#other than saying that there are more behind the scenes

[erwinsvow]

bitchy!reader being jealous at a party when she sees rafe talking to some girl and then finding out its a girl he has either slept with in the past or shes been all over him since before they were toghether. Reader makes a scene calling her out for being all over her man

yess but bitchy reader is a menace, she doesnt care abt any girls but she'll be soo mean to rafe abt it😭😭 this has to be pre-dating bc she would never let rafe disrespect her like that & he knows not to

when you catch rafe's eyes again, you feel a familiar sense of self-satisfaction course through your veins. of course he's looking—he should be surprised he can even look away.

you always look great, but today is something special, a pretty strapless dress decorating your body, something similar to the color of rafe's eyes. so, like always, it's no wonder he can't look away.

but you can't let the bastard think he's got you thinking about how often he is looking at you. it's all very confusing, so you don't glance back, trying to stay engrossed in your conversation with your friends. a few drinks and thirty minutes later, your eyes travel back to rafe.

and though he is still looking at you, there's some other girl in front of him, talking to him. the girl you recognize, someone who used to frequent tannyhill. on more than one occasion she's wandered down the kitchen when you and sarah are making waffles and sipping overpriced coffee. when you'd seen her, she'd been in rafe's clothes.

you hadn't cared much then, treated her the same you'd treat anyone. even now, with the girl in front of him trying to capture his attention and the idiot's eyes still on you, you feel the same—mildly annoyed at her, beyond irritated at him.

he thinks he can make you jealous. it's even cute that he's trying. this time you do stare back at rafe, a little annoyed at yourself for thinking about how cute he looks today. you like him in blue, you like that he's matching you.

"why are you staring at my brother?" sarah questions, and you smile in his direction.

"get your shit straight, sarah. he's staring at me." you wave at rafe, smiling sweetly before looking away. you don't have to see his face to know how it fell at your reaction.

"ugh. now he's coming over here. i'm not sticking around for this." you direct your smile at sarah.

"who asked you to stay?" she rolls her eyes at you.

"match made in heaven," she mutters, walking away in the other direction. when rafe approaches you, you stay seated on the couch, sipping your drink and observing your nails. they're baby blue—and you wonder how you'd come to that decision in the salon yesterday. of course, you know the answer.

"what the hell was that?" rafe barks, and you resist the eyeroll for as long as you can. last time he said if you rolled them at him again, he'd slap them out of your head, and though you want to test his theory, you'd prefer it in the privacy of his bedroom.

"just saying hi, rafe. you know i've met that poor girl before, at tannyhill. i'm surprised you even let her sleep over, you seem like the type-"

"can you shut up about her? what the hell was-"

"you already said that. and why would i shut up? you're the one yapping away to her. you know, you must be great in bed."

"excuse me?"

"i mean, you treat a girl that shitty and she's still willing to speak to you? she must remember something good. but knowing you it can't be for the conversation."

"..thanks?"

"you're welcome." you glance up at him again, but your eyes track back to the girl watching the two of you, the one he left behind to come talk to you. "i know you're a dick but don't be a dick. go finish talking to her. it's rude."

"i don't wanna talk to her."

"well, you're not talking to me."

"d'you have to make everything so fuckin' hard?"

"you're the one trying to make me jealous by talking to some poor girl! did you think i'd appreciate that?"

"why can't you just get jealous like you're supposed to?"

"you are such a jackass. maybe if you acted, like, a normal person-"

"oh, you're one to fuckin' talk. normal person my ass. you cuss me out every chance you get-"

"stop engaging in behavior that gets you cussed out then."

"shut up."

"you shut up!"

you both stare at each other for a moment.

"you wanna come to tannyhill with me?"

"yeah. let's go."

[jaeminify]

two is better than one — lee jeno, na jaemin.

synopsis ☆ jaemin hated sharing and he hated that he had to watch his best friend get to hold you like he would in bed. but what was he to do when you liked the two of them and couldn't decide on one?

tags/warnings ☆ threesome, spit kink, cum play, slight mention of anal; rimming (jaemin... may have a kink), slight strangling kink but towards the end.

author's note ☆ was semi-inspired by that *one challengers scene, and this idea came up... not one of my best works but i enjoyed writing it with how easy the idea and dialogue came to mind. it was also great timing with jeno suddenly going shirtless 0_0 happy readings!!! i hope everyone reading this enjoys <3 feedback and comments are appreciated <3

Jaemin loved to kiss you. To taste you, to feel you, to hold you — he loved every moment of feeling you against him. Skin on skin, sweat dripping off his arms as he touched you; he got turned on by the tiniest of things it agitated him when you weren't around.

Unfortunately for him, he wasn't the only one who strongly felt that way, for his own best friend harboured the same intensity as him.

"Fuck you Jeno Lee." Jaemin mutters behind his typical red solo cup, not daring to take his eyes off of you while you dance with your group of friends.

"What'd I do?" His best friend shows up in the flesh, holding out a cup of pistachios for both him and Jaemin to snack on.

Jaemin glares at his best friend before taking a pistachio for himself. He nods his head in your direction, feeling his breath get heavy when he notices how good your outfit looks on you. It didn't help that you were swaying your hips too.

Jeno follows his gaze and grins in acknowledgement.

"What can I say, dude." Jeno smirks when you lock eye contact with him, "We're just two lucky bastards."

"You're the bastard. I'm the lucky one."

"Wait till we get back home," Jeno's eyes darken when you blow a kiss to Jaemin but not him. "We'll both be feeling pretty lucky."

"Jaem!" You whine, feeling Jaemin grip your hips so harshly you were sure they'd leave bruises the next day.

You feel Jeno leave kisses on the back of your neck, delicately holding your hair up in a makeshift ponytail, feeling his bare skin against your back while Jaemin is drilling his cock straight into your core. You're trying to form coherent words but the pressure is too much. Your hands are scrambling up to tug at Jaemin's roots while the other is gripping Jeno's hand.

"Yeah, baby?" Jaemin breathes out, cursing under his breath when he feels your pussy tighten around him.

"What's wrong, Sweet Girl?" Jeno whispers into your ear, making you let out a shaky sigh. "Jaemin's making you feel real good isn't he? Doing such a great job for our Jaemin."

You can't help but nod at the praises Jeno gives, losing yourself in the sensation and the words they both shower you in. It was addicting; they were both addicting.

"Kiss..." You mutter," barely able to speak up with how entranced you were by the both of them as you always are. Jeno glanced at Jaemin who was too focused on being sucked in by your cunt that he didn't hear your words.

When he feels your hand on his chest, Jaemin looks over at you. Immediately he recognises the look of your hooded eyes and clingy hands, reaching for any feeling of skin you could get. You just needed them near you.

"Hi baby," Jaemin leans forward, nuzzling his nose against yours before he showers kisses all over your jawline and at the corner of your ear. "What do you need, Angel? Want more of my cock? Need us both?" He whispers, grinning when you whimper and move your hips to meet his thrusts.

"Think she wants a kiss." Jeno smirks from behind your head, you can feel the cockiness drip out of his words. His arms tighten around your waist. "From who, baby?"

You reach out to grab Jeno's neck while the other pulls Jaemin's arm.

"Both... Both of you please..." You whine, looking completely worn out and ruined by the both of them. You feel Jeno's cock harden behind your ass and grind harshly against him as you try to not lose your rhythm with Jaemin's thrusts.

"Need you both, right now..." As if you had enough, you tug them both down to meet your lips and the three of you start relentlessly making out.

Jaemin's hot grunts are swallowed by your lips while Jeno's tongue tries to take control of both you and Jaemin.

The makeout session, dare you say was hotter than having the both of them pound into you but that thought is quickly thrown away when Jeno pulls away, allowing Jaemin to take control. Your bottom lip is licked then sucked by Jaemin before he kneads your stomach, moving his hands from your middle to your ass, unbeknownst to you, spreading your ass apart.

You let out a surprised yelp, gasping when you feel Jeno's finger prod at your second hole, causing you to nearly clamp down onto Jaemin, making him yell.

"Jesus, fuck." Jaemin hisses, quickly pulling out to cum on your stomach. You whimper when you feel something warm.

"More," You sigh, clutching Jeno's arm when you feel him rub his tip against your rim. "Jeno— Jeno please."

"Please what, baby? Use your words. Remember what I taught you."

Jaemin snickers between your legs, using his forefinger to scoop up his cum on your stomach.

"Like she can think straight when I'm here."

Before you can respond, Jaemin hovers over you with his fingers right above your lips. With a smirk, he tilts his head.

"Open your mouth for me, Angel. Could you do that?" He smiles widely when you follow his words, sticking out your tongue too so he knows you consent to what he's about to give you. Jaemin feels his cock grow hard at the sight of you.

"Such a princess, getting fed so good by the both of us huh?" Jaemin lets his cum fall onto your tongue, then leans down to kiss you.

"Fuck, okay. Can I have a moment? My cock feels like it's about to burst."

You carefully pull away from Jaemin, not without leaving one more peck on his lips, making him grin. Then, you shift on Jeno's lap.

"Need me?" You smile innocently, almost making Jeno cum right then and there but he feels your slickness with his tip and groans.

"Good, huh? Prepped our pretty girl nicely." Jaemin taunts from behind you, leaving a delicate kiss on the top of your head.

"Need you to spread your legs a little wider for me baby, can you do that?" Jeno murmurs, knowing how you'll respond. He only ever asks because he wants to hear the answer. Wants to hear it from you, especially. "You're an obedient girl, aren't you?"

You nod, helplessly going limp. "Just for you— Only for you and Jaemin."

Now that you were facing Jeno, Jaemin had the pleasure of fondling with your tits to see how you'd react to him. Of course, with such pleasure on your upper body, your natural response is to moan, whine and clench your cunt when Jeno glides himself into you, feeling himself so close to release already.

"Oh," he moans. "Oh, shit— oh baby."

"Jeno..." Your voice rises an octave higher when Jeno hits a spot that makes you grow weak into Jaemin's arms.

The latter has no issue with you almost completely lying on top of him. He's having fun playing with your clit while he kicks at your earlobe, whispering dirty words into your ears, enjoying the way you crumble under the both of them.

"Just like that baby, take Jeno's cock so well. You're so greedy Angel." Jaemin murmurs, smirking when Jeno hisses at the way you grind against him.

"Jeno... Jeno—" Youvgasp when you feel Jaemin's tongue against your rim, once again, it was always either of them taking turns to tease you when you were already on the edge.

"Fuck!" You scream, clawing your nails up Jeno's chest as you clung onto his shoulders now that Jaemin's body wasn't directly behind you for support.

His hands, however, were nothing short of greedy. He squeezed your ass, spreading them apart once again before he dived back in to taste you.

"So fucking sweet baby. Be a patient girl and take what Jeno gives you," Jaemin's raspy voice is a threat to your orgasm because right as he finishes his sentence, you're desperate to cum, and Jeno can feel that. "Let me taste you, yeah? Focus on Jeno first."

But you can't.

The pleasure from Jaemin's hot tongue frantically prodding and licking at your rim has you screaming the loudest you've probably screamed in a while, making Jeno have to clamp his hand over your lips as he rests his forehead against yours. Just as you are, Jeno looks gone. He looks so fucked out and in awe at the way you move your body that he isn't even bothered to try and hide how dazed he is. All he's thinking now is how he wants to have his cock buried in your cunt for days— as long as you'd let him.

"Like what Jaemin's doing to you, huh baby?" Jeno rasps out, his free hand sliding up to rest around your neck, making you moan against the hand that's covering your mouth.

Jeno's eyes darken when he feels you kiss his palm, licking eagerly as you thrust up to meet his cock halfway.

"There's our little slut." Jeno whispers, getting close to his orgasm while you're already on your second. You arch your back, moving slightly away from Jaemin's lips — which he dislikes, without missing a beat he wraps his arms around your hips to pull you even closer to his face.

"Babygirl loves our attention, doesn't she?" Jeno taunts, smiling when he sees tears roll down from your eyes. Without hesitation, Jeno leans forward to lick at them, swallowing your tears as he tastes them before kissing your lips.

"Don't hold yourself back, gorgeous." Jeno continues, "You don't have to pretend like you're a saint like you always do baby girl, cause deep down," He leans down to reach your ears, "you're just a little cocksleeve for Jaemin and I, aren't you? So hungry and eager to have us inside of you... Can't even function straight without wanting to fuck us."

All you can do now is moan, because the pleasure feels too good. It feels too fucking good to even try to say anything to deny his words. He was right anyway.

Jaemin gave your hole one last kiss before he stood back up behind you. When he sees your mascara running down your face, he knows you're almost gone, and he's quick to rush to your aid, cooing sweet nothings.

"There you go pretty girl, just a little bit more for us, yeah? Think you can do that baby? Hold on a bit more?"

"Don't think she can, Jaemin." Jeno grins, giving you one last thrust before he pulls out to jack his cock off. The two boys spare a split second of eye contact before they smirk at each other, understanding what the other wants with no words.

"Think you deserve an award baby," Jaemin smiles, "Want his cum?"

You snap out of the trance you're in to look up at Jeno's cock. No matter how many times you've fucked him, and how many times you've had him in your mouth, Jaemin and Jeno's lengths never failed to leave you speechless.

"Want to taste you, Jeno. Want your cum." You slur, carelessly getting out of Jaemin's grip as you crawl your way below Jeno's cock, letting it rest on your face before you start to kitty lick his tip. "Please, please Jeno. Need you, want you."

"Baby's so fucking clingy today," Jeno hisses, letting his cock rest in your mouth. "Want me so fucking bad, huh? Take everything I give you baby. Want you to swallow everything— Shit shit shit."Jeno falls back to lean against the wall he's standing by when your tongue plays with his tip, knowing that's all he needed to cum down your throat.

Finally, the three of you clean yourself up and make your way over to your bed. You, passed out in the middle, clinging onto both of their arms as you wear Jaemin's shirt to sleep.

The two boys, just as worn out as you, start to doze off with the comfort of you next to them.

"You were right.".

Jeno raises his head to look at his friend, a confused look on his face. He was still trying to get the look of your face out from his head to stop his cock from hardening.

He huffed, "what?" whispering so he wouldn't wake you.

Jaemin turns to his side to leave a kiss on your cheek, smiling when you turn to face him and rest your head on his shoulder.

"We're both just two lucky bastards."

[uravitypng]

𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐠𝐢𝐫𝐥𝐟𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐝'𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡

pairing: denki kaminari x reader

word count: 4.8k words

a/n: i'm so glad i finished this and i hope you all like this because i loved writing this. denki's girlfriend is possibly one of the worst people ever...

content warnings: cheating(denki cheats on his girlfriend with reader), praise, unprotected sex, creamie/coming inside, body worship, denki's girlfriend is the absolute worst, multiple orgasms, pining, reader has some self esteem issues and self doubts but denki shows her how perfect she is, oral(f!recieving), denki calls condoms rubber, reader is in denial, petnames, reader is hinted to be chubby, - mdni/18+

you didn't even want to be here... you always got a bad vibe off of them. you're 'friends' with mina but just barely, yet somehow she's dragged you to a party with people who you're definitely not 'friends' with.

at least kaminari is here, he always smiles at you and makes conversation with you even if his girlfriend is a total bitch and probably is the worst out of all of them.

you miss the time before you knew they were dating. somehow after finding that out his girlfriend seemed even worse and more entitled.

you walk into the kitchen in hopes to get another drink but instead you hear that bitch and you had a feeling she was originally talking about you and it was confirmed when she said your name. "i don't know why she's even here. the only reason mina invited her was out of pity." she says spitefully. your eyes well up with tears, maybe you did get invited out of pity, mina is someone who would do that, she knows you don't have many friends.

this whole time you don't realise kaminari is behind you hearing the same thing you are and his face twists in disgust as he hears his girlfriend carry on speaking, "she's just so boring, it's no wonder she's single." your heart fills heavy, it's not your fault that you're single you've just never found someone you clicked with, you blame it on all the fictional characters you like and you often compared them to all your potential relationships. "she's ugly. it's almost a crime that she's at a party with us, that she's in hinami's home. when i started dating kami i met some of his other friends from school when he was younger, that's when i met mineta. the really short one y'know? short, pervy and unattractive, all around terrible guy. he's probably going to be single for the rest of his life, the only way he's not is if he dates her and even then it'll be him who's the more better looking one." they laugh.

why, why, why? what did you ever do to them?

you know you're not the most interesting or the most attractive but you don't deserve this- no one does. you don't want to make a scene but you have to leave, you can't stay here any longer. you wish you could speak up for yourself but you can't and even if you could what good would it do? so you decide to leave before you start hyperventilating, before saying goodbye to mina. turning around to leave when you literally bump into kaminari and there's an expression on his face that you've never seen before and he doesn't even try to hide it.

he looks angry. more than angry, he looks pissed. he's gripping hold of the beer he's drinking so hard that his hands are becoming white around the bottle, his jaw is clenched and his stare is hard but when he feels you bump into him his eyes soften when he looks at you and takes you in. you're biting your lip trying not to sob and tears are filling your waterline. as you see him you can't stop the dam from breaking as the tears heavily stream down your face. as you push past him you hope to never see him again- any of them.

that doesn't happen though. denki has made it a point to wiggle himself into your life, inserting himself there. it happened that very night after you left the party, about half an hour after you arrived home and changed into comfy clothes he came knocking on you door. "kaminari? how... how do you know where i live? wait, what- hold up, what are you even doing here?"

why is he wet, has it been raining? he smiles genuinely at you, even though he's soaked to the bone, freezing from the rain and so very irate with his girlfriend just seeing you cheers him up. he's never seen you in a comfortable setting before, a setting where you're not dressing up from anyone, you look even cuter than normal...

"can i come in?" he asks you and you blink slowly and heavily a few times, processing the question. it relaxes you because the way he says it sounds like a sincere questions. sometimes when people ask a question you know you have to answer a certain way, you know there is a right way.

sometimes when someone asks "can i...?" you have to say yes because saying no isn't really an option, they're not really asking you. but when you heard denki say, "can i come in?" you relax because you know you could just say no and that would be okay, he would be okay with that. if you told him no he 'can't come in' he'd just leave and won't push you to say yes or try to make you feel guilty. sometimes questions like "can i come in?" or a "can we go here?" are almost rhetorical question.

he makes you feel safe.

you nod your head and step aside letting him through. "okay," you reply softly and a little hoarsely, slightly annoyed at yourself for not speaking more louder and assertively.

"how are you feeling?"

the tether that's keeping you from becoming frustrated feels like it starts fraying "how do you think i'm feeling?" beginning to get annoyed at him because why is he even here talking to you, shouldn't he still be at hinema's house with his girlfriend?

"yeah... that's a stupid question, sorry." denki rubs the back of his head with hand and steps a little bit closer to you. "let me make you feel better," he blurts out.

"huh?"

denki steps even closer to you and gently holds onto your hand, clasping it in his. "let me... let me make you feel better. let me apologise on my girlfriends behalf..." your eyes go wide starting to have an idea about what he means but not wanting to verbalise it and jump to conclusions, worrying to get the wrong idea. "let me... show you- show you how beautiful you are, how wonderful you are." he squeezes your hand momentarily and says quietly, almost begging, "please."

"what about your girlfriend?" you say girlfriend with disdain.

"what about her? she doesn't matter. let me show you how pretty you are love."

your heartbeat increases at the nickname and your face heats up. "i- i don't know kaminari."

"denki." he says gently but authoritatively.

"what?"

"please, please call me denki." he pleads, squeezing your hand again.

"okay, denki..." you test his name on your tongue and it sounds right, like you should always be saying it.

even now you're still not sure to what compelled you to say, "please show me denki." you never regretted your answer.

it starts slowly, gently, tenderly. denki cups your cheek in his palm and kisses you, placing his other hand on your hip keeping you close to him. the longer you kiss the more hungry it becomes and you're not really sure if it was you or him that deepened the kiss and pressed your bodies up against each other.

"can i love?" he gestures to your top that he's currently fiddling with the hem of, wanting to lift it up so he can touch you properly and get a good look at you.

you hum in affirmation and keep your lips attached to his, not wanting to separate. denki slivers your top up and puts his hand where it used to be, now on your exposed supple flesh, his cold hands stroking your skin delicately. as you feel his hands you shudder remembering now about how drenched he is. "you must be freezing denki." you finally move away from his lips and see his clothes covered in rain with rain drops dripping down his hair landing on his shoulders.

"it's okay. completely worth it." denki grins at you and you suddenly feel shy by the way he's looking at you. you definitely feel pretty by his gaze, it's electrifying and makes you feel bashful all at once.

"do- do you want a towel to dry yourself off with?" denki kisses your jaw and smiles, distracting you.

"don't worry about it love." his breathe against your neck making you shiver. you pout even though he can't see you and you still worry, not wanting him to get a cold. "you keep me warm."

"but-"

denki presses his lips against yours and wraps both his arms around your waist. you moan quietly and he lifts your top up over your head. "is this okay?"

"yes please," you respond, hoping not to sound too needy.

he smirks at your tone and takes off the rest of your clothes. "jesus, you look even more beautiful than i imagined," he says quietly to himself, you're not sure if you were suppose to hear it or if he even meant to say it out loud. denki runs his hands along the curves of your body.

"you imagined me?" you match his volume and he looks startled at your question, obviously surprised that you heard what he said, you come to the conclusion that he thought he was thinking but he actually said out loud

"who wouldn't? you're beautiful." denki kisses your shoulder and holds one of your breasts in his large hands, stroking your nipple as you bite your lip to stop any embarrassing noises spilling out. you're already feeling shy as it is after denki has said such nice things about you.

after realising what you were doing he takes your chin in his hand and tilts you to look at him so you're making eye contact. "look at me. you don't need to do that. not with me. i want to see you. i want to hear all the noises you make, i want you."

denki grazes his teeth along your neck and you gasp. "those are the noises i wanted." you press your lips together trying not to smile, denki grins at how adorable you look.

he moves to take off his shirt and you thought he looked good beforehand in a casual black button up shirt but god does he look even better with it off. you thought he'd be kind of skinny but he's actually lean and a little slim. you can see some defining muscle, his arms are just the same. a couple of moles on his forearms and faint freckles dust his shoulders and upper chest. you wonder if he has light freckles on his face too because you've never once seen them but maybe you haven't looked hard enough.

you know you're probably staring a tiny bit too much at his slender waist and yellow happy trail that matches the colour of his hair and he doesn't mind one bit, happy that you like what you see and fond of your attention.

"like what you see?" he chuckles. you go to hide your face behind your hand after being caught but denki catches your wrist. "what did i tell you? i want to see you sweetheart." you have the urge to bury your face against his chest, hiding away from his gaze but you resist the urge.

everything became a little hazy after that for the next ten minutes, denki has manoeuvred you into your bedroom onto your bed, hovering over you, and keeping you in between his two arms. you pull denki down by wrapping your arms around his neck so you can kiss him again. the kiss begins slow and sweet before denki runs his tongue against your bottom lip, silently asking for access into your mouth and you grant him it. your tongues intertwine and you can still taste that cheap beer he's been drinking that's still lingering even though you've already been kissing previously.

you could kiss denki all night but he has other plans as he starts touching your breasts again and moves his hand down your body to get you ready for his cock, surprised to find that you're already wet. "wet from just a little kissing? that's so cute." he kisses your cheek and whispers against your ear.

"denki," you whine, "don't tease me."

he has to take a deep breath after hearing you whine, not wanting to let you know how bad you affect him because if you keep making noises like that he'll come in his boxers before he gets inside you. "it's okay love." he grinds himself against your thigh, groaning at the contact, letting you feel how hard he is. "i'm just the same." he says deeply and you shiver at the knowledge that denki is just as turned on as you. he's turned on by you.

his dick is almost painful with being contained in his jeans so he rushes to take them off. precome stains his grey boxers turning the area black and he takes them off too, grinning at you. the one way you would describe denki's dick is pretty, just like him so it makes sense. he's a little longer than average, circumcised and pubes trimmed. you want him inside you. now.

"do you have a- you know?" denki asks, gesturing to your bedside cabinet. he regrets not carrying any condoms in his pocket or wallet but his girlfriend only likes having sex in ones of their bedrooms. she's not a fan of spontaneous sex.

"oh, um, maybe? in the bathroom. i wasn't really expecting this and i don't- don't do this a lot... at all really." you admit, while trying to think about where you keep condoms because you must have them somewhere but you keep coming up a blank. the entire time denki's thinking about how you never do this, it makes him feel special, special that you're letting him make you feel good.

you want him... all of him. "i um-i-i'm on the pill." denki's eyes snap up to look at you.

"holy shit are you serious right now?" he asks automatically and enthusiastically, his face lighting up.

you start regretting your suggestion and denki can tell by the look on your face, he thinks he probably spooked you. "we don't need to do anything like that if you don't want to love. i can eat you out for hours. i mean hell, that sounds like at absolute dream." you giggle after hearing that. "sorry i was a bit quick and excited there, i've just never had sex without any rubber on."

you're surprised after hearing that, thinking that he's the type to go without and you tell him just that. "i think that was why i was so excited, i've always wanted too. it's always been a dream of mine and i don't like using them but i've never brought it up with any of the girls i've been with."

"well.. is it okay that i brought it up?" you ask more confident seeing that denki is delighted with the idea.

"fuck yeah. i trust you like crazy. if it was going to be anyone i'd want it to be you." he tells you, grinning. he trusts you. if he had the opportunity with anyone he'd choose you? your heart flutters.

"i don't really like condoms either and i want you, all of you." you tell him shyly and denki's heart misses a beat after your confession.

next thing you know denki is pushing his cock into, inch by inch. even though denki has already prepped you and has been touching you there is still a slight stretch. both you and denki groan simultaneously. your velvet, warm, wet walls welcome him without any barrier.

what comes out of denki next is a mixture of moans, groans, swearing and praising with each thrust. "fucking hell, holy shit sweetheart. you're fucking beautiful, most beautiful girl in the world, so pretty." with each praise and compliment every slight doubt that lingers in the back of your mind disappears, your sole focus being on the man above you. "you feel so good, lovely." he holds your hands in his, enlacing your fingers, that seems far too intimate for a supposedly one night stand to make you feel better.

he catches on to how to please you best with every gasp, noise and shake, and only after a couple minutes he seems to know your body better than you do. with every thrust he's rubbing against your g-spot, drawing circles over your clit and taking your nipple in his mouth.

you came harder than you ever came that night, multiple times with your ears going fuzzy and eyes going blurry. denki doesn't let you know but he's in the same boat, his come spilling into you, the warmth making you shudder and arch your back, grabbing onto him tightly. he's never came as much as he did and he knows that it's all because of you.

you don't know how it happened but denki ended up staying the night and leaving in the early hours of the morning. this wasn't how your night was suppose to go but you don't regret it. he did what he said he would when he arrived on your doorstep, he did make you feel better and he did make sure you didn't spend the night upset and feeling insecure and alone. that night was so shitty, his girlfriend was so shitty yet he succeeded in making it a good night.

when he came to your door you thought there was a silent understanding, a one night stand and after this he'll go back to his girlfriend. for that one night he'll be making up for what his girlfriend said but it didn't turn out like that.

you expected to not see denki for months, that is if you ever see him again. you expected to go back to calling him by his last name and trying to forget what he looks like nude and how his stomach went taunt as he was about to climax but instead you saw him a week after when he knocked on your door, slamming his lips against yours and pushing you against your wall. at least once a week for months now you would see him, you know you should feel bad for his girlfriend, he is cheating on her with you, but you don't, not in the slightest.

after the first few times denki came by again you slipped in some questions afterwards, wanting to know if he was doing this with other girls. he isn't.

wanting to know if you're still the only person he's slept with without wearing a condom. yes you are and he has no intention of changing that.

you've never asked him any questions involving morality like if he feels guilty or if he loves his girlfriend. it doesn't involve you.

you're aware now your relationship has developed more than it once was, the closest label you have would be friends with benefits. some nights denki knocks on your door unannounced, like always, with a bag of popcorn and your favourite snacks ready to watch a new film that has just come out on netflix. he's probably the closest friend you have, you stay clear of his girlfriend though, she isn't even aware that you and denki are close now. hopefully the last time she's spoken about you or thought about you was at that dreadful party and hopefully it stays that way.

denki likes his girlfriend... he does... if he was quoting mean girls he'd say something along the lines of - there's good and bad to everybody. but his girlfriend is just more upfront about it.

that would be a lie though. there are some things he likes about his girlfriend and when they're alone together it can be really good but he then remembers about how awful her attitude is towards other people. towards you. sneaking around and cheating on her is honestly rather thrilling for him and he likes the idea of silently letting you get your own back.

sometimes he'll rationalise it in his own head while he's drunk. cheating on her is okay because he's always wanted to sleep with you. it's okay because ever since you first met, denki wished you were his girlfriend.

he could never end it with his current girlfriend, his parents always ask about her and it would cause a rift in their friend group. near the beginning of their relationship his girlfriend brought herself a dog but he prefers denki over her, opting to want his attention over hers. if they did break up he knows he'd never see that dog again, he's grown to love it. it's just as much of his than it is hers but he knows that that won't matter and he'll never see him again if they broke up. they work next to each other and they go to all the same places.

he could never break up with her, he'd never hear the end of it with his parents.

so for now he gets to have some joy from getting to see you and kiss you and lay his head on your lap while you watch television together. if he tries hard enough he can almost imagine you're his girlfriend instead.

one night denki's at yours, you're not doing any explicit but you're just enjoying your night together, that is until she spoils it. denki's ringtone going off disrupts hot fuzz and he takes the call not even bothering to pause the movie. you decide to turn it down though. "kamiiiii, where are?" god her voice is grating. once a voice that spewed such nasty things about you now just sounds annoying. "i came by yours and you're not here."

denki closes his eyes shut tight, it looks to you that he's annoyed too. "sorry, i'm out tonight." he lies and know what is about to happen next.

"don't you want to see me. c'mon home, we can spend the night together." she giggles into the phone. you knew it. you knew what would happen when he answered that call from her.

denki knows he does't really have a choice without explaining where he is so he agrees to come see her. "okay, i'll be there soon." you both stay silent for a moment not talking before he breaks the silence. "i'm sorry love, we didn't even get to finish the film. i swear we can finish it next time." he apologises.

he thought he saw disappointment on your face for a second but he knows that he's just seeing things, you wouldn't be disappointed for him to go, you're not like that, he knows to you that he's just someone to fuck. he knows that you're using him to get back at his girlfriend. he doesn't mind that one bit though, as long as you're in his life.

"you can watch the rest without me if you wanted to." he tells you getting up from the sofa.

you shake your head, "no, no, it's fine. we can watch it next time. bye kaminari."

'oh no she's annoyed at me, she called me kaminari. she hasn't called me that in months. maybe she wanted to have sex tonight and i've ruined her plans. i can't stay now though, i'm already leaving. i'll have to make it up to her.'

you don't know why you called him kaminari, you knew it was petty but that didn't stop you from saying it. sometimes you get so caught up with denki you forget that outside of your home he isn't yours and he never will be. you're just sleeping together, that's all, and you don't want anything more than that... you don't...

denki thought about you all night, you never left his mind. he hates that he left you but he felt like he had no option. if he was anyone else he would have enough sense to distance himself from you but when it comes to you his judgement gets cloudy and he'll do whatever he can to be in your life, even if that involves lying through his teeth to everyone about where he is.

two nights after denki left after the phone call he came to yours with a takeaway in his hand and a grin on his face. he doesn't actually say the word 'sorry,' he doesn't acknowledge that he left abruptly, he just grins and asks "hot fuzz?"

you match his grin and let him in. you thought maybe you would be a little annoyed with denki after seeing him in your doorway but you realised that you had no right to be annoyed. you're not his girlfriend.

one takeaway and half a film after you're playing with denki's hair and he hums in happiness and gratitude. "i could have you play with my hair all night but do you want to take this to the bedroom love? i'm still pretty hungry." he takes your hands away from his head so he can kiss your wrist and winks at you. you roll your eyes and call him an idiot. "just for you sweetheart." it just came out and both of you heard. denki splutters and tries to backtrack what he said but it's too late, his whole entire face is red and his eyes are wide and you're doing no better. you haven't fully processed the words yet but you're sure it was accidental, it's just denki being denki. you turn your head away from him, nervous and embarrassed. your cheeks feel like they're on fire and you don't think you have the courage to look at him in the eye. even though you've talked yourself into how it was denki just being denki you still can't look at him.

the implications that he's yours makes you incredibly happy but you don't even want to accept that, after all you just see him as a friend. he's a good fuck. you're absolutely in denial. at least he isn't. he knows he wants you to be his, fully, completely, body and mind.

you both end up trying to ignore what he said, haphazardly but relatively successful, pivoting back to denki's offer of going to the bedroom. "denks are we taking this to the bedroom or not?"

'god she's amazing.' he's so glad you aren't acting weird.

denki's got his head between your plush thighs, he's holding onto them keeping them open so you don't close them and stop him. licking a strip along your pussy, before flicking your clit a few times with his tongue and then lapping up your juices as he plays with your breast and moaning at your taste. "denki, don't do that, it's embarrassing."

he looks up from where he's laying to see you, "what? enjoy myself. don't complain or i won't let you come."

the threat of not being allowed an orgasm shuts you up, knowing that denki will absolutely deliver on that threat if he wants to. you know that he would eat you out for hours not letting your come once.

you loose track of time, your hips start rolling uncontrollably and you grab hold of his hair. "don't get greedy sweetheart, you'll come when i say you can." he holds down your thighs to stop you from moving and kisses your hip, sucking to form a mark on your soft skin. his mark.

for all his threats he does let you come. "you've been so behaved. so good sweetheart," he mumbles against your skin. you come again and again. he finally lets up and you watch him lick his lips and wink at you. you turn your head away from him and he chuckles. his erection is visible even with his jeans on and denki flops down on the bed next to you, drawing you closer so you're laying next to each other, his arm under you.

reaching down to his jeans you start stroking him through his clothes. "don't worry about that, not tonight. i just wanted to look after you, make you feel good." he places a chaste kiss on you forehead.

"you always make me feel good," you tell him honestly and his heart feels like it's beating out of his chest.

"then my work here is done." he replies and you giggle. he is completely and utterly in love with you.

he can't tell you, no matter how much he wants to. you don't feel the same way and he can't lose you.

how much longer will you stay in denial for?

will his girlfriend ever find out about you two? maybe that will be your tipping point. maybe her finding out will make you realise that you want denki more than a quick fuck or a friend. maybe her finding out will be what you need. you're in love with denki.

[darkficsyouneveraskedfor]

the girl next door 15

Warnings: this fic will include elements, some dark, such as age gap, manipulation, chronic illness, noncon/dubcon, coercion, and other untagged triggers. Please take this into account before proceeding. It is up to curate your online consumption safely.

Summary: A new neighbour moves in and upends your already disarrayed life.

Author’s Note: Please feel free to leave some feedback, reblog, and jump into my asks. I’m always happy to discuss with you and riff on idea. As always, you are cherished and adored! Stay safe, be kind, and treat yourself.

This lewk but silverfox

You sit in the car, staring through the windshield. All you can hear is your own breath. In, out, in, out. The traffic passes you by, signs blurry, the air foggy despite the crisp sunlight. Headlights blear around you and the big H over the hospital is nothing more than a blue orb in your peripheral. 

“Sweetie, please, calm down,” Steve squeezes your arm, stilling you as you rock. You didn’t even realise you were moving. “It’s okay. It’s going to be okay.” 

You look over at him and blink, lip trembling. This isn’t happening. Your mother’s going to be okay. It’s okay. He keeps saying so. 

“We’re here,” he rubs your shoulder then brings his hand up to your cheek, his hand forming a vee around your ear, “I’m here for you.” 

Your heart leaps into your throat. Your eyes singe and you sit back, staring ahead as your hand lock around your knees. What are you going to do? The doctors always said your mom would have years left. She’s sick but she has time. You only ever planned to take care of her. Tomorrow was always far away. 

“Honey, please,” Steve says more firmly, shaking you, “you’re going to pass out if you don’t slow down. Breathe. Count.” 

He slips his hand back to rub your back. Your heart beats wildly and emphasizes your shallow breaths. You nod and gulp, following his numbers as he begins; one, two, three...  

When you’ve calm, he taps your thigh lightly. 

“Now, sweetie, we’re gonna have to be there for your mom when she’s ready to see us, right? So let’s go.” 

You reach to undo your seat belt and let it repel as you sit stalk straight. He gets out and comes around to your side. He opens the door and takes your hands, guiding you out of the car. He walks with you across the lot, his hand a vice around yours. He must be just as afraid as you, the way he’s clinging to you. 

The automatic doors open before you and the lobby is a haze of faces and noises. You approach the front desk behind the thick plexiglass and Steve speaks. You only make out your mom’s name. You carry on; down a sterile hall, then onto an elevator, followed by another bright hallway. 

You sit in plastic chairs against a wall. Steve keeps a hold on you, his palm sweaty against yours. You peer down at the meeting of your skin. His hand looks ginormous. You wiggle yours and slip free as he reluctantly lets go. You turn your palms up and fold over your lap, holding your head. 

You don’t want to be here. You can’t be here. You’re not, you’re not, you’re not. It’s a nightmare. It's a bad dream. It isn’t real. 

“Steve Rogers,” a voice calls. You turn your head as Steve stands. A woman in scrubs approaches. “Holly? She’s stable. She’s not awake right now, it’s going to be a few hours.” 

“Right,” Steve says as you watch the sideways scene above you, “what was it? What... happened?” 

“A... combination of factors. A poor chemical reaction,” the nurse says. 

Steve glances over at you, “do you mind if we talk somewhere else?” 

The nurse peeks over at you and arches a brow. 

“Her daughter,” Steve explains, “she’s... she’s very upset right now.” 

“Oh, of course, sir, just step this way,” the woman beckons him over to the nurse’s station and you turn your face down again. 

You can’t remember if your mom was drinking. You checked her medicine and it said ‘do not consume with alcohol’. You should’ve reminded her. Why didn’t you say something? You feel your chest filling again. It hurts. It's all your fault. 

“Sweetie,” Steve touches your shoulder and you sit up so hard, the chair hits the wall. You look up at him with round eyes, “alright, let’s count again.” He helps you calm, gripping your shoulders as he bends to your level and counts to twenty. “Everything’s fine. Mom’s gonna wake up and she’s going to come home. Nurse says we should hit the caf while we wait. And I don’t disagree. I didn’t get my coffee and we got a long day, right?” 

You nod, not sure what you’re agreeing to. He takes your hand again and you stand. He leads you down the hall and back to the elevators. The descent leaves you dizzy. Another hall and another until you enter a large cafeteria that smells like coffee and bacon. 

“Right, you sit,” Steve gets you on a rigid plastic chair, “I’ll be right back. Okay? I’m here for you, honey. I'll always be here for you.” 

He cups the back of your head and bends to kiss your hair. You don’t react. You just watch the blank tabletop. He walks away, leaving you to float away. 

Time skips, like a record under a broken needle, and Steve returns. He has a tray in hand. He puts it down and lifts a cup over the lip to put it in front of you. It steams as a tab hangs over the edge. 

“Chamomile, you don’t need any caffeine right now,” he girds. 

You put your hands around the hot cardboard. It burns. You keep your palms against it until your eyes water. 

“Thanks,” your murmur dully. 

“I got you some food, too. You need something.” 

He moves a bowl in front of you and the scent of cinnamon draws the room into focus. You look down at the oatmeal as he unwraps a spoon and dips it in. He lets it rest against the side. 

“I’m going to take care of you. Mom too,” he crosses his arms on the table and leans in, “you do know that’s all I want? To take care of you both.” 

You reach to clumsily stir the oatmeal. Your body feels detached from your brain. Your eyes flick up to Steve as his stare bores into you. 

“You’ve worked so hard, sweetie. I see it. I see all you put into being a good daughter. And what do you have for it, huh? I just wanna give you all the nice things you never had.” 

You feel as if you might shatter. You understand his words but what he’s saying is a riddle. You look at the bowl and scoop up the oats. He huffs as you take a bite. He stays quiet through several bites. 

“Did I... Did I tell you how nice that dress you wore was?” He says. 

You look at him, stunned. Dress? You peek down at your loose tee shirt. 

“That night I came for dinner. The polka dots,” he smiles and reaches across the table, “it fit you really good.” 

You shake your head. Why is he talking about that? 

“Too small,” you mutter blankly. 

“Was it?” He scoffs, “could’ve fooled me. Well, would you like a new dress?” 

You scrunch up your brow, “I don’t... need one.” 

“But do you want one?” 

You don’t understand. 

“And your drawings, you’re very talented. I know I said so before but I just... you’re a very special girl.” 

You look around the bright white walls then back to him, “okay? Why are you saying these things?” 

He sniffs and tilts his head, “sweetie, you’re totally out of it. What’s going on? You’re acting so strangely.” 

You put the spoon down and sit back, hands on the edge of the table, “am I?” 

“I didn’t say anything,” he looks genuinely confused. “You’ve been rambling this entire time,” a crease forms over his brow, “talking about your mom and dresses and I don’t know.” 

“I have?” You close your eyes and rub your cheeks, “I’m sorry, I... my mom... she’s sick. In the hospital.” 

“I know that, sweetie,” Steve says, “I’m right here with you. I think maybe we should get you in to see someone. You’re obviously in shock.” 

He must be right. You can’t remember saying anything. You can barely parse out how you got to this table. Something is off. 

You sit up, your fingers splayed against your cheeks. You nod, “I’m scared.” 

[enaelyork]

Can we get a Cooper Howard x female reader fic where reader is in an abusive marriage and he helps her leave (by any means necessary)? Need him to get violent and defensive over me -swoon- and of course they end up together?

Thank you in advance!!

Hi my dear !

That's a good idea, i try to make something =) Let's go.

Pre-war/ Divorced Cooper/ Cooper x f!reader.

Warning : Abusive mariage/ violences/ injuries.

Ask for Cooper Howard is OPEN

- I'm divorced.

What luck.

She looked around, as if arguing with him was a crime punishable by death. There was nothing wrong with that, though: Cooper had been her friend throughout her adolescence and they had lost touch until this filming. What a strange coincidence that fate decided to put him on her path again.

Him, so charming and luminous while she had decided to join the darkness.

- I don't know if you can call that luck.

She jumps. Damn, had she said those words out loud? Red comes to her face as she completely drinks her glass of champagne, pouring out apologies.

- It's not. No. I didn't mean such a thing. Really, I'm sorry. And don't think I'm unhappy with my husband, it's just that.

- You are here.

His voice made his blood run cold. A bit like every time she emerged behind his back. He was a shadow always lurking behind her, even when she couldn't see him. A shadow that terrified her. Had he seen it? Had he seen the mask of terror settle on her face? Had he noticed everything she tried to hide behind her long-sleeved dress in the middle of summer? He understood, by discovering this man, what was going on in his life.

- Oh, you're good, Travis. She said, trying to hide the hint of panic that distorted her voice. I guess you remember Cooper. We went to high school together and I now work with him on set.

His silence was worse than a sentence. He looked at Cooper with an undisguised desire to drag you away from him. But as usual, Travis, your perfect little husband, knew how to play his role perfectly in public.

- Y/N told me so much about you. I've seen your films, you know? I find you brilliant.

He had grabbed her hand and she had guessed the grimace that her husband was trying to hide. Cooper, for his part, had a glint in his eyes that she didn't know existed, a glint resembling anger. - Likewise, Travis. She is full of praise for you. It was totally false.

He had just discovered her husband's identity and the only thing he could have seen during the early stages of filming was how important it was for her to finish on time. How important it was that we didn't see her smiling in any public photos, or even her own shadow. How important it was that she was invisible.

- I think Y/N and I are going home, right, darling? She nodded automatically: it was the only thing she was allowed to do when he gave her an order and her hand gripped his arm so tightly that a grimace of pain tied her mouth.

- We hadn't finished our discussion.

No one around them suspected what was going on, there, in the middle of the large gala hall in which the producer had decided to give a reception. It was going to turn into a fiasco, soon, if they continued to stare at each other like two animals ready to devour each other.

- It's finished. Darling. We're going back.

She wanted to protest. Telling him that she wanted to stay with Cooper and continue to be herself. Simply live. But she didn't have the strength, at no time had she had the courage to say no, to take her things and leave. Which made her, in his eyes, more worthless than she had ever been. Her eyes met Cooper's, and she hoped she wasn't too pathetic when her husband's impulse pulled her away from him. But his gaze, the one that looked at her at that precise moment, will probably haunt her for the rest of her life.

What a terrible irony.

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

They never spoke about it again.

Cooper had tried, between two scenes, at every pause, to discuss the incident with her, but Y/N kept dodging the question. She knew that if she were to confess the horror to him, she would never be strong again. And then it was Cooper. How would he view her if he learned how ruined her life was? How would he look at her, compassion or, worse, pity?

No, that was out of the question. You were hitting on him, you little whore. The violence of his words and gestures still resonated within her several weeks before.

The suffering was so firmly anchored in her that she had done everything possible to avoid being found wanting: walking along the walls of the film set like a ghost, she did not linger after the day and returned directly to the House. But that wasn't enough anymore.

Travis became more demanding of her every day, more possessive too, going so far as to control his own appearance.

- I wish you would resign. He dropped this bombshell over breakfast, a few months after filming began.

- Sorry ?

Without looking up from his newspaper, his feet resting on the table and ignoring the pancakes she had just prepared for him, he continued his cruel sentence.

- You heard what I just said. I was nice to you by letting you work for my friend Jim, but you screwed it up again. You are not capable of doing what I ask you. You're not capable of anything, in fact.

- You can't ask me that, Travis, please. I like my job. I'm sorry, just tell me what to do.

Without her expecting it, the newspaper flew towards her, slapping her face violently. A cry of surprise, immediately muffled by the violence with which he grabbed her arm.

- You see, that’s the problem with you. You are so stupid that you don't even understand when you exceed the limits. If you had listened to my demands from the start you wouldn't be here. So tonight, you better quit that job. Did you understand ?

She had nodded, hoping that this way he would finally let go, that her blood would be able to circulate in her arm again. But he threw it back with such violence that her body hit the kitchen shelf, knocking down a few cups which shattered on the floor.

- And put it away! Always making a mess.

It wasn't long after he left that tears flooded her eyes.

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

Nothing had gone as planned that day.

After tidying up the kitchen, cleaning the sores that dotted her skin, Y/N had arrived on set late. A delay that had not escaped Cooper and his suspicious gaze. He shouldn't have known anything. However, while she was trying to flee, he followed her in the corridor leading to her dressing room, trying to call her in vain.

Don't turn around. Don't turn around.

But when he blocked the door to her den, preventing her from taking refuge there, Cooper not only discovered her distress. He saw her eyes red with tears, her hands bruised and, worst of all, fear flooding her irises.

- It's him ?

Y/n's lips began to tremble like never before, not even her legs were still able to keep her upright. So, without her having time to understand what was happening to her, her body abandoned her. Her mind tried to live in denial but nothing else in her could reject the evidence.

It was destroyed. Yet her legs never touched the ground, her body did not shrivel against the wall. Because the warmth of Cooper's arms enveloped her in a feeling she hadn't known in a long time.

Sweetness.

So she forgot everything. The fear, anguish and guilt she felt at being in such a situation. She forgot the pain that ached her arm and shoulders and, instinctively, she hugged him, hoping that this way he would keep her alive.

- You have to leave, Y/N.

Filming had been suspended today and Jim had believed Cooper's lies about feeling unwell. However, she did not return home, remaining locked in this lodge as in a bastion.

Leave ? The idea had already crossed his mind. It would have been so simple if she didn't depend on Travis for a whole bunch of things. Being an actress was not an easy job and the income was irregular at such a stage of her career. So she rejected the idea, shaking her head vehemently.

-I can not do that.

- Of course yes. You can. Just gather your things and go.

- How ? Eh ? Do you think he won't stop me? Really, it's impossible.

Cooper had no intention of stopping there. She knew it. But what could he understand about her life? He who had a happy marriage and whose divorce had gone smoothly? She knew that he was on good terms with his ex-wife for the well-being of his daughter, that this divorce had gone smoothly because they had realized that they no longer aspired to same thing. Barb had been an exemplary wife, their marriage had been based on mutual trust and they had separated on good terms.

So what could he understand about her life? Why did he seem so heavily affected by his situation?

-I will help you.

She raised her head. Had she really heard what he had just suggested to her? A nervous laugh escaped her lips before she stared at his determined expression. Was he serious?

-You go pack your bags and I'll come pick you up.

- To go where ? I have nowhere to go, Coop! My friends don't talk to me anymore and you saw the way he reacted when we...

Her words died in her mouth, realizing that she had called him by his nickname for the first time and that she hadn't completely rejected the idea.

- I can talk to Barb about it. She has friends in the region who will certainly be delighted to host you. He paused, visibly hesitant to finish his sentence.

-There is room at my house.

- At your house ?

There was nothing in her stomach but butterflies trying to escape. Had he really just asked her to live with him? It took her breath away, so much so that she had to blink several times to make sure she was awake.

- You would have your privacy, obviously. But it’s a base not too far from work until you can find a place of your own.

She had grabbed his hands without realizing it, as if to hold on to a rampart before falling into the void. Cooper had just offered to live with him, and the idea brought a little warmth to her completely bruised heart.

- He's not going to like this idea at all.

- But it's the only option for you to get out of this, Y/N. I don't know how you feel about this man, but for your own well-being you need to leave.

She didn't know it. What she did know, however, was the effect Cooper had on her life. It wasn't just savior syndrome. Since seeing him again on that set, something inside her had cracked, a shell that she had tried to erect to prevent herself from loving anyone, including herself.

- It's OK. She finally gave in.

The smile Cooper gave her then would stay in her mind for a long time.

- Should I contact Barb?

- No. It's with you that I want to live.

Realizing too late the fervor of her words, she put her hands over her mouth to prevent her from saying something even worse.

- If you agree, of course...I...I don't want to impose myself. Oh, god, I'm so sorry.

- You no longer have to apologize for being yourself, Y/N. It's all over now.

His hands were still in hers and Y/N wondered why he didn’t take them out as soon as he had the chance. Sitting face to face, they looked at each other in a strange silence, charged with a gentle and soothing tension. A deep relief came over her at that precise moment.

She was going to leave. Leave with Cooper. And she could no longer hold back her tears.

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

- Did you do what I asked you?

- Of course.

No.

She hadn't done any of that. She had neither resigned nor decided to cut ties with anyone. Instead, she came home in the afternoon to pack a suitcase and wait. Wait for the right moment. Travis had a charity event that night. A gala to which he had not invited her. Pretending that she had no place there. So much the better.

This was the perfect opportunity to put the plan into action. This evening, Travis showed no attention towards her. Yet that was what he did when he had obtained satisfaction: a tender gesture, a chaste kiss on her cheek.

He just brushed his fingertips against her shoulder, a movement that sent a jolt of terror through her.

-Don't wait for me to eat, I'll be back very late.

And silence returned almost immediately, freeing his heart from the vice that was compressing it. It didn't take long for her to contact Cooper, take down the suitcase she had hidden in the attic and come back down to the forecourt.

When she finally saw the car appear, a wind of relief chased away the fear that still held her back.

Then she froze.

Terrorized.

It wasn't Cooper's car.

He had come back. He had forgotten something and came back to get it.

- What are you doing here ? His voice was laced with a rage she had never seen before. A destructive, petrifying rage.

- I…Travis…

- What are you doing here with this damn suitcase?

The kick sent the latter flying to the other side of the sidewalk. Usually, Travis didn't show any aggression towards her in public, but this time, discovering her outside with a suitcase in her hand had got the better of his legendary self-control.

-Did you want to leave? Did you want to do this dirty trick to me, little whore?

She was screaming. She hoped that someone would come out of these nice little tidy houses to get her out of there. But nothing. Not a single neighbor wanted to get involved in this carnage and she was going to pay dearly for it.

He pushed her violently, causing her to fall onto the lawn in their garden. The pain pierced her back so violently that it took her breath away, but when his hand grabbed her hair, she screamed so loudly that her voice hoarse.

- Shut your mouth ! Shut your fucking mouth! Piece of…

Travis didn't have time to finish his sentence. Something had stopped him.

A violent shock that had just hit his jaw, forcing him to release his grip on her hair.

-Cooper!

- Get in the car. Hurry up.

She wanted to cry, to stand there and watch Travis wipe the blood from the corner of his mouth. But the fear that still animated her gave her the impetus to flee without looking at what was happening before her eyes.

Cooper had arrived and he had just hit Travis with such force that he could barely keep his balance.

- I'm going to find you, bitch! he exclaimed towards her. But Cooper's hand grabbed him so tightly by the collar that he couldn't take another step.

- You're not going to do anything at all, because if you try to approach her again, I can't guarantee you that I'll settle for a punch.

He violently pushed Travis away, letting him fall to the ground before turning around. At that moment, Y/N became aware of her husband's weakness. He had been merciless with her because she was fragile, that was the only reason he had fun with her.

And it was over.

[m1schief-managed]

here’s a little imagine for your friday evening :)

y/n potter, james’ twin sister, who plays keeper for the gryffindor quidditch team, with james as the chaser and team captain.

remus, who watches from the stands and cheers the loudest every time his mates score or make a save.

he smiles to himself and looks away every time she catches him watching her. it always went unspoken, on both of their parts.

after a particularly successful game against slytherin, the team hosts an after party in gryffindor tower. soon enough, the common room got much too loud and you couldn’t move without bumping shoulders with someone.

this wasn’t remus’ scene. it wasn’t y/n’s either, but her brother kept insisting that she had to celebrate their win, so she had to stick around longer than she hoped.

remus retreated to his room as soon as he deemed it appropriate to make an irish exit. he thought it’d go unnoticed, but it didn’t.

when james’ attention was pulled away by a certain redhead, y/n refilled her cup of firewhiskey and then looked around the room to search for her friends. sirius was in the corner with some girl, she couldn’t tell who. peter was sitting on the couch chatting with mary. her eyes panned the rest of the room, but remus was nowhere to be found.

checking once more to make sure her brother was distracted, she turned and went up the stairs to the dorms in search of her friend. when she reached the top, she saw the door to her brother’s dorm open (which he shared with the rest of them) and found remus sitting on the window sill, reading with the window open in the light of the moon. the full moon had long past, merely waxing now.

“hey,” she says softly, leaning against the doorframe. his head shoots up out of instinct, but his expression soon softens as he sees who’s there. “i’m not interrupting, am i?”

“no, not at all,” he answers, closing his book and leaving it on his lap. “i was just getting away from the chaos.”

“me too,” she says, walking over to sit across form him on the sill, bringing her knees to her chest to mirror him.

“what, not in the celebrating mood?” he asks with a soft chuckle, looking out the window. she shakes her head.

“not really. james was determined to keep me down there, called me a buzzkill,” she replies, laughing softly at the idea. “it isn’t that i don’t want to celebrate, i just think his parties are always a tad too rowdy.”

“well, that’s prongs for you. life of the party,” he says with a smile. “not sure how he and padfoot do it.”

“i know,” she says. “we’re quite different, james and i.”

“i know you are,” he answers softly.

“he doesn’t,” she mutters. “he always tries to get me to go along with him, but he doesn’t understand that we don’t always like the same things… sorry, i’m rambling, i’m sure you don’t want to hear about all this.”

“don’t be sorry. i like to listen,” he says, looking over at her. “you can always talk to me, i understand.”

“i know. you always get me, moony,” she says, smiling back at him. “what’re you reading?”

as remus starts to talk about his book of the week, she rests her head on her knees, looking over at him with a soft smile. his voice was soothing and sweet, and her eyes soon start to flutter shut.

his gaze softens as he notices her start to drift off. he doesn’t mind, though. the thought of someone feeling safe enough around him to fall asleep made his heart swell. especially someone who knew what he was, and accepted him. she wasn’t afraid of him, for whatever reason he still didn’t understand.

when he’s sure that she’s fallen asleep, he gets up off the window sill and slides an arm under her legs, the other holding her back as he picks her up and places her on his bed. it’s far too late now to bring her down the stairs and up to her own room.

he sits on the floor beside the bed, brushing a stray hair out of her face and behind her ear, then smoothing his thumb over her forehead. he lays his head on the edge of the bed and shuts his eyes, drifting off to sleep himself as his best friend and the girl he loves breathes slowly next to him. he’d sleep on the floor every night if it meant he could be near her, just like this.

* i hope people like this :) i’m nervous about it. but it makes me happy so, enjoy ! let me know if anyone wants more like this *

[madlori]

Here's where I am with Buddie.

[CW: I am using the Buddie tag on this post, even though the gist of it is that I'm increasingly doubtful that it'll ever happen. This is NOT an anti-Buddie essay. If you'd rather not read about this topic, please keep scrolling. The bulk of the essay is behind the cut.]

-------

I've thought a lot about this over the weeks since 7x04 aired. It's not a secret that I'm wildly enthusiastic about the BuckTommy pairing (as are many fans) but what does that mean for my thoughts and opinions about Buddie, a pairing I still love and for which I am still writing fic (slowly but surely…)?

It's become increasingly difficult to reconcile hopes for Buddie with dread for a BuckTommy breakup, but if the show managed to pull off a breakup that did not destroy me, I would still be all in for a Buddie endgame.

But more and more, I don't think it's in the cards, and I'm increasingly okay with that.

First off, I know it's a common assumption that Buck and Tommy have an expiration date, and that it cannot last. That may very well be the case, but…the show is not acting like it, nor are they presenting this arc as if it's short-lived. Episodes 4-6, while also being about other things (especially the amazing Madney wedding plot in 6) were also a bit of a trilogy about Buck discovering his sexuality and taking tentative steps into a relationship with another man. It didn't go…particularly smoothly, but the events of 7x06 where they were concerned had a completely different tone. They had a much more settled vibe in the karaoke club scenes, from Tommy's very boyfriendly "check-in" look before he had to leave, to Buck's casual/distracted "Be safe" (as if he's said this before) and just how they spoke to each other and touched each other was much more comfortable than in the coffee meetup. Which makes me think it's been a few weeks and they've seen each other a few times in the interim.

And then that kiss. Putting aside that it was juxtaposed with a literal wedding kiss, there was nothing uncertain or hesitant about it. It felt like a very arc-capping kiss, coupled with the reveal to the rest of Buck's friends and family, and the clear message was "Okay, they're done 'getting together' now, they are together and will be together going forward, even if we don't see Tommy every episode (much as we don't see Karen every episode)." We know Tommy will be around through the end of S8, if not in every remaining episode. After that, we'll see.

A lot of fans have viewed one of the guys coming out as queer to be a first step towards a Buddie future, but I have to say I've never been super comfortable with that logic. I've always thought that if they were going to get together, or both be revealed to be queer, it would have to be at the same time, with each other, via them getting together. The minute they pulled the trigger on Bisexual Buck, I immediately thought that this made Buddie far less likely. Why?

Because it would mean that the writers/showrunners would be making BOTH their "hot younger firefighter" characters queer…separately. In separate storylines. Distinct from each other. And I just don't see that happening. I'm not saying it SHOULDN'T happen. I'd be over the moon. I'm saying I think that's unlikely.

As much as it pains me to say it, I think Eddie will be written as straight and will continue to be written as straight. I don't disagree with the many examples of queer coding we've all seen - the problem is all of them can be just as easily interpreted as arising from a different trauma. Almost everything we've seen from him that could very legitimately be read as breadcrumbs for a queer identity for him could also be rooted in his trauma over Shannon's death, his family trauma, his PTSD, or his general anxiety over being enough for people. He can be read as having sexuality crises. But he can also be read as having other crises with the same results.

I'm not seeing a sexuality crisis for Eddie in the future. I just don't feel like that's where they're taking him. They're taking him somewhere -- he's got storylines coming up -- but I think they're going to have to do with his family, possibly his friendship with Buck, maybe his relationship (I think we can all agree Marisol isn't going to last, she's like the anti-Tommy in that she's been around way longer but has infinitely less of a presence), and Christopher. That's a lot to deal with just right there. If I'm wrong, I will be delighted to be wrong.

But.

I think the show will continue to prioritize and showcase Buck and Eddie's very deep and emotional friendship, which is revolutionary in its own quiet way. Another thing that makes me think they're setting Tommy up to be a long term love interest is that one of the first things they did with him was affirm that he will not come between Buck and Eddie, give him his own relationship with Eddie and Chris, and have him show that he understands and respects the depth of their bond. Not to mention they've integrated him with the firefam. No other of Buck's love interests have gotten this treatment (Taylor had the most contact with the firefam, but I don't think anyone would say she was integrated, LOL). And it shows how committed they are to maintaining Buck and Eddie's friendship as a key emotional element of the show. Tim has also said this, repeatedly.

People often say that there's no explanation for how Buck and Eddie are with each other if it's not romantic - I read a fantastic essay that pointed out that this statement is the reason their platonic friendship IS so important. Men should be able to be vulnerable and loving with each other without it being romantic, as women can be. If we're unable to see a loving friendship without interpreting it as romantic or sexual, what does that say about the kind of male friendships we see everywhere, that makes this one so different?

I know this is an old anti-Buddie argument and I'm not anti-Buddie nor do I mean it's wrong to see it as romantic. I still do. I'm saying if it's not, if it never is, what it is, is already valuable and special, especially when one of them is now openly queer and dating a man.

Anyway. That's where I am with it, and my interpretation of where the show is with it.

[lala-lindsey]

Everyone's saying either Tommy saw the soot and didn't tell Buck or he did and Buck didn't care but honestly when I was watching my first assumption was that neither of them saw it. The other two options didn't even occur to me until I got on here later. My thought process was that they kissed, Buck turned before Tommy fully had his eyes open, and Tommy didn't have a chance to see Buck's face because he was walking behind Buck the whole way back through the hospital to Chimney's room. It played out like that in my head because in the scene you can see that Buck walks into the room ahead of Tommy. Even while they're standing there talking to Chimney they never look directly at each other. Buck is still standing slightly in front of Tommy, and when Tommy does turn to look at him Buck has already started moving forward further into the room. It didn't seem planned. It just makes more sense that it happened that way as a result of accident and dumb luck rather than a conscious decision to come out to your friends and family via soot beard. From a narrative standpoint it makes more sense AND it's funnier.

[thy-valhallen]

I don't think we talk enough about Tim being the first Robin who was fully from a time in which, from being a child with concrete memory onwards, the Batman and Robin were known entities.

Jason was alive and around, yes, but for Tim, Batman and Robin have been a solid fact of life throughout most of his existence. Tim doesn't remember a world without Batman and Robin, and he grew up in this golden age, really: his days of photography and true obsession with the Batfam were squarely in those perfect years where Batman and Robin patrolled Gotham and Nightwing was out in Bludhaven, carving out his own territory and name for himself. Sure, not great for them behind the scenes, but Robin #1/Nightwing was so obviously incredible at fighting crime that it literally inspired the rest of his generation of heroes. To be a kid, growing up in that era, had to have been wildly intoxicating, honestly-- to see your heroes at their very best, the peak of their performance?

And how much would it hurt to see a cornerstone of your reality crumble when a boy died in an Ethiopian warehouse? Suddenly, the pillars of Tim's life-- Batman and Robin-- were utterly out of balance, and he was so desperate to fix it, he happily stepped into that spot, regardless of how prepared he was to fill it. He's just so sure that it needs filling, by any means necessary.

I mean, even just thinking about his infamous line: Batman needs Robin. He's too young to remember that there was, in fact, a time were Batman operated alone. In reality, I think it's a bit less accurate to say that Batman needs Robin than it is to say that Tim believes Batman needs Robin.

And all this, in contrast to that fact that he should've been the one with a completely normal life. I mean, Dick, Jason, and Duke were pulled in by their tragedies, Steph, Damian, and Cass by their families. Tim though? He should've been a rich kid from Bristol forever. He should've stumbled on the truth of the Batfam and stumbled on past it, let it go. He should've become the head of Drake Industries someday, his parents uninvolved with the Rogues or any other madness of the city. But he didn't. Instead, this boy, who could've lived a perfect, happy life, abandoned all of that because he saw his heroes needed saving and had to try. Even when his idols turned him away and brutally denied him, he fought for it anyway, simply because he saw an imbalance that needed correcting.

doesn't it make it feel much more... predetermined, that Tim ended up becoming a Robin, knowing that this was all he knew? That Tim was inspired by this era of heroes, surrounded by it, to such a degree that-- being Tim-- he didn't have any choice but to follow in their footsteps?

I dunno, something about the idea of Tim being fated to be Robin, that he grew up surrounded, entranced by heroism to the point that, when an insane opportunity knocked, he answered without hesitation... i really like it

[oo-delallymrcrow]

Rehearsal

A/N: alright I caved. After only reading about this man for two days I wrote a story about him. This man has a choke hold on my life that I'd didn't think was possible but here we are....

Anyway, this is pre-war Cooper x reader. It is really fluffy but suggestive at the end. Forgive me I wrote it in five hours, haven't slept, and didn't really edit so if there's any mistakes that's why.

Plot: Cooper has feelings for reader. It really comes forward about how he feels and she feels for him when they rehearse a movie together.

Cooper Howard leaned against the railing of the porch of the house that was the backdrop to this scene, his gaze tracing the lights and people milling about. It was the perfect backdrop for the movie he'd been dreaming of – a tale of love, loss, and redemption. Ever since the divorce, it's been hard on Cooper with trying to take care of Janey and still go through with his career. That's why he was so glad to have you as his co-star.

A little more than a co-star more as a friend. Y/N has been with him through the whole divorce with Barbara. She was by his side as he sat and signed the papers. Crying with him as he did. Helping with getting Janey and watching her when he worked late. He always apologized and tried to pay her but she would never accept the money.

 “It really is no problem Cooper.” She would smile sweetly at him as she gave him some supper that she made that night. “I've told you time and time again; I love Janey like she was my own. Now eat before I hear another rumble from that stomach.”

He smiled at the memory. She was always taking care of them both. Even when Janey was staying with her mother, she still came over, offering dinner and some beer. Then staying the night just to talk. He would offer his bed for her when she started yawning and seeing that sleepy smile on her face. 

“I can't take your bed Coop. I'll just go home and sleep in my own”

“Now darlin’ what kind of gentleman would I be if I let you drive home at this hour? No ma'am, you take my bed and I'll sleep on the couch.”

She smiled, and he swore his heart skipped a bit as she did. 

“Alright but just because it would be rude after you offered so kindly.”

He smiled and led her to his room. He grabbed an undershirt and some pajama pants for her. 

Her brows scrunched in confusion as she smiled at him.

“Don't want you sleeping in your dress sweetheart. It might wrinkle,” he winked at her as she giggled and took the clothes from him. Her fingers brushing over his sent a red hue to her cheeks.

His heart skipped a beat again as she took the clothes and looked at him through her lashes. He cleared his throat after what felt like an hour as they stared at each other.

“Night sweetheart,” he whispered as he walked through the doorway, starting to close the door behind him.

“Night Coop,” she whispered back. 

He smiled at her before letting it shut.

There were a few nights when they would talk for hours and he would wake up on the couch with Y/N in his arms. He would smile and brush her hair back as he stared at her and wonder if he could do this every night.

‘I would like to.’ He would think when this happened. ‘It would be nice for him to have someone here all the time to keep him company. And Janey already has taken a shine to her.’

He would run his fingers through her hair as she sighed in her sleep and tucked her head under his chin, curling into him like she belonged there. He smiled and pressed a soft kiss to her temple.

‘Yeah, I want to have her be with me.’

Now whenever she came over that's all he could think about. How perfect she looked cooking in his kitchen. Helping put Janey to bed, telling her a bedtime story and a sweet little goodnight. How he would think about whenever she stayed the night that they could just share the bed. How he should say fuck it and kiss her. But he was a gentleman and a recent divorcé and now her fucking co-star. Like that doesn't make his feelings for her grow more.

She got the female lead role and that meant she was a love interest. His love interest, to be specific. She was so excited about working with him and Cooper loved it too. That meant more of getting to see her. But that also meant scenes that would be romantic which made his heart want to explode out of his chest.

Speaking of which, this scene that they were doing was a romantic scene. Where his character, an old cowboy whose wife and son were murdered by an outlaw, confessed his love to Y/N's character, the daughter of the mayor who turned out to be the outlaw. It was a weird ride of emotions for Cooper after everything he's been through. But by god didn't you look pretty in your costume.

Speaking of you, Y/N stepped onto the set, her presence like a burst of sunshine amidst the filming chaos. With her effortless grace and magnetic aura, she embodied her character. Destined to capture Cooper's heart on screen. 

‘And on set.’ He thought as he flashed her a smile as she walked toward him with a wide grin.

"Hey, Coop," Y/N greeted, her voice carrying a hint of excitement. "Ready to bring this scene to life?"

Cooper turned to her, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "Absolutely sweetheart. Let's make magic."

That blush returned on her cheeks and it made Cooper feel a little giddy at her reaction whenever he called her that. He has been flirting with her a little more since the night he woke to them cuddling on the couch. He felt like he was able to have a second chance and by god was he going to take it. If Y/N wanted him though, that was one thing he wasn't sure of, yet.

They took their positions, the script pages fluttering in the breeze. As the cameras rolled, Cooper and Aurora slipped effortlessly into their characters, their chemistry igniting the air like fireworks on a summer night.

“Well if it isn't Mr. McLintock. What has you snooping around here? Gonna get my momma arrested next?”

Cooper smiled at the stern look on Y/N's face. She was really good with this character and Cooper loved the little quips they had improvised with their dialogue.

“Now easy there darlin’,” he drawled, raising a hand as Y/N raised the prop rifle to him. “I'm not here for anyone else. Well, not your momma at least.”

Her eyebrow raised as she cooked the hammer back. “And what would you want with me, Mr. McLintock?” 

He placed a foot on a step resting his other hand on the railing. 

“Well, I was hoping I could call upon you.”

She let put a harsh laugh, “call upon me? After you let that sheriff take my father? That's funny Mr. McLintock but I don't want you to call upon me.”

He took another step up, face to face with her now. As he stared into her eyes, he saw how they had a twinkle to them. His hand reached out and moved the rifle away from him. Her lips parted and his eyes darted down as he wet his lips before speaking his next line.

“The sheriff found that he was shot in his thigh. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that, would you?”

She gasped up at him as he got closer. She turned her head away with a shake as she whispered. 

He gently grabbed her chin and faced her back to him. She looked up at him with wide eyes and gulped.

‘Jesus this girl was gonna be the death of him.’

He licked his lips again feeling his air leave his lungs as he whispered.

“What happened?”

Her mouth opened and then closed. She looked close to crying when she answered his question. With each line delivered, Cooper found himself lost in Aurora's eyes, her passion igniting a fire within him. Together, they danced through the dialogue, each word infused with emotion and depth.

“He-he was going to kill you John. I heard him talking to his old partner. He said he was going to get you before you got him and I-”

Y/N reached up and placed her hands on his cheeks. She took a step closer, leaving no room between them as she whispered up to him.

“I couldn't let him kill you John. I-I didn't want to lose you.”

Cooper felt his heart thudding against his chest. He felt like he was going to have a heart attack with how fast his heart was going. He knows this was just a part of the script but with how close they were. Cooper couldn't handle the intensity in her eyes. In that moment, time seemed to stand still. They were no longer the two charactersthey portrayed, but Cooper and Y/N – two souls intertwined in a story as old as time.

He wrapped his arm around her waist while his other hand was on her cheek. He leaned in closer as he said his last line.

“You'll never lose me sweetheart.”

As the scene reached its climax, their lips met in a tender embrace, sealing their characters' fate with a kiss that spoke volumes of love and longing. But even more than that, Cooper was confessing his love to Y/N through this kiss. Hoping that she would understand his passion and love for her through it. He heard a small moan come from her as he ran a hand down her side and her arms wrap around his neck. It made his hat tip up at an angle as they kissed but he didn't mind. Not when she ran her fingers through his hair.

The director called cut all too soon, and the spell was broken. Cooper and Y/N pulled away, their breaths mingling in the air. For a moment, they lingered in silence, the weight of their performance hanging between them like a veil.

"Wow," Y/N breathed, breaking the silence with a small smile. "That was... incredible."

Cooper nodded, his pulse still racing. "Yeah, it was."

They shared a moment of understanding, a silent acknowledgment of the magic they'd created together. In that studio, amidst the chaos of people and equipment, Cooper and Y/N had found something truly special – a connection that transcended the confines of the silver screen.

“Alright everyone that's a wrap for today. Cooper, Y/N, nice work today you both had a lot of chemistry and I want to see the same thing for tomorrow's shoot.”

Y/N nodded with a smile as Cooper gave a quick alright before the director walked away.

Cooper turned to Y/N to ask a question when she beat him to it.

“Are you bust tonight?”

Cooper shook his head, “not at all sweetheart. Why do you wanna do another dinner date?”

Y/N smiled and stepped closer to him and he placed his hands on her waist to hold her steady. 

“Something like that.”

She bashfully said as she looked up through her lashes again. This time though, Cooper could see the loving warmth and the burning of lust in them. It made Cooper's breath catch as he glanced at her lips and back to her eyes. He saw her eyes move down to his lips and then trail down his body. Biting at her bottom lip she sighed as she caught his gaze and ran her hands up his torso to grab the bandana around his neck. She tugged it slightly to bring his mouth close to hers. Just as their lips were about to meet, she smiled.

“Make sure to leave room for dessert,” she purred and turned away from him as she walked off the set. Cooper's breath left him in a rush as he realized he was holding it the whole time. His gaze caught hers as she looked back with a smile and a wink before sauntering out. His mouth turned up in a smirk as he hurried off the set as well.

‘Damn sweetheart.’

[stardewrotsession]

Note: I’m not even gonna attempt to say why I disappeared again, I just do. Work, school, hangouts, studying, it takes a toll. Anyways I think I’m back into Stardew since the 1.6 update so hopefully I’ll have more out in a timely manner. If not I’m sorry in advanced lol. Oh and no Elliot this time, also sorry about that!

The Bachelors When They’re Jealous

Sam

- Honestly Sam wouldn’t notice LMAO.

- At least whenever he’s getting hit on or flirted with, it takes him a long time to really catch on.

- Like if a girl were to walk up to him and start flirting with him heavily, he wouldn’t really get it and think she’s just giving him compliments.

- It would have to be when she starts getting handsy that he’ll get it and immediately turn her down lol

- With you on the other hand, he can tell, to an extent.

- If someone comes up to you and starts talking to you, he wouldn’t think anything of it.

- Mostly just, “Oh hey, they’re making friends!”

- It wouldn’t be until loudly declare that you’re not interested that he’d suddenly know what’s going on.

- And there’d be a guilt behind not picking up on it at first.

- Not because he doesn’t trust you, he trusts you with his life!

- But this guy could’ve been making you uncomfortable from the start, and he has done nothing to try and get you away from it.

- From that point he’d walk over to you immediately and give you a little kiss before asking if you wanted to join him.

- Whether he was outside, with friends, or with family, he’d want to give you an out. Or an excuse to leave right away.

- Sam cares about you, through and through. He wants you feel comfortable and he definitely needs you to feel safe.

Sebastian

- So a lot of me really believes Sebastian would be self conscious about it.

- Like he’ll catch himself being really jealous when seeing you talk to someone else, but then he’ll think he’s overreacting.

- It takes a lot of him to get jealous though, if you talk to Sam or Abigail, he wouldn’t bat an eye.

- But in my opinion? He’d get jealous when you talk to people he knows he’d never really talk to on his own.

- People like… say Alex? 👀

- I think anyone who has a popular kid personality or people with big egos makes him immediately turn the other direction.

- So when you talk to people like him, it tends to make him a bit jealous. Or insecure.

- Like “why are they talking to them?” Type of jealousy.

- I don’t really think he’d go out of his way to confront you or them. Unless you’re in trouble, he wouldn’t budge.

- But he’d definitely talk to you afterwards, but about how it made him feel.

- And he wouldn’t really do it in an angry sort of way.

- More like a “You were paying attention to them, do you like them more than me?”

- Probably more monotone or straightforward.

- You would definitely have to reassure him after, letting him know he’s the only one for you.

Harvey

- Harvey’s the type of guy to stay out of trouble a lot of the time.

- Less drama, potentially less injuries.

- Besides, he trusts you with all his heart.

- I like to think he’s all about trust, if you can’t have trust you can’t have a relationship. Simple as that.

- That isn’t to say he’d get insecure from time to time whether you talk to other people, especially if he thinks they look more attractive than him.

- But Harvey’s a great communicator. Once you get him to open up, he’ll want to share everything with you.

- If he truly does get jealous and insecure, he’s not the type to make a scene and pull you away immediately.

- He’ll wait until they’re gone, or until you two are in private.

- “So… what were you talking about with _____?”

- I also think he’s not the type to be confrontational about it.

- He’ll have his assumptions, but when you two are talking he’ll do everything he can to make sure he’s not assuming wrong.

- So get ready for random questions about your talk with the other person.

- He’ll definitely feel bad about getting jealous if it was a misunderstanding. He’d probably apologize the second he realizes he was overreacting.

- But he’s stable enough to know feelings like these happen, and as long as he can let it go and you can put his mind at ease, he knows he’ll be okay.

Alex

- Oh Alex would become overprotective so quick.

- Because, on one hand, he’s hit on girls before. Way before you two started dating.

- So he knows the pick up lines. He knows the flirty remarks.

- But on the other hand, ever since you two started dating, he could tell when people hit on him, and he’d quickly dismiss them.

- He knew who he wanted to be with. And you made him happier than he thinks he ever has been.

- Now when it comes to you, he knows when you seem uncomfortable, and he can pick up on when people flirt with you.

- He’ll only directly confront them if you seem really uncomfortable with it. Like, to the point where you constantly look at him with a “Help me” expression.

- But otherwise, he’ll have some fun.

- Picture this, a guy comes up to you and starts making conversation. You don’t think much of it until he starts flirting with you, calling you hot and pretty.

- Then you see Alex, carefully evaluating the situation before smirking and making his way over to you.

- “Hey babe,” he says while wrapping his arm around you.

- He gives you a small kiss, and pulls you closer. And let’s be honest, he’s definitely making a show of looking at you up and down, taking in your presence

- Probably takes him a whole minute before even acknowledging the other guy that was talking to you

- “Oh, sorry didn’t see ya there,” he’d say casually. “Need something?”

- You know what he’s doing, but you gotta admit, it’s a little cute

- Either way, he makes a huge show of calling you his.

- It’s like a passive aggressive way of telling the dude that you’re not interested.

Shane

- Low key, I’m so sorry… but I feel like Shane has a lotta issues with trust.

- If he gets insecure about your relationship and sees you talking to another person, you best believe he’ll completely ignore you at first.

- Even if you confront him about it, I don’t think he’d really tell you or open up.

- Like at night before you two go to bed, and you ask him what’s wrong, he’d say things like “Huh? No, it’s fine,” or “Wha? Quit worrying about it.”

- I don’t think it’s cause he’s necessarily mad at you.

- I just think he needs time to process everything. Debate on whether it was actually flirting or if you were just talking farm business stuff.

- So he’d shut up about it for a little. I really don’t think he’d be too mad if it was a one time deal.

- Buttttt if it’s happened multiple times, where you talk with the same person, he’d get annoyed.

- Unfortunately I think he’d have it all pent up until you guys have a disagreement or an argument.

- Like he could’ve left the toilet seat up and all of a sudden he’s talking about how he’s noticed you talking to the same guy over and over again.

- Despite all he’s been through, I don’t think he gets better right away, and his communication skills still need to be worked on a bit.

- Though, since he does have a therapist, he would try to work it out with them first, before anything else.

[cosmichahn]

PINING

Melissa Schemmenti x Fem!Reader —☆

ִֶָ 𓂃⊹ ִֶָ about: they always said what happens at PECSA, stays at PECSA...but not this one.

ִֶָ 𓂃⊹ ִֶָ warning/s: mild cursing

ִִֶֶָָ 𓂃⊹ ִֶָ word count: 2.6k

ִִֶֶָָ 𓂃⊹ ִֶָ note/s: this has been sitting in my drafts for a while, whoops! but anw, hope you guys enjoy it :)

“Philadelphia 76ers tickets?” You whisper-ask whilst looking at Ava who had just announced it to everyone. “Yeah, I’ll pass.”

It’s teacher appreciation week, and to be fair, you just want to see the band club perform for tomorrow’s assembly. It’s a little piece that you helped them prepare for all of the teachers to watch. This one was kept as a little secret from Janine; no offense to her, but you thought she might twist the crooks and nooks a little with the performance if she found out.

“We have a strong contender, everyone.” Ava grins with malice after what you said which left everyone confused.

“Why are you passing on this opportunity?” Janine gasped, sounding as though she had just got offended.

“If it were a concert from an artist I liked, I wouldn’t pass.” You shrug. “It isn’t, and I might just get confused with everything.”

“I know who to give the two tickets now to, oh, yes.” The principal says which then catches everyone’s attention away from you.

Gregory then asks suspiciously. “What do you mean, two?”

“We only have two tickets and I was gonna give them two to only one teacher.” Ava explained, hearing groans from everyone while you decided to silently excuse yourself and head to your classroom which is on the second floor.

---

Some of the morning classes have passed, and thus, the first break of the day before lunch. Set in the teachers’ lounge, chaos was something not to be avoided, until Ava asked for everyone to go to the library for an emergency meeting, as well as ask for a Sprite.

As you were about to go on by yourself, Ava proceeded to send you a message that asked for said Sprite. With a silent groan, but a small feel of relief, you just went ahead quickly. Thankfully, the fast food place with Sprite was near the school anyway.

At first, you were a bit lazy to drive off, but on second thought, the meeting was gonna be about the tickets anyway; so it didn’t really bother you as much. You wouldn’t want to spend half an hour listening to others bickering about tickets, although it would be a funny sight to see them arguing and bantering over who gets the tickets, likewise what Ava would feel if she saw that scene herself.

You were then soon on your way to the library after about 15 minutes of driving there and back where you got yourself something while also including Ava’s Sprite. And as you entered the library, “Sorry for being late, Ava. Here’s your Spri-”

“Here is our winner, the owner of the two tickets!” She announced proudly, presenting you similarly to some kind of prize.

Your eyes widened, and your eyebrows furrowed. “Wait, Ava, no! You know what happened the last time you gave something similar to someone who didn’t want it.” Everyone’s stare then transferred to Daryl and his eyelashes. “And why me? Why not Mr. Johnson?”

“Yeah, she’s damn right. I deserve it!” Mr. Johnson preaches from behind with a broom in his hand, like a staff from some Dungeons & Dragons game.

“Because you don’t have anyone to go with and I can be the perfect match to accompany you to this game.” Ava says with a huge smile plastered on her face. “Unless you’re gonna bring your secret girlfriend to the game. Betrayal.” She then looks at Melissa who catches up on what she just said.

“Oh, she’s not- '' You try to explain, placing the fast food bag on one of the tables. “No, no, Ava, you got it wrong.” You add, chuckling nervously.

“Yeah, that’s not what my ears found out when I heard all the flirting in each other’s classrooms, huh?” Ava teased.

“I think this is a little more interesting than basketball right now.” Janine whispers to Jacob and Gregory with a little laugh that escapes her mouth.

“Didn’t we bet on this?” Jacob replies.

With Gregory saying, “Yes, you guys did.”

It started around when the school year started and you and Melissa began to grow closer to each other after a debacle about different cuisines. She mostly stuck with Italian, and you, on the other hand, explored different dishes from different cultures. It was a mutual love for food; that could perhaps have also turned into a mutual liking and interest for each other.

“It’s just a little flirting, Ava.” Melissa shrugs her shoulders, with you agreeing.

“A little friendly banter.” You add.

“PECSA Weekend.” Jacob says and coughs in between words that earned various curious looks from the other teachers and Janine’s eyes widening with her mouth trying to cover a stifled laugh.

You feel a little awkward while mouthing, ‘What the fuck?’ You shake your head at Jacob, with eyebrows furrowed.

‘For the sake of the tickets.’ He mouths back, giving you an apologetic and yet competitive smile.

After nodding your head at him with a ‘What the living Christ, dude?’ expression, you announce that you will be withdrawing from this ridiculous somewhat of a scam that the district offered to the teachers.

“Yeah, let me just slide out of this room. Settle this yourselves.” You purse your lip, before waving goodbye.

Jacob’s gaze transfers to Melissa’s who looks at him with threat as he gulps in an invisible lump in his throat, making his palms extra sweatier than usual.

---

Meanwhile, just as everyone left the library, Janine and Jacob huddled while walking to their classrooms; with Gregory following them from behind. “I knew it. Something did happen at PECSA.” Jacob says, looking behind him to see if Melissa was behind them or so. “You could say that I am a good guesser.”

“As intriguing as this is, we should just let them be.” Gregory interrupts, before getting laughter as a reply.

“And pass this opportunity for destined love to not intertwine?” Janine raises an eyebrow with a cheeky smile. “Not gonna happen.”

“I’m just thinking of those Basketball tickets.” He says in defense as the two agree.

While that conversation continued on to be about Philadelphia 76ers and board game night, Melissa and Barbara were having a little talk while also heading to their respective classrooms.

“Now how did Jacob know about it?” Melissa wondered with suspicion. She’s fine with people finding out, sure, but she’s thinking of your friendship with her and how some people can be a little extra nosy, which she isn’t a fan of.

“Well, you know Jacob and Janine. Almost always up for schemes and so on.” Barbara says before waving goodbye as she then arrives at her classroom.

Melissa thinks to herself quietly while beginning her class. She enjoyed each and every second with you that night. Intoxicated by alcohol or not, she likes listening to every word you say because it just keeps her ears up. She’s known you for only about a couple of months given that you were only a new teacher at Abbott.

You’ve melted her under your grasp, and though she may be older, you never once made her feel as though she is. You make her feel young and more alive, while at the same time keeping her on her toes. She likes that you reciprocate to her talking about firefighters and different Italian dishes, as well as her family. Melissa isn’t one to trust people too quickly, but she slowly found herself warming up to you.

This has been a constant thought in her head, as well as it’s yours. Just a constant loop. A game of tag. The type of unrequited love that’s obviously mutual love that everyone can see, but manages to not be for both you and Melissa.

---

After that small inconvenience, or say, exposing secrets in the library, you’re now behind your desk with your laptop in front of you while your class is writing an essay.

The laptop is opened just so you can occupy yourself with something. Just some numbers you’re crunching and a few tests that you’re checking up that you’ll return to your students soon.

Your thoughts then wander to that said PECSA weekend. Alcohol was involved, a bunch of Math-a-ritas later and you’re caught up making out with the hot redhead teacher who just so happens to be Melissa. No feelings were confessed that night, but surely those actions meant something. Hopefully. As you would think.

It remained in your head how it felt the way her hands lingered all over your body, the small groans, her lips against yours. It wasn’t a hookup or a one night stand that happened, as all of it was simply just kissing the whole night until who knows what time it was.

You brought it upon yourself to get drunk with Melissa and invite her to your room; it didn’t take her a second to say yes to you before feeling your back against the cold door with her hand trickling over to the door knob to lock it. She kissed you well, and touched you in places she left cold when she sneaked out the following morning.

‘Didn’t want suspicions to linger. Sorry.’  That was the message she sent when you woke up with your clothes disarray and your lipstick smudges, with her trailing on your neck.

That was about a month ago. Surely, some things changed over the course of a month. Exchanging text messages over those couple of weeks changed, you weren’t that close to each other anymore, and the constant ‘What are we?’ lingered in your mind for more than you want it to.

That night changed what you and Melissa had. For the worse or for the better? You didn’t know.

You sigh in your chair, waiting for the bell to ring as this calls for your next lesson, Music. This one is with Janine’s class.

“Deep in thought, Miss?” Amanda asks. She’s one of the students sitting near your desk. Not with worried intent, but with curiosity.

“Go back to your essay, kid.” You look at her as if denying something in mind.

“Ok, Mrs. Schemmenti.” She blurts out before everyone in the room echoed with ‘Oooh.’s Amanda laughs at your embarrassed demeanor before she apologizes that that might have ended up being a little too personal.

As it turns out word got out about Jacob mentioning PECSA weekend, and not only that, but it was heard by one of the students from Jacob and Gregory’s podcast club, This Abbott Life.

---

Music class went by like a quick second as it was just a little jamming session with the second graders from Janine’s class.

It’s the end of morning class which means that lunch is on its arrival. Lunch which meant that you have to face Melissa after what seemed like only a small incident that happened a while ago. And so upon pondering over what to do or where to go just to avoid an upcoming awkward situation, you exit the music room after dismissing the class and decide to go to your own classroom upstairs to eat lunch.

Walking from down the stairs was Jacob who saw you then gulped from nervousness with the awareness of what he did, but surprisingly, you didn’t notice it. Although behind you exiting a classroom was someone Jacob was a little more terrified of. Melissa. She then catches his eyes, making him rush towards the teachers’ lounge.

As you sit quietly in your classroom, on your desk is the lunch you brought and a book you’ve been reading lately. A couple moments pass and you’re indulged in the story you’re reading. It’s a nice book you’ve been wanting to read in a while, something Melissa recommended to you some time ago. You do miss the closeness you two had before PECSA.

Well, most people say that what happens in PECSA stays in PECSA, but in your case, it probably isn’t.

“I see you’re finally reading it.” Her familiar voice dances in between the words printed in the book, which catches your attention. She greets you with a smile.

“Oh! Hello, Melissa.” You greet with half a smile, inserting the bookmark into the book and carefully closing it so as for it not to crease, before welcoming her to come inside.

“How’s it so far?” Melissa leans on one of the windowsills. She seemed really intrigued as to what your thoughts were, but that wasn’t exactly the reason why she came up here to you.

“It’s so far so good.” You fidget with the printed cover of it. “It’s a very intriguing book with well written characters.”

Melissa grabs one of the chairs and places it beside you, ready to listen to your thoughts on the book, but instead, she was met by the silence of obvious thoughts that lingered through your mind.

“Are you alright, hon?” She worries.

You feel as though this is the perfect opportunity to talk about it after acting as though you were cool about it, about everything that happened. That nothing worried and haunted you.

“We should talk about, you know.” You say it as straightforward. “While we have time for lunch.”

“What about it?” She asks, her voice as gentle as the way she held you that night.

Your fingers begin to fiddle with each other out of habit. “Were there some feelings involved?” You went in straight to the flame. “Did you kiss me because I wanted to kiss you, or did you kiss me because you wanted to kiss me?”

“What do you think happened that night?” A question with curiosity that overflowed.

“Well, we got drunk, went to my room, started making out, then the next morning, you left.” Instead of receiving a proper response, you instead get a chuckle out of her. “What’s funny?”

In between soft chuckling, she says, “You’re missing a few details, sweetheart.”

“Is that so?” You ask anxiously before feeling her hand take yours, circling her thumb on your palm.

“You know, when we got on your bed you suddenly ran away.” She recalls. “You ran away to the bathroom and all I heard was vomit and gagging.”

You felt shivers behind your back, feeling embarrassed over something so blurry in your mind and barely there.

“After that, you just kept on crying.” Her gaze softens as she catches your eyes. “You were scared that me hearing you vomiting over the toilet made you lose your chances with me and so you didn’t want to kiss me again.” She purses and licks her lips. “You said stuff about how you feel as though I deserve someone better.”

“I would have helped you clean up, but you refused and just left me hanging there for a good half an hour.” Melissa placed her glasses on top of her head. “We ended up just hugging each other the whole night. I was gonna say something but you fell asleep.”

“You can say it to me now.”  You smile a little.

With hesitance, Melissa starts talking. “Look, I wanted to tell you the next day, but you know, I’m not the best at opening up.” Your hand creeps up onto the side of her neck as she takes this and places it on her cheek. “I have feelings for you too. I like you, and there isn’t a day where your chances of having me lessen.”

A smile of relief grows on your face, laughing out of embarrassment with Melissa soon following your laughter. “God, we are so naive.” You say, rolling your eyes playfully out of the ridiculousness of the situation.

You pull your chair closer to hers, getting a little closer to her. Your eyes trail to her lips and she notices this, letting go of your hand and holding your face to meet her lips with yours. The kiss felt more passionate, with the taste of morning coffee surprisingly still within her lips.

“We shouldn’t be doing this on school grounds.” You whisper in between kisses that Melissa continued to give you.

And so midway she stops. “Are you telling me that I should bring you home?” She looks at you with intent and need.

“Friday.”

[fuckyeahisawthat]

So I'm still super obsessed with your take that Paul's visions are an "inversion" of reality and there's one that my brain is vibrating about in particular. In part 1 there's that one shot of him and Chani (and a couple others I think but it's not clear who they are) on a ship about to land (on Caladan?), with Paul in front and Chani standing behind him.

Now maybe I'm reading too much into this or taking it too literally, but for the most part the visions that are the most obviously "inverted" were the ones concerning the two of them, so I'm wondering what your take on that particular vision might be? Could it be she's actually in front with him behind her? Which seems like an unimportant detail but there could be some deeper layer there perhaps?? idk my brain is buzzing about it and I wanna know if you have Thoughts

Heyyyy. To be fair I'm not the first person to notice the thing about Paul and Chani's positions switching in his visions; I think I first saw that on Twitter. But ooh yes let's talk about that vision.

I'm assuming you mean this series of shots, from the visions Paul has in the tent after the attack on Arrakeen:

I don't think them switching places is going to be a one-to-one thing that happens every time Paul sees them together in a vision. But there is a lot of interesting stuff to talk about here. Chani wearing black--the color of power and empire--dressed to match Paul, standing at his right hand with no Irulan in sight. Chani gazing haughtily down at Paul's followers in a way it is hard to imagine the real Chani doing. Chani seeming entirely okay with this situation.

This makes me think that this is either a possible future where she has come to accept what Paul is doing, or a future where she is pretending to accept what he is doing for reasons of her own. But, as with all Paul's visions, we don't know if this is the future. (For one, the flags are different than the ones we see at the end of Part Two; they're the traditional Atreides green, white and black instead of the red and tan Desert Power Edition.) We don't know what else Paul sees once he drinks the Water of Life, but this could certainly be a possibility for "She'll come to understand, I've seen it."

While I was watching back through this series of visions I noticed another interesting thing. In Part One, there are multiple shots where we are following Chani walking through the desert, wearing a long white dress with her hair blowing in the wind. But in Part Two, Jessica is the figure in white that Paul is following. (I also think there is at least one shot where the person in white is so backlit/out of focus that we can't tell who it is.) We also have these parallel scenes of Paul in a tent in distress over a vision: Paul seeing the vision of following Chani while Jessica is there trying to comfort him, and later in Part Two, Paul describing the nightmare/vision of following Jessica to Chani as she tries to comfort him.

The metaphor here I think is a bit more obvious--Chani and Jessica represent two opposite paths Paul could take, either embracing the prophecy or rejecting it. But it's interesting to see them connected or superimposed on each other through the visions this way. In the vision in Part One, Jessica even speaks through (or over) Chani; we see Chani say "Paul" in the same urgent way Jessica is saying it in real life.

What does all this mean? Once again, we don't know! Chani is a phantasm at this point in Part One; Paul has not actually met her in real life so it's not clear if the Chani in his visions represents an actual possible future for the real Chani, or if she operates as more of a symbol or a projection of things in his own head. I think the intent is to keep us guessing by having the visions function in different ways--some are the future, some are a version of the future but twisted, and some are metaphors or warnings, and we often don't know in advance which is which. But I'll be super curious to see if some version of this scene comes back in Dune Messiah.

[dudeitiskarev]

Maybe Someday | Ch. 5

A Spencer Reid mini-series

Pairing: Spencer Reid x female reader

Chapter summary: reader and Spencer become close friends. Very close friends.

Tags/warnings: season 4 spoilers; drunk reader; mentions of food and making out with a stranger.

Word count: 3k

Author's note: I've been doing some adjustments and now there will be 10 chapters + epilogue. It's the same story, I just decided some scenes were better together in one chapter.

PREVIOUS CHAPTER | SERIES MASTERLIST | MAIN MASTERLIST

Spencer became a regular at the café. 

Any chance he had, he found a way to grab something at ‘Moramor’. If he had enough time on his hands, he’d sit at a table for one with a cup of coffee,  a book, and would sit there until duty called. 

You’d watch him from afar and check on him if he needed anything else, like any other customer. And when he didn’t have the time, he managed to give you a phone call at the end of the day to check on you. 

Inevitably, Spencer became a regular in your life, too.

And it terrified you.  

“I think he’s in love with you.”

It wasn’t the first time Steve said that. He was your work best friend, and even though he was a kid—a freshman in college—he was wise, and always managed to say the right thing. He reminded you a lot of your brother. 

“He’s not,” you dryly answered, rolling your eyes.

Steve passed behind you to grab the caramel syrup and poked your ribs.

“He is not!” You playfully smacked his arm with a cloth. “He’s my friend. And a really good one.”

“He’s always glancing this way,” Steve insisted, raising his eyebrows at you.

“And?” You responded while looking in Spencer's direction. He was sitting at a table outside this time since it was a nice sunny morning, and he was in fact, looking your way. 

He gave you one of the tight-lipped smiles you loved so much. 

“Hearts start floating around him every time he does,” Steve teased. 

“You are exaggerating,” you laughed. 

“You should make a move on him. He’s cute, tall, smart—”

“He’s my friend,” You stopped him. “I would never.”

“So if he weren’t your friend, you’d make a move?”

You glanced at Spencer again. You knew him and he was more than just a pretty face. Anyone who knew him the way you did, knew he was a catch.

“I mean if he was a stranger...”

“See?”

“But that doesn’t mean anything.” You shook the thought away. “He’s the only person I have here. And Inez. And you. I can’t… risk losing him. Plus, I don’t see him that way. He’s too good for me.”

“There’s no such thing as ‘too good for you’.” Steve mocked your voice and made quotation marks in the air with his fingers. “And I’m just saying, you should make a move before someone else does.”

You scoffed as if he’d told the funniest joke. “He can tell me all about it if someone hits on him.”

Your stomach twisted just by thinking about it, though. And that hypothetical situation didn’t prepare you for the actual moment.

Just a few days later. 

“I met a girl the other day,” Spencer commented casually. 

You were on your fifteen-minute break and went to sit with him at his usual table. You did that on slow mornings. He always managed to entertain you about the book he was currently reading or any other random fact about whatever crossed his mind. 

You choked a little before answering, “That’s exciting!” You tried your best to keep your iced coffee in your mouth. “Was she cute?”

“Y-yeah. I met her at a bar, she was the bartender.” He smiled shyly. 

“You went to a bar?” You raised your brows.

“Believe it or not, I did. Undercover, sort of.”

That made more sense. 

“She almost became a victim of the guy we were hunting,” he continued explaining. He sometimes told you about the cases, the ones that weren’t so tough, he had admitted once. “Luckily she lived, and she uh, she called me the next day and mailed me this.” He handed you one of the same cards he’d given you when he found you with his number on it.

The difference was that this one had a lipstick stain on the back.

Like a punch in your gut.

“Oh, she sent you a kiss for saving her life.” You kept a straight face. 

“Yeah, I guess,” he chuckled.

“I like her.” You lied, playing it so cool, even when your blood was boiling inside. Burning hot. Sick to your stomach-hot. God, you couldn’t be falling for Spencer, but the fact he’d been licking your wounds ever since you met didn’t help. He was your shoulder to cry on. The arms you ran to when something upset you. He was a kind, handsome, and smart man. He deserved all the attention, all the love and care. A normal friend would be happy for him, so why weren’t you? “She’s bold.” 

“Yeah, I’ve been told I need that in a girl.” He nodded, lips tight in a thin line. 

“Have you talked to her lately?” You sipped on your drink. You needed to know more about this girl who made Spencer blush like a teenager. 

“Not much.” He cleared his throat and put the card away, deep inside his wallet as if he wanted to keep it forever. “I’m not very good at letting things… flow.”

“I’m sure you are.” You nudged his arm playfully. “You just have to practice.” 

The corner of his lips curled up into a weak smile. 

“What’s the worst thing that could happen?” 

Spencer’s phone rang at 2 AM. He’d just fallen asleep over the bed covers with a book over his chest. He looked at the tiny phone screen and your name popped up. His heart began to drum in his ears and his cheeks started to burn as if you’d shown up in front of him.

He rubbed his eyes and cleared his throat before answering. “Hello?”

“Spencie,” you babbled. 

There was loud music in the background.

“You okay?” Spencer sat upright, clearing his voice once more.

“Fine. I’m fine I just—“

“Are you drunk?”

“Not drunk. I had a few drinks.”

“Do you want me to pick you up?” He swung his legs to the edge of the bed and stayed there, staring at his wall.

“No.” You sighed. “If I see you right now I will not control myself.”

“What does that mean?” He frowned.

“I really like your lips. You have very nice lips and a lot of pretty words come out of those pretty lips.”

“Okay?” His cheeks grew warmer. 

Where did that come from?

“Which is why I kissed this random guy instead.”

Ouch.

“Random guy?”

“You’d think he’s a good kisser because of that face like he had a beautiful face but gosh, he was a bad kisser. Like a really bad one. Like yikes.”

“Who’s taking you home?” He changed the subject. Picturing your lips on someone else was torture.

“I called a taxi. It’s on its way. I just thought I’d give you a call while I waited. Would you stay with me until it comes?” 

“Of course, sweetheart.” The word slipped out before he could bite his tongue.

But it didn’t seem to bother you.

“Mmm, sweetheart.” You laughed a little. 

Spencer didn’t respond. He squinted his eyes shut and tried to hold back a smile. 

“Are you still there?” You asked.

“Right here.” He put on some slippers and headed to his kitchen to put on the coffee maker. Just to boil some water and make himself a chamomile tea. Coffee at this hour was not good for his brain. 

“Can you stay on the phone until I make it home?”

“Okay, yeah. Is something wrong?” He leaned on the kitchen counter.

“I don’t trust men. I mean, I trust you. You are the exception. In so many things.”

“How’s that?” He tried to get some more information. All he could think of was you saying ‘I really like your lips’ over and over again.

“I’m… very drunk.” You dodged his question. “Anyway, if the driver hears that I’m on the phone he won’t try anything stupid.”

“That’s smart.”

“Oh, thank you. That’s really a compliment coming from you. The smartest person to ever exist.”

Spencer chuckled. “You’re so chatty.” 

“It’s the tequila talking.” And he adored it. 

You gasped with excitement when the taxi arrived and the sound of you dropping the phone got him to really laugh.

“You okay?” He asked, even though chances were you didn’t hear him.

Spencer went to sit at his desk in the meantime.

“Hello?” 

“You okay?” He asked again.

“Oh, you’re still there, I dropped you. I mean I dropped the phone and couldn’t reach it. Are you okay?”

“Yeah, why wouldn’t I be?”

“I woke you up.”

“I wasn’t sleeping. And I have the weekend off so it’s okay.”

“Oh, how fun! Are you gonna do anything fun, Dr. Reid?”

He smiled. You’d never called him Doctor Reid. “Not really, no. I don’t have anything planned.”

“You’re not a planner, huh?”

“Umm, no?”

“We could do something. I have tomorrow off, which is the only reason I agreed to go out tonight.”

“Y-yeah, we could definitely do something. Do you, uh, have something in mind?”

“No, I just want to spend the day with you.” You sighed deeply. “I miss you.”

Spencer gulped. “Yeah, we haven’t talked much lately.”

“There’s so much I want to tell you.”

“Oh, yeah?” There he was again, trying to get you to talk.

‘I really like your lips’ echoed in his mind. 

“Yep.” You hiccuped. “But we have all day tomorrow to catch up.” You hiccuped again. “What the—”

“What? What is it?” Spencer frowned. Your tone had changed drastically.

“I think he’s driving me somewhere else.” You lowered your voice. 

“He's not driving you home?”

“No…”

His heart dropped to his stomach. There’d been abductions not long ago around your area—he’d warned you about it when they happened—but since they didn’t happen again, it didn’t make a case for the bureau. 

Every horrible outcome came to his mind. 

“Don’t hang up, okay? I’ll…” he immediately thought of Garcia. “I’ll have someone track your phone just— just don’t hang up, you hear me? Do not hang up.” 

He put you on speaker while he searched for Garcia’s number.

“Oh, shit,” you laughed just when he was about to message Penelope.

“What? What is it?” 

“I’m… I think I’m outside your apartment. I mean it looks familiar? But… I’m not home.”

“What?” He made his way to the living room and peeked through the blinds. 

There was a taxi outside his apartment complex. The back door opened and there you were, struggling to get out.

Spencer breathed out relieved. “I’ll come get you.” 

He didn’t hang up or question anything and marched downstairs to find you. You were standing with both hands clasped behind your hands.

“I gave the wrong address, I think.” You winced apologetically. 

“You scared the crap out of me.” He enveloped you in his arms. 

“Aw, don’t be.” You gave him a lazy pat on his back. “I know how to fight.”

“While being drunk?” He let go of you and smirked. 

“Now there I’m at a disadvantage.” You raised your index finger to make your point. “But I would’ve fought nonetheless.”

“Hey, chick, you gonna pay or what?” The driver ducked his head out the open window.

“How much?” Spencer walked to him, pulling out his wallet. 

“$13.45.”

Spencer got a twenty-dollar bill and handed it to the man. He looked oddly familiar. “Keep the change.”

“No, wait!” You yelled. “I have cash somewhere in my purse.” You dug inside your small bag. 

Spencer placed his hand flat on your lower back and guided you inside, glancing over his shoulder to make sure that the driver left. He was sure he’d seen his face somewhere.

“You didn’t have to do that,” you said.

He didn’t respond and hung one of your arms over his shoulders and wrapped one arm around your waist to help you go upstairs.

“I’ve always wondered why you don’t have an elevator.” You stumbled over a step, weighing Spencer down with you. “Whoops!” You laughed. 

He tried his best to keep you both on your feet, holding you tighter. “It’s only a three-story building.” 

“Right. But it would be very handy for this type of situation.”

“I’m the only person under thirty who lives here.”

“Case in point. Maybe they don’t come home drunk but knees. What about old people’s knees.”

Spencer had no answer to that and really laughed then as he opened the door.  “We’re here.”

“It always smells like a library here.” You sniffed loudly. You let go of him and began to undress. 

Right there.

“Whoa, why don’t you—” Spencer took his eyes off you, but you stumbled your way to his room, leaving a trail of clothes behind you.

He called your name and got no answer, so he went for you, looking everywhere but straight ahead in case you’d decided to rid yourself of every piece you were wearing.

To his surprise, you had already turned yourself into a cocoon under the bed covers.

At least you took very seriously what he once said about outside clothes on the bed. 

The room was too bright even behind your eyelids. Your head was pounding—you were sure it was pounding already inside your dream. Your mouth was dry. So dry it hurt to swallow. You could still taste the tequila.

Memories from last night began to come in flashes. The party. A stranger’s tongue in your mouth. Regret. Disgust. Realization.

Spencer.

You jolted awake abruptly and a breeze sneaked inside the bed covers. A breeze that touched your skin everywhere. You lifted them and looked down on your body just to see nothing but your skin. 

You were fully naked in Spencer’s bed. 

“Shit.”

Panic rushed through you and your eyes immediately shot next to you. The other side was spotless. You closed your eyes and let out a relieved sigh.

“Good morning.” Spencer’s voice entered the room. He was leaning against the doorframe with a gracious smile.

You squeaked, bringing the bed covers up to your chin. “How long have you been here?” you asked.

“I live here.” He put a strand of hair behind his ear.

“I mean…” You closed your eyes for a moment. A sharp pain pulsed in your temples.  “There, staring.”

“I just got here, don’t worry.” Spencer walked inside and gave you his back to riffle through his closet. 

He was acting so normal. As if there wasn’t a naked woman in his bed.

“Spencer, how did I get here?” You asked.

He paused for a moment, turning around. “You don’t remember?”

“I… don’t remember much.”

He chose a shirt from his wardrobe and placed it by your feet. For you. “You gave the wrong address to the taxi.” 

“How? I don’t even know—” you stopped mid-sentence. You did know his address. Once upon a time, when you first came to his place you memorized his address in case of an emergency. “Where did you sleep?”

“Couch.” He smiled, scrunching up his nose. 

It looked like he was about to turn around and leave but you spoke again, and he stayed halfway in halfway out. 

“Sorry, this is very embarrassing and so not like me.”

“I know, is something wrong going on?”

Him. Ever since he mentioned Austin, it was all you thought of. You’d gone out to distract yourself from thinking about him as someone else’s girlfriend.

“I guess I needed a distraction but chose the wrong kind of distraction. And the wrong people.”

“Well, you should take a shower so we can plan something for today.” 

You quirked a brow. “What, you don’t work today?”

“I guess you don’t remember much of last night.”

“What?” you asked. 

“No, I don’t work today. Or tomorrow.” He raised his brows, smiling.

Which was once in a lifetime. 

“And you want to spend it with me?”

“Uh, yeah, why not?”

“Don’t you have a girlfriend?” You held the urge to roll your eyes. 

“What? Austin? no, no she—” He looked away for a moment. “Not my girlfriend.”

It was hard not to get a sense of relief by hearing that.  

 “Well, I have to go home first. My clothes probably smell like tequila and cigarettes.”

“Already washed and dried.” He gestured with his chin at a chair by the window. There were your clothes, clean and folded. He didn’t want you to go home. He didn’t want to waste time. “Breakfast’s ready when you’re ready.” 

He turned around again, and you spoke again.

“What else did we talk about last night?”

Spencer paused. “Nothing important.” 

He then finally walked away and closed the door behind him.

You threw yourself back, sighing deeply, and stayed there for a moment. An intrusive thought began to invade you: about one day— someday not too far away—waking up in his bed like this, but this time with him next to you. You shook the thought away immediately and put the shirt on to make your way to his bathroom that luckily was right there inside his room. 

It was a big bathroom and everything was so neat and in place. You’d never met a man that was this clean. And thoughtful. He’d left you a sealed toothbrush on the sink counter and Tylenol. 

So you did that first, put the pills in your mouth, drank three cups of water, and hopped in the shower. If you were at your apartment, you would’ve taken a longer shower but this time you were showered and dressed in ten minutes—you chose the shirt he gave you instead of your own. It looked better. And it smelled like him. 

You quickly changed the bedsheets—it was the least you could do—and made your way to the kitchen. The smell of food reached your tastebuds right away. You barely ate last night—probably the reason you got drunk too quickly.

Spencer was by the stove, facing away from you. 

“What do you wanna do today?” He asked, turning around with a pan of scrambled eggs and placing it over the small table.

You hummed in deep thought. 

“Would you go apartment hunting with me?”

Next chapter

[lightwise]

Hey guys. I know I’ve been relatively quiet on here since the finale, and I wanted to let you all know I haven’t just liked all your posts but not reblogged for the sake of lurking 😅. I had an insanely chaotic week in my personal life/schedule and the finale hit me hard, in some ways that I wasn’t expecting, so I’ve been processing a lot behind the scenes and trying to play catch-up.

I know there’s a lot of opinions, a lot of hurt feelings, and a lot of processing going around, no matter what your opinions about the finale itself. And even if it had satisfied every one of us, it still is hard to say goodbye to our Bad Batch in canon media. I’ve been crying every time I see shots from those last few scenes and the epilogue 😭❤️

I’ll be sharing everyone’s thoughts and my own as I have the bandwidth this week/ongoing. I have a lot of things I want to address:

- How Tech was handled

- Project Necromancer and Omega’s m count

- the death trooper batch and what worked and didn’t work for me

- how Crosshair’s hand was handled

- my reaction to the finale, as well as the pros vs cons of how it was executed

- the pros and cons of the season overall

- potentially analyses on Hunter and Crosshair throughout their arcs

- some posts that I had been compiling before the finale that will now have a very different tone 😅🫣 (you’ll know what I mean when I get there)

- final update on my Crosshair Sighs count

- additional chapters of the Be There one-shots I started at the beginning of the season. I have Hunter and Crosshair’s perspectives, and I will add in Wrecker’s, Echo’s, and Omega’s.

- I still have an upcoming Hunter short fic and my long fic Compass Pointing North (Rex and Echo leading the clone rebellion) that will fill in all the gaps of the last two seasons and potentially more (I have so many ideas!)

In short, I’m still here, not going anywhere, just need some time to process and get my thoughts together. For those of you grieving or feeling let down, I see you and feel the same way about certain things. For those of you ecstatic and fulfilled about certain things, I see you and feel the same way as well.

And lastly—I’ve been seeing and hearing both behind the scenes and publicly making fun of, tearing down, or vehemently shaming people for their various reactions to this finale. I have to say I’m a bit disappointed at some of the backlash that has been happening between fans for holding differing opinions and emotions. If someone else has a different favorite character than you, a different perspective, a level of difficulty that you are not experiencing—do not shame them for that. Do not go on anon and harass them. Don’t try to tell people who are upset that they should just be happy and get over it. And don’t tell people who are really satisfied with what we got that they shouldn’t be expressing that or that they are inconsiderate for feeling that way.

In short, don’t let the end of this show tear apart all of the good and wonderful and fun moments that we’ve built together over these last three years. This fandom has been a special place and a very meaningful place for most of us, I believe, and those who are in this fandom do not deserve to be treated poorly simply for having their own perspectives. Be kind to each other. Please. I know you all are capable of it 🙏🏻✨❤️

[anothersadsimp]

Musical Detour

Astarion x Bard!Reader

Words: 3000

Synopsis: Imagine that scene in Tangled where they're all dancing n stuff but Tav does the music. Thats pretty much it. FLUFF

A/N: THIS STARTED AS A SMALL CUTE IDEA AND HERE WE ARE OVER 3000 WORDS LATER FUCK. Okay back into the void bye.

You and your party had just arrived at Wyrms Crossing after defeating a used to be immortal and a literal god. Tensions were high as well as the exhaustion that flooded your minds and bodies, but there was an elder brain to be stopped. Refugees surround the lower levels of the city, bickering and groaning from long travels. 

“So many people seeking refuge.” Shadowheart mummers. 

“All hoping to get into Baldur's Gate, where my father is held. They won’t get the help they need until we save him.” Wyll notes.

“One problem at a time. Why don’t we set up camp? Me, Astarion, Karlach, and Gale will take a look around.” You suggest, trying to keep your tone light. 

“Sounds good, be safe.” Shadowheart nods, before leading the others to the area we scouted. 

“Well, where are we off to now, oh fearless leader?” Astarion chides. 

You sigh, looking around the surroundings overwhelming you. You see a cobble road to your left which leads to multiple buildings with people bustling about. You turn and nod your head towards the road, “This way seems like a good start.”

You start walking down the path where it leads to the main road. Once you reach it there's a line of people waiting in front of a gate. You were about to start maneuvering around them when one of your companions stopped.

“Oh. My. Gods. It’s the Circus of the Last Days! My mum and dad would bring me when I was a kid.” Karlach exclaims, stomping in place for a moment in excitement. “Tav we have to stop in just for a little bit. Please?” 

Her excitement brought a smile to your face, and you couldn't help but want to go just for her enjoyment. Who knows what silly mischief your current company will get into going in, it certainly piqued your interest. You looked around Karlach’s large frame to the others behind her with your shoulders shrugged, and a natural smile gracing your face.

You knew just how to convince Astarion into getting into trouble, more than he actually realized after you became official. It wasn't just the effortless smile that seemed to radiate off of you that convinced him, but your eyes grew wide as soon as they met with his.

He sighs, “Fine, but if there's any clowns, you’re on your own.”

Karlach jumps with excitement, which makes your smile widen. Suddenly she grabs your wrist and pulls you towards the entrance. Astarion frowned for just a moment after your face, holding an expression that rivaled the sunshine on his skin, was ripped away.

“No stopping those two once they’re together. They seem to be the only one that can keep up with Karlach’s energy.” Gale comments before following behind them. 

Astarion watches a moment longer before jogging up to stand behind you, Karlach taking his spot next to you still holding your wrist. He is still as close to you as he can get, his chest just barely rubbing against the back of your armor. The feeling causes you to turn your head to the side just so with a small smile, always acknowledging his presence. 

Your attention gets turned back ahead of you as the line moves up. As you step up you see an elf in some of the most colorful clothes you’ve seen, along with a ghoul dressed up as hideously as the elf.

“Hello, hello, and welcome to the Circus of the Last Days!” He greets enthusiastically.

“Hello, we’d like to enter please.” You say.

“Ah yes! Come and forget your worries! Benji just has to check if you're a vicious murderer first.” He says with a smile. “Benji!

The clownish ghoul stalks up towards the four of you and begins sniffing the air.

“BLOOD. TASTY BLOOD, SO DELICIOUS” It shouts and laughs maniacally.

“Well, I gotta say that's the first. Sorry folks, I'm afraid you cannot enter. Have a nice day!” He dismisses. 

After seeing how excited Karlach had gotten, and how her shoulders drooped, you refused to take no for an answer. Even if you could feel Astarion perk up behind you at being turned away, and Gale sighing somewhere behind. 

“Oh! Did I forget to mention, I’ve been recently hired! Meet your new bard! And their band of misfits.” You exclaim, gesturing with your arms and showing your violin. 

“Oh! No one tells me anything around here. Well, welcome to the family. You’ll want to talk to Ringmaster Lucretious once you head in. Good luck!” He says before moving to open the gate to the circus.  

You smile awkwardly towards the strange gatekeeper and continue into the entryway. Once through you could see colorful booths lined up, each with a different character expressively trying to get customers. You slowly walk past each one, taking in every detail you can of each vendor. Clearly they’re swindling. Years of being a bard on the streets had taught you a thing or two about how con artists work, and sometimes having to be one. 

“Surprising to see how many people fall for these silly games, just a waste of gold.” Gale comments. 

“Common, I want to play at least one game, the point is to have fun!.” Karlach whines. 

You reach into your pouch and pull out some gold holding your hand out towards her, “Go crazy Karlach.” you say with a smile.

A fiery, playful grin adorns her face, “Thank you!” She grabs the gold from your hand and quickly brings you into a bone crushing hug before racing off.

You, Astarion, and Gale continue walking, checking out the rest of the booths. As you venture deeper into the circus you start to hear music. It sounds like a few people playing together playing a familiar song. One you know by heart. You couldn't help but follow the music, your pace increasing.

“Something catch your attention, my dear?” Astarion asks behind you, but it doesn't quite register in your head and you continue walking.

You round a wide corner to see a little band playing just a few shallow steps down. There's a gnome holding a strong steady beat, while a drow plays strums on a lute. Alongside them was an elf carrying the main melody on their flute. The music begins to take you, the beat drumming in your chest, becoming your new heartbeat. The rhythm of drow’s strumming makes it feel as if you could float away with its voice. You tracked the elfs movements as he played the main part of the song. He’s floating around the crowd, trying to keep them engaged. 

You close your eyes for a brief moment, really listening to the flute. The key they’re playing the song in, each particular note to the beloved melody they play. Slowly you grab your violin strapped to your back with its bow. You can hear the notes in your head, and you know just the right moment to jump into the song.

“Everything alright?” Gale asks, but once again the question falls upon deaf ears.

The three musicians look at eachother, and the tension and volume of the music increase. It’s about to happen, and your eyes coles once more. The main part is coming up and that's when you’ll jump in. You keep your eyes closed counting to drumming that took over your heartbeat. 

1

2

And

You leap down the 3 shallow steps to be on the same level as the other musicians starting to harmonize with the flute. Your eyes were closed, lost in the melodies the four of you create. Your body moved with the music stepping, skipping, turning in whichever way the music desired it to.

People nearby cheered, some throwing gold at you and the three others. Eventually the cheering turned into a gathering of dancing and laughing. Random circus patrons and even workers stop to watch your merry band. The laughter made your eyes open to see wide smiles surround you. Couples and children dance around you causing a wide smile to shine on your face. 

Meanwhile Astarion and Gale stood right where you left them staring at the scene before them. Astarion shifts his weight onto one leg, and his arms cross. He tilts his head to the side as he watches you, and swears your smile blinds him momentarily. Without realizing it the corners of his mouth curl up as you start to interact with the crowd. You crouch down in front of a small human child and poke them lightly with the tip of your bow during a small break. The child giggled, hands coming out to try and catch your bow but you pull away with a twirl and begin to play once again.

“Always up to something.” Gale smiles, his body relaxing.

“You mean always causing a scene? Then yes, they’re quite good at that.” Though the words seem a tad harsh, there's no sense of malice in them. That soft smile of his refusing to leave. 

After another twirl you stop a moment, out of breath but refusing to stop playing. You look over towards your companions and see them looking at the scene unfolding. Only Astarion was staring straight at you. You stare into his blood red orbs the best you can from the distance between you. Even though you’re already breathless it feels as if he took your breath away, and not the performing. Warmth spread through your body from his gaze making you feel both giddy and shy. 

You force yourself to turn away from Astarion to look at the ensemble beginning to end the song. The drum slows, the rest following its beat as the flute dies off. You begin to improv with the strums of the lute as the drum slowly fades. You lock eyes with the drow ready to finally finish the song. They strum the last chord, as you play the last few notes while slowly bowing. You draw the last note out and stop, bowed over in a small lunge-like stance and your chest heaving.

The crowd erupted into cheers, and shouts. Gold clattered onto the stone beneath your feet, which made you stand to full height. Everyone around you had wide smiles, applauding you and the others for the show. You walk over to talk to the other musicians, and help them pick up the gold.

“Did you know they could play like that?” Gale asked, one hand holding his chin clearly amused. 

“I-I had no idea.” He said in disbelief. 

They both knew you could play, have even heard you practice no matter how hard you tried to hide it. But they had no idea how well the practice had really paid off. They had no idea how well you actually perform in front of people. Astarion briefly wondered how your name wasn’t well known for your talents. 

You turn away and leave the group of musicians behind you, violin packed on your back, and head towards your companions. About half way there the small child you poked ran up and tugged on your pant leg. You crouch down to see they have a few small wildflowers in their small fist held out towards you.

“Thank you! These are beautiful.” The child lights up at your words and runs back towards their parent. You stand back up and continue to walk back towards your friends. You look down at the flowers and pick one to put behind your ear.

You stop in front of Astarion and Gale, still too preoccupied with the flowers to see their astonished faces. Once you were satisfied you looked up at them, and you can’t tell if the warmth you’re feeling is embarrassment or residual from all the dancing. 

“That was amazing!” Gale exclaims, his smile wider than you’ve ever seen. 

You let out a little huff of a chuckle, a bashful smile adorning your face, “Thanks.”

“So, you do really have talent after all.” Astarion teases, with a wicked smirk to match.

Somehow you can't help but relax from his silly teasing, a genuine smile coming back as you hit his shoulder. “Shut up” you mumble. 

“It’s really a shame Karlach missed that. She’ll be sad when she finds out, no doubt.” Gale comments. 

“Please, she would’ve burned her heart out from dancing if she were here.” Astarion cracks.

“We should probably find her.” you say trying to change the topic, “The games couldn’t have taken that long. I saw her run off that way” you point. 

“Right. Well let’s make sure she hasn’t burned anything, yes?” Gale rhetorically asks as he leads on the way in the direction you pointed towards. 

You turn to follow Gale but stop when you don’t feel the vampire's presence behind you, “You coming?” You ask.

You turn around after asking to see if he’d followed but you still see him standing there. His arms were no longer crossed, he had one hand on his hip that was jutted out and the other resting at his side. His eyes were still trained on you almost as if you had put him in a trance. He finally made eye contact, and that subtle smile that naturally came to him when looking at you grew. 

Astarion started making his way to you, never once looking away from your widened eyes. You couldn’t look away from him as he stalked towards you, Gale and Karlach forgotten from one endearing gaze from your vampire. You take note of that cute little smile that adorns his face. It’s small, but it's rare to see a smile like this one from him. Once that's genuine.

He stops in front of you, one hand coming to grab your waist to bring you closer. You raise your hands up to his chest, one hand still clutching the other flowers the child gifted you. You’re nearly chest to chest if it weren't for your arms trapped in between you two. The hand on your waist now further towards your back as his arm wraps around you. The other hand comes up to the one holding the flowers, running his fingers gently over the back of your hand. 

“You really are something, you know that?” His voice is deep, and low enough for just you to hear. 

“That I am, though I do hope you mean it in a good way.” You tease, head cocking to the side. 

“Depends on the day, really.” He says with a dumb contemplative look on his face, that smirk never leaving. “But yes, I do mean it in a good way.” 

He looks back into your eyes, before the drop down and he leans closer. Both of your eyes close in unison as he gives you a gentle, chase kiss. You unintentionally softly sigh into the kiss, loving the feeling of him close to you. He pulls away and you’re still momentarily dazed, eyes taking a second before opening to see him looking back at you.

A little chuckle escapes him at your dazed expression, “Aren’t you just an adorable little pup.” 

You hum at his teasing comment, slowly coming out of the trance he put you in. You look at the flowers still clutched in your hand and grab the small red one with your other hand. 

You somehow get closer than you already were, your lips grazing his ear, “Same can be said about you, my love.” you whisper. 

As you tease him with your breathy words against his ear, the hand holding the small dainty flower comes up to place it in his luscious locks. Your hand brushes his other gently as you work causing the smallest of gasps to escape his lips, you would’ve missed it if not being so close. You step back after twining the flower into his curls, taking in every detail of his face and your work. The red hue flower perfectly matched the highlights of his eyes as they shine in the sun that bathes the entirety of Baulders Gate.  

“Perfect.” You smile. “Anyways where did the other misfits go?” You wonder, starting to turn around looking for them. You start walking in the direction you saw Gale disappear to, leaving Astarion behind. 

He stared in bewilderment as you walked off, not quite ready for you to turn the table so fast on him in more than one way. ‘Certainly is something’ he thinks to himself as a small smile of disbelief graces his lips, before walking after you. 

BONUS:

You and Astarion were still looking for Gale and Karlach. The circus really wasn't too big, and how does one lose a tall, rambunctious, fiery Tiefling. You were coming up on the last few booths, and still no luck. Did you pass them?

“Where in the hells are they?” You wonder out loud, beginning to get tired of walking in circles. 

Astarion was cut off, from what was no doubt a teasing or snarky comment, by running footsteps approaching the both of you. People part as you see Karlach jog towards you, you can tell she’s burning hotter than usual. You brush it off knowing it's from excitement, judging by the smile on her face. You then notice she's holding something rather large in both of her arms.

“Guess what I just got!” She shouts.

She raises a large owlbear blush closer to her chest as to showcase it, arms around its middle as if she's carrying a real owlbear cub. You’re surprised it's not being chared by her excitement.

“He matches the one we got at camp, now he’s got another friend!” She screams in excitement. “That game merchant had no idea what hit him!”

“Oh, no. Please tell me you didn’t set anything on fire.” You groan

“No, but they will need a new strength gage, and hammer.” Gale chides in, strolling behind Karlach. “Quite an impressive display nevertheless.” 

“Somehow I’m not surprised. Now I heard something about a terrible clown? Let's see how terrible.” You say with genuine curiosity.

“You’re really gonna drag me to a clown show?” Astarion scoffs.

“Come on! It’ll be fun, well fun to make fun of him.” You say, having to think halfway through after listening to yourself. 

Your hands grab one of Astarions before dragging him along with you to the circus stage. He groans and reluctantly lets you lead him away. The other two follow behind you, Karlach distracted with her new plush and Gale wondering how he ended up with such fools.