on Monday? I can take an hour and we can grab a bite somewhere.”

“Monday? Well, what about Sunday? I feel like I deserve more than an hour, Y/n.”

You laughed, “I don’t agree. Monday at lunch is doable for me. Sunday I’ll probably be nursing a hangover. I’m going out with friends tomorrow night and I won’t be in the headspace to talk to you on Sunday.”

“What friends?” He sounded exasperated.

You rolled your eyes, “Does Monday work or not?”

You could hear him mumbling something. Probably about how rude you were or inconsiderate because he always thought he was owed more than he actually was.

“Sure. Monday lunch. So like, 12? Where should we meet?”

“Yeah. 12 works. You choose the spot. Okay?”

“Okay. Y/n, look… I feel like you and I can start thinking about what we can do to make this work–“

“Tyler, I just got off work. Can we talk about this on Monday?” You hated cutting him off. Even though he was an ass it made you feel bad for being so short with him.

A heavy sigh came through the receiver, “Fine. I’ll see you Monday.”

You tossed your phone to the bed and changed into comfy sweats before joining Goose in the kitchen.

“Was it loverboy?” Goose teased as she sat the wooden spoon down and looked at you.

“Loverboy?”

“The man that’s been coming over. I have no idea what he looks like or what his name is,” she laughed, “But I know you call him Daddy.”

Your eyes widened and you balked a laugh, “Oh my god. You heard that?” You put your hands over your eyes and groaned, “I’m so sorry…”

“Don’t be sorry. I don’t care. You’re usually pretty quiet but sometimes I can hear things. I’ve definitely heard you call him Daddy, though.”

You couldn’t believe that your roommate had heard you. You realized that sometimes you could tend to make more noise than you meant to because you couldn’t help it with the way Harry fucked you or played with you.

“Still. So inappropriate. We try to be quiet. But… we’re sort of taking a break right now.”

“Really? I’m sorry. Sometimes a break is good, though, yeah? Plus you just got out of that relationship with Tyler. Which, good for you by the way. I never liked that guy.”

You laughed and pulled down a couple of pasta bowls, “Yeah… Tyler was good at first but it got to be too much for me to deal with.”

You and Goose (her real name was Oris) sat and ate pasta and chatted about your love lives. It felt good to talk about what was going on, even if you didn’t give her all the sordid details about Harry, just talking about it helped give you a different perspective on things. A good venting session was exactly what you needed. It was time to be honest with Harry. If you didn’t do something or tell Harry what you felt you’d most definitely lose him. And tomorrow you’d get that chance to come clean to him. At least it would be you being honest and true to yourself. And Harry deserved your honesty at the very least.

. . .

You kind of went overboard. Dressing yourself in your favorite dress that showed off your assets, shoes that flattered your feet and ankles, a little gold necklace with a heart charm, your special going-out perfume, and makeup just so… Everything looked good. You were smooth and moisturized, smelled great, and to be honest you felt great too. You were hopeful. The more you read over the texts from Harry the more confident you were that he’d be going back to your room that night. Or maybe you’d go to his. Didn’t matter to you. As long as the night ended with Harry wrapping his arms around you and telling you he wanted you just as much as you wanted him. That was really all you wanted out of this.

H: Really excited to see you tonight, baby. I hope you know that.

That text from Harry before you were about to leave had you jumping up and down in your bedroom with a hot face and a pounding heart. And he called you baby? You were ridiculous but who could blame you? It also had you feeling a bit extra cheeky suddenly so you added one more little accessory to round it all off. You weren’t sure Harry would encounter the little thing but you sure hoped he would.

Bet’s Bar was one of those spots that was kind of classy based on the décor and the drink menu but the reality was that the place was more of a dive under the façade. The tables and floors were usually sticky, the drinks were watered down, the music that crackled over the old speakers was loud so you had to shout to be heard, and they had crappy bar food that you imagined was bought frozen and then heated up in some cheap toaster oven that had one side heating up more than the other before being served as “gourmet”.

“Oh shit, Y/n! You look hot!” Your friend spotted you as you walked into the bar. You were looking all around for Harry but didn’t see him yet.

“Thanks,” you grinned shyly; Acting as if it were by complete accident that you were perfectly put together.

“Let’s get a photo before we all get wasted. We’ll do a before and after,” she laughed as she stood in the middle with her phone out, you on one side and her two friends on the other.

Everyone took turns looking at the picture to make sure it was worth of being posted on Instagram before she posted it.

Your first drink was a seltzer with lime. You did not want to get drunk. If you and Harry were going to talk you needed to be clear-headed. He also had a rule which was established when you first started seeing him, that if you had too much to drink, sex was off the table. So, a drink or two at most for you. You were more interested in where the conversation would go with Harry than getting drunk anyway.

“So where’s this guy?” One of the girls asked.

You tapped your cellphone to see that it was 8:15, “He should be here soon.”

Though you were a little nervous that he wasn’t right on time. You hoped everything was going to go as you imagined. But of course, when did that ever happen in life?

And at 8:30, just as you were tempted to text him to see if he was okay, you saw him walking in through the front doors, looking like sex on legs. The man was just stunning. Dark curls swept up, a button-up shirt not buttoned all the way so you could glimpse the sparrows and top of his pecs with that light scattering of masculine hair, his white gold necklace with the cross dangling between to remind you of what you were missing. The shirt was tucked into dark trousers that accentuated his thighs and glutes and of course, the unmistakable natural bulge he sported at the front.

You gulped as you waved at him to get his attention. You couldn’t hide the pleased grin on your face or the relief you suddenly felt at his arrival.

Turning on your stool to face him he sauntered up to you with deep dimples scored into his cheeks next to his gorgeous smile and he leaned down to hug you, his cologne making your eyes roll into the back of your head.

“Missed you, baby.” He whispered against your ear before standing up and taking you in with his starlit green eyes. You gently grasped onto his fingertips looking up at him, “Missed you too.”

You both kept your gazes pinned for a minute until your friend broke the moment, “No wonder you dressed like you’re going for a model shoot,” her cackle had you rolling your eyes but you turned to smile at her.

“This is Harry,” you gestured at him and then pointed at each girl, “And Harry this is Seleh, Quinn, and Lirica.”

The girls all waved and grinned before you hopped off your stool and grabbed your seltzer telling them you’d be back in a bit and that you and Harry needed to talk privately.

He followed you to a small high-top table with two stools at the edge of the room and pointed at your drink, “What are you drinking?”

You looked down at your glass and back up to Harry who hadn’t yet sat down, “Oh it’s just a seltzer. I didn’t want to have too much. Haven’t had a real drink yet.”

Harry’s pink lips curved up into a smile as he nodded, “Okay. Well, I think I’m gonna go up and order a beer. Would you like me to get you something?”

You pursed your lips in thought. You didn’t want to have anything that would get you drunk fast, “A beer for me too. Maybe like a Guinness?”

“I’ll be right back.”

You could tell right away that Harry was there because he really did want to see you. He seemed excited too, which gave you more hope than was probably a good thing. It was always a bad idea to get your hopes up but it was hard to not imagine this night going very well already.

Harry walked back to your little table and sat your Guinness down in front of you and moved his stool next to yours, “Okay if I sit a little closer?”

You nodded, “Of course it’s okay.”

Harry settled himself on his stool and his knee brushed into yours, “I know I said I’d be here at 8 but thought I’d give you at least a little time with your friends before I came in and took you away.”

“Oh, it’s fine. Really. I’m just glad you’re here.”

Harry watched you take a sip of your beer and took a gulp of his own, “So, how have you been? I know it’s only been a few days but felt more like a few weeks if I’m honest.”

Your eyes softened as you shook your head, “I guess I’m… well I missed you. I felt like I needed to think about how I was feeling about everything but I have clarity now and…” you laughed, “I agree. It felt more like a few weeks than just a few days. Too long to not see you.”

Harry’s gaze wandered over your face, “It was too long. Didn’t like it at all. You wanna talk to me about what happened?”

A sigh fell from your lips as you looked down at your pint glass, “I’m worried that if I tell you then you’re not gonna like it and that’ll be it. No more of this,” you looked at him as you gestured with your finger between yourself and Harry.

“Okay. So you had a few days to think about whatever it was and you said now you have clarity. Yeah?”

You nodded.

“Well, that sounds like a positive thing overall. Do you want to tell me what that thing is? I’d really like to know.”

The music was obnoxious and it was hard for your brain to keep your thoughts in a straight line, or perhaps it was from the way Harry was looking at you. He always observed you in this way that had you heating up and wanting to crawl inside of his heart and stay for eternity.

“I started to have feelings for you that you probably don’t return. I was worried I was getting too attached.”

Harry nodded shallowly as he kept his eyes on yours but you noticed his shoulders relax a touch. As if he might have anticipated you telling him something different. “I see. Why would you think I wouldn’t also start getting attached?”

“I don’t know. I mean… I guess I can’t read your mind so–“ You shrugged your shoulders.

“Exactly. You would have no way of knowing unless we talked. And now we’re talking. So this is good.”

You smiled and felt Harry’s thigh nudge into yours and you could tell he did it on purpose when his grin stretched wider over his face.

“See, when you told me to leave that night, I thought I’d done something wrong. Thought I moved things along with you too fast. So it wasn’t that at all?”

Your eyes widened at that realization and you shook your head, “Oh god, no. No, absolutely not. It was me being overly emotional and feeling things that I wasn’t sure were good or not. I didn’t, and still don’t know, whether or not we’re just kind of having some fun or if there could be, you know, more?”

Harry raised his brows at you and took your hand in his, “More?”

You looked down at where his thumb was tracing over your knuckles, “Yeah.”

It was silent for a moment. You didn’t know if you’d totally turned him off by that idea or not. But you knew it had to be said. It had to be out there because you’d drive yourself mad if you didn’t say something. And the longer it was silent the more you felt that awkward embarrassing heat cover your thighs and boil in your tummy.

Until you looked up at him and his expression was kind and gentle and you knew you had nothing to be embarrassed about with him.

“So you’re saying that you don’t want this to just be casual anymore. You want something a little deeper because you’re developing feelings?”

You nodded as you worried your bottom lip between your teeth.

“Baby,” Harry’s deep voice came out like silk as he moved his free hand up to cup your face, “That makes me so happy to hear. I didn’t want to overstep and make you uncomfortable but I tried to show you how I was feeling. I thought it was too much for you and that’s why you wanted me out. That I was coming on too strong.”

Shaking your head you pressed yourself into his palm at your cheek, “No. I thought I was just making things up in my head. That the way you were with me, the way you looked at me and everything… that I was crazy to think it meant more than what we were doing.”

His smile softened as he cocked his head, “And what is it that we were doing?”

You laughed, “Well it started out as just having some fun I guess…”

He nodded, “Yeah. But then what happened? Hmm?” He ran a thumb over your jaw, “We started to get to know one another. Things got more intimate between us. Isn’t that right?”

You felt so relieved that you were having this conversation with him in this way. That he was touching you and looking at you in that way you loved, “Yeah, that’s right. I was worried it was one-sided, though. Didn’t want to assume you felt it too.”

Harry tutted at you, “Should have talked to me. You’d have learned I wanted more as well. But now you know. Now we both know it wasn’t one-sided.”

You nodded as your smile widened, “Now we both know.”

You let a sigh out through your nose as you turned yourself into him and felt your heart thudding in your chest. Harry leaned in, pushing his nose into yours, “I want you, Y/n. I want to be with you,” he spoke against your lips before he dotted a gentle kiss to your mouth.

Your hands found his shoulders, “I want you too. I only want you, Harry.”

Those final words spoken were like a breaker switch that illuminated the space around you and lit up streets and parks miles away. His lips began to move with meaning as he opened his mouth and ran his tongue against the split of your lips and you parted for him, lapping your own tongue against his.

You were breathless and dizzy and overjoyed. Harry felt the same way and all you had to do was tell him that night. You’d wasted so much time in turmoil over false thoughts. Ideas you’d made up in your head about him. But this was real. He was here and he was yours.

But the moment came to an abrupt end when Harry’s body was jolted, his warmth removed from you and you heard an umph! fall from his lungs when his stool scraped on the floor.

You gasped when you saw Tyler with rage in his eyes as he stood with Harry’s collar grasped in his hands, “What the fuck is this? I came here to surprise you Y/n. Saw you tagged in an Instagram post and was gonna make some romantic gesture, but looks like my old man beat me to it.” He looked between you and Harry as he spoke.

Harry was standing up in front of Tyler and you quickly scrambled off your stool to help. You weren’t sure what you were going to do to help but you’d think of something.

“Tyler stop!” You spoke loudly and as forcefully as you could muster.

“What do you mean stop? You and my dad are making out in public when you knew I wanted to see you,” he turned to look at his dad, “You know how I still feel about her. You knew we spoke on the phone yesterday!”

“Calm down, Ty. We’re not doing this here,” Harry warned. He kept his arms to his sides not wanting to hurt his son. Not yet anyway.

“Oh come on! This can’t be for real,” Tyler let go of Harry’s shirt and gestured at you and his dad.

“It is real. This happened. I’m sorry but it did, and I don’t regret it,” you watched Harry as he said it. The admission of what had been going on behind Tyler’s back, all out in the open for everyone to see now.

Tyler looked at you in confusion as he shook his head, “Tell me you haven’t been fucking my dad.”

You shrugged and pursed your lips together as you looked back up at Harry again. He stepped back from Tyler, tucking you in to his side protectively, “I’m sorry you found out this way. It was only a matter of time.”

“Only a matter of time,” he shook his head and ran his fingers through his hair, and then pointed at you, “Is this the chick you’ve been fucking? I’ve been overhearing you two in your bedroom, and it’s been her all along?”

You closed your eyes and looked down. That was embarrassing. You figured he might have overhead a thing or two but now that he knew who it was… And to be fair, you’d only slept over at Harry’s a few times simply because you didn’t want Tyler hearing it or recognizing your voice.

“Tyler, you need to go. You’re making a scene and you’re embarrassing yourself,” Harry spoke.

“Yeah. I’m embarrassing myself?” he balked sarcastically, “You’re here with my girlfriend under your arm acting like you know her better than I do–“

“She’s not your girlfriend anymore, Ty. Go home.”

A woman walked by the table and looked at the three of you as she passed, breaking the strange tension and making Tyler’s stance loosen as he took a step back, “This is insane. You two,” he pointed at you and Harry, “Have you fucking lost your minds? I’m done.” He looked at you, “You and I are done, Y/n.”

“That’s exactly right,” Harry said calmly, “Now you need to go, Tyler.”

“Fuck you, Y/n. You’re trash, you know that? There’s no way he can give you what I did,” he spat.

“Stop! Enough!” Harry’s voice raised at Tyler’s insult of you.

You were used to insults from him but it didn’t stop your face was boiling and feeling that anger and frustration that you used to feel so often with him as it started to crawl up your spinal column and spread over your shoulder blades.

“Is it enough, dad!? You’re fucking the girl I’m in love with. What kind of father are you? Garbage, both of you,” Tyler stepped in closer but Harry tightened his grip around you and angled you away from Tyler’s reach.

“If you get any closer to her I’ll have you flat on the floor in under two seconds. Back the fuck off and get out of here! We’ll talk about this later.”

You’d never heard Harry’s voice so full of fury. The furrow in his brow and the look in his eyes would have been scary if they were aimed at you.

“You know what? Fine. This was a waste of my time.” He looked at you and pointed, “You were a waste of my time. Two-fucking years and this is how you repay me? I regret everything that happened between us. I’m out of here.”

Tyler turned and walked away, his middle finger shining under the dim overhead lights of the bar until he made his way out of the door.

Harry pulled you in front of him as he looked down at you, “Are you okay, Y/n?”

You nodded up at him, “I’m fine. I can’t believe that just happened.”

Harry shook his head, “I should have figured he might do this. I’m sorry, baby.”

You could have purred at the baby. It was like Harry could erase all the stress and anger and turmoil you’d felt at once. His green eyes and soothing voice had you feeling comforted.

“Let’s go. I wanna leave,” you spoke as you smoothed your palms up his cotton shirt, “Will you come home with me?”

Harry nodded and took your wrists in his hands before kissing your lips softly in answer.

You left your unfinished beers and told your friends you were leaving. There were two guys at their table already and none seemed too upset that you were ditching them. Which you figured would be the case anyway.

It felt like you had seltzer in your veins as you climbed into Harry’s car with him. He kept his hand over your bare thigh as drove the short distance to your apartment.

“You sure you’re okay?” He asked you with a quick glance before training his eyes safely back on the road.

“I’m fine, Harry. You make me feel really safe.”

You watched as his dimples appeared from the big smile he had on his face. Biting your lip, you thought about him finding your secret other accessory. It was hard not to think about it every time you sat down. And the bucket seats in his car had you sitting in a way that you were pressing into it and it was already doing things to your brain and your body.

The moment you entered your apartment and closed the door behind you his lips were on yours again. His big hands pulled you into his body, squeezing at your bum as you slid your arms over his shoulders and moaned. But he was moaning too.

Three days. It had only been three days and this was the result. But maybe it wasn’t just that it had been three days without him. Because you’d gone longer between seeing him. You knew it was because it was three days of uncertainty. For you and for him. You both were in a state of limbo during that time and it had been your fault.

“Um, hey…” The sudden voice of your roommate startled both you and Harry. You’d forgotten all about Goose to be honest.

You laughed and Harry pulled your hand into his, “This is Harry. Um…” You looked up at him as you spoke.

“Oh, this is Harry. Okay…” she grinned.

You nodded, “Yeah. He’s uh… And, oh! This is Goose, or Oris, but she goes by Goose,” you looked from your roommate to Harry.

He reached a hand out toward her with a smile, “Nice to finally meet you.”

“Likewise. Now I have a face to go with… well I mean now I know what you look like,” she laughed, “But um… I’m just leaving. I’m going to stay over at a friend’s tonight so,” Goose looked at you, “Enjoy.”

“You don’t have to go,” you spoke as you watched her head toward the door.

“I think I do, actually. No offense but, I don’t know if I’m in the mood to listen to you both going at it all night. But seriously, it’s fine. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She walked around you and closed the door behind her, leaving you and Harry alone.

You looked up at him with a knowing smile, blinking your eyes at him, and stood to your toes to continue kissing him.

You weren’t sure what had crashed to the ground as you and Harry began to claw at one another and bumped into your coffee table when he walked you to your room with his mouth on yours. Everything was frantic and began to move on fast forward.

You hardly remembered pulling at his shirt and attempting to push it up so you could feel his warm skin and kiss him properly all over. You didn’t even realize that you’d pushed him down so that you were straddling him and attacking his pecs and his abs with your mouth and your tongue.

But when he laughed deeply, the sound vibrating from his chest as you began to unhook his belt, you opened your eyes and looked at him and realized what was going on, “Sorry!” You laughed in a panted breath.

Harry’s smile told you that he was not offended, “Sorry for what? Baby you can have me however you want. I was just a little surprised when you pushed me down is all.”

You laughed as you looked down at him. You were excited. For everything. That he felt the way you did, that you didn’t have to hide now that Tyler knew, that he was there with you in your apartment, in your bed…

“I think I should apologize for all of this. For what happened,” you cupped his jaw, “Because this could have all been avoided had I just said something to you like a grown-up. We were both on the same page but I made things worse by keeping it in and freaking out.”

It shouldn’t have come as a surprise to Harry when you began to move down his legs and take his pants with you. He watched you climb between his bare legs and then palm over his bulge as you looked into his eyes, “Gonna make it up to you. I’ll never do that again. I promise I’ll always talk to you.”

Harry grinned and put his hands behind his back to cradle his head, “What are you planning to do to make it up to me, then?” He had a pretty good idea based on the way you were rubbing over him and slowly making him hard in his underwear as you licked your lips.

“Anything you want. Figured I’d start here,” you dipped your fingers into the band of his underwear and raised your brows, “Is it okay?”

Harry’s laugh had you grinning wide, “Yes, baby. You can get me naked if you want. You have permission to do anything you’d like.”

You loved the way he looked. His strong core muscles flexed as he lifted his hips to help you remove his underwear. You dragged your palms up his strong thighs and toward his cock before you cupped a hand under his balls and lowered yourself to him, jutting your tongue out and softly licking the skin on his sac. You reached up a hand upward, wrapped your fingers around his shaft, and began to stroke him from tip to base and back again as you moved your lips over his balls.

Harry enjoyed having his balls licked and so that meant you liked it too. He’d wiggle the slightest and work to keep his thighs spread so you could really get in there and wet every inch of him and then suck them into your mouth gently.

“Y/n… baby…” he breathed out and you looked up at your gorgeous man enjoying the things your mouth did to him.

Licking upward, from his balls all the way up his long shaft to his tip he put his eyes on yours as you dotted hot kisses over his velvety skin. You kept your fist around his base as you swirled your tongue over his frenulum and dipped it into his slit just enough to get that reaction from him you loved.

He bucked his hips softly and gasped before you wrapped your mouth around him and lowered down his cock, finally getting to smooth your tongue up and down his length until his tip pressed into the back of your throat.

You were able to maintain eye contact at first. He kept his hands behind his head as he watched you suck him off with his lips parted.

But when you pulled off of him and you were getting that dizzy, pliable feeling you always got when you needed him to start taking over Harry could tell it was time to assist you.

“Want me to help, baby?”

You nodded, saliva coating your chin, “Please, Daddy.”

So he helped because he was a gentleman of course. With his hand cupping the back of your head holding you down and his hips thrusting up into your mouth he groaned as you gagged and sputtered around him.

You felt the brush of his pubic hair on your nose every time he worked his cock down your throat, making you wretch and gurgle. But the sounds of pleasure falling from his chest, growing more and more intense had you only opening wider, wanting more.

When he lifted you off of him you could hardly see with the glaze of tears in your eyes. Harry’s voice was soft as he helped you out of your dress and you clung to him to hold steady with each piece of fabric that was discarded.

“Such a pretty dress, baby. Wore It for me?”

You nodded and chuckled softly, “Just for you, Daddy. Hoped you’d like it.”

“Oh, I love it. Knew the minute I saw you it was for me. But this is better,” he cupped your tits in his palm as he moved you down to the bed on your back before licking at your nipples and then kissing his way up your neck.

He planted soft, wet pecks to your skin and over your lips before he worked his way down your body slowly until he’d gotten between your thighs and nudged your legs apart.

But he stopped his fluid movements and the brushing of his hands when you looked down at him with a teasing grin, knowing what he just found. Your secret accessory. A pink jewel anal plug.

His chest was rising and falling heavily as he pressed over the pink jewel that was sticking out from your ass and then looked up at you, “Also for me?”

You nodded, “Always only for you.”

Harry’s brows pinched together as he looked back between your legs and smeared his thumb up your labia, glistening with arousal. He dipped down and ran his tongue between your pussylips and up to your clit, smacking it into his mouth and making you moan loudly at the sudden sensation.

His mouth kissed and pressed and his tongue laved and circled every sensitive bit of your vulva. But it was the repeated lapping at your clit and the soft but greedy suckle that had you jerking your hips up and whining.

“Want you, Daddy… Please… Your cock…” You babbled out your words and Harry sat back, his thumb still circling your clit.

“Yeah? Want me inside of you, baby? Can’t handle anymore of this?”

“I want to feel you close to me…” You panted.

Harry ran his hands up your skin and over your neck, one hand wrapping around the front of your throat and the other groping your tit as he kissed your lips and he ran his solid cock through your slippery folds.

“How do you want me, baby? Like this? Maybe you want to be on top this time?”

Part of you wanted him to just fuck your ass. But you did want to feel him in your pussy first. Needed to feel that intimate connection, that stretch…

“On my tummy. With you on me and holding me close.” 

Harry groaned and sat up as he pushed you to your tummy and crawled over your back, making you spread your legs as he ran his cock against your pussy before slowly pushing his wide crown through your slick muscle, expanding your entrance and spreading your vagina with every inch he pushed in until you were whimpering at the depth of him.

He pushed the front of his thighs into the back of yours, “Like this, baby,” speaking lowly into your ear as he pressed his chest into your back and tucked a hand under your hip so he could finger your clit as he began to roll into you, pushing in and in, his solid girth splitting you in two and making you tremble, “Yes, Daddy!”

Harry didn’t fuck into you hard. He didn’t rail the life out of you as he did so many times before. No, this time his movements were slow and languid. Meaningful. Powerful.

“You’re such a good girl, Y/n. Made just for me, baby… Fuck…” he spoke into your ear as he pressed in, your anal plug being nudged into with every rock of his hips.

“I need you, Daddy… I need you…” you didn’t know exactly what you meant when you moaned your words but they were the truth. You did need him. Never wanted to be without him again. Never wanted to go through the torture of not knowing what was going on again.

“Yes, baby. Daddy needs you too, honey. I need you so much… every part of you…�� you could hear the strain in his voice, “You’re mine, Y/n. You know that right?”

You could have died right then. That was all you needed in life. Self-actualization realized.

“Yes, Daddy… ohhh ffuuuuu! I’m yours. All yours…” his harsh thrust had your mouth dropping wide and your limbs quivering as he smoothed his fingers over your clit. You couldn’t stop it. Could help the ridiculously loud gurgled moan that fell from your mouth as you began to spasm around him.

“Just like that… Daddy’s cock feels so good doesn’t it baby… Oooh shit, little girl… Yes, there you go…” he coaxed you through your orgasm with soft words as you felt like you could vanish into thin air. He brought his free hand around to the front of your neck as he continued nudging deep into your tummy and panting in your ear.

His hips were pasted to your ass as he ground in, making your plug shift inside of you and you gasped. You wanted more. He had his hand around your throat, just there – not squeezing, and the feel of your plug…

“Daddy…” you panted, “Will you fuck my ass? I want it so bad.”

Harry puffed a laugh against your neck and kissed your jaw, “You sure, honey? You’re not too tired after that?”

You turned yourself to look at him, “Please.”

And how could he say no to you when you looked at him like that? When you called him Daddy and rounded your eyes and squeezed your cunt around his thick shaft.

He licked his lips as he slowly pulled his throbbing cock out of your pussy. He was so close to coming just then. So close to his release he was thankful for the moment it would take to remove your plug.

“This is so pretty, baby,” he spoke as he twisted and began to pull at it to remove it from you. “Gonna look even prettier with my cock in there. Sure you’re ready?”

You groaned and nodded, keeping your body twisted to look at him behind you, “I’m ready. So ready for it.”

Harry poured a very healthy amount of lube over your anus and smeared it all around your tight hole and then dipped his fingers inside to press the slick liquid as deep as his fingers could push it.

“Already nice and relaxed…” Harry commented as he pulled his fingers out. You were ready. You were sure of it. Harry might be a bit bigger than your anal dildo but you knew you were going to love it.

Harry pulled at your hips to angle you up for his access as he softly caressed your bum with one hand and used his other to grip his twitching cock. He smudged his tip to your hole and delicately pressed in, keeping an eye on your reaction as you arched your back and moaned, “More…”

You heard him chuckle as his tip finally breached the space into your anus, opening you up and making the breath catch in your throat at the initial burn and achy stretch.

“Color?” He spoke in a panted breath, already fucking out of his mind at the view he had.

“Green, so green,” you choked out.

He continued to press in until the burn you felt disappeared and that familiar fullness that you loved from your dildo began to take over.

“Ahhhhh!” Your voice was guttural as Harry slid back and then pushed in again.

He got into a very gentle pace, in and back, in and back, until your toes were curling and you were starting to see stars, “Fuck! Daddy!”

Harry stayed silent behind you as he worked himself in, rolling gentle, easy, and cautious thrusts as his face twisted up in ecstasy. He didn’t want to hurt you. He would allow himself to fuck you harder after a few tries, but this first time he was going to be a gentleman with your tight hole.

You reached between your legs and began to toggle at your nub and you choked out a gasp as you whined, “It feels so fucking good…”

Harry could hear the way your words came out shaky, like you were crying but he was quite in tune with your movements and you were very obviously enjoying every thrust he issued. Not to mention how you were already rubbing your clit and your legs were starting to shake. All good signs.

Harry’s groans were timed with his thrusts and they grew deeper and louder as he got nearer to his release. He was already throbbing and twitching and he was positive he was smearing precome inside of you as his balls tightened.

But then suddenly you howled as your muscles tensed and tears fell from your eyes. You could hardly maintain control of your limbs as you shook and convulsed.

Harry stopped his movements as he watched you fall apart and it was one of the prettiest things he’d ever seen. Watching you lose it as you rubbed your clit and cried, his cock lodged into your ass, your thighs quivering… But he gulped down his instinct to pump his come into you. He wasn’t sure if you were okay with that or not. He was sure you wouldn’t mind but it hadn’t been discussed prior so he’d hold off til you gave him permission. Coming inside of your bum would be a bit of a different experience than it was in your pussy.

He closed his eyes and tilted his head back. He had to will away his strong urge as you slowly calmed and moved your hand away from your bundle of nerves. But the moment he could tell you were good, he pulled out and pumped his cock in his hand, spurting come on your ass and your back as he coughed out a loud moan that filled the room.

You turned to watch him in his orgasm as you felt his warm cum spray over your skin. His chest was flushed and his strong biceps and triceps were flexing as he stroked his long shaft. Beautiful in every way.

When he opened his eyes and looked at you he was flushed and panting and as sexy as anything you’d ever seen. You pushed yourself up to your knees and turned to him, pulling him down to your mouth.

You were still a little shaky as you clung to the back of his neck and he puffed a laugh against your lips when he rubbed his hands up your sides and then down to your ass when he dredged his fingers through his come.

You laughed with him but he continued kissing you anyway, despite the mess he’d made and the sticky come all over his fingers and your back. The kiss was hot and soft all at the same time.

Those deep and viscous feelings were coming to the surface again. Your heart pounded heavy in your chest as your brain swirled with thoughts of only Harry. Of him being yours and you being his. Of sweet things and real emotions you could finally express freely. Because you knew he felt it too.

“Well, that was fun. Don’t think I expected this day to turn out so perfectly,” he grinned as he parted from the kiss.

You smoothed your hands to his jaw and looked at him dreamily, “Better than I imagined. So much better. I’m so glad you’re here.”

Harry’s nose poked into yours, “Baby, I’m glad I’m here too. I do have one thing I need to say, though.”

Your heart dropped for a half second as you pulled away and looked into his eyes, unsure of what he needed to say.

“Be my girlfriend?”

You sputtered out a laugh of disbelief, “Of course. Figured that was already established.”

The right side of Harry’s lip quirked up, “Well it certainly is now. Plus now I can tell everyone you’re my girlfriend if we make it official.”

You ran your hands over his strong pecs and nodded, “Yeah? You wanna tell everyone?” You took one of his hands and brought it up to your mouth as you proceeded to lick his come from his fingers.

Harry let out a shallow laugh before he groaned as he watched you, “I am definitely telling everyone you’re my girlfriend.”

You smiled as you ran your tongue over his knuckles and looked up at him, “I like the sound of that, Daddy.”

A/N: Hope you enjoyed the series! 💕 xoxo

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[megalony]

Is This Your Husband

This is a new Evan Buckley imagine, based on an anon request which I hope you will all like and I have a follow up planned for this. Let me know what you think.

Taglist: @lunaticspoem@sj-thefanthefan@hellsdragon@im-an-adult-ish@crazylittlethingg@allauraleigh@onceuponadetectivedemigod@ceres27@avyannadawn@sleepylunarwolf@coverupps@justagirlthatlovedtoread @musicistheway @avada-kedavra-bitch-187 @luula @missdreamofendless @bradleybeachbabe @woderfulkawaii  @amberpanda99 @daggersquadphantom @marvel-and-chicago-fan @angryknightstatesmantrash @minjix @lyjen @kmc1989 @itsmytimetoodream @noonenuts @hiireadstuff @ashie-babie @classyunknownlover @jayyeahthatsme @sp1ritssz @dumb-fawkin-bitch @oliverstarksbae @gimatida

Evan Buckley Masterlist

Summary: Eddie's little sister comes to stay with him in LA to get away from her ex. And Evan feels drawn to her and wants to ask her out.

Enjoy.

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

"Hi, can I help you?"

(Y/n) tried her best to smile. She clicked her back into place and stood as tall as she could without wincing. Her arms stayed bound around her chest and her lips formed into the simplest, tightest smile she could give that didn't look pained or broken.

She knew she looked a mess. Her hair was windswept and disshevelled. Her clothes were baggy and she wore an oversized hoodie despite the LA heat and her clothes didn't do much to hide the light tremble rolling over her body in waves.

"Is Eddie home?" This was the right house. (Y/n) knew it was. She recognised the familiar truck parked up in the drive. This had to be where her big brother lived. This had to be the place he was always telling her about. The place (Y/n) had dreamed about for months. The place she finally plucked up the courage to escape to in the early hours of the morning.

She leaned to look around the kindly woman in the doorway and peered into the hall, just to check. She could vaguely see a few picture frames scattered around and (Y/n) was sure she could make out a picture of Chris on the small side table.

"I'll go get him for you."

When the woman turned and headed back inside, (Y/n) let out the breath she had been holding in and tried to keep her smile genuine and not burst out into tears.

That had to be Carla. The woman Eddie talked about a lot who helped look after Chris when he was at work.

There had been a look in her eyes, a small sense of familiarity and (Y/n) guessed Carla recognised her from one or two of the pictures Eddie scattered about the house. She just didn't know or realise who (Y/n) was now she was here in the flesh.

"Who is it?" Eddie finished his mouthful of pasta and wiped his mouth on his sleeve before he pushed up from the table.

Who was at the door? He wasn't expecting anyone and he couldn't think who it could be. What young women did he know who didn't work at the station or at Chris's school? It couldn't be anyone from the school coming round at teatime and if it was, Carla would have recognised them.

Just as Eddie stood up from the table, Chris hopped down and sped out the kitchen first to find out who was at the door.

"Chris-" A shiver rolled down Eddie's spine and he cringed when Chris let out an excited scream. Who on Earth had turned up at the door?

"Auntie (Y/n)!"

Adrenaline coursed through Eddie's stomach and he hurried up in his steps when he heard Chris. (Y/n) was here? His youngest sister? Why was she in LA? Why hadn't she told him she was coming down? Eddie would have picked her up from wherever she arrived in town, he would have made the house look a bit tidier. He and Chris would have come to get her and show her around and go out for tea if they knew she was coming down.

He watched with wide eyes and a spreading grin when Chris barrelled over to the front door and latched his arms around (Y/n)'s waist. He burrowed his head into her abdomen and clung to her like a monkey, still screaming excitedly into her stomach.

Out of all three of Eddie's sisters, (Y/n) was the one he was closest to and she was the one who had the best connection with Chris. It had been extremely hard on them both to leave (Y/n) back in Texas. Eddie could handle leaving his parents and his two other sisters, but he didn't want to leave his youngest sibling who he had taken care of all his life.

It had broken Chris's heart to know that his aunt would no longer be ten minutes away but four hours away from home.

"Hey buddy- oh, you've grown so much." (Y/n) couldn't keep the tears from falling down her face, both from joy out of seeing Chris, and pain from how tightly he clung to her.

"You're here!"

"I thought I'd surprise my best boys," (Y/n) leaned her head down and pressed hundreds of kisses against the top of Chris's hair until he was squealing and squirming against her. She held him tighter and willed herself not to burst into tears but as soon as she lifted her head and looked at Eddie, the waterworks started.

"Alright, my turn. Chris, go finish dinner with Carla while I help auntie (Y/n) in please." Eddie gently turned Chris around in the other direction and gave him a nudge. (Y/n) wasn't going anywhere and Chris could cling to her and tell her everything that had been going on as soon as he'd finished his dinner and Eddie had the chance to hug his sister for himself.

Once Chris toddled off into the dining room, clapping his hands along the way, Eddie turned back to face (Y/n). He smiled brightly down at her and gasped when she flung her arms around his neck and reeled him in for a hug.

"I can't believe you're here. Why didn't you tell me you were coming down?" He kissed the side of her head and deadlocked his arms around her waist. But he could feel the smile fading from his face when he felt (Y/n) jolt and tense up as soon as he curved his arms around her.

His hand planted down in the middle of her back and he tensed up the longer she held onto him without the intention of letting go.

Panic surged through him when he felt her tears soaking into his shoulder and Eddie started to realise she wasn't crying out of happiness, at least not anymore. And his eyes darted down to the doorstep in front of him and he could feel a new surge of panic igniting in his stomach.

A suitcase and a duffle bag.

That was more baggage than just a flying visit. Why had she turned up with all her belongings? Why didn't she call him? What had happened back home that he didn't know about?

"(Y/n), what's wrong? Why all the bags?" Eddie's hand pressed firmer into the middle of (Y/n)'s back when she tightened her arms around his neck and refused to pull away or look up at him.

He kept his left arm bound tight around her waist and he reached his right hand out to grab her suitcase. He dragged it inside and did the same with her other bag before he shuffled back with (Y/n) still in his arm so he could shut the door.

(Y/n) stayed limp and easily moveable, letting Eddie guide her through into the living room instead of standing in the hallway. But she started to shake when he finally leaned back and gripped her chin. He tilted her head up so they were finally looking at each other and when his thumb swiped across her cheek to brush away a tear, (Y/n) felt a whimper bubbling past her lips.

"C-can I stay with you, just f-for a while. Please?" Her hands unhooked from Eddie's neck and she let him hold her elbows and guide her to sit down on the armchair.

Once she was sat down, Eddie perched on the coffee table in front of her and rested his elbows on his knees as he leaned forward and arched his back out.

"You know you can always stay with me and Chris, you don't have to ask. What's going on? You didn't call, I could have come and got you… has something happened back home?"

(Y/n) tangled her hands together and clenched her fingers together as tight as she could until they started to ache and burn.

"I had to get away but… but Joey knows were ma and papi live, he doesn't know your address." Her eyes danced down to stare at Eddie's knees but she saw the way they tensed and how his hands curled into fists between his thighs.

She could almost feel the anger radiating off of him and his stance changed within a split second.

"Did he try to hurt you?"

Eddie had always been wary around Joey since the first moment he met him. There was just something about him that didn't sit right with Eddie, he seemed off but Eddie couldn't place why. His attitude was different and the way he would stare or grimace made something seem dark in his eyes. Eddie didn't trust his sister's boyfriend but Joey had never threatened (Y/n), at least not around Eddie or in a way any of the family had noticed.

"We had a fight, but I've n-never seen him like that before… he threw things at me, and he locked the door and w-wouldn't let me out. When he went to sleep, I packed up a-and climbed out the window."

Joey had been aggressive, (Y/n) had always known that side to him, but he was only ever verbally violent towards her. He would shout and scream and hit the walls, but he never hurt (Y/n). She knew his possessive side was dangerous, the way he checked her phone and asked where she'd been every second of the day. If she was late home by five minutes he got suspicious. If she talked to her family or met up with them then she was automatically ignoring him.

It was getting tiresome and frightening and (Y/n) didn't want to be around him anymore. But last night was different. He actually threw things at her. He threw picture frames around the apartment. He went as far as to hit (Y/n) and when she tried to leave, he fisted his hand in her hair and dragged her back so he could lock the front door.

(Y/n) hid in the bathroom until Joey stopped apologising and finally fell asleep in the living room.

Once he was asleep, she packed up. She stuffed clothes into a bag, all of the pictures and her little mementos she wanted to keep. A few books and her meds and gadgets and cash.

She couldn't find the front door key and instead of risking waking Joey, (Y/n) climbed out the bedroom window onto the fire escape and made her way to the nearest coach stop and got a ticket to LA.

She couldn't stay with her parents or either of her two sisters because they were all in Texas and Joey knew them. He knew where they lived and where they worked and he could easily find (Y/n). Right now, she wanted to hide away. She wanted to be as far away from Joey as possible and have a fresh start.

Eddie was always telling her how good it was here, how Chris loved it and they had new friends and a great work family. (Y/n) thought she could make a life for herself here with her brother and the few aunts they had down here.

"Are you hurt?"

(Y/n) rolled her lips together and took a deep breath to steady herself. She watched Eddie sit up straight on the table and she closed her eyes as she slowly took off her hoodie and lifted up her shirt. She didn't want to look down at the bruises starting to blossom around the left side of her chest. She didn't want to see the fingerprints on her wrists or the scratches down her neck. And she could feel the bruises and blood wheels on her scalp from where he grabbed her by her hair.

"You should have called me. I would of come down to get you-"

"You'd kill him." (Y/n) corrected, sadness pooling in her eyes when Eddie growled and raked his hand through his hair.

She wanted to call. She wanted to ring papi and ask him to come and get her, but he would of started a fight he couldn't win. She wanted to ring Eddie and beg him to come get her, but Eddie would have attacked Joey and been arrested. He wouldn't get (Y/n) without starting a fight with the man who attacked his little sister.

Making her way down here was the safest option for everyone and (Y/n) had done it. She knew Joey didn't know whereabouts in LA Eddie lived and none of the family would tell him. (Y/n) was safe here with Eddie.

"You can stay here as long as you want. He won't hurt you again, I won't let him."

Reaching out, (Y/n) curled her hands around Eddie's wrist and brought his hand to her lap. She ran her thumb across the back of his hand and managed to smile a little. "Can I ask another favour?"

"Anything."

"Could you tell ma and papi I'm here, a-and why?" (Y/n) knew what their parents would do and say. They would try and call the police and get (Y/n) to come home. They would fret if she was the one to call and tell them what had happened and where she had disappeared to. They thought it was a bad idea for Eddie and Chris to move out here and their parents would think the same about (Y/n).

But this was her choice. She had chosen to come down here and (Y/n) wanted to stay. She wasn't here for a vacation. This was a fresh start, a chance for (Y/n) to try and make a better life and be with her family. She was too lonely back in Texas and it was full of bad memories, she wanted to make some new ones.

She kept her eyes focused on Eddie's hand, but her smile softened when she felt him lean forward. He cupped the back of her head as gently as possible and leaned over so he could kiss the top of her head.

"Course I will, but let's go eat dinner first."

***

With her left hand coiled close to her chest, (Y/n) held her right hand out towards Chris and waited patiently for him to hop off the chair. He reached out to take her hand and tucked himself close into her side, leaning his head back on her waist so he could stare up at her with those big brown eyes that made her melt.

"Let's go home."

She could feel her left hand trembling against her chest and her head was spinning, trying to balance out her centre of gravity and keep herself stood up.

When Chris kindly grabbed her bag from the other chair, (Y/n) nodded and moved aside the thick material curtain that sectioned off each little cubicle in the emergency room.

"Miss- miss, you can't leave yet."

A grimace pulled at (Y/n)'s lips and she cringed as she coiled Chris tighter into her side and turned to look behind her at the nurse.

She didn't want to be here in the first place.

All (Y/n) had been trying to do was make her and Chris some lunch but when the knife slipped, it pierced through the edge of her palm and caught the base of her little finger. The blood wouldn't stop spurting out across the kitchen and amid the pain, (Y/n) started to lose the feeling in her finger. She didn't have a choice but to make her way down to the emergency room with Chris. With her hand wrapped in two tea towels and a lot of harsh stares and worried glances from onlookers on the bus.

Her hand was stitched up, Chris had had a lovely chat with one of the nurses and (Y/n) couldn't feel her hand now she was dosed with morphine and stitches. She wanted to go home and she needed to take her nephew back home.

"I've been seen to, I'm going home." (Y/n) let her eyes dart between her trembling hand and the nurse.

She wasn't waiting around when they had been here over an hour already. What more did they expect to do? She was stitched back together like a patchwork doll, she had been given pain relief and some antibiotics to take home so she didn't get an infection. She was alright now.

"You haven't been discharged yet, and we can't discharge you to leave alone. It would be better for someone to come and pick you up."

Anger radiated through (Y/n)'s chest as adrenaline sparked in her stomach. Why couldn't they just let her leave? She wasn't admitted into hospital so she didn't technically need to be discharged, she should be fine to leave on her own with Chris. She wasn't going to drive, she didn't have a car. They were getting the bus home which would be full of other people so if something bad happened, (Y/n) and Chris wouldn't be alone.

"Can we call someone to come collect y-"

"Uncle Buck!"

(Y/n) turned to look back in front of her when Chris abruptly pulled his hand out of her grasp and suddenly shot ahead.

She walked away from the nurse who followed on her tail, but her eyes focused solely on Chris who moved down the long corridor of cubicles when a flash of navy blue and florescent yellow caught his eye.

When Evan heard his name, he paused mid-walk on his way towards the emergency room reception. They had just finished bringing a burn victim down to the hospital and now they were in the burn unit, the team could leave and head back to the station.

Bobby and Eddie were waiting in the truck and Chimney was standing by the ambulance while Evan and Hen delivered the patient to the doctors.

"Chris, bud what are you doing here?"

Evan held his arms out and leaned down when Chris barrelled into his chest and wrapped around him like a vine. Why was he in the emergency room? What had happened? Was he alright? Who was he here with- was Carla with him? Surely Chris couldn't be here alone.

He looked alright. Evan trailed his hands up and down Chris's arms and around his sides to see if he had any cuts or bruises or tender spots, but he seemed perfectly fine. No traces of tears on his face, no redness or any signs to say he had been crying or that he was hurt or in pain.

"Aunt (Y/n) had an accident." Chris kept an arm around Evan's torso while he pointed behind him and turned to the side to see (Y/n) approach them.

Eddie's sister was here?

Evan didn't know any of Eddie's sisters and he couldn't say he remembered any of their names either. But he knew none of them lived here in LA. The only family Eddie had down here were his aunts and Eddie hadn't mentioned any family coming down to visit.

When Evan locked his eyes on the girl approaching them, he felt the adrenaline sparking up in his chest and his parted lips curved into a smile almost immediately.

He knew he looked a disshevelled mess, his hair had formed into wild bouncy curls from getting wet. He had dirt and soot covering his face like warrior paint. His florescent jacket was halfway off his shoulders and muck and dirt was sprayed all over his shirt and trousers. But Evan's smile brightened up his whole attire.

"Oh, is this your husband, miss?"

Panic struck a cord in (Y/n)'s chest and she looked rapidly between the nurse at her side and the man in front of her.

Chris called him uncle Buck. He had to be her brother's best friend, the one Eddie was always talking about. The guy Chris couldn't stop rambling about, who took him to the zoo and had him for sleepovers and who was basically like a second dad to him.

If he was here, that meant the rest of Eddie's team might be here. Eddie might be here. Either way, this was (Y/n)'s ticket out so she didn't have to wait around or have this nurse try and restrain her and stop her from leaving.

"Oh, yes it is… I can go with him, we won't be alone. Thank you." (Y/n) nodded at the nurse before she stepped closer and and moved to stand on Evan's other side. She needed the nurse to leave them alone so she could take Chris back home and pray Eddie wouldn't be too panicked or mad about what had happened today.

Her breath caught in her throat and her lips pressed together into a straight line when she felt Evan's arm curl around her side. He pressed his palm against her lower back between her hips and kept his other arm around Chris who was grinning up at him like they had all met at a theme park instead of a hospital.

"Thank you, I'll take them both home now." Evan started walking and guided the pair of them away from the cubicles until they were further down the hall, just shy of the reception area.

Once they were out of sight and there weren't people hovering around beside them or able to listen in, Evan lowered his arm back down to his side and kept Chris close to his leg.

"Thank you," (Y/n) murmured quietly while she brushed a stray strand of hair behind her ear. She looked up at Evan through hooded lashes, feeling a fire igniting in her chest when his lips quirked into a soft smile that creased his eyes and showed his pearly whites.

"No problem… are you okay, why're you both here?"

"I had a cooking accident," She let her eyes dart down to her left hand but when she looked back up at him, Evan had already taken her hand to inspect it. His touch was soft and (Y/n) watched the way his dirt-ridden fingers traced across the back of her hand and turned it over so he could see the stitches along the side of her palm and up to her little finger.

"We can give you both a ride home… fancy another trip in the truck, bud?" Evan looked down at Chris who instantly cheered and nodded, pulling on Evan's other hand to make him begin to walk again.

"Would that be okay?" (Y/n) didn't want to be a burden, she felt fine and she could easily get the bus home with Chris. It wouldn't be a problem and she wouldn't want to get in the way or divert the team if they had to get back to the station or ended up on another call out.

"You think Eddie will let you head home alone? Besides, the nurse said your husband needs to take you home. I'd better listen to that advice, hm?"

The grin on Evan's face made a shiver crawl down (Y/n)'s neck and spine and she tilted her head down while her teeth sank down into her bottom lip.

She watched Chris move ahead and walk a few paces in front of them, making a beeline for Hen who was stood at the emergency room doors. Clearly waiting for Evan and wondering where he had got to. She grinned when she saw Chris and waited for him to run along to her while Evan hung back and walked beside (Y/n).

He dared to reach his hand out and move his palm back to (Y/n)'s lower back as they walked slowly towards the door.

"So, how long are you in town for? Eddie didn't mention you'd come over."

"I'm hoping to stay here, make a fresh start. I was a bit lonesome back home, and I missed the boys."

Eddie had told her she could stay with him and Chris for as long as she liked, and he was already helping her look for a place of her own close by. (Y/n) wanted to be as close to her brother and nephew as she could. Now she was here, she could babysit Chris when Eddie was at work so it all didn't fall on Carla or a sitter. She could start taking Chris out like she used to back in Texas and she could be close to Eddie and not feel homesick that he had gone and left her back home.

"Really? Well, you'll have to let me show you round sometime."

His words sparked a flurry of adrenaline coursing through (Y/n)'s stomach and she found herself smiling. She almost missed the feeling of Evan's hand on her lower back when they walked out the door just as Eddie hopped down from the truck. A panicked look on his face as he approached them to find out what was going on.

***

"Oh, hi Buck." (Y/n) leaned her forehead against the door and tried not to smile too brightly when she noticed who was at the door.

Her eyes dragged over his frame, up and down and back up again as if she were drinking him in with her eyes. He had a dark black button up shirt on that hugged his shoulders a little too snuggly and made his arms tense and strain whenever he flexed them. Each pearl white button stood out against the dark colour and looked like they were going to pop free from their seams if he inhaled too sharply.

He had his hands clasped tightly behind his back and one arm was leant up against the doorframe. His lips curved up into a smile and (Y/n) noticed the way they did a quick sweep up and down, the same as she had done to him.

"You've just missed Eddie, he's taken Chris shopping." She moved to the side and opened the door a little more, silently inviting Evan inside. Although she wasn't sure whether he would want to come in now he knew it was just her here.

"Ah, shame… but I was actually here to see you."

"Me?" (Y/n)'s hand tightened around the door handle and she shut the door behind Evan when he gingerly stepped inside.

"Is that so surprising?" Evan let his eyes commit the look of (Y/n) to memory while he followed after her into the kitchen. When she silently pointed towards the kettle, he nodded and moved towards the kitchen counter. He leaned his forearms down on the frozen countertop and folded them while his chest arched over and one leg crossed over the other.

"A little."

"So, how's my wife? Is your hand any better?"

The cheesy smile on Evan's face made (Y/n)'s stomach flip and she almost dropped the jaw of coffee she brought down from the cupboard. She turned away from looking over her shoulder and tried to focus on pouring the hot water into two cups.

When she placed one cup down in front of Evan, she stayed stood close enough that she could feel his elbow brushing her side.

He turned to face her, leaning his weight on his right elbow on the counter and his left hand reached out to take (Y/n)'s wrist. Her eyes danced across his hand that was no longer covered in soot and dirt and marvelled at his hand hand engulfed her own. His touch was careful and his thumb brushed across hers while he lifted their hands so he could further inspect it.

The swelling seemed to have gone down over the last few days and the stitches looked like they were holding. Her finger still looked like it had taken a bit of damage though and Evan wondered if she would get any feeling back or if she would lose use of her finger. There were over five stitches surrounding the base of her little finger.

"I'm sorry, about saying you were my husband… I just wanted to take Chris home." (Y/n) had seen Evan twice since meeting him at the hospital and each time he had made a little comment about calling her his wife.

It was only in jest, of course, but whenever he said it, (Y/n) felt like her heart was going to explode in her chest and the way he smiled at her sent her mind reeling.

"Ah, I didn't mind. It worked, didn't it?"

"So, what did you want to see me about?" (Y/n) cradled her cup in her good hand so it didn't burn into her stitches and bring about the swelling that had just started to go down.

Her eyes stayed focused on Evan who seemed to down half his coffee before he tried to look across at her. His lips stayed quirked up at one side in a lopsided smile and he looked down at his cup before he let their gazes interlock again.

"I wondered if you'd fancy going out this afternoon? I did say I'd show you around. And Eddie said you haven't left the house much since you got here."

Adrenaline blundered through (Y/n)'s blood, coursing all over her body and she took a deep breath. Why was he asking her? What was so special about her that Evan had decided he wanted to be around her?

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you want to show me around? There's nothing special about me, Buck. And you don't have to try and get me out and about, if Eddie's put you up to it."

Evan's brows rose and he pulled his lower lip between his teeth as he tried to think up a response. He wasn't here under Eddie's instruction. He hadn't even told Eddie he would stop by to talk to (Y/n) because Evan knew how that would go. Eddie might not take too kindly to Evan hanging around his little sister and trying to get her to go out on a date with him. Eddie was protective.

He didn't think he would have to give (Y/n) a reason why he wanted to take her out. No one had ever asked him that before. Of course he had his reasons, but he'd never had to explain them to anyone.

"Do you usually ask guys to explain why they wanna take you on a date?"

(Y/n) placed her cup down on the counter and started to drag her fingertip across the smooth marbel feature. He was asking her on a date. He wanted to take her out on a date. One of Eddie's colelagues- his best friend- was asking her out. None of Eddie's friends back home had ever been interested in (Y/n). They always hung around Sophia and clung to her like flies and she always brushed them away.

(Y/n) wasn't used to anyone paying her any attention. Joey had been the only guy interested in her and (Y/n) soon realised he wasn't the kind of guy she wanted to be around.

"I… I don't see why you'd wanna take me anywhere, that's all." She grimaced at how pathetic she sounded but her heart jolted in her chest when Evan's hand curled around hers.

"Because I think you're caring and funny and I can't seem to get you out my head. I'm willing to risk Eddie's wrath if you'll let me take you out. Please?"

He let go of his coffee cup and moved until he was standing back up to his full height. He liked the height advantage he had over her. Evan liked looking down at (Y/n) and having her have to tilt her head upwards so she could face him. He liked the way she fluttered her lashes at him and tried to bite the corner of her lip to dispell her smile and hide it from him.

Evan was starting to become infatuated with (Y/n). Whenever he bumped into her or came round to see Eddie and she was here, he felt like a magnet that was drawn to her and he wasn't sure why. But he was willing to learn why he felt this magnetic pull towards her and he would risk Eddie's anger when he found out.

"I don't have the best track record with dates or dating… I moved out here to get away from my ex."

"Me neither. But I won't hurt you or frighten you away, I can promise you that." Evan took a leap of faith and moved his hand to hold her hip while his other hand carefully cupped the bottom of her chin and tilted her head when she tried to look down at her feet.

He didn't have a good dating history, all the girls he fell for seemed to leave him when he needed them the most or they took him for granted or played him like a guitar. But Evan wasn't the kind of person who would purposely try and hurt (Y/n). He wouldn't push her or hurt her enough to make her move thousands of miles away to be free of him. Everyone could vouch for that.

"Well, I guess you've already won my brother over, and Chris loves you." (Y/n) let her smile beam on her face as she looked up at him.

She wouldn't have to worry about what her big brother would think of her partner if she went ahead on a date with Evan. Eddie thought the world of Evan and Chris loved him too. That went in their favour and that spoke volumes about Evan. (Y/n) didn't have to worry about the kind of man he was, she had heard how amazing and brilliant and sweet he was from Chris and Eddie every time they spoke.

"Does this mean I can take you out?"

His lips hovered so close (Y/n) could smell and just about taste the coffee on them without touching him. She danced her eyes across his ruby red lips before she looked back up at his eyes that drew her in and consumed her whole.

"Well, it would be rude not to take your wife out, wouldn't it?"

She could see stars dancing behind her eyes when Evan leaned down and kissed her. She could feel the sparks flooding from his lips into hers and her skin ignited when his thumb and finger pressed harder into her chin and his other hand curved round from her hip to cradle her lower back. He used his arm like a rope and pulled her closer until her front was meshed up into his chest and her hands moved to rest on his broad shoulders to steady herself.

Maybe moving down here had been a good idea after all.

[lonelystarrs]

Worth It

Gojo Satoru x FemReader

Warnings: 18+ MDNI + smut + cum play + fluff if you squint

Can be read as a stand alone, but is part of my him & I fic

He thought it was all bullshit when they said sex is better with someone you love, and quite frankly he didn’t realise it was love until it all pieced together.

He chased you for years, he didn’t think finally having you would make him want you more, make him realise that yeah, he was damn well serious about you. He knew you were different for him, but not like this.

That ethereal glow of sunrise on your skin, how your eyes glistened like that, fuck it was unforgettable, it was unforgivable how it was burned into his memory.

Your back arched, his hands smoothed up your stomach, between your tits and curled around your neck. His thighs tucked under your ass lifting you off the bed, legs over his hips and he sat straight on his knees. His cock was buried so deep in you he was convinced it hurt, but you were singing for him and he kept answering like some fool of a drunken sailor to a sirens call.

Your eyes not leaving his, that fieriness in you refusing to die down even if you were starting to shake and he realised it all made sense, his heart was hammering against his lungs so hard his ribs vibrated, his breath stolen from him by the simple sight of you like this.

His hips met yours again in short hard punches, never leaving you enough to see much of his dick, how you were spread out under him left him with a view of it all.

Your tits bouncing with each jolt, looking up at him with glassy eyes; a view he’d been damn dreaming of the last few years. The plap, plap, plap of your skin meeting, wet balls hitting your ass and you felt so fucking good he started wondering if he was dreaming.

You looked stunning like this.

You’d both been at it most the night, like it was making up for the years of tension, of him chasing and he didn’t even realise it was sunrise until he noticed it dancing on your skin.

It was sloppy, a damn mess as his loads still filled you, still leaking from you. Your own cum and slick mixed with it, such a milky concoction that coated your cunt and inner thighs.

He wasn’t any tidier himself, own thighs, stomach and dick to balls where dripping but he couldn’t stop. Each time his skin met yours it all linked in sticky threads from skin to skin from the mess, barely breaking them because he refused to distance his hips too far from you. Those long hard strokes long gone, favouring the short, hard punches at this point.

You just kept damn taking him like his 8 inch dick was made for you.

“Damn, fuck baby you take me so fucking well, you feelin’ how deep I am? Gotta be hurting huh?”

“N-No,”

“No? So how does it feel?”

“S’g-good, you f-feeling fucking g-good

He chuckled at your stuttering, his punchy thrusts with his hips not allowing you to speak clearly.

“Yeah? Still think I’m not worth it? Sure looks like I am, you’re a mess down here.”

You moaned under him like something unholy, your hands grabbing at his wrists as you tensed, legs wrapping around him best you could at this angle.

“T-There Satoru, fuck harder! Harder, there, fuck there don’t stop!”

“Calm down,” he gave an airy laugh, half folding over you so he could look down on you, white hair stuck to his skin, sweat beading down his body because you were actually making him work for this, taking him better than anyone he’d been with before, “-you gonna give me another? Damn, baby she’s choking my dick, she’s so greedy.”

Your head rolled back and he tutted, “-nuh-uh! Look at me else I’ll pull out.”

A childish smirk flew across his mouth with how fast you looked at him, like a doe in headlights as you danced just over the edge he was willing to push you over.

“Good girl, guess I can let you cum again-“

[ohmyeyesmyeyes]

change my mind - ln4

summary: inspired by 1D's song of the same title - are we friends or are we more?

warnings: f!reader, hints at anxiety and insomnia, that vegas crash, angst, miscommunication (it gets solved dw), swearing, maybe a little bit of awkwardness, fluff. also feel like it drops off towards the end so i might have to come back and edit it at some point

word count: 9.7k

Since the crash it felt as though you’d been holding your breath. Right from when the camera on the straight seemed to jolt from an unexpected impact; on the way to the medical centre; in the car to the hospital. In fact, it only felt like you’d released that breath when Lando had given you the key to his hotel room and you’d shut it behind you.

Then, and only then, it felt like you could breathe.

Your head thudded against the door, the view of The Strip visible even from where you were stood – the neon lights were difficult to miss in the night, even more so when the entire room was still shrouded in darkness. You inhaled through your nose, ensuring to fill your lungs with some much needed air, before breathing it out through your mouth.

Your heart was still racing, something squeezing in your chest, and the exhaustion seemed to blanket you in that very moment, your brain constantly replaying the sounds and the mangled sight of his car. It seemed intent, however, on showing you flickers of his face as he’d climbed out of the Medical Car, trying not to wince at the ache in his bones as his Dad pressed him into a hug or as any part of him made contact with the hospital bed. 

In all honesty, you didn’t think you’d ever been so anxious before. Those paralysing seconds where the only thing heard on the radio was static just seemed to have occurred so long ago, but that one moment seemed to cement the dread poured into your chest from then on.

Until now, until he’d given you the key to his room, until your eyes seemed to find all the McLaren paraphernalia and kit thrown carelessly over the back of chairs, on hooks, folded neatly inside a suitcase. Then all of the tension you’d harboured, not wanting to overstep or interrupt the medical exams just to ask him if he was okay, to hold his hand – you weren’t even sure if the latter was for his sake or yours.

You sighed, pushing yourself off the door and flicking on the lights. The mess was even worse in the light, and it wasn’t just limited to McLaren merch – there were undies and socks (it was unclear if they were clean, and you weren’t about to figure that out) scattered about, random pairings of t-shirts and joggers near the open suitcase, but not in it.

You rolled your eyes, putting your bag on the desk, and reaching for the TV remote to switch on the F1 TV channel as background noise. You didn’t really know why he’d given you his key, but you supposed it could have had something to do with the look on your face, or how your hands had been a little shaky, or how you’d barely spoken a word to him – not for lack of him trying or anything: Lando had actively tried to ask you questions, but with all the medical staff and McLaren members surrounding him, that task had been a little difficult.

And the first thing that had sprung to mind when you’d stepped into the lift up to his room was to run him a bath because after that rather bruising session, it was probably the best soother, but now that you’d been faced with this absolute calamity (you’d seen teenage boys’ rooms tidier than this), you weren’t entirely sure how you could not at least help him pack – to an extent. 

Clearing the space off the floors and making sure he slept in a bed not made out of his own clothes was a start.

You shrugged off your jacket and hung it on the back of the door before stepping over some clothes and opening the bathroom door. You’d prepared to be met with more remnants of a burgled wardrobe, but contrary to the living space, there was nothing in the bathroom except a Spider-Man wash bag – potions and lotions neatly stacked inside. 

There were some bottles in the corner shelf in the tub, the hotel logo branded on the front, and after running the tap until the water started to get warmer, you put in the plug and poured in some foam before returning back to the living space.

Your eyes immediately seemed to zip to the TV above the desk, Ted Kravitz wandering down the paddock talking to someone holding a framed photo of…Valterri’s bum. You blinked, automatically moving to the kettle and flicking the switch on.

Coffee was a must for you to stay awake longer.

And it was then that you started to pick up some clothing off his floor, collating the articles on top of his bed and you’d made it through three quarters of the entire pile when the buzzer for the lock on the door went off. 

It was Lando. Decked in a jacket definitely not his own, with the way it seemed to dwarf him: the sleeves had been haphazardly pushed up his forearms, probably to make use of his hands, and the body of the jacket hung past his hips. 

When he turned to face the room after locking the door behind him, his eyes seemed to stick first on the empty floor before trailing to you, something soft. He had bags under his eyes, and you could tell he’d been wearing headphones in the meeting because his hair had flattened slightly in the middle.

You didn’t move from where you’d sat, but from the unreadable expression on his face and the way he seemed to hesitate, it had you questioning whether he’d intended for you to still be in his room when he came back – but then he wouldn’t have given you the key, surely?

His lips twitched, and that second-guessing seemed to vanish completely at his lame attempt to smile for you – even though it was clearly forced with the entire whirlwind of the entire race, but there was a hint of authenticity because of the softness in his eyes, and without even meaning to, you felt a smile begin to creep on your own face.

At that, he seemed to gain movement in his legs, and made his way to the desk, head snapping up to the TV for a brief second, before shedding the jacket and putting his key down.

It was his sluggish movements that seemed to have that knot of anxiety punching its way through your stomach once more (it had dwindled somewhat when he’d walked through the door), and you inhaled somewhat sharply, “Are you okay?”

It was the first word you’d spoken out loud, and the roughness of your voice seemed to shock both of you, because you blinked, and he spun on his heel, eyebrows raising. You felt yourself wince, and you swallowed out of instinct–

“Just a bit achy–Can you stand up a second, I just–” He sighed, cutting himself off and stepping forwards.

You furrowed your brows, placing the shirt in your hands on the bed, and doing as he said, and it was barely a second when–

Oh.

He’d almost instantly tugged you into him, his arms settling across your shoulders,  his chin tucked against your temple. He was warm and soft, even despite the hard ridges you knew existed under his fireproof shirt. Something felt off, though, and it was with a hurried hum that you realised you hadn’t reciprocated it.

It was a bit of a shock, being hugged by Lando so tightly, so close. Even more so because neither of you had ever really touched before; there’d been the odd shoulder brush when you’d been standing next to each other, the odd purposeful hand touch when one of you had slapped the other’s out of the way – but it had never been this: his chin touching your temple and his hands strong across your back and shoulders, pulling you as close to him as he could manage.

And then you seemed to regain sense in your arms because you automatically seemed to reach one arm across his back and the other slung across his waist, head tilting a little upwards to somewhat nestle itself into the crook of his neck.

If you were being honest, hugs weren’t usually your kind of thing, but you could tolerate (a tad of an understatement) it from Lando, even in his post-three-lap-stint and slight stench of sweat. 

You stayed like that for a while, the knot in your chest easing gradually now you’d got your hands on him, and by the time he spoke up, disrupting the peace that you’d managed to find, you felt like you had to blink yourself awake, “Feel better now. I’m sorry I ruined your first race.” He mumbled, stomach tensing as he spoke.

You took a moment, “You didn’t ruin it–”

“I did.”

You pulled yourself away from him, but almost like he’d practised it, his hands clasped onto yours, preventing you from moving too far away, and he brought them up to around shoulder height between you both, his fingers twiddling with yours to distract himself, “Well, then, I forgive you.” You shrugged.

His hands were slightly rough to touch, and a little colder than yours, and you tried not to let the absentminded way he was playing with your hands cloud your brain because it was distracting, especially with the way his thumb seemed intent on stroking repetitive patterns across the back of your hand. Not to mention the way his eyes seemed to flit between your mouth and your eyes, as though he wanted to watch you speak and commit it to his memory, as you spoke.

It sent your blood thrumming a little.

He nodded slowly, as though he was digesting your words, but he took too long to say something else so you said the other thing that had been on the tip of your tongue, “I’d have lost interest in it anyway, ‘cos you weren’t driving.”

He smirked at that, “No you wouldn’t have.”

He was right – to an extent. The only positive about the Vegas track was that the drivers were racing in the Championship and sport you’d been following closely for years. But other than the investment in the championship, that was about where your interest in that specific race ended – with Lando’s crash. 

“Well, I’d have rather gone with you than sit in your garage without you on-site.” You admitted, honesty dripping from every word, “Especially because I probably wouldn’t have known if you were okay if I stayed.”

He swallowed, your eyes unconsciously watching his throat bob, “How come?”

You pulled your joined hands down, shrugging and avoiding eye contact in order to actually gain the courage to say what had immediately come to mind. 

Why was it so difficult for you to actually say what you felt? God forbid you actually want to let him know what he meant.

“You’re important and I care about you.” You rushed out, chewing the inside of your cheek nervously. 

When he didn’t say anything you pulled your hands out of his and were about to change the entire conversation back to the bath you’d run him when his eyes crinkled out of the corner of your eyes. He had one of those cheeky smiles on his face, like he was aware he probably shouldn’t have been smiling like that at that moment in time, but thinking that only seemed to make him worse. And when you fully turned to look at him again, you were struck with the thought that you’d never known anyone to smile with their entire being like Lando Norris seemed to do unfailingly and everyday.

His happiness was just so infectious that it was part of the reason you liked him so much – but it also made you want to…protect it, you guessed. And when he stopped smiling earlier, after you’d been told to meet him in the medical centre, the world seemed to shake, because he was very rarely ever smiling.

He didn���t stop smiling, even when you looked straight at him, not impressed with his silence in the slightest and huffing to let him know.

“What?” You asked, one eyebrow raised and slightly self-conscious of what you were doing and wearing and what you probably looked like after the day you’d had.

He shrugged, shaking his head, smile never drooping one bit, “You care about me.” 

It wasn’t a question, more so a statement of shock – repetition to drill it into his head.

You nodded, swallowing, slightly embarrassed at having to say it again, “Yeah.”

He nodded this time, pushing himself onto his tiptoes for a second, “I care about you too. You’re important to me.”

You won’t deny that your heart did a little skip at his words, or that your cheeks threatened to blossom with heat, or that hearing him say those words to you didn’t send your pulse spiralling a little out of control.

It was an unfamiliar feeling, being this vulnerable to someone not related to you. It was weird, but because of who it was and because of the circumstances, it felt oddly right.

“That’s nice.” You muttered, crossing your arms and avoiding looking at him.

You didn’t know what to do with yourself. It wasn’t as though he’d confessed his undying love for you or anything, but it was nice to hear. You knew where you stood with him.

“It is.” He agreed.

There was a beat of silence, and you took the liberty of changing the subject before it could get too awkward too quickly, “I ran you a hot bath, by the way. It felt like the right thing to do after….”

“Thank you.” His tone was a little sombre, but still every bit sincere. A cloud seemed to hang over the both of you for a second, “Sorry I didn’t get to talk to you when everything went–”

“You don’t have to keep apologising.” You breathed, sitting back down on the edge of the bed and resuming some folding to give yourself something to do.

“But I do–”

“Shut the fuck up.” You laughed a little, immediately dropping your expression to correct yourself, “With respect.”

Lando smiled a little at that, “If you insist, but–” You groaned, rolling your eyes, “I just want to check in and make sure I didn’t scare you, y’know, would you still come to another race?”

You blinked, “Course I would.” 

There wasn’t really a doubt about it. The scare of the day had worn off in the span of your conversation, it was just that period of not knowing, and the fact that a TV screen didn’t do the cars justice in the speed. They went so much faster than you initially expected.

“Good.” Then, “Are you okay, though?”

“Yeah, it was just a lot, that’s all. Like, the impact, the broken car, then you were talking about everything that hurt but somehow you weren’t injured? I don’t know.” You sighed in resignation, “Do you ever get scared in the car?”

He seemed to think about it for a moment, “The day I get scared is the day I stop driving. Fear in the car makes you crazy.”

“What about when you lose control and you know you’re gonna crash out?”

You watched him closely as his throat bobbed and he slowly stepped over to the bathroom doorframe, leaning against it to look at you thoughtfully, “There’s definitely a moment where my heart sort of skips a beat, kind of like when you miss a step on the stairs, but the adrenalin doesn’t really let me get scared at that moment. It’s scary when I watch it back and realise if I’d have been a metre or so closer I might not be here. But I don’t like thinking about it if it doesn’t happen.”

You paused the folding, “When you said your heart does that skip, can you think or is your mind just blank?”

“Blank. It happens so fast. I know I have to move my hands, though, but I think that’s partly just instinct driven into us from when we were kids. I don’t really have to think about that, but–” He pulled a face, running a hand over his chest and huffing a laugh, “If it’s fast I’m thinking ‘fuck, this is gonna hurt’.”

That made you laugh.

Then he looked over his shoulder and you stood up, taking the hint.

“Wai–What’re you doing?” He stood up straight, watching as you made your way over to the desk to pick up your bag.

You pulled a face, pointing to the door, “I’m gonna go, and you’re gonna have a bath.”

“No.” He shook his head defiantly, walking over to you with a frown on his face.

You blinked, “Yes.”

“No.”

“I didn’t realise that when bathtime was mentioned that you’d stomp your foot and pout at me.” You smothered a smile behind your hand, eyes sparkling with amusement as Lando went to defend himself, only to realise that he had in fact reverted to pouting (as far as an adult man could when sulking).

“No.” He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose, “I thought you might stay over tonight?”

You froze. Then promptly unfroze, “Why?”

“For a sleepover, I don’t know.” He shrugged.

“I don’t think—” You halted, taking in the way his face seemed to fall slightly, “Do you want me to stay?”

You didn’t not want to. You’d admit that much to yourself. The idea of sharing a bed with someone you trusted platonically and had a crush on was about as appealing as the guaranteed night of uninterrupted sleep (that didn’t run the risk of being crushed, someone breathing heavily in your ear, or someone talking in their sleep). 

The corner of his mouth twitched as he tilted his head, “I’d like for you to stay, but I want you to say you want to stay because you want to, not just because I want you to and you feel obligated to stay.”

You took another step forward, about to say yes, before he interrupted again.

“Um–” His voice was slightly high in pitch, a sure sign that he’d begun to panic slightly, but before you let him succumb to (clear) disappointment (it did wonders for your ego) and potentially embarrass himself, you cut over him.

“I’m gonna go get my PJ’s–” he grinned, “and then I’ll come back here–” began taking off the legs of his racing suit, “for a sleepover, or whatever, sound good?”

“Sounds incredible, darling.” He winked, throwing you a charming smirk that had you standing in the doorway (for longer than what was probably deemed appropriate to gather yourself), and he turned into the bathroom, disappearing from sight. 

***

Walking back into Lando’s room with wet hair, a clean face, the PJ’s you’d packed (not expecting a sleepover), your current book, and a hotel robe, all felt very intimate. It might have had something to do with the fact that you knew he’d also be freshly washed with wet hair and wearing his PJ’s and in bed — waiting for you.

And when you rounded the corner after buzzing yourself in, Lando was sitting against the headboard, one arm slung over the top of his head and his other hand clutching his phone. He must have been anticipating your arrival if the way he threw his phone further down the covers was any indication, and the way he smiled at you, dimples on show and everything, had you turning to avoid looking at him and hanging the robe over the back of the bathroom door.

The boy is too cute.

“Fancy seeing you here.” He grinned, unconsciously rubbing a palm down his arm and still maintaining a mischievous smile. 

“It’s almost like we planned it.” You threw over your shoulder before climbing onto the bed.

He breathed a laugh, “Almost. Cute PJ’s, by the way.” He trailed his eyes meaningfully down your figure as you threw the duvet over yourself, getting comfy.

You’d not packed sexy PJ’s by any means. In fact, you hardly owned a proper pair of pyjamas, and rather just threw on a random t-shirt with whatever bottoms were comfiest and warmest, hence the fact you’d packed a pair of faux-boxer shorts and were wearing a Quadrant Bleach tee that Ria had given you a while ago.

“Rumour has it you couldn’t decide what merch to give me so Ria took it into her own hands.” You gestured to your shirt, smiling rather pointedly in his direction. He squirmed a little, and it was then, as he curled in on himself slightly, that the duvet fell around his torso from where it had been pulled right up to his chin to keep a draught out. 

He was fucking shirtless. And when that seemed to register in your head and through your eyes, you were squirming. His pecs, bronze skin and moles were on view and you suddenly had no clue how to act.

Luckily for you, Lando seemed to have the same problem for whatever reason.

“Yeah. I had one of pretty much everything lined up for you, but it wouldn’t have been ‘financially viable’ apparently.”

Oh. You felt your brows shoot up in pleasant surprise.

“I didn’t know that.” 

“That was the point.” Lando said, rather self-deprecating, “It looks good on you, though.”

A ‘thank you’ was on the tip of your tongue, but before it could slip out, your brain seemed to take on another direction, one much bolder than what was characteristic of you, “I don’t know, I think LN4 stuff’d look nicer.”

It shocked him as much as it shocked you — that much you could tell by the way that his eyebrows seemed to disappear under the damp curls that had hung across his forehead from where he’d clearly initially combed them backwards. His mouth seemed to drop a little, and his cheeks reddened.

But you barely had time to school your own face into one of confidence to fully own what you just said before he was spurting words out himself.

“Wanna test that theory?” 

And he was climbing out of bed before you could even utter a word of protest.

You’d never been so thankful that he didn’t have eyes at the back of his head because when he took a step away from the bed, clad in nothing but black boxer briefs that clung almost maddeningly to his thighs, you practically had a heart attack. It was hard to rip your eyes away, if you were being honest.

But the very second he turned back to face you, throwing a long-sleeved tee in your direction, you somehow managed to look at him without even a smidge of blush on your face or without wearing an expression that assembled one of sheer awe.

Then you blinked and the t-shirt was hitting you in the face. It was a black 100 Race one.

A new one.

And because it hit you in the face the first thing you noticed was the smell. Now, Lando Norris was not a smelly person, at all. In fact, that t-shirt smelled so unfairly divine that you wanted to eat it. Melt it into a smoothie and drink it. In a normal way.

You had it in your hands and were looking pointedly at Lando for about seven seconds until he got the hint to turn around and close his eyes.

In return for his previous goodwill, you threw the Quadrant shirt at his back and climbed out of bed to assess it in the mirror. It was a slightly smaller fit than the other t-shirt, so it didn’t hang past your hips, or over your hands like you’d expected.

Oddly enough, it was almost a perfect fit.

Lando walked into the background of the mirror, catching your eye as he nodded appreciatively.

“Better than Bleach?” You asked, pushing the sleeves up to your elbow before climbing back under the covers.

His answer was him folding the Bleach t-shirt neatly and placing it on the desk.

“Way better.” 

There wasn’t anything said for a while after that. Lando got back under the covers, snuggling down into his pillow and browsing through his phone, while you opened your book and kept your bedside light on to read for a while.

Until Lando seemingly couldn’t take the silence and turned his phone off, rolling towards the middle of the bed on his front and looking up at you.

He was content on letting you read for a while, eyes fluttering shut every now and again as though he was trying to fight sleep, when he muttered something under his breath.

“Sorry?” You bent your head, finishing reading the sentence before turning to see him blinking slowly, lashes kissing his cheeks as he rested his face against his elbow.

“Do you read every night?” He repeated, not in the least bit offended you weren’t paying him attention.

You hummed, nodding, slouching further into the mattress.

“How come?” He asked, fingers stretching to gently twiddle a small section of your hair before dropping it.

“I have trouble sleeping sometimes, and reading helps.”

“How?”

You shrugged, “It gets my brain to shut up.”

“Does anything else help?” He mumbled, eyebrow twitching.

You wanted to say yes. That some other things could help, but for one, you didn’t have the results to back up that claim, and two, you weren’t about to suggest trying it to Lando.

“I don’t think so.” 

Lando hummed and didn’t say anything else, giving you the opportunity to switch off your bedside lamp, shrouding the whole room in darkness. Despite the coolness of the Vegas nights, the heat of another body under a duvet was enough to send your skin tingling with goosebumps and bury yourself deeper under the covers.

A gentle tugging on your hair once you’d settled was what had your eyes opening.

You hadn’t really been trying to sleep, per se, but Lando hadn’t so much as moved a muscle since you’d switched off the light, and his silence had you assuming he’d been trying to sleep, at least until his fingers had delicately begun twisting your damp hair.

If you hadn’t found it so shocking, it would have been soothing.

It took a while for your eyes to adjust, but once they did, all you could make out was the faint outline of Lando’s head and the gleam of his eyes from the light from The Strip.

Your eyes immediately scrunched shut, unable to tell if he thought you were asleep.

Then—“pretty” he breathed, your heart stuttering wildly in your chest.

He thought you were sleeping.

And he stopped twirling your hair, nestling his cheek into the pillow.

***

You woke up early and with Lando’s arm slung lazily across your waist, one of his legs stuck across yours. You froze momentarily, not having any recollection of exactly when you’d both ended up with him half draped over you, but considering you couldn’t remember much after hearing his whisper, you assumed you must have just gone right to sleep.

Which meant this happened in the night.

You tilted your head fractionally, eyes slipping over to where Lando was now on his stomach, cheek squished right into the pillow and a crease between his brows. 

And then that short moment was interrupted by something uncomfortably occurring in your chest.

Your free hand (the other was sandwiched between your hip and Lando’s, nicely toasty of you did say so yourself) blindly reached for your bedside table, scrabbling at an uncomfortable angle until you found your phone. It took a while to manage to slide it across the wood for you to pick it up, and you groaned at the time displayed on the screen.

08:31.

You didn’t need to leave for the airport for another twelve hours, and had already mostly packed in your room. The only issue apart from your current predicament was the rumbling of your stomach, prompting some encouragement to get out of bed.

Which you absolutely did not want to do.

It was warm and you were being cuddled by a sleepy Lando, you weren’t about to risk waking him up. Even though it was your first race, you knew how exhausted he usually was the day after.

So you opted for scrolling on your phone, not before removing your hand from between you both and instead using it to hold the forearm he’d thrown over your waist.

The hotel corridors started to get a little noisier, doors shutting and opening, footsteps thumping, at around half nine/ten o’clock.

It must have been the neighbouring slam of the door that had Lando jolting awake — jumping as though he’d been thrown down the stairs in a dream. You stifled a laugh, trying not to smile at his rapid blinking, until his eyes settled on you, brows accusatory when he realised you were on the brink of laughing at him.

He groaned, slamming his face back onto the pillow and yawning, his arm briefly tensing as he stretched.

“How long have you been awake?” He mumbled, tilting his head so as to not muffle his words against the pillow.

“About an hour.” 

He frowned, removing his arm from your hold and flipping himself onto his back, yawning, “How come you didn’t wake me up?”

You blinked, “Because it was half eight and you were asleep.”

He nodded, scratching the back of his head, “You hungry?”

“Yeah. You want to get breakfast downstairs, or–”

“Room service is good with me.” 

Lando turned to hide his smile as he reached for the phone. Selfishly he wanted to stay in bed longer – the outside world was chilly – and there was the added bonus that you were there. Obviously he’d want more time with just the two of you, because outside this room, you guys barely got time for a conversation without being interrupted.

That was excluding the scheduled takeaways you both had every time he was back in town (it had started out as a joke because you were both so busy and no one seemed to be able to decide on specific dates, so you’d taken it into your own hands and…here you were), and he suspected that was when the more serious feelings started.

So, no, he’d rather not go downstairs where other people would interrupt and he’d barely get to talk to you.

“D’you know what you–What’re you doing?” He furrowed his brows,, about to hand you the menu when he stopped short of everything and watched you wander over to the front of the room.

Out of bed. Wearing his shirt.

Looking fucking incredible.

And he was thinking he could probably get used to this.

But his brain was going haywire because he didn’t want you to leave.

You said nothing, which did virtually nothing to ease his sense of panic, until you held up the TV remote, running a tired hand through your hair before tiptoeing back to the bed and sliding back under the covers like you belonged there.

“No.” You hummed, taking the menu from him and simultaneously flicking through the TV guide for something to watch.

“Did you sleep okay last night?” He found himself asking, noting the still-sleepy look about you – but not necessarily the bad kind of sleepy. You looked well-rested with rosy cheeks and bright eyes.

Pretty.

“Yeah. It was cosy.” You flashed him a warm smile, eye contact brief before going back to the menu, “What about you?”

“I’ll probably just have pancakes–”

“No,” you breathed a laugh, “Did you sleep well?”

Oh. He could feel his cheeks redden at the mistake, and nodded. In truth, he didn’t think he’d ever slept so well, even despite being a small bundle of nerves from the mere knowledge that you’d actually changed your mind and said yes to a sleepover, and the fact that you were less than three feet away. That was ignoring when he’d woken up to find out you’d been awake for so long and not wanted to wake him up or move him from where he’d (rather sheepishly) managed to hug you in his sleep.

“Cosy.” Was all he said, taking the menu back from you, “What’ll it be for you?”

“Pancakes, too, please.” You grinned at him, turning back to the TV.

He nodded, numbly reaching for the phone on his bedside table and rattling off the order, making sure to add in a glasses of milk and orange juice to accompany it.

When he’d finished and turned back to the TV, to you, there was a question written on your face as you pointed to the TV.

The Hangover.

“When in Vegas, right?” You asked, raising a brow and awaiting his answer.

He’d seen that movie a million times, had even watched it on Thursday (he’d never tell you that), but there was something about the hope and excitement written on your face that had him nodding along, not wanting to disappoint you this early in the morning.

God, he felt so bad when he crashed yesterday. 

Not only had he ruined the race experience for you, but he’d worried you. You hadn’t even needed to say anything after the whole debacle (he hadn’t actually given you a real answer when you’d asked him why he wanted you to come with him to the hospital and whatever) for him to read it on your face. 

He’d had every intention of whispering reassurances and holding your hand or doing something to have you closer than the edges of a constant small crowd, but he’d been strapped down and people had been talking over each other, and he just hadn’t had the chance.

Until the car ride back to the paddock. Sure, Jon was sitting next to him, but he’d kindly and rather respectfully chosen to ring Zak and give him an update, and then Lando took that brief moment of opportunity to hold your hand. He didn’t say anything, but almost as soon as his hand had touched yours he felt better – lighter. And he noticed that the weight on your shoulders and the crease between your brow lessened.

He sighed wistfully, tuning back into the film, but it was barely five minutes later when there was a knock on the door.

Room service.

He stopped you from moving, taking it upon himself to answer the door (he couldn’t tell if he was imagining it or not, but he swore he could feel your eyes on him as he walked past the end of the bed).

He cracked the door open, eyes on the floor where he expected the tray to be, only to look down and see a pair of trainers that most definitely belonged to Max.

His eyes shot up, and he hid himself behind the door, careful of you back around the corner, but wanting to shield himself from any passerbyers in the corridor – a photo of him answering the door in nothing but his undies would be pretty embarrassing – and glared at his friend, confusion clearly evident on his face.

Max was grinning like a madman, trying and failing to sneak a look behind Lando, “So?” He whispered, and Lando felt himself already getting irritated at the clear insinuation of that one singular word.

“No.” He answered, closing his eyes briefly and resting his temple against the door.

Max was quiet, “No.” He repeated, an element of disbelief etched on his face.

“No.” Lando groaned quietly, “Is that all?”

“No.” Max hissed, “Why not?”

Lando felt himself shrug, “Didn’t come up.”

Max blinked, rather frustrated, “You were supposed to make it come up.”

“Well I didn’t.”

“Clearly.” Max folded his arms across his chest and Lando rolled his eyes, “How come you’re only wearing your boxers?”

Lando looked down, brows furrowing, “What’s wrong with boxers?”

“The lack of other clothes? You always wear PJ’s.” Lando watched as the penny dropped in Max’s head, his eyes widening and his mouth forming an ‘o’ shape. Then he frowned, “Show off.”

Lando shook his head, “And what about it? I just wanted to be sure.”

“And are you?”

Lando chose not to say anything, just threw a cautious look behind his shoulder – one which prompted Max to jump to his reassurances.

“She does, okay?” He whispered softly, a pitiful look on his face, “I know that because of the way she looks at you when you’re not looking. She cares about you, man.” There was a pause, and Lando was too nervous to even look straight at Max, so he chose to focus on a spot above his head, completely missing the way Max hesitated, “She told P.”

Lando felt his neck practically snap to look at Max, nervousness completely abolished. His heart started thrumming with anticipation and the only thing he was capable of doing was staring so hard at Max the man’s skin prickled, “What?” Lando breathed, hoping he hadn’t just heard things in a mad craze.

Max screwed his eyes shut, shaking his head, “I shouldn’t be telling you this–”

“I don’t know if you’ve noticed, Hagrid, but the situation is kinda dire here.” Lando cut in.

Max rolled his eyes, “Yeah, it’s kinda hard not to notice you’re a fucking chicken.”

“I’m on the brink of an anxiety attack.” 

“Get a grip.” Max glared, half wanting to smack some sense into Lando and the other half wanting to laugh at the petrified look on his face.

“I can’t.” Lando threw the door open a little further out of frustration, hands going to grip Max’s shoulders in desperation.

Max breathed. He blinked. And then Lando thought he made an expression that looked as though he’d just suffered the most painful bout of trapped gas, “Don’t tell anyone–”

“Oh, thank fuck.”

“But P told me that they had a girls night with Ria, and they got to talking about guys, and P asked her if she had her eye on anyone and she got all blushy–”

“Get on with it.” Lando clenched his jaw, eyes darting down the corridor.

“I’m getting to it. Can she hear us? Actually, it doesn’t matter – but she got blushy and quiet and it turns out she’s liked you since we all went out for dinner the day after Silverstone, y’know, because she couldn’t go to the race, and you guys sat next to each other and she just liked you.” 

(You could hear every word of what was being said.)

Lando felt his lips part in shock. Silverstone was towards the start of the season and there was one race left of the season.

July, August, September, October, November. You’d liked him for five months and hidden it from him that well? Since July? You guys could have been together-together since July? 

Lando could feel his brain start to explode. His thoughts were getting louder–since July?–and Max’s face wasn’t doing anything to help it. If anything his big eyes were making it worse. 

“Yeah, I know, it’s hard to believe.” Max muttered, and it seemed to snap Lando out of his shock-induced reverie.

“Oi.” Lando defended, “Did she say what made her like me?” He slowly took his hands off his friends shoulders.

Max nodded, “You talked to her the whole night. You were kind, funny, endearing, cute, nice to the waiter. Apparently she felt kind of bad you didn’t talk much to anyone else–”

“I didn’t talk to anyone else because I really liked her already.” Lando whispered, trying not to smile.

Max smirked, “Well, you need to tell her that, not me.”

Lando nodded, “Yeah. Bye.” And shut the door in Max’s face, taking a second to breathe and plant a small, non-suspicious-granting smile on his face before bounding around the corner to his side of the bed, flashing you a wider grin as he threw himself on the bed.

You swallowed, anxiety twirling in your stomach. You knew that telling P that stuff was likely to get back to Max, and then there was a chance that Max had told Lando – but you were shocked to find that Max had just chosen to hold onto that information out of loyalty to you. It warmed you, knowing you’d got a friend in Max, but it was also a little frustrating because you’d specifically been counting on P telling Max telling Lando. Maybe put a few feelers out.

And there was nothing reported back, so you just assumed Lando didn’t like you like that.

But he apparently did?

It was a tough thing to accept (a good thing to accept, you guessed), but not at all what you expected. You’d been planning for heartbreak (not that you'd planned to tell him), but now within the span of a two minute conversation, you had liberty to not expect disappointment.

And that was a little intimidating.

But Lando hadn’t stopped smiling since he’d put himself back on the bed, not bothering to get back under the covers considering it had been Max at the door, not room service–

“Who was it?” You asked, wanting to keep up the pretence of not having heard every word of their private conversation.

Lando hummed, one arm draped over his hair as he ripped his eyes away from the screen, “Sorry?”

He was looking at your mouth when you spoke, “Who was at the door?” 

Then his eyes zipped to yours, “Just Max, he wanted to know if we were having breakfast downstairs. Sent him on his way.”

You nodded.

You could mention what you just heard, ask him if he remembered the dinner out. No, not subtle enough. He’d clock onto it immediately.

But you couldn’t just not say something.

Your hands darted out to fiddle with the edge of the duvet, where it was tucked around your torso. You weren’t even paying attention to the film anymore. You don’t know how long you let your mind run rings around your anxiety, but it was Lando’s hand creeping closer towards yours out of the corner of your eyes that had your head quietening. You watched him push his hand across the covers until it got within a centimetre of yours.

You could feel the warmth from his hand radiating on your skin, and his hesitation was clearly an opportunity for you to pull your hand away.

So you placed your palm on top of his upturned one. And he closed his fingers over your knuckles.

“You okay?” He asked softly.

You couldn’t look at him, but you could feel his concerned gaze burn against your cheek, “Yeah, just thinking.” You took a breath, looking up at him, “Do you ever wish we could have met earlier?”

He was nodding before you’d even finished talking, his entire face sincere in a way you didn’t think you’d ever seen, “All the time. I think meeting you earlier would have just made my life a lot easier.”

You tilted your head, squeezing his hand as you felt some colour rush to your cheeks, “What do you mean?”

He shrugged, “You make me feel calm, like, I look at you and I just feel better.”

He was looking at you like he was expecting you to say something back immediately, but your mind had gone blank. 

So blank.

And then you felt his hand slowly slipping from your grip, his shoulders moving back to the centre of the bed from he’d leaned across to hold your hand, and you squeezed his hand, not wanting him to move away. You just needed a second to gather your thoughts.

“I need t–”

A knock at the door sounded.

Lando’s eyes darted from you to the door, back and forth, clearly torn. It wasn’t exactly a secret that you were about to say something serious – something that would change the entire dynamic of your relationship – but the interruption…

And at the thought of cold food after your stomach had been growling for the past hour, you made the decision for him. You unlaced your hands, pushing yourself off the bed and opening the door before you could change your mind or look at his face.

Neither of you said anything for the rest of breakfast, and nothing but an awkward, tense silence seemed to envelope the room. 

The next time you saw him was when the group had decided to go for a last minute stroll, one of the stops being the shopping centre in the Venetian. Lando was walking with Max,;Ria with you behind them, and the rest of the group were trailing behind, occasionally laughing loudly. They were pretty raucous, and you and Ria were far enough behind Max and Lando that they couldn’t hear what you were talking about.

Ria had linked your arms, a mischievous twinkle in her eye as she pulled you closer after Lando had thrown another anxious glance over his shoulder to check on you, “Lando keeps checking you out.” She whispered.

You shook your head, momentarily biting the inside of your cheek, “He’s making sure I don’t run off.”

She frowned, looking back at Lando, who seemed to spin quickly after getting caught, “Why would you run off?”

You shrugged, trying not to think too much about it, “I overheard him and Max talking this morning about him liking me, and then Max told him about that night when we slept over at P’s place–”

“Yeah, because you wanted P to tell Max to tell Lando–” Ria nodded along.

“Exactly. Anyway, it turns out Max never told Lando, so since July, Lando’s been clueless about it all, and we had sort of a chat when he came back, and I was going to tell him–” Ria shot you a look, “I was, because if i didn’t tell him then, I never would’ve.” You groaned, “But then room service came and we haven’t talked since. But I think he knew I was going to say something, but–I don’t know.”

Ria seemed to think about it for a second, “He probably thinks you changed your mind.” She muttered.

You nodded, “I know, that’s the thing. I chickened out of telling him and then I thought he’d think I changed my mind, and then my brain seems to want to tell me that because he thinks I don’t like him anymore he won’t like me anymore, even though he’s not like that. At all. But now I can’t tell him because there’s people everywhere.”

Ria patted your arm, pulling out her phone, “Do you know what you’re gonna say to him?”

“No, I’m hoping it’ll come to me in the moment.” Even the thought of it sent a knot of anxiety plummeting in your stomach.

“Okay, this is what’s gonna happen: when we get to the shopping centre, everyone will want to go to the craziest shop they see first, okay? You say you want to get a drink first, and Max’ll get Lando to go with you.”

You nodded, “Okay.”

“I’ll text Max. You have to promise you’ll do it, though. Everyone needs to be put out of their misery.” 

You raised a sceptical brow, “Everyone?”

She nodded, “Neither of you are subtle.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

As it happened, Ria’s theory was right. About seven people made an immediate beeline for the nearest shop with lights in the front and an array of weird things in the window (in all honesty, you were too nervous to even pay attention to what it was, it could have just been any high street shop).

You turned to Ria, “I’m gonna go get a coffee, I’ll meet you back here?” 

She nodded, finding Max, who seemed to be on the lookout for her, and winked.

You took a deep breath, already beginning to walk away from the group. You’d all craned over a map on the way in so you knew vaguely which direction you were heading in, and when a hurried pair of footsteps jogged closer, your nerves seemed to only get worse. 

Then Lando stepped next to you, and oddly enough, the anxiety you’d been holding onto all morning seemed to evaporate. And then it seemed to come crashing back in when you actually took in the expression on his face. 

There was a slight downwards curve to his mouth, and his eyes were wide, brows furrowed. He looked a little frantic. And sad.

You wanted to drag your hand down his face and wipe it off.

In fact, you hated it so much that you stopped mid-step and grabbed his forearm without even thinking about it, “Is everything oka–”

“Are we still friends?” He breathed, eyes darting around your face.

You blinked, mouth parting at the loaded question. If you said yes you’d basically be rejecting him and that was the last thing you wanted to do; if you said no, you didn’t know what would happen. He could take it the wrong way and assume you didn’t want to be anything at all, but you were going to tell him – you had to, you promised Ria.

Even if it meant breaking his heart a little bit first, it’d have the best outcome.

You turned back around briefly, eyes scanning for a more private alcove, and dragged him to the nearest corridor, out of any possible stray eyes. It was a bit busy today, with the race last night–

You pushed him against the wall gently, hands wringing together. He slumped, clearly trying not to get too defeated by your silence after he’d spoken. But then his eyes dropped to your hands and he straightened, something unreadable on his face.

“I don’t want to still be friends.” You said, sighing and crossing your arms.

It was his turn to speak now. You seemed incapable of saying anything else at that moment.

He swallowed, brows furrowing. His face looked less despondent, so you took that as a win. He seemed to have been expecting you to say something like that (that was why he phrased the question in such a way!) because he pushed himself off the wall a little, “In what way?”

You rolled your eyes, “In an I like you way.”

“Romantically?” He took another step closer, a cheeky smile starting to curve at his mouth, and you said nothing at him.

Only this time it was of your own will.

He huffed a laugh, “I just need to hear you say it.”

“Romantically.” 

It felt like a relief getting those words off your chest to the person you needed to say them to.

He seemed to think so too, because he grinned. Wider than he had before – like he had done last night, when he’d smiled with his entire being. His eyes crinkled in that way you adored, and his smile seemed ot reach his ears, “Thank fuck.” He breathed.

Then that was all he said.

You raised your brow, “Dude.” You encouraged, gesturing to him to go on.

He pulled a face, “Don’t ‘dude’ me.”

“You haven’t given me a reason not to ‘dude’ you.”

“I like you too, dickhead.” He grumbled, “A little less than before you called me ‘dude’, though.”

“I’m liking you less by the second.” You stated, trying not to laugh at the situation, “Romantically?” You checked, echoing his earlier question and also mocking it slightly.

“Romantically.” He clarified. 

You both went silent, just drinking each other up in a way you hadn’t been able to five minutes ago. He looked gorgeous, as per usual. His hair was a little messier than it usually would be, probably a combination of the last-second plans and the fact that he wasn’t going to be showing his face on international TV. His face looked less restrained, like because he knew he didn’t have to hold back from looking at you everywhere, it was a weight lifted from his chest. His eyes were still smiling, glimmering a little, and his smile was softer – more secretive. His hands were flexing at his sides, as though he didn’t know what to do with them.

His hoodie hugged his shoulders, practically begging you to run your hands over them – but you didn’t. He looked snug, again, and before you could restrain yourself, you reached out and took one of his hands. His response was immediate, clasping his hand around yours and looking at you with a burning intensity. Only, you used your other hand to pull up his sleeve.

His forearm was tanned beautifully, veins completely visible. You’d never been allowed to just twist his arm around to your desire and simply look. You swallowed, tilting your head up to meet his eyes. His tongue darted out to wet his bottom lip and he caught it with his teeth. 

You nudged your head closer, his nose softly bumping against your cheek.

Blood seemed to pump through your veins even faster than it already was. You could feel where you’d both stepped into each other, where his legs were pressed against yours, where your hands were still gripping, your other hand slipping off his forearm.

You could feel his breath tickle your cheek and your eyes fluttered shut briefly before snapping open. He was still looking at you, and in that split second he used the leverage of your conjoined hands to pull you even closer. You stumbled a little into him, tripping over his trainers, chests colliding. Your free hand slapped out to stop your falling, landing directly on top of his shoulder to brace yourself.

If anything, his little pull seemed to work because you were closer than before. All you had to do was lean closer–

“I want to kiss you but I want to take you on a date first.” He whispered, sucking the inside of his cheek nervously.

You had to stop yourself from rolling your eyes, “Because you’re a gentleman.”

He nodded, leaning closer despite his words. His eyes seemed to be zeroed in on your lips, and your mouth curved into a smile almost instantly at that observation. Then he smiled, nodding, your foreheads touching, “Yeah.”

“What kind of gentleman would you be if I wanted you to kiss me but you said no?” You breathed.

“Not a very good one.”

Lando’s lips were softer than you imagined, but there was a soul-crushing desperation behind it – a need, maybe the thought that someone could walk past the end of the corridor at any second and ruin this little pocket of relief, so he needed to make it last. You were eager, meeting him with an equal force that seemed to knock the air out of your lungs and weaken your knees – but his hold on you, he was touching you everywhere: one hand was on your cheek and laced in your hair, the other holding your back and pushing him against you – and you were practically leaning on him.

You didn’t know if it was the culmination of pent up feeling being released, or the fact that you were kissing him, but it felt euphoric; the way you seemed to move together was almost as if it had been rehearsed – which was insane, if you really thought about it. But you couldn’t, because he was practically kissing the breath out of your lungs, and you don’t know when it happened but you were pressing against him roughly, one hand on the back of his neck and the other wound in his hair.

And then you pulled away, breathing heavily. Your pulse was hammering and your blood was singing. You knew your cheeks would be red and your lips would be swollen, hair messy, but in that moment you couldn’t honestly find it within yourself to care.

And then he smirked, taking in your appearance. 

His hair was practically everywhere. It looked like he’d just rolled out of bed after a deep sleep on one side of his face, and his cheeks were flushed, as were the tips of his ears and the slither of chest you could see from where his hoodie had slipped and been tugged. 

Then you smacked him on the arm – not very hard. More of a light tap. He hissed nonetheless, smirk dropping but eyes still glazed over and watching you with what you now knew was lovesick intrigue.

“You’re a fucking chicken.” You pointed at him, “We could have been doing that last night.”

His expression dropped, eyes refocusing, “No, we could have been doing that since July.”

You tilted your head, “Maybe August, because I would have had to actually make sure I liked you.”

His expression dropped a little, an inquisitive smile still on his face, “Did you hear that entire conversation with Max?”

“It was hard to miss.”

“Oh.” He nodded, a smile on his face as he looped one hand around your shoulder, pulling you closer. You thought he was pulling you in for another kiss, your hand pressed comfortably against his chest, and he was an eyelash-length away from it when he stopped.

You were about to groan.

“What do you mean you had to make sure you liked me?” His brow was arched, but his tone wasn’t malicious or suspicious in any way. If anything it was coated with a thinly veiled layer of curiosity.

You shrugged, “Crushes go away. This kind of seemed to stick.”

“Lucky for me.” He kissed you, hands pressed against your cheeks in a display of faux passion and drama, before letting you go, hands not leaving you or letting you stray too far.

“So you never said when you started to like me.” You murmured, just loud enough for him to hear.

He huffed a laugh, shaking his head and avoiding eye contact.

“Now is not the time to get shy on me.” You breathed, a hand going to hold his sleeve.

“I’m not shy, I just—” He shook his head, self-deprecation evident, “If I had to say, probably May.”

You stalled, not able to say much, “Monaco?”

“Yeah.” 

Then something warm seemed to bloom in your chest and you felt your eyes soften and a small smile creep in your face at the admission, “When we met?”

He inhaled sharply, “Pretty much. I think the crush started when you offered to help me take my helmet photos.” 

You laughed, “Those photos were pretty funny.”

 He nodded, eyes darting again to the end of the corridor, “We can talk about all that later—”

“Agreed—”

“But I just wanna kiss you again.”

You just pulled him in.

[salfishersface]

How You Met

Synopsis - How you meet Sal, Larry & Travis.

Warnings - SFW.

Notes - All characters are 18+!

Word Count - 1.2k.

{Caffeinate Me}

SAL FISHER was new to Nockfell High, and to say he was nervous was definitely an understatement. He had met Larry Johnson at his apartment prior to his first day at the new school, so at least he had some form of moral support. Sal and Larry walked up to the gates of Nockfell High, waiting for the sea of students walking through the entrance to calm down before making their own way inside. “You need to claim a locker dude,” Larry said to Sal as they walked through the halls. “There’s an empty locker next to mine. 

“That’s convenient,” Sal said with a smile. 

Meanwhile, you walked through the halls, making your way to Larry’s locker. You knew your best friend well, and knew that he would be lazing around his locker in an attempt to avoid going to class. When you came into view of Larry’s locker, you noticed him standing next to another boy with blue hair, fumbling with the neighbouring locker. You skipped up to your best friend. “Hey,” you said, startling them both. 

“Y/N!” Larry jumped, turning around to face you. “You scared the shit out of me.” 

“I’m not that scary am I?” You joked, trying to stifle a laugh. 

Larry looked towards Sal and pulled a face before introducing the two of you. “Sall Face, this is my best friend, Y/N L/N. Y/N L/N, this is my new friend, Sally Face.” 

“Sally Face?” You asked, tilting your head to the side. “Is it because of the prosthetic?” 

“Yes!” Sal said, almost a bit too excitedly. He had never had someone call it a prosthetic before, usually people always mistook his prosthetic for a regular mask. Sal couldn’t help but feel his heart skip a beat as his eyes met yours, they were the most beautiful colour that really brought out your complexion. A smile tugged the corner of his lips underneath the prosthetic. 

“Can I just call you Sal?” You asked. 

Sal nodded, thanking whatever Gods were out there that his prosthetic hid his reddening cheeks. “Y-Yeah,” he stuttered. 

“Look at you two, getting along!” Larry grinned, pulling both of you into his arms. “Best friends, am I right or am I right?” 

“Right,” you smiled, nodding at Sal. “I better get to class. Don’t let him be late for class Sal, he likes to skip sometimes.” 

Sal nodded at you, watching as you waved at the two boys before walking away. “She’s great,” Larry said to Sal. “I’m sure you’ll get along just fine.” 

“I hope so,” Sal mumbled to himself before stuffing his books into his locker and making his way to his first class. 

LARRY JOHNSON had been making his way to the lobby of Addison Apartments to see if there was any mail for him or his mother. You were new to the building and was also looking to see if you and your family had mail. Larry eyed you up as you took the letters from the mailbox and flicked through them. “Hi,” he said to gain your attention. “I’m Larry.” 

“Hello,” you said, looking away from the post and to the man in front of you. “I’m Y/N.”

Larry stuck his hand out for you to shake, and you did so with a firm grip. He smiled as you shook his hand. “You’re new to the building right?” He asked, waiting for your response. 

“Yeah. Just moved in a few days ago with my parents,” you replied, returning your hand to your side. 

“How are you finding it?” Larry asked, leaning against the wall, seemingly as cool as a cucumber. 

“It’s nice,” you nod. “The apartment could be tidier, but other than that everything seems good.”

Larry chuckled. “Well you’ve just moved in. It’s bound to be a little bit messy.” 

“Tell me about it, I can’t wait for it to start feeling like home though,” you say with a shy smile. 

“It’ll feel like home before you know it,” Larry reassured you. He paused for a moment, thinking of what to say next as he looked you up and down. “Say, do you and your family wanna come round for dinner sometime?” He asked. Your eyes widened at his sudden question but you found yourself nodding, that shy smile still plastered on your lips. “Great!” Larry clapped his hands together. “I’m sure my mother would love to get to know your family.” 

“I’m sure my family would love to get to know your mother also,” you said. “Moving hasn’t been easy on them.”

“Bet,” Larry replied with a nod. Within a second, he pulled his phone out of his jean pocket and shoved it towards you. “Add your number and we’ll get to know each other more.”

Shakily, you took his phone from him and put your number into his contacts. “Here you go,” you smiled, handing him back his phone. 

“Thanks!” He grinned, tucking his phone back into his pocket. “I’ll get in touch with you soon. Until next time, newbie,” Larry said before turning to walk towards the elevator. His heart was beating like crazy and when he got into the elevator and the doors closed, his knees buckled underneath him from the nerves. He would definitely be texting you later.

TRAVIS PHELPS went to church every week with his father. Today was no different. He went to mass as usual. But then he saw you. You weren’t paying attention to the service and Travis took notice of that before turning his own attention back to his father. After mass, whilst his father socialised with the other church-goers, Travis actively sought you out. When he found you, you were standing in the corner waiting for your family whilst actively chewing on the skin around your nails. He walked over to you quickly, stopping mere centimetres away from you. “You weren’t listening to service,” he said, rather directly. 

“No, no I wasn’t,” you said with a shrug. “Who wants to know?” 

Travis sucked in a breath. “Travis Phelps wants to know,” his eyebrows furrowed as he spoke. 

“Minister Phelps’ son?” You asked, wide eyes. 

Travis nodded proudly, puffing his chest up. “Yes.” 

“Well, Minister Phelps’ son,” you said, taking a step towards him. “I don’t give a shit.”

Travis took a step back from you, a mixture of pure disgust and bewilderment on his face. “How dare you!” He said loudly. “I could get you kicked out of this church right now for such disgusting language.”

“Do it then, I don’t care,” you replied, sticking your tongue out teasingly. 

Travis was shell shocked by your uncaring nature towards the church. “On second thoughts,” he said, stroking his chin. “I don’t think I’ll say anything. It seems like coming to church is enough of a punishment for someone like you.”

“Someone like me?” You asked, raising an eyebrow. 

“What’s your name?” He asked suddenly. 

“Y/N,” you said swiftly. 

“Well Y/N,” Travis started. “Enjoy tomorrow’s sermon. I’m sure you’ll truly appreciate it.” He said before walking off proudly to his father. Whatever he meant by that, you were sure you wouldn’t appreciate tomorrow’s sermon, and if anything you were dreading church even more now.

[brittle-doughie]

Heya! Sorry for requesting if the request box is closed since I don't really know if it opens and it's my first time requesting! But, after seeing that rivalry between Ninja Cookie and Hero Cookie post, can I request something like that but with Ice Captain and Pirate Cookie (both are really underrated & I love them both!)? Like maybe the reader is just a average sailor who is stuck in a love triangle between the two?

The Greedy or the Honorable (Pirate Cookie vs. Captain Ice Cookie)

You really didn’t know what happened…

You were just sailing on the waters in your little boat, hoping to at least get a glimpse of the rumored Tower of Frozen Waves, you’ve been learning anything you could about this tower amidst the sea and today was the day you’re going to see it with your own eyes, you were even going to photograph it…when you felt a bump against your boat! A pirate ship!

“Avast ye! It be a little dingy next to my ship! Board it and see what ye can find, mateys!”

OH NO. OH NO. You hurry into your small cabin and grab your swashbuckler sword right before your cabin door bursts open to a group of ghost pirates. You pointed your weapon at them, to ur shaking as you did so.

You told them to stay back! You had a weapon and you knew how to use it! This wasn’t your first rodeo with thieves in the sea! Pirate Cookie stood at the front of the group, a grin on his face as he fiddled with his mustache.

“I admire yer courage, lad/lass. But yer still outnumbered, KHAHA!”

He was right…and that’s how you ended up on his ship, packed with his phantom crew mates. The only other passengers were this crab and a another cookie, he mentioned their name was…Sorbet Shark Cookie?

It took a lot of prying, but he got you to talk about your trip to the Tower of Frozen Waves. He’s seen the map when he boarded your ship, you two had the same goal in mind! You can take your photograph and he can take the treasure at the top!

He promises that he won’t hurt you as long as you help him out with what you knew about the tower as well. Don’t be a stranger now, have a glass of juice with him to calm the air!

Sorbet Shark Cookie seems to like you at least, even if you couldn’t understand a word they were saying. You got the message when they took a seat on your lap.

Now that he’s gotten a good look at you, you’re not a bad Cookie to look at all, compared to what he’s seen on these waters that’s for sure! You appreciated his compliments..you guess?

You…asked if he’ll let you go after he’s gotten the treasure.

“Ahh, I’m still thinkin’ about it. Ye could make a great addition to me crew!”

Oh dear.

Suddenly, the door to the cabin bursts open!

“HALT, PIRATE COOKIE!”

“GAH! Captain Ice Cookie! Make a run fer it, mateys!”

You’d probably be out the window if Sorbet Shark Cookie wasn’t clinging to your side the whole way!

Something compelled you to keep Sorbet safe, so you tried to roll with it by lifting them up onto your shoulders! You were just about to reach for the window-

“Stragglers? You two, stop!”

You didn’t know if the events that happened before were going to get worse from here as you and Sorbet are taken aboard this Captain Ice’s ship. It look like a tidier ship at least..you clutched Sorbet close to your side, who was bubbling about something.

They were worried, you were too.

Captain Ice didn’t know what to think of you, you didn’t look like one of Pirate Cookie’s goons, at least more then Sorbet Shark Cookie. Your sailor outfit looks more akin to her own sailors’ uniforms, were you..kidnapped by Pirate Cookie? She had to know.

“Do you know Pirate Cookie?”

Only for the few hours you’ve met him since he pulled you from your ship!

“So you were a hostage..tell me, did he hurt you in any way?”

No, surprisingly enough. He said he wouldn’t if you helped with the treasure at the top of the Tower of Frozen Waves.

“Of course…and what were you doing sailing towards here?”

You were just hoping to catch sight of the tower yourself and hopefully take a picture of it. It was going to look great in your scrapbook you can tell her that!

“If that really is what you’re planning, then you better stick with me. You’re much better off then with Pirate Cookie, he’d toss you aside fast if it meant treasure was in his hands.”

She said this as she planted a hand on your shoulder, a calm expression on her face. You shivered at the touch, were you really safer with Captain Ice?

You swear Captain Ice is watching you like a hawk. Step out onto the deck? She was quick to pull you close to her, advising that it was dangerous to lean over the port side.

She was insistent that you stuck by her at all times, you can’t let your guard down on the water, so count on her to have your back!

You managed to reunite with Sorbet and they’ve brought along someone new, Peppermint Cookie. Captain Ice can’t lie to herself, it was endearing seeing you tend to the two little ones, even if one of them was a pirate.

She’s decided that it was too risky to return you to your ship, so you’re sticking with her until her ship returns to port. Who knows what will happen when a cookie as..delightful as you were is left alone at sea.

And when the Captain Ice and Pirate meet at the tower…

“Y/N Cookie! There ye are! I be worried about-GAH! Captain Ice Cookie!”

Captain Ice gets in front of you, protectively so.

“You’re not getting to them! They told me all about how you kidnapped them from their ship!”

“Ah, ye have it all wrong! I were simply..erm..providing hospitality to a lonely sailor like they there! They and I got along nicely afterwards!”

“They told me you’d keep them hostage until you’ve reached the treasure! That’s what all this is about, then you’ll discard them like they’re nothing!”

“I..I be doin’ nothing of the sort! They help me get the treasure and they be part of me crew!”

“Absolutely not! Pirates like you can’t be trusted! They’re better off with me and my crew!”

Wha…what?! That wasn’t what she said earlier!

“Leave them be! They go with me crew!”

“Never! They’re staying with me!”

“It’s fer the best ye don’t get yer grubby mitts on them!”

“Like yours are any better!”

As they bickered, Sorbet silently nudged you and gave you your camera back. You took a quick snapshot of the tower before you before silently making your way to the stairs to the lower floors.

“YAR! Y/N COOKIE! WHERE YE BE GOING!”

“Y/N COOKIE! STOP!”

THAT WAS YOUR CUE!

You bolted down the tower after giving a brief goodbye to Peppermint and Sorbet, with the two cookies giving chase.

You spotted your boat still tied to Pirate’s. GREAT!

You hopped on, quickly turn around to take a quick snapshot of the tower in all of its glory before you undid the tie and started sailing!

“Y/N COOKIE!”

NOPE. YOU WERE OUT! You turned to the base of the tower as Pirate and Captain Ice watched you from there. You bid them adieu as you sailed off!

“YE THINK YE LOSE ME THAT EASILY?!”

“Y/N COOKIE! GET IN MY SHIP BEFORE HE KIDNAPS YOU AGAIN!”

They were sailing after you, they were GODDAMN SAILING AFTER YOU!

You just wanted a photo for Tree’s sake!

[marina41trench]

Nikaidou Yamato - 16PRODUCERS RabbiChat

Tamaki: Iorin come to Yama-san’s rooooom

Tamaki: Hurryyyy

Tamaki: I

Tamaki: o

Tamaki: riiiiiiin

Iori: How vexing.

Iori: Or rather, there is still time.

Have you done your homework?

Tamaki: (king pudding emoji) (cat emoji) (rabbit emoji)

Iori: Please do not dodge my question with such emoji.

Tamaki: Geeeeez Yama-san you should get him here too!

Yamato: Ichi

Yamato: The room’s tidier than before and I’ve prepared zabuton[1]. Will you come here?

Iori: Somehow, the way you invite sounds repulsive?

Yamato: No way?!

Tamaki: The way you invite sounds like an old man

Yamato: I’m the lead today, right…?

Iori: Anyway, I’ll be on my way.

Tamaki:

Tsumugi: Thank you for your work!

I was wondering when I’ll get a notification, but everyone’s already assembled…!

Yamato: Great work, Manager

The three of us have gathered in my room just now

Yamato: Tama laid out lots of sweets and juice

Iori: It’s like a field trip

Tsumugi: I can imagine it! (laugh)

What kind of sweets did you prepare?

Tamaki: Shredded and dried squid[2], crackers, jerky, choco, potato chips, gummies, marshmallow, cookie

Yamato: I’m thankful for the first half of the list

Iori: It is getting late, so let us start

Tsumugi: I agree…!

So, let me explain the aim of this project once again.

Tsumugi: Our discussion will be done via RabbiChat as there were expectations from the other party to see everyone acting naturally, as if having a conversation over a dining table together as opposed to a meeting place.

Tsumugi: I hope I could hear the thoughts of the producing group and the one being produced!

Tamaki: First of all, Yama-san was really happy about it!

Yamato: Ough…

Iori: Or rather, he was very festive.

He had an eccentric mood when he sent a message earlier.

Yamato: I feel really embarrassed now.

Tsumugi: I’m happy to hear Yamato-san’s inside story! (laugh)

What did you feel when you learned that Iori-san and Tamaki-san will be your producers? Yamato: Well… as said earlier, I was happy!

Yamato: I’m sure everyone already knows this, but I’ve always wanted a comfortable place to live, and the people around me have provided that.

Yamato: But Ichi can see through what I’m thinking and knows I have a pathetic side.

I’ve looked forward to seeing how he’ll get through me.

Yamato: Tama is the same too. He suggests things no one has thought of. He can get to the bottom of things.

Yamato: So, they know how to bring out a side of me I’m not even aware of.

Tamaki: Fufun!!!!

Iori: Fufu.

Yamato: Can you two not eat chocolate while looking so proud (laugh)

It’s going to get stuck in your mouth (laugh)

Tsumugi: It’s kind of making me moved to tears…!

Tsumugi:  You’re still close to them despite having the largest age difference, how did you produce him and come up with the song?

Iori: To be honest, we had a dispute over it.

Tamaki: Yea.

Yamato: W-wait. I didn’t know that…

Iori: It wasn’t an argument, but more of a constructive discussion on how enchanting you should be with regards to this project.

So our direction in production is divided.

Tsumugi: I want to hear the details of your divided perspective!

Iori: Nikaidou-san is really good at making alluring expressions by impulse.

For the fans, it stirs up their imagination of his sharp gaze towards them.

Iori: At first I suggested a mature-ish ballad song because it fits best to express his characteristic carefree singing voice.

Tamaki: I suddenly thought that the song is going to be the one where his body movements shine with dancing!

Tamaki: I don’t know what allure is like but Yama-san is really good at making expressions, y’know

So if the focus is matching it with the song and then dance, I’m thinking if the fans would be happy

Yamato: No way, hearing those makes me feel more embarrassed though?!

Tamaki: That’s hilarious

Since we couldn’t decide, me and Iorin wrote in a notebook on what kind of a person Yama-san is during lunch break 👍

Iori: We went back to the drawing board, and listed the things of our image of Nikaidou-san

Iori: 1. He’s very approachable

2. He rarely reveals his true feelings

3. A shy person

Tamaki: Even though he’s trying to look good by treating us to ramen, he spoils us very much.

Yamato: Aaaaaaahhhh this dried squid is really goooood where did it come from?

Did Tama buy this for meeeeeeeee?

Iori: Well, in short, Nikaidou-san might call himself “onii-san”, but in reality he’s like this, right?

Yamato: Don’t say it like that!

Tamaki: Yeah

Even though I really like Yama-san to be like this, you keep that side of you hidden from the public, right?

So me and Iorin decided that the lyrics should be about being okay with being your natural attitude? more.

Iori: And we decided that the melody and the lyrics are like untying a thread one by one.

Iori: So this is like our message to Nikaidou-san.

Yamato: Ahh, I see. So it’s like that.

Yamato: To be honest, since I’m the oldest in IDOLiSH7, I thought that I’d do the first one Ichi said.

Yamato: Somehow, I was surprised at first that the lyrics felt like it’s a message

Yamato: I seeee

It’s a message for me

Tsumugi: It’s a new form of producing…

I’ve read the lyrics again, and it almost made me shed a tear…

Yamato: I know right

Tamaki: Yama-san’s looking away

Iori: You’re hiding something.

Yamato: Hey Tsumugi-san, please move on to the next topic…

Tsumugi: Yes…! ><

Tsumugi: For the artist picture, Yamato-san’s smile under the blue sky and the clear weather is striking!

How did the photography go?

Tamaki: The theme is “A Special in Ordinary Day” as Yama-san thinks of us in a meaningful way!

Me and Iorin were looking for a good location to do it when we go home from school and during day-off

Iori: Yes. We narrowed down our search on our usual path and found a studio that lets us film on the rooftop.

Yamato: Yeah, and it’s near our office

Yamato: I was surprised that there’s such an open space within the city

Even though it’s surrounded by buildings, we could see the vast sky above us. It really felt so special.

Yamato: Tama is the one who definitely suggested using a water gun, right? (lol)

Tamaki: You’re correct!

You guessed it right, Yama-san

Iori: If you relay the meaning of the title, “Transparent”, the water is portrayed in it as well.

And then using a water gun, is something only Yotsuba-san can suggest.

Tamaki: You can praise me more

Yamato: Good job Tama, you can give an idea no one else can!

Tamaki:

Iori: It was pretty difficult to angle the camera that it shows the water

Tamaki: Yeah I think I’m good with water gun for a while

Iori: Moreover, I believe that there’s a small chance to use it.

Yamato: Anyway, the artist picture is a result of the two doing their very best!

Tsumugi: Thank you for the lovely episode!

The outfit having a wavy silhouette is wonderful!

Yamato: Its simpleness is something I really like~.

Either way it could pass as a casual outfit

Iori: Nikaidou-san’s charm is going to stand out even if an almost plain outfit blends in daily life.

Tamaki: And his dance is smooth and the way he moves his flexible fingers is pretty so we requested the outfit to show it by having the sleeve flutter when he dances ✌

Yamato: You’ve been really thinking about me…

Tamaki: Your face is as red as a jerky. Hilarious

Yamato: Don’t compare me to a jerky (lol)

Iori: Yotsuba-san’s food scraps is being cleaned by Musashi right now

This looks convenient.

Tamaki: Recently when I borrowed it to clean my room one time, it stopped moving because it sucked some books

I apologized to it

Yamato: Musashi, you did something ridiculous…

Tsumugi: Thank you for the warm talk! (laugh)

Lastly, please give a word to your fans!

Iori: Well, I’ll start first.

Iori: Nikaidou-san does a great work in dramas and movies while supporting his fellow members, but he’s also truly timid, easy to feel lonely, and has an uncool side.

Iori: Considering that, we wanted to tell that he’s our cool leader, so this is how we produced him.

This is a song where it's not Nikaidou-san-like, but actually it’s very like him. Please listen to it a lot.

Tamaki: Yama-san has a lot of faces, in a good way!

But we really love all of it!

Tamaki: I hope everyone will love Yama-san singing this kind of song even more!

Yamato: Umm… I might not be able to finish this smoothly

Yamato: I’ve received words from Ichi and Tama where they still love me even at my lowest.

I feels really like a miracle that I get to meet such people who’d say that

Yamato: A long time ago, I was scared of being hurt so I made a wall and had a habit of giving up instantly.

I’m sure everyone experienced that before

Yamato: But, it’s fine. I’m sure there’s someone who’ll show up like the messages in this song.

For now it’s okay to think that guy is me

Yamato: Thank you for always supporting me.

Hopefully we meet again, you with those relaxed shoulders and natural smile.

Tamaki: You showed off on the last one

Iori: You really did.

Yamato: That’s fine!!

Let me be a sly charming onii-san!!

Tsumugi: Thank you for your time, everyone…!

I’m sure this conversation will receive a lot of response, I look forward to the day it’ll be open to the public!

Tamaki: Yama-san really loves us

Should we take a picture?

There’s nothing in this room

Iori: Good idea. Let’s put a lot of good memories in this room.

Yamato: Ohh, put anything you want here

Iori: Well then, let us put a picture of Nikaidou-san wearing an Usamimi Parka first.

Manager, please prepare the picture.

Tsumugi: Leave it to me!!! 💪

Yamato: Why!!!!

-

[1] zabuton is a rectangular shaped cushion used for sitting or kneeling

[2] shredded and dried squid, or sakiika, is a snack

[ninlilwinds]

Characters with Stressed out Reader

Hello loves, I'm feeling stressed out so this is purely self indulgent. I tried staying true to character (messed up a bit on Kaeya). Anyways I hope you enjoy. I tried staying GN, but if I did specify gender at ay point let me know so I can fix it.

Characters: Diluc, Venti, Kaeya

Diluc had noticed you had been going to sleep earlier and turning in your work later than usual. As his secretary, he relied on you often. When he noticed you changed he couldn't help but wonder if perhaps he was giving you more work than you could handle on your own. 

You had been absent from work for a week now, and Diluc was beginning to feel a bit worried. Not because he was having to do more work on top of his usual but because you were important to him 

Diluc had arrived at your door a few minutes earlier. He held some flowers in one hand and a bottle of wine in the other. Before he could back out he knocked on your door. He didn't want his other employees thinking you were more important to him than the rest and causing you workplace drama, but he really wanted to make sure you were okay.

A minute or so later, you opened your door with a confused and tired face, “Hello Master Diluc. Forgive me for not reporting my poor health to you or how many days I would be absent so you could prepare.” Your voice came out quiet and meek. It was a bit shaky, and judging by your red nose, puffy eyes and wet cheeks, he could tell this more than just poor health.

“No need to worry Mx. (y/n). I was simply concerned over your health and thought to come see you myself.” He offered you the wine and flowers which you accepted, “May I come in?” 

You stood blocking the doorway for a while, until finally you stepped aside. When Diluc stepped inside, he couldn’t help but frown. Your house, to put it lightly, was a mess. Tissue papers were strewn all over the place and the surfaces were dusty. There were blankets all over the floor and couches and the kitchen had piles of dishes. All but the dining room light was turned off, and the windows were closed. He knew something was definitely wrong now. 

He knew your habits for being a bit tidier than most. Your desk was always organized and you’d often help him reorganize him. Sometimes, whenever you had some free time, you helped Adelinde clean up the house because you ‘couldn’t stand the mess’. 

What was most concerning for him was the pill bottle scattered on the tables and couch. Some were open and spilled over. Things for headaches, stomach aches, body aches, runny nose- anything you could think of. 

“Forgive me for the mess, I wasn’t expecting guests.” You said, attempting to tidy up just a little bit.

Diluc rolled up his arms and stood beside you, helping you tidy up, “M-Master Diluc you don't have to..” 

“I want to. You help me plenty, allow me to help you this time. Take another week off after you feel better. I’ll send  Adelinde tomorrow to help you with the cooking.” He said. He made a mental note to push back on relying on you so heavily.

Venti was a free spirit and he loved being free to do what he wanted, which is why he was so against working a 9 to 5 job. You had taken a recent job at good hunters, to let Sarah take some time off, and since you were already popular around Monstadt, the place was packed with people. 

Your usual daily outings turned into only one a week. He was very upset about that, especially with how tired you look during them. The day when you skipped it was the day he knew he had to say something.

Venti knocked on your door, not stopping until you opened. You rubbed your eyes and yawned, “It's 7 in the morning Venti. What do you want?” you were clearly annoyed 

“You didn’t come yesterday.” He said, “wherever forth did you go my dear soldier.” 

Venti had nicknamed you his soldier, or his warrior, sometimes calling you wildblume whenever it was a more quiet and intimate moment. You certainly didn't feel like a soldier right now.

“I was tired. I should’ve told you, sorry.” You mumbled and tried closing the door, Venti placed his foot to block it thought, “Windblume…what’s the matter?” He used his hand to force the door open just slightly so he could see you better. The morning sun made your tears reflect a little light. When he saw the tears, his heart broke.

His precious windblume crying? He could not let this stand. Venti opened the door the rest of the way and brought you in for a hug, “I spoke with Miss Sarah, you’re not going today.” 

Of course Venti knew what was wrong, he always did.

“Rather than work all day and come home tired, listen to me play my lyre.” he smiled and pulled you towards your room where he helped you settle down, pulling out his lyre and singing you a lullaby. 

When your breathing had evened out, he stopped and smiled a little, “Rest well, (y/n).”

He knew how tough working as a knight of favonius could be, so he would often feel rather tired himself. He knew how to manage to most of the time, going out to drink or making certain travelers go on a treasure hunt for his amusement (after the 4th one, they caught on)

He noticed you were a bit slower at work. Youwere such a natural, people requested your help often on their own missions. He decided to one day confront you on your little habit of refusing to say no and overworking yourself.

“(y/n), here is where you’ve decided to hide.” Keaya stepped into the lunchroom to where you sat alone with a mug of coffee (or tea if you’d prefer that). 

You looked up a bit surprised, “Oh no, I wasn’t hiding. What do you need?” you asked. 

He shrugged, “Can I not simply speak with you?” 

“I suppose. It’s just a bit strange.” You said. You and Kaeya were buddies outside of work, but your ranking to him was so inferior you barely found time to interact during work. 

He sat down across from you, “So when are you finally going home?” his face turned serious, catching you off guard.

You blinked, “When work is over I suppose.” You said grabbing your drink and taking a slow sip. “It’s 11 at night, (y/n). Work finished 6 hours ago.” He said.

You choked on the drink you had just intook, “Oh, time passed quickly. I should finish up the paperwork from today’s mission the-”

“Go home, (y/n).” His voice sounded as if it were final. 

You remained silent for a moment before looking down at your cup, “Is that an order, captain?” 

“If that’s what it takes to get you home.” He stood up, crossing his arms with a smug smile, “Shall I walk you home my dear friend?” Kaeya extended his arm, which you took.

You sighed and accepted, “Yeah sure. I’ll treat you to a drink tomorrow.” 

He nodded and escorted you home.

[forjongseong]

afterglow // jay (ENHYPEN)

pairing: jay x fem!reader

genre: slight angst, smut, minors dni // warning: couple arguing, profanity, oral sex, kitchen sex // wc: ~2.9k

summary: you come home from dinner with your boyfriend and when you end up arguing, you realize you have met your match.

author’s note: this is the last of my series I have listed on my masterlist which means, at this point, I don't have any other work that is waiting to be released. sad? yes, but I am focusing on the Carmesí series for now and if now and then I get a short idea, I will continue these shorter fics/scenarios for Jay! thank you for tuning in so far.

by the way, yes, I might have written this after Taylor Swift's Afterglow came on shuffle.

taglist: @duolingofanaccount @jaylaxies @hee-pster @aminatalks @thots4hee

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

The front door unlocked with a beep and without waiting for Jay to open the door for her, Y/N swiftly made her way inside, throwing the car keys on the shoe rack before taking her jacket off. Jay was confused at the sudden change in attitude for on the way home while he was driving, Y/N did not seem to be in a bad mood.

“Do you want me to brew the bedtime tea?” He asked, locking the door behind him and picking up the car keys, placing it in a tidier manner.

Y/N only answered by shaking her head. She was now frowning and contemplating what to do first—undress and shower or address the issue.

“Is something wrong?” Jay asked, this time in a more careful tone. He caught Y/N clicking her tongue and noticed that it was a serious situation. “Y/N.”

“You really didn’t have to yell, you know,” Y/N finally said, looking into his eyes.

Hours before, the two of them were having dinner at a restaurant that Jay had frequented. The staff seemed to know him well, and although they gave their best service, one of the waiters was eyeing Y/N, almost like he was judging her. When it was time to pay, Jay overheard the waiter making a comment about Y/N, something about her looking like she was out of place and “not the type”. Unable to let go of the fact that his girlfriend was disrespected, Jay snapped at the waiter and caused a scene at the restaurant. The few people dining there all turned their heads towards him because of how high he was raising his voice, and the other staff could do nothing except bow and apologize.

Y/N, on the other hand, was embarrassed by how quick the anger took over Jay’s emotions. The way she was looking down almost made it look like she was one of the restaurant’s staff. When Jay decided he had had enough telling off the whole room, he rushed to Y/N and gently took her hand, escorting her out of the premises. Y/N made sure to look at each of the waiters and give an apologetic look. She didn’t want any of them to end up losing their job the next day.

“Are you upset at me now?” Jay cocked his head, amused but also abashed.

“You yelled at the staff, Jay,” Y/N was now standing up straight, her arms still holding the jacket she was wearing earlier. “Raising your voice is never the solution to anything.”

Jay scoffed as he pushed his hair back. “Did you even hear what that guy was saying about you?”

“I did, but it was still not a valid reason for you to get mad--”

“Oh, it is,” Jay cut off Y/N in the middle of her sentence. “Of course it is. I don’t get why anyone would not be upset.”

“Okay, fine, you’re upset,” Y/N took a deep breath, getting nervous because it seemed like she was this close to making Jay tick off again. “I don’t know, you could have talked to the staff privately or something.”

“Let me get this straight,” Jay was now leaning on the kitchen counter, his hands gripping the edge of it. “You’re mad at me for getting mad at them?”

Y/N shook her head. “I’m not mad.”

“Then what’s with the fucking attitude?!”

Y/N’s eyes widened at the profanity that Jay never used lightly. This time, she scoffed and walked a couple of steps towards him.

“You think I have an attitude?” The surprise and hurt that she felt simultaneously gave her the courage to raise her voice as high as his. “You’re the one who has a problem, Jay. Didn’t you see how the whole restaurant was staring at us?”

“I thought you liked attention,” Jay took his hands off the counter and turned his back towards Y/N, getting busy or pretending to be by grabbing mugs and other stuff to make drinks. “You know, like how you’re always the belle of the ball, the center of the spotlight at every single meeting.”

Y/N’s eyebrows furrowed, trying to process where the conversation was going. “What are you talking about?”

“You’re great at initiating conversations, I get it,” Jay shrugged, but his tone was mocking. “But to get flirty with the other guys? You need to draw a line.”

“Flirty?!” Y/N’s voice almost squeaked. “I was being friendly.”

Jay snorted, setting a mug down on the counter a little too harsh, almost causing it to crack. “Yeah, tell that to every guy that catches feelings for you.”

Y/N was not having the way Jay was steering the fight into something completely different, so she decided to be petty and do the same thing.

“At least I can tell the difference between being flirty and friendly, Jay. You don’t,” Y/N was staring at his back before he turned around and met eyes with her. He looked at her and tilted his chin forward, asking her to elaborate.

“Darling,” Y/N said, definitely not affectionately. “You have girls throwing themselves at you and you’re too nice to turn them down. Does that not mean you love the attention?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“No, no. You don’t get to say the same thing I did. I bet you know. You’re just too nice to admit it.”

“Oh?” Jay tilted his head in confusion. “Then what am I? Am I too nice or am I a fucking asshole who just can’t control his anger? Hmm?”

Y/N could see Jay’s ears redden and she decided to back off. If tonight had taught her anything, is that she had met her match, and Jay was not the type to back down in a fight that she technically started. All the other guys she had been with were always quick to accept defeat, and that gave her all the power and unfortunately, boredom. The way Jay wasn’t letting her go with her remarks just proved that he was, in most parts, right. But she wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction.

“I’m not doing this,” she said in a whisper before dashing away and slamming the bedroom door shut behind her.

Jay stood there in silence, his head down as he started to process everything that happened in a span of mere minutes. When the kettle filled with water started boiling, he turned off the stove and walked to the sofa, leaving the water to cool back down as he gathered his thoughts.

As she stepped out of the bathroom, having done washing up and changing into her nightgown, Y/N climbed on to her bed, thinking that Jay must have left at least half an hour ago. She never wanted to go to bed mad, but it seemed like that night she didn’t have any other choice.

---

The next morning, Y/N woke up to the faint sunlight peeking in from her curtains, shining right on her eyes. She checked the time and it was only half an hour to six, which means she got less than five hours of sleep. Since she was already awake anyway, she decided to get out of bed and start the day.

Her heart almost dropped when she found Jay standing by the sofa, folding the blanket he just used neatly before setting it on the lounge chair. He looked at Y/N briefly before making his way to the kitchen, turning on the stove to boil the water in the kettle from the night before.

Y/N paused to think carefully what to do, and she decided to sit by the counter. Jay noticed her and grabbed an empty glass, filled it with water and placed it right in front of her, all the while avoiding eye contact.

“I thought you left,” Y/N said, touching the glass of water and keeping her eyes on Jay’s back.

Jay glanced at her before turning his attention back to the tea he was making. He shook his head. “It was late.”

Y/N took a sip of the water and felt relief. She realized she didn’t drink any water before going to bed, and that she was actually parched but too distracted to notice. Before she could even open her mouth to ask again, Jay placed a cup of tea in front of her, taking the glass of water she emptied away.

“It’s still hot, be careful.”

Jay turned his back towards her again, making himself busy with the dishes. Y/N hopped down the bar stool and walked a couple of steps until she reached Jay. Making sure that Jay wasn’t holding anything fragile, she snuck her arms around his waist, leaning her head on his back, hugging him from behind.

“Y/N,” Jay called for her, considering to pull her arms away but his hands were still wet.

Y/N only tightened her grip. “I’m sorry,” she said, her voice breaking. “Please let us stay like this for a while.”

Jay sighed and dried his hands on the towel by the sink before putting his hand on top of Y/N’s. He then started hearing sniffles, and he felt Y/N sobbing on his back. With a bit more force, Jay pulled Y/N’s arms and turned around, caging her in a warm embrace. She started crying harder and he realized it was best to let her be. He caressed her back gently and stroked her hair repeatedly, comforting her more with his actions than words. It didn’t take long for her to stop crying and pull back.

“I didn’t mean to pick a fight,” she said in between her sniffles. “I just didn’t like seeing you yell, that’s all.”

Jay looked into her eyes and cupped her face with one hand, his thumb stroking her cheek and wiping away the tears. “I’m sorry. I should have thought about it from your perspective. I was wrong.”

Y/N shook her head. “No, you weren’t—”

“Sssh,” Jay shushed and planted a kiss on Y/N’s forehead. “It was just a misunderstanding, okay? It’s over now.”

He looked her in the eyes, waiting for an answer. Y/N nodded, and Jay took the opportunity to kiss her lips. His kiss was soft, at first, but as he felt her fingers buried in his hair he started to go harsher, nibbling on her bottom lip before moving down to her chin and neck. The outerwear of her navy nightgown was already slipping down her shoulders, and it was the perfect opening for him to leave open-mouthed kisses on her collarbones all the way to the edge of her shoulders. Y/N moaned when she felt him lick and lightly suck her shoulder blades.

“The bed feels empty without you,” she whispered. “I didn’t sleep well.”

Jay turned his attention back to her lips and kissed her again, fervently. She moaned into his mouth and he swallowed it, his arms circling around her waist, pulling her close to his chest.

“I won’t let you sleep alone again,” he said right into her ear. “I promise.”

Y/N took a couple of steps back and hopped on the counter. Jay followed and secured his place standing between her legs. Y/N started unbuttoning the white shirt he was still wearing from the night before and slid it down his shoulders, her hands grasping both his biceps. All the while, Jay was burying his face in her neck, giving her endless kisses and softly sucking on the surface of her skin. Y/N hooked one leg around his waist to pull him closer, and she could already feel him harden underneath his pants.

“Open that drawer,” Y/N pointed to a direction behind Jay.

Puzzled but determined to listen to his girlfriend, Jay quickly opened the drawer and found an unopened box of condoms. He couldn’t help but chuckle.

“You keep this here?” He asked, amused as he took out a condom out of the box.

Y/N nodded, unbuckling the belt Jay was still wearing. “I knew it will come in handy someday.”

Jay chuckled softly, placing a chaste kiss on Y/N’s lips as he unwrapped the condom. Y/N waited for him to properly put it on, her eyes never leaving his hands. When he was done, he looked up at her.

“Sorry, I didn’t check if you’re ready,” he said apologetically, his fingers sliding underneath her nightgown and immediately making contact with her wet core. “No panties?”

Y/N smiled, almost blushing. “You know I don’t wear one if I’m wearing a nightgown.”

“And to think I let you sleep alone like this,” Jay kissed Y/N’s nose, eliciting a soft laugh from her. “I’m sorry, baby.”

“Hmm,” Y/N hummed as she pressed her lips to Jay’s. “Make it up to me now.”

Jay placed his hands on Y/N’s hips, pulling her closer. When he felt his tip touch her entrance, Y/N let out a gasp, circling her arms around Jay’s neck. He then pushed in, and to disguise his groan, he captured Y/N’s lips and tasted her whimpers.

“Do you want me to go slow?” He asked as Y/N rested her forehead on his shoulder. “Tell me, babe. Anything you want.”

“Yes, slowly, please,” Y/N was gasping at this point, completely immersed in the way Jay’s cock was stretching out her walls. “But I want you closer, deeper.”

Jay nodded once and pulled Y/N by her ass with one hand, his other hand holding up her thigh to create an angle where he can thrust deeper. When he did, Y/N let out a loud moan that almost surprised him because of how close her mouth was to his ear. He chuckled and kissed her on the cheek, keeping his rhythm and easily thrusting in and out of her.

With every move his hips make, Y/N took it graciously, moaning in a way that drove Jay absolutely crazy. He knew he wasn’t going to last long, so he decided to pull out. Y/N whined at the sudden loss of contact, her walls now clenching around nothing. As she looked up at him in question, he cupped her face and tuck the strands of hair behind her ears.

“I don’t want to cum yet,” he said. “Can you lie down?”

There wasn’t exactly enough room on the counter for Y/N to do as Jay requested, but he knelt down in front of her anyway, keeping one hand on her ass to keep her steady.

“Put your hand on my head,” instructed Jay as he pushed up her nightgown, already falling down from the absence of his body pressing up against hers.

Y/N was in no position to refuse, especially when she felt Jay’s lips sucking on her clit. He also pumped in two of his fingers into her with ease, aware of how her cunt was still dripping.

“Jay…” Y/N threw her head back, her eyes closed as she faced the ceiling, her fingers lost in Jay’s luscious black hair. “Fuck, yes.”

Taking notes of her reaction, Jay continued the ministrations with both his tongue and his fingers. He noticed how Y/N tightened her grip on the back of his head, and how her thighs that were resting on his shoulders were starting to tremble. It showed the signs of how close she was, so he pulled back and quickly stood up again.

Y/N was out of breath and didn’t even have the chance to complain or whine before Jay started kissing her mouth, letting her taste her own juice as he slid his cock back inside her. Y/N whimpered, and Jay placed a hand on her back to steady her, keeping her still as he thrusted in and out in a force that was stronger than the pace before.

“Jay,” Y/N said as she tried to catch her breath. “I’m close.”

“Cum with me, love,” Jay encouraged as he stroked her hair, sucking on her neck. “Cum with me,” he repeated.

Y/N made a fist of Jay’s shirt on his back as she felt her walls clenching before the final release. Jay came too as soon as he felt her grip on him tightening. Jay’s button-down was now dangling on his back, and he decided to completely take it off, at the same time taking off the condom and chucking it in the bin. Looking at Y/N, her hair disheveled and her mouth sticky with her own wetness, he wiped her chin with one hand before pulling her in for a kiss.

“Are you okay?” he asked. “Sorry, it must have been uncomfortable for you sitting here the whole time.”

“Stop,” Y/N smiled, her hands resting on Jay’s shoulders. “Stop apologizing for things you didn’t do wrong.”

Jay raised both his hands as if surrendering, and Y/N just laughed as she hopped off the counter. She then noticed the cup of tea still sitting there, the liquid now a dark brown and the steam long gone.

“Why is it that whenever we have tea we always end up having sex and the tea gets cold?” she asked, sipping on the tea. “Ugh, it’s too bitter now.”

Jay calmly took the cup of tea and put it away, deciding to make a new one.

“Before I refill the kettle, tell me, are you going to take me to the bedroom and go for a second round with me, or do you actually want to have morning tea?”

Y/N stood there thinking for a while before sighing and reaching for Jay’s hand.

“The first one,” she said with a chuckle, dragging Jay who was smiling ear to ear, to the bedroom.

-END-

© forjongseong 2022, all rights reserved

[gurugirl]

ex-boyfriend's dad!harry part 4 sneaky

You asked for a sneak peek for part 4 so here it is!! 1.2k words. Enjoy babes!

Full series to be posted on Tumblr soon!! Right now I have 3 parts up on Patreon if you don't want to wait to read until it's posted here. xoxo

. . .

So if you needed space to think about what had happened, Harry would give it to you. But what he wouldn’t do was pretend nothing had ever happened between you. That would be too easy. To have a fun little thing with a beautiful younger woman and then suddenly back up and cool off and then – poof – strangers.

He could just let you ghost him. He could move on and chalk up the time you spent together as just a little fun fling. No one would ever need to know. That would certainly be tidier. And he’d be able to maintain the relationship with his son as it was before you’d come along. It could just be a fun little secret that he looked back on fondly as he moved on with his life.

He could do that. But he wasn’t going to do that.

Why? Because somewhere along the way he accidentally started to let his big, heavy emotions come alive with you. It was an accident. But he couldn’t help it. Harry’d always been a lover. Someone who enjoyed sex, sure… but he was also someone who enjoyed the relationship that went with sex just as much.

And it wasn’t like he hadn’t had easy flings before; One-night stands and no strings attached relationships. But that wasn’t always possible with him. It wasn’t possible to feel nothing with you. It was quite the opposite.

He started imagining your smile and the way you made him laugh while he was doing mundane things like laundry or typing up an email at work. He began to imagine you waking up in his bed every morning with your croaky little voice and sleep lines on your face smelling like warm sheets and that unique scent that was just… you. He would be in the middle of watching something on television and feel the need to text you so you could turn it on and watch it too because he knew you’d love it.

So yeah. He started to really like you. As more than he should. It stung him a little to know you needed space to figure out whatever it was that went wrong. But he wasn’t going to stay away forever. He’d let you process but he had things he needed you to know and he’d never forgive himself if he didn’t at least tell you what those things were. You’d probably reject it all. You’d probably tell him that wasn’t what this was at all. You’d probably end it right then and there and that would be okay. If you didn’t feel the way he did that would be fair enough, Harry figured. But he wasn’t going to let things fade away and fizzle out. He was going to make you hear him out and if you didn’t like it then he’d step back and respect your wishes.

“Think I’m gonna call Y/n,” Tyler spoke as he walked into the kitchen behind Harry.

He turned to look at his son with confusion, “Why?”

He shrugged, “I feel like breaking up was a mistake. She probably regrets it too. I’ve been thinking a lot and I feel like I kind of just threw away everything because I was too scared to try stuff with her. I don’t know if I’ll ever find someone like her again. I was talking to Jay about it and he told me I was an idiot for letting her go like that. He said that a lot of girls don’t even really enjoy sex that much and if I had to pick between someone that’s into all kinds of weird things and someone that’s not into anything…” Tyler sat down at the kitchen table as he looked at Harry, “… that I might be better off with someone like Y/n. Because she loved sex. That’s for sure.”

Harry sighed and shook his head as he looked out the window over his sink. His son was still so stuck on the wrong reasons for your breakup. You didn’t just break up with him because you were sexually incompatible. You broke up with him because he was kind of a dick to you. Jealous all the time, manipulative. But of course, Tyler didn’t know his dad knew some of those details. You had told those things to Harry.

“She was a great girl, Ty. Do you think that’ll be enough for her to see you again?” Harry swallowed. He hated this. Hated that his son still had feelings for you. Hated that he missed you so bad and it’d only been two days. Hated that you hadn’t called or texted.

“I hope so. I miss her, ya know? Tried seeing this one girl a couple of weeks ago but there was just no comparison. Kept thinking of the way Y/n did certain things a lot better. I still love her too. I have to at least give it a shot.”

“You seemed so upset by her when she broke up with you. Kind of surprised by this a little.”

He really didn’t want Tyler calling you and mucking things up. It was selfish of Harry to think the way he was but if Tyler was still in love with you and tried reaching out that could be it for Harry. That would just complicate things further. But what could he do really? 

“I was mad at first but I think the time apart helped me a little. And maybe her too. Maybe she’s missed me just as much, ya know? And she’ll want to compromise a little? Like we were together for 2 years. Almost two years. It would have been two years tomorrow actually so I was thinking about just giving it a shot. I’ll see if she wants to meet up tomorrow or something.” Tyler looked at Harry, “Should I get her flowers? Maybe make some grand gesture to show her how I feel about her? Jewelry even?”

Harry sat down at the table, his brows stitched together as he swallowed down the lump he felt in his throat., “Don’t buy her jewelry. What if she’s not interested in anything anymore? Don’t make any rash decisions, Ty. Okay? Just…” he sighed as he was about to give his son actual advice, against his better judgment, “Take it slow with her. Call her and see if she wants to meet up first. Flowers could be nice if she does. But don’t expect anything. Don’t push her.”

“Okay. So flowers might be good. Yeah. Okay,” he stood up from the table and pulled his phone out, “Would a text work? Or should I call? I should call shouldn’t I?”

Harry watched his son pace in the kitchen with his phone in his hand. Tyler was looking for advice from the wrong person but Harry wasn’t going to tell him that.

He couldn’t stop Tyler from reaching out to you and he couldn’t stop you from agreeing to meet up with him if that’s what you chose. But that didn’t mean Harry wouldn’t do something rash. Something he might regret in the long run. But sometimes those heavy and deep feelings you get for someone can make you do crazy things.

[wifediaries]

Could you please help me to do a girly weekend at home? What activities I could do ? What movie or series could watch? ..

hi babe! i absolutely can, i love having girly weekends at home! relaxing and debriefing from your week is so important for your mental health so it’s great that you’ve decided to put this together! 💋

girly weekend at home below!

‧̍̊·̊‧̥°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥‧̥·̊‧̍̊ ♡ °̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥ ·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙·̩̩̥͙*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ °̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥ ♡ ‧̍̊·̊‧̥°̩̥˚̩̩̥͙°̩̥‧̥·̊‧

STEP ONE: PREPARATION 🧸

in order to enjoy your weekend stress free, you need to make sure that your space is clean, comfy and in order. i suggest you take as long as you need to make your house / bedroom spotless. change your sheets, vacuum, wipe the surfaces, do your laundry— anything that needs doing get it done. i know, this is meant to be a relaxing weekend— but i always feel so much better and less stressed when my space is tidy. in addition to this, make sure any tasks you need to complete are done. homework, assignments, emails you need to answer for work, that one call you’ve been putting off, get it done! i know it’s hard, sometimes these things can be stressful especially if we have been procrastinating them for a while, but a promise from me to you, and you to yourself is that once it’s done you’re done for the weekend. you can relax and feel ten times better knowing there’s no responsibility left weighing on your mind. given you have tidied your space beforehand, completing these tasks will seem easier, and you’ll be more motivated to do so in a tidier room.

STEP TWO: THE SHOWER THAT TOPS ALL SHOWERS 🧸

once you’re done, your relaxing weekend awaits. you are going to clean the stress and exhaustion of the week off your body. i suggest applying a hair mask to your hair before so, letting it soak into your hair whilst your prepare for your shower / bath. grab your fluffy bath robe, towel and slippers. set them aside and then lay out all of the products you’re going to need when you come out of the bathroom. skincare, lotions, and any kind of hair product / appliance. then, pick out your favourite pyjamas and lay them out, whether they’re the comfiest, or make you feel the prettiest. having all of it prepared for you once you get out will save you from rushing around, and you can take things at a relaxed pace. then, hop in the shower. take your time pampering yourself— exfoliating all over, scrubbing head to toe (gently!) shaving everywhere you need to shave if that’s your thing and washing your hair. beforehand, pick what playlist you would like / create one specifically for your shower and make sure it’s one that’s fun and girly that you can sing along to! once you’re out, lather yourself in your favourite smelling products, take care of your skin and spend your time on your hair, whether that’s defining your curls, applying oils, braiding it or blow drying and applying rollers. take your time! you’ve got all weekend.

STEP THREE: TIME TO UNWIND 🧸

now, it’s time to eat. make yourself your favourite dinner, or if you feel like treating yourself with take out you can do that too. if you’ve already eaten dinner, or prefer to eat dinner before you shower make yourself a snack or bake a dessert! spending time in the kitchen, creating something is an art form! you’ll feel super happy and satisfied eating something you spent time on. listen to music whilst you make / wait for your food and once it’s ready, sit down and eat it watching something, whether it’s a movie, the series you’re binging or a youtube video. once your done, clear up and head back to your room.

STEP FOUR: ACTIVITY TIME! 🧸

now you can decide on what to do! you can watch a girly movie or series, nothing too stressful or scary — this weekend is meant to be relaxing! some of my favourite girly movies to watch include 13 going on 30, clueless, mean girls, easy a, wild child, confessions of a shopaholic, aquamarine — the list goes on. if you’re looking to start a girly series, pretty little liars is a good one though it is a little stressful! other series’ to binge: good girls, gilmore girls, gossip girl, two broke girls, sex in the city / the carrie diaries. if you aren’t in the mood to watch something, try doing something creative! my favourite thing to do is journal— write down your plans for the year / month, write down what you’re going to manifest as if you already have it. whilst doing so, be sure to play some soft music and light a candle to feel at your most relaxed!

STEP FIVE: MAKE YOUR HOT GIRL DRINK 🧸

your hot girl drink can be anything, and i have discovered that everything feels a little more relaxing when you have a fun little drink to go with it. so, pick your poison. if you’re of age, a glass of your favourite wine could do the trick (just dont go overboard, you don’t wanna feel unwell when you wake up!) your favourite tea in your favourite mug, a hot chocolate with your favourite toppings, or if you don’t want any of these — grab yourself a tall glass of ice water. you can never go wrong with feeling hydrated.

STEP SIX: WHATEVER ELSE YOU NEED TO FEEL AT PEACE 🧸

the rest is up to you. i can’t tell you what you’ll find the most relaxing, i can only give you ideas. remember, you don’t need to have your girly relaxing weekend alone. if you’re not in the headspace where you want to be on your own, invite a friend / friends round to join you and make a fun pamper sleepover out of it! if you are planning on being alone, maybe curl up with a book and lose yourself for a while, healthy escapism can be super comforting and help you unwind, especially as it starts to get late. before you sleep, prepare a comfortable lounge outfit for you to wear once you’re awake the next day — or perhaps some exercise gear. i recommend starting your day with some light yoga, and or a meditation! it’ll set the tone for the day and keep your body relaxed and stress free.

enjoy! relax — you’ve earned it 💞

Mimi 💗

[agentstovring]

Know No Shame

Title: Know No Shame

Pairing: Arasha/Brianna Boho (Smosh)

Rating: E for Explicit

Notes: This started as a stupid joke I told Snel, then turned into a short crack fic, and ended up being an earnest and smutty thing of its own.

You can also find this on Ao3

Arasha was a huge fan of late call times. Whenever the call time was later than 10 a.m., the morning felt ripe with possibilities; she could go to the gym before work; she could clean her apartment; she could make her own healthy lunch to bring to the office. Not that she ever did any of that, of course; in reality, late call times just meant feeling less bad about staying up late watching reality TV.

She was never going to be motivated like Shayne, going to the gym at the ass crack of dawn to lift weights and listen to audio books; or organized like Selina, who somehow left every room tidier than she found it; or dedicated like Garrett, bringing in vegan lunches full of colorful veggies.

Instead, she came barreling into the Smosh offices at 10.02 a.m. on a Tuesday, officially two minutes late to an already late call time. It was no secret that most of the cast members had a loosey goosey relationship with time; but Arasha was still technically one of the new kids, and she was still trying to show that she respected the schedule. Thankfully, she wasn’t last to arrive, and once she’d dropped her stuff off at her desk, she headed to the kitchen for coffee.

Late call times allowed plenty of time to swing by a Starbucks on the way to the office; but did she do that? No. She slept an extra 15 minutes instead. She’d regretted making that decision countless times, and today was no different. The coffee at Smosh was excellent; even after they’d run out of My Favorite Coffee, Ian made sure they only stocked the good stuff.

However, the mug situation was dire, as most of the office had started bringing their own mugs from home. This meant that the mugs that belonged to the company rarely got replaced when they were inevitably broken, and these days there were few survivors left in the kitchen cupboard. Especially for those arriving late, as the people with early call times had already helped themselves.

Arasha was preparing for disappointment as she entered the kitchen, but what she actually got was quite the opposite. A well-shaped ass only half-covered by a pair of black short shorts; and long legs in fishnet tights and thigh-high boots with a killer heel. Then – as the owner of the beforementioned ass and legs stood up fully – long, shiny hair so perfectly platinum blonde that Arasha was briefly blinded by it.

Brianna Boho turned around, giving Arasha an eyeful of her perfectly round boobs fighting gravity in a red, corset-like top. Arasha’s eyes snapped up to look her in the eyes instead, trying desperately to not look like a deer caught in headlights when Brianna spotted her.

“Hey, Arash,” she said, sounding annoyed. “Are there actually no mugs in this entire office? If Smosh can’t even afford dishware, I’m seriously worried about my day rate.”

Arasha hadn’t quite gotten used to Brianna – in fact, she failed to see how anyone could, between her radiant beauty and outrageous personality. Not to mention, Brianna was freelance, so she wasn’t at the offices often enough to be a familiar presence. Whenever she caught herself ogling Brianna, Arasha would tell herself that her crush was just a short-lived infatuation; that she was like a kid wanting a shiny new toy.

She tried to convince herself that if Brianna were a salaried employee and permanent fixture in the office, it would be all the exposure therapy Arasha needed to not get so flustered around her. Sometimes she almost believed it.

Realizing that Brianna was still looking at her expectantly, Arasha cleared her throat awkwardly and nodded. “Mugs. Not easy to come by in this office.”

She folded her arms over her chest, then reconsidered and put her hands in her pockets, reconsidered again and let her arms hang uselessly by her sides. She clenched her fists to fight the urge to fold her arms again.

Brianna raised a perfect eyebrow. “So... No mugs?”

Arasha felt her armpits start to sweat. The awkwardness in her own voice was like nails on a chalkboard when she heard herself say, “Let me find one for you.”

Before Brianna could respond, Arasha rushed out of the kitchen, cursing her own weirdness all the way to the bullpen. She walked up to the first person she saw, which happened to be Ian.

“Good morning, Arasha,” he said, barely looking up from his phone. He was holding a thermal travel mug.

“Mugs,” Arasha said with the immediacy of a doctor in an ICU.

“Mugs was my father, please, call me Ian,” Ian said. “You look stressed, what’s going on?”

“There are no more mugs in the kitchen, and I need a mug. Ideally two mugs. Where can I find a mug?”

Ian seemed to sense that another joke would not be well-received and said, “I left my thermal at home yesterday, so I used one from here; I think it’s still in my office.”

“Thank you!” Arasha all but sprinted away from him.

Ian sipped his coffee. “Kids these days. They love mugs.”

Arasha did indeed find a mug in Ian’s office; it said SHOOT DOOD on it, and there was a bit of cold coffee left at the bottom, but Arasha carried it like it was invaluable treasure.

She reentered the kitchen slightly out of breath, holding the mug aloft. Brianna lit up.

“Oh, yay, you found one!”

“I did,” Arasha said and took the mug to the sink. “It’s dirty, though, let me clean it for you.”

“You don’t have to do that; you know I like it dirty,” Brianna giggled, then looked serious. “I’m just kidding; I would not actually drink from someone’s dirty mug. Or I guess that would depend on whose it was.”

Arasha snorted, washing the mug with warm, soapy water. “It was Ian’s.”

“Hm, not the worst. He is kind of hot in like, a divorced dad kind of way.”

Arasha rinsed the mug off and grabbed a dish towel, drying as fast as she could while still being thorough. Out the corner of her eye, she could tell that Brianna was watching her, twirling a lock of blonde hair around her finger. Finally satisfied with her efforts, she handed the clean mug to Brianna, who thanked her and poured in steaming hot coffee. She took a sip before handing the mug back.

Arasha took the mug automatically, surprised. “Oh, you wanna share it?”

“Yeah, it’s only fair. Unless you don’t feel comfortable.”

“No-no, I’m comfortable. I just- Thank you.”

Arasha sipped the coffee and her eyes closed on their own accord. Fuck, that was really good coffee. She swore she could already feel the caffeine spreading through her body. She gave the mug back to Brianna who just held it.

“It’s a little too hot,” she said, sounding almost awkward. Arasha had no idea she could feel awkward about anything.

For a moment they stood there silently in the kitchen, watching the steam rise out of the mug. Of course, right behind the steam was Brianna’s cleavage, and Arasha’s focus shifted there a few times in spite of her best efforts.

The fridge made a fridge noise and they both startled, then laughed at their own reactions. Arasha desperately tried to think of something to say, but Brianna beat her to it.

“Do you think me and Courtney look alike? I know you guys are friends, so I’m just wondering.”

“Uh, no,” Arasha lied, somehow sensing that that was the correct answer; but wanting to be honest she added, “Maybe in the very beginning, when I first met you. But as I’ve gotten to know you better, I realized that there are more differences than similarities; you’re not even the same kind of blonde.”

Brianna nodded, seemingly satisfied. She sipped from the mug again.

”It kinda bothers me when people compare us; I’m my own person. Also, I don’t see it; for starters, her tatas are supes small compared to mine.” She unsubtly glanced at Arasha’s chest area. “Not that there’s anything wrong with small tits; I have pretty small hands anyway.”

Arasha drew in a breath to say something, then realized the implication of Brianna’s words and froze. Forcing out an awkward laugh, she took out her phone and pretended to read a text. The whole time she felt Brianna’s eyes on her.

Alex Tran appeared in the doorway. “Arasha, we need you on set.”

“Right!” She shoved her phone back in her pocket and gave Brianna a small wave as she followed Alex out. Brianna reached out and barely brushed her arm, but it was enough to stop her dead in her tracks.

“Are you working on Friday?” Brianna asked, smiling sweetly.

“Yeah- Yes. Uh-huh.”

“Me too. You should wear a skirt.”

Arasha choked a little on thin air, then swallowed hard. “Okay,” she squeaked and speedwalked to catch up with Alex, heart pounding in her throat. What the fuck was that?!

▼

Distracted with work, Arasha made it through the rest of the day without thinking much about Brianna; but once she was in the car headed home, she replayed the last bits of their conversation in her head.

“Wear a skirt,” she said out loud to herself as she stopped at a red light. She tapped the steering wheel with her nails, frowning. “’We’re both working on Friday; you should wear a skirt’ – what?”

She kept turning the words in her head, confused about Brianna’s intention. Arasha was wearing jeans and a sweater; did Brianna want her to dress more feminine? What business was that of hers? Brianna was known for speaking her mind, but Arasha hadn’t ever heard her be critical of the way other people dressed, or even give unsolicited advice.

Besides, she’d specifically asked that Arasha wear a skirt not in general, but specifically the next time they were working together. It didn’t make a lot of sense.

All she knew for sure was, when Brianna had looked her in the eyes and said those words, for a brief few seconds she’d felt as if her knees would give out. The words themselves were completely innocuous, but the way they had sounded from Brianna’s glossy lips made Arasha feel woozy.

She put the speculations out of her mind as she pulled into the Ralphs parking lot, focusing instead on remembering the items on the grocery list she’d left at home. By the time she reached the self-checkout, she had all but forgotten her confused feelings from earlier.

▼

Wednesday and Thursday went by in a haze; shooting weeks were always exhausting, but also the best part of her job. She goofed around with her fellow cast members and the crew during the day, and all but passed out in her bed early in the evening.

It wasn’t until she was leaving work Thursday afternoon that she remembered Brianna’s request again: Friday. Wear a skirt. Arasha felt conflicted. On one hand, what a perfectly easy thing to do; she owned several skirts, and wearing one to work wasn’t weird or challenging in any way. But on the other hand, who was Brianna to dictate her wardrobe? And what was the point?

In a moment of déjà vu, Arasha once again found herself in L.A. traffic, unable to shake the feeling that there was more to the situation than fashion. Imagining herself wearing a skirt to the office, nothing; imagining Brianna’s reaction to her wearing a skirt to the office... not nothing.

Brianna was not in charge; if Arasha wore jeans and acted aloof, the worst outcome would be Brianna being mildly disappointed – if she even remembered or cared. But if Arasha complied, then what? Would Brianna praise her? Reward her efforts? Shifting in the car seat, Arasha sucked in a breath; her stomach muscles clenched, and she realized she was getting wet.

Even though there was no way the people in the other cars could know the state she was in, her cheeks still burned with shame. At the next stop light, she briefly squeezed her thighs together and a small moan escaped her, barely audible over the music playing in her car. She wanted nothing more than to get home, dig a toy out of her bedroom drawer, and drill out any confusing thoughts. There was just one thing she had to do first.

Flipping on her turn signal, she turned right at the last possible second, earning a long, angry honk from the driver behind her. “Yup, fair,” she murmured, nodding her head absentmindedly. The sound still rang in her ears minutes later when she walked into TJ Maxx.

.

She had browsed aimlessly for 10 minutes, unsure of what she was even looking for, and politely rejected two different employees’ offers to help. Finally, while she was already looking towards the next rack of clothes, her fingers brushed over something, and she paused. Lifting the hanger off the rack, she ran her hand over the soft black leather, feeling goosebumps rise on the back of her neck. She didn’t hesitate another second before taking the skirt to the fitting rooms.

Safely behind the door of one of the small rooms, she quickly took off her pants and wiggled into the tight skirt, zipping it up in the back. She smoothed her hands down over her thighs and looked in the mirror; it fit as if tailormade for her. It was a little tighter and shorter than what she’d normally wear, snug around her hips and stopping above her knees, but it was still work-appropriate. By Smosh standards anyway.

Turning to check the fit from all angles, she tried to see herself through Brianna’s eyes, taking in the length of her own smooth, brown legs, and the way the tight leather hugged the curve of her ass. A tingling sensation started in her stomach and crept downwards. What would Brianna do when she saw her? What do you want her to do?

Swallowing hard, Arasha leaned against the wall and closed her eyes, unzipping the skirt and slowly pushing it down over her hips, squeezing her thighs together more than she had to. I want her to take it off me. She let the skirt drop and it fell around her ankles, the lining giving off secondhand warmth. She put her pointer finger under the waistband of her underwear, not taking them off, just feeling her finger stroke across her stomach between fabric and soft skin. She imagined Brianna’s finger in its place and huffed out a small breath as she clenched involuntarily. I want her to strip me down completely. I want her to see me, touch me-

Without consciously deciding to, she pressed the heel off her other hand against her crotch. A wave of pleasure rushed over her; her thighs snapped together, trapping her hand in place; and she let out a loud gasp as her knees buckled and she fell into a crouched position. Shuddering as she tried to collect herself, her mouth dropped open in shock and arousal as she teetered on the brink of orgasm.

“Is everything alright in there?” a concerned voice asked from the other side of the flimsy door, and Arasha scrambled to stand upright, frantically pulling her sweater down in case the employee decided to come in.

“Everything’s great! I can’t believe how good I look in this skirt, haha,” she fake-laughed, fully aware of how deranged her voice sounded.

“Okay,” the employee said doubtfully, before walking away, her footsteps growing quieter until they couldn’t be heard at all.

Arasha looked at her own reflection once more, letting go of the hem of her sweater; it slipped back up where it belonged, revealing her grey cotton underwear. A diamond shaped stain of sticky wetness bloomed from the crotch, darkening the fabric. She took a deep breath, swallowing down the hot shame that threatened to rise within her, already making her stomach churn.

She put her pants back on, put the leather skirt back on the hanger, and left the dressing room trying to look as casual as possible. Then she took her find to the register and paid for it, not even hearing the price before swiping her card.

▼

Friday morning Arasha stood next to her bed as the clock ticked mercilessly closer to the time she had to leave for work. She was freshly showered; her hair blow-dried; her makeup done; and her teeth brushed. There was nothing left to do except get dressed; but once she did, there would be no turning back from the decision she was about to make.

She shifted her eyes back and forth between the two outfits she’d laid out: One with pants and one with The Skirt. They were both genuine options; she could just put on the jeans she’d worn dozens of times and go to work like she did any other day. And always wonder in the back of your mind what Brianna wanted. Arasha groaned, shuffling her feet; she really needed to leave soon.

“Fuck, shit, fuck,” she said through gritted teeth, grabbing the skirt from the bed. She got dressed, pointedly not looking in the mirror before leaving, in case the sight made her change her mind again.

When she walked through the doors of the Smosh offices, she felt a small sting of panic, but managed to calm herself enough to keep walking. “You are normal,” she said under her breath, stretching out the syllables.

Hoping to dress down the skirt a bit, she’d paired it with a loose-fitting graphic tee that she’d tucked in, and a pair of sneakers to really sell the look as casual. The whole drive over, she’d reassured herself that this was an unassuming outfit, and that none of her coworkers would even notice; she believed it right until she walked onto the Games stage.

“Wow, Arasha,” Courtney said, immediately staring right at the skirt with an appreciative look on their face. “What the hell, you look hot!”

“I don’t normally look hot?” Arasha replied, pretending to be offended.

Spencer grinned at her. “You should have told me it was Sexy Skirt Friday; I would have worn mine.”

“I’m sure we would have all loved to see that,” Tommy drawled as he entered the room, sounding like he wasn’t entirely joking. “Arasha, that skirt is fire.”

Arasha thanked them all in her most nonchalant tone, feeling somewhat relieved now that she’d survived her coworkers’ initial reactions. They all turned their attentions to Spencer, who was summarizing the rules to the board game they’d definitely all prepared to play for the day’s video. Just as he finished, Brianna walked in, boot heels loud against the concrete floor.

“Guys, I’m so sorry I’m late; my nail tech was telling me about her bonkers Tinder date, and I just had to hear the end of the story.”

“That’s.. fine,” Spencer said, never quite sure how to deal with Brianna. “I think we’re ready to start, so take your seats, please.”

Brianna dropped her bag on a chair out of frame and brushed past Arasha as she approached the Games table.

“Nice skirt,” she said casually.

“Thanks, it’s new,” Arasha said without thinking, then instantly regretted ever learning to speak.

Brianna stopped in her tracks and looked back at her, lips curving up in a sly smile. She didn’t say anything else, but there was no doubt that she knew what that implied. Arasha’s face burned as she took her seat, powerless to do anything but focus up and get through the video without disintegrating under Brianna’s assessing gaze.

▼

“Where exactly are we going?” Arasha asked, hoping she sounded breezy in spite of feeling anything but. It was lunch time, and everyone’s food orders had arrived; but before she could go to the seating area where everyone else had already gathered, Brianna had pulled her aside.

“I told you, silly, we’re just going to the bathroom.”

Arasha had gone to the bathroom with other girls countless times, but not at work and certainly never with Brianna. On top of that, they were headed in the wrong direction. Unless…

Arasha’s heart skipped a beat. In the other end of the building was a bathroom that no one ever used. There was nothing terribly wrong with it, but it was just far enough from both the stages and the bullpen that using it was inconvenient timewise. Arasha had only used it once, out of desperation, when the other bathrooms were occupied minutes before a livestream, and her bladder threatened to fail her.

She suspected that other people might use it for bathroom emergencies as well, so she was grateful to only smell floral scented cleaning products when Brianna opened the door and pulled her inside.

The room was weirdly L-shaped, and the sole ceiling light hung immediately above the toilet, bathing you in fluorescent lighting as you did your business, while then keeping you in ominous shadows as you washed your hands. Arasha considered all these factors with the critical eye of a dedicated Selling Sunset viewer, until she was gently backed up against the sink. Brianna’s face was inches from her own, a soft smile playing on her lips.

“Arasha, did you wear a skirt because I told you to?” she asked innocently.

“Y-yes.”

Brianna’s smile widened and she leaned in closer. “Can I kiss you?”

“Yes, please,” Arasha breathed, and she only just managed to hold back a whimper when Brianna brought their mouths together.

Brianna’s hands found her waist, thumbs gently stroking up and down, while her soft lips moved against Arasha’s. When her tongue swiped over Arasha’s bottom lip, she let it in immediately, and Brianna rewarded her with a pleased moan. Taking this as permission to let go, Arasha responded with her own sounds of pleasure as her shaky hands came to rest on Brianna’s shoulders.

You are making out with Brianna in the bathroom at work! A voice in her head stated redundantly, but before she could properly process how bad of an idea it might be, Brianna broke the kiss.

“Tell me if you wanna stop,” she all but gasped out, but in spite of her eagerness, she waited for a response before doing anything. Arasha nodded rapidly, brain foggy with arousal, and Brianna smiled and carefully rucked Arasha’s skirt up to her waist.

She kneeled on the floor in front of her, taking in her half-dressed body with a look of hunger; her soft hands caressed Arasha’s thighs, sending pleasant chills up her spine. She hooked her pointer fingers into the waistband of Arasha’s underwear, looking up at her with an expression that could best be described as giddy.

“Can I take these off?”

Arasha willed herself not to be self-conscious and nodded slowly, holding her breath as the flimsy black fabric was pulled down her hips and thighs. Even in the half-light, the patch of slick wetness on the inside of the panties was conspicuous enough to catch Brianna’s eye. Brianna sighed happily at the sight and bit her lip, carefully removing the underwear completely and tucking them halfway into the waistband of her own shorts for safekeeping.

Arasha’s legs broke out in goosebumps as she found herself naked from the waist down, aside from her scuffed up sneakers, fully on display for the woman she’d been crushing on for going on a year. Against all odds, her nerves were dissipating, replaced entirely with the awareness of a dull but insistent throb between her legs that was begging for attention. She couldn’t remember ever being this turned on in her entire-

“Hold my gum.” Brianna didn’t wait for an answer but took her used gum out of her mouth and unceremoniously handed it to Arasha.

Holding another person’s wet, chewed-up gum between two fingers almost brought Arasha crashing back to reality, but then Brianna gently brushed a knuckle against her wet folds, instantly wiping her mind. She inhaled sharply as her hips stuttered, blushing as Brianna giggled.

Some of her bravado seemed to fade as she looked up at Arasha, holding up both hands to show off her long, sharp nails.

“I can’t really finger anyone without turning them into shish kebab,” she said apologetically, giving Arasha a hopeful look. “Can I eat your pussy?”

Arasha almost choked on an inbreath and barely managed a weak “Yes”, hands gripping the sink behind her. Brianna hummed happily and pushed Arasha’s legs slightly further apart before leaning in and giving her an experimental lick.

“You’re so wet,” she murmured. “And you taste so good.”

Arasha felt like she was on fire, and she could give no audible response before Brianna leaned back in, working her tongue in between her folds as she nudged her clit with the tip of her nose. Arasha hissed and closed her eyes, already overwhelmed by the pleasure building between her legs.

Brianna pressed closer, slipping her tongue inside Arasha’s pussy and curling it upwards in a move that had Arasha whimpering and squeezing her eyes tighter shut. It was almost too much, and yet she begged Brianna not to stop. She moaned with every clench of her inner walls, pulsing around Brianna’s textured tongue. Time and place lost all meaning; the only sound she registered was Brianna’s beautiful moans, as enraptured as if she was the one being eaten out within an inch of her life.

With her sharp nails carefully resting against Arasha’s taut stomach, she used the pad of her thumb to rub circles above her clit, while lapping up the wetness steadily flowing onto her tongue. When Arasha’s moans got more frantic, to the point where she finally slapped a hand over her mouth, Brianna instead let her lips envelop the sensitive bud and sucked.

Arasha yelped as her orgasm hit her all at once, and she rolled her hips, helplessly pressing herself firmer against Brianna’s mouth. “Fu-uck! Oh my god, oh my-“ She let out a high-pitched moan, fighting the overstimulation for another second or two before gently pushing Brianna away, knees buckling.

“I’ve got you, I’ve got you,” Brianna cooed, hands supporting the backs of her thighs. Brianna watched with eyes dark with desire as Arasha came back down to earth, resting her chin lightly on Arasha’s shaking thigh. When Arasha seemed more steady on her feet, Brianna placed a kiss against her swollen pussy lips.

“Good job, cutie,” she cooed, seemingly addressing her pussy directly. ”You came so much for me.”

Arasha’s face heated up in embarrassment, but she couldn’t help but smile softly as Brianna stood up and faced her again. She leaned in almost hesitantly, as if she wasn’t sure if Arasha would allow it; but Arasha quickly closed the distance between them and welcomed the kiss, tasting herself on Brianna’s lips and tongue. She felt dizzy as the strum of her orgasm slowly faded.

She pulled back, shyly meeting Brianna’s eyes. “Holy shit…”

Brianna nodded and kissed her again. They stood there for a moment, lazily making out until Arasha broke the kiss again. “Do you want me to… I mean, I’ve never- I’m sure I could figure it out?”

Brianna giggled, shaking her head. “Don’t worry about it; we should probably head back before people start looking for us.”

Arasha nodded, trying not to look disappointed. “Are your knees okay?”

“Oh yeah, these things basically have callouses at this point,” Brianna said, then grimaced and added, “In like, a hot way.”

“Sure,” Arasha said with a grin; she has a hard time picturing anything that she wouldn’t find hot about Brianna at this point.

Brianna tucked Arasha’s underwear free from her own waistband and bent down to help her step into them, pulling them up over her legs as gently as she had pulled them off. Underwear in place, Brianna let Arasha fix the rest of her clothes to look presentable, while washing her hands and face over the sink.

“I wanna see you again,” Arasha said, absentmindedly wiping beads of sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand.

“Most people do,” Brianna said in a singsong tone, reaching for a paper towel, but there was a flatness to it, like she didn’t really believe it. “You probably think I do this all the time...”

“I don’t think that. And I don’t wanna see you again just to hook up; I’d like to take you on a date.”

Brianna looked taken aback; there was something vulnerable in her eyes. “Really?”

For a second the façade slipped; the skimpy clothes were a costume, the flawless makeup a mask; and there was a glimpse of the real Brianna. An ordinary person, presumably with an unassuming real last name, and a wealth of real human feelings. Arasha wanted to tell her that she believed, very genuinely, that this person deserved a chance to be known and even loved, but it felt like too much for a post-cunnilingus bathroom conversation, so she just said,

“Yeah, if you want to. If you don’t that’s okay, no pressure; but yeah, really, I really wanna go on a date with you. If you want.”

Brianna took a deep breath. “I wanna go to Red Lobster.”

“Deal,” Arasha said with a grin.

They exchanged one more quick kiss, then Brianna opened the bathroom door and gestured for Arasha to go first. She did but paused briefly in the doorway. “Do you want your gum?”

“Oh,” Brianna unstuck the gum from Arasha’s outstretched fingers and seemed to think about it for a moment before throwing it in the bathroom trash can. “Thanks for holding onto it, but… I think I wanna keep the taste of you a little longer.”

.

In the seating area, everyone had pretty much finished eating and were talking and joking around, but when Arasha and Brianna walked up, a lot of the conversation died down. Amanda gave them an analytical look as they took their seats, narrowing her eyes slightly.

“Your food’s getting cold. What have you been up to?”

Arasha immediately felt panic set in, but Brianna’s foot lightly pressed against hers under the table, grounding her.

“Good thing I ordered a salad then,” Brianna said, her face and voice as calm as ever. “My Diva cup was stuck and Arasha was nice enough to help me get it out. Guess I gotta lay off the Kegels.”

Every muscle in Arasha’s body instantly tightened with humiliation, and she wondered if maybe the truth wouldn’t have been less embarrassing after all; but at least her coworkers all decided that this explanation beckoned exactly zero follow-up questions. They ate their food in silence while conversation slowly started up again around them, occasionally sneaking shy glances at each other.

▼ After evading their texts all weekend, Arasha was cornered by Courtney in the office kitchen early Monday morning. They held the last mug hostage until Arasha finally caved and told them the truth.

“I knew it! I knew that Diva cup story was bullshit!”

“Will you keep your voice down?!” Arasha said, gesturing wildly. “I’m not ready for the whole office to find out about it!”

“Then why did you fuck at work?!” Courtney squealed but did lower their voice considerably. “I can’t believe it finally happened; I didn’t expect it to happen in the weird bathroom, but-“

“Finally? What do you mean ‘finally’?”

Courtney gave her an overbearing look. “Brianna has been trying to flirt with you for ages; I’m sorry I didn’t say anything, but she made me swear not to.”

Arasha supported herself on the kitchen island. “For ages? How did I not notice?”

“She kept saying ‘We accept the love we think we deserve’; but that was right after Shayne made her read The Perks of Being a Wallflower, so I’m not sure it was directly related.”

After securing the mug and filling it with coffee, Arasha went to her desk and sat down. She pulled out her phone and called Brianna, hoping she wasn’t waking her up.

▼ For all her confidence when she asked Brianna out, Arasha had gotten increasingly nervous in the hours leading up to the date. She had changed her outfit several times, seriously considering wearing The Skirt again, but worried that it was sending the wrong signal. In the end, she had put on a dark green jumpsuit that made her look slightly overdressed, but there was no time for regret, as she had to leave for Brianna’s.

Brianna had done a photoshoot earlier in the day, taking place in the opposite direction of Arasha’s place. To make things easier on her, Arasha drove to her place, and they would leave together from there. They could have met at the restaurant, but Brianna had insisted on driving them in her gold Miata.

Arasha had showed up exactly on time, and when Brianna had opened the door, she’d kissed Arasha with the enthusiasm of a woman starved.

Red Lobster was unusually busy for a Wednesday night, and while Arasha had felt ridiculous making a reservation, she was grateful for it when she and Brianna pulled into the parking lot. Once they were seated across from each other in the restaurant, conversation had flowed, and neither of them noticed or cared how long they had to wait for their food.

Arasha’s earlier nervousness was nowhere to be felt, and she couldn’t remember ever being this at ease on a date. They knew each other well enough that there wasn’t a lot of explaining to do; but not so well that there were no stories to tell. They got each other’s jokes and references, and they related to each other’s experiences. There were no awkward silences; when they paused the conversation to eat a few bites of their almost forgotten meals, it was comfortable.

When Brianna went to the bathroom near the end of the meal, Arasha smoothly paid the bill before she came back. She had an inkling that Brianna made more money than she did, but she couldn’t care less; she had suggested the date, and she was going to be old school about it and hope Brianna found it more charming than archaic.

Brianna did. When she returned from the bathroom and found the bill covered, along with a generous tip, she gave Arasha a heated look and shrugged her jacket on.

“Let’s get out of here, stud.”

.

On the drive to Brianna’s place, the conversation was broken up by longer and longer silences, as the atmosphere in the car grew thick with sexual tension. As soon as they had arranged to meet, Arasha had strictly told herself not to assume that the date would end with sex. She had wanted to have zero expectations and let Brianna lead, ensuring that there was no pressure, and that Brianna did not for one second think that Arasha only wanted her physically.

Now, sitting in the car together, Arasha felt sweaty under her collar. She observed Brianna shift in her seat, tap her fingers along to the song playing on the radio, and every so often glance at Arasha with a secretive smile, all while effortlessly driving stick. She looked as restless as Arasha felt, so when she parked outside her house, Arasha wasn’t surprised to hear her say,

“Don’t go yet.”

Arasha smiled. “Okay, I won’t. Do you want me to come inside for a bit?”

“No,” Brianna said, too quickly, then laughed nervously. “I mean, no, let’s just sit here for a bit.”

“Okay?” Arasha unbuckled her seatbelt and got as comfortable as she could. She was still feeling the sexual tension, but now confusion was starting to creep in. Brianna picked at a nail, not making eye contact, and Arasha finally realized what was going on.

“Brianna, are you nervous?”

Brianna sighed and made an exasperated gesture. “Yes, okay! You know most people I go out with just jump me at this point; I’m so stupidly horny, do I really have to make the first move? Again?”

Arasha laughed and couldn’t stop once she’d started; eventually it set Brianna off too, and they giggled helplessly for a minute or so before regaining some semblance of control. Arasha shuffled closer until her thigh was pressed against the console between their seats. She reached out and tugged a lock of Brianna’s hair behind her ear.

“Brianna, do you want me to jump you?”

Brianna pouted childishly. “No…”

“Then tell me what you want.”

“I want you to make me come,” she said shakily, looking down. “I want your fingers inside me, and I want you to kiss me.”

Arasha leaned in to kiss her and Brianna met her halfway, making a desperate sound against her lips. They stopped kissing so Brianna could wiggle out of her jacket and throw it into the backseat. The straps of her dress slipped off her shoulders on their own, and she pushed the rest of the dress down to her hips as to not be restrained. Her tits were spilling out over the cups of her bra, and Arasha couldn’t take her eyes off them.

“I know you said you wanted fingers, but…”

Brianna followed her gaze down to her chest and nodded. “I want everything.”

Brianna slipped off the straps and pushed the bra down as well, not bothering to open it. Arasha kissed her again, hungrier this time, mouth traveling down her neck to her collarbone. She paused to allow Brianna to stop her, but instead she made an impatient noise that nearly made Arasha laugh again.

She placated Brianna by slipping a hand under her dress, pressing her fingers lightly against the front of her underwear. The soft lace was soaking wet, and Arasha swore she could feel her pulse as she pressed down harder. Brianna whimpered and pushed Arasha’s hand away, maneuvering herself out of the panties with impressive efficiency.

“Keep going, please don’t stop,” she said like a prayer, and Arasha leaned down and took Brianna’s nipple in her mouth.

She sucked lightly at first, experimentally, and flicked it with her tongue, tasting sweetness and salt on Brianna’s skin. She let her hand wander back between Brianna’s legs, finding her wet and wanting, no longer obstructed by lace.

She wanted to remind Brianna that this was a first for her, that she didn’t know what she was doing, and that she might be terrible; but soothed by soft sounds already spilling from Brianna’s mouth, she let her instincts take over. Slipping her fingertips between Brianna’s folds, she gently brushed against her clit and was rewarded by a desperate keening sound. Letting her thumb stroke her clit continuously, Arasha pushed one finger inside of her, and, when she met little resistance, added another.

She pumped them slowly in and out, finding a steady rhythm that made Brianna shiver and curse under her breath. One of her hands found the back of Arasha’s neck and pushed her firmer against her chest. Arasha sucked harder on her nipple and pumped her fingers faster, keeping the heel of her hand constantly pressed against Brianna’s clit.

Brianna thrust her hips against the moving hand, moans rising in volume, and her pussy clenched tighter around Arasha’s fingers with every roll of her hips.

“Don’t stop, I’m coming,” she gasped. “I’m coming, I’m-“

Arasha remembered the other part of her request last second and pulled away from her chest, capturing Brianna’s mouth in a searing kiss instead. Her pussy clenched hard enough to almost lock Arasha’s fingers in place and she thrashed in her seat, whining against Arasha’s lips as she rode out her orgasm.

When Arasha broke the kiss, she let out a growling moan, eyes still squeezed shut, and she closed her thighs to keep Arasha’s hand in place. “Wait, wait, wait, just…”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Arasha chuckled, pressing soft kisses to her neck.

She didn’t move her hand, just kept it where Brianna wanted it and let her use it as she pleased, occasionally pressing against it with a sigh. Eventually Brianna took a deep breath and shifted backwards in her seat, and Arasha withdrew her hand. Her fingers and palm were coated in sticky juices, and she felt an almost painful sting of pleasure when she put her fingers in her mouth to taste.

Brianna, who had just pulled a pack of wet wipes out of the door pocket, froze in place and watched her with half lidded eyes, making a small noise in her throat. Arasha blushed, taking a wet wipe and cleaning off her hand.

“Why do you get so embarrassed?” Brianna asked. She wasn’t judging; her tone was genuine and curious.

“What do you mean?”

“When you say something weird in a video, you always freeze up for a second; you don’t laugh it off, you let other people laugh at it instead. When people compliment you, you look like you regret earning it. And when I ate your pretty pussy…”

Arasha averted her gaze, feeling her face heat up, and she grimaced. Brianna laughed, stroking her cheek soothingly. Gently, she cupped Arasha’s jaw and turned her face back towards her.

“…when I ate your pretty pussy,” she repeated, holding eye contact. “I could tell how much you wanted it, but you were so self-conscious.”

“In all fairness, I was half naked at my job.”

Brianna giggled. “And I’ll admit it wasn’t the most elegant way I could have gone about it; but can you honestly say you would have been more confident if I had laid you down on a fourposter bed?”

“Probably not…”

“Right,” Brianna took her hand and held it. “You just made me come so hard, I almost jumped out of my seat. And you sucked your fingers, and it was so hot! You have nothing to be embarrassed about; you’re great. Not just at making me come, everything about you; I like you so much.”

The warmth in Arasha’s face started to seep down into her chest, curling around her heart. “I’m a little confused. We had a great date; you didn’t want me to come inside, which I respect; but then you still wanted to hook up; and now it sounds like… you wanna keep seeing me?”

“Of course, I wanna keep seeing you! I thought that was obvious; I know I have a reputation, but I actually don’t put out for every pretty girl who buys me lobster.”

“When you didn’t invite me inside, I guess I thought you were setting some kind of boundary.”

“Ah, no, Bryce is sleeping on my couch,” Brianna said with a small shrug. “I really wanted you to fuck me, and I knew he’d hear us if we went to my bedroom.”

Arasha blinked. “That’s why we did it here? It’s not because you’re don’t want something serious with me?”

“I don’t wanna rush into a relationship, and I don’t wanna skip over anything, but I wanna give this a shot. And if Bryce wasn’t posted up in my living room watching Golden Girls, I’d gladly invite you in.”

“Oh. Why is Bryce sleeping on your couch?”

Brianna rolled her eyes. “He and his boyfriend Gaige are fighting because Bryce spent a month’s worth of rent money on a Swarovski jockstrap.”

“We lead very different lives.”

Brianna leaned over the console and kissed her. “I know, isn’t it exciting?”

Arasha laughed. “It is pretty exciting.”

Brianna looked pleased. She leaned in for another kiss and they made out in the car for a while longer, barely registering the occasional passing car. Arasha found that she wasn’t concerned at all about being seen.

//

[elentary]

Idk if is that but in book canon adam changed the bookshop a bit, he changed and disappeared with some books

Oh, yes I remember that!

Maybe it's just my impression but in the TV series it looked like Adam had added the William books without messing too much with other books (but we won't know that for sure unless Neil had said something somewhere).

This is the bookshop after Adam's restoration (we have Crowley-as-Aziraphale here looking around the bookshop before being kidnapped in the park).

This is before the fire:

(just some guys buying pornography)

(I swear I have seen this guy on the street and in hell too)

(from above too, because, why not?)

The only difference in the bookshop is that it is a bit tidier than usual (the book piles are a bit neater than before but, conveniently, nobody could see the book spines with their titles, as to discourage potential customers).

The major changes we can see that were made by Adam are at Aziraphale's desk:

All fancy old books

Just some "just Williams" books (I think they're both on the left and right of the statue).

Don't worry about those fancy old books: we can see those in the new season (or at least they look like them).

@weatheredland suggested in another post that the shop is tidier because Crowley or Aziraphale (dunno which one) feared this would happen again:

(I can't blame them)

Obviously only Neil holds the Truth so I may be very wrong about what I have just posted about: it had happened before (and I was politely corrected ☺️).

I had to edit the post because Tumblr ate my previous edit (sigh!).

[rogue-unleashed]

The Catfolk

Chapter Four: And there she came, with the morning breeze

Summary: As the males left for a hunting trip, you find yourself a new endearing friend. Warnings: none. Word count: 2738 Note from Rogue: Well, uh, I was kind of rusty when I started this series (sometimes I feel like I'm still a little bit off, but I can't complain), so I started with lower word count but... Well, it just felt good to write, let me know once it gets too much for comfort, haha! Also, there was a request about a female option, and I'm happy oblige to that. Let me know if you like her!

Bataar and a few of the males, including Jargal, left not much before dusk, hoping for a successful hunting trip.

It was strange to be here in the hut without him all night. He usually returned home at night, whatever he did before that, after that, you both had dinner and headed to bed. You knew how to cook, but the Maeko did a lot of things differently. Luckily, Bataar wasn't a fussy eater, and he was patient enough with you anyway.

You turned to your side on your makeshift bed, the furs keeping you warm on the chilly night.

"Don't worry. We'll see each other tomorrow."

You still heard his voice in your head from earlier. It was a strange feeling. You did worry about him, not that you didn't think he could stand his ground on a hunting trip. It was more that he won't be here with you. Why did you feel that way? It was a strange tug on your heart.

You missed him, and it made you wonder. You didn't really think about him that much for the last week. Not in that way, at least…

He was tall and muscular, his yellow eyes always reflected so much care in them as he looked at you. Everyone knew they could rely on him, including you.

He would make a fine mate, and you knew that. You also knew that it wasn't that weird for a catfolk to choose a mate from a different species, although you still find the idea a bit out of your comfort zone. Two weeks ago you weren't even sure if they existed, and now some of them gossip about you being the mate of a catfolk chieftain. It all happened too fast, and while you were entirely grateful for their hospitality, it was a lot to take in.

You didn't even know much about their culture. Of course, Bataar, Ekna, and Duren helped you out when you had questions, but there was still so much that you didn't know.

You closed your eyes as you felt your body getting heavier. You went to bed a while ago, but only now you felt how tired you were. As you slowly drifted to sleep, a thought still pondered in your mind.

It’s decided. Tomorrow you will learn more about the Maeko, preferably before Bataar and the others come home.

A loud knocking woke you up. You almost kicked the fur blanket off of you, as you sit up. Light shone through the thin curtains, and you could hear the birds chirping outside. It was morning already.

“Good morning, human”, you heard a voice from outside. It was a female. “I just came to check in on you.”

A little confused, you stood up and went to answer the door.

It was a tiger, but a white one, with eyes so bright that you felt like they could pierce right through your soul. She had several small metal rings in her ears, and although she was much more feminine in build than Bataar, there was still so much more muscle on her than on the average Maeko female. She was tall too, and suddenly you felt almost as much intimidated when you first met Bataar.

"Ah, there you are.", she said with a smile, and without any question, she walked right in. You stepped back, blinking a few, slightly confused, but she walked through the door so naturally, you didn't even question it at first. She looked around before turning to you.

"Good thing Bataar took you in, the place looks tidier than ever."

With a smile, she looked you up and down.

"I'm Sheekah. Nice nightgown by the way."

You looked down at yourself, a bit embarrassed as you realized that you only wore the white nightgown that Bataar gave you. You only realized last night that it was probably his late mate's once.

"Do you have any plans for today, human?"

You looked up at Sheekah, who paced around the room aimlessly, looking at a few little things around the shelves.

"Not that I know of, I just have a few chores around the hut."

"Good." Sheekah sent a satisfied smile in your direction. "You can help me out then. I'm in charge while Bataar is gone."

"Oh", you noted with a raised eyebrow. Until now, it seemed that just as in your human world, there was some kind of imbalance between the genders. You didn't really see many females doing what the males did, and vice versa. Honestly, Sheekah was the first who looked like she could handle whatever Bataar and the males were doing out there during a hunt.

"Don't be so surprised now." Sheekah obviously noticed your tone, but she didn't look offended as the smile never left her black lips. "I know it's different where you came from, but here, there's little to no limit to what you can do if you are capable. Most of us just don't feel like doing that kind of work. And I'm not one of them."

She sounded kind of proud of that, and you understood why. In fact, you liked that idea. As tough and a bit intimidated as she looked, there was a certain kind of power that radiated from her: and you respected it instantly.

"So go on, get changed, I'll wait for you outside." She nodded in your direction and left you in the hut as quickly as she came in.

You just stood there for a minute, mind still a bit hazy from the sudden wake up.

Well, Sheekah seemed friendly enough to ask her about cultural topics, right?

You got dressed as soon as you could and left the hut. Sheekah was outside, sitting on a small bench in front of the hut, with a chicken in her hand.

"Ready for some work, human?"

She looked up at you with a small smile as she petted the hen. That made you smile too, the way she held the bird in her paws so delicately.

"Yeah, I am."

She walked proudly beside you, and although she was just as restless as Bataar when it came to solving problems around the village, her style was quite different. When you saw him, Bataar usually walked around the village like a shadow, watching over his little kingdom from the background, and he only spoke when it was necessary. Not that he was hard to approach: he was always ready for a quick chat with the locals, or hang around a little with the cubs if they were brave enough to ask him to play hide and seek. He seemed to cherish these moments and you really liked that about him, but it also seemed that he preferred to just watch over his folk, humbly observing what he was working so hard for every day.

But Sheekah: as you made your way through the village, it was clear she was more than happy to involve herself in pretty much anything. All the villagers greeted her with a few nice words or waved at her with a faint smile at least, and she had a kind answer for everything, even if was just a handshake. But as everyone recognized her around the main street, it also meant that it was nearly impossible to ask her any questions. You didn't mind it that much though, watching her kind of reassured your feelings about the Maeko. It was a big village, but most of the locals seemed close to each other, like a big, close-knit family you could always count on. Of course, you learned on your own, that there were exceptions, as always. Like Jargal himself.

As you reached the outskirts of the village, Sheekah looked down at you with a smile.

"Let me know if I walk too fast."

"Ah, it's okay", you shrugged with a smile.

"Good, I wasn't sure if you could keep up with those nice little legs you got."

You chuckled, but only realized her words a second after. Nice little legs? They weren't that little, well, compared to her they sure were, but… Hey, was that a compliment?

"We're gonna see how the fence is coming along near the gates. Not much before you appeared, something tore it down and there was all kinds of ruckus around that night. No one really saw what it was, and although most of us went out to find it… Well, Bataar and the rest only found you out there."

So that's what he was doing so far away. You never saw any of them in the forest, though you never ventured out as far as you did on that… horrifying night.

But right now, something bothered you a bit more than that.

"…Something broke in? What could it be? A wild animal?"

"Well, if it was an animal, it was something we never saw before. The scent was different, and at some point, it faded away. Whatever it was, two of us lost their life that night, so we have to fortify the fence, or even the boars will come in and eat all of our shit."

The morning went like that. Sheekah made sure everything went smoothly while Bataar was away, from repairing the fence to discussing urgent matters about the crops and the livestock. You were right beside her, but honestly, there was so little you could help her out with, that it made you wonder: what could you possibly help her with? She was so independent, it was hardly anything she couldn't do just on her own.

Not much after noon, Sheekah looked around, watching over the village proudly as you two stood at the center, just where the bonfire was on that ominous night.

"Nice, great work. There's just one last thing we need to do, then you can go on your way if you would like."

You smiled up at her, curiously.

"Sure, what would it be?"

"We gonna deliver a package. Come, this way."

"So, delivery service is an ordinary task for a substitute?", you asked her with a coy smile as you followed her on the main road.

Sheekah let out a chuckle, elbowing you playfully as her tail shifted behind her.

"Only if it's for a special someone, that is."

The package itself wasn't too heavy. Well, packages, since it was two baskets, each covered with a rug. You didn't ask about it too much, assuming they contained all kinds of goods, maybe for someone as old as Altan. Who was maybe, a little less capable than Altan.

You had entirely different questions on your mind.

"Say, Sheekah… If I were a Maeko… I mean, is there any way you would notice if someone would, well…"

As you tried your best to voice your thoughts, you heard a snicker from Sheekah.

"It's kind of cute as you stumble upon your own worlds, human, but out with it."

That sentence tickled you in a way you wouldn't expect it, but you tried your best to focus on your question, though it was harder now with your heart pounding a bit faster.

"How could I notice if someone is trying to court me?"

Sheekah slowed down for a minute, seemingly thinking about your question. You were almost at the gate now.

"Well, uh, it depends on the person, but I guess it wouldn't be that much different from the human way." You seemed to catch her off guard with your question because her tone changed a little as she answered. "You know, trying to impress your potential mate with everything you got. Provide for them, protect them. That's the traditional way I guess."

"Well", you muttered as you thought about it, "If you put it that way, it isn't that different."

"Are you asking this because of Bataar?"

The question came a little too suddenly. It wasn't that surprising, sure, but it was her who caught you off guard this time. You looked at her with wide eyes before turning to the road again. You heard her chuckle again.

"Just so you know, I find it really cute how your embarrassment is clear on your face, human. You call it blush, am I right?"

There she was again. It was the second time she called you cute. First, you didn't consider it anything, but now, a thought lingered in your mind. Was she… Flirting?

"It is about Bataar. But how did you know?", you asked after a few seconds of silence, just as you walked outside the village.

'It's kind of obvious", Sheekah answered with a half smile. "No female has stepped inside that hut ever since Yagan died. Except for me, but I don't think I count."

"What do you mean?", you looked at her with some confusion.

"How should I put this?" She chuckled. "Ah, I gonna just say it. I have no interest in males. At all. Instead…"

She took a longer step now, getting in front of you. You stopped, looking at her curiously, although you had an idea too now. Sheekah was close to you, you saw her pink nose moving as she sniffed the air, almost unconsciously as it seemed.

"I'm after much more delicate things. Ones like you."

Even with your earlier suspicion, that last part caught you off guard. Your fingers gripped the basket a little tighter as your heartbeat quickened up again. So she was flirting earlier.

Sheekah didn't leave much time for you to react, she turned around chuckling, and continued her way on a path between the trees. You just stood there, still stunned.

"Are you coming, dove? The goods won't deliver themselves."

You followed her on the path, a bit embarrassed now. You weren't sure how to feel about all of this right now.

As you walked silently for a few minutes, you heard some familiar noise.

"Is that a creek?", you asked after a few seconds.

"Yup."

Just as Sheekah answered, you two stepped out of the trees, into a green little clearing. You finally saw a creek, and as you followed it with your eyes, you saw a hut. It was much more different than the ones in the village: it was almost covered in plants and moss, but it didn't look abandoned, more like, it was for the sake of aesthetics. It was idyllic.

"We have arrived. Neat little spot, huh?", Sheekah asked, almost proudly.

"It's beautiful! I haven't been outside of the village since I arrived, I didn't know I was living next to a spot like this!"

"Well, you can come here anytime when you would like some peace and quiet."

You looked at her as she stopped a few meters away from the house.

"Ah, I might ask the owner", you admitted, still in awe at the sight.

"No need to do that", Sheekah shook her head with a smile. "She just gave you her permission."

You stared at her for a few seconds before realizing what she just said.

"Wait, you live here?"

"Yes. Build it myself."

"Sheekah, that's…" You looked at the house again as your jaw almost hit the ground once again.

"Impressive? I know, I think so too. I thought I would like some privacy, but I didn't want to be too far away from the village. So, welcome to my humble hut."

"But wait, what are these then?", you looked down at the basket in your hand.

"Our lunch, silly. We worked hard for it, it's the least that we can eat with peacefully, out here."

You looked inside your basket and now you understood it. It was some kind of pastry in it, with a few fresh vegetables.

"Vagalh makes the best kind of smoked meat", Sheekah lifted the basket a little. "Come on, we should sit down and eat."

It was nice. Just the two of you, listening to the sounds of the forest, eating some delicious food. Sheekah was happy to answer your questions, and you listened to her intently.

You liked her. She was a little too rough with her words sometimes, but she was kind and caring. She seemed to understand your struggle with blending in, and tried her best to help you out. Her way of telling stories or talking about cultural differences was so smooth and easy to follow, you didn't even realized that you were sitting there with her for more than an hour after you two finished your dinner.

You knew it already, but after today, it became clear that this place was like heaven compared to your previous life. And one by one, you felt more and more like you finally found your place. No matter of the many things you still didn't no about the catfolk.

It already felt like you belonged here all your life.