#possible days to do that. this friday. next thursday
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kitchensinksurrealism · 2 months ago
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I hate my job button -> 🔴
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la-galaxie-langblr · 1 year ago
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So Much happening, lots of it good but So Much
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thelawfulchaotic · 7 days ago
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What is very funny about being a specialist in juvenile law is that I never... actually liked children?
(Ok there is some possibility I am fooling myself about this, given that there has never been a single child client I got to know that I didn't love and root for and 100% support, but.)
I'm not a "kid person." I don't have the gift of running around and imagining with them. I babysat much less than equivalent older-millennial girls.
I just got into court, and I --
Okay, let me back up and talk about my first public defender's office. It was a rural office that covered several geographical jurisdictions, including multiple cities and counties, five total. Each of these had three courts that regularly needed to be covered: a juvenile/domestic court, a general court, and a slightly higher and fancier level of court. They all operated to varied schedules (general court A was on Tuesdays and Thursdays, but general court B was on Wednesdays and Fridays; juvenile court A was on Wednesdays and Fridays but juvenile court B was on Mondays and Wednesdays).
So, fifteen total "courts," and there were... hmm. 8-10 attorneys. And a boss who wanted us to be able to substitute for each other, and thus rotated us through the courts every month. On week 1, I might be doing general court A on Tuesday and general court B on Friday. On week 2, I might be doing general court A on Thursday and juvenile/domestic court A on Wednesday. I might have one day a month where I do general court C.
So on.
The court schedules cases not according to our schedules, but according to police officers. Do you see the problem yet?
Public defenders were fungible. For those who don't know that very academic-specific word, it means that we were exchangeable units. One case could go through four different attorney's hands because it would get continued, show up on someone else's date, get continued again, show up on someone else's date, and so on. Juvenile cases were particularly bad about this because they tended to linger in court for a long time, while the court monitored the juvenile's progress.
Here's another fun problem: the department in charge of things like child protection, custody, etc., would only come to court on Tuesdays. We did not have a spare attorney to cover an extra day on Tuesdays in which criminal cases would happen with children who happened to also have custody issues or a foster care prevention plan in place. They would put the criminal case on the next day, Wednesday. Effectively, this meant that we were not present for the decisions about where our clients went and what programs they would have to do.
So I'm dropped into this, a baby attorney, having watched a DVD about How To Juvenile Law. I feel my training is wildly inadequate, and I'm doing reviews on cases that have never had the same attorney twice. Zero trust between me and the kids, and why would there be?
I complained loudly until my boss gave in and ordered me the several-hundred-dollar Juvenile Practice In This State book, and then I read it cover to cover. I learned a bunch of really interesting things! Like all the stuff we'd been doing wrong!
My boss was shocked. "You actually read that?"
"What did you THINK I was gonna do?"
"Well, you're the juvenile expert now, I guess."
oh shit, I thought. oops. fuck.
But I leaned in, and not in the ambition way. I proposed a way to rearrange my schedule so that I would always be free on Tuesdays for DSS cases. Instantaneously, there was a change in the environment of the court -- before, it was the guardians ad litem, juvenile probation, and the attorney for DSS deciding what to do with kids. Now I was there. Making suggestions. And arguments.
We changed how we did the schedule, and how we put individual cases on that schedule. Keeping them on our days became a priority.
I instituted a weekly detention center visit, for myself. (I made it about half the time.)
I went to trainings. This area of law is wildly unpopular among a lot of public defenders, because it's complicated and sad and you don't get to do jury trials about it. Every new thing I learned just pissed me off. It wasn't that I liked kids. It was that kids deserved better. So I got to take over pretty much everything with regards to juvenile law in the office.
But like, I stumbled on this, I didn't know shit. I didn't have a passion for protecting children. It's just that every bit of law I learned made me go, "What? REALLY? Fuck off!"
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mafiadad5 · 10 days ago
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Teach me to not love || L. HC (part 1)
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𐙚 fuckboy!haechan x fem!reader (ft. best friend jaemin)
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3
𐙚 synopsis- Jaemin’s out for revenge after Haechan slept with the girl he liked. You’re just supposed to be a distraction, something pretty to keep Haechan’s mind off of what Jaemin was doing. He’s cute, addictive— you should stay away… you really should, but when he touches you like that how are you supposed to remember what’s right?
𐙚 genre- college au, smut/ porn with plot (MDNI 18+), angst, slight fluff.
𐙚 warnings- drug use, alcohol use, sex under the influence, lost of virginity, protected sex, oral (fem receiving), marking, praising, sorta rough sex, arguing, slight sexual Jaemin moment, mention of death.
𐙚 W/c- 14k
Now playing: House of balloons/ Glass table girls- The Weeknd
a/n- hi guys! I really wanted to post this all in one part, but tumblr had other plans loll. I’ve poured months (and a few breakdowns T.T) into this, so I really hope you enjoy it! let me know if you want to be tagged in the next part, and I’d love to hear what you think <3
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It was a typical Thursday night—  your desk lamp casted a soft glow over your notes as you flipped through flashcards for your biology test. You were focused, head down as you muttered terms under your breath, determined to cram as much into your brain as humanly possible before crashing, then came the voice.
"Oh, Y/n!!!"
Your door flew open with no hesitation. You didn't even have time to respond before Jaemin strolled in like he owned the place, grinning from ear to ear.
"What the fuck." You muttered under your breath, barely looking up as he waltzed in and flopped himself onto your bed. 
"Jaemin, what are you doing here— how did you even get in?" You asked, spinning in your chair with a look of disapproval stretched across your face.
He shrugged nonchalantly. "Your hot roommate let me in."
You raised a brow. "The one who has a crush on you?"
"The one I may fuck." He said with a grin as he stretched out, hands behind his head, settling in like he had no plans of leaving anytime soon.
"Ok, yuck. Didn't you literally fuck the other one?" You said flatly, turning back to your desk, scooping up your stack of color coded flashcards with a sigh. "Seriously though, what are you doing here? I told you I'm locking in tonight."
"You lock in every night." He said, dragging out a dramatic sigh.
"And that's why our intelligence levels are not in the same bracket." You joked, a small smirk appearing on your lips, even though your eyes stayed focused on the pile in front of you.
"So you don't love me, I guess?" He asked, his voice tilting into that overly dramatic tone you knew too well.
"Exactly." You said, spinning around to face him again.
"Wow... so cold. After ten years of friendship, this is how I'm treated? Unrequited love, what a tragedy." He said, clutching his chest, face twisted in fake agony.
"I love you, Jaemin. I've loved you since we were nine. You're my best friend ever. There, happy now?" You said deadpan, raising an eyebrow.
He froze for a second, then grinned slowly. "Wow... so you really love me? Like, really love me? You'd do anything for me, because you're so in love with me, right?"
You narrowed your eyes immediately. You knew that tone, it was the 'I need something' voice.
"What do you want Jaemin?" You sighed, already regretting humoring him.
"Ugh, you know me too well. Ok, hear me out." He said sitting up now, a bright smile spreading across his face. "I need a favor. A small one— tiny really."
You crossed your arms. "What kind of favor?"
"I need you to come to a party with me tomorrow night."
You blinked. "A party? Jaemin, you know I don't do parties. Especially not when I have class the next day."
"You have class at noon on Fridays." He countered quickly. "You'll be fine."
You gave him a long, skeptical look. "So all I have to do is... go to a party with you? That's it?"
He opened his mouth and hesitated.
You instantly leaned back. "Nope... nope, you're already pushing it. What's the real reason?"
"Wait! Just... let me explain, please." He clapped his hands together in a prayer gesture.
You sighed. "Ok fine. I'm listening, speak."
He sat up straighter, his grin faltering just a bit. "There's this guy, Haechan. I'm really fucking pissed at him."
You tilted your head. "Why?"
"He slept with the girl I really liked. Like, genuinely liked, not just thought was hot liked."
"Oof, I'm sorry." You said. "And... what does that have to do with me?"
He looked at you, dead serious now. "I want revenge."
You squinted. "What kind of revenge?"
"I want you to distract him. Just talk to him, keep him downstairs at the party, keep him busy, while I... you know."
"Jaemin." You said slowly. "Distract him from what?"
He hesitated for only a second, then smiled. "From me."
Your eyes narrowed. "If you're doing anything illegal, I'm out."
"I'm trying to fuck his sister."
There was a full beat of silence as your mouth dropped open, eyes wide.
"You what— seriously?" You said, disbelief and a reluctant laugh bubbling up all at once.
"She's hot!" He defended, already laughing. "And it's perfect, he'll lose his shit when he finds out."
"You couldn't just... I don't know, hook up with a girl he likes or something? Call it even?" You asked, raising a brow.
"Yeah well, Haechan doesn't like girls." Jaemin said casually.
You blinked, your brows furrowing slightly. "...hmm?"
He held up a finger with a small smile. "Not like that, don't look at me like that."
You leaned back, smirking. "Mmm, sure."
"What I mean is, he doesn't have feelings for anyone. Not girls, not really anyone. He just uses people— gets what he wants, then tosses them aside. He's emotionally detached. Kind of fucked up, honestly."
You frowned slightly. "You're just being dramatic."
"He's dramatic!" Jaemin shot back. "The man throws house parties on Thursdays for no reason. He once invited a girl over, got head, and then called her a uber while she was still on her knees."
Your eyes widened slightly. "Damn, he sounds like a real asshole. How does someone like that have this big of a name already?"
"He's a senior." Jaemin said with a roll of his eyes. "But all he does is throw parties, drink, and do drugs. He's a loser honestly."
You exhaled. "So... all I have to do is distract him— nothing else?"
"That's it. Just talk to him, keep him downstairs for like twenty minutes. If he tries anything, call me and I'll come get you. Promise."
You bit your lip, thinking. "Ok Fine, but only this once."
"YES! Oh my god, I love you so much, you're actually the best." Jaemin said, beaming at you.
"Yeah, yeah. Now you owe me, pick up those flashcards." You said, tossing the stack into his lap as you turned back to your desk.
He caught them and gave a smile. "Delighted, my queen."
You just rolled your eyes, but your smile lingered as you reached for your pen.
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You finished the final touches on your hair, giving yourself one last glance in the mirror before grabbing your phone. Right on cue, Jaemin's name lit up the screen with a text:
Jaemin [11:47 PM]:
"I'm outside."
Stepping outside, you spotted him leaning against his car, arms crossed and a grin already spreading across his face as he saw you approach.
"Damn." He said, letting his gaze travel from head to toe with an exaggerated nod of approval. "You look sexy."
"Thank you, Jaemin." You replied smoothly, brushing past him with a hint of sarcasm in your voice.
He opened the passenger side door for you, but paused before you could step in. "I mean... we don't have to go right now, you know. We could go upstairs instead— chill a little, you and me... one on one." He tilted his head, giving you the same smirk he always uses when he's up to no good.
You raised your hand and snapped your fingers right in front of his face. "Focus."
"I am focused." He said, blinking slowly. "Just... not on the party anymore."
"Seriously." You said, sliding him a look as you walked to the car. "Is it your life's mission to try and sleep with every girl you meet?"
"Not every girl." He replied, shrugging as he followed behind. "Only the special ones."
You raised a brow. "And what would your mother think of you throwing yourself at someone who's practically your sister?"
"Ew, don't say it like that." He scowled, visibly shuddering. "That ruined it for me, thanks."
"Good." You smirked, climbing into the car.
He got in on the driver's side and started the engine, throwing you a side glance. "You're lucky I love you, anyone else and I'd have driven off by now in heartbreak."
"Right, so tragic." You said with fake sympathy, adjusting your seatbelt. 
Jaemin chuckled, turning up the music just enough to fill the space between you. The drive was short, maybe ten minutes at most, but the energy shifted just slightly as the neon lights of the house party came into view down the street.
He slowed the car and looked over at you. "Hey... real talk for a second."
You turned toward him, a little wary. "What?"
"I know I joke a lot." He said, eyes flicking over your face, a little more serious now. "But I'm not gonna throw you into the deep end or anything. If this gets weird or Haechan gets weird, just call me and I'll come get you, no questions."
You blinked, surprised by the softness in his voice. "Jaemin..."
"And if you wanna bail at any point." He added. "Just say the word."
A small smile appeared on your lips. "Thanks. I mean it's just a distraction mission, right? I think I can handle that."
He nodded, but his gaze lingered on you. "I know you can. You're... careful, thoughtful— like you think ahead."
You gave a dry laugh. "You say that like it's a bad thing."
"It's not." He said. "Just means I won't have to worry about you doing something stupid."
Your eyes narrowed slightly. "What are you trying to say?"
He hesitated, then said it gently: "I remember that conversation we had last year. About how you were still, you know... saving yourself."
Your cheeks flushed instantly. "Wow, really bringing that up right now?"
"I'm not judging." He said quickly. "I actually think it's cool. You're not like the rest of them, that's why I care if you're ok."
You looked out the window, the beat of the music fading under the weight of his words. "Thanks, I guess."
Jaemin parked across the street, cutting the engine. "I know I'm an asshole sometimes, but I wouldn't bring you into this if I didn't trust you."
You exhaled slowly, then met his eyes. "Ok, let's do this."
"Hell yeah." He grinned, hopping out and circling around to open your door once more.
You stepped into the house, instantly hit by the loud bass of the music and the scent of weed, alcohol, and too much cologne. Bodies swayed under strobe lights, some grinding against each other, others already too far gone to care how they looked. Jaemin kept a casual, but protective hand on your lower back as he guided you through the crowd, eyes scanning the room like he was on a mission.
"That's him." He muttered, leaning down so only you could hear. He nodded subtly toward the kitchen.
Your gaze followed and landed on a guy behind the counter, restocking a row of liquor bottles.
You paused, he was... hotter than expected.
Black hair, tan skin, a body that made a plain black tee and jeans look like he was born for it. His movements were effortless, confident. His smile, charming. There was something in the way he looked people in the eye when talking, like they were the only person in the room. Your lips parted slightly as you took him in, eyes dragging over the way his shirt clung to his waist, the veins on his forearm flexing as he adjusted a bottle.
"Oh no." Jaemin teased, pulling you out of your trance. "Are we losing you already?"
"No." You said too quickly, blinking yourself back into reality. "No, just observing."
"Mmhmm." Jaemin smirked. "Well, he's your target babe. You've got all night."
"Lucky me." You muttered half sarcastically, but then he grabbed your arm gently.
"You sure?"
You turned toward him. "Yeah, are you?"
He nodded, though a flicker of something uncertain passed over his face. "Just, wait." He reached into his pocket and held something out, a condom.
"Jaemin—"
"Just in case." He said, tone serious now. "Even if he insists, don't let him talk you into going raw, I mean it."
You rolled your eyes, but smiled. "I'm not gonna do anything, relax."
"I know you won't, Y/n." He said, softer now. "But he'll try and sometimes the heat of the moment sneaks up on you. So just... have it, please."
You took it with a small nod and shoved it into your back pocket.
"Good luck with your girl." You said.
"Good luck with your guy. If you need me, call me."
And with that, you were on your own.
You straightened your shoulders, pulled your confidence up, and walked toward the kitchen— eyes locked on him the whole time. He didn't notice you at first, too busy rearranging cups and pouring mixers, but when he turned, his gaze landed on you like a spark.
"You look a little bored over here all alone." You said, voice smooth.
He looked you over slowly, thoroughly. "I am, are you gonna do something about that?"
"Maybe." You smiled, tilting your head. "But are you really worth my time?"
He grinned, a cocky thing that only made him more irresistible. "Maybe."
You watched as he accidentally slammed a bottle of tequila a little too hard on the counter, too distracted by your presence.
"I don't know..." You said, stepping closer. "You can't even handle a bottle. What makes you think you can handle me?"
He leaned a little closer, voice dropping. "I can— when I'm drinking."
"That doesn't sound very fun." You teased, watching the way his eyes flickered down to your lips.
"It is fun." He said. "Especially with a pretty girl like you."
Your hand slid over his on the counter, fingers brushing against his skin as you lifted the bottle from under his touch. "Then why aren't we drinking?"
He paused for a second, watching you intently. "Why aren't we?"
"You're still hogging the bottle." You murmured.
For a moment, you were locked in a wordless gaze, one of those silences that say more than anything spoken. You held it, tested him with your eyes.
"Are you just gonna stare." You finally said. "Or are you gonna pour me a shot?"
He smiled and grabbed two glasses, pouring quickly.
"What are we cheering to?" He asked.
You smirked. "To wherever this night takes us."
He clinked his glass to yours. "Dangerous words."
You both downed the shots, the tequila burning its way down your throat. You didn't even shudder.
"Wow." He said, licking his lips. "You took that like a champ."
"I can take a lot." You replied, wiping the corner of your mouth and not looking away once.
"That so? He said, exhaling slowly, pausing for a second. "Then take another with me."
"Don't you wanna wait?" You asked, your voice hinting a bit of concern. 
"I thought you said you could take it." He challenged.
"Are you calling me a liar?" You raised a brow.
"Yeah." He shrugged. "I guess I am."
You grabbed your glass, poured another, and tossed it back without blinking, and he followed right after. That turned into a third, then a fourth.
By now, your skin was buzzing, cheeks flushed with heat. The line between performance and reality blurred fast.
You talked about nothing— music, parties, stupid shit, other people you both barely knew, but everything had a spark to it. The way his gaze lingered when you laughed, the way his hand brushed your waist when reaching for more cups, the subtle way your knees touched.
"You dance?" He asked, stepping just slightly closer.
"Depends who's asking."
He gave that dangerous smile again. "You know who's asking."
You glanced at your phone, and still no text from Jaemin. Thirty minutes of flirtation— of temptation. You looked back up at Haechan, something electric passing between you.
You smirked. "Let's dance then."
The music pulsed around you as he led you out of the kitchen and into the crowd. The beat was dark, seductive, and you let yourself move to it, swaying your hips, letting the rhythm take you. His hands found your waist. You didn't stop him. His body pressed behind yours, chest to back, his lips brushing close to your ear every time he said something teasing.
His hand slid lower and you turned to face him, now chest to chest, bodies moving in sync.
He leaned in close, mouth brushing your ear. "You wanna go upstairs?"
You paused, swallowing hard. "Mmm... I don't know..."
He pulled back just enough to see your eyes. "Why not?"
"I don't want you to think I'm some kind of whore or something." You admitted, voice quieter now.
He blinked, then tilted his head, gaze softening just slightly. "Then let's not go upstairs."
You blinked at him, not responding.
He leaned closer again, voice husky. "Come here."
Before you could respond, he took your hand and led you down a dim hallway off the side of the living room, the noise of the party muffled behind you. It was quiet here, secluded . You were suddenly aware of how your pulse picked up.
He pushed you against the wall, hands bracing both sides of your head.
"This okay?" He asked.
You nodded slowly, heart racing and then his lips were on yours.
It was hot, insistent. His mouth moved like he already knew how you liked to be kissed— like you were meant to be tasted slowly, like his hands couldn't decide whether to cup your cheek or grip your hip tighter.
He pressed closer, lips trailing down your neck, his hand tugging lightly at the hem of your shirt. You gasped, your body reacting faster than your brain could catch up.
And then your phone buzzed, twice.
You broke the kiss breathless, and fished it from your back pocket. Jaemin.
"Clear. Let's go."
You looked up at Haechan, his lips kiss bitten.
"Aw, I gotta go." You said softly, smiling while biting your lip.
He blinked, still catching his breath. "Seriously?"
You said nothing, just shrugged.
He smirked, eyes glinting. "You leaving now makes me want you more."
You backed away slowly, keeping eye contact as you fixed your shirt. "Good."
You turned, leaving him in the hallway, the taste of tequila still tingling on your lips. 
You met Jaemin at the front door just as he was coming down the porch steps, his hair slightly tousled, lips flushed, and a dazed kind of grin stretching across his face. His shirt was wrinkled, and he looked like he'd just barely remembered how to walk straight.
You raised an eyebrow, smoothing your own hair out with your fingers. "What took you so long?"
He laughed, wiping his mouth like he was still catching his breath. "Got caught up in the moment."
You rolled your eyes as you both started walking down the sidewalk, leaving the pulse of the party behind you.
"I've never seen you this messed up in person." He said, glancing at you. 
You just shrugged, before turning to him. "How was your night?"
"Fucking amazing." He said, letting out a blissed sigh. "She was... yeah, worth it."
You smirked. "I'm happy for you. Sounds like you had fun." 
He turned to look at you, a little more alert now. "What about you? How'd it go?"
You shrugged with a soft smile, brushing your fingers against your lips almost unconsciously. "It was... fun. He's fun and hot— too hot, honestly."
Jaemin groaned dramatically, dragging his hand down his face. "Oh god, please don't tell me you slept with him."
You gave him a shove. "No, chill. He tried like you said he would, but I didn't. We just made out."
Jaemin gasped. "Y/n, you definitely have like, mono now."
You laughed, shoving him again. "He's not that bad."
"He's that bad." Jaemin said, shooting you a look. "How was he looking at you? It was probably like he was deciding how to ruin your life in the hottest way possible."
You gave a dreamy little sigh. "Yeah... I noticed."
Jaemin gasped. "Oh my god, you're into him."
"No I'm not." You tucked your hands into your jacket pocket, smiling to yourself. "He's just... magnetic. Like, he knows exactly what to say and exactly how to look at you when he says it."
"Uh huh, that's called manipulation." Jaemin said.
"I mean, maybe." You admitted. "But he was also weirdly... sweet? Like, he actually listened to me talk and he didn't push when I said no."
Jaemin raised a skeptical brow. "Ok, maybe a half point for consent, but let's not pretend this is some romance. You got lucky. I've seen girls fall for his type before, and they don't come out looking as cute as you do right now."
You gave a laugh. "I don't think I'm going back anyway. Not my scene."
"Good." Jaemin said with a little relief in his voice. "Because he's probably not gonna let you step foot at another party anyways because you rejected him. That boy's ego is fragile."
You tilted your head thoughtfully. "Well, if I never plan on going back, it doesn't matter what he thinks of me."
Jaemin grinned. "And that's why I love you."
You rolled your eyes but smiled back. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
He reached over and draped his arm around your shoulder, pulling you into a sideways hug as you walked. "Seriously, thank you. You saved my ass tonight."
"I know I did." You grinned, letting yourself lean into him for a second. "You owe me, like, five coffees and a weekend of doing whatever I want."
"Done." He said immediately. "As long as 'whatever you want' doesn't include throwing yourself at Haechan again."
You laughed. "He threw himself at me, thank you very much."
"Right, right." He said, laughing. "Just remember who's actually got your back when you get those 'u up?' texts at 2 AM."
You gave a smile, already hearing the echo of Haechan's voice in your head, the taste of tequila and heat still lingering on your lips.
"I won't forget." 
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It had been about a week since the party, and life had mostly returned to normal. School, studying, sleep, repeat. But he kept showing up uninvited in the quiet moments between thoughts. The memory of his voice, the glint in his eyes, the way his hands felt when they slid around your waist like he'd done it a hundred times before. You hated how he stuck in your head.
Still, it was whatever. You weren't going to do anything about it. You had your routine, and it didn't include making out with cocky boys in back hallways at house parties.
You'd just wrapped up another cram session for your Thursday Bio test—highlighted notes and color coded flashcards spread across your desk, when you heard it. A familiar, echoing voice in the hallway.
"Y/n!"
You didn't even look up. "You never knock."
Jaemin burst into your room like he owned the place, arms wide, his signature grin already plastered on his face. "My beautiful Y/n, I have arrived."
You leaned back in your desk chair, crossing your arms. "I can see that."
He walked over to hug you, and you let him, even though you were still recovering from the mental strain of studying.
"You know." You mumbled as he pulled back. "One day you're going to bust in here and catch me changing or worse, touching myself."
"Even more reason to keep doing it." He smiled.
You rolled your eyes. "You're actually such a creep."
"Yeah, yeah." He laughed it off, but then paused. His smile lingered familiarly, but you saw the hesitation flicker in his eyes.
You squinted. "What do you want, Jaemin?"
He gasped dramatically. "Y/n! I'm hurt, you think I only come here when I need something?"
You gave him a look, one he couldn't argue with.
"Ok, fine." He said. "But in my defense, we help each other equally."
"You mean I help you and you buy me coffee once a month?"
"Exactly." He grinned.
You sighed. "What is it this time?"
Jaemin scratched the back of his neck. "So, remember how you said you wouldn't go back to the party again?"
You blinked slowly. "Yeah..."
"Well, technically I'm not asking you to go for you. I'm asking on behalf of... well, her. His sister, she invited me again, practically begged— and I think we both know how that's gonna go."
He glanced at you cautiously.
"And you want me to keep Haechan busy again." You finished for him, leaning back in your chair.
"Look, I wouldn't need you to, but it'd be... really helpful." He said carefully. "I just need him not in the way, just for a little while."
Your brain flickered back to Haechan. His smirk, the way he made you feel both seen and exposed. The way he leaned in like he already knew what you'd do next. You told yourself you were over it, just a one time heat of the moment thing. But even now, something twisted in your stomach at the thought of seeing him again.
"Listen, I know you said you're not—"
"I'm down." You said, the words escaping before your brain caught up.
Jaemin blinked. "Wait, seriously?"
You cleared your throat. "Yeah, sure. You need me, right?"
His eyes narrowed. "Wow you really like this guy."
You rolled your eyes. "I'm just looking out for a friend."
Jaemin crossed his arms, fake pouting. "I don't know, I'm reconsidering this whole plan now. First he gets the girl I liked, now it's my best friend? I might need to keep you on lockdown."
You smirked. "Maybe that was my plan all along, you should just stay in."
"Nope." He said, pointing at you. "We're going, but this is the last time, I swear. And for real, don't do anything with him. Now I'm actually worried."
You held up your hands in surrender. "It's my job to distract, that's what I'm gonna do."
"I don't know if I trust you with that anymore." He shook his head, even though he smiled.
"You should." You said quietly.
He paused. "I'm teasing." He said after a minute. "I do. I guess."
You just smiled, the kind that said you already made your decision.
The house was louder this time. Packed tighter, music thumping harder, the kind of base that made your bones vibrate. You stood with Jaemin for a moment, eyes scanning the crowd.
You told yourself this was just a favor, a distraction like last time.
But as soon as you saw him— Haechan, leaning casually against the kitchen counter, sipping something from a red cup with that lazy grin on his face, all of that logic began to melt.
He looked even better than you remembered. Black hoodie, chain peeking from under the collar, dark hair slightly damp.
He spotted you instantly, his smirk curling as he straightened up.
You glanced over at Jaemin. "You owe me."
"I owe you my life." He said, already making a beeline toward the stairs. And just like that, you were alone, again... with him.
Haechan pushed off the counter and met you halfway.
"Well, well." He said, voice low. "Look who came back for seconds."
You tilted your head. "Maybe I'm just here for the drinks."
His eyes scanned you, slow and deliberate. "You look like trouble tonight."
You stepped in, closing the gap just enough to be suggestive. "You think I wasn't trouble last time?"
He laughed, licking his lips. "No, last time you were temptation. Tonight? I don't think I'll be able to behave."
You let yourself smile just a little.
"Try to." You said, smirking as you hit Haechan's shoulder, weaving through the crowd and heading straight to the kitchen. The music thumped through the walls, as you grabbed a bottle of tequila from off the counter.
"You're already hurting my feelings." Haechan said from behind you, his voice dipping just enough to graze your nerves in that playful, confident way.
"How's that?" You asked turning, only for him to close the gap between you. His arms casually caging you against the counter, hands resting just close enough to your hips.
"Drinking without me." He said, smoothly taking the bottle from your hand like it belonged to him.
You tilted your head. "I'm sorry, who are you again?"
"You should know. It's my party, after all." He replied, that teasing grin never leaving his face as he leaned in just enough to test the space between you.
"You're cocky." You gave him a playful shove, but didn't move far.
"I'm Haechan. Who are you? I never got your name last time."
You raised an eyebrow. "Wow. Kissing a girl and not even knowing her name? I've heard about you, you know... what you do to girls, the type of person you are."
That made him pause for a second, his tongue darting out to wet his lips as he held your gaze. "But you're still here, aren't you?"
You didn't reply, just smiled slowly, head tilting amused at his boldness.
"So." He leaned in again. "Are you gonna leave me alone, or tell me your name?"
"Y/n."
"Pretty." He said, the smile that followed unusually soft, like he actually meant it.
You eyed the bottle still in his hand. "Are you just gonna stand there and smile at me, or pour the damn shots?"
"I thought you'd never ask." He reached past you, his arm brushing yours as he grabbed two shot glasses. His cologne hit you, mixing with the alcohol and the buzz in your chest.
The tequila burned on the way down, but it made your limbs feel warm, relaxed.
"Is tequila your favorite?" He asked, eyes not leaving you.
You shook your head, setting the glass down. "Vodka mixed drinks. I don't like taking things straight."
He grinned at that, grabbing a red solo cup. He poured vodka, rum, and a splash of something creamy and white—the scent immediately familiar.
"Pina colada mixer?" You asked, brow raised.
"You seem like the type. Plus, you told me last time." He said with a smile.
"You remembered?"
"Of course. You're kinda hard to forget." He said, clinking his cup to yours before sipping.
You looked down for a second, smile slipping in without warning. "I really shouldn't be talking to you."
"Says who?"
"Myself, my conscience."
He shrugged. "You're a big girl, smart too. You know what you're doing. Just let go a little, everything doesn't have to be heavy all the time."
You gave him a playful side eye. "No?"
"Nope. If it was, it wouldn't be fun."
Before you could reply, someone passed by and handed him what looked like a vape.
"Fuck yes." Haechan muttered, taking a long drag and exhaling slowly, the smoke curling out the side of his mouth.
He held it out. "Want a hit?"
"Nah, I don't vape."
He blinked a little surprised, then laughed. "Baby, this is a cart, not a vape."
"Oh." You giggled. "That makes sense. Smelled... different."
"So do you want it?" He asked again.
"I don't know, I don't really do drugs."
"It's just weed. It's chill— makes everything feel good." He said, his tone smooth, not pushy.
You hesitated, biting your lip.
"I'm not forcing you, but trust me— it's fine."
"...Okay, fine." You took the cart, cautiously bringing it to your lips and inhaling. It hit your lungs faster than you expected, making you cough, but after a few seconds you got used to it, taking a few more hits. Warmth spread through you, you felt light and weightless.
"Haechan." You murmured, blinking slowly, finishing the drink in your hand. "Let's dance."
He didn't argue. You pulled him onto the dance floor where bodies swayed and moved like one blur of motion, but you were only aware of him. His hands on your hips, guiding your movements. His breath brushing the curve of your neck. His mouth near enough to graze your ear when he laughed at something you said.
And then you kissed him.
You didn't think— your lips were on his, his hands tightening slightly on your waist as he melted into it. The kind of kiss that made everything else disappear.
"How about we take this up to my room?" He whispered into your mouth, voice low.
"I told you I felt like—"
"You're not a whore." He cut in gently. "I want you. That doesn't make you anything except someone I want."
You hesitated for a second, the distant part of your brain catching up. "I don't know, my friend might come looking for me. He was supposed to—"
"He's not here right now." Haechan's voice was low and coaxing. "You're here, with me. You can make your own decisions."
You didn't answer,  just grabbed his hand and followed him upstairs.
You were halfway down the hallway, your heart fluttering, when you passed a room and the unmistakable sound of soft moaning filtered out from behind the closed door.
Haechan paused, head turning. "What the fuck?" He muttered, steps slowing.
Shit... Jaemin.
Before he could say anything more, you spun him to face you, grabbing his face urgently, your hands warm against his cheeks. His brows lifted in surprise.
"Focus on me." You whispered.
And then you kissed him again, deeper and slower this time. Your hands slid into his hair, pulling him closer as your bodies melted together. His hands found your waist again, but they didn't stop there, traveling up your sides, fingers over your bare skin as his mouth moved against yours with increasing hunger.
He backed you gently into the nearest wall, lips never leaving yours as the kiss deepened. Your back arched into his touch, your hands tugging at the collar of his shirt, desperate to feel more.
His mouth dragged from your lips down your jaw, kissing, teasing, then down your neck where he paused, sucking gently at the sensitive spot just below your ear.
"Room's this way." He murmured between kisses, and you followed him, half stumbling into his room, laughing softly as he shut the door behind you.
The moment it clicked shut, he was back on you, lips on your neck, hands guiding you toward the bed.
He pushed you down onto the bed, his body pressing against yours as he climbed on top. One hand slid roughly up your thigh, bunching your dress higher, never breaking contact with your neck as his mouth stayed hot against your skin.
His fingers played with the edge of your underwear for a moment, teasing, before pulling them down to your knees.
He paused then, lifting his head. His eyes met yours, and for just a second something shifted, uncertainty flickering across his face. He licked his lips like he was thinking, maybe even questioning, but before you could say anything, he lowered himself again, kissing a slow path down your body, lips soft against your thigh.
His breath was warm against your skin as he kissed the inside of your thigh, slow and steady, his hands holding your legs apart. Every movement felt like he wanted to make sure you felt everything— every kiss, every brush of his lips.
He glanced up at you once more, eyes darker now, the hesitation from before gone. Then he lowered his head again, his mouth finding the tender spot just above your knee, then higher. His fingers slid up your thighs, anchoring you in place as his mouth moved closer, teasing you.
You could feel your body tightening beneath him, breath catching in your throat as he finally reached your folds, his lips brushing against your clit, gentle at first.
Then he gave in completely, his mouth working you with focus, his hands gripping your hips like he never wanted to let go.
His tongue slid over you as he teased you with soft flicks and gentle pressure, each movement sending a wave of heat through your body. Your hips shifted under his touch, instinctively searching for more, but he held you steady, his grip firm on your thighs.
He looked up at you again, eyes heavy, mouth glistening. Then he dove back in, hungrier this time, his tongue moving with purpose now, circling, pressing. The sounds he made vibrated against you, adding to the overwhelming sensation building fast inside you.
Your fingers tangled in his hair, needing something to hold onto as he drove you higher. He responded to every twitch, every gasp, adjusting his pace, his pressure, as if he could read exactly what your body craved.
Then he slid one finger inside you slowly, deeply, curling just right. The rhythm of his hand and mouth worked in perfect sync, pulling you closer to the edge with each passing second.
That's when your phone buzzed, the vibration low, but sharp against the haze in your mind. Your eyes blinked open, lashes heavy as you glanced down. A message lit up the screen.
Jaemin [1:35 AM]:
"I'm ready. Meet me outside."
"Ignore it." Haechan murmured against your thigh, voice deep and muffled. His lips brushed warm against your skin, but your eyes stayed on the message.
"Mmm... I have to go." You said, sitting up slowly, the daze of alcohol and drug weighing your limbs.
"What?" He asked, looking up at you with hooded eyes, lips still wet.
You smiled, pushing hair from your face as you stood fully. "Leaving you on a cliffhanger again."
"You're evil." He smirked lazily.
"Mm, bite me." You teased with a wink, turning for the door.
"Wait." He cut through.
You paused, glancing back over your shoulder with a raised brow.
"Can I at least get your number or something?"
You shook your head, a quiet laugh slipping past your lips. "Where's the fun in that?"
And then you were gone, the door clicking shut behind you. Haechan just smiled to himself, letting out a breath as he ran a hand through his hair. "Unbelievable."
Outside, the cool air hit your flushed cheeks as you stumbled into the night, spotting Jaemin.
"There she is." He grinned. "Somebody's fucked."
"You are too, shut up." You giggled, smacking his chest lightly.
"Nah, just you. I'm only a little bit drunk." He gave you that smug, crooked smile that always made your stomach flip.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever." You muttered with a grin, stumbling into him slightly.
His arm came around your shoulders without thinking steadying you, but then he stopped, glancing at your face more closely, his smile fading.
"Y/n." He said slowly. "Are you... high?"
You paused, lips parting like you hadn't even thought to lie. "Maybe." You giggled.
Jaemin stared at you, concern overtaking every line of his face. "You never do that shit... you barely drink anymore— what the hell happened?"
"Relax, Jaem. It was just weed, a few hits. I'm fine."
"You could've had a bad trip." He said, eyes narrowing. "Or what if it was laced? You don't know who the fuck gave you that. You don't know what could've happened—"
"Can you chill?" You said, laughing. "You sound like my parent."
"That's what I gotta be when you do stupid shit like this." His voice dropped, rough with something deeper. "I just... I don't want anything bad to happen to you."
You smiled. "I'm fine, I swear."
"Alright. I'm staying at your place tonight."
"Damn, thanks for asking."
He gave you a look and just giggled again.
When you got home, your shoes hit the floor one by one as you peeled off your jacket, then the thin dress that clung to your skin. You collapsed face first into your bed in only your bra and underwear, the sheets cool against your flushed skin.
Jaemin followed behind. He dropped into your desk chair with a heavy exhale, pulling his hoodie off and tossing it aside. He leaned back, phone in hand, scrolling casually.
"You look good in this lighting." You said, voice smooth and thick as you propped yourself up on your elbows.
He looked up at you over his screen, lips quirking. "You're really saying that right now?"
"Mmhmm." You let your eyes drag down his figure slowly. "You've always been pretty Jaemin."
He laughed under his breath, glancing back at his phone, but not before you caught the slight flush in his cheeks.
You sat up more, letting your legs dangle over the side of the bed, posture relaxed, but eyes sharp with mischief.
"Come here." You said.
He raised an eyebrow. "To the bed?"
"Yeah, just wanna be close."
He hesitated for half a moment before standing. "You're so high." He muttered with a smirk, making his way over. He sat beside you, hands propped behind him on the mattress.
You leaned into him, fingers brushing up his arm softly. "You smell good." You murmured, eyes locked on his lips.
"Do I?" He asked, amusement threading through his voice.
"You always do." Your fingers trailed over his chest now, dragging down to his stomach. His muscles tightened slightly beneath your touch, but he didn't stop you. "And your skin's soft..."
Jaemin watched you, breath slower now. "You're really flirting with me right now?"
"I'm not flirting." You said, tone quiet. "I'm appreciating."
Your lips ghosted along his jaw, then lower to the curve of his neck. He tilted his head slightly, allowing the contact. You kissed him there— slowly, sensual, your lips lingering just a second too long.
He swallowed hard.
"I know you like it." You whispered.
His hand slid instinctively to your thigh, gripping gently as your lips traced down the side of his throat. He leaned into it, breathing deep through his nose.
But then—
"Wait." He said suddenly, pulling back. "I can't."
You blinked, stunned by the shift. "Why not?" You asked, voice low as you stared up at him.
"You're my best friend." He said, the words stuttering off his tongue.
"Oh, but when you ask to fuck me it's a different story?"
"It is." He said.
"Mmm, really?" You smirked, sliding your hand up his torso again, fingers trailing.
"Yes." He said firmly. "You're not sober and you don't actually want me right now, you're just under the influence... as fuck."
"I always want you." You said, eyes locked on his.
He sighed, the tension in his body slowly fading into something softer. He wrapped an arm around you and pulled you against him gently, tucking you under his chin.
"Please go to sleep, Y/n. I'm right here, just rest."
And... you listened. Eyes fluttering closed, breath slowing as the world dimmed into his warmth.
══════════════════════════
Your eyes fluttered open, vision blurry and head pounding. The sunlight filtered weakly through the curtains. You slowly sat up, blinking against the ache throbbing in your skull.
Jaemin was sprawled next to you on top of the blankets, one leg stretched over the edge of the bed, scrolling casually through his phone. 
He glanced over. "Relax, it's just me." He said, offering a small smile.
You exhaled deeply, rubbing your temples with your fingers. A sharp pain spiked behind your eyes, a groan escaping your lips as you reached for your head.
"Here." Jaemin said, reaching down for a plastic bag on the floor. "I got you some water, some food, and Advil— for your headache." He set it on the bed beside you. 
"How'd you know I have a headache?" You asked, unscrewing the cap of the water and popping the pills into your mouth.
"Jesus, Y/n." He scoffed, sitting up straighter. "You were shit faced last night, obviously you're gonna have a hangover."
"Right." You said with a smile. "Thank you for taking care of me."
"Yeah, of course." He returned the smile briefly, his attention sliding back to his phone.
Silence settled between you, but it wasn't entirely comfortable. Your brain was still catching up to reality, glimpses of last night flickering through your mind in half lit flashes. Laughter, music, moaning in the hallway. Haechan, and Jaemin... your heart beat a little harder at that last part.
"Hey..." You started cautiously. "Did we—" You hesitated. "We didn't do anything, did we?"
He chuckled, but didn't answer right away. The silence stretched a second too long, just enough to make your stomach flip.
"You tried." He said finally, his voice was calm, almost amused, but the words made your chest tighten. "But I stopped it, and you went to sleep— so, all clear." He gave you a lazy smile.
"Phew." You exhaled, falling back onto your pillow in relief.
"Damn." He teased, raising a brow. "Am I that bad?"
"No, no." You said quickly, laughing. "I just don't want to make you uncomfortable or anything."
"All good over here, you don't." He replied, eyes flickering back to his phone.
You shook your head, grinning. "Damn, I'm such a horny freak."
"I see how you get when you're drunk... and high." He added, glancing over at you, disappointment flickering in his gaze.
"Stop, Jaemin." You groaned, pushing his shoulder playfully.
"I'm still disappointed about that." He said, his voice a little firmer. "You need to be more careful. That's the last time you're going there ever again."
"You can't tell me what to do." You teased, lips quirking into a smile.
"Ahh, I guess I can't." He said dramatically, reaching over and grabbing the bag of food.
"Stop, give it." You laughed, stretching across him to snatch it back. Your fingers brushed against his hand, and your eyes caught his for a long, silent moment.
Your voice softened. "You know... I'm seriously grateful that you take care of me when I need it."
He blinked, lips twitching into a small smile. "Yeah, yeah. Now can you eat?"
You nodded, finally opening the container and taking a bite of food. "I almost accidentally got you caught, but I saved it." You said between bites, your voice cheeky.
"How, come?" He asked, only half listening as he scrolled.
"We came upstairs and we heard moaning." You said with a grin. "I'm guessing your party."
"You came upstairs to do what?" He looked up sharply now, eyes narrowing with suspicion.
You didn't respond, just smiled to yourself as you continued chewing.
"Did you fuck him?" He asked suddenly, sitting up straighter, eyes locked on yours.
"No, no." You answered quickly. "He just gave me head." Your voice was quieter now, but the confession hung in the air.
"He gave you head?" Jaemin blinked, dumbfounded. "YOU?" He repeated. "And he didn't get anything else from you? No sex, no head, not even a handjob?"
You shook your head. "Nope."
"Dude, he never does that... ever." He looked like he was short circuiting. "What's up with these guys just giving you head man? I'm impressed."
"First off, it only happened once before, so don't do that, and you know we don't talk about him, ok?" You said in a on edge voice.
"Ok, ok." He held up his hands in surrender.
"I guess I just gave the magic touch." You said with a smug smile.
"Damn, me next!" He cheered jokingly, grinning.
"Shit, maybe." You said with a smirk. "Haechan didn't even make me finish— well, because we were interrupted by someone." You shot him a playful look.
"Aw shucks." He said, chuckling. "Jaemin here to crash the party always."
"Partially." You replied. "I think he's not done with me though. Before I left, he asked for my number."
"He asked for your number— like, first? While you were leaving him?" Jaemin exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Yep." You said.
"Did you give it to him?" He asked, leaning in like a gossipy teen.
"Nah. I don't think that's someone I should have access to at all times— for my own safety you know." You said, giggling. 
"You're so smart, that's why I love you so, so much." He said with a bright smile... before it faltered slightly.
"I'm not smart for not giving him my number. I'm just not dumb." You said, brushing off the moment.
He recovered with a quick grin. "Maybe you aren't as bright as I thought, because that is the same thing."
"Shut up." You laughed, nudging his shoulder. 
"Damn, I actually can't believe he did all this for you." Jaemin said, eyes wide again. "Nothing wrong with you of course, but he just— never acts that way with anyone. You might be his soulmate."
"Ew, shut up. Yes he's hot, but I could never imagine dating someone like him." You said, scrunching your nose.
"Good, because I doubt you're welcomed at any more parties after the double rejection you gave him." He said with a laugh.
"Didn't you say that the last time?" 
"Yeah, but I mean it this time. You rejected him like four times."
"Okay, enough Haechan talk." You set the now empty container aside and leaned back. "I appreciate everything, but you should get going to freshen up. Plus, I have class in like an hour."
"You're still going?" He asked, brows raising.
"Absolutely, I'd never miss class."
"Okay, well..." He rubbed the back of his neck, hesitant. "Do you think we can meet up for dinner later?"
You paused, your tone shifting gently. "I think I need to be alone right now. I also have a project due on Tuesday that I'm cramming for because I got a little lazy. Let's meet... maybe Wednesday?"
He nodded. "Sounds good." With one last smile he stood up, grabbing his hoodie off the chair and slipping it on.
══════════════════════════
It was finally Wednesday, after days of cramming, sleepless nights, you had just submitted your project and shut your laptop with a dramatic sigh of relief. You sprawled out on your bed for a moment, eyes fluttering closed, the weight of the past few days slowly lifting off your shoulders.
The front door creaked open and slammed shut again, followed by the familiar shuffle of sneakers on hardwood.
"Yo." He called out, stepping into your room with a plastic takeout bag in hand.
You propped yourself up on your elbows, noticing something was off immediately. His voice lacked its usual playful energy. No cheeky grin, no snarky comment about your workaholic tendencies, just... a weird kind of stillness in his tone.
"What's up?" You asked, brows furrowing slightly at his hesitance.
He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing down for a second before meeting your gaze again. "I need you to come to the party with me again."
You blinked, half in disbelief. "Again?" You let out a soft giggle, sitting up fully. "Weren't you the one who banned me from that place like... twice?"
"Yeah, I know." He said with a sigh, plopping down beside you on the bed and setting the takeout between you. "But you're the only one who can distract Haechan well it appears, and fuck, that girl is so—"
He stopped himself mid sentence, biting his tongue. You stared at him, your smile fading slightly. He was always joking— even when things were serious, but right now he looked more anxious than amused.
"Right." You said slowly, nodding as you studied his face. You didn't press it— whatever that girl meant, you could guess, and it wasn't your place to dig.
"So... will you?" He asked again, voice low.
You hesitated for a second before shrugging. "Yeah, sure. Whatever."
His shoulders relaxed, just a little, and the smallest hint of a smile broke through. "You're a lifesaver."
You reached into the takeout bag, pulling out your container with a soft smirk. "You owe me something good for this."
"Oh, I got you extra fries." He said quickly, handing the container toward you like it was a peace offering.
You rolled your eyes. "Bribery works I guess."
══════════════════════════
The party was already fill by the time you and Jaemin arrived per usual. As soon as you stepped inside, Jaemin melted into the crowd like a ghost.
You didn't even bother calling after him. You just sighed, brushing past a couple making out near the stairs as you made your way to the kitchen. You needed a drink.
The fridge was wide open, someone rummaging through it carelessly. You reached past them for a can of something and cracked it open, sipping without thinking.
"Is this gonna be a pattern?" A familiar voice teased from behind you.
You turned, already knowing who it was, of course.
There he stood, eyes on you like you were the only person in the room. His head tilted just slightly, like he was already amused.
You crossed your arms and let out a short sigh. "Is what a pattern?"
"You drinking without me." He said smoothly.
You shook your head, watching as he took a sip from his own cup. "You're drinking without me too, so I'm not sure that makes sense."
"Just casually." He grinned, his voice light. "Take a shot with me."
You eyed him for a second, then gave a small nod. He reached over to the counter, pouring two uneven shots, one for each of you.
You raised yours with a quiet "cheers" before knocking it back. The alcohol settled in your stomach, hot and quick.
"You know I'm not doing anything with you, right?" You said once the warmth hit your chest.
He raised a brow, grin widening. "Did I ask?"
You huffed a soft laugh, unable to hide the way your lips curved despite your better judgment and his smirk deepened like he won something.
"It's loud in here, come outside with me." He said, already reaching for the bottle again, refilling both your cups without waiting for an answer.
You hesitated, something in you buzzing—nerves or excitement, you weren't sure, but you nodded anyway.
Outside, the backyard was a complete contrast to the chaos inside. Quieter, almost peaceful. Blue and purple led lights in the pool, casting a neon glow in the water. The heat of the night clung to your skin, but the moment you dipped your feet into the cool pool, relief washed over you.
He sat beside you, pulling a pre rolled blunt from his pocket and lit it with a flick of a lighter. For a second, the flame highlighted his face, features softened by the glow.
"How are you?" He asked, voice quieter now. "How was your week?"
You turned to him, blinking. "You actually care? Wow, that's new."
"You're so negative." He said, exhaling smoke before offering it to you.
You stared at it for a moment, fingers twitching slightly. Then you took it, bringing it to your lips and inhaling slow. You held it for a second before letting it go with a sigh.
"I'm cautious." You murmured, passing it back.
"Mmm." He hummed, nodding, puffing again. 
"Why do you never disagree? Defend yourself when people say shit about you?" You questioned, turning to him. 
"Because it's true. I'm not afraid to admit it." He said, exhaling slowly. "But sometimes people talk and over exaggerate, make it seem like I'm just heartless. If they're scared and stay away, that's their problem. But if they know what they're getting into— or think they do, then why should I waste my energy proving them wrong? In my eyes, they're just as fucked up as me."
You were quiet for a moment, then nodded slightly in agreement. He passed the blunt again, and you took two more puffs in silence. It wasn't awkward, just still.
"So." You eventually said, eyes drifting to the lit up pool. "How do you have such a big house as a college student?"
"My parents." He replied, tone casual. "They pay for everything while they go prance around in different countries, leaving me and my siblings behind."
"Siblings?" You echoed, surprised. You knew he had a sister, but hadn't heard anything about more.
"Yep. A younger sister and brother." He said, taking another hit. "My sister's a junior, doesn't live with me, but I keep a guest room here for when she wants a break from her roommates."
"And your brother?"
"He's a sophomore, goes to college a few hours from here— said he wanted a fresh start. I still check in with him a few times a week. He's had his ups and downs, but he's a good kid."
"I get that." You said. "I went somewhere else freshman year too. Only stayed for a year before transferring back here this year."
"So you are a sophomore." He said, nodding. "I figured."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
He only shrugged, sipping his drink.
"What's your story?" He asked, glancing over. "Why'd you want a fresh start?"
"My mom died about two years ago." You said, the words escaping before you could filter them.
His face shifted. "Oh shit, I'm sorry."
"It's good." You said quickly, brushing it off. "It's actually kind of stupid, out of all the drugs, she died from weed. It was laced."
"Damn." He muttered. "Is that why you were so hesitant earlier?"
You nodded. "Yeah. People don't realize how terrifying it is, it's real."
"Fuck, now I feel like an asshole." He said, running a hand through his hair, a tired chuckle leaving his mouth as he put the blunt out.
"Don't." You told him. "You gotta grow up and not be scared sometimes. Plus, I can make my own decisions."
There was a pause before you added with a lazy smile, "I don't even know why I'm talking to you."
"What— because I'm 'evil'?" He teased, one brow rising.
You laughed. "No. Because you're a stranger."
He leaned back dramatically. "Wow, you kissed a stranger. What did you say? Whore."
"Oh, shut up." You rolled your eyes. "I guess you're not too much of a stranger."
"Exactly." He grinned. "But sometimes you just need someone to be there for you, stranger or not."
His eyes lingered on you now, more serious than before. "But... we don't have to stay strangers— I don't think we should."
You raised a brow.
"Just give me your number." He said, voice softer.
You squinted at him, half amused. "Is that what this was all about?"
"No." He said quickly, then paused. "I just... you're different and I'm curious about you."
"Curiosity." You said, rolling your eyes, a reluctant smile tugging at your lips.
"There's nothing wrong with that, is there?" He leaned a little closer. "We should just mess around, find out more about each other. You must be curious too?"
You stared at him for a second, lips pressing into a tight line. "I'm not."
"Ouch." He laughed, not entirely believing you, but to his credit, he didn't push.
You paused, then let out a sigh. "Fine, I'll give you my number."
His grin widened as he pulled his phone from his pocket and handed it to you.
"Thank you." He said genuinely.
"Maybe now we don't have to only talk to each other on Thursdays." You said, punching in your digits and handing it back.
"Mmm." He smiled, his gaze lingering on you.
As if on cue, your phone lit up with a text.
Jaemin [12:58 AM]:
"Let's go."
You looked up, Haechan already watching you.
"Well, I've got to go." You said, standing and brushing off your skirt.
"Is there a night where you're not gonna leave me?" He asked, smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he looked up at you.
"Mm... don't hold your breath." You smirked, waving before slipping back inside.
Jaemin was waiting by the door, hands in his pockets, a smile on his face.
"Well, well." He said as you approached. "What did you do tonight?"
"My job." You said with a giggle, eyes slightly hooded from the buzz in your system.
"Oh, you're high again?" His smile faded just a bit.
"Yeah, not a big deal." You said, casually hooking your arm around his like it was second nature.
"Right, and I can't even stay with you tonight."
"Why not?" You asked, looking up at him.
"Because you can't control yourself under the influence." He said bluntly.
"Wow, don't say that." You laughed. "I'm not even that fucked up, I could totally control myself."
"Right." He smirked. "But I probably can't."
"Yeah... maybe you shouldn't stay with me tonight then." You teased.
He let out a short laugh, shaking his head as the two of you disappeared into the night.
══════════════════════════
Saturday | 11:37 PM
You were curled up in bed, knees tucked beneath you, your laptop warming your thighs as the glow of the screen illuminated your face. The essay you've been chipping away at all day was only half done, and your focus was slipping fast. You already reread the same paragraph three times when your phone buzzed on the nightstand.
Unknown Number [11:37 PM]:
"Come over. Chill for a bit."
Your brow furrowed as you set your laptop aside and picked up the phone, thumb hovering over the screen.
You [11:37 PM]:
"Who is this?"
You already had a guess, but you weren't about to make it easy.
A few seconds passed.
Unknown Number [11:38 PM]:
"You know who it is."
You let out a quiet scoff, one corner of your mouth curling into a smirk, of course it was him.
You [11:39 PM]:
"Mmm, no I don't. So I guess that's a no."
Another pause, longer this time.
Unknown Number [11:40 PM]:
"Come over. Please."
Your thumb hovered again. You should've just gone back to your work, should've tossed your phone aside and shut the whole thing down. 
You [11:41 PM]:
"I seriously can't, busy rn."
Unknown Number [11:41 PM]:
"Bummer."
You stared at the message, your bedroom suddenly too quiet. The flicker of curiosity and something else sat in your chest.
You [11:42 PM]:
"You can come over later though. We could watch a movie or something."
His response was fast.
Unknown Number [11:42 PM]:
"Later? It's already 11."
You [11:43 PM]:
"Ok, then don't."
Silence. Then...
Unknown Number [11:44 PM]:
Send the address.
You hesitated, biting your lip for a minute too long. Then you dropped a pin and hit send.
1:27 AM
You opened the door, blinking against the cooler air spilling into the hallway. Haechan stood there, hair tousled, a six pack of drinks in one hand and a smirk pulling at his lips.
"Didn't think you'd actually send it." He said, stepping inside without waiting.
"Didn't think you'd actually come." You replied, locking the door behind him.
"We're just sitting in the living room." You said, already making your way towards the couch.
"Perfect." He said, slipping off his jacket and tossing it over the armrest as he followed.
You pulled up something half decent on Netflix, something neither of you would end up watching, and settled in. He handed you a drink, and you clinked your cans together quietly.
He was the first to speak.
"How've you been? Since Thursday." He asked, voice soft, watching you from the side.
You took a slow sip, eyes on the screen. "Busy. Regretting life decisions."
He chuckled, amused. "Yeah, which ones?"
"Letting you text me."
A grin tugged at his mouth as he leaned back, one arm draping lazily along the back of the couch. "You're the one who invited me, sweetheart."
"You begged."
"I don't beg."
You gave him a look. "You literally said please."
"I'm just a convincer." He shot back smoothly.
"Manipulator." You corrected with a smile.
He laughed again, reaching into his pocket. "Mind if I hit this?"
You glanced at the sleek cart between his fingers, then at the hallway.
"Even though my roommates aren't here, they're still strict about smoking in shared spaces." You said. "No vape, no carts— none of it."
He blinked, pausing. "Damn. I can go if—"
"No." You interrupted, standing. "We can go to my room."
His eyebrows arched in interest as he rose to follow.
Your room was dim and cozy, washed in soft fairy lights. You pushed the door closed behind him and leaned against it for a moment before crossing to the bed.
"This is cute." He said, looking around. "You always have a vibe."
"Try not to ruin it." You said, climbing onto the bed and settling into the pillows. He leaned against your desk, then raised the cart again and took a slow pull, the scent hitting your nose.
"You want?" He asked.
You rose from the bed, stepping toward him and plucked it from his fingers without breaking eye contact.
His brows lifted. "Woah."
You rolled your eyes. "Don't be selfish now."
He smirked, but his voice dropped just slightly as he teased, "What if it's laced?"
"Not funny." You said.
He held his hands up, surrendering, though his grin said he enjoyed every second.
You took a slow puff and handed it back.
"That's all I'm doing." You murmured.
But that wasn't true.
Time slipped, the air thickened, you kept passing it back and forth, voices growing lower, laughter softening.
At some point, you looked up and noticed he was still standing.
"You've been standing there whole time." You said, eyes a little glassy, lashes fluttering as you sat up straighter.
"Yeah, I know. Why?" He asked, inching closer.
"Just curious why you don't want to be near me." You said with a teasing shrug.
He stepped in front of you now, close enough that you could see the shift in his expression. "I'm near." He murmured.
"Not close enough." Your voice was soft but firm as you reached out, trailing your hands up his arm and guiding it onto your shoulder.
His fingers stayed, curling gently over your skin. His gaze dropped to your lips, then flicked back up.
"Don't look at me like that." He said, eyes low. 
"Like what?" You asked, guiding his arm again until his hand cupped your jaw.
"Like you want me to ruin the night."
His hand lingered against your cheek, the warmth of his palm spreading through your skin. Your breath hitched, fingers curling softly around his wrist.
You tugged him closer, his face now just inches from yours as he leaned over you, one hand settling on your thigh. "Maybe I do."
He closed the distance between you instantly, his lips crashing against yours with desperately. The hand that had been gently cupping your cheek slid to the back of your neck, fingers curling as he pulled you closer, deepening the kiss.
Your hands found the hem of his shirt, gripping it tightly as you tugged, urging him to shed the barrier between you. He broke the kiss just long enough to pull the shirt over his head, tossing it aside. His sweats hung low on his hips, revealing the sharp lines of his v-line.
He climbed fully onto the bed, hovering over you, claiming your lips in a heated, breathless kiss. His hands moved, tugging your shirt and pajama shorts off in one swift motion, never once breaking eye contact, the intensity in his gaze made your breath catch.
He leaned in again, capturing your lips in another kiss— wet and messy. As his mouth moved against yours, he nudged your legs apart with his own, his knee slipping between them, pressing softly against your heat.
His lips left yours only to travel down your neck, trailing gentle kisses that quickly turned rougher. He latched onto a sensitive spot just below your jaw, sucking hard enough to leave a mark. The sensation paired with the slow pressure of his knee drew soft moans from your lips. Your fingers found his hair, tangling in it as your hips shifted unconsciously in response.
"I don't have a condom." He murmured, his breath warm against your neck.
You were just about to leave it, but Jaemin's voice sounded in your head: "Don't let him fuck you raw." 
Without thinking, you reached over to your nightstand, fingers finding the familiar shape of a silver foil square that you got a few weeks back. You pressed it to his chest, your eyes meeting his.
He paused, a slow amused smile spreading across his lips. A soft chuckle escaped him. "Smart." He said under his breath.
He rose to his feet, pushing his sweats and boxers down in one fluid motion. Tearing the foil open with his teeth, discarding the wrapper carelessly onto the floor, then rolled the condom on with ease, his eyes never straying far from you.
He grabbed your legs with firm hands, dragging you to the edge of the bed, his gaze locked onto yours intensely. Without a word, he hooked his fingers into your underwear and yanked them down, leaving you bare beneath him.
He leaned in again, capturing your lips in another deep kiss. His mouth moved over yours, but as you pulled back your eyes shimmered.
"I haven't— this is my first time." You admitted, voice barely above a whisper, breathless and shaking.
For a moment everything stilled. His expression shifted, something flickering behind his eyes— part surprise, part fascination. 
"I'll try to be gentle." He said softly, his voice low and tight with restraint.
He stood, hands skimming down the length of your legs until they reached beneath your knees. He lifted them slowly, spreading you open softly.
He positioned himself between your legs, his body tense. He paused, eyes locked on yours for a moment, as if waiting for any sign of hesitation.
Then he pushed into you. The sting was sharp, and you gasped, your breath catching. He froze for a second, his forehead pressing lightly against yours.
"Breathe." He whispered, his voice rough. He gave you a moment, just enough to adjust before he asked, "Ok?"
You nodded, too breathless to say anything, but when you didn't pull away he pushed further, the pace picking up as he moved into you again, harder and deeper this time.
He gripped your legs tightly, forcing you open as he thrusted into you, his movements rougher now, more desperate. The initial sting quickly faded into a pulsing heat that had you gasping with every thrust, each push a little harder than the last.
"You feel so fucking good." He muttered, voice thick with desire. His hands tightened on your legs, and he slammed into you with more urgency, his pace picking up, rougher and less controlled. The air was thick with the sound of skin meeting skin, the room vibrating.
The tension in your body kept building, the pleasure mixing with the intensity of each thrust. His breath was uneven and shallow as he moved faster, harder, his grip tightening. There was no slowing down now.
"Fuck." He groaned, his movements becoming more erratic, less restrained. "So fucking perfect."
The care he showed earlier was gone. His pace didn't slow, only grew faster, more frantic. Each thrust hit deeper, more forceful, and you could feel every inch of him filling you completely. You clung to him, nails digging into his skin as he fucked into you without restraint.
The sounds of your bodies crashing together filled the air, a mix of moans, heavy breathing, and the wet, slick noise of each push. He didn't give you time to adjust, didn't pause to check in again. He just kept going, his grip tightening on your legs, forcing them open even wider as he moved harder.
The pleasure was building, overwhelming you, the pressure mounting with every thrust. Your body felt like it was on fire, heat pooling low in your stomach as his thrusts drove you closer to the edge.
"You like that, huh?" He groaned, his voice rough. His eyes flickered down to where you were joined, watching how he moved inside you. "You're so fucking tight."
You couldn't form words anymore, only moans escaping your lips as your hips instinctively moved against him, meeting each thrust, urging him deeper. Every motion felt like a jolt of electricity running through you, tightening your core, making everything spin.
His hand slid down from your legs, gripping your waist as he pulled you closer, driving into you with more force. The friction built, sending waves of pleasure crashing over you.
"God, I'm gonna make you cum." He grunted, his own pace stammering just slightly as his own release neared. "Hold on."
His hips snapped into yours recklessly, his movements growing more urgent. His grip on your waist tightened as he pounded into you, each thrust harder than the last, the sound of your skin meeting his filling the room.
"You feel fucking amazing." He whimpered, his voice strained, the force of his movements making your whole body shake beneath him.
He cursed under his breath as your nails scraped down his back, and with one last, brutal thrust, you felt everything snap—your body tensing, your legs trembling as the pressure exploded inside you. A loud, breathless moan escaped your lips as your orgasm ripped through you, your whole body convulsing around him.
He didn't stop though, didn't give you a second to breathe. His thrusts only grew more erratic, chasing his own release as you clenched around him, each movement pushing him closer to the edge.
"Fuck, yes." He groaned, his eyes locked onto yours as he slammed into you again. 
"I'm there..." He buried his face into your neck, movements sloppy as he finally came, his body shaking as he released with a low groan.
He collapsed against you, his body still trembling, his breath coming in ragged gasps. For a moment neither of you moved, lying there tangled together, trying to catch your breath. His head rested on your shoulder, his chest rising and falling against yours. The tension in his muscles slowly started to melt away, and you felt the steady rhythm of his heart begin to slow.
He shifted slightly, pulling back just enough to look at you, his gaze softer now. His fingers traced the curve of your cheek, brushing away a strand of hair.
"Are you okay?" He asked, his voice quieter now.
You nodded, unable to find the words just yet. He gave a small smile. "I didn't mean to... push too hard."
You shook your head, pressing your palm to his chest. "It was... good." You whispered, your voice still shaky, but calm now.
"Good." He murmured again.
══════════════════════════
The day after – 1:18 PM
You woke up to loud, insistent banging on your door.
You blinked your eyes open, lashes heavy with sleep, your body sore and aching in ways that immediately brought back hazy memories of the night before. You reached for your phone on the nightstand, and the screen lit up— four unread messages, all from Jaemin.
Jaemin [12:38 PM]:
"u want chicken tenders or a burger?"
Jaemin [12:44 PM]: 
"Hello? I need u to hurry I'm in line."
Jaemin [12:57 PM]:
"Just got chicken tenders u took too long, otw."
Jaemin [1:17 PM]:
"Dude, open the door wtf?"
Your stomach dropped... shit.
It was Sunday, your Sunday. Movies and lunch with Jaemin, your thing since middle school, the one routine neither of you ever skipped and was always on time for.
You sat up too quickly and instantly regretted it. A sharp pulse radiated through your thighs, your knees folded slightly beneath you as you stood. You hissed through your teeth, muttering a quiet curse. The soreness, the silence in the room, the disheveled sheets tangled behind you and...
No Haechan, not a trace.
You probably weren't going to hear from him again. If anything, he'd gotten exactly what he wanted and maybe... so had you.
You slipped into the first pair of underwear you could find, pulling on an oversized t-shirt and not even checking the mirror. You couldn't be bothered. Your body felt heavier than usual, limbs slow, mind foggy.
You stumbled to the door, fingers fumbling over the lock before it clicked open. Jaemin stood there with a takeout bag in one hand and annoyance on his face. "Where the fuck—" He froze. 
His expression shifted fast, first frustration then concern as his eyes scanned your face, your hair, the obvious haze of sleep in your eyes. "Are you okay?"
You nodded once, voice scratchy. "Yeah. Just... come in."
You turned around, not realizing how stiffly you were walking until you heard his voice again behind you.
"You're walking weird."
You glanced over your shoulder, trying to play it off. "I just woke up, Jaem."
But his brows drew together, and he followed you with quiet suspicion. He spun once in your desk chair before planting his feet and letting his eyes roam, and stopped.
You didn't notice at first, but his gaze lingered just a little too long on your neck.
"Those weren't there last time I saw you." He said. 
You forced a small laugh, brushing your hair back casually. "What, you keeping track now?"
"It's hard not to when it looks like someone marked you up like a vampire." He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.
You turned away, cheeks flushing, but you stayed silent.
He held up the takeout bag. "I got you food, don't know if you saw my text."
"I didn't." You said, hovering at the edge of your bed. "But thanks, I'm starving."
He smiled for real this time, but just as he reached to hand you the bag something on the floor caught his attention.
His hand froze mid air. He bent slightly, reaching down beside your nightstand. A second later, you watched his fingers close around a small, crinkled square of foil.
An empty condom wrapper.
He stared at it, his jaw twitching once before he tossed it into the trash without another word.
The air in the room changed instantly. You stood still, frozen as he looked at you.
You tried to lighten the mood, your voice forced. "The one you gave me, remember?"
But he didn't smile, didn't even blink. His voice dropped, almost too calm. "Did you...?"
You hesitated, then sighed. "Yeah. Last night."
He blinked once, and then again. He opened his mouth, but for a second, no sound came out. "Thought you were saving yourself."
You gave a slight shrug, arms folding across your chest. "Guess I changed my mind."
Another moment of silence. He tilted his head slightly, a ghost of a smile on his lips now, confused. "Who was the lucky guy?"
You hesitated, biting your bottom lip.
His eyes narrowed before he scoffed. "I know that face... no way."
Still, you said nothing.
He let out a short, stunned laugh, humorless. "No fucking way." Jaemin stood up, the desk chair creaking loudly behind him.
You met his gaze, heart thudding. "Jaem—"
"You let him?" His voice rose, disbelief mixed with something else— hurt, maybe. "Out of all people, him? Seriously? What, he texted you 'come over' and you just—fucking hell Y/n."
"It wasn't like that." You murmured.
"You ghost me for hours, you never miss our Sundays. I show up and you're sore and covered in hickeys—"
"I was asleep, Jaemin."
He scoffed. "Name one time you've ever slept past noon this year?"
You stayed silent.
"Exactly."
"I didn't plan for it to happen." You said quietly.
"That's the problem... he did!" He snapped. "I didn't think you were so easy. What, he called you pretty and that's enough for you to spread your legs?"
"No, I—"
"What, you've known this guy for like a month? You knew he just wanted to use you and you went along with it?"
"I was okay with that! That's what I wanted."
"You were okay being used for sex by some guy you barely even know?"
"No, not like that—"
"So then what? Because to me, it sounds like you're just a desperate slut."
You blinked. That word hit harder than you expected.
"Oh, I'm a slut?" Your voice was sharp now. "One body and I'm a slut, yet you dance around fucking anything with a pulse. You're disgusting... and easy."
"I'm disgusting and easy?" He snapped. "You let a senior fuckboy you don't even know take your virginity. It's actually sickening."
You stepped toward him, jaw clenched. "Would it have been sickening if it was you?"
Silence. His face froze, jaw locked as his eyes flickered, and he didn't say a word.
You let out a breath. "If you're so disgusted, then leave. First of all, it's none of your business who I sleep with— I don't stick my nose into yours. You've fucked girls I can't stand, and I never made it everyone's problem."
Your voice rose now. "You're my best friend— not my parent, not my boyfriend, and definitely not my mentor. So if you came here to judge me on every move I make, then you can go fuck yourself."
"Excuse me for being the only one that fucking cares about you."
You opened your mouth, but he was already tossing the takeout bag onto your bed with more force than necessary.
"Here." He muttered. "Since he couldn't even feed you."
Then he turned and the door slammed behind him.
The silence that followed felt like a vacuum, like the air had been sucked out of the room the moment the door slammed shut.
You stood there, unmoving, arms still crossed tightly around yourself. Your chest rose and fell a little too fast, like your body hadn't caught up to your brain yet.
"Desperate slut."
You could still hear it. Loud in the quiet and it hurt. God, it fucking hurt.
You sank down slowly to the edge of the bed, staring blankly at the takeout bag he'd thrown toward you. You let out a shaky breath and dropped your head into your hands.
He'd looked so angry, so betrayed, like you done something personally to him. But he wasn't your boyfriend, he never was, he never wanted to be.
So why did he get to act like this? Why did it feel like you were the one who done something wrong? You hadn't expected Haechan to stay. You hadn't expected Jaemin to explode and yet here you were, alone.
He was supposed to be your best friend.
But best friends didn't call you disgusting. Best friends didn't throw insults in your face and storm out. Best friends didn't look at you like you were less for doing something you had every right to do.
You didn't even realize you were crying until the tears hit your thighs. Silent, hot, and angry.
You swiped at them roughly, jaw tightening.
He didn't get to reduce you like that. He didn't get to decide what your choices meant, and he definitely didn't get to pretend like he was some kind of savior when all he'd ever done was hover just close enough to make you want more and then pull away every time you reached.
Some part of you still wanted him to come back. Still wanted him to knock again, to take it all back and say he was sorry.
But another part of you was done waiting on Jaemin to treat you like you mattered only when it was convenient for him. Because you didn't regret what happened.
Not the choice, not the experience, not even the consequences.
You only regretted giving someone like Jaemin the power to make you feel small.
══════════════════════════
840 notes · View notes
bower-quinn · 27 days ago
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Little pieces of paper
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Eddie receives little notes full of compliments. But who could possibly be behind this, and what does a waltz have to do with it? From stranger to lovers, fluffy, explicit speech
Goddamn it, this shitty place came straight out of hell, Eddie Munson thought as he stepped into the school building. It wasn’t the first time he had that thought—in fact, he had it every single damn day.
School might’ve been the best time of your life—if you were popular. Definitely not if you were an outsider. The popular assholes only acted nice to him when they wanted to buy drugs. He usually charged them double. That way, everyone was more or less satisfied. That was all he was. The stoner. The supposed devil worshipper, if the rumors parents whispered were to be believed. But really, he was just like everyone else—or, well, almost.
He was in a foul mood, like every Monday morning. He’d been supposed to have a gig over the weekend, but it got canceled. And now he hated the world just a little bit more. Eddie strolled to his locker, gave the dented door a good kick so it would spring open, and spotted something between crumpled paper and a broken pencil—a small, folded note. Not from a teacher. Just an ordinary slip of paper, neatly folded. Curious, he pulled it out.
“That denim jacket looks damn good on you.”
Eddie frowned and looked around. His eyes scanned the hallway. No one was looking at him. No one was laughing. No one seemed to have noticed anything. He didn’t throw the note away. He tucked it into his chest pocket and closed his locker, a thoughtful look settling over him that lingered all the way until class started. Suddenly, Monday didn’t seem quite so dark.
Class passed by like a blur. Eddie kept wondering who might’ve written him that note. He went through every name he could think of but came up with nothing.
The next day, when he found another note, he let out a quiet gasp of surprise.
“Are your curls as soft as they look? I’d love to touch them.”
Unconsciously, Eddie brushed his hair out of his face. Who the hell would write something like that to him? And more importantly—who the hell felt that way? No one had ever told him his hair looked soft. No one had ever wanted to touch it.
He was almost convinced it would end there. But a small flicker of hope held onto the idea that maybe—just maybe—there would be another note on day three.
And there was. On Wednesday, it read:
“Every time you smile, I wish it was just for me.”
Thursday:
“When you stare out the window, you look like you’re in another world. I’d love to know where you go.”
Eddie grew restless. Not in a bad way. But in the way someone does when something good happens that they can’t quite understand. At lunch, he showed the notes to his D&D crew. Gareth nearly dropped his sandwich laughing, Jeff giggled like he’d just seen a naked woman for the first time, and Dustin—well, Dustin looked at Eddie like he’d just realized someone could actually be interested in him.
“A secret admirer, huh?” Gareth smirked. “Or at least a GIRL!” Jeff added with exaggerated emphasis, like it was the most absurd idea ever.
Eddie laughed along. A little too loudly. And while the boys turned back to their fries, his eyes swept the cafeteria. Who was watching him? Who had the guts to write those words—but not to show themselves?
At home, Eddie carefully placed the notes on his bed. He pulled out an old, empty scrapbook he’d found once at a flea market. Page by page, he pasted the notes in, like they were treasures. And in a way—they were. Next to each note, he scribbled the date.
Then came Friday. This time, it wasn’t a short message. It was a longer letter, folded carefully, written on heavier paper. Still in the same handwriting.
Eddie read it standing right there in the dim hallway, between the rows of lockers. And with every sentence, something shifted in his face.
Eddie, I saw you laughing with your friends about the notes. Maybe it was just a joke to you. But for me, it was real. I wanted to say all the things I never dared to say out loud. You always seem like you don’t care about anything. But I see you. When you think no one’s looking, I see you tapping your fingers on the desk when you’re nervous. I see the way you lift your chin when someone looks at you like you’re beneath them. But now, I feel like I made a mistake. Maybe it was ridiculous of me to compliment you. Maybe I’m just naive.
Eddie felt something tighten in his chest. He hadn’t meant to laugh at whoever wrote them—not really. He just didn’t know what to do with the feeling of someone being genuinely kind to him. Just kind. Without wanting anything in return.
He wanted to apologize. Explain himself. But every note had been unsigned. He had no idea what to do now.
What if he’d ruined everything? What if there were no more notes?
Angrily, he slammed his fist against the locker. The metallic echo rang through the hallway. A wave of pain shot through his hand.
“Fuck,” he hissed, clutching it. Goddamn idiot.
The weekend was torture. Not only was his hand sore and turning a faint shade of blue, but he had to go two whole days without any notes.
He smoked too much. Thought way too much. He knew the last letter by heart.
When he pasted it into the scrapbook, he wrote next to it: “I’m sorry.” His jagged handwriting beside those neat, rounded letters looked like an insult.
He didn’t know what to expect when he opened his locker Monday morning. Maybe... nothing. Maybe it was all over.
But then—there was a new note.
His heart did a tiny flip. Same handwriting. Familiar. Tilted slightly to the right. And as he unfolded the paper, it felt like touching something sacred.
“I really thought about stopping. Honestly. But I couldn’t stand the idea of your beautiful brown eyes looking sad because of me.”
He leaned his forehead against the locker and smiled. A small, honest smile. Little butterflies stirred gently in his stomach. Someone thought his eyes were beautiful.
After that, it became routine. One note per day. Each one a beam of light cutting through his otherwise dull school days like sunlight through a dirty basement window.
The tone changed. It grew warmer. Bolder. The compliments started to shift.
From: “Your smile saves my mornings.”
To: “Last night I dreamed you were holding my hand—and I woke up smiling.”
From: “The way you look when you listen to someone—wow.”
To: “I wonder what your lips would feel like on mine.”
And Eddie?
He read each note with focus. Sometimes, he was almost embarrassed by his own goofy grin. Other times, he turned red. Really red. Especially when the notes got... more direct.
One of the last ones completely knocked him off course:
“Just thinking about how your tattoos would feel against my bare skin gives me goosebumps. And I hope you feel the same.”
Eddie had read that one during class, hidden behind his binder in the back row. He turned red like a tomato in July and shoved the note into his bag as fast as he could. After that, he stopped showing them to the guys. They’d never take it seriously. They’d make jokes.
But Eddie... Eddie felt something. Maybe awe. Maybe desire. Maybe just a warm flutter in his chest he hadn’t felt in ages.
And then—there was her.
Steve Harrington’s sister.
She’d never paid him much attention. But lately... She greeted him. In the mornings. In the afternoons. Waved at him in the cafeteria. Not flirtatiously. Just... kindly. And sweet. So damn sweet.
Once, when he walked into class, she looked up, smiled... And Eddie felt like the air had thinned out completely.
Of course, he thought about it. Could it be her?
But then he shook his head. No. She was too... perfect. Too confident. Too brave. The notes felt secretive. Vulnerable. Like they came from a quiet corner—not from someone who waved at him openly across the cafeteria.
Then came Tuesday. One of those hot, sticky, dragging days.
He’d just read the newest note.
"Have you ever had a blowjob? I wonder how your cock feels in my mouth. What it looks like."
Jesus Christ.
This was the first one that was... explicit. An entire little fantasy written on paper.
Eddie stood there, beet red, heart pounding in his throat. He could feel the words ignite something in his lower stomach. A tingle. A pull. His body reacted before he could even think.
Jesus Christ, was he really about to get hard in the middle of the hallway?
He tried to shove the note away before anyone saw. But Gareth came around the corner—too loud, too clumsy, too nosy as always.
“Yo, Eddie! What’re you reading, man? Another one of your sexy fan letters?” he grinned.
Eddie slammed his locker shut way too fast. “It’s nothing,” he mumbled, his face heating up again. “Let’s go. The others are probably waiting.”
He was just about to walk off—when a soft voice called out behind him.
“Um... Eddie?”
He turned.
There she was. Steve Harrington’s sister. Wearing a light, floral summer dress that fluttered softly in the hallway breeze. Her hair gleamed like honey under the fluorescent lights. And her eyes—so clear, so warm—met his.
She was holding a small folded note. His note.
“You dropped this,” she said, her voice so soft it made him dizzy.
He stared at her. He didn’t know if it was the dress. Or her angelic face. Maybe both. Maybe it was the way she looked at him—like he wasn’t just the freak. Not just the outsider. Like he was someone. Someone she noticed.
With trembling fingers, he took the note back.
“Thanks,” he managed, his voice rough.
She smiled—radiant, genuine, breathtaking—and turned to disappear into the crowd.
Eddie stood frozen.
“Dude,” Gareth muttered, “stop staring like some goddamn creep. You’ve got no shot with her anyway.”
“Thanks, Gareth,” Eddie snapped. “Thanks for the reminder.”
Gareth raised his hands in mock surrender. They walked to D&D in silence. That session, Eddie tortured the party mercilessly.
At home, he locked the door, music turned down low—a rare occasion—and pulled out the scrapbook.
Page by page, he flipped through the notes. Each one from that same, unknown voice. Someone who saw him in ways he couldn’t—or didn’t dare—to see himself.
He studied the handwriting. Thin, round letters. Neat but not perfect. With tiny irregularities that made it feel... human. Real.
He traced one line with his finger, gently—like he could touch the person behind it:
“You make me tremble just by sitting there.”
A quiet sigh escaped him. And then the thought struck:
Can you fall in love with someone just through a few handwritten notes?
The answer wasn’t clear. Not a yes. Not a no. But his heart beat faster, and his stomach tightened in that way it only does when something really matters.
He longed for this person. Their voice. Their face. The moment everything would become clear.
He wanted to see them. More than anything.
Eddie had a mission. He arrived way too early and stood for nearly half an hour just watching his locker, hand on the lock, eyes like a hawk.
Part of him—the paranoid part—wondered: What if it was all a joke? Gareth, Jeff, the others... maybe they were messing with him?
But then he thought of the handwriting. The tone. The details.
No. That wasn’t them. Too real. Too raw.
So he stayed. Skipped Spanish. Hid behind a pillar a few feet away, watching.
And then— He saw her.
Little Harrington came out of the history classroom. She was wearing tight black jeans today, along with a loose band shirt that slipped slightly off her shoulder. Her hair fell into her face as she hummed something—softly, barely audible, but Eddie perked up his ears. It took a moment, then it hit him like lightning. “Fade to Black.” Metallica. He knew the song by heart. She was humming the guitar line, slightly off-key, but unmistakable. He swallowed. Could it be? She walked right past his locker without sparing him a glance. Then headed toward the bathroom. No note. No look. No hesitation. Two minutes later, she came back out, face freshly washed, hair pushed back a little. She disappeared into her classroom again.
Eddie stood there. Confused. Disappointed. And somehow... empty. He had hoped she would leave something in his locker. A clue. A glance. Something. But nothing.
The next morning, his disappointment still lingered as he hesitantly approached his locker. He opened it slowly. Expected nothing. But there it was again. A small, folded note, neatly wedged between his books. He opened it, heart pounding. And as he read it, he couldn’t help but laugh. A soft, joyful, completely different kind of laugh.
“You can watch your locker all you want, Munson. You’ll never catch me. Maybe you’d be disappointed if you did. Maybe the mystery is better than the answer. But in case you’re curious: You look damn good when you’re all tense like that. Almost like a predator. Damn sexy.”
Eddie folded the note and pressed it to his chest. He grinned. He hadn’t caught her. But she had seen him. Again. And somewhere out there, she was walking around—with that handwriting and that damn intuition for him. And he knew he wouldn’t give up on her.
But then something happened that clouded Eddie’s good mood from the past weeks. Something that seemed like it came straight out of hell—like the school itself had invented it to torture him: PE class. Eddie’s personal nightmare. In shorts. Very short shorts.
He was late, as always, dragging his feet into the stuffy gym that smelled like old rubber and overheated disinfectant. He scratched the back of his neck, sticking out of a too-tight t-shirt, and was ready to line up with the other guys who, as usual, were just waiting to throw balls at each other’s heads.
But today was... different. He stopped dead in his tracks when he saw it wasn’t just his class in the gym, but a group of girls as well. And among them— her. She was wearing a loose white shirt tucked casually into her pants, her hair down, and she had an elastic band around her wrist that she was absentmindedly twirling between her fingers.
Their eyes met, and she smiled. Eddie blinked. Was that—meant for him?
The gym teacher stepped forward, set down an old cassette player, and said loudly: “Coach is sick. So no hurdles or dodgeball today. We’re doing something different: dance class.” A collective groan swept through the gym. Eddie rolled his eyes—dramatically. The teacher noticed instantly. “You’ll dance too, Munson,” she said sharply, pointing at him. Eddie raised his hands and gave an exaggerated innocent grin. The moment she turned around, he flipped her off behind her back.
A giggle rang out. Soft, bright, gentle. He turned. There she was. Hand in front of her mouth, clearly laughing at his gesture. She winked—and Eddie... was gone. Completely. His mind went blank, like it only did after two joints.
“Ladies’ choice!” the teacher called as the music started. “Girls, pick your partner. Let’s go!” As soon as she finished, the girls rushed forward. Eddie was already half sitting on the bench, certain he’d be ignored as always. The girls would pick the jocks. The pretty boys. Not the freak in the band shirt.
But then—footsteps. And there she was. Standing right in front of him.
“Hey,” she said quietly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Then she held out her hand. “Wanna dance with me?”
Eddie stared at her. “Are you... sure? I mean—you could ask anyone.” She smiled, her voice calm and warm: “But I’m asking you.” His fingers trembled as he took her hand. Her skin was soft and warm. They walked together to the center of the gym. She didn’t let go of his hand. His heart pounded. I’m holding Harrington’s little sister’s hand. Me. Eddie-freakin’-Munson.
The music started. A slow waltz. Everyone around them began to turn and sway. Only Eddie stood stiff, overwhelmed. She stepped closer, took his other hand, placed it on her hip. “Like this. And now your other arm on my shoulder. Just like that. Don’t worry, I’ll lead.”
Eddie swallowed. His hands on her hips felt like they had just touched a live wire. His knees were ready to give. Everything about this felt unreal—the slow rhythm of the waltz from the old tape player, the muffled voices of the other students, the soft gym light, her perfume. She looked up at him and smiled.
“You dance better than I expected,” she said softly. Eddie laughed nervously, trying not to step on her feet. They moved to the beat—awkward at first, but somehow finding a shared rhythm. Eddie felt his tension slowly ease.
“Is this your first time? I mean—dancing?” she asked, blushing a little at how that sounded. “Depends if you can call this dancing,” he muttered and grinned. “But yeah. No one’s ever asked.” She looked at him seriously. “I asked.”
Eddie swallowed. “You’re braver than I thought.” “And you’re shyer than I thought,” she replied gently. He laughed, or tried to—it came out awkward. “Don’t say that too loud. My image will fall apart.”
She laughed too—an honest, bell-like laugh. Her eyes flicked downward, to his leg, where a bit of a tattoo peeked out from under his pant leg. “Is that... a skull?” she asked. Eddie glanced down and cursed under his breath. “Damn. Yeah.” He tugged at the pant leg, to no avail. “Didn’t mean to show that today.” “Cool,” she said simply. “You have more, right?” “Seven,” Eddie replied. “Some bigger, some... born from bad lighting and worse decisions.” She smiled. “Can I ask what they mean?”
Eddie hesitated, then saw the genuine interest on her face and nodded. “The bat wing’s because of Dungeons & Dragons. My character made a dark pact—it was super edgy, and I was sixteen.” “I like it,” she said, locking eyes with him. “I think that’s my favorite one.” “You have favorites among my tattoos?” She nodded, but didn’t elaborate. After a few silent steps, she said: “I’ve always wondered what tattoos feel like on skin. If you trace them with your fingers. If they... feel different.”
Eddie looked at her in surprise. It wasn’t just what she said—but how. Something about it felt familiar. Like déjà vu. Like... a line from one of the notes. “Some really do feel different,” he said cautiously. “Some are slightly raised. Want to—?” He stopped, turning red. But she removed a hand from his shoulder—thankfully not the one in his—and traced the bats. “Soft,” she murmured. “But yeah, a little raised. You’re right.” Then—out of nowhere—she asked: “Would you go to the movies with me sometime?”
Eddie froze. His heart felt heavy. He liked her. Truly. But... “I... think I might already be in love with someone else.” Her eyes widened. He could see how much his words hurt her. And that fact alone was awful. He, Eddie Munson, had hurt someone this good.
“Oh,” was all she said. Her voice was quiet, almost fragile. A small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. “That hurts. Honestly.”
Eddie felt terrible. So he said: “There are... notes. I know it sounds silly. Someone’s been leaving me one almost every day. For weeks. And... I think I’m falling for someone I don’t even really know.”
She looked at him for a long time. Her expression shifted. He couldn’t quite read it—surprise? Sadness? Hope? Then she said calmly: “Maybe you just have to wait until all the puzzle pieces come together.”
But before he could ask what she meant, the class ended. Without another word, she left the gym, leaving Eddie full of question marks. Puzzle pieces?
The next morning, he walked to his locker with a pounding heart. He knew it. Something would be there. And it was. A note. Folded. Light blue paper. He opened it.
“Isn’t it beautiful when all the puzzle pieces fit?”
Eddie’s heart skipped a beat. He slowly looked up. A bit down the hall—there she was. Harrington. She raised her hand. Smiled. He stared at her, then at the note, then back. She shrugged. And laughed. He ran toward her.
“Was it you... this whole time?” he panted. She nodded. “Yes.” A wide, disbelieving, joyful smile spread across his face. “Why didn’t you ever say anything?” “I needed to figure out how you felt about me,” she said, smiling brightly, “as you might’ve noticed, I’m shy.” “But bold enough to write me dirty notes,” he whispered, smirking as she blushed.
Then she looked into his eyes. “Are you finally going to kiss me, Munson?” Eddie didn’t wait for a second invitation.
Weeks later, Eddie worked up the courage to show her his notebook. The one where he’d pasted all the notes. The one he kept under his pillow. They flipped through the pages together, laughing now and then. Later, when Eddie was alone again, he noticed a new entry. This time, written directly into the notebook. The handwriting was exactly the same.
“No more notes. I love you, Eddie Munson.”
And Eddie Munson, the freak, the outsider, the metalhead, smiled like someone who’d just gotten everything he ever wished for.
240 notes · View notes
after-witch · 1 year ago
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Death by Stereo [Yandere Chrollo x Reader] [Vampire AU]
Title: Death by Stereo [Yandere Vampire Chrollo x Reader]
Synopsis: You’re just a nobody living in a small town when a mysterious stranger with a leather jacket, good looks and a penchant for kissing your hand rolls in, just in time for the ever-popular summer carnival. Things are going great, until dead bodies start piling up. 
Word count: 17,510
Notes: yandere, vampire AU, descriptions of dead bodies, some violence, gore, abuse
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Thursday
Is there anything more wearisome than a small town? Small towns grind you down so slowly that you don’t realize your feet have been eroded into useless nubs before it’s too late, and you have nowhere to run, even if you had the inkling to get away. 
A small town has its charms, as they say--but it has its burdens, too. You know all the faces, but all the faces know you; some of them have even known you since you were just an ultrasound picture carried dutifully in your mother’s purse, pulled out at coffee shops and book clubs. 
They know when you got your first period (age 13, in the middle of gym class--you were wearing white shorts); when your first boyfriend dumped you (at the school dance, right before he made out with the third most popular girl in school); what colleges you applied to, and later--why you dropped out (your dad got sick) and how he was doing (not so great but getting better) and where you worked, how you liked your coffee, and all these impersonal and personal details that made up the monotony of your life. 
It was a trap, this small town life. A faux bubble of intimacy that your parents embraced, but you’d never fully believed. Because despite knowing so much about you, no one here really knew you. They could tell you that you looked just like your mom at her age; they could sling down a mug with your coffee order without you opening your mouth (black, 1 sugar, 1 cream, no milk)--but they didn’t want to hear about how much you wanted to travel; how much you wanted to see.
Did it matter? You weren’t getting out anytime soon, anyway.
Like all small towns, yours had a claim to fame. While others might boast being the hometown of some B-list celebrity or the site of an all-you-get-eat seafood festival, your particular small town had one edge over the others: a summer carnival right on the beach, designed to appeal to nearby tourists who came to much larger, resort-friendly beaches for the summer season. 
The tourists loved to flock here on that singular summer weekend, pretending they were enjoying a quaint local carnival where they got drunk on cheap beer and sampled funnel cake until they puked. And if the locals hustled them as much as possible, overcharging for drinks and parking and sightseeing maps, was that so bad? Small towns needed to leech off new blood once in a while, after all.
The carnival was four days long--Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Sunday was, of course, the grand finale. There was a massive fireworks show on the beach, a huge concert with local and sometimes vaguely familiar bands. A lot more booze traded hands on Saturdays, and the beach was lit up with more than just fireworks; the local volunteers always spent the next week picking up cigarette butts and discarded joints in the sand.
The carnival can be fun. Although like anything that happens every single year in a small town you’ve lived in your entire life (save the one year of college you managed before your dad’s test results came back) it gets wearisome.
Still--you go. What else is there to do? Besides, you’d be stupid to deny that it’s more fun to spend your summer weekend wandering the carnival, riding a few rides, speaking to people, than to sit at home or pick up an extra shift at the diner. 
That’s why you’ve wandered into the carnival today--Thursday. Thursday is your favorite day of the carnival, because it’s the most quiet, relatively speaking. There are tourists here, sure, but they’re not rowdy yet. Not as overcrowded. There aren’t gaggles of kids running around with lobster-red faces and arms because they’re parents didn’t understand the necessity of sunscreen; there aren’t groups of women traveling in packs with matching sunglasses and hats, enjoying a summer break away from their rich and distant husbands.
It’s mostly locals on Thursday. People like you, bored coffee shop workers with nothing better to do on a Thursday evening.
Or people like Jake Jenson over there, currently aiming a colorful dart at a row of balloons in one of many carnival games that would hustle drunk tourists out of their money this weekend.
Jake was the town drunk--a title he gave himself, and others were only too happy to oblige him. He stuck to himself most of the time. During the carnival, he won as many carnival prizes as possible, and traded them to tourists with shitty aim for beers or cigarettes. 
And over there--the early birds. They’ve come three years in a row, you think from somewhere in New  York. They’re attached at the hip, constantly rubbing their noses together like some twee movie couple, and you’ve heard them complain that the boardwalks in their part of the country are a lot more “authentic.’ 
Sure, there’s the familiar faces, but unfamiliar ones, too. An older gentleman and his wife, who walks next to him more slowly, with a cane. He’s balancing a plastic plate with a fresh funnel cake in his hand. They’ll find a bench to sit down and enjoy it, maybe people watch, like you.
It’s time for one of your favorite games: making up stories for the various tourists you probably won’t ever see again. This couple--this is the last trip they’ll take together, because the wife got an awful diagnosis, and they’re spending what would have been the rest of their retirement savings on the dream vacation she always wanted to take. They met during the war, decades ago… he was a soldier and she was a nurse, and he hurt his leg, maybe, and wound up in a field hospital.
It would have been terribly romantic. 
Your eyes shift away from the couple and onto a few other new faces. 
Maybe that’s why you liked the carnival. It was nice to look at new people and imagine where they came from, what they did. The kind of life they had, which was surely more interesting and worldly than yours.
With people watching in mind,  you abandon your bench in front of the games and head deeper into the carnival, weaving yourself in between snack and ticket booths, stepping over large black cables that kept the rides running. 
Dusk had already settled in, and the warm glow of the summer had been replaced with a deepening sense of evening. The carnival lights had already begun to play against the darkening sky, creating that magical atmosphere that couldn’t be replicated during the day.
You don’t notice the stranger at first. It’s dark, the lights are a bit dizzying, and there are plenty of people simply wandering around and taking in the sights. What’s one more stranger, when over the course of the next few hours and days, the summer will be increasingly filled with them?
But this particular stranger shows up in the corner of your vision and immediately strikes you as… odd. He’s just standing there.
Watching you. Staring--right at you. What the fuck?
He’s wearing all black, and there’s some sort of scarf or cowl over his face. His eyes look impassive but there’s something awful in them, even in the brief glances you get from catching him from the corner of your gaze.
What a creep. 
It sours the mood, and you decide to leave, or at least take a break and shake off whatever out-of-towner decided to pull off his best edgy horror movie impression to creep you out. It wouldn’t be the first time a tourist behaved like a jerk, or a weirdo, especially if they’d be drinking. 
Something about nighttime at the carnival made people go wild. 
So you head away from it all, from the couples trying to win stuffed animals, from the giggling shrieks of people on rides that spun them upside down until they wanted to puke. And maybe you should just head right home, but it’s not fair to waste a night of good weather.
Cool, but not too cool. Pleasant. The moon is out and the stars twinkle overhead.
Heading out on the dock might be nice. Tourists don’t bother with it, at least not on Thursday, when the beach isn’t lit-up and there’s no particular reason to head out this way. 
But you’d been to this beach in the evening before; you weren’t scared of the dark. By contrast, you liked the way the beach sounded at night. The water moving in and out, slow and sure. The occasional sound of wildlife splashing in the water. And the din of the carnival behind you, all rainbow lights and indiscernible human happiness.
Your joy is cut off by the sound of footsteps. Your heart leaps in your chest and your hands slam into your pocket instinctively, fumbling for your keys. Fuck, how were you supposed to use these in self-defense again? Put them between your fingers?
Your heart hammers and you slowly turn around, squinting as you make out a figure approaching you in the dark.
“I’m sorry,” a voice calls out, penitent. “Did I scare you? I’m trying to get reception.” The man wiggles a small silver object in the air, raising it above his head. A small LED screen lights up and your heart rate begins to calm, slowly but surely.
After a few beats, he sighs, and shoves the phone in his pocket. 
He turns, apparently to leave, but then looks back at you. “Are you all right? I really didn’t mean to startle you.”
You swallow, lick your lips. Feel stupid for the keys in your fingers. He seems nice enough. A typical tourist. “Um, yeah.” You laugh, an empty sound. “I guess I’m just a little jumpy tonight.”
The moonlight doesn’t give you a clear view of the man’s features, but you can see him tilt his head a little. “Jumpy?”
The keys in your pocket rattle when you let them go, and pull your hands out to point back towards the carnival. The man follows your finger with an almost studious interest.
“Someone was following me, maybe? Or he just seemed a bit creepy.” You laugh again, a habit ingrained after years of dealing with men in odd situations--defuse, tread lightly, always. “He was staring at me, but I couldn’t see his face. He had a scarf over it, I think.”
The man in front of you hums in acknowledgement after a moment. He almost seems a little amused, which is both irritating and relieving in its own way. You were just being silly, jumpy, overreacting, weren’t you? Maybe the guy wasn’t even looking at you in the first place.
“Can I walk you back to the carnival? It doesn’t feel right to leave you here alone.” 
Ah, no, you think. Sure, the man in front of you might just be a tourist in search of reception, but that doesn’t mean you’re stupid. This is how people get murdered. Or attacked. Or like, hoisted into white vans and never seen again.
“No, that’s okay. I was going to stay out here longer and look at the stars. I’m going home soon, anyway.” Not a complete lie, since you did really want to go home. Something like this is usually enough for most people to take the hint, right? 
The man doesn’t turn around. Instead, you see the shape of his smile, lit only by the moon in the sky above.
“You want me to walk you back to the carnival,” he says simply, and offers his arm out, like some kind of old-fashioned gentleman. 
Oh. Of course you do. What were you thinking, staying out here on the dock at night? Mosquitoes would eat you up, anyway. 
You smile in return and take his offered arm, stepping lightly as you make your way back to the carnival with a complete stranger.
Only by the time you make it back to the threshold of the carnival, which seems to be eaten up by the darkness surrounding all of the twinkling lights, he’s not really a stranger, is he? 
And as you get closer to the carnival, the natural darkness of the beach gives way to an abundance of artificial lights that allow you to see him better. He’s cute--no doubting that, with dark hair that frames his face, and a bandage around his forehead. Maybe an accident, or an unfortunate birthmark. 
Even if you weren’t familiar with most of the town’s residents in one way or another,  you’d know he was an outsider from the way he’s dressed. A slim motorcycle jacket and dark jeans… not the type of guy that hangs around here for long.
As you stop at the border of the carnival, he asks where you live, and you tell him--”around.” He admits that he’s only in town for the carnival week. 
“I figured,” you say lightly enough.
He raises his eyebrows. “Is it that easy to tell?”
You put your hands into your pockets and look around you. 
“I mean, it’s a small town, right? Everyone knows everyone, after a while. A new face stands out pretty easily.”
His smile is charming. Practiced, but charming. Or maybe being practiced is how it’s so charming in the first place.  “That makes sense.” He considers you for a moment. “You like to watch the tourists, then?”
You shrug and gesture with your chin towards a mom with a toddler clinging to her hand, pulling her along towards one of the games with enormous stuffed animals.
“I like people watching, I guess. Sometimes,” and as you’re saying it, you don’t know why you’re telling him this so openly. “Sometimes I like to make up stories about people I see. Like, where they’re from or what they do or a backstory like they’re from a movie or whatever.” 
Your cheeks feel suddenly, stupidly hot. Christ, you meet a handsome stranger on the beach and your first major conversation involves you admitting you make up stories about people? You’ve got to get out of this town more.
But he doesn’t seem like he’s judging you. If anything, he looks interested. 
“And what would you imagine for me?”
The question is unexpected. 
“I think…” You try to force your mind to wander like it does when you people watch organically. What would you imagine, if you came across him walking around the carnival in the evening? He’d be on his own, surely, maybe his hands in his pockets. Quiet. A soft smile on his face, maybe? 
“I think you’re some sort of… librarian. Or a curator. A collector?” You shake your head, unsure of exactly where you want to go with this one. “The point is, you’re traveling around the country, looking for things to add to a museum or library or something like that. And you came across an ad for a summer carnival and thought you’d take in some local culture.” You gesture towards the carnival--the lights, the crowd of people, the humanity on display. “But walking around here makes you feel lonely. So you walk down to the beach in the hopes of distracting yourself. Only,” you add, with a cheeky grin. “To come across the most amazing small town waitress in 100 miles standing on the dock like a weirdo.” 
He doesn’t smile at your story. Not exactly. Instead--and you look away when you notice, feeling too rude for staring--his eyes widen just a smidge and he purses his lips in a thoughtful way. 
“My name is Chrollo,” he says. “May I have yours?”
Chrollo is kind of old-fashioned, you decide. Perhaps you were more spot-on than you realized with your story. 
Maybe you shouldn’t give your name. But there’s a giddy feeling inside your chest. Something akin to what you used to feel when you were a teen and you snuck out in the middle of the night for bonfire drinking parties.
I mean… a handsome stranger in a motorcycle jacket who escorted you back from the beach wants your name? You’d be stupid to say no. 
So you give it. 
At that, he finally smiles again.
“Well, then,” he says softly, saying your name in such a way that makes you hope he’ll say it again in the future, “I hope I’ll see you tomorrow night.”
--
“Help! Someone help me! For God’s sake!”
Jake Jensen cried out these words as loudly as he could--as clearly as he could, with booze slurring his words and making his mouth all mumbly. But he wasn’t loud enough. No one heard him. Not over the music and delighted screams of the carnival.
He had been chased away from the beach, past the dock, into a little storage shed used for kayaks rented to tourists during the summer. His worn out body protested with every movement, his lungs hacking from years of cigarettes. 
His attackers, who blocked the door frame, said nothing. They only looked at one another, silent words passed between them, and the taller of the two grinned in the darkness. 
Jake Jensen died screaming.
--
Friday
You tell yourself that you’re only sitting here on this bench, munching on fresh hot popcorn, because you had a hankering for carnival food. Definitely didn’t come here in the hopes of seeing a certain someone. You tell yourself this even as your eyes dart here and there, looking for any sign of the not-quite-a-stranger from last night. 
The sun has just set, and it’s a bit hard making out faces in the glow of the early evening. There are a lot more people here tonight, a new wave of tourists drowning out the familiar faces. Not that the locals shy away from the carnival--you spot your former best friend from high school, your old math teacher, one of the regulars at the diner… Jake Jensen isn’t in his usual spot at the games, but maybe he’s sleeping off a hangover. He never misses a summer carnival.
“Hello again.”
Oh--you choke on your current handful of popcorn just as Chrollo appears suddenly in your line of sight, hands in the pockets of his motorcycle jacket, a casual smile on his face.
“Hey,” you say, coolly, like you didn’t just nearly spit chewed popcorn kernels in his face when he approached. The silence between you doesn’t last long, but you fill it anyway. “You um, want some popcorn?”
But when you hold out the now half-filled container, Chrollo only looks at it curiously. Like he’s never seen popcorn before or something? But then he takes a small handful and pops it in his mouth. Chews--but he might as well be chewing broccoli, for all he seems to enjoy it. Oddly, he watches you while he chews, seemingly studying your face. Did you have popcorn in your teeth?
Better to fill the silence again.
“Well, what do you think?” You ask, grinning, popping another handful in your mouth. “It’s my favorite because it’s fresh, and that booth actually uses real butter. Not the fake oil stuff.”
Chrollo hums in agreement. “I see. I thought that tasted like real butter. Thank you for sharing.” 
You decide on the spot that you’re going to make the most of this evening, popcorn-in-teeth or no. So you shrug and give your best smile. “No biggie. Buuut… you will owe me.”
He raises his eyebrows. “Oh? And what will I owe you?”
It’s your turn to hum as you look out towards the carnival, scanning past the numerous faces, the booths, children running with balloons and sticks of cotton candy. “A ride on the Ferris wheel once it’s properly dark would be nice.”
A snort, though his nose. “I think I can manage that.”
He offers his arm again, and you take it, not minding how old fashioned it was. Somehow, despite his jacket, his sleek hair, the hint of motorcycle oil mixed with cologne, old-fashioned seemed to suit him.
Lots of things seemed to suit him, actually. You learn this as the evening wears on. He’s great at carnival games, choosing only a select few that he claims to be an expert in. He wins you a few stuffed animals that you pass on to little kids, save a smaller teddy bear that you can shoved inside your purse. 
You learn other things, too. Like, he’s a great listener. He lets you talk--about yourself, about the town--and doesn’t interrupt or tell you that you talk too much or make it clear he’s not listening to a thing you say. He even asks you questions, which shows he’s actually listening, and not just thinking about other things and waiting to ask you to go somewhere “private” like some other guys.
It’s nice, surprisingly nice, to find someone from out of town who’s so thoughtful.
The line for the Ferris wheel is always long once the sun goes down, and you’re one of the last rides of the night. 
When the carnival worker locks the bar down over your waists, you kick your legs and wait for the strange rush of adrenaline and pleasure that comes with the Ferris wheel. It’s a beautiful sight--all colored lights contrasted against the night sky, whisking you high into the air and giving you a view of the entire carnival and the ocean beyond.
But your body always reacts to the imagined danger of being carried so far away from the safety of the ground, and when the Ferris wheel reaches the top and begins to circle over for the first time, your stomach lurches and you gasp.
“Are you scared?” Chrollo’s voice is low--you could swear he’s teasing, but there’s something else in there, too. 
“Yeah,” you say, breath catching as you're brought back closer to the ground, only to be whisked away again. “Of course. What if something goes wrong, and I fall off and break my neck?”
Chrollo tilts his head. “You’d be dead.” 
You can’t help but grin. He’s so to-the-point sometimes. It’s charming in its own way, although you can’t exactly describe what “its own way” means with Chrollo. It’s like he stepped out of some old fashioned film but also came out of a cooler city. A biker who carries around an embroidered handkerchief, or something like that.
“And I don’t want to die, hence--the stomach flipping.” 
Chrollo looks ahead, then, taking in the view as the Ferris wheel carries you over again. “No? How long do you want to live, then?”
The snort is involuntary. A philosophical question on the Ferris wheel--not exactly what you expected from tonight. But maybe it’s not so bad. He’s good company. And Chrollo looks earnest in his question, too, which makes you feel guilty for snorting in the first place. 
Maybe it’s the lights of the Ferris wheel that dazzle you; maybe it’s the way being on the Ferris wheel at night makes you feel like you’re in some wonderful haze of a dream. 
Whatever it is, you fling your hand into the air, towards the carnival, towards the stars.
“Long enough to achieve my dreams,” you breathe out, earnest, almost sing-song. “Whatever they might be. I haven’t figured them out yet.”
Chrollo turns his head to look at you. His eyes almost seem magnetic against the night sky, with the lights of the carnival playing in them. 
Then, as the Ferris wheel brings the two of you down towards the ground, you see him. The man from yesterday, with the cowl over his face. He’s looking right at you, and it’s no mistake or figment of your imagination.
Your head swivels to the side and you grip the bar of the Ferris wheel until your knuckles hurt. You jerk one hand out and point to the stranger on the ground with a trembling finger. 
“There--look! Look!” 
Chrollo takes a moment to respond, and follows the sight line of your finger.
But now--there’s no one there.
“What do you see?” He asks, clearly unknowing that the object of your terror has vanished into thin air.
“The man… the man from yesterday. He was right there. I swear.” Your chest hurts; fear hurts. 
Unbidden, Chrollo pulls you close to him, and you let him hold you tight.
“You’re all right. I’m here.” 
He holds your chin in his fingers. “You’re safe, do you understand?”
The fear in your chest seems fuzzy now, like it had almost never been there in the first place. How silly of you to be scared, when Chrollo was right here. It doesn’t even seem strange that he’s touching you so intimately, does it? So you nod--yes, yes, you understand. 
Chrollo smiles. 
“Let me kiss you,” he says simply.
And you will. Of course you will. What else would you want to do? 
But as you lean forward, eyes already closing, he pulls himself away.
“Wait.” You blink, head clearing, and he continues, words slow, careful. “Would you like to kiss me?”
Now, you think about it. Maybe it was too hasty. But the lights of the carnival are beautiful and Chrollo is beautiful, and he’s been so thoughtful all day, and now he’s here, holding you, promising to keep you safe from carnival creeps.
A summer carnival is the time for a flirty romance, after all. 
“Yes,” you answer, simply. “I would.”
Chrollo’s finger strokes your chin as you lean in and share your first kiss on the Ferris wheel, glittering lights and carnival music dancing in your mind. 
--
The wife died first. Too quickly, but perhaps it was all the alcohol in her system; $1 margaritas at a local watering hole on a Friday night did nothing to make her more agile when being chased by predators while running in black city heels that had no place in a small town carnival.
Well, to the dying woman’s credit: it was the heels and alcohol and the sliced tendons in her ankle. Taut wires cut through her flesh like butter and she was down for the count, crawling, sobbing, begging for her husband, for God, for anyone to help her.
No one did.
Those pitiful cries, too, were cut down by a wire pressed into her throat; silencing her vocal chords, yes, but spilling blood over her neck that was as pretty as a sight as anything to those watching her choke and scrabble her hands against the ground, eyes wide, gaping, wondering--how is this happening to me? 
The margaritas may have hindered her before her unfortunate ankle accident. But they did make her blood taste sweet and tangy. Metallic, rich, with a twist of lime. All that was missing was a miniature umbrella.
This joke was said aloud, once everyone had a taste of her. A few laughed, blood on their teeth. 
Her husband didn’t seem to find it funny, but perhaps he was more preoccupied with his own current slow death. An arc of his blood spurted into the air--”Don’t fucking waste it, Uvo”--before a greedy mouth latched onto the wound, beginning to suck him dry.
The husband, like the wife, would be shared.
Soon, though, there would be no need for sharing.
There would be enough for everyone to have their fill--and beyond that.
There would be enough to gorge.
--
Saturday:
Three people are dead. 
You didn’t know them know them, but the shock is still there, making your hands tremble a little as you pour morning coffees and deliver plates of steaming eggs and overcooked bacon to tables of locals and tourists in almost equal measure.
Jake Jensen is one of those people. The identities of the other two are unknown--”Due to the state of the bodies, no identification could be provided at this time,” said the sheriff, above a rolling news ticker that had been on the diner’s singular TV all morning--but they might be a couple. A man and a woman.
People die all the time. Sure. But…  dead bodies are not often found in your small town, where gossip typically revolves around couples breaking up or a local store not putting up enough holiday decorations to appease the older crowd. 
Yet now, in one morning, there are three. 
Jake Jensen, who was found near the beach.
And an unknown man and woman (John and Jane Doe) who were found in a wooded area near the carnival.
“Mighta been a bear,” says one of your regulars, gnawing on a piece of his burnt bacon. He liked it that way.
“I heard they were drained of blood!” Your head--and others’ too, you suspect--turns to the voice. It’s not a local. Someone who’s far too dressy for the diner, sipping on a coffee they brought from home while they sample your diner’s less than stellar fruit salad option. He’s oblivious to the stares, to the eye rolls, to the immediate dismissal that his outsiderness earns him. “Two puncture wounds on the neck. Heard it from a cop while I was walking in this morning.”
Someone murmurs a joke about vampires and the locals chuckle, then go back to their coffee, their eggs, their eyes now and then glancing up at the old TV screen.
Your eyes roll, too, but then you wonder.
If they were murdered--and it’s an if, of course, because it could have been animals and Jake Jensen could have gotten so plastered that he fell off the dock or something, murders just don’t happen in your town--then… could it have been that creepy guy from before? The one who’s been following you around the carnival?
Shit, maybe he was waiting for the chance to get you alone, so he could drag you off to the dock or the woods and slit your throat. The thought gives you goosebumps, and acrid coffee tries to climb its way up your throat, before you swallow it down.
It was a good thing you had Chrollo around for the past two days.
And you’d be seeing him again tonight.
They weren’t canceling the carnival--it brings in too much money. And while a part of you is all sore and soft for poor Jake Jensen (who was never mean, just drunk) you try to brush it away. It’s sad. But life is sad. 
You don’t want to be sad tonight. You want to look nice--for Chrollo? He wasn’t the first out-of-towner that had flirted with you, that you’d flirted with back. He was the first one that you’d ever genuinely looked forward to seeing again, though.
So.
You want to be wearing your best smile when you meet Chrollo again tonight. 
And you can’t do that if you’re thinking about Jake Jensen’s body washing up on the beach or if there’s a small, tickling question dancing through your mind--
What sort of animal leaves two pretty little puncture wounds on the neck?
--
You sit on the same bench as before; the bench, in your mind, where you and Chrollo have taken to meeting up these past few days. 
There’s no room in your stomach for popcorn tonight, though. Or rather, there’s room--your stomach growls--but you can’t imagine chewing anything rich, hot and buttery right now. Your thoughts flit between horror (poor Jake Jensen, one time, when you were younger, he helped you fix a flat bike tire) and romance (Chrollo’s lips on yours, warm, the breeze tickling your neck, the lights of the Ferris wheel twinkling around you).
You feel bad for wanting to enjoy tonight. But that’s not fair, is it? Another small town tragedy: caring too much about someone you didn’t really know as anything more than a passing familiar face that you can’t even focus on a hot date. 
Fuck. 
“Daydreaming again?” 
The evening sky above you is a wash of deepening colors, devoid of actual sunlight but clinging to the last vestiges of it like a child refusing to let go of his mother’s hand on the first day of school. 
He’s holding up a stick of bright pink cotton candy in one hand, while the other arm is offered for you to take--the contrast between his leather jacket, the ball of fluffy sugar he’s holding, and the way he sometimes acts like an old timey gentleman out of the movies is enough to make you smile.
Perhaps there’s bitterness in it, because as soon as you’re standing, Chrollo regards you with a measured look.
“Are you all right?” 
Well. You don’t want to ruin your evening, but it would be stupid to pretend everything was all sweetness and sunshine, wouldn’t it? It’s better to get it out of the way. 
“Sorry, it’s… I don’t know if you saw the news?” He says nothing, and you continue. “Those people that they found dead this morning.” Your lips press together. “I mean, the guy--I knew him, sort of? Everyone did. He was drunk all the time, yeah, but he wasn’t a jerk about it.”
Chrollo hums.
“I can imagine that would be shocking for you to hear.” 
Your smile is shaky, and you nab a piece of cotton candy from the stick and shove it in your mouth. The sweetness contrasts awfully with the words that pass through your lips. “For you too though, right? I mean, it’s not every day three people turn up dead at some small town carnival.”
Chrollo raises an eyebrow in a way that seems to say that he is not particularly shocked by the news. 
“Shit, really? What are you in your non-touristy life, a mortician or something?” A sudden realization washes over you, that Chrollo has an entire life outside of you and these carnival evenings; he has a past, and family, and friends, and a job. Hopes, dreams, the whole nine yards.
“Something like that,” he says. When you move to apologize, he shakes his head. “It’s alright. I’m not terribly shocked by these things, I suppose, because of what I see in my day to day.” He looks at you a little curiously. “But I can see how it would rattle you.”
You open your mouth, but you don’t know what to say. Sugar sticks to your teeth.
“Come on.” Chrollo drops the cotton candy into a nearby trash can, and leads you towards a row of carnival games. “I know what might take your mind off things.”
For once, you’re glad to see the carnival games; the fast-paced spitting words of the barkers trying to hustle money from kids and couples, the sound of darts popping balloons, the triumphant music that plays before the obnoxiously difficult water shooting game. 
You’re even glad to see the tourists in all of their Saturday glory, which isn’t so much “glory” as it is a sort of restlessness. Saturdays were always a strange day at the carnival; the last middle day before the grand finale. An unusual mixture of sleepiness, anticipation, and a buzz that held everyone together until tomorrow.
Strange day, strange faces. Some stranger than others. Staring up at the bell at the top of the Test Your Strength game is an exceptionally tall man with wild dirty blonde hair. By the size of his muscles, he might just break the game, which hadn’t been replaced in the many years you’d been coming here in the summer.
You tug on Chrollo’s arm and point the man out. “What do you want to bet the carnie will try to get him not to play? He might just break the thing…”
“I don’t doubt it.” Beside you, Chrollo snorts, but doesn’t linger on the man as he leads you further into the carnival. 
The two of you walk, and talk. About nothing and everything. He asks you to come up with stories for a few tourists, and you do. Light ones. It really does take your mind off things. At some point, Chrollo buys you fries, which taste slightly sweet; probably cooked in the same oil as the funnel cakes. 
You dig in your heels in front of the fun house, but Chrollo shakes his head, and won’t go in.
“Are you scared?” You tease. At night, the fun house was all lit up, and the clowns painted on the front had a ridiculously sinister air to them.
But Chrollo doesn’t smile or laugh. “They make me dizzy,” he says, quietly. There’s something behind his words, but you don’t know what. A medical problem? A bad experience? You apologize and then he does smile, shaking his head, at himself, or you, you’re not sure. “Think nothing of it, dear.”
Dear.
You want to hold onto that bit of affection like the sky holds onto the sunset on summer evenings. At least as long as you can, which tonight, seems to be until Chrollo takes you on the Ferris wheel again. 
This time, he holds your hand as soon as the attendant locks the bar down. Your fingers interlock and squeeze and it sends butterflies rushing through your chest. What was there to worry about, to think about, when you were sitting next to him? 
It takes a few turns around the Ferris wheel to remember what you were supposed to worry about, because on the trip down, your stomach fluttering from romance and gravity alike, you see him: the strange man. The stalker. The maybe-serial-killer-on-the-loose. 
He’s standing still in the crowd walking here-and-there around the Ferris wheel, couples intent on getting in line, children running from tired parents as they beg for another carnival game.
And he’s staring straight up at you.
You don’t think this time. You grab Chrollo and point straight down and practically screech out the words: “There! He’s there! Look, look--look!” 
And the stars must be aligned, because Chrollo actually sees him. His grip on your other hand tightens and he pulls you closer to him as you make your way back around the Ferris wheel and the man goes out of sight. By the time the two of you are at the top again, the stranger is gone.
Your goosebumps remain.
“We should talk to the police,” you murmur, a quiet, scratchy whisper.
Chrollo turns towards you. You recognize the look. The “Do you really think the police will do anything about this?” sort of look. 
“I’ve been thinking…” You squeeze Chrollo’s hand and he squeezes back and that’s all you need to keep going. “That maybe he might have something to do with those people? The ones they found this morning?”
Chrollo’s eyes widen just a little. It’s both comforting and worrying to see him look taken aback, even if it’s only a bit. 
“I heard…” You feel stupid saying this. But you shouldn’t feel stupid, not with Chrollo. He hasn’t given you a reason to feel like you can’t tell him things. “Someone at the diner today said they were found with puncture wounds on them. I was thinking, maybe… like an ice pick? Or a screwdriver or--I don’t know. But maybe they were killed.”
“Perhaps he’s a vampire,” Chrollo offers, voice low, lips curled into a smile, and your face must reflect the flash of offended shame that rushes into your chest, because he immediately apologizes. His sigh flutters against your cheek. “Well. He wouldn’t be the first killer to prey on crowds or small towns, would he?”
At least he didn’t say you were crazy to connect the two things, vampire joke aside.
He keeps you close once the ride is over, and you wouldn’t have it any other way. 
“I’ll inform the police,” he insists, when the two of you finally stumble on a pair of deputies patrolling the carnival. He leaves you standing next to the Test Your Strength game, where the carnival barker has agreed to keep an eye on you. It made you feel like a child, but for once, maybe that wasn’t a bad thing--to be watched and protected.
You watch, biting your nails now and then, as Chrollo and the deputies talk. In the end, they shake his hand, and you feel cool relief in your stomach. The police will know what to do with the information. If this guy’s a killer, they’ll catch him. If he’s not, well. The carnival was almost over, and you wouldn’t have to worry about him much longer.
Things will be normal soon.
When Chrollo returns, you take his arm without hesitation, but this time he begins to lead you away from the carnival.
“I was thinking,” he says, “that we might go for a walk. Get away for a bit. If you don’t mind, that is.”
You don’t mind at all. 
“Do you like trails?” You ask, steering him towards a trail that leads from the beach to a popular hiking spot for locals. “It’d be a bit more private. As long as you’re not scared of the dark.”
Chrollo chuckles. It’s a warm, dark, rich sound, and it sends a delightful thrill right through you. 
“I’m not if you aren’t,” is all he says, and that’s enough for you to point out the way.
Thoughts of dead bodies and stalkers fade away with the carnival, whose sights and sounds fade bit by bit as you and Chrollo leave the beach and begin making your way into a wooded area with a paved hiking path lit on the other side by electric trail lights. 
“I’m surprised to see these,” Chrollo says, quietly. He pulled his phone out at the start of the trail to give the two of you more light, though the trail lights were decent enough, especially since you’d been up here more times than you could count.
“Mm,” you murmur. “Locals come up here all the time at night. Especially teens. Usually to make out and stuff.” Chrollo gives you a look and your cheeks hit up, but you don’t elaborate. He doesn’t need to know about your high school escapades. “They added them to avoid the inevitable lost-teen-in-the-woods-at-night rescue scenario, I think.”
“Clever,” he says. 
--
The waterfall is loud when you’re this close; so loud you can’t hear anything in the moment but your own thoughts, which have grown louder and louder somewhere between the hiking trail and this popular waterfall spot. So popular that it’s lit with a flood light near the top--supposedly a teenager slipped in one night and drowned in the shallow pool, though you’ve never been certain if it was a true story or not.
Regardless, you’re not sure you want to stay. No--you know you don’t want to stay. 
This is a bit much, is what your thoughts are starting to scream. Chrollo is nice, but you don’t really know him, do you? And you just walked somewhere alone with him in the dark after being surprised by a maybe-stalker, the day that three people were found dead around here.
Yeah. A bit much might be an understatement. You should really get back to where there’s more lights and people and civilization in general. If Chrollo is a nice person (and he is, you insist, you’re just being smart!) he won’t mind. 
“I think we should go back,” you say, but Chrollo can’t hear you. So you cup your hands around your mouth and lean closer to his ears. “I think we should go back!”
You expect him to nod and take your arm and lead you carefully down the lantern-lit trail, perhaps still using his phone to guide the way. Instead, he takes your chin in his hands--you move to jerk it out, you’d rather wait until you’re back at the carnival to kiss again--but his grip is impossibly strong.
“It’s all right,” he says, and it’s the strangest thing, you can hear him so clearly despite the roaring waterfall just a few feet in front of you. “You know that you’re safe with me. You don’t want to go back yet.”
How strange. How silly. Why did you want to leave, when you just got here? You didn’t even show him the best part yet.
“Come on!” It’s your turn to pull him along as you carefully walk the path leading to the front of the waterfall, which has already begun to soak water through your clothes. 
“Is there a cave?” Chrollo asks--and again, you’re struck by how easy it is to hear him, despite the water rushing down in front of you. 
“You sure know your way around local watering holes,” you jest. 
He merely smiles. “I travel a lot.”
With that, you grip his arm tighter and run through the waterfall, shrieking in delight. Both of you emerge on the other side soaked; you, grinning, and Chrollo, looking around with interest.
The inside of the cave was lined with endless rows of fairy lights, courtesy of a local high school group. They had also brought in the two couches--used leather, frayed and flecking, but good enough for a hang out. When you were younger, there were only folding chairs; which were great for sitting, not so much for much less. 
“Do you like it?” You ask, then feel stupid. Why do you care so much what he thinks of some local hang out spot, especially one you hadn’t been in for ages? The same reason why you’d spent all day telling him about your daydreams, about small town memories, bits and pieces of local lore that he didn’t brush aside but seemed to enjoy hearing.
Chrollo was so different from the others you’ve met at the summer carnival. 
Maybe that’s why your heart begins to beat fast the moment you catch his eye again. His skin looks almost dewy in the glow of the lights, thanks to the water; his eyes shine, reflecting a soft, warm twinkling glow.
It’s just the two of you. No tourists, no locals, no would-be stalkers. Even the carnival itself seems far away; the lights blocked from view by the rushing water and canopy of the forest, even the wafting smell of popcorn and stale beer was long gone out here.
It was just you and Chrollo in a cave at the end of the evening. 
But… it didn’t have to be the end of the evening, did it? 
You ask him, this time. 
“Do you want to kiss me?” 
“I do,” he says. “Very much so.”
This time, your kiss is tinged with the tang of river water.
--
Five bodies lay scattered in the grass. Young men, young women. Teens that had been giggling and stumbling through the forest, flasks of pilfered whiskey in their bags. 
Now some dead and going cold, their limbs twisted, their mouths open in silent screams.
Two were still alive, whimpering, weak hands beating against monsters’ chests as open mouths hungrily lapped up their life blood. They had screamed, all of them, but no one could hear them in the woods--over the water. 
“This is a lovely spot,” said a woman, brushing back her blonde hair. A bit of red gore had stuck to the strands and she tsked at the sight of it.  “The waterfall adds a nice touch.” 
The man hummed, and stuck his hands in his pockets. The slightest touch of red showed on his lips; like a woman pressing her lipstick-covered mouth onto a bit of tissue to get rid of the excess. 
The carnage made him indifferent; the whimpers of the dying, even more so. But as he looked around at the carefully placed lights on the trail, the way they flickered against the waterfall and its hidden cavern like delicate stars, he smiled. 
“It came highly recommended.” 
--
Sunday: The Final Day
Chrollo was in your bed last night, and you thought he’d be there in the morning. But when the sound of birds pulls you delightfully out of a restful sleep and you blink your eyes open to dappled sunlight through your blinds, you realize that the bed is half-empty.
Just you and the sheets and the leftover smell of Chrollo--cologne and, more faintly, sweat and sex. 
You freeze, listening for the sound of someone meandering about an unfamiliar kitchen. He could be up and about already--making coffee or breakfast. The image of him serving up a plate of bacon and eggs almost makes you laugh.
But the apartment is silent, save for your breathing, the sound of a clock ticking in the living room. 
Your heart lurches and shame pricks at the back of your eyelids. He fucked you and ran, didn’t he? Just like the others, just like--
But just when you’re about to give into the temptation to scrub yourself all over with hot water and erase every trace of Chrollo that ever existed in your presence, you see it: a piece of paper, torn from a notebook you keep on your dresser. Carefully folded over and placed on the side table next to the bed.
Your name is on it, written in a surprisingly beautiful, scrawling hand. 
Curiosity and leftover shame-tinged dread curl together in  your stomach as you sit up and slowly pick up the note. 
Dear--
Your heart lurches again, for a different reason this time.
I apologize that I did not give you a proper farewell. I had an urgent matter to attend to. Forgive me, won’t you? We will see each other tonight, I hope, for a memorable and unforgettable evening.
Of course he didn’t fuck and run. He wouldn’t do that. And tonight would be--well, memorable and unforgettable, just as he said.
The pitter-pattering inside your chest takes on a new delightful cadence as you get yourself ready for the day. No work--you had Sundays off, thank God, maybe literally, for that. It was a shame Chrollo didn’t tell you where he was staying; presumably, the only hotel in town. But maybe he was at one of the B&Bs or was shacking up at a room for rent.
It would be nice to see him in the daytime, too.
But he didn’t, so you’re left with nothing to do but flick on the TV and make yourself a cereal bowl. Well, that’s wrong.  That’s not the only thing you could do. You could go to your parent’s house and help out your mom; she could use a break with caring for your dad.
But… was it wrong to be selfish, just a little, for just one day? You didn’t want to see Chrollo tonight with something unpleasant sticking inside you, on the potential chance that your dad was having a not-so-great day.
It was better to approach your last evening together with a sunnier attitude.
Although you don’t really have a choice, because the first thing you see when the news returns from a commercial break is a giant banner scrolling across the screen: TWO MISSING TEENS FOUND DEAD AT LOCAL WATERFALL. POPULAR TRAIL CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
In the background, the sheriff recites familiar lines about respecting the privacy of the dead, about putting the full energy of the police force into finding the investigation, about how there is no need to panic. He says that it may not have even been foul play.
Somehow, you don’t believe that.  You just know. 
Sugary cereal seems to lodge itself inside your throat. You were just there. You were just there, kissing Chrollo, holding his hand, and now two teenagers are dead and lifeless and, and--
And if it was that same man… the one who was staring at you, stalking you… how close did you and Chrollo come to dying last night?
Tears prick at your eyes and you grab your purse. Maybe you would spend the day with your parents, after all. 
--
You should be more excited to see Chrollo. And you are, truly. But between the news this morning and the dull realization that this would be your last evening together ever, it’s hard to feel too enthused. 
Chrollo would be going home after tonight. Tourist trap over, no need to stick around. Something childish in you thinks: maybe I can convince him to stay a little longer. And if he stays a little longer, he’ll see how nice it is here (it’s not) and maybe he’ll want to settle down (he won’t). 
Oh, how stupid. It’s like when you’d meet the endless stream of New Best Friends every summer weekend as a kid, and you’d beg their parents together to extend their vacation.
It wasn’t going to happen. You’ll never see him again after tonight, and you’ll go your separate ways, and that’s that. 
Reality sucks sometimes.
You’re still stuck in the dreary shit cloud that is reality when Chrollo’s now somewhat familiar footsteps approach you on the bench. The bench, your spot--your spot? As if you and Chrollo had anything that could be called an actual relationship that warranted the use of “your” plural. 
You shake your head, hoping it shakes those silly childish delusions, and force yourself to smile.
Chrollo, to your surprise, doesn’t smile back.
Instead, he leans down, and takes your hand. His eyes roam over your fingers like they’re something special and it makes your stomach flutter stupidly.
“You seem a bit sad,” he says, bringing your knuckles to his lips for a kiss. The way that makes you feel is something you love and hate in almost equal measure. It’s not fair, is it, that he makes you feel this way--when he has to leave, and you’ll never see him again.
Perhaps it’s the knowledge that you will part ways after tonight that makes you speak freely.
“I’m just sad that you’ll be leaving.” He blinks at you, and turns his head a little. “That we won’t see each other after tonight,” you clarify. 
You expect him to nod and agree, and perhaps say something trite but comforting, like, “We’ll just make the most of it.” 
Instead, he gives your hand a squeeze.
“We don’t have to part, you know.”
It’s your turn to blink. A silly, little-kid-in-you hope does a twirl. He could stay--and this could maybe, possibly, in some far off millimeter of a chance, turn into something more serious than a summer fling. “You could extend your vacation? Your job would do that?”
Chrollo finally smiles at you. 
“My life is flexible. But,” and now he pulls you up so that you’re standing. It’s a fluid, easy gesture for him, almost too easy--he’s stronger than he looks. “I was thinking that instead of staying here, you would come with me.”
The world around you is not silent. The carnival is always producing an eternal cacophony of sounds--screaming patrons hung upside down on the more thrilling of rides, cheery carousel music, laughter, popcorn endlessly beating like a fast paced drum, everything and anything all mixed together into a swirl of sound.
But it might as well be silent, because you feel like all you can hear is your heartbeat in your eyes for a few stretched moments. 
“What? You’re not serious.” You smile, too, but it feels fake. Like it’s plastered on and cracking underneath. There’s a brief thought--maybe he means, like, for a weekend?--but you instantly know that’s not what he’s talking about.
This is too much, too fast. Too out of the blue. 
Chrollo looks at you in a way that almost makes you uncomfortable. Like he wants to see something inside you that you’re keeping for yourself. Then that gaze is gone and he’s smiling softly, charming, a little bittersweet.
Bittersweet is familiar territory, and the ringing in your ears fades in favor of a carnival barker offering 2-for-1 prizes on the Test-Your-Strength game. 
Chrollo’s voice cuts through it all, jovial, unassuming. 
“We can talk about it later, if you’d like. Let’s go enjoy the carnival a bit more before the concert.” 
That would be nice.
“I’d like that.” 
And you mean it--you do. You shake your head and let Chrollo intertwine his fingers in yours, and it doesn’t take long for his question to fade away from your mind as you weave in and out of the crowds.
If you weren’t so distracted, so disarmed, you might have noticed an uncomfortably familiar figure clad in black watching the pair of you intently.
--
The Ferris Wheel worker should have kicked you off several spins ago, but Chrollo had slipped him a twenty as he buckled the safety bar down. It’s nice, this extra time with him--it’ll be the last time you ride the Ferris wheel together, after all. 
What did it say about the state of your love life--or your life in general, actually--that slipping a carnie 20 bucks made your heart soar (and twist, and ache) even a little bit?
The night is prettier from the Ferris wheel. The world, too. Up here, you can’t see the grit and grime. The fermenting candy apples littering the ground, dropped two days ago by careless kids; the too-drunk couples arguing about whether they should stay for the concert or not; the exhausted carnival workers smiling hard no matter how much they get yelled at for their rigged games.
All you can take in from up here is the broad vantage point. Crowds and happy sounds--squeals and music interplaying above crowds of people, including a growing crowd on the beach in front of the black stage, waiting for the concert to start.
Chrollo’s grip on your hand tightens and draws your attention back to him. Even he looks more beautiful from up here, with the rainbow lights of the Ferris wheel playing on his face. 
“I’ve enjoyed our time together,” he says softly.
Ah, you realize. The extra spins were for the inevitable “we’ll never see each other again but it was a blast” speech. You knew it was coming. Doesn’t make it any less bitter in your mouth. But what good is holding bitterness against your tongue?
“Me too,” you say, and it’s not a lie, even if you hate the way the conversation must end. You try to focus less on the sourness and more on the sweet that came before. After all, Chrollo was… well. Handsome, yes, magnetic, yes. But more than that. He seemed thoughtful. He listened to you prattle on about yourself and your small town, and he didn’t even make fun of you for knowing so many local stories.
He was good in bed, too, wasn’t he? You blink and realize you don’t actually remember all that much about last night, except that he wasn’t there in the morning. Vague snatches rush through your memory. You remember his mouth on your lips, his hand trailing against your skin, removing your clothes. You remember his mouth against your neck, then this teeth, nipping, and--
It’s all fuzzy. But you weren’t drunk. So why--
“Have you thought about what I said?” He asks, and once again you’re pulled away from your thoughts, although this time you’d like to focus on them. Why couldn’t you fully remember last night?
When you don’t answer, he raises his eyebrows.
“About coming with me,” he says, a bit louder, as if you can’t hear him over the carnival din.
You let out a soft puff of a breath, then, and force yourself to focus on the current conversation. For now.
“You’re serious?” You don’t mean to sound so flippant, but you do. Chrollo frowns, just a little, and you feel like a bitch for it. “Sorry. I just--I didn’t know if you really meant it.”
“I am,” is all he says.
You didn’t like the idea of the conversation headed towards Chrollo leaving, but you like the idea of him genuinely asking you to come with him even less. Partly because you know you never could, and partly because there’s some small, stupid, fantasy-of-your-hair-blowing-in-the-wind-wearing-a-leather-jacket-on-a-motorcycle part of you that wants to say yes.
“Chrollo, I can’t do that. I have a job here. A life.”
Chrollo doesn’t let go of your hand, but you can sense the way his muscles tense. 
“A job at a local diner slinging hash browns,” he says, voice dry and almost hurtful. You must look offended--are you? You can’t tell--because he turns a little in the seat, trapping you with his gaze. His voice is earnest now, drawing you in.
“Don’t you want more out of life? The ability to pursue your dreams--to figure out your dreams?” One hand goes to your cheek, and his knuckle brushes against your skin. “You could travel. See so much more than your little town. Imagine it.” 
An image starts to build in your mind. Unbidden by you, but there, somehow, nonetheless. Of you riding behind him on a motorcycle, holding onto his waist as he takes you wherever you want to go--wherever he wants to go, together. Life would be wild and unpredictable, but easy and fun and--
“My family,” you murmur, and Chrollo seems surprised that you’ve spoken. 
His lips press thinner. “You could write to them, call them. No matter at all.”
Whatever fantasy has built in your head gets swept away and the Ferris wheel finally comes to a stop. The seat rocks back and forth and the bored (but $20 richer) carnie lets you off. Chrollo helps you as he’s done every time.
You wait until he’s escorted you away from the Ferris wheel to turn and address him. 
“Chrollo, I can’t--” You try to find the right words, but there are no right words. “I don’t know you. Not… really. Not enough to give up my life here.”
Chrollo is quiet. He considers you, turning his head a little. You feel awful--maybe you should just end the night here, on this shitty, sour note, because you’ve probably ruined the rest of the evening anyway.  You wish he hadn’t asked again before the night was over, but there’s no way to fix it now.
You’re ready to leave, to bite your cheek so tears don’t come. You’re prepared for Chrollo to say something low and insulting, to dismiss you, because why should he waste another minute on someone who would rather stay here in this shitpot of a town than--
“Come along,” is what he says, finally, holding out his hand--to your utter confusion. He still wants to go to the concert? With you? Now?
But you take his hand anyway. 
“It would be wasteful to end our evening early and miss the concert.” 
His grip is harder than it has been, but maybe you’re imagining it as he pulls you along, weaving in and out as the crowds grow larger and a little more drunk the closer the pair of you get to the beach.
This doesn’t feel right, suddenly. He’s upset, that’s why he’s holding you so tightly. Or maybe you’re upset and imagining it. Either way, it doesn’t feel good. Your primal gut instincts are telling you that it’s better to cut your losses and leave now, then to spend the night with a flipping stomach. 
“Maybe I should just go home,” you yell over the crowd. 
Chrollo stops, and you stumble forward a little, but he catches you in both arms before you make an ungraceful acquaintance with the ground. The hand not gripping your own gently grasps your chin and he leans in, not quite kissing you. His breath smells off, like rust. 
“And miss the grand finale?”
You should insist on going home. Everything’s gone shitty. It’s too crowded and the music will be too loud, and Chrollo is clearly irritated with you--
“Come to the concert,” he whispers, and none of that seems to matter anymore. Of course, you’ll go to the concert. What else would you do? 
He keeps his grip on your hand as you walk onto the warm, crowded sands of the beach, even though you have no intention of leaving. 
--
Booze, sweat, and popcorn. That’s all you can really smell now, surrounded as you are by crowds of people jumping and swaying to some rock band you’ve never heard of before; but no one really cares what the music sounds like on a night like this, when alcohol has been flowing and summer is at its peak.
Even Chrollo seems to be enjoying himself, although he’s not dancing. Just holding you, his arm around your waist, pressing his lips now and then to your forehead.
You feel bad. That must be why there’s a pit in your stomach. You were being rude to him. Of course he’d ask you to come with him--if he’s the type to live so freely, he wouldn’t think twice about making the offer. He just doesn’t understand what it means to be rooted down, willingly or not, the way you are.
You can’t hold something like that against him, so you don’t. 
Instead, you sway to the music, hips bumping against Chrollo now and then. Maybe after this, he could come back to your apartment again, for one last…
All thoughts in your head are stomped into the stand when you spot the strange man with the cowl in the crowd. He’s standing stock still while everyone around him jumps and dances and flaps their drunken arms. 
And he’s looking right at you.
“Chrollo--” There’s no time to waste, and you grab his arm and jerk him towards the direction of the stranger.
But he’s gone. He’s just fucking gone. Cold terror seizes your chest.
“What is it, love?” 
The nickname doesn’t even register.
“That--the man--the guy from before--he was there.” Your voice begins to tremble, frightened tears welling in your eyes. “Can we leave? Please?” 
Chrollo pulls you closer to him and you feel dim comfort as he wraps his arms around you and presses his lips against your head. But he doesn’t tell you that of course, we’ll leave, of course, I’ll get you somewhere safe, of course, let’s talk to the police. 
“Hush.” One hand begins to pet your hair. “Not much longer now. It’ll be over soon.” 
“What do you…”
Behind Chrollo, you see another familiar face. Vaguely familiar. The tall man with wild blonde hair, the one who looked like he could snap the Test Your Strength Game in half if he really wanted to--he’s standing still, like the man from before, while everyone jostles happily around him. He’s not looking at you, but that doesn’t make it any less unnerving. 
Your eyes dart over the crowd.
There are others, standing still. Others who seem out of place immediately, either because of their appearance or something awful you can’t describe. A woman with pink hair looking impassively as she scans the crowded beach, keeping her body perfectly still. A man with long black hair and something shiny and thin strapped to his shoulder. A woman with blonde hair in a smart black tailored suit that no one in their right mind would wear to a summer night carnival concert. Others, too, all out of place and making you want to be anywhere but here.
And then in a few blinks, they’re all gone. Like they were never there.
Dizziness overtakes you, along with a strange sort of fuzzy fear. Is this what a heart attack feels like, maybe? No, it’s just panic. Understandable but undeniably awful panic. 
“Chrollo,” you manage, voice shaky. “Something’s wrong. There’s people, they seem--it’s---I don’t know how to explain, we should--I think we ought to--”
Chrollo doesn’t say anything. Instead, he turns you around, keeping you in his arms as he makes you face the stage.
“You’ll miss the concert,” he whispers in your ear.
Helpless irritation courses through you. Who cares about the concert right now? You have half a mind to ask him why he’s not listening to you, but that impulse is gone the moment you see the tall man with blonde hair and impossibly large muscles leap onto the stage.
The guitars and drums come to a confusing, stuttered halt. The lead singer, clad in an oversized black t-shirt with a skull on it, looks like he wants to throw his guitar at the intruder.
“Dude, what the fuck, we’re playing up here, you can’t just--”
Even from your vantage point, you can see the large grin the blonde man sports on his face as he raises his fist and knocks the lead singer’s head off with a single punch. 
The body remains standing for a moment before collapsing without grace onto the stage. Blood spurts from the wound, spritzing high enough that it sprinkles the faces of those closest to the stage. 
There’s a noise from the crowd that almost, for a moment, sounds like a burst of startled laughter.
And then the blonde man leaps onto the corpse, opens his mouth until it’s gaping far too wide to be human, and begins to suck on the headless neck like a crawfish.
It’s that moment when people finally begin to scream.
Your head jerks towards one of the screams, and she’s there--the woman with the pink hair. Latched onto someone’s neck while blood dribbles from her mouth and the person, eyes bugged out, cries out in wordless pain. His body is cross-crossed with strange cuts, like someone pressed him through a sieve. 
You spin around, looking away from horror, only to see it again: the man with the long hair swings something out--a sword?--and strikes someone’s arm clean off his body, then pins that person down and begins to suck at the spurting blood. 
That’s not all he hit.  The person in front of them, a woman holding two drinks, staggers to the ground. Half her face slides off, revealing bone and brain. Lukewarm beer and gore meet the ground together.
You’re not entirely sure if you said Chrollo’s name, or when he let you go, or what you should do. All you know is that when you finally pull yourself together enough to look at him, he’s simply watching the events around you like a boring television show.
Like people aren’t screaming and running and bumping into you. Like blood isn’t flying. Like you aren’t seeing things that you’ve only seen in shitty horror movies. 
He’s in shock. Fuck. So are you, maybe? But it will be up to you to get the pair of you to safety, so you grab his arm and shake him hard.
“Chrollo! We have to go! Now!” 
He doesn’t move. You shake him again, and he finally looks at you. 
He smiles, and holds out his hand, ignoring your jostling.
“You’ve had time to think about it, haven’t you? Will you stay with me?” 
Oh, he’s definitely in shock. That doesn’t stop the impulsive words that flee your mouth as quickly as the people around you are trying--some not successfully--to flee the beach. 
“You’ve lost your fucking mind. Let’s go!” 
You don’t register what’s happened until you’ve hit the ground. Someone finally ran smack into you, and something--their elbow, maybe--strikes your head, hard. Pain blossoms in your knees and the side of your head when you hit the ground, then explodes when someone steps right on your hand.
There’s a feeling of lost gravity when someone yanks you up--Chrollo--but when you’re on your own two feet, he’s not there anymore.
You call his name. Once. Twice. Three times, four. He might not be able to even hear you over the din, if he’s nearby. Maybe he got swept away by the panicked people. Maybe his shock wore off and he ran to get help. Or ran--and left you.
There are a few moments where you almost run deeper into the crowd to look for him. A stupid thought. But then the wild, shock of fear inside you turns to complete ice and you’re not sure of anything in the world because he’s there. 
Standing in front of you.
Close enough to touch. 
Your stalker. The man with the cowl. Only the cowl is down, now, and his mouth is covered in a smear of blood. He smiles at you, and it’s not a nice smile at all. His smile grows wider, and you have to blink several times to realize what you’re seeing.
He’s got fangs.
Two of them, red tinged. Sharp enough to puncture your neck. 
They’re vampires. Actual vampires. Actual, damn bloodsucking vampires. 
There’s a brief, panicked thought--where’s Chrollo?--before your flight kicks in, and you’re scrambling through the crowd like everyone else. You stumble, of course you do. Over bodies, some dead, and you almost fall flat on your face when you make it off the beach and your ankle rolls on the uneven grass-covered ground.
If you were thinking logically, you might have run to the car park, and hopped into your car. You might have run in the direction of the crowds thinking the same, and gotten lost in them.
But there was no logic. Only pure primal panic, the realization that you people were being murdered all around you like animals, and you were one of those animals because one of the monsters was chasing you.
You didn’t dare to look back to see how far away he was; you just knew, deep down, that he was following you now. Running wouldn’t work: you couldn’t run forever, not with the pain in your ankle, and he’d catch up with you even if you weren’t panicked and in pain.
You had to hide.  But where? The carnival was all lit up at night, and the beautiful lights that had been fun to see just a day before now made you want to scream. He could see you, just about clear as day, no matter where you ran.
Unless you can find somewhere to hide inside.
It’s this thought that pushes you to dash inside the fun house, sneakers pounding on the silver ramp leading into the entrance painted over like a mouth devouring any children who enter.
The stillness inside startles you more than anything else. The lights are on. The music is playing, quiet, delightful. It’s hard to hear it over the dulled screams coming from outside, and from the awful, pounding rush inside your ears.
You follow the short hallway until it leads to something which you’d forgotten about; but it wasn’t your fault. Panic made you stupid, and you hadn’t actually been inside a fun house in years. 
The glass maze. All-see through panels that you’d smash into on an ordinary day, much less this one, where your mind is fried from panic and adrenaline keeps your body from coordinating properly. You smash against the panels a few times before you see it… something, behind you. 
No. Not something. Someone behind you. Or near you. Or far away. 
You can’t tell exactly where this person is, because of the fucking glass maze, but the fact remains:
He’s there--he’s here--he’s going to get you and kill you and it will hurt so bad.
You scream, at some point, and it’s dumb because the sound simply bounces off your current glass predicament and hurts your ears.
Maybe panic pushes you through, or maybe you’re just good at completing mazes when you’re in fear for your life; whatever the reason,  you make it out. You stumble through a hallway made of rollers that nearly send you sprawling, until you’re at the end of the hallway. 
A small red spiral staircase, barely usable for adults, is your only hope. 
You don’t try to be quiet now and the metal stairs clang under your feet as you run up them, feeling dizzy, feeling like this might be the last thing you ever do in your short, stupid life.
The second floor isn’t entirely enclosed. It opens out onto the carnival in the front, and there’s a slide to take you down near the end. The wall behind you is covered in a series of mirrors--the kind that make you tall or short or wide or impossibly thin.
It’s not the mirrors that catch your eye, though. It’s what’s down below. 
They’re all down there. The monsters from the beach. All covered in various amounts of blood and gore. Splatters. Smears. Like they’ve all gotten into different scrapes--killed people different ways. 
All of them have blood around their mouths. 
Fear rings in your ears. You want to wake up, more than anything. This is a nightmare and you want to wake up. 
You don’t wake up.
Instead, you hear a metal clang.
Then another.
And another.
Someone is coming up the stairs.
Thoughts dart here and there, but there’s nowhere for them to go. If you go down the slide, well. There’s a gang of monsters waiting to kill you down below. If you stay up here, well. There’s still a monster waiting to kill you.
The metal clangs again, and again, and again.
He’s coming up the stairs and he’s going to kill you. You’re going to die. Today. Now. 
Warm urine runs down your leg and thoughts come, too quick to really process: Mom-dad-school-work-never-did-anything-my-childhood-dog-that-one-time-we-went-to-Canada-to-visit-my-aunt-I-kissed-a-boy-under-the-bleachers-I-forgot-to-tell-dad-I-loved-him-yesterday-I-I-I--
It’s not the monster with the cowl who comes walking up the landing of the stairs. 
It’s Chrollo.
It’s like you blink and you’re in his arms, clinging to his shirt and sobbing like a child. He presses a kiss to your hair and you realize, gratefully, that he doesn’t look hurt. No blood on him, no scrapes, no bruises. 
“Thank God you’re here. Thank God you’re okay,” you say, reflexively. “Thank God, thank God, thank God.”
Chrollo pulls you tighter against his chest, and murmurs, “God? An interesting choice, my dear, considering…”
You aren’t even really listening. You’re just happy. Delirious, even. Chrollo’s here. He’ll help you. You can make it out together. Somehow. 
There’s an almost giddy sort of hope in your chest--until you hear the metal stairs clang again. And again. And again.
You whimper stupidly and pull on Chrollo’s arm. 
“We have to get out of here. Somehow. I don’t--maybe we can distract them?” Your eyes glance down at the monsters below you, who only seem to be watching more intently. The man with the blonde hair, which is now caked in blood, has an awful grin on his face. You imagine you can see his fangs, even if he’s too far away for you to properly make them out.
Chrollo doesn’t move. Shock again? Or he sees them, too, and knows the two of you won’t make it a step off the slide before being attacked.
The footsteps on the stairs stop. You look behind you, and your bowels clench at the sight of the monster with the cowl, pulled down, that same small, mean smile on his face.
Your hand tightens on Chrollo’s arm. A sentimental, if selfish, thought: At least I won’t die alone.
Chrollo turns, too, and looks at the man who’s been haunting you for days. Looks at the monster who has already killed people and feasted on their blood; at the creature who will now undoubtedly kill the both of you. Lovers for only a few days, but forever in death.
Chrollo sighs, and inclines his head towards the man. 
“Wait a moment, will you, Feitan?”
There were many things you might have said in this moment.  Eloquent things. Meaningful things. Things borne from inner betrayal and horror and anger. But all that comes out of your mouth, which gapes ridiculously, is: 
“Huh?”
And then something clicks, and realization dawns like a morning you don’t think you’ll live to see. The idea comes naturally, somehow. Borne of a childhood reading books and watching movies about vampires. Bloodsuckers. 
Your head turns, and you look over towards the wall of mirrors. You’re stretched thin like taffy about to break, your features a jumble in the dirty, cheap material. 
In the mirror in front of Chrollo, which should make him ridiculously short, there is nothing at all. 
When you look back at him, your eyes wide and pupils blown, he’s no longer the person you met a few days ago; the person you took to your bed, the person you were lamenting leaving. The person who kissed you and made you feel good, inside and out, if only for a while. 
He’s a vampire. 
“I advise you not to run,” he says quietly, if not, perhaps, a bit sympathetically. 
You do, because you aren’t a fucking moron. Though you don’t make it far, as it doesn’t do you any good to run towards the staircase. You run right towards the other monster--Feitan--who grabs you with ease.
He’s faster and stronger than he looks. Maybe they all are. Your body and brain don’t care about that, though, so you struggle with all of your might.
In response, your arm is deftly twisted behind your back and you expect this monster to stop, you expect your arm to meet its natural resistance while you struggle.
He doesn’t. It doesn’t. Your arm snaps and the pain is so sharp, so sudden, that your vision goes blind for a few seconds. In those few seconds, you scream.
When you’re aware of the world again, there’s still the pain. Sharp and awful and renewed every time you jostle your body in any direction.
Chrollo, walking up to you, hums in sympathy. 
“I know it hurts, dear. But this is what happens when you don’t listen to my orders. Do you understand?” 
The strangest thing (and in a world where the man you fucked last night is currently standing in front of you with fangs, that is saying something) is that Chrollo’s expression is not wild or monstrous at all. If you thought about it, and you’re having a hard time thinking with the pain of your arm and fear of impending death, you might say he looks hopeful. That you will understand. That you have learned something.
And you have. You’ve learned that he’s a liar, that everything he ever said and did was just to keep you around long enough to literally eat you, that he has no morals, no empathy, that he’s not even a person.
“I understand,” you manage, voice tinged and weak with pain, “that you’re a fucking monster.” You spit at him. Or try to. Your mouth is too dry to manage more than a stringy dribble that sticks to your chin. 
At this, Chrollo sighs. He shoves his hands in his pockets and frowns.
“You didn’t speak so crudely to me earlier this week.” A little smile. “Last night notwithstanding.” 
Bitter tears well up in your eyes. It was all just a game to him. Cat and mouse. Every smile, every thoughtful word. Every kiss. Your bodies pressed together, his mouth on yours--
“I didn’t know you were a… a… fucking vampire earlier this week.” 
Chuckles, from down below. Feitan, behind you, snorts. 
Chrollo doesn’t look angry, but you can feel a flash of it ripple through the air. It quiets the chuckles. Feitan tightens his grip on you, and the flash of pain makes you groan and slump forward.
“Regardless,” Chrollo says, “respect must be maintained. I expect you to refrain from these little outbursts. Do you understand?” There’s still a tinge of cooing sympathy in his voice--it makes anger bubble up in your chest. 
“Fuck you.” This time, the spit flies, and hits his cheek.
The gestures are slow. Unassuming. He wipes the spit off with the back of his hand. He wipes the back of his hand on his pants. And then he nods at Feitan.
Feitan’s hand reaches around your throat and when you glance down, you see that his nails grow. And sharpen. Sharp enough to cut, sharp enough to--
He drags his hand down your collarbone, and you feel the awful, deep sting of it before you see the blood spill out from your flesh. It coats the bare skin between your collar and the top of your shirt like some sort of morbid camisole. 
You cry out, you shriek, but he doesn’t let you go until Chrollo gives him another nod. You’re shoved towards Chrollo, who doesn’t grip you, but merely lets you stand, swaying, in front of you.
When you finally get the courage to look up at him, his pupils are blown up like a shark’s. 
“I’d like you to stay put this time,” he tells you, voice deeper, richer, at the sight of your blood. “And not run away from me. I’d like you to listen, and refrain from being… impulsive.” 
He leans in, and the scent of rust hits you, but this time you know what it means. “I could make you do it, you know. I don’t have to ask.”
Realization hits you again, and it hurts even more this time. That night, on the dock. And on the Ferris wheel. And how many other times he’d told you to do something, feel something. What was really you, and what was him? 
And now, despite all this, despite the scent of blood in the air and the wails of horror coming from the beach, he wanted you to listen to him? The audacity of vampires--it might have been funny, if you were in the mood to laugh.
“Like hell,” you mutter.
Chrollo breathes out through his nose. Impatient.
“I don’t believe I heard you, dear.”
You look up at him, gaze sharper. Heart sharper. 
“Like. Hell.” 
The slap you give him is weak. You’re surprised your good arm even managed it, all things considered. 
But the shock of the act that ripples from Chrollo to Feitan and even down below is what gives you a few microseconds to escape, to run, ears ringing from the pain of your jostled broken arm, and throw yourself down the slide.
You don’t have a plan. How could you? As soon as you get to the bottom, you’ll just run. Run and maybe die but maybe you’ll get away, someway, somehow.
You don’t get more than a few steps before you fall. Not fall, exactly. Trip. You trip over something that shouldn’t be there, something taught and thin. A wire? 
You see, from the corner of your vision, the woman with pink hair yank her hand backwards and the wire that shouldn’t be there slices deeply into both your ankles. Blood seeps through your socks before you even hit the ground. 
Your ankles burn and bleed, and new sparks explode behind your eyes when your broken arm smacks the ground at the worst possible ankle. You think you scream, but it’s hard to tell, over the pain.
Chrollo and Feitan jump down from the second story of the fun house. It should break their ankles--it does not. 
Someone turns you over on your back with their boot and you’re left staring up at the sky, ink black and throbbing with stars. It was such a pretty night, before all this. 
Above you, Chrollo and Feitan look down with decidedly different expressions. Chrollo regards you coolly, with no real expression on his face; it’s like a porcelain mask, indifferent, never-changing. Feitan, on the other hand, is smiling--he’s looking not at you, exactly, but at your blood.
It’s Chrollo who speaks.
“I would like an apology for your behavior.”
If your eyes were not safely attached to their retinas, they might bug out of your face entirely. You are laying on your back with bleeding, mangled ankles; your arm is broken, flopping, useless; a collar of blood adorns your neck. Vampires are standing above you, fangs at the ready, having already spread carnage through an entire beach of concert-goers.
And he wants an apology?
You want him to go away. To not be real.
You want your mom, and your dad, and your childhood bed with covers big enough to hide you.
So you shake your head, helpless, like an infant lying on their back.
Above you, Chrollo says your name. Sternly. Just once. 
When you muster up the words, you taste copper. You must have bitten your tongue after tripping. 
“F…fuck you.” 
Stupid words, you know. But you’d rather your last words be this than pointless begging. Now that would be stupid, begging for your life in front of grotesque creatures who want nothing more than to devour your blood. 
Somewhere above you, a gruff voice says, with a hint of glee in his voice:
“Want me to do it, boss?”
Your eyes dart around, but you can’t see anyone else. Even Feitan seems to have stepped back, leaving you with no one but Chrollo in your line of sight.
Chrollo tilts his head a little, considering.
“No,” he says, finally. “Feitan will handle it. I appreciate your methods, but you might break something a little beyond repair.”
Whoever spoke chuckles, but doesn’t disagree.
The words reach you, but you don’t take them in for a slow moment. 
Break… break… what else can they break, what else can they possibly do--
There’s a weight above you. A dark one that smells of blood and metal. It’s Feitan. He blocks out everything else, just for a moment, staring into your eyes with their big pupils and blurring tears.
When he pulls back, you see him move, but don’t know what it means until you feel an explosion of red hot pain in your hand--the hand you slapped Chrollo with. Your fingers crunch and break and you try to pull your hand away, but Feitan’s boot keeps it pinned down, grinding his heel until you shriek so loud that you think the inside of your throat will blister.
Time itself is hot and painful. You’re not sure how long it goes. You’re only sure that when you try to move your mangled fingers, they don’t move. Hot, thick pain shoots down them and it makes you stop trying to get up. 
It’s not like you could run, anyway.
At some point, you hear a new sound. Sirens in the distance. Police? Ambulances? There’s no hope in your chest, no thought that they’ll save you. Even if they got here in time, the monsters would kill them. 
Somewhere above you, Chrollo talks, though his words sound like they’re being spoken through water. 
“Take care of them, will you? We’ll meet up near the waterfall before we head out.” A question from someone. A pause. “Yes, I’ll handle her.” 
The voices fade away. Either because they’ve walked away, or you’re finally going to die from the shock. That might be a mercy compared to whatever grisly end Chrollo has in store for you. Is this how he planned for you to die, after all? Or was it meant to be swifter? You might have screwed it all up with your running and spitting.
Before Feitan broke your hand, you might have been proud of the spitting. Now you just wish you’d let them kill you quick. 
Finally, Chrollo returns to your line of vision. He’s a bit blurry from your tears, from your pain. Probably a bit from your blood loss, too.
He kneels down next to you, and you tense. Even tensing hurts, and you whimper. 
“Are you going to kill me now?”
Beside you, Chrollo coos. A soft, sticky sound. He takes your broken hand and your voice wants to shriek, but all you can manage is a strangled cry. He kisses your broken fingers like a gentleman.
“Kill you? Of course not.” He presses a last kiss to your mangled hand. “I do want to see that sweet girl from before.. the one who daydreams about strangers and holds onto my hand so tightly on the Ferris wheel.” An indulgent look crosses his face and he gives your broken fingers a painful squeeze that has you groaning.
“She’s still in there, no doubt.” His thumb brushes against your cheek, pushing away the dried salt of your tears. “Buried under fear and pain and newfound knowledge, no doubt.” He smiles nostalgically. “But those can be remedied with time.”
He’s crazy. I mean, you know he’s a vampire, sure. But he’s also fucking crazy.
“I want to go home,” you croak. Even though you can’t reason with crazy.  “Please. Please.”
His eyes blink down at you. How old is he, anyway? Centuries? Longer? To him, you must be nothing. Insignificant. Ridiculous. 
He doesn’t mock you, though. He only continues stroking your cheek with his thumb. “I’ll be your home now, wherever we go. And we will go so many places.” There’s some sort of dulled excitement in his expression that turns your stomach. “And from now on, you’ll do what I say, won’t you?”
Tears spill over your eyes, trickling down over his thumb. You don’t have the energy or the lack of survival instinct to say no. But you won’t say yes, either. You can’t. 
“Well. I can make you obedient, if you’d rather be stubborn.”
You’re about to ask--”What?”--when he kisses you, shutting you up entirely. 
You’re afraid to move. Your lips tremble against his, thinking only of death--of his fangs. His lips move and brush against your neck, and a mocking forgotten memory of last night flashes through you. He kissed your neck last night, too, a wet, sucking kiss that had your toes curling. Your toes curl now, too, out of fear. The blood from your ankle makes your toes slick inside your shoes. 
And then his fangs sink into your neck and hot, searing pain shoots through your entire body, masking everything else. Your ankles. Your broken hand.  Your brutalized arm. The cut on your collar. None of them matter compared to this pain, which is not localized at the sight of the bite but spreads throughout your bloodstream, making it impossible to think of anything but how much it hurts.
You’re dimly aware of your screaming. A helpless sound you heard from countless others tonight. Your legs kick, and you realize, vaguely, that you can’t really feel them anymore. They hurt, yes, but there’s a numbness behind it. Are you really moving them at all?
There are more screams now--from the beach. You don’t know how you know, but you do. It’s like you can see it in your mind although you’re flat on your back in front of the fun house with a monster draining you of blood. 
The world spins as you imagine how the first responders must be dying right now, while you’re dying. Are they wishing they never responded to the emergency calls? Are they thinking about their families, their friends, and their little dogs, too? 
Chrollo’s mouth is against yours again, and you taste yourself on him. Bitter metal, still warm. He’s blurry as he pulls back and bites against his wrist. What should be vivid red blood is dark and ugly--dead. He hovers his wrist above your mouth and the substance drips onto your lips. It’s cold, vile.
A final insult before you die, making you drink this nasty stuff. Vampires have a sick sense of humor.
But what did you know about vampires, anyway? 
You black out as Chrollo murmurs something above you.
At least, you think, this is finally over. 
--
You do not wake up in heaven or in darkness, either.
You wake up in a man made clearing, sitting against a tree, with a blanket draped over you. In front of you there is a fire, not roaring but alive enough in the night; a pot with spilled chili lay on the ground. Behind the fire is a camper van with its door wide open. 
The corpse of a man is propped against the door of the van, keeping it open. His mouth is slack and ah, he’s not dead yet, is he? There are two glaring puncture wounds on his neck, but he’s still around. His fingers twitch  and seem to register you with tired eyes, that drift from your face over to the far end of the camp.
You follow the look, and oh. There are two dead teens piled next to the fire. Already drained, already dead. His children, you think. 
The world seems to come into more focus then.
You are, as far as you can tell, alive. You’re propped up against a tree. It’s night time. The people--the monsters, the vampires--are here, in this campsite. Some of them glance at you once they realize you’re awake, but no one says anything.
Strangely enough, you’re not in much pain. Soreness, yes. But you should be in agony. Your hand feels okay--sore fingers, but no longer blinding pain, and you can bend them almost normally. Your arm, too, feels sore but mended. Your hands reach up to your collar, your neck, but there’s no trace of the wounds except a thin scar on your collar and two small bumps on your neck.
How did it heal so fast? Did they bring you here to hurt you again? Keep you like some sort of blood bag?
Your eyes travel down to the blanket draped around you. It’s heavy, comfortable, and stained with blood. 
You jerk like you’ve been electrocuted and throw the soiled blanket from your body.
Someone nearby laughs. “Picky princess, huh?” You vaguely recognize the voice--the tall man with wild hair. The one who knocked a man’s head off at the beach.
Just as renewed panic begins to awaken inside you, Chrollo appears from seemingly nowhere.
“You’re finally awake, I see.”
You shrink against the tree, and look around. Could you run into the woods? Were you still in the trail by the beach? How far could you run? 
Chrollo smiles, and sits down next to you like this isn’t horrifying or unusual at all. “Don’t be ridiculous, dear. There’s nowhere to go.”
Your throat is dry and your words stick to your mouth several times before you can speak.
“Where… are we?”
If you’re close enough to home, you might still get out of this. Somehow. Find a gas station or a rest stop and beg for help. 
“Far away from that little town, I assure you.” Chrollo jerks his head back and you finally see the row of motorcycles parked near the campsite. “We won’t stay here for long. We rarely do. Just long enough for you to get healed up, this time.”
Which means he plans to take you with him--with them. For how long? And where? And why? Why take you? Why not kill you, why not drain you dry in front of the fun house and leave your corpse for survivors to find? 
You could ask all of these things, but you’re not sure you want the answer. Instead, you give the only answer your mind can manage, which is to curl up against yourself and cry. 
“I want to go home.” You whisper, out of practicality more than anything. Your mouth is so damn dry. 
“None of that,” he says, a little sternly. His expression softens when you flinch, and he brushes the hair from your face. “Don’t waste your breath on such a silly sentiment. You’re not going anywhere I don’t want you to go.”
“You said you didn’t know me well enough to leave with me,” he continues, pressing a chaste kiss to your cheek, then a warmer one to your unwilling lips. “You said you hadn’t had time to figure out your dreams. Now, you can take all the time you need for both of those things. We’ll have eternity, after all.” 
Dull, cold horror pools in your gut.
Eternity.
“Did you… am I… did you make me--” 
Your hands shoot to your mouth, to your teeth, feeling for fangs. But there’s nothing new inside your mouth, unless you count the awful cotton dryness that blankets your tongue and teeth like film. 
He smiles indulgently, and you hear someone nearby snort. 
“No.” A pause. “Not yet, not quite.” He smiles at your ignorance and takes your hand away from your teeth, giving it a kiss that feels like mockery even if you get the sense that he isn’t trying to make fun. “That may come later, if you behave. For now, I’ve made you…” Another kiss, this time with a smile on his lips, as he seems to debate on what to say. “… let’s say, mine.”
You shiver. From fear, and from cold.
Chrollo presses another kiss to your lips, until he can shove his tongue in between your teeth and run it against your own. You taste yourself on him, still, that rusty taste. It makes you gag, and he pulls away.
“You must be cold. I don’t want you catching a chill so soon. Why don’t you go sit in front of the fire and warm up?” 
You shake your head, wanting to spit out the taste in your mouth, but not having the courage to do so.
He watches you for a moment. Calculating, cold. He makes you think of an animal, in this moment. An animal thinking on what to do when his prey does something odd in the wilderness. 
“Go sit in front of the fire,” he tells you. 
And without wanting to, without meaning to, you do. Your body jerks up and you walk over to the fire, with its spilled chili and corpses left in its wake, and sit down. 
It’s like before, at the carnival, but different now. There’s no warm suggestion, no soothing manipulation. Only an order that you obey, and that’s that. When you try to push yourself up,  you find that you simply can’t make your body do it.  You can flex your fingers, your toes. You can move your arms up and down. But you cannot, in any way, stop sitting in front of that fire.
“I’d prefer you to do things willingly,” Chrollo says from his spot near the tree. “But I don’t mind giving orders either, love.”
Love.
You’re not sure he knows the meaning of the word.
But neither do you.
Despite the fact that there are two dead kids and their dying father just feet away from you, you find the fire comforting. It’s warm. It’s bright. It’s everything that the monsters around you aren’t; and you aren’t one of them, not exactly (not yet, your brain screams, he said not yet) and maybe you can cling to that. Cling to your humanity, to get you through this. 
The fire crackles in front of you. At some point, Chrollo sits down, and offers you a bowl of chili that they must have set aside for you before knocking the pot down. 
It’s lukewarm, and a bit bland. The dying man wasn’t a great cook. But you eat it, slowly, carefully, while Chrollo watches with an almost serene expression on his face. Like watching you eat was the most endearing thing in the world. 
Above you, the night sky watches the scene with indifference. 
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mullermilkshake · 1 month ago
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He's watching
Part 1 <- -> Part 2
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Kento gets to know his neighbour a little better.
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Kento Nanami x Neighbour!reader Tags - spying, Stalking, Solo male masturbation ,Ejaculation, Implied murder, knives
<<< For more Nanami content, click this link to go back to the Masterlist! >>>
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“Oh my god, thank you so much, Nanami.” You rubbed the back of your neck like your embarrassment was subtle for Kento to miss. “I honestly thought I’d have to fight the thing to get it to work.”
He did not miss it. In fact, it was cute, possibly the most adorable thing he’d ever seen. “That’s alright. It’s all wired up to your television in the bedroom now, so you should get cable in there from the main router in the living room… It can be quite confusing, I wouldn’t worry about it.”
It wasn’t confusing at all to say the least. Though he wouldn’t ever make that known to anyone in your presence.
“Well, like I said, thanks again- oh, can I offer you another lemonade? Or something to eat? You must be starving. Shit, I’m not the best host yet, am I?”
You had only moved in a few months prior, Kento did his best to make you feel welcome enough should you need anything, he could be of assistance if the request wasn’t entirely unreasonable. This little cable box was the first time you ever came knocking at his door.
Being your next door neighbour, Kento took initiative to introduce himself when you first appeared from the little moving truck, cute moving outfit with your arms full of pointless items and no one to help you move them. Since then, he noticed you getting friendlier and more social with him.
Whether it be a quick brush of your hand on his arm whenever you laughed or the best box of cookies to start his week off right. The best lemon butter cookies he had ever tasted.
Come to think of it, I’ll have one when I get back. 
He still had a few left in that little box in his pantry, which was strange because he could never stop at just one. They were that addictive.
“You host just fine, but I really must be going. I have a meeting in-” He studied his watch. “Fifteen minutes.”
“Oh… Okay- god and here I am chatting your ear off, thanks again for sorting that out I swear I was losing my mind.” You rambled and chuckled at the same time, flapping your hand about before slipping it into your pant pocket.
“It’s alright, enjoy the cable. I’ll see myself out.”
As he turned, he noticed the silence momentarily before you came shooting up behind him. “Sorry! I completely forgot, I’m finally having a housewarming-slash- evening party on friday, I’d love it if you would come?”
“A housewarming?"
“Mhm.”
He stopped to think it over, did he have plans? No, his dinner with his parents wasn’t until next friday, he was house sitting for Shoko throughout next week and he knew he’d have to go grocery shopping because all she had in her cupboards was booze and ramen noodles.
For a doctor, she sure eats poorly. 
But the shopping trip wouldn’t happen until next thursday. So, logistically, he could make it. He knew most people in the street and it was a great way to socialise all in one day and make up for the time he’d spent cooped up through the day.
“I’d be delighted to come on Friday.”
You beamed and laced your fingers together. “That’s great! Seven o’clock, and it's just casual. I’m so excited that I’ll finally get to give that barbeque a go.”
“It sounds like fun, if there’s anything you need a hand with, just let me know- you have my number right?”
“Uh…” Why did you look so vacant? “No, I don’t think I do- hold on.”
Pulling your phone out, you gave it to him on the contact page. He took it promptly and typed the number he’d had since leaving college. He typed his name and hesitated saving it, he wrote Kento, but you always called him Nanami. Was that too forward? Too familiar? Would you even start calling him that or grow confused by the name that looked nothing like ‘Nanami’ ?
He left it as it was and handed it back to you. “There, if you need anything, just message me on that number. It’ll be quicker in case I’m not at home.”
“Kento, huh? It’s almost odd to say- I mean, I didn’t mean it like that- well I'm just so used to calling you Nanami that I- y'know… I’ll just stop talking.”
Kento fought hard not to chuckle at your cheeks reddening. “I don’t mind you calling me either, but Kento is my first name, you can call me that whenever you’re comfortable.”
“Thanks, Kento.” He could see the puzzled gaze like learning a new word for the first time, totally intent on using it correctly.
“You’re welcome. I’ll see you friday.”
“See ya!”
Kento let himself out and trudged on over to his own door just metres away from your own, stepping over the property line and climbing up the freshly varnished porch steps to unlock his door. He pulled at his tie and slipped it off as soon as the door closed behind him and sighed heavily into his fingers whilst he rubbed the ache away from his eyes.
Were you ever going to notice him in the way he hoped?
You were pretty. Undeniably beautiful and you didn’t even know it. You had the kindest personality he’d ever known and you were just next door, existing. Kento needed courage to ask you out, to push the boundaries of his neighbourly kindness and anticipate one hundred percent success and no failure. Otherwise it would make any interaction awkward enough for Kento to bury his head in sand for the remainder of his time on earth.
But in order to understand you, he needed to know your interests. So that way, you’d have to say yes to an interesting date and come back for more. Kento was confident in his way of reading people and knowing what they wanted, what sort of person they were.
Though to be safe for an extra countermeasure, he placed hidden cameras in your house for a good gauge of the things you liked.
Kento wandered through to the pantry to collect the remaining lemon butter cookies, climbed the stairs to his computer and fired it up, undoing the first few buttons of his shirt and logging into the security program.
Leaning back in his chair, he tucked into a cookie and located which camera you were on. He managed to sneak a few remote cameras for the time being, four in total in the hallway, living room, kitchen and your bedroom. He was tempted to place one in the bathroom, though there was no suitable place to keep the little black disk hidden.
He ordered more discreet cameras in the mail with better quality video and those came with sound. They would replace the ones he had on Friday during the dinner party. A perfect way to get back into your house.
And there you were, dancing off in the kitchen to music he couldn’t hear with your hair thrown up now that you had no visitors present unbeknownst to you that Kento was watching.
Kento was committing a crime doing this. To watch you whenever he wanted and he was certain that he could never leave his house seeing you sway the way you did. You thought he had a meeting, but in truth, he just wanted to see how you acted when no one was looking and touch himself every once in a while until he mustered up the courage to ask you out.
Because like your lemon butter cookies, you were that addictive.
He stroked himself over you doing daily tasks, washing a few loose dishes in the sink and sharpening a knife on the stone block. Simple yet effective. An instrument you would use at the barbeque and he got to watch the way your breasts bounced ever so slightly when you drew the knife back.
Taking a bite of the cookie, he placed it down and slipped his hand down his pants to meet his erection and give it a slight squeeze to make it twitch. His eyes never came off of that screen, watching you place the knife down and wander off towards the hallway.
Kento’s cock was hard enough already, the excitement that he could get caught proved the perfect catalyst for his arousal. He pulled it out and ran his hand down the length of it, breathing heavily as though he’d never been touched before.
He wanted you to touch him inappropriately, only it wouldn’t be inappropriate to him. Kento hoped in time that you would agree to a date and eventually invite him inside under the guise of ‘coffee’ and allow him to fuck you silly over the sofa and any hard surface in that house.
Who knew? His house too. He had many places perfect to fuck you against over and over again until you couldn’t speak. Were you nasty, filthy and sexually confident enough for Kento to do whatever he wanted to you? He had a whole list of things, a sexual bucket list.
Like fucking you down in the basement sprawled out across a lone sofa and let you scream as loud as you wanted whilst he choked you a little, because no one could hear you down there- fuck, why didn’t he put a camera down in the basement?
You walked down there with a laundry basket, closing the door behind you. Damn, why hadn’t he thought of that? It did not stop him from playing with himself, eagerly awaiting your reemergence from the closed door.
His tip oozed with excitement, the pre-ejaculate wanting to be sucked of fucked into you and just for you. His cock twitched as if to say ‘hurry up’, so achingly hard he was set to burst.
Kento never wanted to ejaculate all over himself for the first time when you weren’t on camera, but if he waited any longer, he was sure to miss out on an aching orgasm. As if like a magic prayer was answered, you emerged back into view and traipsed right over to the kitchen, picking up the knife to slip back into the block.
Just once, Kento looked down at his cock and imagined you sitting on it, hips gyrating in a sensual fashion until it was too much and made his fill you up until he begged you to stop.
Yes, he could see himself begging you, and that was something Kento never conceded to yet he was perfectly okay to do it with you.
When he looked back up, you were wandering back over to the basement and opened the door once again. In a fit of desperation, Kento jerked himself off recklessly and hoped you’d stop for just a second so that he could cover himself in semen like he’d cover your breasts if you showed them to him.
It was as though you had heard his thoughts and stopped right at the top of the stairs. Granted, you were half covered with the door and Kento would have to take what he was given, but it was enough.
“That’s it, wait right there for me… " Kento tugged at himself double time, his breathing so erratic. If he didn’t come now, it would be the end of the world, figuratively speaking.
"Good girl.” 
Right there. 
Yes. 
Kento got the familial tingle in the base of his cock and the pressure emptied all over his hand and exposed chest. His toes curled and calf muscles tighten to the point they threatened to cramp, the minute squeaks in his computer chair did not mask his erratic breaths.
“Fuck- fuck.” 
He looked away for just a second, and you were gone again. Back down in the basement for what seemed like ages, he managed to clean himself up and change his shirt before you came back out of the basement.
What were you doing down there?
Kento should not have asked himself that question. Even though he had placed the camera, there was a reason why it was illegal. He sat there in the office chair and stared dumbfounded at your body to which he'd just masturbated to, all covered in red when you came back. Your tank top, little tight pants and exposed cleavage. All covered in red splotches.
No one painted like that, not even someone for fun, they would certainly not have an eerie grin on them like that either. Kento clicked over to the kitchen camera and watched you strip off your clothes for the washer and run the knife under a stream of water in the kitchen sink.
Check mate.
Whether you knew he was watching or not, there was no way Kento could ever tell the authorities and hand over this footage. He’d face the law and you’d probably get away with it. Video footage alone could be spelled away as a misunderstanding. But placing cameras in someone else's house without their knowledge couldn’t be explained away so easily.
For the first time in his life, Kento was unsure of what to do. But one thing he was certain of, which turned his stomach, was that he had just masturbated to someone covered in what he believed to be blood. 
It begged one major question.
Whose blood did it belong to?
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DISCLAIMER - Crossposted from my AO3 - I do not own any of the characters or anything from the anime. This is a work of fan fiction and is absolutely not representative of the views or intentions of the original creator(s).
Also please don’t post any of my work without permission thank you!
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sgtbradfords · 2 months ago
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Introducing Chenford Week 2025, a special 10-day fandom event celebrating our favorite ship and characters! This year's much anticipated event will begin on Friday, July 11th and run through Sunday, July 20th.
By using the tag #chenfordweek25 the fandom would love to see it all! From fanfics and gifsets to fan videos and edits, there is always something for everyone to enjoy!
Underneath the read more line below, you will find 3 to 4 daily prompts ranging from soft to spicy and everything that could possibly lie in-between.
New to the event? Unsure about the rules? Or forgotten how it works? Don't sweat it because the rules are simple!
1.) Pick 1 or more of the daily prompts and create something out of it!
2.) Combining daily prompts is encouraged! But please do not jump around and combine prompts for multiple days. (ex: combining a prompt from Day 1 on Day 1 with a prompt from Day 9).
3.) Fic writer? Don't forget to add your work to the AO3 collection, Chenford Week 2025, which will open on the first day!
4.) Works created or generated with AI will not be supported. This includes, but is not limited to, fanfics and art.
5.) Don't forget to tag your creations with #chenfordweek25! A masterpost will be created after the event is over :)
Have questions? Don't hesitate to send me an ask!
And now, without further ado, Chenford Week 2025.
Friday July 11th - weather, fight/argument, the next step
Saturday July 12th - and a little bit of spice, confessions, fave season 7 moment
Sunday July 13th - road trip, fix it, undercover, 7-A-19 or 7-A-100
Monday July 14th -story from the headlines, 1 year in the future, fave season 7 line
Tuesday July 15th - chenford colors [blue/yellow], trope wheel, date night, season 5 or season 7
Wednesday July 16th - AU's, found family, celebrations/holidays, undercover or uniform
Thursday July 17th - lyrics/quotes/poems, away from Mid-Wilshire, hurt
Friday July 18th - call gone wrong, crossover, fave kiss, tim's house or lucy's apartment
Saturday July 19th - love languages, domesticity, the shop
Sunday July 20th - free choice, pillowtalk, fave season 7 parallel
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hillbillyoracle · 2 years ago
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I’m working on some beginner materials to put out...eventually. But I think my advice is pretty much summed up with: 
give thanks/offerings to your ancestors - even if you didn’t like the ones you knew, I promise you’d like someone back there; doesn’t have to be daily but regularly and water counts
give thanks/offerings to the land - I don’t care where you are or if you like where you are, you’re only there because the land allows it; doesn’t have to be daily but regularly and water counts
pick a divination tool and use it - ideally pick 2; it’s very fashionable to study things in witchblr but expertise rests on a solid foundation of use; tarot, geomancy, dice, bibliomancy, and scrying are all great
pick a guiding philosophy/source of wisdom - a lot of paganism consists of practices which do not in of themselves guide how you should move through the world or make decisions; can be a philosophy, motto, or other religion
these are to me is what I’d consider the bare minimum but here’s the bonus round:
on each planet’s day, give thanks/offer to that planet - moon on monday, mars on tuesday, mercury on wednesday, jupiter on thursday, venus on friday, saturn on saturday, sun on sunday - water counts but they do love frankincense
track the moon - a lot of people are big into phases, I prefer tracking what sign she’s in; each month she will conjunct with every planet in the sky so tracking her a good way to stay aware of those influences
learn a method of cleansing self + space - fav instructions here; physical cleansing should always be a part of it if at all possible; smoke (incense, bound herbs), sound (clapping, snapping, singing, ringing), and energetic scraping are all good options
learn a method of warding self + space - go beyond visualization; witches bottle, salting, symbols of protection above a door, creating or appeasing a guarding spirit are all good options
learn a basic method of petition or spellcasting - a simple way to start is asking the spirits you’ve already been working with like your ancestors and the land and giving them a little extra back
decide on a small tradition for holidays - as you add in holidays, pick one small tradition to try to replicate next year; eating apples at Mabon, leaving an extra plate out at Samhain, lighting a candle on the stove for Imbolc, etc
doing these sorts of things for a year will honestly get you a lot further than most in my experience. these are a solid foundation from which to build in basically whatever direction you want. earnest practice beats passive theorizing and consumption any day. 
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lucy-literates · 3 months ago
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Across the Paddock
A/N: Thank you to the 300 people who voted on the pole, there were a lot more votes than I thought :) It’ll be a fluffy little fic - thank you the person who commented for requesting fluff.
My inbox is always open if there’s something you’d love to see 💌
Synopsis: You and Lando lock eyes across the paddock, and he just knows that your the one ☝️ (based on the Melbourne GP cuz I’m going next year)
Albert park was loud with life, spectators eager for the media day, the garages finagling plans, drivers waiting to slide into their cars, constructor admin wandering the park, looking the lucky pair to give garage passes to. You and (best friend) have been waiting to go to the Melbourne GP since the year before, meticulously planning and saving, organising outfits and transport to make those four days easy as can be.
You and your best friend fly out the Monday before. The flight was smooth, hotel is swanky, and the clubs are full of sound and colour. Thursday rolls around, media day. You situate yourselves in the crowd closest to the main stage, the perfect view of all the drivers. The crowd laughs along as drivers make jokes and do challenges. Then come McLaren and Williams, Lando and Carlos acting like old friend reuniting. The flys past in a blur, as does Friday with FP1 and FP2.
Saturday is qualifying. The crowd is bigger and busier and the weekend progresses. The crowd cheers as Lando secures P1, the first race of the season and he’s already leading. The celebrations fly by as the wait for Sunday begins.
Race day arrives! You and your bestie make your way towards the grand stands, getting ready for the driver parade. The drivers all pile on top of the bus, waving as they go around the circuit. You managed to get right up again the fence, waiving and cheering as the bus goes past. Your eyes catch Lando’s.
His eyes go wide, while you feel a little bolt of electricity pass through your spine. Your eyes stay connected as long as possible, even as the bus follows the turn, he rotated his body to keep his even on you until they move onto the next part of the circuit.
There’s something about those bluish green piercing yours that you can’t get rid of, the bolt of electricity you felt when you connected. Something funny happened. “What was that?” Your best friend asked. “I have no idea” you answer in a haze, still processing when you just felt.
The cars were lined up, mechanics doing their last checks, ready to take the covers of the wheels. The drivers were taking a moment in the calm before the storm. Your best friend wanted to get closer to the starting line, you refused, wanting to stay where you had locked eyes with the British driver.
The clock struck 2, wheel covers removed, lights counting down to the formation lap. Its lights out and away they go, the cars took off. Your best friend kept your eyes on the screen after losing sight of the cars. The crowd gasped as Izack spun off the road.
After it was announced that the race would be delayed for 10 minutes, the cars returned to the starting line, the mechanics returned, and the tyre covers were put back on. The camera on the screen followed Hadjar as he left the track, catching up with Lewis Hamiltons dad. The announcement to resume the race was heard. Wheel covers removed, lights counting down, the formation lap started again.
52 laps later
Lando raced through the finish line first, Max came in 0.8s later, George in 7 seconds behind Max. You and your best friend cheered for Lando. You stayed throughout the trophy ceremony and wandered about afterwards.
It was decided that you and your friend were going clubbing after the race. You get out around 11pm, hitting up a couple bars before deciding to visit a club. You walk into some killer beats, only to find Lando Norris up in at the DJ's table, in front of the entire club.
You and your friend elbow your way up to the barricade at the from, hoping he will look out and spot you. Luck was on your side. Lando looked out, his piercing eyes meeting yours for the second time that day. He got the DJ to take over, jumping down to mingle in the crowd.
You and your friend made your way to the bar, in need of a drink. You felt a warm shoulder settle next to yours, you turned your head, being met with those bluish/green eyes. "Nice to finally meet you, love"
A/N: Should this have a part 2? Or, should I do a "Day in the life of Lando's girlfriend"? Vote below!
*Part 2
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igglemouse · 1 month ago
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Week 3 ~ Just A Smile ~ Thursday
Thursday is an off day for me so of course I wake up in a mood that is just a bit brighter. You have to make the most of these days, y'know? Your mind needs the rest. That's it, that's the Sasism for today, your mind needs the rest. Take advantage of it when you get it.
Your mind needs a good breakfast as well and today that will be yellow jasmine rice.
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As for the plan today? Not sure, actually, but Citra wants to hang out tomorrow and I'm down for that, as long as she's not trying to get me to smoke weed or something it should be fun, I hope!
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When it comes to my health I don't just rely on yoga as I also do a bit of jogging. You can never go wrong with it since one, it's free to do and two, you don't need any equipment for it, just your legs and a good sunny day!
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While it is important to do some cardio our bodies are not also meant to do it all day. Especially not with how hot it was out today and so the first thing I do upon getting home as slip right into a shower and turn the temperature to as cold as possible. Just needing to chill out a little, just a little!
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And then I'm not sure what else I'll do for today so naturally I clean a little, don't want these dust bunnies taking over the place after all. With little else to do the idea was that I'd vacuum a little, maybe wash the dishes, just knock out a few chores but with a knock on the door it looks like that will have to wait another day.
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And it was Cha! Hadn't seen him in a while! It sounds like work has been a bit overwhelming for him and that I had been on his mind, whatever that means, but it's clear that he was happy to see me again. I do like Cha, he's a man with a plan, and I think I've mentioned before that he runs a restaurant? I think it's a small place, actually, I've never seen it before so I suppose that should be on my list of things to do. It's nice of him to come and say hello all the same!
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Cha is right, there is a whole world out there and so many new experiences to be had and honestly, I've thought about it too.
It's hard to move from home though but I can't seriously consider it right now. I have one too many concerns here, too many things that need doing, loose ends that need tying. Like, my book for example. Starlight Exodus? All I need to do is settle on an ending and guess what? Done! I'm proud of it, happy enough at least. It's not perfect, nothing ever is, but again, I'm happy with the work. I might send it off tomorrow and see what the world thinks of it.
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I do get a call from my brother, Kapp, and its about the little love triangle he's in. I tell him or rather warn him that this is only as complicated as he makes it. I can't give him too much advice on romance because honestly, I'm no expert on it and I've certainly never been in a love triangle...
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Friday might be a little more exciting! Summer rolls on and I can only imagine what the first weekend of it might bring!
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Index ~ Next
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yearofthesnape · 1 month ago
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So Snape assigns an essay "to be handed in on Thursday" in OotP ch 12. Thus, Potions class likely happens on Thursdays. However, after Harry sees SWM (which most people think happens on a Wednesday), he doesn't have class with Snape until after the holidays, as ch 29 notes, and Hermione tells us the holidays begin on Friday. What happened to Thursday Potions? We might get around this by saying that the last Occlumency lesson takes place on Thursday night, but Snape attempts to reschedule it for the next day, which in that case would be the first day of the holidays.
I have thought of three possibilities:
Potions is actually on Fridays, and the "on Thursday" reference is Snape getting students to turn in their essays early via a box or something. (I think this is unlikely; why would he want to make more work for himself only to give them their essays back on Monday, just as he would if they just turned their essays in at class? Perhaps someone with British school experience can weigh in to say if this is actually common practice, though.)
Snape cancelled Thursday class after SWM to give himself time not to murder Harry. (Also unlikely, as Harry would definitely have noted getting an afternoon off Potions.)
My favorite option: Harry saw SWM on a Thursday, and Snape was offering to give up the first evening of the holidays to teach him Occlumency, knowing that Harry would still be at Hogwarts over the holidays. Snape has no sense of work-life balance, so I could totally see this happening. As for why Harry didn't protest, he was too relieved over not being examined at that time to remember the next day was the holidays.
What do you all think?
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mysecretlittlelibrary · 2 years ago
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So Much To Learn
Pairing: Spencer Reid x Reader
Word Count: 4.1k
Warnings: a lot, again; Sub!Spencer and kinda mean dom reader, oral (f receiving), age gap (reader is 21), hand job/teasing, honorifics & pet names, marking a lot, p in v sex, they both talking diiiiirty, minor praise, risky sex, multiple orgasms, edging, squirting- I think I got everything??
Genre: Smut kinda fluff and like minor minor angst if you squint
Summary: You don't react well when you realize someone else is giving your professor boyfriend entirely too much of their attention
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A/N: technically this is a continuation of So Much To Teach but order is arbitrary lol
Part 1< >Part 3
***
The weeks after Spencer's confession in his office are- fun to say the least. Meeting in secret, teasing him in class, it's all very exciting. With finals just around the corner now though, you're not sure what it means for the two of you. Will he be interested in establishing anything solid with you once you're out of his class? Will things continue as they are? Will he toss you aside only to replace you with another student from another class next semester? The last possibility bothers you more than you'd like to admit. You'll have to find a good time to bring it up to him soon. Between preparing for final exams or papers and Spencer's near insatiable appetite for time with you there's never a moment you want to risk ruining with what will no doubt be an awkward conversation.
There's a slight knock on the door at the back of the classroom that interrupts Spencer's lecture and your wandering mind. Everyone turns to see another professor walk into the room.
"Oh shoot. I'm so sorry Spence I- I thought your class would be over by now." Professor Greene says. She has the decency to look remorseful although you've noticed her sniffing around Spencer for a little while now so you roll your eyes to yourself.
"Oh don't worry about it Professor Greene we're just wrapping up, come on in." Spencer says kindly. "Alright guys reminder, your finals are online and are due at the end of finals week- that's Friday in two weeks' time. We're not meeting on Thursday but next Tuesday for our final meeting time together I'll be having a review session. It's not mandatory but I'll be here during our class time to answer any last minute study questions you may have. I hope to see you next week but if not good luck on all your finals, if you're graduating congratulations, enjoy your holidays, and have a good day!" Spencer dismisses the class. Usually, you'd linger to drop by his office after class but with Professor Greene about to commandeer his attention, you're not sure if you should. Still, you take your time packing up your things while listening in on their conversation.
"I really am so sorry I interrupted your lecture, Spence. I just wanted to ask about the staff meeting I missed the other day." Professor Greene says.
"Oh don't worry about it, Professor Greene but I can email you my notes from the meeting real quick." Spencer says walking over to his computer.
"I've told you a thousand times Spencer call me Ellie." She says patting his shoulder. Spencer mutters something you can barely hear as you exit the classroom. You don't catch the way his eyes trail after you for a moment before he focuses back on sending this email.
"Y/n!" Matt calls pretty much as soon as you make it out of the classroom.
"Oh, hey Lewis. What's up?"
"Was wondering if you were free to meet up sometime to do some studying for the final? Ya know that way we can help each other with things that are confusing and anything we can't figure out together- we can bring up next week during the review session."
"Ya know what that's a great idea Matt. Why don't we do Thursday- since we don't have class we can just hit the library during that time." You suggest.
"Perfect. I'll meet you at the library on Thursday then." Matt smiles, rushing ahead to catch up with some friends. You make your way to Spencer's office like you do after every class although usually you walk together. Today you sit on the bench that's a few feet from his office and wait for him while reading a book.
"Sweetheart. I was wondering where you ran off to." Spencer says when he reaches his office.
"Didn't want to interrupt. She likes you, you know."
"What?" He frowns over his shoulder at you as he unlocks his office door.
"Professor Greene. She was totally flirting with you when she came in during class." You stand up and follow him into his office.
"Was she?" He hums.
"You're telling me you didn't notice?" You scoff.
"Do you want me to notice other women flirting with me?"
"I don't care, Spencer, you're not my boyfriend-"
"Hey, that's not fair." He frowns. You know it's not, Spencer told you early on the only thing stopping him from labeling your relationship was because of how risky it is to date your professor, but you're apparently facing jealousy and it's making you mean.
"I was only saying she's being really obvious. Whether you're interested or not though, is your business. I have some studying to do so I can't stick around today but I didn't want to disappear without letting you know." You say dismissively.
"Y/n," Spencer says softly.
"I'll see you next week." You tell him, turning on your heel. You need to get your feelings under control and quickly.
"I'm not interested in her. You have to know you're the only one on my mind." Spencer says before you make it out the door. You're not even sure what to say back, so you leave without a word.
You've never considered yourself a jealous or insecure person but for some reason, Professor Greene really gets under your skin when it comes to Spencer. Maybe it's because you know it would be easier for him to date her, she's close to his age and there's no taboo surrounding that pairing. That doesn't make feeling this way any less annoying. I mean- you've been ignoring her attempts at making advances at him for the past couple of months but you think the stress of exams and final papers is exacerbating a feeling you normally wouldn't even notice. Honestly, you have entirely too much else going on to be wasting time focused on staking your claim over a man that's only yours in locked offices, empty halls, and dark rooms. You don't fight over men, if Professor Greene can 'take him from you' she can absolutely have him.
By Thursday when you meet up with Matt, you've managed to knock those ugly thoughts of Spencer and Professor Greene to the back of your head, drowning yourself in studying and paper writing. You have no problems in Spencer's class, even before you were fucking him you had an A average so his final is the least of your worries but you know a review can't hurt. You spend way longer than the length of a class studying with Matt, he's a good student which appears to come with great effort on his part. He goes over things in such depth you're actually a little impressed and for a moment there you wonder what it would be like to pick the easy lover. Matt's kind, and attractive, and it would be much less complicated, no sneaking around- well maybe a bit but it would be for fun, not out of necessity. He'd walk you to class holding your hand, and kiss you on the quad, you'd probably adopt his whole friend group, they're athletes whose girlfriends always seem to be adored by all of them. It would be nice, it would be sweet. If things with Spencer do end at the end of the term you'll seriously consider falling for Matt. The version of reality where you end up with him sounds good. If only you'd realized it before Spencer caught your eye so severely. Would things be different? Would you be holding Matt's hand across the table right now? Sitting next to each other in class? Having him over to study late into the night until you'd have him just stay over because you don't want him to leave so late? It seems silly to spend so much time dwelling on a world that you gave up months ago. You blame it on the stress of the end of a semester.
When Tuesday rolls around you go to the review session knowing you don't actually have any questions but maybe someone will ask one you didn't think of that will come in handy. There are not that many people here for the review, some kids from other sections for sure, but still only maybe 20 of you in total. Spencer tries a number of times to catch your attention while he answers questions to gauge how you're feeling but you don't give anything away on your face. That is until Professor Greene walks in about halfway through the review session.
"Hi Spence! Sorry to interrupt, I know you're reviewing for finals and stuff but I ordered a sandwich for lunch and they gave me 2? I just thought I'd offer you one." She smiles as she scurries to the front of the room. Spencer catches the wry smile that just barely cracks your poker face for a moment and he's almost nervous to address Professor Greene.
"Oh- I appreciate it Professor Greene but I brought lunch, I always do. Perhaps Mike would like it if he's on campus? I know he usually buys food at the student center for lunch." He offers. Graceful rejection. Hopefully enough to keep you happy and put off his coworker at the same time. You make a point to not react outwardly but you do notice his choice to call her Professor Greene while calling another professor in the building Mike despite her giggling request last week to call her by her first name.
"Mike?" She blinks at him.
"Yeah he's- probably doing some grading in his office upstairs." Spencer smiles. "Anyone have any other questions for me?" He turns his attention back to the small group of students who mostly seem ready to leave after watching the exchange.
"The exam is a combination of multiple choice and short answer right?" A woman asks.
"Correct, just like your exams in class." He nods. "It- seems like we've covered all your questions guys so, I think it's okay for us to wrap this up a bit early yes?" Spencer asks. Professor Greene is still in the room but Spencer avoids her gaze diligently as the class murmurs affirmatives.
"Spence before you head off can I speak to you for a moment?" Professor Greene asks quietly while the rest of the room is busy packing up their things.
"Of course." He answers reluctantly. "Miss y/n, don't go far I have an assignment of yours I'd like to discuss in my office." Spencer tells you before you can even stand up.
"Sure prof." You drawl resisting the urge to roll your eyes.
"Look Spencer the sandwich was- a decoy. I mean they did give me an extra that I wanted to offer you but it was really an excuse to ask you something else." Professor Greene's tone is hushed as you and a few others are still milling about the room.
"Oh- well what is it?" Spencer asks though his gaze shifts to you every so often. You who sits so seemingly unbothered waiting for him, chewing gum, tapping away on your phone, not even looking their way although your ears are definitely paying attention.
"I'm having a little faculty get-together and I wanted to invite you personally."
"What, like going out for drinks?"
"Yeah exactly! Will you be there?"
"Uh- email me the details and I'll let you know."
"Awesome! I really hope to see you there Spence." She places her hand on his arm and he quickly walks over to his satchel to escape the touch.
"I'll- see what I can do." He mutters. "Is that all? I don't want to keep y/n waiting all afternoon."
"Y/n?" She frowns.
"My student? The only person in the room. Who I asked to wait up when I dismissed everyone?" Spencer frowns at her.
"Right! I guess I forgot. One track mind sometimes." She waves off with a giggle. How unnecessarily dismissive.
"Y/n. My office. Ready to go?" He turns his attention to you without even addressing her comment.
"Whenever you're done." You shrug.
"That would be now."
"Alright. Let's go." You stand up and exit the class before him.
"I'll see you at the gathering Spencer." Professor Greene says as he follows you out. You don't say anything as you walk down the halls with Spencer trailing behind. He thinks he handled that well but he can't tell. It's like you're being hard to read on purpose. He unlocks his office door and lets you inside before him, shutting it behind him.
"Look I-"
"I think you should go." You tell him first.
"What?"
"To her little get together. I think you should go." You shrug.
"You do?" He frowns which deepens when you nod. "Why?" He asks.
"It's good for you to socialize with your coworkers." You offer noncommittally.
"You're in a better mood about her today than you were last week." He says carefully.
"Is the door locked?" You ask him.
"What?"
"To your office. Did you lock the door?"
"Oh- yes. I always lock-"
"Yes is sufficient." You say sitting in his office chair.
"Sweetheart, talk to me, what's-" He stops when you hold up one of your hands.
"Spencer, drop to your knees." You say.
"What?" He blinks at you.
"It's a very simple instruction, I would expect a man with as many degrees as you hold would be able to understand a 4-word command."
"I understood it fine I just-"
"Then why are you still standing? If you understood it Spencer do it. I want you on your knees. Now." You cross your arms. Spencer slowly, unsurely, lowers himself to his knees, still by the door to his office. "That's better. Come over to me. And just so we're clear you'll have to crawl." Spencer bends and shuffles over to you on his hands and knees, gaze pointed at the carpet in his office. You've discussed the possibility of him giving up control a number of times but this is not how he expected today to go. When he's by your side you lift his chin up to force his eyes to yours. "Finals week starts in two days Spence, I've got three papers and two exams to think about. I don't have time to worry about if you're going to behave or not." You tell him.
"I-"
"Choose your next words very carefully baby they might just ruin your day." You warn him.
"I would never misbehave darling. My loyalties are to you." He says softly.
"Are you willing to prove that?" You ask.
"However you ask me to." He says immediately.
"I like that answer." You hum. You tug your dress over your head and drop it on his desk. "You can start by removing my panties with your teeth." You tell him. "Just your teeth. I want your hands behind your back." You add. Spencer shuffles forward and tugs at your underwear with his teeth. You move only when absolutely necessary to help but he gets them off after a few moments and holds them between his lips, looking at you for further instructions. "Good boy professor." You pull them from his mouth and drop them on the desk beside your dress. "You'll need your mouth free for this next bit." You say threading your fingers into his hair. "Your loyalties are with me you said?"
"Of course princess." Spencer's reply is breathy.
"Hm- no, not princess. Today you can call me mistress or your queen. I'll let you choose but only between those two. Anything else will get you in trouble and- today is not the day to get in trouble."
"O-okay, My Queen."
"Good. And as for proving your loyalties, you can begin with your head between my thighs, let's see how loyal you are." You spread your legs and tug at his hair still in your hand hard enough to shove his face directly into your center. Spencer is quick to react, his tongue laps up your juices as eagerly as you'd expect. He will regularly spend ages between your legs when he can just because he enjoys tasting you so much. Your back arches as he thrusts his tongue into your pussy feverishly. "Yeah, oh fuck, keep going. Show me- show me your devotion." You moan out as you grind against his mouth. Spencer groans into you as you pull at his hair. His tongue curls inside you just barely brushing against that spongy patch and you have to bite your lip to keep from squealing when he does. Spencer's nose nudges at your clit as he focuses his tongue on your inner walls until your legs stiffen around his ears. When that happens he drags his tongue up to your clit and focuses his attention there, wrapping his lips around the bundle of nerves and sucking on it while his tongue lashes it with figure 8s. You almost scream when your orgasm crashes into you, fingers tightening in his hair and your back coming off the chair as you ride the waves of your release. "Don't- don't stop Spence. Fuck- keep sucking my clit." You pant out. Your eyes squeeze shut at the almost painful stimulation, but you want a second orgasm from him before you let him up for air and you plan to get it. You swallow your whines from those first few moments of post-orgasmic overstimulation and force Spencer further into your heat, practically smooshing his face against you. Your moan when overstimulation gives way to pure pleasure again is enough to have Spencer clenching his fists as more blood rushes to his already painfully hard dick. It fills him with a new level of determination as he sharpens the movements of his tongue against you. Your second orgasm builds quickly, and within a few minutes, you're shaking again, this orgasm covering Spencer's face and even squirting onto his shirt. You pull his hair harshly enough to move him away from you as you take a few deep breaths. Spencer sits panting, covered in your juices, pupils blown so wide there's no trace of his hazel-colored irises. "Look at what a mess you are." You hum. "You look pretty like this."
"Thank you- mistress." His voice is hoarse.
"Strip and sit on the couch. You can walk this time." You tell him. He stands, though a little unsteadily, and walks over to the loveseat, taking off his shirt and then his pants before sitting down with his gaze trained on you. You take your time standing from his chair and walking over to him, detouring to grab your jacket that you'd tossed over your backpack upon entry. You won't put the dress back on for now, having totally soaked your lover you have no interest in walking out of here in a damp dress, but your leather jacket will be fine. Spencer watches you with rapt attention as you finally approach him, his dick is an angry looking red flopped against his stomach and his whole body is tense. You drag a finger across his thigh and then up the length of his dick, slowly, reveling in the way he jolts at the contact.
"P-please." He gasps out.
"Please what Spencer?" You tilt your head at him.
"I- I need you to do something my queen I can't- it hurts."
"Do something? I'm already touching you. You need more?"
"Yes mistress, please." Spencer's head is tossed back against the couch as you trace the veins along his dick lazily.
"You're a greedy thing." You hum.
"Please mistress- please my queen I need- god please sit on my dick. Need it so bad- need you. I can't- can't help it." Spencer grips the cushions beneath him tightly, desperately trying not to squirm under your touch.
"Only because you beg very cutely." You tell him swinging your leg over to straddle him. You grip the base of his dick in your hand and lower yourself onto him with a satisfied hum while he lets out a guttural sound that makes your walls clench around him.
"Oh god thank you, my queen. thank you, thank you. You feel so good." Spencer pants out. You brace yourself using his shoulders and set your rhythm, bouncing on his dick quickly.
"Spencer, you're not allowed to cum until I say so." You tell him, grabbing his face to make sure he's listening.
"O-okay mistress. Of course mistress." He nods frantically.
"Fuck Spence this is what you're good for, this is where you belong. Filling me with your pretty little cock, covered in my squirt, you're mine aren't you baby?" You huff as you ride him furiously.
"Yes my queen yes. I'm yours. Just yours. Only you get to use me, touch me, take me. Only you make me feel so good." Spencer groans. You feel his body tense up under you and slow your pace almost to a stop.
"Not yet Spence." You mutter sweetly kissing his neck. You stay there for a few moments, grinding against him as you take some time to litter his throat with hickeys of various sizes some of which are quite dark as well. Dark enough that you're sure he'll have them through finals week. When you're satisfied with the marks covering him you pick up your pace again and his small whimpers from your lips against his skin turn to full-blown moans again. "This time Spencer you can cum, but you ask first." You tell him. He nods at your instruction and while you should scold him for not using his words you'll let it slide considering how close you know he is. He barely manages a few minutes before he's stuttering out his request.
"C-can I mistress please can I cum?" He pants out frantically.
"Good boy. Yes you can." You chuckle airily at the relief on his face when you give him permission. You keep pace until heat spills into you at which point your hips slam down harder against him even when he begins hissing from overstimulation.
"M-my queen I- too sensitive w-wait."
"I said you could cum baby but I didn't say I'd be done with you. Today you're my toy and I'll use you as long as I want. So be good and let me play." You say, letting yourself relish in the feeling of filling yourself over and over, even as his release leaks out of you and makes his thighs sticky. You moan in surprise when Spencer's dick hardens again inside you. "Oh- fuck. Well aren't you just the perfect plaything- eager to keep your queen happy."
"I- I- yes mistress." He whines. You ride him for a while longer, taking all he has to give and then some. He fills you two more times before you're satisfied and you make sure you have a couple more releases of your own by the time you're climbing off of his completely spent dick. You walk carefully over to his desk and grab his pack of wet wipes before walking back over to him, cleaning up the utter mess around his thighs. If he didn't look so exhausted you'd have him clean the mess on your thighs with his tongue, but right now you think if you asked Spencer to do anything else he'd simply collapse, so you take a few wipes to clean up yourself once you're done with him.
"You were very good today Spencer. I'd say you more than proved your devotion." You tell him with a gentle kiss.
"You're mean when you're jealous." He chuckles breathlessly.
"So are you professor." You tap his nose and stand to dress yourself. You pick his clothes up from the floor and lay them on the arm of the chair for whenever he gets the energy to stand and dress himself. You find his lunch and set it out for him on the table as well while you're at it.
"Are you leaving?" He asks, barely able to focus.
"Well- I do have some studying to do. Will you be okay? Do you want me to stay?" You ask. You won't leave him if he's going to drop but you've set up food, cleaned him up, and made sure he knows he did well.
"I- I don't want Professor Greene you know." He mumbles.
"I know, that's why I think you should go to her gathering. With all those pretty marks on your neck, she'll surely get the hint." You say. You bend over and gently brush some hair from his eyes. "You make me feel so territorial." You mutter.
"I'm sorry." He pouts.
"It's not your fault, it's unavoidable but- I don't like hiding you." You say.
"I don't like hiding you either." Spencer takes your hand in his. You pause for a moment and sigh.
"Do you want me to stay with you, Spence?" You ask brushing your thumb against the back of his hand.
"Can you spare the time?" He asks.
"Sure. But at some point, we should talk about what the end of the semester means for us." You say. Spencer sits up and you sit on the couch letting him rest his head in your lap.
"When you finish all your finals I have a question for you." He slurs a bit through his declaration.
"Why not just ask me now?"
"I want your head clear." You can barely make it out, he's obviously falling asleep, your fingers against his scalp lulling him too quickly. You're still high off adrenaline now, not quite ready to sleep but you know you'll feel the effects of this later. Good thing tomorrow is study day and you can get away with not leaving your apartment.
***
A/N: I was gonna post this on Friday but I’m posting it early as a thank you for all the love on part 1 already 🖤
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watermelonlovershigh · 11 months ago
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Not So Patient After All {part. 13} (housemate!harry series) (SMUT)
"You've been a real, bad, boy." {part. 12} (housemate!harry series) (SMUT)
AN: i know, i know. full subrry will appear in the next chapter, i promise. after chapter 12 i thought this part would have him in it but then i came up with this idea and instead of making it too long, decided to make it 2 separate chapters. i hope you still enjoy!!!
This story contains: female masturbation w/ toy, sending nudes, sex, mild dirty talk, ass slapping, use of butt plugs, more sex
{ housemate!harry - boyfriendrry - soft!harry - teacher!harry - subrry }
word count- 2,628
You get impatient after your sex toys arrive and one day while Harry's at work, decide to use one and send him a naughty photo in the process. This leads him to pretend he's mad at you and two rounds of sex, one of which only happens because he gets hard again after you request that he wears one of his new butt plugs.
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"Harry, Harry, Harry!" you call out your boyfriends name repeatedly as you move through the house carrying multiple packages. The toys you purchased a week ago have finally been delivered, and you are beaming with excitement. Bursting into your bedroom, you find Harry still asleep under your covers. Unable to contain your joy, you leap onto the bed, causing the boxes to tumble across the mattress, and playfully pounce on his sleeping body.
Harry's quick to pull the blankets over his head and groans in a raspy voice. "Mhm, what? What'd you want? M' sleepin'."
Rolling off his body, you explain, "Our toys came, Harry."
He reluctantly pulls the covers off his head and does a morning stretch, before fully waking up and becoming alert. Harry opens his eyes and glances around the bed, noticing you sitting beside him, with several small boxes scattered at the foot of the bed. "That's nice, but could you come give me a cuddle, please?"
You rush down and slip under the blankets on your bed, snuggling against Harry's warm body. Quietly, you ask, "Aren't you looking forward to our new toys?" Now you feel a little self-conscious about how happy you were when you discovered your deliveries had arrived.
"Baby, m'very happy. S'just, it's a Wednesday. I have work today. We can't use them until we have more time."
"Oh," you say disappointedly, not having thought of that.
Harry senses your disappointment and suggests a plan. He offers, "Tell you what, when Friday rolls around, I'll let you try out some of the toys on me. I know I'm due for my punishment, baby. You can wreck me and then Saturday I'll have time to stay home and recover since I don't work weekends"
Agreeing, you nod. "Okay, sounds like a plan. Sorry I got so excited. Just can't wait to use my new strap-on on you."
"No apologizing, m'love. It's okay you got excited. M' excited too, but we have to be patient."
After cuddling for a few more minutes, you sit up and proceed to open each box to simply glance inside and see what each item looks like. The excitement of seeing your new toys increases your happiness, but you must keep in mind that you need to be patient, or as patient as possible.
Then realizing the time, Harry scrambles out of bed to get ready for work before he's late.
-------------------------------
Your patience persisted from Wednesday all the way through Thursday morning. Yet, as noon approached on Thursday, you were suddenly consumed by a powerful feeling of horniness. With Harry still at work and unable to offer any assistance, you tried hard to ignore the throbbing sensation between your legs. However, you became so wet that you had no choice but to change your panties, as they had become drenched from your heightened state of arousal.
When your second pair of panties get damp, you'd had enough and get up to go try your new rose vibrator. You feel guilty since Harry isn't here but technically there was never a rule that you couldn't masturbate when he wasn't home. Even if there was, you'd still secretly do it if you needed to bad enough.
After laying a towel on the bed, you undress and settle into a comfortable position. Taking hold of your new rose vibrator, you direct it towards your clit. While the rose was new to you, you were no stranger to suction toys. The moment you switch on the rose toy and place it in the right spot, you nearly jump off the bed due to your sensitivity.
Unlike the rest of your suction vibrators, this one provides a sensation similar to when a human sucks on the clit. While laying on the bed, you hold the rose vibrator against your clitoris, feeling your breath quicken and your wetness increase. In less than two minutes, you're already on the verge of orgasm. But before reaching that peak, you decide to turn off the toy for a second and engage in a bit of teasing with Harry.
You grab your phone and open the camera. In one hand you place your rose back on your clit and your other hand holds your phone. You snap a few photos and quickly send the best looking one to Harry before laying your phone down and getting back to business. Right as you're about to actually come, your phone dings beside you.
Opening your messages, you read Harry's reply and smile evilly.
Harry- Y/n, I'm working!!! You can't be sending me photos like that when I'm at work. Do you know how weird it'd be if I got hard in front of 10 and 11 year olds??? They'd be trying to send me to JAIL!!!
You- oops 🤪
After sending off your response, you complete your task at hand. With all the edging you've done in the past hour, you quickly climax upon switching the vibrator back on. A wave of relief washes over you as the pent-up sexual energy is released. Now feeling tired, you quickly clean yourself up and crawl under your blankets naked, drifting off for a short nap.
-------------------------------
Harry comes home to a quiet house. He knows you're home because your car is out front. So he does some searching and finds you asleep in your bed. At first glance you look normal, but shortly after making his way over to you, he realises you're naked under your duvet. Probably from not having the energy to get dressed after masturbating earlier.
He wants to be mad that you touched yourself without him being here, but can't. The one thing he's never cared about is his partners pleasuring themselves while he's gone. As long as they think about him while doing it, he's all for self pleasure. But, to be cheeky and mess with you a bit, he'll pretend like he's mad at your actions.
You feel a tap on your shoulder and slowly open your eyes, seeing Harry standing over you. You do a big stretch, your breasts popping out of the covers, and relax back into the mattress. Making grabby hands, you whine, "Come cuddle with meeee."
He shakes his head in disagreeance. "Nope, you decided to touch yourself while I was at work, meanin' you obviously don't need me, so.... m' gonna go shower, along. You've been a very bad girl, Y/n."
You observe Harry leaving your room without looking back, and suddenly feel a wave of sadness. His intentions are unclear to you. So in order to avoid possibly upsetting him further, you opt to remain in bed for a few more minutes until your stomach rumbles, prompting you to rise and head to the kitchen where you'll begin preparing dinner. However, you make sure to put some clothes on first.
As Harry was taking a shower, he had a feeling that you might come and try to join him. He was actually hoping that you would defy his request and still shower with him. But, when you didn't show up, he realizes that you must have taken his words seriously.
After he's finished showering, he follows the aroma of food being prepared in the kitchen and discovers you chopping vegetables on the kitchen island. You gaze up at Harry with a deep frown as he enters the kitchen and whisper, "Are you genuinely bothered that I touched myself? You've never mentioned having that rule. Just so you know though, I was thinking of you while doing it. And I didn't watch any porn."
Harry walks over to you from behind and wraps his arms around you, letting you catch a whiff of his fruity shampoo and vanilla body wash. "Baby, I was just kiddin'. M' not really mad that you masturbated. I don't care if you touched yourself, we all do it from time to time. As long as I know you were thinkin' of me and I wasn't around, m' fine with it. Now, if I was around and you purposefully didn't ask me to help, I'd be a little hurt, but...".
Breathing a sigh of relief, you reply, "Oh, thank God. Because even if you had that rule, I'd still touch myself if you weren't home and I was horny enough."
"Hey," Harry shouts playfully, unwrapping his arms from around you, "now I might make it a rule, just because you said that."
"Whatever."
-------------------------------
Later that night after everything else is done, you both end up in Harry's bed having sex. It's neither aggressive nor extremely gentle, just your standard, basic sex. Nonetheless, it is satisfying. It starts out with you on top, riding Harry, but then you express fatigue and he carefully lays you down and takes charge.
"Poor baby, too tired to ride m'cock." he mocks while thrusting into you at a constant speed.
You playfully slap his ass and Harry nearly topples over you, moaning super loud. You didn't realise a barely hard slap would have such effects on him. "Oh you liked that, didn't you, hm?"
He nods his head where it rests against your collarbone and answers, "Yes, do it again, please." You rear back your hand and slap his ass cheek harder this time, loving to watch his white flesh jiggle and turn red. "Oh fuck, m' gonna come." Before he allows himself to come though, he slips his hand between your bodies and starts aggressively rubbing your clit against his fingers.
"Ahh, Harry!!!" you cry out, your back arching as you come all over his cock and fingers. He continues his stimulation until you literally start crying from overstimulation. Harry removes his fingers from your sensitive clit but continues thrusting as he finally allows himself to let go and orgasm. His thrusts become weak and uncoordinated as he ejaculates deep inside you.
Once his orgasm diminishes, Harry's heavy body plops down on top of you, almost knocking the wind from your lungs. You both lay there in post-orgasm bliss until you have an idea. When buying your toys on Amazon a few days ago, Harry mentioned how he can sleep with the black silicone butt plug due to its flexibility. And tomorrow you will be fucking his ass. So what if he sleeps with it tonight to make sure he's nice and stretched for you tomorrow. You'd hate to hurt him in anyway.
"Harry?" you say, breaking the rooms silence.
Still breathing rather heavy with his head resting on your chest, he answers, "Yeah, baby?"
"Do you think you could sleep with that silicone butt plug in tonight? You know, because of what's gonna happen tomorrow, I want you to be well stretched so I don't hurt you. And..... I've never seen anyone wear one so I'm kinda curious as to what they look like inside someone."
Your question causes Harry to sit upright. Despite his belief that he doesn't need any actual stretching beforehand, it has been quite some time since he last had anything up his ass, and he would prefer to take precautions. Additionally, the fact that you've never observed someone using and wearing a butt plug serves as extra motivation for him to demonstrate the process.
"Of course, but um, let me just, you know, go to the bathroom and ensure that m' finished using it for the night and that m' completely clean down there. Then I'll come back and you can either assist with the insertion or observe me doin' it."
You nod eagerly as Harry gets up from the bed naked and goes to the bathroom. He remembers a previous incident involving a butt plug and a need to use the toilet, so he makes sure he doesn't have to go to the bathroom in order to prevent a recurrence. After checking his hygiene, he goes back to the bedroom where you have the butt plug and lube set out.
As Harry walks up to the bed, soft cock slightly swinging between his legs, you ask, "Can you do it and I just watch. I'm kinda nervous."
"Sure baby, but nothin' to be nervous about. It's just me, and I'd tell you if you were hurtin' me in anyway. But I can do it and you watch." He climbs onto the bed, still naked from your previous activities, and tries to decide what position he'd prefer to be in, on his knees or layed back with his legs up. He ultimately decides to lay on his back.
Harry settles into position, arranging pillows behind his back against the headboard and spreads his legs. Anxiously, you pass him the lube and butt plug, watching intently as he begins. Despite your initial desire for him to wear it and the upcoming anal sex, you find yourself feeling nervous. Excited, yet nervous. You've never gave anal to anyone before. Mostly because all the men you've been with in the past were too straight and thought negatively on the act.
With the bottle of lube in hand, Harry applies a liberal amount to the bulbous tip of the butt plug using his fingers, followed by wiping any excess off around his tight hole. You adjust your position to sit facing him, allowing you to witness the entire process. You observed how he delicately moves his flaccid cock out of the way and how he carefully goes to insert the lubricated plug into his slick opening. Just before Harry pushes it in, he looks up at you with a soft yet mischievous grin.
He has always harbored a hidden desire for either observing someone engage in self-touch or being observed while engaging in self-touch. Although not solely for pleasure, the act remains deeply intimate, and your observation right now nearly reignites his arousal.
With a deep breath, he relaxes his muscles and slowly starts to insert the butt plug into his ass. The lubricant prevents any pain during the process, despite the stretching sensation. You watch as his anus takes in the butt plug effortlessly, except for the heart-shaped diamond on the end, which sets nicely against his hole. Looking up at Harry's face, you see a slight scrunch, not from pain, but from relief.
"Mhm, fuck, that felt good." Harry annonces, his muscles turning to mush on the bed now that he's finished inserting the butt plug. You smile at him widely, about to speak when he suddenly grunts in what sounds like frustration. "No," he whines, "m' hard again. Too sensitive to be hard again."
Glancing down, you see his flaccid cock no longer flaccid, but half hard. The process of inserting the butt plug in his ass combine with you watching him, it turned him on again.
You let out a giggle and propose, "We could have sex again? Just slower this time. Get all comfy under the covers, turn the lights out, and when we finish, fall asleep naked. Hm?"
Though Harry knows it'll be slightly painful at first from how sensitive his dick is from his previous orgasm, he agrees with a nod. You climb out of bed to turn the lights off, then crawl back under the covers so your plan can unravel.
-------------------------------
Thirty very sweaty minutes later, you're both knocked out cold in each others arms. Two rounds of sex was almost too much for one night. Not to mention that last round of sex was extremely pleasurable for Harry since he had a butt plug in. Wearing a butt plug during sex always felt super good in his opinion. It stimulated his prostate while giving him that full feeling he longed for sometimes.
Now you just wait until tomorrow night where the pleasure will be upped ten-folds when you fuck him with your new pretty pink strap-on.
(PLEASE REBLOG BECAUSE WRITING IS NOT EASY AND IT'S FREE SO JUST DO IT)
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tag list: @swiftmendeshoran // @walkingintheheartbreaksatellite // @hsonlyangelxo
______________
My Masterlist Masterpost
Long Awaited Punishment {part. 14}
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mayoshifts · 4 months ago
Text
how i manifested the greatest academic comeback
tldr: nerd starts tweaking over the possibility of failing a class and starts trying to manifest it away. it worked
alright guys it’s the end of the grading period and let me say, i CLUTCHED 💪🏽💪🏽
so for my grades, 3 weeks ago my geometry grade was a 28. NOW BEFORE YOU JUDGE, lemmie explain how it got that way ☺️
last december i got into a car accident and injured my right shoulder. bcs of that i’ve had procedures done and physical therapy every tuesday and thursday (sometimes friday). so i always leave school in the middle of my geometry class to make it to my appointments.
i can’t skip phys therapy bcs there’s a whole legal case and all that stuff (i’ll tell that story once everything is settled 🤫) but basically if i skip too many times, then it can be used against me legally so i literally gotta go.
anyways considering i always leave early in geometry, my grade was COOKED bcs i was missing dols (demonstration of learning, basically a 5 question quiz where you answer questions pertaining to what we learned) and i missed a test.
i was real stressed out bcs i’m an honor roll student. like the only time ive ever gotten a failing grade was freshman year in PE. if that doesn’t show the extent of my nerdiness idk what will. and y’all, i genuinely could not live in a world where i failed MATH, that would have been my 13th reason on top of everything else going on rn.
so because of that, i used my little trick (affirming and persisting) in order to fix my grade. i affirmed that i would not fail, and i wouldn’t get anything less than an 80 on my report card. i’ve also been using that distraction method with the void and stuff.
fast forward to about 3 weeks of trying to fix my grade and make everything up, i was still sitting at a 68 (around 3-4 days ago). at that point i had started saying that i would have around a 70 if i made everything up. i was literally calculating what i had to get on the next 2 grading cycles and final in order to have an 80 for the semester.
then, out of nowhere, my teacher put in some random assignments that i had done and a binder check, with a high weight on the grade since it was categorized as a test. for the binder check and random assignments i got 100%. i also had a quiz yesterday that i got an 83 on, which was also a test grade.
so my 68 turned into an 85. i was content with having an 85 but i still had a few dols to make up so i stayed afterschool today and finished them.
now i have a 90🎉🎉🎉 i’m so happy, id like to thank my peers on this beautiful app for showing me my true potential and myself for being open minded and willing to explore. guys i swear, ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS PERSIST AND BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. if your conscious mind and 3d starts telling you differently from your desires, correct it. you write your story, not anything else. towards the end i was losing hope of my gpa being so high but my constant work in writing my story and has led me to be great
once again😄
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uglypastels · 11 months ago
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I need, FOR THE LIFE OF MEEE, a part two of your scott's sister!reader fic its SO good, maybe they go on a double date to try and make things less awkward?? I just know logan would rather have his teeth pulled out but anything for his best girl right?
-part 1---masterlist---requests-
warnings: cringe, mention of alcohol, mention of sexual activities. swearing.
I was unsure about writing this at first because, in all honesty, I wouldn't think you'd want to go on the double date either, I mean...
It was so awkward. The four of you- You and Logan, Scott and Jean- sitting opposite each other across a restaurant table, focusing more on the food rather than the conversation.
Usually, in these kinds of moments, you had Logan's handy nature to depend on, to make things a bit more interesting, but he kept both his hands above the table in the presence of your older brother, and with a psychic like Jean in your midst, not even sneaky signals were a possibility to spice up your evening.
'So, uhm-' Scott cleared his throat, 'how long have you two...' been fucking around? was probably what he wanted to say, but rather than making things even weirder, he simply left the question unfinished, open to your interpretation.
You knew he meant well. He always did. He was the best big brother you could have ever asked for, but god sometimes he just took it too far.
When he caught you in that broom closet, he could have just left it at that. Maybe yell at you for the inappropriate behaviour, fair enough. Let it soak in a bit, and give it a few days until the embarrassment of the situation finally wore off and you could look each other in the eyes again. But instead, far from it settling, he had suggested a double date.
And maybe you could have tried to say no to the idea, but from a very young age, you had learned that that was never really an option with Scott. Besides, as the night went on, you had gotten an inkling that this might have very well been your punishment. To endure this night.
'Uhm...' you thought for a moment about his question, not daring to look Logan in the eye. Even without mindreading powers, you could tell what he was thinking about- and prayed that Jean had the decency to leave those thoughts alone.
After all, you could hardly admit that it had all started with a drunken mistake of a hook-up on a rather random Friday, or was it Thursday? Monday maybe?
It had been such a blur that you couldn't even remember why you had been drinking, but all you knew was that the next morning, you woke up with a massive headache, naked in his bed. It took about ten minutes for both of you to come to the realisation of the events that had gone down and proceeded to curse your way back into your clothes while profusely admitting that it was a mistake and that it should never happen again.
Luckily, you never made a promise of it, as it would not have lasted long.
'It was Valentine's Day,' Logan grumbled out, nearly giving you whiplash from how fast you had turned to look his way as the memories cleared up with each of his words. 'With nothing else to do alone, we hung out and-'
'and things just clicked,' you rescued him, knowing that Logan was not very fond of opening up that way.
'Didn't expect you to be someone to celebrate Valentine's Day, Logan,' Scott smiled, the mockery spilling out a bit.
'I'll send you a card next year, if you'd like, bub.' Logan quipped before taking his beer up to his lips. You hid your giggle with a slight cough behind your hand. He looked over at you with a smirk pulling at the corner of his lips and in that moment, a harsh, yet funny, reality struck you.
Sitting in this little shabby restaurant opposite your big brother and his wife, this wasn't just a double date for you and Logan.
This was your first date.
Always seeking out moments to sneak out together into dark corners, you had never actually done anything that would be considered a proper "date". There were the hours you'd lay in bed, entangled in sheets, talking nonsense, stealing kisses and laughs, but besides that- and the other activities you were not trying to think about next to Jean- you had never done much else.
And looking at him at your side, sitting back in his chair, letting his hand finally fall down comfortably to find its spot on your thigh, you could certainly get used to this.
But hopefully, next time, it will be just the two of you.
the end.
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thank you for reading 💗
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