#maybe beau and blue will be next... maybe maybe

[hugsqueeze]

I KEEP FORGETTING TO POST HERE!!!!!!!!! Here's Jacques & Sacha again... My most precious angels.

[comphy-and-cozy]

down bad - mat barzal

Pairing: Mat Barzal x unnamed OFC

Summary: Mat takes a late night booty call to the next level.

Word Count: 5.2K

Warnings: Smut (18+ ONLY): Unprotected sex, oral sex (f receiving), fingering (f receiving), creampie. Mega simp Mat. This has barely any plot but has potential to expand into a universe, maybe? Masterlist

The Snapchat notification brightens the screen for a few moments, catching Mat’s eye even while he focuses on shooting down his opponent on-screen. Beau shouts a warning in his ear, and Mat emits a low curse when he gets sniped from behind. 

After one more round, and after bidding goodbye to his friend, Mat’s attention draws back to his phone sitting on the table beside him, tapping to see who the Snapchat was from. His jaw pulses, just slightly, when he sees the name attached to the notification. Instinctually, he feels a gentle throb below the waistband of his gray sweatpants, just at the mere sight of her name.

The photo isn’t set to a timer, and Mat sends a silent thank you to the higher powers that he gets to gaze at it for as long as he desires. The foggy mirror is what he notices first, eyes quickly drawing to the generous cleavage exposed underneath the loosely-wrapped towel, a sliver of delicious skin dragging his eyes down to where the countertop regrettably cuts off the view he would have—of hip bones, leading his eyes down to the apex of two thighs he desperately wants to splay open.

There’s no caption, no commentary needed; the message is loud and clear. A calling that he responds to without fail despite his every effort to remain the nonchalant, professional athlete playboy. Obedient and eager, it’s almost Pavlovian the way his senses kick into gear when her messages come through.

Some might call him whipped, but he prefers the term ‘infatuated.’ He has been, ever since he got that first mirror selfie showing off generous curves clad in Calvin Klein underwear. He’d never admit it outside of the privacy of messages that disappear in 24 hours, but he had never come as hard as he did that night, hand gripping his length while his mind was flooded with images of that body, of those gorgeous lips, of the hips that looked like they were made for his hands.

Mat swipes through the photos he’s saved from her texts, for his eyes only. They’re more private, more sacred; selfies in bathroom mirrors with her top pulled down, videos showing a few specific details of her slutty nurse Halloween costume, and his favorite: his girl, perched on the edge of her bed, a Barzal jersey bunched up around her hips and revealing a gratuitous shot of her ass in a deep blue thong. 

When he first matched with her on Raya, he never anticipated that he’d meet up with her, let alone see her multiple times after that.  A free night in Chicago before a game, he was lying in the hotel room bed in search of his evening plans, in need of a good release. It was her eyes that drew him in first; the same eyes he stared into while she took him in her mouth later that evening. After finding heaven between her legs and climaxing so hard he saw stars, he told her he’d call her the next time he was in Chicago—and he meant it.

Since then, he returns dutifully to her bed when the Isles come to town, and he leaves the door unlocked for her when she travels to New York City for client visits as a CPA (hot and smart; a lethal combination). It’s become an excellent arrangement, the distance far enough to keep things casual, though on nights like tonight, when all he wants is to be buried inside her, he really wishes she was much closer. 

Mat’s attention snaps back to his phone when he sees another notification come through with her name on it, and this time, the dark purple square has his heart fluttering. Clicking into the video, his heart leaps into his throat when he sees the same shot as earlier, only this time, she lets her hand slip so the white towel sags against her body. He’s practically panting, eyes glued to the way she teases him, until she drops the towel altogether.

He’s hard in an instant, flipping back to his Snapchat app to send a photo back of his sweatpant-covered erection.

‘Wish you were here,’ comes her reply. ‘In the mood to get railed.’

Swallowing thickly, Mat feels the twitch against his pelvis. He lets his mind draw back to the last time he saw her; thinking about the feeling of her perfect, wet heat gripping onto him, the way she moaned his name in his ear. He hadn’t gotten more than a few hours with her, hadn’t spent enough time buried between her thighs and worshiping her the way she deserved. The way he craved to. Now, with his last trip to Chicago complete and tax season in the books, he doesn’t know the next time he’ll see her—this fall, at the earliest.

The thought flits through his mind out of nowhere. He considers it for a millisecond, then with a blink, laughs it off. Fly to see her? Tonight?

No, that would be wild, though. It’d be insane.

But you have an off-day tomorrow. You could be back before anyone would notice you’re gone.

Mat shakes his head, pushing away the impulse. He opens his phone, hoping to distract himself by scrolling on Instagram. But the thought doesn’t go away; instead, it patiently nudges at the corner of his brain, lingering until he grants it his full attention. His dick twitches again, as if it knows he’s only a few steps removed from being inside her.

A glance at the airline app can’t hurt, he thinks. Just to see if it’s even a realistic possibility.

He isn’t sure what he’s hoping to see when he opens the Delta app—the perfect timed flight, or a flight that doesn’t work with his schedule. A quick search confirms the former, and he can’t help but laugh out loud at the situation he’s found himself in. Mat shakes his head, the reality of his decision sinking in: are you really about to do this?

He texts her, hoping the distinction of message type symbolizes that he’s serious. The response comes a few minutes later, and he lets out an audible groan when he sees that she’s naked, an arm draped across her breasts seductively. The caption comes next: ‘This is what’s waiting for you if you do decide to come.’

Twenty minutes later, he’s pulling on a baseball cap as he shuts and locks his apartment door, small duffel bag in hand.

Once the Uber drops him off, he briefly notes that it’s strange to be using the public entrance, used to the special business aviation sector that the team used for travel. He could’ve taken a private jet, if he really wanted, but purchasing a commercial ticket was both quicker and easier. And much, much less embarrassing.

He’s halfway through the security line when the reality of what he’s about to do hits him, and he can’t help but laugh at himself. Purchasing and boarding a flight within an hour—for a booty call. Talk about impulsive. And desperate.

The question of ‘why?’ briefly flits through his mind, contemplating his life choices. But then his mind trails to those gorgeous lips, pressed against his mouth, his neck, his—

“Sir, may I please have your ID?”

Mat blinks, coming back to reality, embarrassed that he let his imagination run wild in the middle of the fucking airport. As he pulls his wallet out of his pocket, he does his best to subtly adjust the half-hard erection threatening to make an appearance, smiling innocently at the TSA agent.

If he’s recognized by anyone, no one says anything, though he keeps his head down as he finds his way to his gate. ‘Chicago’ lines the monitor, the flight number and departure times floating across the bottom of the screen. Her last text buzzes in his pocket once he takes a seat, duffel bag seated on the floor by his feet.

The text is actually a photo that has him slapping the face of his phone against his leg, glancing around to make sure no one near him is in sight of his screen. Once he’s sure he’s in safe territory, he sneaks a glance at it again, thirsty for another peek of her completely nude body, a sizable pink dildo pressed against her pouty lips.

Hurry up, the message reads. I’m getting impatient.

Mat hopes nobody notices the way he twitches beneath the dark fabric of his joggers, willing his erection to chill the fuck out as he gets in line to board the plane. 

When he lands 3 hours later, Mat’s knee bounces anxiously as he glances out to watch the plane make its way down the tarmac. A quick check on his Maps app tells him he isn’t far from her apartment, and he sends a silent prayer that he can get deplaned quickly. 

Waiting is excruciating, and he already has the Uber app loaded as he exits the plane, a ride called by the time he steps off of the jet bridge. Mat’s footsteps quicken when he sees the signs pointing toward baggage claim, and it isn’t long until he’s getting into a red Toyota Camry, his driver, Todd, greeting him from the front seat.

‘The door is unlocked,’ her text read. ‘I’m in the bedroom.’

The lights are off when he enters, though the light over the sink illuminates the small kitchen just enough for him to toe his shoes off and head toward the bedroom door. Mat’s heart thuds in his chest as he nears it, nears her, fingers itching to caress every inch of her body. His dick gives another wanton pulse, like it knows its wait is almost over. 

What he sees when he opens the door has him speechless—and that’s hard to do to Mat Barzal. 

The room is dark save for the small string of fairy lights by her window and a sandalwood candle burning on the bedside table. Flickering candlelight casts a warm glow over the room, dancing on the panoramic photo of Wrigley Field on the wall across from her bed.

But Mat isn’t looking at any of that. 

Instead, his eyes are locked on his girl, lying on the bed, gazing straight at him. She’s completely naked, save for the very sheer black lace kimono, untied in the front, revealing her bareness to him entirely. Her legs are spread in a way that he has the perfect view. The warmth of the candle makes her skin look like it’s glowing, soft and golden and delicious.

This time, his dick doesn’t just twitch. It throbs. 

He thinks he might’ve let out a whimper, dropping his bag on the floor; his body moves of its own accord, approaching her bed and immediately slotting between her legs. His lips are on hers before he even realizes it, unable to deny the yearning to feel her touch any longer.

“Hi,” he murmurs against her mouth. She giggles, lips curling into a smile against his own. “Missed you.”

Her reply is a hum, hands carding through his hair, hat knocked on the floor. His lips suck, lick, and nip their way over her jaw and to the place he can feel her pulse against his lips. Mat likes the way she shivers when his breath skitters over her skin, body shuddering at the sensation. 

“Can’t believe you’re actually here,” she breathes, drawing his lips back up to hers for a heated kiss. The pressure mounts, his tongue desperately seeking out the seam of her mouth; involuntarily, his hips begin a slow grind, pressed right against her bare heat. There’s no hiding or denying his own rigid erection, groaning at the feeling of finally getting some friction after hours of waiting.

“Had to have you,” he whispers back. “Teasin’ me with those pictures like that.”

She moans when his mouth makes a sloppy, wet path from her jaw, down her neck, over her collarbones, landing on her breast. Mat licks and sucks every inch of skin he touches, drinking in the taste of her nipple between his lips. “Makin’ me so hard with these tits.”

“Just wanted to see if you were really whipped enough to fly here,” she purrs, raking her hand over his scalp when he takes her hardened peak between his teeth, biting down. His cheeks warm, embarrassed at the attention to just how desperate he is for her.

But he can’t deny it, so he doesn’t. Instead, he allows himself to indulge in her body, thinking that he might as well live up to his newfound title. 

“Need this pussy like I need water, baby,” he says with a sleek grin, letting his hand drift between her thighs, hissing with delight when he finds her drenched.  She rolls her eyes at the exaggerated comment, though she can’t ignore the flutter in her belly at his carnal need for her.

Her mouth opens to quip back, and he revels in the way a gasp usurps whatever sass she was about to deliver when he plunges a finger into her tight heat. She grips his digits snugly, squeezing him so tightly he wonders how he’s gonna fit another finger in, let alone his dick. The appendage gives another wanton throb.

The lemony jasmine of her shampoo invades his senses as his hand continues to pump, working his girl into a slow, maddening frenzy. Her back arches upward, kimono falling open so she’s all but bare to him. The slope of her breasts, curve of her waist, soft breath of her whimper draw him into her, pulling him into her trance.

Mat can tell by the high pitch in her whine that she’s bordering on desperate for something more. Slipping in another finger, he smirks against her lips when he hears the audible squelch of his digits pressing into her drenched center. The sound has his mouth watering, suddenly quenched of thirst. 

Gripping the plush, soft skin of her thighs, Mat pries her legs open—“jus’ a little more for me, sweetheart”—to make room for his broad shoulders before shifting his body down until he’s at eye-level with her waiting, wanting core. He doesn’t wait for her whimper before he’s pressing his face against her, moaning when his tongue tastes her slick. 

His girl is divine, her pussy a certain, secret entrance to the pearly gates. Each lap of his tongue isn’t nearly enough to curb his addiction, the craving never satiated. Her fingers twist into the long locks of his hair, tugging and pulling him exactly where she needs him; he’s pliant, moldable, eager to please. He’d devour her cunt whole, if he could. 

Unabashed moans encourage Mat to allow his fingers to rejoin his tongue, teasing the swollen nub at the apex of her gorgeous, heavenly slit. He drinks in her nectar like it’s the elixir of life, greedy and indulgent. The soft moans that he coaxes from her throat are just an added bonus.

He’s precise, paying close attention to the way she reacts to each flick of his tongue, each twist of his fingers. Between the choked gasps slipping from her pretty lips and the way her thighs tighten around his head, he knows he’s close—that she’s close. 

Another long, languid suck of her clit sends her hurtling into orgasm, spine arching off of the mattress. Mat’s hand rests firmly on her hip, holding her in place even despite the way her body writhes with the force of her release; he savors the taste of her flooding his mouth. 

Mat loses track of how many times he makes her come, flooding his mouth with her nectar. Three? Four? Five? His jaw aches, his mouth, chin and cheeks glistening with evidence of her arousal like he’s at a fucking all-you-can-eat buffet. He wishes Lou would let him grow a beard so he could taste her on his face for hours.

“Matty,” she sighs, and he can hear in her voice that she’s done with the foreplay. Her hands weakly tug at the cotton of his t-shirt in an attempt to draw him up to her. He obeys, pressing his mouth to her lips, letting her taste herself on his tongue; as he does, the clothed tip of his erection bumps against her open, waiting center, and she whines.

“I know, baby,” he coos, massaging the inside of her thigh with a large hand. She’s practically putty underneath his touch. “Wanna fuck you so bad I think my dick might fall off.”

“Too many clothes,” she says, voice still distant and hazy from her orgasms. Mat feels a smug sense of satisfaction at the way she weakly paws at his clothes, fingers searching for purchase in the cotton of his t-shirt. She’s right, though, and he wrenches his body from hers in favor of pulling his shirt over his head.

Heat floods her eyes and Mat watches the way her gaze falls to the cut lines of his muscle, shamelessly running over the abs and the biceps he’s worked so hard on. He’d be lying if he didn’t think of her—think of this—on the early mornings he dreaded getting out of bed to workout; the thought of her lips, her hips, her body never failing to encourage him to do one more rep. Mat knows his role, his duty, as the professional athlete: maintain the god-like physique that has her all but drooling.

And when she looks at him like that, how is he supposed to deny it?

Mat shimmies his pants off, palming his aching erection through his boxer briefs. His girl’s hand reaches up to aid him, the thin material barely a barrier between her skin and his, and he can’t help but groan at the contact.

“How long have you had this?” she purrs, stroking him leisurely. He can hardly process her words and she’s barely touched him.

“Since—fuck—since you sent me that picture.” His voice is more of a choked whisper, breath hitching in his throat when she offers him an affectionate squeeze.

“But that was hours ago, Matty,” she says, but the evil glint in her eye tells him that she isn’t really feeling sympathy for him; instead, there’s smug pride hidden behind a coy smile. “You must be desperate.”

All Mat can do is hum in response, every nerve on heightened alert as her hand drags slow, languid lines up and down his length. He knows if he opens his mouth, only nonsensical gibberish is going to come out and probably ruin the moment.

“Desperate enough to fly from Long Island to Chicago just to fuck me,” she continues musing. “I’m flattered.”

Pulling himself together—eyes closing when she gives him a squeeze—Mat steels himself to say, “Best pussy I’ve ever had. ‘Course I’m desperate for you.”

“Aww, Matty,” she says with a wry, teasing smile. “You have such a way with words.”

Impatience huffs out of Mat’s lips, doing his best to suppress a whine and a plea to please, grant him some relief. “Let me fuck you, baby.”

Her fingers dip into the waistband of his boxer briefs, tugging it down before he’s hurriedly shucking the material down his hips. “You gonna be polite?”

“Please,” he tacks on, pressing himself forward to connect his lips with hers, needing something—anything—to take the edge off. “Please, baby, swear I’ll fuck you so good.”

His girl hums, returning his kiss, letting his tongue slide into her mouth; symbolic in its action as he teases, dragging the muscle in and out in intentional, suggestive motions. He shifts his approach, letting his voice take on the sickly sweet, honeyed purr that she loves. “Know you want it, sweet girl. Bet you’re jus’ drippin’ for it, aren’t you?”

“Why don’t you find out?”

If Mat had a single ounce of resistance left in him, he’d tease her back, but he can’t draw out his own torture any longer. He lets his hand trail down her body, meeting her own that’s wrapped around his hard, bare length. His fingers brush against her, placing themselves over her hand before guiding himself toward the apex of her thighs. She smiles against his mouth, exhaling softly as his tip broaches her entrance.

“Think I can hear her purring for me,” he says, pressing his hips forward to plunge into her with a groan. A gasp leaves her mouth, hands quickly finding purchase in the dips of his shoulders. The feeling of her walls gripping him tightly nearly makes his eyes roll back in his head.

There isn’t a whisper of a retort on her tongue, his quick-witted girl rendered speechless with him sheathed inside her. As much as he loves her quick wit and feisty attitude, he can’t deny that it’s extremely satisfying to be the one to shut her up. 

For awhile, he’s content to simply stay that way, feeling the way her walls flutter around him, her body silently begging for more. But then she remembers how to speak, saying, “Mat, fuck me.”

It takes a moment to ensure he isn’t going to completely ruin everything by finishing immediately, but once he does, he lets his hips tick forward, then back, then forward again. He works the pace up to one that earns a lusty gasp in his ear, arms holding himself above her, silver chain dangling between his neck and her chin. 

“Squeezin’ onto me like your life depends on it, baby,” he grunts. “Fuck, this cunt is so worth the 3 hour flight. Would charter a private jet just to have it in my bed every single night.”

She hums, responding by wrapping her legs around his waist, welcoming him deeper. “Better make the most of it then, Barzal.”

And, well, when she puts it like that.

Mat fucks her slow, fucks her fast, doing his best to remember everything he’s thought about doing to her since he kissed her goodbye when he slipped out of her apartment two months ago. His voice is low in her ear, filthy words strung together between nips at her neck and sloppy, heated kisses against her mouth. She feels so fucking good, and he makes sure to tell her that—communication has always been one of his stronger points.

He presses his hips firmly against the backs of her thighs, burying himself as deep as he can go. His hands wander freely, one making a path between her neck and her breast, the other languidly trailing along the slope of her ass.

Her ass. Of course.

Lost in the euphoria of seeing her, touching her, tasting her, he’d almost forgotten about his very favorite body part of hers—the one he thought about on nights where he missed her, furiously fisting his length, that never failed to bring him to orgasm. Slowing his hand’s movements, he matches his smooth strokes to the tempo of his fingers kneading the globes of her ass. 

She loves it. He can tell in the way her hips roll, grinding herself against him, a feral-sounding moan coming from deep in her throat. Mat can practically feel the orgasm building inside of her, keeping his movements careful and precise, unwilling to change a single thing; he can’t tame the desire to feel her come around him.

“Matty,” she whimpers, a hand slipping between their bodies to rub at her clit. His eyes glance down to the movement, cursing lowly at the sight. “M’close.”

“Yeah, baby? You gonna come for me? Come on my cock after I flew all this way just to fuck you?”

If she tries to answer, nothing comes out other than another moan. Her eyes squeeze shut, and he imagines the fireworks that will soon dance beneath her eyelids. Fingers stroke at her soft skin, almost as if he’s willing her orgasm into existence. He lowers his voice to murmur, “I’ve been dreaming about feeling you come all over me for weeks, baby. It’s the least you can do.”

When she reaches the precipice, her body freezes beneath him, time standing still for a millisecond as she shatters. He can almost feel the way it courses through her, the way her pussy clamps onto him so tightly he sees stars of his own. 

It’s glorious. Sinfully, decadently, maddeningly exquisite. 

Mat’s patient with her comedown, whispering soft words of encouragement, hips resuming a gentle motion that probes her sensitive core. She whines, pawing at his shoulder to push him away. Her voice is gentle, a soft command. “Matty.”

“Sorry, sweetheart,” he says with a cheeky smile. “Y’feel too good.”

He’s aware, though, wants to give her a moment of reprieve before he bends her over the way he wants to. So, he suppresses a huff as he pulls out of her delicious heat, distracting himself from the loss by kissing her hotly. She seems distracted, too, sighing into his mouth, enjoying the way it feels like he’s devouring her whole.

“Wanna fuck you from behind,” he murmurs against her lips. “Watch this ass bounce on me.”

Mat helps her up, allowing her to tear her lips away from his in favor of flipping over. Once she’s settled on her hands and knees, the mattress dipping slightly beneath her weight, he takes a moment to admire the view: pussy glistening with the remnants of her orgasm, framed by the globes of her perfect ass. Heaven. 

“Gotta be inside you,” he says, a statement that’s more like a declaration.

“Quit making me wait.”

His eyebrow raises. “Thought we were being polite.”

“You are. I can be whatever I want,” she shoots back with a smile. His dick gives another mild twitch.

Mat hums. “Guess I better give the lady what she wants, then.”

Judging by the way she’s backing up to meet him, he assumes she’s had plenty of reload time and slips back into her. This time, he doesn’t take his time to ramp up, instead setting a grueling pace from the start, his hands gripping tightly onto her hips. 

A groan, followed by a loud curse. “Think about this every damn day. You, taking it from behind like this. Bent over jus’ for me.”

Her reply is to lean forward farther, spreading her arms forward onto the mattress and opening herself to him even more. Mat accepts the invitation to drive deeply into her, hips slapping loudly against the back of her thighs. The thought of her neighbors briefly flits through his mind, but another glance back down at her ass has that consideration slipping away as quickly as it came. He doesn’t care who hears or who he wakes up; hell, he’d be fine telling the entire world that he gets to fuck her.

“Since you came all this way, you deserve a treat,” she says, twisting her head to glance over her shoulder at him. The sight of her peachy, round ass and her bedroom eyes looking up at him makes his balls tighten.

“And what might that be?” Mat accentuates the question by squeezing her hips tightly. He swallows down the comment that this, here, being inside of her, is already reward enough.

“I’ll let you come inside.”

Since their trysts began, she’s made Mat relieve himself elsewhere—her chest, her ass, her face; his mind briefly flits to each, reminiscing on the mental snapshot he took each time. The thought of not just not having to pull out moments before the strongest climaxes of his life, but at the idea of finishing inside of her is enough to have his heart pulsing rapidly in his chest. 

“Yeah? You want me to fill you up?” he says with a grin, leaning forward to brush his lips against her ear. The action presses him even deeper inside of her, his hips snug against the curve of her ass as he whispers, “Fuck my load deep inside this perfect little cunt?”

She nods, mouth opening in a silent gasp when he gives a particularly hard thrust. “Yeah. Wanna feel you, Matty.”

Her eyes shoot open when he pauses his movements, glancing back at him in protest when he pulls away. Both hands pull lightly on her hips, encouraging her to flip over onto her back. When she does, her eyes catch his and he smiles. 

“Wanna see your face when I come,” he says with a shrug, easing himself back into her waiting core. 

“Oh, he’s down bad.”

He laughs, face crinkling into a smile despite the way the burn of euphoria builds in his stomach. A hand drags down the outside of her leg, tucking her calf around his hip. “Fuck off.”

“Are you gonna come in me or not?”

“You begging for it?” 

The four words dramatically change the mood; Mat watches her eyes darken as they sink in. Like he gave a secret code to have her submissive and pliant beneath him. Her voice is barely above a whisper, her lips pouty. “Please, Matty.”

Mat slows his hips, savoring the way her pussy sucks him in, greedy. He can’t help the grin that curls up on his face, watching the way her eyebrows knit together. “You’re gonna have to do better than that, sweetheart.”

“Please, baby,” she whines, “wanna feel you come in me. I—I need it.”

He hums. “Been dreaming about filling this tight pussy up for months, baby. Wanna watch my cum drip out of this slutty little cunt.”

“Please,” is her whispered plea—quiet and desperate.

“You sound so pretty when you beg,” he says with a smirk. The pace of his hips increase, balls tightening with the threat of his climax. He listens to her moans, the sound of his skin against hers, the rustle of the sheets beneath his knees. His girl’s hands tighten around his shoulders, holding onto him as she absorbs the weight of his thrusts, body shifting up and down on the mattress. 

Mumbles of her name, of obscenities, flow out of his mouth, low murmurs in her ear. His rhythm starts to falter, no longer a steady metronome but a series of sloppy, uneven thrusts as Mat finds it harder and harder to stay focused. 

The release starts deep in his core, bursting through with a loud groan as he finally meets his end, reveling in the feeling of spilling inside of her. It’s freeing to have no barriers between him and her, to feel her in all of her pure, whole self, the way she contracts tightly around him as her own final climax barrels through her. Mat’s vision goes fuzzy, and for a moment he’s pretty sure his soul ascends out of his body.

It occurs to Mat that he’s slumped on top of her, panting into the crook of her neck while soft, small hands trace lazy lines up and down his spine. The touch ignites his nerve endings, sending another wave of consciousness through his system. Her nails drag delicious, soothing lines onto his scalp, and he feels his throat vibrate against her collarbone in a moan. His vision gradually grows from fuzzy to just a bit of a haze when he peels his eyes open.

“Baby, that was the—”

“Hardest you’ve ever come?”

Mat blinks, fully back in reality now, shifting his head to look at her in disbelief. “How did you know?”

She chuckles, lips brushing against his ear. “You said that last time, too.”

[jyoongim]

BLOOD & BLISS

chapter five

Chapter Six

You hummed as you busied around the house.

It was getting harder to move around with a big belly weighing you down, but the house wasn’t gonna clean itself.

Alastor was gone so you decided that you had had enough of your home looking like a common street alley.

You were starting the laundry. You went around the house collecting soiled sheets and clothes. You entered your closet and grabbed any dirty clothes you saw. You straightened up as you picked up clothes and you tilted your head when a bag was thrown in the corner.

Not thinking much of it you added it to your basket.

Waddling down the stairs, you headed out to the back porch and pulled out your washing tub.

Groaning you sat as you filled the tub with water.

You hummed as you began to wash the linens.

Soap. 

Scrub.

Rinse.

Repeat.

You dumped the dirty water and filled it again as you got to the bag that was in your closet. You dumped the bag without a thought and began scrubbing. You made a mental note to buy Alastor some more shirts and pants from the tailor as you went through the laundry.

The water slowly started to turn a light shade of pink and your brows scrunched.

Most of the clothes were white so what on earth was…

Your eyes widened when you grabbed a dress shirt and it was covered in blood.

What?

You went through the clothes and each one was splattered with blood.

You tried to scrub the stains out. You did. 

Maybe it wasn’t blood, but the substance wasn’t coming out and the water was turning red.

Why is Alastor’s clothes covered in blood?

You dropped the wet shirt, dumped the water and brought the clothes back in.

Your head was spinning.

Alastor didn’t have any reason to have bloodied clothes. 

He worked at a radio station.

Your baby kicked at your rising worry and you rubbed your belly in comfort.

Wait…if Alastor’s clothes had blood…then…

You made your way towards the cellar.

Locked.

The door was locked.

You searched for the key, but you couldn’t find it.

what is happening?

You thought about the late nights Alastor came home. He was always clean, you don’t remember seeing him coming home disheveled or distressed.

But you remember most times he came home late, the next day the papers would have a new update of a missing person.

You shook the thought from your head. 

No. Your Alastor wasn’t like that.

You thought about when you told Alastor about that smell.

He was tense.

And now the cellar door is locked.

Was he…no way. Not Alastor. Not your husband.

You will ask him about it when he comes home.

——————————————————————————————————

AUTHOR’S NOTE: heeeeeeeeeyyyy everyone! Jyoongim here! Sorry for the short chapter!!!! I know i know! Chapter 7 will be longer I promise!

I know you guys don’t care much but I’m two weeks behind on finishing Blood & Bliss! Life is living where i don’t feel like writing but i do work whe i feel inspired!

@th3-st4r-gur1 @yourdoorisunlocked @popamolly @doggone-devil @rulesareshadesofgrey @zombiesnips-blog @boney-horse @ilikemyteawithmilk @alastor-simp @alastorsgirl48 @alastors666creampie @alastwhore666 @alastorssimp @alastorsaries @al1fers-haven @dasimp777-deactivated20240423 @thewinchestah @certifiedcrybabyyy @markster666 @okay-babe @catherine1206 @angelicorpses @hazelfoureyes @yunimimii @smoky000 @siiv3r @southern-bayou-beau @luzzbuzz @karolinda007-blog @catmunist @ivebeenthearchersstuff @evedenn @luluxx118 @vexendoe @preciousbabypeter @justtnat @willowshadenox @celestial-vomit @over-the-little-blue-house @impulsivethoughtsat2am @purplecatsandhearts @strawberrypimp666 @peachedtvs @peachedtv @altruisticalastor @chanty-loves-turtles @cxrsedwxrlds @nightshadelm @theangeliclibrarian @voxsmalewife

[bellewintersroe]

Max Verstappen x HornerDaughter! Part 4 here’s the link to part 3. Who’s ready for some drama? 😏

In between the two weeks between Italy and Singapore something is exposed causing social media to have a meltdown. Some how, poor Leni Horner is dragged into the crossfire…

Taglist: @ironmaiden1313 @callsignwidow @fangirl125reader @norassimpingzone

Kelly Piquet spotted with same mystery man back in May 2022 - affair EXPOSED almost a year on?!

Is it over for Max Verstappen and Kelly Piquet? - user: if Kelly has cheated on Max then she’s truly a piece of shit, poor Maxy:( - user: fuck Kelly Piquet always knew she was trash - user: Max can do better anyway and get away from that racist family Kelly Piquet was spotted snogging mystery man in a May 2022, but how are the pictures only just being revealed now? Nobody’s quite sure, but as of September 9th the pictures have gone viral alongside Kelly seen again with her new beau. Are you just as confused as we are? Kelly was seen only last week supporting world champion boyfriend, Max Verstappen at the Italian Grand Prix. We don’t know what’s going on, but what we can tell you is that Kelly is in big trouble, run for the hills Max! Verstappen and Piquet NO MORE! Max Verstappen takes down the TWO pictures he had posted with Kelly Piquet after cheating scandal goes viral. “Oh my god.” My hand covered my mouth in complete shock. My stomach sunk completely and a sickness took over me. “Poor Max.” My dad sighed. “Poor Max.” Geri agreed. “I never liked her anyway.” Blue, my step sister commented causing a small round of chuckles to make its way through the hotel room. I call it a hotel room but it was more like a fucking hotel floor, Geri and my dad stayed in here with Olivia and Monty whilst Bluebell and I had our own rooms not too far down the hall. Part of me was jealous for my 10 year old sister and 6 year old brother for getting to stay in a literal palace.

“He didn’t seem that into her anyway.” My dad shrugged as I borderline choked on my drink. True. “Still, Christian, that poor boy. And he’s got to race next weekend with this fresh on his mind.” Geri sighed sympathetically.

“I’m sure he’ll be okay. We’ll make sure he is.” My dad nodded. “Poor guy.” He added on as I continued scrolling further down Twitter. What I didn’t expect was to see a picture of myself on there. - user: the only girl that can release Max from granny’s claws...

It had thousands of likes and retweets, I cringed, exiting the app, despising that there was a small amount of amusement inside of me. “Too old for him anyway.” I began adding into the family bitch. I got completely carried away, now everybody was feeling the exact same mood towards Kelly, I could let out what previously was jealousy, now, mixed with disgust for her actions.

“Alright, alright girls she is still a human.” My dad warned Blue and I once we’d got a little carried away. We both snickered as I rolled my eyes playfully. “We’re only joking, dad.” I responded before pushing myself up, “I’m gonna go and get a smoothie, does anybody want one?”

When everybody but Olivia declined, I happily took her down to the hotel floor where there was the luxury of having a smoothie bar right on our doorstep. What I was really going down there to do was text Max. A sickness loomed over me when I scrolled over his contact, hovering over the buttons nervously.

“Hurry up!” Olivia begged as I slowly walked forwards into the lift again. “Sorry.” I muttered, typing out quickly.

Leni: I’m so sorry Max

I had no idea what to say, or what else to add onto that. I felt a little awkward and considering the last time we saw each other was so tense, I didn’t even know if he’d want to reply to me. Either way, I wanted him to know I was at least there for him.

The rest of the day I was a nervous wreck, my eyes were glued to my phone, fascinated by the scandal as though I didn’t know any of those people personally. Maybe me and Max should’ve just held hands, that felt all too insignificant and stupid in comparison to the details of Kelly’s affair that emerged online.

A few hours later, I received a text back…

Max: Hey, sorry I haven’t been on my phone today I sat up straighter in my bed seeing it was Max replying.

Max: I’m okay it’s just a shock finding out a year later, but you and I both know more than anybody that I’m gonna be fine after this Responding to that text was a little tricky, I read it a good ten times over, mixed emotions filling me.

Leni: I hope so, just take care of yourself Max Max: I will Leni

Sighing, I swiped back of the text app and returned to twitter, clicking on my notifications. My account was private, but I could still see I had been mentioned, without thinking I clicked on the notification.

Kelly Piquet and Max Verstappen call it quits, but has Max moved on already? Images from a beach in Monaco reveal Max was out for a late night swim, it seems, with Leni Horner, his team principles daughter. Talk about trouble in paradise!

user: smfh they were with a group of friends you absolute rats user: people will post anything for drama these days. user: even if it was just them two I’d be happy lmao is that bad? Leni is the gift that keeps on giving. user: is it just me or is Leni and the other girls not wearing any tops? user: taking pictures of half naked girls on the beach is creepy asf wtf user: if my bf was out skinny dipping with a bitch like Leni Horner I’d have an affair too lol user: good for him. user: Leni’s got her claws in, just like her dad, she gives off stuck up vibes > user : stfu pig ass looking girl, Leni hasn’t even done anything wrong they’re not even together user: they’re literally with a GROUP of friends, leave Leni alone i s2g

“Fuck sake.” I muttered to myself, stomach churning as I swiped off the threat and onto another one. I understood people’s opinions of me were always going to be mixed, especially on Twitter, but for the most part I kept private to avoid this. There was no real pictures of me with my breasts out, only my back turned to the camera which was extremely far away, but still, I felt sick that somebody was following us with a camera. What if there was pictures of us topless? If they were just waiting to release them? I’d be mortified. I laid in bed contemplating that night, I’d talked to a few of my friends who were also there that night, but the one person I wanted to text, I felt like I couldn’t.

[callsigndragon]

Seeing Red | Ch. 9: Missing firsts📲 ✍️

Pairing: Jake “Hangman” Seresin x ex-wife!Reader (Call sign: Red Queen)

Word count: 2.3k

Warnings: a new meaning of the 'there was one bed' trope, mentions of death, abandon, sad feelings, Jake guilty era continues... and Beau Cyclone Simpson.

Masterlist on pinned

There’s a tingling feeling in your heart when you read the words ‘our son’. You shouldn’t feel like that; you know it. But Liam is happy because he gets to see his dad at last—that’s something you can’t ignore. 

If he’s happy, you’re happy. 

Your mom has been asleep for at least one hour, extremely tired after all the driving she has done today. You tiptoe to Liam’s room, which is actually your room because you didn’t expect your mom and baby to appear out of the blue. They were supposed to be here tomorrow. And Charlotte had clear instructions: never bring Liam to Top Gun. 

But Jake has always been in Charlotte’s heart. She thinks that Jake had a good reason for getting a divorce. Maybe your mom thought that bringing Liam to Top Gun would make Jake regret every single second he had been away from you and ask for forgiveness. You don't know why she is still trusting him. You also assumed that he had a reason for leaving your life and that once the problem that had caused him to leave was resolved, he would return, explain everything, and you would be happy ever after with the son who was growing inside you. 

He never came back. And by the looks of it, he’s not going to give you an explanation, either. It’s okay. You don’t need to know. You honestly don’t want to know. Knowing the reason might ease the relationship between you two, and you can’t allow yourself to fall for this guy again. 

Again? As if you had ever stopped feeling something for him. 

And if those feelings had faded away during the last two years, seeing him lying down in bed with Liam sound asleep over him, his face hidden in the crook of his dad’s neck, doesn’t help a lot. 

That’s the image of a loving father. 

“I can’t move,” he whispers, kissing Liam’s head. “Not that I want to.” 

You smile a bit, walking closer to the bed, and lie down next to him. “It’s funny because I never thought this would be your reaction after meeting Liam.” 

“You thought I’d leave?” 

“Honestly?” He nods. “Yeah, I thought you’d leave again. But your dad instincts took control over your body.” 

Jake sighs, hugging Liam closer. “You know I’ve always wanted to have a family.” 

“That’s why I named him Liam.” 

“Thank you for that.” 

There’s a silence after his words. It’s not awkward. Silences have never been awkward with him. 

“You told him who I was.” 

“Every kid deserves a dad, Jake.” You grab Liam’s hand, his tiny fingers closing around yours. “And you’ve always been a good man to me.” 

“Until I wasn’t.”

“You’re never gonna tell me why you left me, right?” 

“I can’t, Red. I literally can’t. Just… Just know that if I had a choice in the matter, I would have stayed with you. Always.” 

You shake your head. “Let’s not talk about that.” 

“Tell me about Liam. What does he like?"  

“Well, he likes planes,” you chuckle. 

“Guess that’s in his blood.” 

“Yeah… He likes cars. But not cars in the sense of automobiles. The movie Cars.” 

“Tell me his favorite character isn’t Mater.” 

“Okay, I won’t tell you that.” 

He groans. “That’s Rooster's favorite character.” 

You bit your lip. “Why do you know that?” 

“We watch a lot of movies with Payback’s kids.” He confesses, grabbing the blanket and covering Liam’s body. You help him, making sure that Liam’s arms stay under the blanket, but he moves them again, one grabbing Jake’s hair, the other searching your hand. “Sweet baby.”

“Yes, he is. He also likes chocolate. Bluey. Dogs, of course. And his grandma.” 

“I also love his grandma.” 

“I swear, if she was younger, you would have married her.” You joke, trying your best not to laugh. 

“I don’t know. Your father would have come from death and killed me.” 

“Oh, yeah. They loved each other so much.” 

“Are you… seeing someone? Because explaining why the father has suddenly appeared will be interesting." 

“No… It’s kinda hard to date when you're a single mom. I don’t even have time to read a book; how am I supposed to date?” 

“It’s bad that a part of me is glad that you’re single?” 

“It is. Are you single?” You close your eyes and mentally facepalm yourself for asking that question. Why do you care? 

“It’s kinda hard to find someone to date when you had the perfect woman in front of you and had to let her go.” 

A tear slides down your face. Fucking idiot, why does he say things like that? “I’ll sleep on the sofa.” 

“No, no, please. I’ll shut up, okay? Stay here.” 

Something tells you to leave. That you should go and sleep on the sofa, creating the distance you need right now. 

You are proud of yourself for being a very strong woman. Always doing the right thing, following the rules, thinking before acting. 

But if the world ended in this exact same moment, this bed is where you'd like to be. 

"Was it Valentine's?" He asks, somehow closer to you, his breath tickling your skin.

"What?"

"When we made him."

"Oh. Yeah, it was on Valentine's." 

"So his birthday is in November?" 

"14th" 

"Nine months exactly?" 

"A perfectionist" 

"Just like his mama." You both say it at the same time, and Jake's laugh makes Liam stir in his sleep. 

"Mama?" He raises his arms, looking for you. 

"Shhhh, baby. Mama's here. Wanna sleep with Mama?" Liam nods, and Jake moves him, so he is now lying down in between the two of you, his face pressed against your chest. He falls asleep in seconds. 

"You should get some sleep." Jake says, looking at the time on his phone. "I'll leave early in the morning." 

"Stay and have breakfast with him. Told him that you make the best pancakes." You close your eyes, slipping into Morpheus' arms. 

It's weird, because you could swear the last thing you remember is someone's lips pressing against your forehead. 

"Can you explain to me why I am in a toy store at 9 AM?" Payback groans, sipping from his coffee. 

"Cause you're the only friend with kids I know and I need advice." Jake reminds him, comparing the two Mater toys in his hands. 

"Another Mater boy?" The taller man laughs, and now it's Jake's turn to groan. 

"Mater, Mater… He's not that cool. Doc Hudson. That's a good character!" 

"You always go after the fatherly figures, Jake. Doc, Mufasa, Tony Stark... Do you, perhaps, have daddy issues?" 

"I love and respect you, but I'm not going to stop myself from throwing this toy at your head." Jake warns, raising the toy. 

"I bet you wouldn't throw that if it was Tony Stark." 

"I hate you." Jake looks at the toy; it doesn't seem to have small pieces that could break. "Okay, this one's good." He leaves the toy in the cart and keeps walking down the Cars section. 

"Did you really not know she was pregnant?" 

Jake had been waiting for that question since he parked in front of his house one hour ago. The other daggers would also ask him along the day, is something inevitable. 

"No, she was like… almost three months pregnant, and all her symptoms showed up when I left. I can assure you there wasn't a baby bump or anything the last time I saw her." 

"Man, that sucks. I don't know how I would feel being in your place." 

"Wanna know how it feels?" Jake turns around, holding his gaze. Reuben would never admit it, but Jake looks like he's about to cry. "I'll never know how it felt the first time he kicked his mom's belly. I'll never know what it feels like to run to the store at 3 AM because the baby is craving strawberries. I never went to childbirth classes. I didn't read a book about how to raise a kid. I wasn't there when she went through labor. I missed his first laugh, his first steps, and his first words. How the fuck did I end up hurting a son I didn't know I had?" 

"I don't think you hurt him, Jake" 

"Can you be sure that Liam didn't cry, not even once, asking for his dad?" 

Payback knows how improbable that scenario is. Kids cry, asking for their parents. Of course, Liam had cried asking for his dad. 

"Jake, you didn’t know. You're not the one to blame, and neither is Red. She did what she had to do." 

"I'll never blame her. She tried to contact me,butd she couldn't because I blocked her. Dammit, I'm such a dickhead." 

Payback chuckles. "Stop it. What's done is done. Just try to be part of that kid's life for the next 16 years." 

"Only 16?" Jake frowns. He wants to be in Liam's life as long as he breathes. 

"You never know what your son might do when he turns 18." 

"18? His 3rd birthday is in six months, and I'm already panicking." 

"Oh, first-time fathers are so cute." 

"Stop joking and help me find more toys, please." 

"Okay, what else does he like?" 

"Bluey." 

"A boy with taste." Payback concedes, walking with his friend to look for more toys. 

"Where's Liam?" Mickey whines when you enter the briefing room. 

"Well, hello to you too, Garcia." You laugh. "And Liam is at daycare. My mom was so tired that I left her home to rest. Poor woman spent all day driving yesterday." 

"But he's coming, right?" Bob pouts. How can a man so tall pout like a baby?

"You all want to meet him?" 

Mickey, Bob, Nat, and Rooster nod at the same time, smiling like idiots. 

"You can come over this weekend and have dinner with me and Liam." 

"I'm gonna meet my nephew." Rooster fist bumps, and you're about to chuckle when you notice that Payback, Jake, and Javy are missing. 

"Where are these three? Mickey, where's Payback?" 

"Dunno." 

You take a deep breath. Second day being the team leader and people are already arriving late. 

Your phone pings, and you look at it. It's Jake. 

Just when Jake sends you the last message, your phone turns off, completely out of battery. Amazing. The beginning of a great day. 

Almost an hour later, Jake, Javy, and Payback are still missing. You’re supposed to prepare for a special class that Dagger Squad needs to teach to the new Top Gun students. But without three pilots here, it is hard to move on. 

The door opens, and you’re sure that Jake’s stupid smile will be at the other side, but what you see is Liam running inside the briefing room, looking for his mama. Cyclone appears behind him.

“OH MY GOD IS HIM.” Mickey screams in joy, scaring poor Liam, who starts to cry. 

“Mickey, why do you have to be so loud?” Bob smacks him. 

“Hispanic people are loud, I thought you knew by now.” 

“It's okay, baby. What are you doing here?” You whisper to the baby, calming him down. 

“He started crying and calling for his mom. They couldn’t reach you, so they contacted me.” Cyclone explains, playing with Liam’s hands. “And we played for a while with some planes until he calmed down, right buddy?” 

“Planes are cool.” Liam agrees, nodding. 

“Oh, god. My phone turned off an hour ago, and Jake was supposed to bring me a charger. I’m sorry, baby, Mama’s phone didn’t work.” You say while kissing his head. 

“It’s otay. Boo is cool.” 

“Who’s Boo?” 

“I think that’s me. Cyclone was a hard word for this little guy, and Beau turned into Boo.” 

“Thank you so much, Cyclone. I’ll make sure to keep my phone charged from now on.” 

He waves it off, smiling. “Don’t worry. And please call me Beau.” 

“Well, thank you again, Beau. But now I’m in a bit of trouble. What am I supposed to do with you little trouble maker?” You tickle him, the sound of Liam’s giggles making everyone in the room smile. 

“You’re still planning tomorrow's class, right?” 

“Yeah, we’re missing a few pilots. They’re bringing me some reports I needed.” 

“And you sent…” he turns around, looking at the people in the seats, counting which are the missing pilots. “Three men for such a simple mission?” 

“Seresin is involved. You need one to stop him from creating chaos and another one to actually do what they’re supposed to.” You are trying your hardest to cover for him, because he really had to go buy toys on a job day. 

“You could have just sent Payback.” 

“And have to see Hangman’s face all morning? No, thank you. Now that he knows who Liam is, I won’t stop seeing him for the next 16 years.” 

Cyclone laughs. “Yeah, it’s true. You told me before.” 

“She told him before?” Nat whispers to Rooster. 

“I saw them talking in front of his office this morning.” 

“It’s Cyclone trying to make a move on Red?” Bob mutters, and all of them look at the Vice Admiral with loathing in their eyes. 

Jake may be a dick, but there’s no denying that he loves Red and that he would do anything for that kid. 

Cyclone is now public enemy #1. 

Tag list: @purplevortexx @shrimping-for-all @caitsymichelle13 @callmemana @abaker74 @starkleila @topgunmenbefinebruh @blue-aconite @tayrae515 @alexxavicry @xoxabs88xox @mercurio23 @smells-like-perfect-senses @dempy @djs8891 @indynerdgirl @countryclubswifey @lauenderhaze @avaleineandafryingpan @poppyalice2001 @emorychase @wildxwidow @agentwayne17 @shanimallina87 @khaylin27 @fudosl @rhirhikingston @hotch-meeeeeuppppp @ducks118 @teacupsandtopgun @impossiblebaglecowboyfreak @marissat1998 @blairfox04 @phoenix1388

[sunlightmurdock]

Ceasefire | 0.9 | Bradley Bradshaw x Reader

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter | Masterlist

Synopsis: Bradley Bradshaw is in San Diego, summoned to Top Gun for the first time. Commander “Hyde” Simpson is his flight instructor, and she doesn’t have time for schoolboy crushes.

Warnings: ex-husband!beausimpson, divorce, age gap (rooster is somewhere between 26-28, reader is 38), power imbalance between instructor and student aviator, swearing, angst

…

Spotting him across the floor of a Navy gala, handsome and all-American, chiselled and stoic — convincing him to fuck you in the back of his sensible but stylish Cadillac that same night. You have always been too wild for Beau Simpson. His mother had tried to warn him about this; about you.

Maybe you were too much, maybe he was never enough — just doomed from the start, that’s all you know for sure. Making yourself smaller for him, making yourself tidier, calmer, you’re done with every single compromise that you’ve ever made for that bastard of a man.

Truthfully, Beau wasn’t that bad. If he had just listened earlier, or if he had just listened at all, you wouldn’t be half as furious as you are this morning. You’ve been psyching yourself up all weekend and there is no stopping you now. Days until Rooster graduates and he’s out of your class, a couple of weeks before his next posting.

Enough time wasted. Beau winds the hands on his watch, barely listening to Bernie listing off his plans for the end of his first week as a newlywed.

Your boots clatter loudly, thudding with each step along the hallway. You don’t bother knocking, you’ve spent enough time waiting for Beau’s permission. Armed with gossip that is more than enough to save your ass, you just about stop yourself from kicking the door open — opting for the handle instead.

The door swings open and slams into the wall, Bernie tenses and droplets of his lukewarm coffee spill onto his khakis.

Cocky as ever, your soon to be ex-husband smiles coyly from behind his grand looking desk, morning sun spilling through the blinds and illuminating the frosty blue of his eyes. “I don’t believe that we have a meeting scheduled, Lieu—“

“Cut the shit, you son of a bitch,” You interrupt him, eyes alight with fire as you carry forwards into the office swiftly enough to make Hondo stumble back and out of your way. You slam the papers down onto his desk, eyes wide, nostrils flared. He hasn’t seen you this fired up about something since he pulled the head off of Dylan’s doll and handed him a baseball. That was a big fight. Beau glances downwards, but he already knows what the papers are. “Sign.”

Beau squares his shoulders and narrows his ice-cold eyes at you, sitting back in his chair calmly.

Hondo swallows and smooths out his uniform, still tripping over his feet as he struggles towards the door. “I’m going to give you two some space.”

The door closes behind him and Beau raises his eyebrows expectantly at you, “Without my lawyer present?”

“Have whatever you fucking want, the savings, the assets — I refuse to spend another fucking second on this Earth as your wife.” You bite back, grabbing one of his dumb, expensive pens from the holder and slamming it down on the paper.

Beau scoffs and shakes his head, “What’s with the hysterics? — Is this about the wedd—“

“Yeah, it’s about the wedding.” You lean forwards and rest your palms on the desk, squinting your eyes at him seriously. Beau glances down at the picture of Taylor on his desk, silently terrified of the day that she looks at him as defiantly as you do. “It’s about you not keeping your damn hands to yourself.”

He rolls his eyes and leans back folding his arms over his chest, “I kissed my wife — sue me.”

Your pupils blow wide open. You lean in closer to him, the smell of his morning coffee filling your nostrils. The thought crosses your mind to just pour it in his lap. No, you've got something that will hurt more than that.

“Your wife,” You draw the word out, glaring ahead at him, venomous, “Went home on Saturday night and had mind blowing sex while you sat on your fucking own. Thanks for the parting gift, Beau. Now, fucking sign.”

He stares at you. Gaze hardened, used to people quivering and keeling over at his whim. Not you. You’ve never been that way.

He laughs and grabs his coffee cup from the desk, purely because it’s too early to be drinking scotch. Though, having this conversation this early on a Monday morning is having him rethinking things. “Sign so that you can go and be a whore? — Yeah, I’ll have to think on that one, baby.”

Whore. It’s practically worth reminiscing. The first word his mother ever said to you. Fitting, that he spits it back in your face now. He looks like her when he’s cold like this.

You don’t falter in the slightest bit, khakis fitting snugly around your curves as you lean further forward. “He graduates next week, and I’m introducing him to the kids. I’m serious about him.”

“Great, you’re fucking a high schooler.” Beau scoffed as he sets the mug back down.

You give him a second. That’s all it takes. Cyclone’s a lot of things, but he isn’t dumb. His face changes. Now it’s his turn. Pupils blown, nostrils flared, enraged.

“He’s — I thought that you were fucking kidding! One of your students? — Jesus Christ, Hyde!”

You glare at him, banging your hand against his desk, “Keep your voice down.”

“Keep my voice down? — I’m going to make sure everyone who has ever thought you were worthy of a promotion finds out about this!” Beau shoves the desk and stands up sharply, jutting forwards like he’s going to tackle you.

“You say a damn word, and I’ll tell everyone about that fucking twenty year old that you fucked in our bed!”

Bernie. Beau stares at you blankly. Bernie, loose-lipped at the best of times and busy spilling secrets to Hangman for most of the reception on Saturday. Beau — who had been drunk out of his mind, and who had spilled his secret about the sharp-witted, young bartender who he had taken home the week before.

You watch your ex-husband scramble for leverage in his own mind; he’s already certain that his indiscretion is not half as bad as yours — you’ll still be in a much worse situation than he will.

Your lips quirk. “Did she tell you that she’s in flight school by the way? — That makes you her superior, huh?”

Studying a man for years leaves you with certain skills. The oh-so familiar ‘oh shit’ look has become one of your favourites. It suits him to look so dumbfounded.

You pick up the pen again and hand it towards him. “Sign — or you fuck us both over.”

His brows knit together just slightly. His head moves like he’s trying to shake it, just slightly. He takes the pen from your hand numbly as he searches your face. Looking for any semblance of the woman he loved.

“What did I do for you to hate me so much?”

You stop yourself from rolling your eyes. You stop yourself from leaping across the desk and shaking him, smacking him — cursing his name, because he still doesn’t fucking see it. He still has no idea.

He watched you slowly stop loving him every single day for years and did nothing to stop it. He reacted with fury and cruelty. Even now, he wakes up every morning with the intention to hold you back. A hot poker to your throat, there isn’t a single word that you can manage to say to him.

You exhale slowly and shake your head.

“I don’t hate you.” It’s the truth, you’re not sure that you ever could — even if he’s trying his best to make that happen. You stare at the floor, nudging the toe of your boot against a chip in the wood. “I hate that you made this such a mess, when it could’ve been over months ago. But I don’t hate you.”

It’s more of an answer than he probably deserves, he knows that. He holds onto his breath, turning his chin downward as he scrawls his signature on the dotted line, turns the page and does the same again. He knows where the pen needs to go — he’s been staring at these forms for once and waiting for you to change your mind.

Setting the pen down against his desk, he pushes the document back towards you.

“Who is he?”

“Don’t, Beau.” You sigh, picking the paper up from his desk and turning away. You open his office door and close it with more civility than he deserves.

It’s a hard time to get divorced — 8am on a Monday morning. It weighs on his mind through his morning briefings, the starts of his weekly catch-ups. The thought of you, down there in the classroom with those animals drooling over you. He taps his foot under the table as some two-star admiral drones on about unmanned planes.

“So, is Hyde as mean in bed as she is in the sky?” Javy grins, torso twisted to look back at Jake and Rooster’s desks behind him. There’s a movie playing on a projector in front of them about stealth maneuvers, but every time Javy looks forwards, all that he can think about is you moaning Rooster’s name this weekend.

Jake grins, leaning across towards Rooster, “Has she ever made you cry, Bradshaw?”

Rooster’s lips quirk, tugging at an amused smirk as he kicks back in his seat, “Shut the fuck up.”

“Does she make you call her Commander?” Javy grins, spurred on, his entire face consumed by the smile as he tries to stop himself from laughing.

Jake snorts at the idea, twirling his pen between his fingers, “So, you guys ever fuck on base?”

Rooster has been trying to look ahead and keep his mouth shut, and ignore their comments as much as he can, but they’re still his best friends — and he can’t pretend he isn’t proud of himself.

He leans just slightly towards Jake and lowers his voice, “She sucked my dick in the supply closet near pre-flight once.”

“No, she fucking didn’t!” Coyote whispers excitedly. Rooster swings his foot forwards and kicks the back of his chair, glaring at him. The three of them glance sheepishly back towards the front.

“So, Hyde sucks dick?” Jake whispers, deep in thought at the idea. “I woulda thought she was too mean for all that.”

Rooster’s lips quirk softly. He gives a gentle shake of his head and turns his attention back towards the screen. “She’s not mean.”

“Not to you.” Coyote replies with a small chuckle. Rooster smirks, then nods.

“No wonder after what we heard on Saturday. Oh, Rooster, fuck, I’m gonna—“ Jake stops abruptly as Phoenix turns around, bewildered. He gives her a small nod of acknowledgment. She glances between the three of them and then shakes her head, turning back towards the front.

Rooster bites his cheek and Jake and Javy snicker around him. He knows that he makes you feel good, and he’s proud of that. Jake and Javy can tease all they want. Rooster hopes they find someone like you someday.

“She does have nice tits.”

“Watch it.” Rooster bites. Jake’s lips quirk as he turns his attention back to the screen. He knew that he was going to get that reaction, he just wanted to see how far he could push Rooster.

As the video finishes, you dismiss the aviators to pre-flight and sit back in the office chair. Sitting at the back of the class, Jake and Rooster are the last to leave. Jake’s grinning at you as he walks towards the door.

“Cut it out, Hangman.”

He turns and winks back at you, “Don’t worry. I’ll keep your secret, Teach.”

Turning, he finds Cyclone standing a few feet down the hallway. He’s out of your line of sight but he’s staring straight at Jake.

Jake remembers being back home in Texas, young and stupid with nothing better to do than hop into the bull’s pen and race to see if he could jump out before he was impaled. He has looked a pissed off bull in the eyes many times, and he recognises that look on Cyclone’s face.

“Seresin.”

Jake leans his head back and groans, knowing that he shouldn’t find this as funny as he does. He raises his hands in defence and starts to walk backwards.

“Alright, Sir—“

…

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[renatogpadilla]

THOUGHTS ON CR3E92 IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:

- FIRST EVER CR CROSSOVER EPISODE?!

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

- Dariax said "This Flute doesn't play itself anymore." Doriax canon offscreen?

- "After all the handjobs, this is what we mean to you?!" Damn... I mean, I'm glad Opal and Cyrus found a way to relieve stress, Gods know they're both stressed, but damn.

- Ending the episode on Opal Twice-Crowned hitting phase 2 of the boss fight was EVIL!

I love it, @quiddie ! I feel like when this gets animated in a decade or so, we'll get this fight and the fight with Otohan Thull overlayed one on top of the other for a Season Finale or something!

- Raven Queen going two for two on Rogues turned Paladin! Which is great, but now I have to replan Morrighan's moveset for that imaginary Critical Role fighting game that only exists in my head (somebody ask me about it please, I NEED to talk about it!) but at least she gets some Smite options out of the Bunny Hop command jump!

- Dariax is a Bard now too! That's honestly so perfect for Matt! And the fact that both Sorcerers and Bards are Charisma Casters makes me feel like the Synergies are gonna be great!

- Oh, Dorian, wonderful blue king... That's a lot of strength that your Dice will never agree to let you use for anything cool. I missed you SO MUCH!

- Speaking of that imaginary CR fighting game, this just solidified Opal as a puppet character. The tag combos with Ted would be WILD! Think Kenshi from MK1!

- Fy'ra Rai... Just... FY'RA RAI! Gods, I've missed Anjali at the table! Her memory with Opal, her tug-of-war with her thoughts about her sister... THE LAVA WHIP! Nothing sexier than Monks! Except a pissed off Wizard or Druid.

- On the other side of the table, I LOVE the moment the girls all collectively remembered they had to break the news to Frida... Oh, that's gonna hurt BAD!

- Anyone else noticed that Ashton is BURNT OUT and laying on the ground after his Titan form wears off, but Fearne just says she's really tired and just KEEPS GOING? Ashton is DONE for now, but Fearne needs to keep moving forward... Fuck, I love these two.

- Orym... Just... Orym. If you take a level in Barbarian after this, I wouldn't blame you.

- Side-Note: This means Dorian DID get Orym's last message before they went to the moon! He just didn't/couldn't answer! Which means, through the static and everything, Dorian COULD hear Orym! And now he's probably gonna get this message once the battle is over... Jesus, if they get to Zephra and Keyleth went to the Lodge next to the lake that's gonna be a problem...

- Side-Note Side-Note: Anyone else hoping to GOD that Allura called the Nein to help? Cause Beau and Caleb were involved, but now it feels like an "All Hands on Deck" situation, and we could use Kingsley's small army of pirates right about now...

- So much happened this episode between the grieving and the flashbacks and the rolling for handjobs that I didn't have time to process the splinter cell of Xhorhasians that split their soul in twain until I woke up... Opal may have forgotten, but maybe Ted hasn't? Though if they're the same person, maybe they both forgot...

- Aabria, the corrupting of the Memories was FOUL, I LOVE IT!!!

- Somebody needs to tell Essek about the soul-splitters. In fact, let's get to that while we deal with Ashton too!

- IF OPAL DIES, AMY CAN COME OVER AS DENI$E! Like, I don't WANT her to die, but Westruun isn't that far... 👀

- I just realized this is the first ever FULL episode of CR without Sam at the table... Fuck, man, when it hurts it hurts. Glad Marisha brought back the fan.

"Forgot the Consonants?" "No Letters." OUCH, MISS RAY, WHAT THE FUCK?!

- Raven Queen Paladins hasting themselves first thing in the fight. Vax is back, and he's a Bunny Girl now!

- I like that the Crownkeepers are a two-way Overwatch reunion (McCree Cassidy and Symmetra) and a three-way Persona 5 reunion (Yusuke, Ann Futaba and Akechi).

- Everything was so fucked this episode that everything with Liliana got knocked to the background for me, THAT'S how good it was!

- The SECOND Evoroa said Ludinos was on Exandria I knew EXACTLY where he would be! Now we HAVE to get the Nein involved, right? Unless the bastard makes the city float again...

I cannot WAIT for the next episode! And if Sam brings a new character when all the groups are together, it would be SPECTACULAR! I'm guessing he's going to play one of the moon races, because that just sounds cool... Either that or Tary!

[grigori77]

The Mighty Nein: Echoes of the Solstice (Live Show from Mo-fucking WEMBLEY!)

Ah, a hype man ... okay then ...

My ... he's quite salty really, isn't he?

"All the bar staff are like: What team is this? I don't know, but none of them make eye-contact."

He's got a point, we are better at swearing ...

"In this country, the sentence: I twatted the twat in the twat ... makes perfect grammatical sense!"

Ah yes, the first ĺive show since the Pandemic ...

Oh, here we go ...

Fuck me, look at that FUCKING CROWD ... O.O

Ye gods, Ashley what the fuck are you doing to us AGAIN?!!! Bloody hell ... then Liam ... and Taliesin? Look at that SWAG!!! MARISHA!!! Incredible ... Laura! Wow ... that's like ... AND Travis ... basically Jester and Fjord in the flesh ... just a shame Laura's not blue ...

And then we we have SAM FUCKING RIEGEL ... never misses an opportunity, does he?

Matt's going nuts and I don't blame him ...

Ah yes ... what fresh hell is Riegel gonna unleash upon us THIS TIME? The audience are ahead of us already ... oh gods ... no, you really AREN'T Freddie Mercury, mate ...

Bloody hell ... that actually WORKED ... I'm extremely surprised ...

Ashley has an announcement? Blimey ... no wonder she's a little nervous ... oh, but she's getting into it already ... Nice ... and yeah, Crit Role Red Nose Day, always fun ...

Cosplayer nod! Nice! Liam: "Oh man, so many Sprinkles!"

Yay! Animated intro WITH AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION!!!

Liam: "I've had this dream!" Matt: "Thank you all so much for the trauma!"

Recap! Nice!

Oh, so they WERE just Shunted, then? Okay, so what happened then?

So we're about to find out ... where are they? Shush, sound effects problems! Blightshore? Intriguing ...

Ah, so he CAN talk ... Caleb: "It's been a while." No shit, mate!

Oh, so the magical disruption has knackered the collar too ... batter that thing off, Beau! "You know, your wife has shaved me with a greatsword, this should not be too challenging for you." Oh, NOW he's rethinking this plan? Minor Alchemy?

Sam: "No, I want her to punch you!" Liam (as Caleb): "I'm sitting right next to her, it's going to happen!"

Oh crap ... Matt, what are you saying? What the fuck is THAT shit supposed to mean?

Ah, Imogen ... Beau: "She was kind of cute." Caleb: "Don't cross the streams!"

SNAP!!! Thankfully collar not neck, at least ...

Yes! Get her to Yasha! Go! With Caduceus? Awesome ...

Hey! The Blooming Grove! They made it ... oh, this is PRETTY!!! Calliope! Awwwwww ...

BABYYYYYYYYY!!! :3 Ashley: "I touch her everywhere, make sure she's fine! Well ... maybe not EVERYWHERE ..." Caleb: "I've seen them like this when they've been apart for a few hours."

CADUCEUS!!! Yeah, boy!

Ooh! Munchies!

New armour? Sweet ... the "Oh no, I have to leave in a hurry kit"? Intriguing ...

Dream Beau can be an asshole, apparently ... Beau: "But if you felt like exploring, maybe ..." Yasha: "Oh, I didn't know that was on the table!"

Oh yeah, Veth has, like, PRIORITIES now ...

Beau's accidental kleptomania ... XD

A splinter from the Nein Heroes? Intriguing ... and they're on the ship! Yay ... docked? Oh, hey, Nicodranas! Sweet!

Good lord, what are they doing? Matt: "How did we start this so horny?"

REUNION!!! Yay!

Jester's been getting headaches from her Sending ... yeah, that's right, makes sense ...

Perception check? Oh, first roll ... Travis: "Nine!" The crowd cheers! Of course they do ...

ALL of the Assembly ... yeah ... Trent Ikithon, of course, I thought so ...

Yeah, get Veth! Yay ...

Weird dead seabeast? What is that shit?

Matt: "Interrupt MY story, why don't you?"

A Message to the Ruby ... and she has to roll a D100? Nuts ... 48? 14 points of Psychic damage? Oof ...

Yes, she COULD heal herself, but it's par for thd course, really ...

Blud! Hi!

Spooked seabeasts ... hmmm ...

The Brenatto residence ... here we go ...

VETH!!! Yay!

Veth: "The world has been turned upside down!" Beau: "What's wrong?" Veth: "I HAVE A FUCKING TEENAGER!!!"

Luc wants to be an adventurer? Of course he does ... yeah ... how old IS he? Veth: "Whatever feels right!"

Veth: "To be fair, I was drunk for most of his childhood." XD

So what's the plan?

Oh, Scrying? Yeah, try it!

I love how Jester's being do sweet about Ludinus, it's hilarious ... oh, NOW she gets it? Jester: "He's a douche, I hate him!" Yeah ...

Here we go then, go Jester ... Travis: "That's right, use the 5th Level, nothing can possibly go wrong ..."

Jester has a DICK COLLECTION now? LOL

Reminding Jester who Trent is ...

Oh hey, here's Artigan! Nice! Oh ... how rude!

Caduceus: "We're not big problem people." Jester: "Are you saying we're NOT going to push the Moon back into the sky?"

Oh wait ... is Veth NOT coming?

Jester: "Um ... the Lavish Chateau is NOT a whorehouse." Veth: "A speakeasy with benefits?"

Luc? Hi! Wow ... he's an EMO TEEN now? Interesting ...

Veth making fun of Fjord being the weakest of the Nein ...

UNCLE Caleb ... :3

Jester! DO NOT give Luc a tattoo!

Wow ... Veth REALLY IS bowing out ... that's so sad ...

Veth makes Jester take another 8 points of Psychic damage ... XD

Wow ... AWKWARD goodbye ...

To the Cobalt Soul in Rexxentrum? Okay ...

Everybody runs into the circle ... wait ... WHST THE FUCK?!!!

Luc? Seriously? Wow ... he even has a Character Sheet! He's do cute ... :3

Here we are, then ... and they've just realised they're not alone ...

Sam's doing an emo teen voice now ... I love it ... this is gonna be SO MUCH FUN ...

Are we EVER gonna learn howold he is?

Yasha: "Hit me!" Seriously?

Oh, so we're doing this ... and she CATCHES his punch ... of course she does. Adorable ...

And now he's in a huff ...

And now he's gonna try and hex Beau instead ... this really is getting funny now ... Beau: "I'll cover my eyes to make it more fair." XD

Ah ... Caleb gives him THE TALKING TO ...

Wow ... he's really good at THIS ... oh, totally working the heartstrings, definitely ...

Oh wow ... they're coming around ... oh, so they're giving CAD the deciding vote? This'll be interesting ... and he makes a good point.

Ground rules from Caleb ... as it should be ...

Caduceus casts Death Ward on Luc just to be safe ... Nice one, mate.

Ovedo? Okay ... apparently things are chaotic ... oh, this doesn't sound good ...

Matt once again using the feedback constructively ...

Ah, teenage bravado ...

Volither ... hmm, nice hair.

Aggy? Who's that?

Dark tunnel? Okay ... no, DEFINITELY not Luc in the lead ... an extra luck roll for him? Nice one, Caleb!

Oh shit ... the magic seals are DEAD. Not a good sign ...

Crap ... what the hell is THIS shit? Oh, that's fucking CREEPY ... scary monster monologue ...

Beau just closes the door on whatever the fuck THAT was ...

Oh, it's still going? He does love to go on and on ...

Hello who's this?

Wait ... a guest? Oh shit! It's Daniel! You sneaky bastard ...

A dwarf? Intriguing ... a blue kilt? Even more so ... and WINE? Hmmmm ... a bit tipsy, apparently ...

Whoa ... he bested Beau? Wow ... and then he offers her a DRINK ... of course she accepts. XD

Aggy: "Is that a little boy?" Luc: "I don't trust this guy, he looks over 30."

Luc: "Hey! Don't insult me and then explain it to me!"

Yes, Matthew, what HAS HE found?

"Unattended baggage" ... SNORT ...

See Invisibility ... oh, hello, Star Razor ...

Eldritch Blast! Yay!

Aggy HEADBUTTS the wall Fjord just attacked ... wow, and he just NUTTED a dozen open. Cute ...

Constitution check? 9? Oh, and what does THIS mean? Oh dear ...

He thinks Caduceus is a horse ... I love that ...

Daniel: "I look like a very small, short John Wick, by the way." XD

Aggy just walks RIGHT IN ... and now there's more illusory nonsense ... wait ... the Shadowhand? Ooooh ...

Ah, so ... going down, then? Hmmm ...

Oh dear, this doesn't look too good ... what now, then?

Wow .. clearly Aggy is NOT particularly bright ...

Whoops? Holy shit ... Nice dodge! He's now tumbling down the stairs and FLASHING EVERYBODY ... oh dear, what now? Another dexterity roll? NAT20!!! Nice ... he is UNSCATHED ...

Daniel: "I am just sucking the Dice Gods' dick!"

He is almost ACCIDENTALLY good at this ... oh, here we go ... CRITICAL FAIL!!! Finally ...

Oh dear, what has he gotten into now? 76 points of Force Damage? Holy fuck ... is Aggy DEAD ALREADY?!!! Fuck ... a DISINTEGRATION TRAP?!!! Shit ... so that's it? Aggy is DUST ...

Farewell, Daniel ...

Oh yes, that's right, technically he IS an Admiral ... Admiral Tusktooth. Nice ...

DO NOT let Luc check for traps ... oh yeah! Mage Hand ... and Jester Guides him too ... :3

Wow ... that's a lot of traps ...

Another magic mouth ... for the gods' sake ... he's so full of himself ...

Another door? Okay ... check for traps again ... and ANOTHER mouth ... even MATT is now acknowledging that Trent is full of himself ...

Oh you ARSEHOLE ... not cool to taunt Caleb like that ...

Ah yes, the Tower? Sweet ... yes, rest.

The Aeorian Security Cannon ... and a FLUFFERNUTTER?!!! Holy fuck ...

True Seeing ... oh dear ... now Caduceus has Beau tripping balls again ... fuck, a Nat20 for a full 27 perception ... sweet fuck ...

Athtiri Menthal ... huh?

Beau has a +16 to her Arcana? Fucking hell ...

Ashley once again Stop It-ing Sam when he sneezes. VERY LOUDLY this time, too ...

They're fighting Trent AND a thing, or Trent AS a thing ... lovely ...

Okay, so rest and regrouping, then ... back to Caleb's tower, then head out in the morning ...

Mahogany? Hmmm ... certain dirty minds, I swear ...

Okay, then ... and time for a break! Well then ...

Aaaaaah ... Welcome To Wildemount returns ... always fun ...

And we're back ... Heroes' Feast! Nice ...

Caleb has a personal talk with Luc, and gives him his Luck stone? Wow ... oh fuck, WISH?!!! Seriously? 5th Level Simulacrum ... so he's now CLONED himself ...

Yasha: "Whoa! There's no riding going on! Except on me ..."

"Beth"? Hmmmm ... typical teenage boy, clearly ...

Beau and Yasha and AT IT ... of course they do. And Fjord and Jester. Liam: "No-one more competitive than Laura Bailey."

Good night's rest ...

Beau finds TWO Calebs TWICE as insufferable ...

Luc chugs the weird Potion ... oh boy, what's this shit gonna do? Oh crap ...

Whoa ... wait, what ... oh no ... extra confidence? Oh that's not good ... crap ... Luc is DEFINITELY gonna be even more reckless now ...

Death Wards on both Luc AND Fjord, then ...

Crown of Stars? Crazy ...

Caleb 2 is now a sabertooth cat ... of course ...

And so now Caleb has come home ... group stealth check! Blessing of the Trickster to Yasha? And she doesn't even need it ... but Beau TANKS it ... at least everybody else rolls spectacular ...

Now what?

Ring of Telepathy ... and Trent is still insufferable ... and fucking NASTY with it too ...

This is just gonna be a fucking RECKONING ...

No ... Caleb, DO NOT say your fucking goodbyes right now ...

Assault of memories ... ouch ... this is just CRUEL ...

Two undead presences? Oh you fucking evil bastard ...

Jester goes in with Caleb ... Beau and Yasha go round back ...

"Uncle Deuce" ... Caduceus: "Oh, I'd forgotten about that ..."

The bastard REALLY HAS brought Caleb's parents back ... that's fucking monstrous ...

Insight check ... oh yeah, they're not right, definitely ...

Jester just goes STRAIGHT to Turn Undead ... and they BOTH fail? Fuck ... that's effective, at least ...

I'm sorry ... the house just EXPLODES?!!! Fuck ...

34 points of Fire damage? Oh wait ... no, Fjord has some protection! Nice ... just 17, then. Same for Jester, too ...

Well, they're definitely NOT his parents anymore ...

BATTLEMAP!!! YAY!!! Cue Sam's plug for Wizzkids ...

And ROLL FOR INITIATIVE!!!

Jester Invokes Duplicity! :3 Awwwww ... tiny voice Laura doing the Jester voice is adorable as she directs Matt ...

She attacks Trent with her Spiritual Weapon and HITS!!! Nice ... but it just MISSES him? WHAT?!!! Meanwhile while the duplicates scatter, she bolts out the door ...

Yasha Rages and bamfs out her wings for Radiant Soul! Nice ... charging in to get ready for attack next turn ...

Beau POWERWALKS inside ... and attacks Trent from behind ... but the punch does NOTHING?!!! Seriously, what the hell?

She attacks the dad ghoul instead ... POP POP!!! But it resists the Stun ... Flurry of BLOWS, then ... and Patient Defense.

A METEOR SWARM?!!! Seriously?

And that is just OUCH all round ... crap ... thank fuck for saves for most ... Caduceus takes THE FULL DAMAGE ... and so does Luc? Crap ... but he has Evasion? Oh, so just half, then ...

Fjord casts Hexblade's Curse on Trent, then throws FOUR Eldritch Blasts ... a miss on Trent, first misses on the dead dad, but the other 2 HIT!!! Boof-boof!

The undead back off but Beau gets an Attack of Opportunity ... daddy is FUCKED UP ...

Mind of Mercury? Nice, Beau! And she gets the first HDYWTDT! On the dad ... oh dear ... well, it's a mercy, really ...

Rapid Cast of Chain Lightning from Trent ... oh no, Caleb just Counterspells ... but he can't actually see him, so it misses? Ow ...

Shit ... Caleb is DOWN ...

Caleb 2 turns into a T-Rex! Okay then!

Death Save 1 fails? Oof ...

Luc casts See Invisibility ... Trent is ACTUALLY hiding behind the tree ... Laura: "Like a little bitch!"

Caduceus casts Mass Heal ... 100 each? Holy fuck ... that is all round a SWEET FUCKING SAVE!!!

Jester runs to find Trent ... Fortune's Favour? Nice ... something that doesn't need line of sight? So she just casts Anti-Magic Field his magic! Nice ... that's it, he's now REVEALED!!!

Yasha charges in best she can ... but she can't attack now ... crap ... so she just casts Zealous Presence and YELLS in his face while flowering everybody else ...

Beau charges in too and just SWINGS for him with her staff ... and TANKS the attack roll! Okay ... second strike ... Fortune's Favour! Oof ... Flurry of Blows! FINALLY hits ... 14 damage plus Stunning Strike ... but he shrugs it off ... then 17 and another Stunning Strike ... but he uses Legendary Resistance even though he Crit Fails ... Extract Aspects ... he's resistant to ALL magic? Interesting ...

Fuck, is he running? What is this thing? An artifact ... oh shit, is he changing? What's he doing?

Sam: "Guys, we're fighting Trent Ikithon in Wembley Stadium!"

Everybody's blasted back ...

An orb of black shadow is just growing ... and now he's just a great horrible black shadow creature ...

Whoa ... a SECOND Battlemap? Fuck ...

It's the whole town ... Trent is a FUCKING KAIJU!!! He's suckimg the life out of people and stuff ...

Hexblade's Curse! Go, Fjord!

Caleb stays prone, jnstead turns into Gelidon the Nightmare in Ivory? Whoa ... and Matt has the miniature ready! Wow ...

Caleb 2 charges in with Luc still on his Dino back ... but they keep a safe enough distance ...

Luc casts Enlarge on the T-Rex! Fuck ... Matt doesn't have a larger model for THAT ... Godzilla is now loose in the streets!

It attacks Fjord with a tendril ... Liam: "Keep your hentai out of this!"

Caduceus runs to Yasha ... Holy Weapon to her, so she has boosts to all her weaponry! Nice ...

Jester casts Gate to pull Artigan through in front of the creature. SHIT!!! And he is suitably SHOCKED by what she's got him into!

Arty casts Chain Lightning on it ... 38 points of lightning damage! Nice ...

Yasha charges in and attacks! Lots of damage maths, apparently ... 101 points of damage in ONE FUCKING HIT!!! The crowd goes wild! She attacks again! Another hit! 59 points this time! Bloody hell ...

Beau rushes in znd attacks ... Nat20! Yeah! And another hit! 19 damage, then 16! Flurry of Blows ... 20 misses? Oof ... Debilitating Damage? Oh, okay ... and now it's vulnerable to Ice Damage? Nice, Beau!

Oh fuck ... EVERYBODY takes 31 points of Necrotic damage? Ouch ... now it concentrates on Yasha ... Ire of Oblivion? Oof ... a Nat20 save? So she only takes 70 damage? Oh great ...

There's a weak spot? Okay then ...

Even Sentinel with a Nat20 doesn't stop it? Crap ...

Fjord takes 2 swipes with the Star Razor ... both hit! 42 points of damage, snd a Divine Smite for an extra 16! Nice ...

It responds with a Void Claw ... Fjord just hits the brakes and it just MISSES him ... phew!

Caleb just brings his whole dragon mass down on it and vomits ice into its face! 77 points of Ice Damage! Nice ... and he has a Frightening Presence? Okay then ...

Caleb 2-zilla bites the thing's arse ... no joy! Claw strike! Hits! 21 points, then 14!

Luc looks for the egg ... he casts Brenatto's Voltaic Bolt, then shoots the gun into the egg! 26 points of damage to the artifact! Okay ... that looks to be the sweet spot!

Caduceus prays to the Wildmother, makes the creature's ichor turn into ice ... now he can see through it to find out how it works ... he pulls out Yasha's Holy Weapon and inflicts 26 points of Radiant damage on the creature! Cool ...

Jester teams up with Arty to hold her spell with him ... Guiding Bolt with his Enhancement ... balls ... shit roll spoils the shot ... crap ...

Yasha flies up and goes RIGHT for the egg ... and misses! Agh! Reckless! Go again! Another miss! FUCK!!! Oh Fortune's Favour! Okay ... balls! That was ALMOST awesome ...

Beau RUNS UP the creature! Holy shit ... she tries go reach into the chest snd tear the egg free ... strength check! Marisha: "WITNESS ME!!! NATURAL 20!!!" The crowd EXPLODES!!!

Matt: "Beauregard Lionett, how do you want do this?" AAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!

She tears the egg free, which pulls Trent into it, throws it into Caleb's mouth, and he BITES IT TO FUCK!!! YAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!

Caleb has his vengeance at long last ... the survivors of the town applaud (as does the crowd). Nice ...

Jester congratulates Arty for saving the day ... oh flattery ... he gushes in response ... then she drags him into helping with the clean-up ...

The Calebs return to normal, Caleb sends what's left of the egg into some kind of nether realm. Then they big Luc up a bit, while still zlso grounding him.

Fuck ... Fjord just PROPOSED TO JESTER!!! AAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!! Matt: "You motherfucker!" Jester OF COURSE accepts ...

Caleb's cats prepare a feast for all, and there is celebration, but only a small victory against the larger backdrop of CHAOS from the Apogee Solstice ...

And that's it! Everybody takes a bow!

Well, this was a whole hell of a lot more epic than usual ... but altogether just the AWESOME reunion we wanted. I just hope it won't be the LAST time ...

[sarahs-secrets2]

Leaving with Somebody Else (Phillip Graves x Reader) 18+ ࿐♡ ˚.*ೃ

A little bit of a theme here with t1975 songs and Graves haha, hope yall enjoy! I opened up my requests tab if anyone wants any Phillip X Reader drabbles :) I'm going to start posting more Phillip bits more frequently so feel free to follow to stay updated! <3

(P.S. This is a separate work from my other fic, check out my masterlist for the Sex-t1975 x Phillip Graves fic, part 2 will be out sometime this week!)

Loosely based on Somebody Else by t1975

gn! mentions of boyfriend, no use of Y/N

Word Count: 1.2k

Warnings: Tad OOC, ANGST, swearing, alcohol, mentions of hookups, pet names, some NSFW

₊°✧︡ ˗ ˏ ˋ ♡ ˎˊ ˗

Arms linked walking into a dive bar, you looked around the room taking in the smell of shitty alcohol, looking at the handsome man standing next to you as you both smiled at each other. Unbeknownst to either of you, a somewhat of a bitter ex sat at the bar watching the encounter. 

Phillip Graves threw back his bourbon motioning at the bartender for another one, it was his 3rd already, maybe the 4th, he didn't bother to count. He watched as you dragged your newest “toy” across the bar to a booth, where you both sat on the same side, something he introduced to you. 

“Phillip no way in hell are we sitting on the same side of this booth c’mon”, you laughed as you tried to push him out of the seat. Graves looked at you with a smirk, “Darling, you're gonna have to try harder to get me away from you”.

The memory was haunting, it made him sick. He had heard around the barracks you were with someone new, he didn't care to hear the rest though. It was easier for him to erase you from his memory than indulge in the what-ifs. 

Phillip and you had called it quits officially a year ago, the following 5 months consisted of late-night hookups trying to convince each other that maybe you could fix it. 

“I can't keep doing this at 4am Phil”, you were sorting through your clothes and getting dressed after crawling back to your ex, despite telling yourself that last time was the last time. 

“I don’t see the issue doll, I think we work perfectly together, c’mon let’s try it again, we’ll be better”. Despite wanting to believe him, you knew the spark was gone, and the hookups just prevented the inevitable of not seeing each other again. Phillip would never admit that the love had gone cold, it had to be you. 

Finally dressed, you walked over to Graves, who was standing by the bed. His hair tousled, with his blue eyes piercing through you. Small tears started to roll down your face as you reached a hand up to cup Phillip’s face, he knew what was coming. 

“Thank you”, is all you said as you placed a small kiss on his cheek and headed out his door for the last time.

After that night Phillip always tried to tell himself that you would come back, just like last time. Now back in the bar, he saw you with somebody else, confirming the swirl of rumors he once tried so desperately to ignore. 

Phillip knew and had come to accept that there was no love there anymore, and he told himself he had gotten over you but seeing you with somebody else made his heart pound. Thinking about you and your new boyfriend doing the things you and he used to do. The weird ownership he felt over you as if you weren't allowed to be sitting with somebody else.

Sitting in the booth with your new beau, you could feel eyes on you. Glancing up, you saw Phillip Graves sitting casually at the bar with his classic bourbon. He was probably meeting some new girl, you thought to yourself. Graves was always the most attractive man in the room, there was no doubt about that, seeing him again confirmed that. 

Your mind wandered, did he move on to? It was a tad hypocritical to feel upset that he may be waiting for somebody else as you were quite literally there with a new guy, the feeling of jealousy still plagued your mind.

“You alright babe?” the voice next to you pulling you back to reality. 

“Yeah, a bit lost in thought”, your hand grazing the bicep of the man, “ Mind getting me a drink?” 

He smiled and nodded as he stood up kissing your forehead, “I’ll get your usual”.

Graves watched the whole encounter, feeling as if he was transparent, did you see him sitting 5 feet away from you? Did you care? His empty glass clinked on the wooden bartop, this time the bartender was ready with the next one. Phillip’s eyebrows raised as a silent thank you to the man behind the bar.

“Is that any good, I can’t decide what to get,” Graves' head whipped around, was this real? The man you walked in with, now talking to him. He must've not known the history, Graves told himself, no way he would be talking to your ex if he knew otherwise. 

“It’s s’alright, gets the job done ya know”, Graves tipped the drink toward the source of his jealousy. 

“That's convinced me enough, thanks dude”, the man's hand patted Graves' shoulder as he ordered a bourbon and some drink Graves had not heard of. It hadn’t been that long and Phillip felt as if you were a stranger to him. 

Too distracted with your phone to notice the interaction being had with your current and past lovers, only looking up once you heard the glassware of the drink hit the table. “Bourbon? You hate bourbon”, confusingly looking at the stout glass your boyfriend held as he took a small sip. “The guy at the bar recommended it, it's not horrible”

“The guy as in the bartender?”

“No the dude on the stool with the blue button up”, you didn't even have to look over to figure out he was talking about Phillip, was this some tactic to get under your skin? Downing the rest of your drink, you looked up at your boyfriend in front of you. 

“Forget the bourbon, let's go home”, at this point you figured Phillip was trying to get your attention, thinking you would run back to him. Tugging at the collar of your boyfriend's shirt you pulled him in for a slow kiss, knowing Graves who was sitting 5 feet away was watching. 

Phillip finished his drink with the bartender now signaling him he had been cut off by handing him the tab that had been racked up over the night. His eyes now glued to the pair in the booth with his stomach churning, the kiss made him want to throw up. That was him at one point, and now you're intertwining your soul with somebody else. 

Graves' eyes followed you, as your boyfriend led you out of the bar as you happily trailed behind. 

You were leaving with somebody else as he sat at the bar with his empty glass and hefty tab. 

Phillip forced the down idea of the two of you together as he threw down some cash and picked up his jacket to leave the shitty bar. Skimming through his contacts and finally landing on your name, Graves deleted the contact, and the memory attached to it. It was time to get over it and find somebody else.

₊°✧︡ ˗ ˏ ˋ ♡ ˎˊ ˗

This made me sad writing this omfg

[ariadne-mouse]

For the prompt "a kiss neither person expects"

Shadowgast, 748 words

“Has anyone seen the green paper ribbon?”

A voice cut through the wedding hubbub to reach Caleb’s ears.  Essek was weaving in and out of the chaos with the dexterity of a dancer — he dodged two handymen carrying a vase of flowers big enough to fit a small halfling family inside (they had checked for Luc, just in case), a parade of chairs headed out to the ceremony area, and a gaggle of servers balancing hors d’oevures.

“The green paper ribbon?” Essek tried again, peering in every open box, on shelves, and even, humorously, under a table, all with increasing urgency.

“Nope!” Beau swung through, carrying an ungainly box that should have been too heavy for someone of her size.  She balanced it on one hand to waggle a roll of paper streamers at him.  “I got blue.  You want blue?”  

“No, no — Jester clearly specified it must be green.” Essek ran his hands through his hair, ruining his elegant coif.  He raised his voice, moving on from Beau. “Has anyone seen the green paper ribbon?  Green!”

He vanished from the room, and Caleb could hear the query being repeated.

Caleb looked down at the seating placards he was organizing, rubbed his chin, then stood up to poke around while the wedding preparations swirled around him.  He remembered seeing — on the refreshments table — ah yes, here.  The roll of green paper streamers, meant for garlanding the pavilion outside.  It was hiding under the open lid of a box of sugared pastries.

“The green paper ribbon?  Have you seen—?”  Essek was outside the door again.

Veth answered, her voice slightly strained, like she was carrying something. “No, but can you make this thing lighter?”

“Yes, fine—” There was a whiff of ozone.

“Thanks!”

Essek strode back into the room, his hair now in total disarray, eyes darting around.

“Did you need this?” Caleb asked, holding up the green ribbon.

Essek’s focus landed on him like a lightning strike.  When he saw what Caleb held, his whole posture collapsed in relief.  “Oh, thank the Light!”  He swooped in like a falcon, seized the roll of ribbon, then seized the sides of Caleb’s face and kissed him right on the lips.  By the time he was adding “Thank you!” he was already halfway out the door and gone.

Caleb stood where he was, poleaxed.

More people passed through, weaving around him with parcels and plates and furniture.  

“Hello Caleb!” Yasha lumbered by with another huge vase of flowers.  Her smile was sweet next to sprays of irises and gladiolus.

“Hallo,” he said absent-mindedly.  Spark, fizzle, went his brain.

A minute passed, and then Essek returned with the same whirlwind of energy he had left, the tail of the green ribbon roll that he still clutched flapping behind him.  He stopped short upon sight of Caleb, his eyes wide as saucers.

“Ah,” he said.  He wet his lips.  “Did I—?”

“Um,” Caleb replied intelligently. “Ja, I think so.”

“Coming through, fresh pastries!  Fresh pastries for the bride!” Caduceus ducked a little to avoid the doorframe. “Oh, hi there, Caleb.  Essek.”  He smiled and passed through, the sound of his footsteps joining others outside.

“Ah.” Essek’s expression had become something like terror.  His fingers were leaving little dents in the side of the ribbon roll. “Ah— sorry?  I don’t know why— I’m sorry.” 

Caleb once more tried to process what had just happened.  His lips felt like they might be buzzing with the memory.  Or, maybe there had been spice in the Nicodranian pastries.  Hard to tell.

“No,” he said, blinking.  His face felt very hot.  “No, it was fine.  Nice.  Ja.  Um.  Nice.”  He pointed at the green ribbon. “Don’t you have to—?”

“Fuck,” Essek exclaimed, and was gone once more.

Caleb blinked a couple more times, staring at the door Essek had disappeared through.  Then, slow as a sleepwalker, he sat back down at his table and picked up the seating cards.

“Okay,” he said to himself.  The names on the cards looked like squiggles of an unknown script after Comprehend Languages had worn off.  “Okay.” 

If the seating chart was somewhat confused when the time for the ceremony arrived, well, everyone sorted themselves out as best they could, and Jester and Fjord still got married at the end of it.  And if Caleb was noticeably flushed when he asked Essek for a dance in the celebrations that followed, and Essek too when he accepted, well, it could simply be the wine — but the way they looked at each other said otherwise.

[steddietogo]

Spider-Steve

Part 1: The Origin Story

------

Steve Harrington is Spider-man. You can trust him when he says he has no idea how that happened. It seemed like on day he was an average high school douche canoe and the next, bam, superpowers.

It all felt sort of alienating at first. Steve does his best to ignore it because honestly, it couldn't have come at a worse time. Literally the day after his girlfriend of a year and a half cheats on him with her best friend, which Steve felt like he totally deserved it, what with the whole high school popularity contest and the shitty things he did with his so-called friends.

Then one afternoon, he runs into Dustin Henderson who vaguely recognises Steve from a dinner a lifetime ago at the Wheeler's house. He takes one look at him and declares, "You'll do,". Five minutes later, Steve is climbing a tree in the middle of a park and scooping up a scared little kitten, shivering high up in a branch. After that, his best friends are literally middle school children who bully him into chauffeuring them around town for their own convenience. Needless to say, it's a step up from the friends he used to have.

The day his life changes, Steve is wearing a ridiculous sailor outfit, working a closing shift on his summer part-time with his mean lesbian co-worker who absolutely hates his guts. One attempted armed robbery and two concussed assailants later he's gained a platonic soulmate, the only other human on earth who knows his secret.

"The universe is sending you a sign, Dingus!" Robin says when they're hanging out in Steve's room one night, a regular enough occurrence that Mrs Harrington makes dinner for three now.

Together, they come up with the most ridiculous looking red and blue suit. Robin insists the blue brings out the brown of his eyes ("You can't even see my eyes through the mask, Buckley!") and names him Spider-man (Steve used up all of his vetos and cannot think of an alternative himself. Whatever, no one else is ever going to see it).

Everyone sees it.

Spider-man kind of becomes a local sensation after his accidental run in with yet another robber at a diner in broad daylight. Steve just wanted lunch after a 'training session' with Robin Buckley who is more rigorous than his basketball coach.

Even worse (or maybe better?), Dustin finds out about his little secret in the most idiotic way possible when Steve discreetly climbs into his bedroom window of his fourteenth storey apartment one night in full spider-man garb. He closes the door to his room silently so as to not alert his mother and rips his mask off his face in the privacy of his own room. Or so he thinks, until a loud crash has him whipping around to see Dustin Henderson on his bed, having witnessed the whole scene, with his jaw on the floor alongside some complicated-looking machinery in pieces at his feet.

As much as Steve complains about it, he's eternally grateful for the two in his life. His anxiety isn’t as soul crushing when he thinks about going back to school now that he has Robin with him.

———

Eddie Munson has been watching Steve Harrington. Well, not in a creepy stalker kind of way. He’s just very slightly curious.

King Steve’s messy breakup with his girlfriend and suddenly fall from Hawkins High royalty status was the talk of the school for weeks. But Steve didn’t immediately become an outcast or anything like that, no that’s not how the world works for rich pretty boys like Harrington. He did stay on the other side of the cafeteria from his former crowd. Something Tommy H wasn’t particularly fond of judging by the scathing looks he kept throwing him from all the way across the room.

Apparently, a lot more had changed over the summer judging by the two new passengers Harrington pulls up into the school parking lot with. Robin Buckley, whom Eddie would’ve thought was Harrington’s new beau if it wasn’t for the gigantic lesbian pride flag stuck on her locker, and a much younger curly haired boy who waves at the two and books it in the direction of the middle school building.

Eddie isn’t the only one who stops and stares as the unlikely pair make their way past the lockers, bickering like they’d been friends all along. There’s a significant lightness to Harrington’s broader shoulders (man, had he been hitting the gym all summer?) that Eddie hasn’t seen since before the infamous breakup. Not that Eddie spends a lot of time watching him, no. He’s just that observant.

Eddie’s still deep in though and staring in the direction the pair had gone when a heavy binder smacks him square on his chest. He barely manages to grab it before it falls and crushes his toes in his Reeboks.

“Stop drooling and move it, man, we can’t be late on the first day itself,” Jeff complains loudly. Good shoulders are good shoulders, it’s not his fault that the man who has them is a jock and a douche. Eddie grumbles as he follows Jeff.

He wonders how quickly Harrington would revert back to his old ways— maybe he could make bets on it, make some money out of it. He just hopes Buckley doesn’t get too hurt in the fallout. This new school year’s already shaping up to be an interesting one and first period hasn’t even started.

———

[liza-webber]

ICARUS

Summary:

The sky doesn't belong to you anymore.

After a huge crash one year ago, you stopped flying, and you feel like you don't belong to the Navy anymore. But your superiors think otherwise.

Now with the task of assisting a new instructor on a suicidal mission, maybe you have another chance to feel alive again.

Your heart is in the right place, but your brain keeps drowning you in darkness.

If you fly high enough will you reach the sky, or burn too close to the sun?

A/N: Hey!! After finishing Top Gun this Sunday I couldn't stop thinking about this story I made in my mind.

I hope you like it, if you know me from my previous fics you already know I love to explore my characters so have fun! Have a good reading<3

This fic contains spoilers for Top Gun: Maverick

Chapter Index

Chapter One: People Watching

The clouds in the sky, the rough wind against the metal, from up there life seems manageable, up there all my problems used to disappear, vanish with the wind, gone with the mountains. I loved to watch the world from up the clouds, to see the sun next to my eyes, to feel like I can control my own life.

But now…

Every time I look at the bright blue up our heads, every time I look at an airplane my body wants to run away and hide. The sky doesn't belong to me anymore, my problems are down here, in the dry land, where no matter where I run, I keep seeing her face.

The sound of the crash from almost a year ago keeps living in my head, I can’t forget about it, I don’t deserve to forget about it. If I let go it means that her life was meaningless, if life moves on, what’s the point of our past?

My eyes shot open, the nightmares never stop. Every lunch I try to eat alone, and sometimes I fall asleep against a wall, that was one of those times. My face is wet ‘cause of the sweat and the heat on the Navy's Base.

“Captain Hawks?” I hear someone with a rusty voice calling my callsign. I look up, Admiral Beau Simpson is looking down at me, his hands on his hips and concern in his eyes.

“Sir? I’m so sorry-”.

“The meeting is in thirty minutes”.

“Meeting? What?”.

“New Top Guns pilots will arrive by the end of the day, did you forget?”.

Yes, I did, and no, I can’t answer that.

“Of course not. I’m very aware of it”. Simpson offers his hand and helps me stand up.

The sun is burning on our skins, but I always insist on wearing long sleeves t-shirts, it makes me feel safe after what happened. We start to walk side by side getting inside the huge Navy Base, the white walls feel suffocating sometimes, especially when you’re me.

Even though I know a lot of people here respect me, a lot of them blame me for the accident that happened, and the gossip is always spreading around.

“The new instructor will arrive tonight” continues Simpson, “It’s your job to deliver all the information you have about the pilots tonight, the training start tomorrow”.

“This mission is really getting on your nerves huh?”

Simpson locks his blue eyes on me with a concerned expression, he walks very fast that I don’t even have time to look at my surroundings.

“All the previous instructors didn't accept this one, and you keep saying you aren’t in conditions to-”.

“And I’m still with no conditions to fly, Admiral Simpson. Helping with the training is the least I can do”.

“I know. I just hope this guy can help you with it”.

“Guy? Who’s the man you chose?”.

“We didn’t choose him. He is the only one left”.

Admiral Simpson opens a gray door and holds it to me, I enter the room, there’s a large table with some files, my files spread all around. At the other side of the table Admiral Bates is sitting with his arms crossed as he looks at the slide show impatient, not because of me, I hope.

When he puts his eyes on me a little, but soft, smile crosses his lips, and he looks relieved.

“Good afternoon, Captain”. He greets me.

“Same to you, coronel”.

“Your files are perfect, I hope the pilots we are receiving are as perfect as their results”.

“I hope they know how to press buttons and don’t faint in the airplane, like the previous ones,” Simpsons says as we sit at the table waiting for the Instructor to arrive.

"So, hm, you didn't tell me who is the infamous instructor at the bottom of the list. I'm curious".

The men look at each other and then at me again, I don't know if this is a good or a bad sign, maybe I'm thinking too much, or maybe I'm right, I can never tell. 

A knock on the door steals my attention, and a voice, a very distinct voice echoes muffled by the door.

"It's him".

When the door opens, I have to contain a big smile from forming on my lips, in the front door is no other than Maverick, one of my favorite human beings in the entire world, he looks the same as ten years ago, just some tiny almost imperceptible wrinkles in the corner of his eyes, his brown hair always looking good, and his dangerous smirk on his lips. 

Maverick looks surprised when he sees me, I give him a salute just before the start of the meeting because when it starts it looks like it will never end.

Simpsons gave Mav' all the information about the mission that we would be doing in three weeks, it's suicidal, I know that. 

On the day of the accident we were doing a similar operation, I was the only one that came out alive, not because I was faster than the others, not because my pilotage was better, but because after my plane crashed and civilians found my body almost dead and helped me, so I survived.

I wish I didn’t.

I got lost in my thoughts just before hearing Admiral Bates saying my name.

“The Captain here will help you with the pilots, she has all the information about them, after that you’re dismissed”.

“With all due respect Admiral, I’m not a teacher”. Maverick says, his hands behind his back.

“Oh, I’m counting on that” I finally say, “These guys are the best of the best, they don’t need a teacher, they need a leader, Maverick, and we can talk outside. If that is possible admirals”.

I look at the men sitting beside me, both of them give a sharp nod allowing me and Maverick to leave, and that’s what we do.

“So… Captain, right?” Maverick says at the moment we entered Penny’s bar, I always loved all the decorations on the ceiling, the cups, the little airplanes, everything seems too easy there, like being a pilot was the easiest thing in the world, I wish it was.

I put my hands in my pockets a bit embarrassed, Maverick was like a walking legend to me, my grandpa had flown with his dad more than forty years ago, and I respect him so much.

“Yeah… It's been two years I guess. And you?”.

We sit at the bar’s counter and I watch as Maverick's eyes get lost in Penny Benjamin, I shake my head waiting for his answer but it never came, instead, he started to talk with Penny, gosh… the man got the moves.

As I wait for Maverick to come back from his endless flirting with Penny the bar’s door opens again, and there they are, a whole group of young Top Guns starts to walk inside the bar, their competitive eyes looking all around, and their loud laughs fulfill the place.

“And here they are ” I whisper to Mav breaking the fantasy he must be created in his head. He closes his eyes and then looks back at me, and I point to the other side of the bar at the pool table.

Maverick watch the pilots in silence like me, but sometimes his eyes go back to Penny and I laugh softly.

“Dude, calm down. You can take it”.

“Are you talking about the pilots or…” he points in Penny’s direction.

“You gonna figure it out” When I look down I see Mav’s phone on the counter, and I remain silent, maybe Penny didn’t notice.

Well, she did.

When she gives me my beer she locks her eyes on his phone and holds a laugh in her throat, after she rings the bell and the whole bar celebrates. Free round to everyone, poor Maverick... He is so confused that I can’t hold a laugh anymore, Maverick looks at me with wide eyes.

“You knew that?”.

“The plate is right there, Maverick. I thought you knew how to read”.

He rolls his eyes.

“How’s your family?”.

“Oh they are okay, my mom is just a bit recluded after grampa died”.

“Viper was a great man. No wonder why his grandkid is such a smart one. The last time I saw you, you were…”.

“Fifteen, I guess. It’s been so much time” I take one more sip of the beer and get up “I’ll be right back, don’t run away”.

The bathrooms are close to the piano, as always I tried to get there fast enough to not be disturbed by anyone, and when I was almost reaching it a tall man passed in front of me and we almost collided, he looked at me above his sunglasses a bit confused.

“Sorry”, I raised my eyebrows with an apologetic expression, I was trying to not be disturbed, but I ended up disturbing someone, life’s irony.

The blonde guy kept staring at me, and he hung up his sunglasses on the collar of his shirt.

“I’m pretty sure I know you from somewhere”.

I tilt my head to the side analyzing his features, the tall stature, the blonde hair, and most important the mustache, I would remember, right? He is pretty recognizable.

“I think I would remember”.

“Oh would you?”, he raised an eyebrow with a teasing tone.

“That’s not- that’s not what I mean. Can I just pass, please?”.

He laughed softly and opened space for me to pass through, I gave him a nod thanking him and went to the tiny bathroom of the bar.

When I returned to the bar a huge crowd was around the piano and an old song was being played. I took a glimpse of who was singing Great Balls of Fire , and he was there, the mustache guy was with the sunglasses on, and all the top guns were around him, I leaned against the bar counter watching all the commotion.

Penny was behind me watching too, I look at her with a little smile, she loved her job, that’s when I noticed that Maverick was nowhere to be found. His seat was empty and a few dollars were laying on the counter.

“What happened?”. Penny pointed to the bell, she must have rung one more time, and Maverick was thrown out of the bar. “I can believe I missed that”.

“And you’re missing that too” Penny pointed in the piano’s direction, the guy was looking above his shoulder in our direction, and when he caught my gaze on him he turned his attention back to the piano.

“Thanks for the drinks, Penny” Even though I knew that Maverick would pay for the drinks I always paid her, she deserve it.

“You barely finished” she answered confused, and she was right, my bottle was far from empty.

“I have a lot of work tomorrow”.

“No. You always use that excuse to run away”.

“No I don’t”, Yes I do.

“You’re gonna sit here and finish that bottle”.

“Hmm, you sound like my mom” Without taking my eyes off her I took the bottle in my hands, and took a sip. “Happy now?”.

She nodded satisfied.

I stayed there drinking and watching the people singing happy and full of life, I wonder when was the last time I did that. 

Although I loved the bar, sometimes the huge crowd made me feel watched, and followed, that is just in my mind but I can’t stop thinking that way.

Someone sat on the bench next to me when I finished my bottle.

“Two beers, please” a voice that I recognize asked Penny and she quickly put the bottles on the counter, when I realized one of them was being offered to me. “I’m Bradley”.

“Are you trying to get me drunk, mister Bradley? ‘Cause I can guarantee you, it won’t happen”.

“Peace offering, what you’d think?”.

I frowned at him, I could feel Penny’s blue eyes on the back of my neck, so I gladly accepted.

“I think this will do, thank you”.

Taking a second look at him, he is familiar to me. Me and my terrible face recognition, ugh, I hate this feeling. He notices me staring at him for too many seconds.

“What?” he asks softly.

“I think I know you. I just don’t know from where”.

“Any guesses?”.

“No. You?”.

“I don’t know either, but I’m sure I know you. I never forget I face”.

“ Weird ,” we say at the same time and I laughed softly. “Though I don’t mind if you stare at me a little longer” he continues.

“Oh so you’re really trying to get me drunk, silly of me thinking you were a decent man,” I said ironically and a laugh in the end, Bradley laughed too.

Next Chapter

[rainbowcaleb]

Jester's Haunting

(wip snippet)

A hand skitters across his shoulders and Caleb twitches at the sensation, as all logical body reactions would, but he only laughs instead of jumping.

“Damn, I thought for sure that’d get you.” Veth ducks out from behind the chair and sticks out her tongue in mock pout. “Beau’s scary story didn’t get to you at all?”

“Spiders don’t frighten me, Veth. I’ve slept near much worse.” Caleb takes another sip of his warm apple cider and smiles as Veth plops next to him and grabs her own cup.

Jester reaches her hands across the table between them all, making grabbing motions at Beau. “My turn, my turn, pass me the candle!”

Beau gives her an uncertain expression. “Jester you are surrounded by extremely flammable candy wrappers. You sure you want to add an open flame?”

Jester pushes some of the wrappers back on the floor and Caleb is grateful that the mess of tower-generated candy trash will simply disappear tomorrow. It is a formidable pile.

“I can’t tell my story without the right ambience!” Jester holds out her hands expectantly and Beau slides over the candle, wax already pooling around the metal base from the length of her own story.

“Make it super scary, Jester, don’t play soft with us.” Veth gives her a wink, likely already thinking of what live action addition she can add to the storytelling.

“Maybe not too scary though?” Fjord asks. “There’s still a few more days until Hallow’s Eve, we should save some of the excitement for later.”

Beau jabs her elbow into his side. “You’re such a baby. Jester, add an extra turtle to your story just for him.”

Fjord sighs, but before he can speak Yasha raises her hand. “I want to tell my story tomorrow. I think you need a day to rest before hearing it.”

“Well. That is extremely ominous, thank you Yasha.” Fjord laughs, but his brows scrunch with anxiety.

“And Caduceus is last! We already agreed his will be the totally spookiest, so best for last!” Jester brings the candle closer to her face, underlighting her blue skin with ripples of warm glow. “My story begins at night.”

“They all do.” Beau interrupts.

Jester rolls her eyes. “It isn’t just any night. It’s a pleasant fall evening, the leaves are turning colors and the wind is getting that crisp smell. You want to go outside and watch the stars start winking in the sky but you can’t. You can’t move at all.”

A hush falls over the Nein, the mugs of cider have stopped clinking on the table. The crosstalk quieted.

[imagines--galore]

||A Slight Frustration||

Summary: Resident genius at the BAU can’t seem to get enough of his techie co-worker. Though it doesn’t help that shes been coy and aloof throughout the day, feeding him nothing but scraps of affection in the form of lingering gazes, and brief touches. But then again, he did bring it upon himself.

Pairing: Dr. Spencer Reid x Evelyn Richardson(OC)

Rating || Genres || Warnings: M. Romance. Teasing. Fluff. Smut. Pure and simple smut. 18+. MINORS DO NOT PROCEED.

A/N: Alright so you guys voted and this was the result. A spicy scene between Dr. Spencer Reid and Techie Evelyn Richardson. Hold on to your hats! Also for everyone new. Evelyn is my OC and I am currently writing her story in Mind Over Matter if you want to read it. Though you don’t have to. This can be read separately. And is NOT linked to my fic as of yet. Maybe sometime in the future when the moment comes up.

There was no denying that the air between them was palpable. If there had been anyone else in the car with them, Evelyn was sure they would be squirming in their seat with discomfort with the tension that seemed to be sizzling between her and Spencer.

Perhaps she had been a tad bit mean while working. Maybe she shouldn’t have teased him as much as she did, but it couldn’t be helped.

Not when he had started the war by starting something so early in the morning and not finishing. Oh she had been more then a little annoyed at him pulling back despite her desire to keep going. The entire car ride to work had been one of silence, with Spencer being a smug little shit and smirking at every angry expression she threw his way.

It was while stepping into the elevator that Evelyn decided on her little plan. She was going to make him regret leaving her hanging like that.

With that thought process in mind, she set her plan in motion. She had turned to her boyfriend and, taking advantage of the privacy the elevator allowed them briefly, fused their lips in a kiss that could only be described as sinful. Her lips slanted to meet his, and she wasted no time in allowing her tongue to slip into his mouth as she pressed her body up against his. Spencer had stumbled to catch her, to wrap his arms around her, but before he could properly begin to enjoy the embrace, she had pulled back pulling at his lower lip as she did before letting go and resumed standing next to him as if nothing had happened.

And just in time too, since the elevator doors opened allowing another agent to step into the enclosed space. Thank goodness the man had his head buried in a file, otherwise he would’ve been rather curious about the way Evelyn was standing there looking smug, while Spencer seemed more then a little flustered at what had just happened.

The elevator arrived at their floor and the two of them stepped out. Before they could enter the Bullpen, Evelyn gave Spencer’s hand a slight tug. He turned to look at her, cautious because of the look in her blue eyes as she raised her chin and smirked at him.

"Just remember Spence, you brought this on yourself.” With that she walked past him, not even sparing him a backward glance.

Spencer swallowed, feeling nervous, bothered and hot at the same time.

He was screwed.

                                            ————————-

The entire day was hell for Spencer.

Every chance she could get, Evelyn would tease him however she could. Lingering looks while biting her lower lip, winking at him whenever she would catch his gaze, allowing her hand or body to brush against his every chance she could. And those were the only mild forms of teasing.

It was nothing compared to when he had gone to her and Penelope’s office.  He had been waiting inside for five minutes when Evelyn had walked in. After being informed that the latter had gone on a lunch date with her beau, Kevin, Spencer had given a nod and moved to step out of the room.

The petite red head quickly moved to block his view and with a yank at his tie had pulled him down to her height. “What? No kiss for your girlfriend Spence? I’m hurt.” She cooed, relishing in the way his eyes widened in panic. They had agreed to keep things professional when it came to working hours, but all of that was going out the window with the way Evelyn was behaving.

Not that he minded, given the way she had been acting the entire day.

In the deepest recesses of his brilliant mind, Spencer admitted to himself that he was rather enjoying this devil may care persona he didn’t know his girlfriend possessed. She was always so sweet and calm, yet the energy she was exuding now was chaotic and sexy.

His mind was still reeling at the newfound persona, as she closed the last few centimeters between the two of them and kissed him once more. This kiss was just as charged as the one she had given him in the elevator, though now she could actually take her time with him. Their lips moved in sync, a dance they had done before so many times. Yet it never lost it’s energy or spark.

Usually she had to crane her neck to kiss him properly, but with a firm hold on his tie, she had him a her level. The red head wasted no time in moving from his mouth to run her lips along his jaw. “Ev-Evie?” He managed to stutter, trying really really hard not to give in completely. “Yes, Babe?” She cooed against his skin. The endearment had him, groaning, as he all but melted in her arms as she gave him a slight push so he could lean against the door.

Her lips moved to his neck. It was a good thing she decided not to wear lipstick that day. Otherwise his skin would be imprinted with her lips by now. “We should stop.” He managed to get out between breaths as his hands danced along her waist and back, holding her all the more closer to him, needing to feel her against him. Evelyn chuckled as she nipped at the skin of his neck, causing him to jump slightly at the sudden act.

“When I’m good and ready.” She whispered, her breath hot and heavy against his skin, before licking a white hot stripe against the shell of his ear. His entire body shuddered against her, a needy moan slipping past his parted lips. The Tech Analyst knew they couldn’t take things too far. Not only would it be unprofessional, but she was also aware of Spencer’s aversion to places he deemed unsanitary. Though their office was clean, she knew it wasn’t Spencer level clean.

With one final nuzzle of her face against his neck, the red head pulled back. Smiling at the betrayed yet wanting look he gave her, she turned back to continue with whatever she had been doing before running into him.

It took a few more minutes for Spencer to finally calm down and walk back to his desk in a complete daze.

He was only startled out of it when Derek asked if he had asked Evelyn to email the files they needed. Not having the strength to face his girlfriend lest she ambush him again, he quickly sent her a message.

                                            ————————-

The teasing continued. Though for the rest of the day, it was much more milder then the hot and heavy session they had shared in the room. And despite his promise to not allow his frustration to show, Spencer’s patience was hanging by a thread.

It finally broke when she sent him a text message. Attached to that message was a picture of a rather sexy set of lingerie with the caption - Thinking of buying this what do you think? Spencer had shot her a look, while she wiggled her fingers playfully at him.

Finally, his control snapped, and he allowed some of his frustration to show. And though Evelyn’s smirk did not falter, he knew she received the message he intended her to pick up on.

She was in a lot of trouble when they got back home.

                                            ————————-

The heavens had opened during their final work hours, and it was pouring by the time they had clocked out for the day. It was a slow drive back home. The coldness of the weather did nothing to lessen the heat between the two of them as Evelyn’s house finally came in sight and the car was pulled into the driveway.

The two of them stayed where they were, allowing their eyes to finally meet. They had been avoiding to do so since they sat in the car, but now? Evelyn could see the want in Spencer’s darkened gaze, while he assessed the way she ran her tongue along her lips. The only sound between them was that of the rain as it fell against the roof of the care, and their deep breathing.

“You do realize I will make you sorry for everything you did today?” Her only response was the smirk at him. “Well maybe you shouldn’t have left me high and dry in the morning.” Spencer rolled his eyes at her. “We were getting late for work Evie.” He responded at which she rolled her eyes. “That’s just an excuse Spencer, and you know it.” 

She gathered her things, moving to open the door and step out into the rain before she paused. Why not tease him just a little bit more? Hurt his ego.

Looking over her shoulder and smiling coyly, she spoke. “A real man would’ve enjoyed having his girl be all over him, Dr. Reid.” She did not miss the way his nostrils flared with anger, and certainly heard him growl her name as she quickly stepped out of the car and into the freezing rain.

She slammed the door behind her, starting to walk to her front door as fast as she could. The rain soaked her within seconds. She quickened her steps, eager to get out of the rain when a hand wrapped around her wrists, pulling her to a stop. She turned, frowning up at her now very frustrated and annoyed boyfriend.

“I am going to make you regret saying that Evelyn.” The words were spoken in a low tone, his heated gaze fixing her with a look that only made her stare back at him defiantly, ignoring the way it made her shiver with anticipation.

Without further ado, Spencer initiated the first of many kisses for the evening. The rain fell around them, and they were thoroughly soaked, but neither of them seemed to care. Spencer didn’t wait for her to give him permission to make the kiss deeper, leaning into her much smaller frame. She would’ve tipped over if his hands hadn’t steadied her by pressing against her lower back.

They exchanged hungry kisses. Spencer seemed bent on simply devouring her as he bit her lip, harsh enough to make her gasp, allowing him the opening he needed to slide his tongue against her own. Evelyn moaned loudly as she felt his tongue caress her own.

Being completely soaked had rendered her cold, yet she had never before felt so hot in her life. Her arms wrapped around his shoulders, hands, playing with the gorgeous brown strands as she concentrated on kissing him. “We need to get inside.” She managed to gasp once she had wrenched her mouth away from his to catch a breath. His forehead rested against hers, the both of them panting slightly as they locked gazes. He only nodded in response, and still gripping her wrist, lead her down the last few steps that were left between them and the door.

It was quickly locked and chained once they stepped inside. Neither of them bothered to turn on the lights as they turned their attention on one another once more. Evelyn dropped her day bag on the floor, before she was in Spencer’s arms once more. “No more distractions.” She stated firmly, gripping his face between her cold wet hands and bringing his head down for another kiss. Evelyn felt him hum in agreement as his hands began to undo the buttons of her shirt, pushing the wet fabric off her shoulders. Her hands dropped to his waist to tug out his shirt, before she quickly undid his tie and threw it over her shoulder. Her fingers fumbled with his buttons a little, prompting her to let out a sound of frustration before she yanked at the two sides of the shirt. There was a clatter, as the buttons went flying. Her impatience prompted Spencer to let out a small breathless laugh against her lips.

“Getting impatient, Darling?” He cooed in a low tone. God, he sounded so sexy. “Shut up, Babe.” She responded with hardly any malice in her tone, as she threw his wet shirt on the floor. With a hand on his shoulder she began to push him to walk backwards and towards the bedroom. Spencer let out another laugh before moving his lips to kissing the soft skin of her neck. A soft spot for her, as she moaned his name and tilted her head to allow him better access. His hands snaked behind her back, finding the hooks that kept her bra in place. They were quickly undone, allowing the garment to fall to the floor as well.

A trail of wet clothes followed them as they made their way towards Evelyn’s bedroom. She quickly pulled off her shoes and socks, as did he. Once they reached the door to her room, Spencer pushed her up against the wall, pinning her with his body. His eyes were dark with lust and a promise to have her utterly satisfied by the time he was done with her. “You’ve been such a tease all day Evie.” He spoke lowly, the strands of his wet hair falling in his face. It made him look even sexier then he already did. Spencer may not be as bulky as Morgan was, but he still had a strong build. Perks of working for the FBI, one had to be in their best physical condition. “Well I didn’t hear you complaining.” She responded, trying not to shiver as his gaze dropped to her bare breasts.

Because of the wet clothes her breasts were already pebbled at the tip, and just aching to be played with. Which is exactly what he did. Her eyes slid shut as he cupped her gently, before starting to roll the soft mounds. His lips found that sweet sweet juncture that lay between her neck and shoulder. The red head all but arched into him as she let out a wanton sound. “I-I do ho-hope you-’re plan-ing on fi-finishing this t-time.” She whispered softly, her head lolling back against the wall as she lost herself to the sensation of his hands playing with her, and his warm mouth against her still cold and damp skin. The sensation was addicting, her body burned with desire, and yet her skin was still cool from their little session in the rain. Evelyn felt him chuckle against her skin.

“I plan to do more then that, Sweetheart.” He promised, stopping his assault on her neck for only a moment before continuing. Not wanting to let her hands remain idle, Evelyn found the buckle of his pants, undoing them quickly. The sound of a zipper echoed, followed by fabric dropping to the ground. Spencer stepped out of his pants, kicking them away.

“Now take yours off.” He commanded, his mouth going back to it’s task of pressing hot open mouthed kisses all along her collarbones and the top of her breasts. Evelyn whimpered in response as she undid her own pants and stepped out of them as well.

His hands left her breasts, a loss she bemoaned, to grip her thick thighs and lift her up. As he carried her inside the bedroom, Evelyn reached behind her head to shake her hair free from the ponytail. “Do you have any idea how sexy you look when you do that?” Spencer voiced his thoughts, to which she shook her head. “You could mention it a little more to make me believe it.” The man chuckled, though it tapered off to a groan as she bucked her hips against his.

For the first time Evelyn seemed to realize just how much she was aching for him. The sensation was almost to an unbearable level for her now, and her hips thrust against him again. She could feel him against her core, as he stretched against the fabric of his boxer shorts.

He dropped her onto the bed, making her bounce a little as she landed on the soft mattress. Evelyn giggled at the act, before looking up at the man as he loomed over her. His fingers hooked under the fabric of her panties, allowing it to slide down her legs before he threw it aside. It landed somewhere in the room, and were followed by his boxers. Evelyn gulped as he crawled along her body, almost trembling with anticipation.

“As much as I would love to tease you.” He ran a gentle finger down the side of her face. “I think we can play later. Agreed?” The finger continued to trace her skin as it continued down to the valley between her breasts, to her navel, before coming to a stop at just the apex of her thighs. Evelyn agreed by wrapping her arms around his neck and pulling him down to kiss her.

Their lips remained fused together as he nudged her legs apart with his knee. She nibbled on his bottom lip as she felt him press slightly at her entrance. He swallowed her gasp as he pushed himself inside her with just the tip. Distracting her with his mouth, Spencer continued to push in slowly, deeper and deeper with each kiss until finally he was completely buried inside her.

Evelyn hissed at the sensation, at just how deliciously he stretched her out, while Spencer groaned at the feel of her tight, warm, wet walls around him. He allowed them both a moment to adjust, before he began to move.

They had stopped kissing in favor of simply looking at one another. Evelyn adored seeing Spencer come undone. There was just something beautiful about the way his features conveyed his pleasure. Spencer, on the other hand, believed that Evelyn looked absolutely divine when she reached her peak.

His hips continued to move, thrusting in and out of her at a slow pace. They were both panting, their arms wrapped around one another. As the heat between them began to build even more, Evelyn whimpered at the tightness that was coiled in the pit of her stomach. It had become unbearable. “Faster Spence.” She pleaded. Her boyfriend needed no other encouragement as he began to thrust into her even faster. The room echoed with the sound of their panting, and of the sound of skin slapping against skin.

Small whimpers began to leave Evelyn’s parted lips. Her body felt as if a hot liquid ran within her veins, warming her from the inside out. “You feel so good, Darling.” Spencer whispered as one of his hand slid down her body to find that little bundle of nerves just above where their body’s met. A keening cry left her thoroughly kissed lips as he began to roll and pinch the too-sensitive bundle around. “Fuck! Babe!” Her words were incoherent, but then she completely lost the ability to form a proper sentence as her boyfriend increased the force behind his thrusts. Spencer groaned as his head dropped forward slightly. “You feel so good Evie. So good.” He repeated over and over.

A few vicious thrust was all it took for the two of them to fall over the edge. Evelyn fell first, her nails raking along the skin of his back to leave behind red marks, with Spencer falling after her with an almost animalistic groan.

Evelyn was still seeing stars behind her closed eyelids as she felt Spencer lower his body down on her. Her head was spinning with the force of her release. She wrapped her arms around him, pressing her lips to the top of his head, inhaling his scent as she did. They laid there together, with him still inside her, simply catching their breath. “I love you, Evie.” She all but cooed at his admittance, cuddling even closer to him as he finally lifted his head to look at her. “I love you, Spence.”

“Babe?” She said softly, gaining Spencer’s attention with a hum. “As much as I would love for you to hold on to your promise and make me pay for my teasing.” He let out a chuckle at that, prompting her to playfully pinch his shoulder. “Can we just sleep for a few hours?” All she wanted to do was hold him close while catching up on a little sleep. She had a feeling neither of them would be getting any over the next couple of days given it was the weekend. Spencer laughed, moving his head a little so his lips could press against her neck. “Well we should be well rested so that we can continue such activities over the weekend.” She giggled at his response before nodding. “Agreed.”

He only moved to lie down beside her, grabbing a blanket and pulling it over their bodies. The sound of the rain outside was their only company as they whispered softly to one another, exchanging sweet kisses here and there until Evelyn’s breath evened out as she slowly fell asleep. Pulling the blanket up to cover her shoulder, Spencer pressed one last kiss to her forehead before allowing his eyes to close as well.

                                            ————————-

A/N: Erm....thoughts?

[sunlightmurdock]

Ceasefire | 0.8 | Bradley Bradshaw x Reader

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Synopsis: Bradley Bradshaw is in San Diego, summoned to Top Gun for the first time. Commander “Hyde” Simpson is his flight instructor, and she doesn’t have time for schoolboy crushes.

Warnings: ex-husband!beausimpson, divorce, age gap (rooster is somewhere between 26-28, reader is 38), power imbalance between instructor and student aviator, swearing, angst, smut, unprotected pinv, arguing

…

When you had read over Bob’s hastily typed note of Bradley’s address, you had failed to consider than number 4c was likely to not be a ground floor apartment. Three floors up, your heels are digging into your feet and you’ve still got the taste of Beau’s tongue in your mouth.

With your jacket abandoned at the wedding, you pad along the hallway of the building and knock politely at the blue wood. Cold breeze, shame, and an entire day spent near an open bar — you’re not in the mood to be playing waiting games. The civility fades from your touch with each bang against the cheaply painted, powder blue front door.

The door to the apartment finally swings open after maybe the twelfth knock.

Bradley’s standing on the other side, his suit jacket and tie long discarded, the sleeves of his white shirt rolled up to the elbows and the top few buttons popped open. Ignoring you clearly wasn’t going to work. Handsome, hurt — gearing up to slam the door in your face again, you need to work quickly. Words pour into your head and spill out again just as quickly, not a single one of them making it past your lips.

He stares at you, nailing the wounded look. You’re so filled with guilt that it’s already pushing up and spilling out, he rolls his eyes as you start to pour with apologies.

“What do you want, Hyde?” He asks dully, keeping his body between the opening in the door, making it painfully clear that he wants you nowhere near him.

“I’m so sorry that you saw that, Bradley — I didn’t mean-“

He scoffs and pushes at the door, leaving it to swing shut as he turns away. You catch it before it slams in your face, pushing yourself inside and shutting it behind you.

You’re standing now in his living room. It’s a sparsely decorated space, a grey L-Shaped couch in the corner, navy and white area rug in the middle, a big tv with a gaming console plugged into it.

“Rooster, let me explain, please.” You sigh, taking a step towards him. He’s hurt. He takes a quick step back and holds a hand out towards you, keeping you at arm’s length.

“Are you still in love with him?”

It’s a loaded question, and you think that you’ve got the answer to it instantly. He knows what you’re going to say, but after what he saw tonight, he doesn’t want the first answer that springs to your mind. The look in his eyes makes you pause. You sigh softly.

“I’ll always love the memories that we have, the family that we created,” You answer gently, your tone sincere. Rooster stares at you. “But I don’t love him. He doesn’t make me happy, I’ll never be happy with him.”

You take a step towards him and this time he doesn’t move. You rest your hands on his hips, smoothing your fingers along the neat fabric of his white button up, lifting your gaze to look him in the eye. You both know that there’s still a gaping question, waiting for an answer. Does Rooster make you happy?

You trail your fingers up, along his forearm and curl them gently around his bicep, pulling yourself slightly closer to him.

Rooster scoffs, brushing you off of him, “But you’ll let him kiss you in front of everyone when I’m not even allowed to stop by your office anymore.”

“I didn’t let him do anything! — He was drunk and he just did it, Bradley. What was I supposed to do?”

“That’s not how it looked to me.” Bradley answers back, shaking his head. He steps into your space, “You were all over him all night. Look, Hyde, you’ve got kids with this guy — if I’m in the way, if there’s even a chance that the two of you are going to get back together, say it now.”

“How many times do I have to tell you that it’s over between him and I?” You groan, leaning your head back and sighing.

“After he just stuck his tongue down your throat in front of me, you might have to say it again.” He snaps back, cheeks reddening, brown eyes darkening. He hasn’t ever talked back to you like this.

You groan and and follow him forwards again, “Rooster, god fucking damnit — I’m divorcing him, I left him—“

“You’ve been divorcing him since I met you and he’s still wearing his fucking wedding ring!” Rooster bites back.

“He wasn’t — he wasn’t wearing it today.” You answer quietly, brows scrunching together. You hadn’t realised that Rooster had taken notice of that before now. He has, every single time he has seen your husband on base for the entirety of the summer, his eyes have always been drawn down to the gold band on Beau’s finger.

“Fucking Christ, you know what I meant.” Rooster mutters, shaking his head. He turns his gaze back towards you, cold. Your chest aches, knowing that if you reach for him again, he’ll just brush you off. He takes his time to read your expression. It’s clear that you’re feeling guilty, but he knows what he saw today, and it wasn’t two people who don’t love each other.

There’s a long pause. You know that there’s nothing you can say that will calm him down, he’s trying not to say something out of line. Still, after fifteen years of marriage to a man that can count the times he has smiled in the past year on one hand, you’ll be fine.

“I don’t know why you even came here.” He tells you, his voice low and careless. “You should go.”

Unfazed, you tilt your head and squint. Rooster stands firm opposite you.

“So, you’re calling the shots now? — The decision’s all yours?” You challenge, scrunching your brows at him. After the evening you’ve had with Beau, you’re tired of men and their egos, and the blame landing on you every time.

“Yeah, I am.” Rooster answers. “Let yourself out.”

Your mouth hangs open as he turns away from you and grabs his open beer from the end table before heading down the hallway. He makes it to his bedroom and still hasn’t heard the front door slam. He groans as he swings the door open.

The sound of your heels on the hallway floor ring through the apartment. It’s a small space, Javy’s room is opposite Bradley’s and Jake’s is on the other side of the living room.

“Go away, Hyde.” Rooster mumbles, taking a long drink from his beer and setting it down on his dresser.

“No, you listen to me—“

He scoffs, turning to face you, standing in his doorway and scowling at him like he has done something wrong.

“I’m done fucking listening to you!” He snaps. A few steps in your direction, the vein in his neck struggling against the white of his collar. You stand still, turning your gaze towards the ground just so you don’t have to see how much tonight hurt him. “Do I mean anything to you, Hyde? — Do you even give a fuck—“

“Oh my god, can we not do this now?” You groan, pinching the bridge of your nose. He chuckles dryly and takes another drink, then shakes his head.

“My thoughts exactly, I don’t have anything to say to you right now, so you should just leave.” He mutters, leaning back against the dresser and folding his arms over his chest. His muscles strain against the white of his shirt, hair messed with loose curls falling down onto his forehead.

The anger slips for a moment and you see just how hurt he is, all of the hurt that he’s holding in those pretty brown eyes.

“Can you at least let me explain?” You bite back, crossing the room and pointing your finger into his stupid, muscled chest.

A muscle in his jaw ticks. He swallows softly and leans back, folding his arms over his chest. An entire summer of trying to convince you that he’s worth the risk, and you crushing it all in the space of one evening. Like you weren’t just laying in his arms this morning, tracing your fingers over each of the freckles on his arms.

Furious is an understatement. His face flushes, throat tightening as he tries to keep his words to himself. Rooster had been wondering this whole time what you had possibly had in common with someone as cold as Cyclone. Now, after a summer of letting him think he had a chance, he gets it.

“No. You should go.” He stands firm, squaring his shoulders and glancing down at your finger still pressed into the fabric of his shirt. Your features tighten.

“Rooster, for god’s sake, it was just—“

He leans forwards and grabs the back of your neck, tugging you harshly forwards and pressing his lips to yours. One hand curling harshly into your hair, he tugs at your roots, taking advantage of the small whimper you let out after.

Lips parted, he slips his tongue into your mouth and grabs at your hip with his other hand. He presses harder into you, kissing at you mouth with a blind passion, your teeth knocking into his as you bump into the foot of his bed.

“Have you thought about doing what you’re told for once in your damn life?” He mumbles against your mouth, curling his hand tighter into your roots. You moan softly into him, pain and pleasure, him and only him. You let him have that one.

His hand comes up, catching hold of your jaw and tilting your neck back, angling your head exactly where he wants it as he drops his mouth down to suck at your throat. Almost painfully hard, leaving purple marks, covering them with his teeth and then kissing softly at the pressure points.

Your fingers curl into the fabric of his white shirt, creasing it under your grip as you tug it free from his belt. Rooster curls his fingers tighter around your jaw, cupping your throat in his hand as he sucks kisses against your neck.

Dizzied by his hold on you, his mouth against your skin, you fumble with his buttons, fingers trembling as you try to work them open. As his lips work along your throat eagerly, teeth doing maybe even more work than his lips, his hands are on your chest again.

Knees weakening, you grab onto his shoulders for leverage as he kneads your breasts under his palms, kissing feverishly along your neck. You stumble slightly, finally getting his shirt open. A longing sound slips your lip as you push the fabric back off of his shoulders, almost a groan, not quite a whimper. He pulls back just slightly, shrugging the material down his arms and discarding it onto his floor.

Rooster catches your wrist and turns you quickly away from him, grabbing the zipper at the back of your dress and tugging it down harshly. There’s a faint sound of something ripping, but that’s truly the last thing on your mind when his mouth is attached to your throat and he’s tearing you out of your clothes like a man possessed.

“Rooster!” You gasp, stumbling slightly as he spins you to face him again, letting your dress fall around your ankles.

“You want me to stop?” He breathes out, almost impatient as his hands curl around your hips. You stare at him, silent, blinking and trying to process what is happening in front of you. Slowly, your head shakes from left to right. Rooster nods his head hurriedly, going for his belt. He makes easy work of the buckle, tugging it out of the loops, dragging his zipper down and stepping out of the dress pants, leaving him in black boxers.

Your mouth goes dry, lips parted, eyes widening as he tucks an arm around your waist and pushes forwards, pressing his knee into the mattress and lowering you down onto his bed. He pins your body to the mattress with his, squeezing your hips under his palms.

He lowers his head and kisses at your chest, holding you close with one hand as the other cups your breast. You let your head lull back. You should probably be embarrassed at how easily he coaxes a moan from your lips. He nips at your skin, making his way downwards, glancing up at you with a smirk on his lips as you gasp.

Most of the time, Rooster is careful and tentative with you. Taking his time, taking care of you in every way that he can. Neither one of you is in the mood for that today. You’re his — he wants you to be all his, just his, and he needs nothing more than to let him know that’s exactly what you are.

You gasp again as he grabs your hips and pulls you under him with ease. He plants his forearm beside your head, nudges your underwear to the side, and guides his cock between your legs. You kiss his lips needily, quickly remembering the heavy heels on your feet. You push yourself onto your elbows, reaching for the strap around your left ankle, “Oh, wait—“

“Leave ‘em on.” Rooster pushes you back down, catching the back of your knee and hiking it up around his waist, watching breathlessly as he guides the tip of his cock between your folds. You whine, shifting desperately under him.

Your breath catches in your throat as you take him. You whimper softly, adjusting to the hot, thick stretch of him. He kisses your jaw lazily, fucking into you in short, soft thrusts until he’s buried into you completely.

Rooster barely waits a second before his hands are on your hips, holding you in place as he fucks into you. That gold cross necklace he wears dangles over his pronounced collarbones as he grunts desperately at the feeling of your walls around him.

Your hand trails up his neck, curling into his hair, tugging hard as he rocks harshly forwards. His fingers press into your hips, holding you still so that he can keep up his pace. Filling you completely and then dragging back, rocking you towards your high, making your head spin.

He lets go of one side of your hips, moving it down between your bodies. His thumb presses harsh circles on your clit making you tighten your grip in his hair. Rooster grunts out, moaning against your collarbone. You whine from the added stimulation, squeezing your eyes shut, pressing your heel into the small of his back.

Head falling back against his checkered sheets, your scrape your nails against the nape of his neck, marking up his tanned skin. Rooster grabs your hips and tugs hard, pressing your thighs back so that he can angle himself deeper. He sinks back in slowly, watching your lips part into a desperate, panting ‘o’ shape.

This angle is deeper, but not painful, it just means that the tip of his cock grazes your g-spot each time he’s pulling back.

“Fuck!” You cry out, stomach curling into knots as he drives himself into you. He presses his mouth eagerly against your open mouth, caressing his tongue against yours. Rooster’s palm slides around to your ass, smacking your skin, snapping his hips forwards harder and harder.

Your nails dig into the backs of his biceps, clinging to him, unable to do anything other than cry out his callsign and take it — and you couldn’t be more content with where the events of tonight have led you.

“I’m gonna cum, Rooster — ungh, Rooster, fuck!”

Javy’s walking ahead, stumbling forwards, barely stopping himself from tumbling head first onto the entryway carpet. Jake swings the door shut behind him, brows furrowing slightly as the two of them realise what’s happening down the hall. The rhythmic sound of Rooster’s headboard slamming into the wall, overwhelmed by the incoherent babbling of someone getting their brains fucked out is a pretty good indicator.

Rooster pulls out all together and flips you onto your front, filling you again. He nods hurriedly as your walls squeeze around his cock, nudging you forwards and covering your body with his.

“Holy fuck.” You breathe, cheek pressing hard into the mattress as he bottoms out again and again, pounding into you. His hips stutter slightly as you clench around him again. Still, fighting to keep his head on straight, his hand reaches around your middle to play with your clit, rubbing in tight fast circles.

You moan out, curling your hands tight into his sheets as you feel your orgasm washing over you. Dark spots appear in your vision when your eyes are open and white ones blink behind your closed lids, the sound of his skin hitting yours just as loud as your moans for him. You ride out your high, so breathless that your head is spinning, the sound of his desperate groans from behind you.

His thrusts falter, growing sloppier with each movement, groans growing strained as his fingers press hard into your skin. Your eyes roll back, your walls fluttering around him with each thrust. Rooster just about remembers to pull out, knuckles whitening around your hips as he slips out of you.

Rooster’s heart thuds in his chest, adrenaline pumping through his veins as he tries to catch his breath. You exhale hard, resting your forehead against the sheets, whining softly.

He runs a hand through his curls, standing up and grabbing the box of tissues from his dresser. He sits down on the edge of his bed, tucking an arm around you and pulling you into his lap. You rest your head against his broad shoulder as you let him clean the two of you up.

“Listen, Rooster, I-“

Rooster shakes his head as he tosses the tissues into his trash can, pressing his lips to your shoulder as he moves on to getting you out of your heels. He tosses them into the same pile as your clothes. “I don’t want to talk about it anymore, Hyde.”

You nod softly, letting him wrap you in his arms. Still naked, tucked under the checkered duvet, his chest pressed to your back, you fall asleep in his bed. Falling asleep with him is the easy part. It’s waking up with him, knowing how last night went, that’s the hard part.

Afraid of the conversation that’ll come once he’s awake, you lie as still as you can for as long as possible. Maybe forty minutes, just watching the sun rise from under the blind on his window. He groans softly against the curve of your neck, pressing himself forwards and squeezing his arms tighter around you.

You wriggle just a little, letting him know that you’re awake. He loosens his arms. You turn around, pressing a kiss to the scar on his cheek. He sighs softly, pulling back and pressing the base of his palm into his eye socket, rubbing the tiredness away.

“I’m so sorry about last night,” You murmur softly, tracing your fingertips over his bicep, voice muffled slightly from where you’re tucked against his chest. “I’m going to fix this.”

Rooster presses his lips tenderly to the top of your head, brushing his thumb up and down over the small of your back. He exhales slowly and nods his head. “Okay.”

Your heart aches, curling your fingers around his bicep as you pull back to look him in the eye. “I mean it, I don’t want to lose you.”

His lips quirk softly at the edges, eyes scanning over your features like he’s looking for a sign that you mean this. That you really mean it. Rooster leans forwards, kissing you slowly, lazily, fingers pressing into your back as his naked chest presses into yours.

“I love you,” He murmurs, pulling back and kissing the corner of your lips, brown eyes meeting yours as he leans back again. You know this, you’ve known this for going on a week now — it’s clear in the way he looks at you. Yet, it’s hard not to tense up when you’re hearing it for the first time. “And I’m okay with waiting for you to feel the same, but if there’s any chance at all that you and him—“

As much as it makes your muscles freeze up so badly that it’s a pain consistent with having just worked out, you’ve got a feeling that you’ll get used to hearing him say that. There are definitely worse things in this world than letting someone love you like he does. You can handle this. In fact, you want it.

You shake your head, hooking your leg over his hip and shifting closer. He relaxes into you, closing his eyes just briefly as your fingers smooth over his cheek, your lips grazing his tenderly.

“Just you,” You promise, brushing his curls back off of his forehead, kissing him again. Rooster slides his arms around you, humming contentedly as he pulls you closer, guiding your thigh up higher around his waist. “I want you.”

Rooster kisses you, lips moving lazily against yours as his hands grip your waist. You hum against his mouth, wrapping your arms around his shoulders, pulling yourself impossibly closer to him. He grinds his hips forwards, brushing himself up against your core.

“I want you.” You say again, lips grazing his ear. His arms constrict around your middle, pulling you tight against him as he noses at your jaw, pressing gentle kisses to your neck.

He presses forwards, turning you onto your back so that he can slip between your legs. This time is softer than last night, you want him and you’ve got him — all of his attention, his entire heart. He’s trusting you again. Making sure to be gentle after last night’s pace, you’re on cloud nine, content in your decision by the time you’re done.

Even realising that the zipper on your dress is busted and now gapes open at the back doesn’t dampen your mood.

“Yeah, no — Jake and Javy would’ve come in late, they won’t be up yet.” Rooster promises as he secures the safety pin at the back of your dress, pressing his lips to your shoulder. “This isn’t working… um… here.”

He grabs the grey zip up hoodie from the back of his closet door and passes it into your hands, turning around to find a shirt for himself. You slip it over your shoulders, stepping around him to smooth out your hair in the mirror.

“You ready?” Rooster checks, as he slips a white crew neck over his head.

You make the mistake of stepping out first. Your second mistake is walking forwards, confident that he was right about his roommates sleeping because of the silence from the front of the apartment. The second that you round the corner, you realise your mistake.

Coyote’s got the freezer door open, standing halfway in it as he searches for something to cure his raging hangover. Jake, having given in to the feelings of nausea a while ago, is sitting at the counter with a glass of ice cold water, staring right at you.

Not anticipating your sudden stop, Rooster bumps into your back and knocks you forwards. Now you’re both standing at the edge of the hall, Rooster’s chest pressed into your back, frozen.

“Hey Rooster, did you take the last — holy shit.” Coyote’s eyes widen, jaw hanging open as he registers who is standing in front of him. Jake sets his glass down on the counter and tilts his head slightly, taking time to now understand the big picture.

An entire summer of sneaking around, wondering why the hell Rooster was so adamant on keeping it a secret. It all suddenly makes sense.

“Boys.” You greet sheepishly, trying not to stare too much at their stunned faces. You can practically feel the amusement radiating off of Rooster as he stands behind you.

“Ma’am.” Jake nods back, whilst Javy still remains too stunned to speak behind him. Rooster taps your waist.

“Anyway, we should get going.” Rooster decides, nudging you forwards. Jake’s eyes trail the two of you, an amused smirk toying at his lips as you’re ushered out of their apartment. The door swings shut and you turn quickly, smacking his chest.

This is going to make the remaining two weeks of class significantly more interesting.

…

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[spinningprincess]

you used to be able to do magic at the gas station

(ficlet, I have no idea)

You used to be able to do magic in the gas station.

Oh, if you hit the right time, the right clerk, the exact right bag of potato chips, I guess you still can.

But time was, you could buy a magic potion and a amulet from the bored guy behind the counter, pay for that and your cigarettes and your gas all at once.

Time was, a tank of gas would cost you ten dollars too, so let's not get too attached to the past, ok?

Nowadays, yeah, you can buy the potato chips, cast a nice protective circle with potato chips, and some of the energy drinks have real magic in them, but it's nothing like it used to be. Once upon a time a young woman and her beau could take twenty dollars and be in a different land by the end of the night.

Gas station magic is a particular kind of magic - it's gritty, it doesn't hold up in the light of day, it's got the scent of desparation on the exhale, but it works, every time.

Sometimes the magic was in the cigarettes, and we try not to talk about those times so much.

The potions would be in the drinks section just like the colas and the bottled waters, and they glowed green and pink and unnatural unearthly blue, and most of the time they'd have the ingredients printed right on the label. This one would take you to the fey lands, this one would give you the stamina to stay awake through finals, this one would help you find true love.

The potion makers eventually had to cave to the pressures of a government that preferred to regulate what people put in their bodies, and the magic was a little too uncertain. Potions were relegated to the places where the FDA stood down - "herbal" supplements and badly labeled energy shots and weird chocolates, and instead of being able to do magic and also go away intot he night for twenty dollars, it took twenty dollars to put enough gas in your car to get home safe, and another twenty to buy snacks and cigarettes for the trip, and now we were forty dollars in and you hadn't even gotten any magic.

Some people were especially good with potato chip spells, and those people could thrive in the new world, in the world where gas was four dollars a gallon and cigarettes were twelve dollars a pack. they could read fortunes in the oil-slick puddles under the pumps, and would charge two dollars a fortune. You didn't pay a gas station fortune teller until you were ready to hear the truth, because it was always the truth, and you never ever stiffed them on a tip.

The rainbow oil puddles and the scent of stale smoke and the slight tang of salt in the air, these days you could add those up and get magic.

Or you could add those up and get a gas station, at half past midnight on a Thursday night, a space slightly removed from time but not that magical in an of itself.

The old magic, the creeping slow magic of the vine and branch, the rushing streams and gusting wind, that never went away. But the middle magics, the magic from just about a generation ago, when it was cheap and plentiful and everyone walked around just bursting with it, that magic was all but gone now, gone with the dreams of a tech bubble, and the dregs of that were spread thin, providing just barely enough to the people left.

Time was, you could buy potions at the gas station, get to the fey lands for twenty dollars and an offered up American Spirit.

Not gonna lie, it's a little lonely on the border roads, now that it's a little harder to get here.

They still pay the tolls in American Spirits, though, and the potions on this side are a heck of a lot better. Cheaper, too.

Can't beat gas station potato chips for a protective circle though. Maybe the next tourist group will offer some of those up. The toll booth is running a little low.

This is the last gas station too, and the fortune tellers are starting to flock again. It's about time to send them on south, to the human lands, for the summer.