#so anyway yeah i come across as obnoxious or as though i take up too much space and i do recognise this but like | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

crackedpumpkin · 7 months

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|| ʙᴀᴅ ɴᴇᴡꜱ || ᴘᴀʀᴛ ꜱᴇᴠᴇɴ ||

[ 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 ] | [ 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 ] | [ 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 ]

a/n: @uwukiity :))) i did it. also i changed the gif guys ! isnt it cute ??? hope u all enjoy this lolololol

“Awww, is our little barista feeling all better now?”

“Shut up before you have to make your own coffee, Hamada,” You snort, handing him his usual order. Hiro inhales deeply, taking a small sip of the piping hot latte you’d just made at his request.

His nose wrinkles, looking up as he swirls the liquid in his mouth. His lips purse, trying to place the flavour. “Is that cinnamon?”

“Yeap,” You answer, popping the ‘p’ as you clean the milk frother. “Is it good?”

“It’s enh,” He shrugs, propping his elbows up on the counter as he leans against it and watches you clean.

“And?” You prompt, awaiting a more elaborately put review.

“It’s decent.”

You plop the cloth down, stopping to stand right in front of him across the counter. “And?”

“And what?”

It’s clear that he’s just messing with you now, judging from the little quirk in the corner of his lips as he suppresses his smirk. Taking a deep breath to calm yourself, you reevaluate your options. You’d have asked Tadashi to taste-test your coffees and experiments, but he’s constantly at SFIT. Cass was more than ready to try them, but she was already constantly busy running the cafe that you didn’t want to pile on more to her plate.

As such, that only left you with Hiro.

“Is it too sweet? Too sour? Does it mask any bitterness or draw it out?”

He takes another long, drawn-out sip, smacking his lips together obnoxiously. “Kinda sweet, but I guess it’s okay. It could do with some more cinnamon to help bring out the fruitiness of the beans more.”

You grin, leaning back. “Thank you, my beloved guinea pig.”

“Anytime, psycho.” He says simply before continuing to sip away at his first coffee of the day. He’d been coming down more often lately, but it was usually in the afternoons. So, mornings like these were rare.

“What’s got you up so early, anyway?” You ask, taking out the dishes and placing them where you’d be able to grab them conveniently when a customer ordered any of the pastries in the display case.

He shrugs. “Wanted to get an early start to the day.”

“Cool,” You toss a damp cloth at him, watching him scramble to catch it without letting it fall into his cup, “help me wipe down the tables.”

“You know, I’m technically your boss too.” He informs you but still does it anyway.

“Tell me that when you give me my paycheck,” You snort, opening the fridge to check on the cans of whipped cream and mentally counting them for the stock take. Once you've confirmed that all your things are there, you begin to make yourself a coffee.

“Just you wait,” He comes back to the counter with his cloth and the spray bottle filled with cleaning liquid, placing them both away. “I’ll tattle to Cass.”

“Snitch. You can try, though I doubt she’ll do anything about it. She loves me too much,” You reply over the hiss of the milk frother. Kneeling down to grab a canister of whipped cream from the fridge, you shake it and start placing some on top of your hot coffee. You can feel his eyes on you, looking back up with a raised brow.

“What?”

“Are you seriously putting whipped cream on your cappuccino?” He says in disbelief.

“Yeah,” You hum, taking a swing and letting a contented sigh slip past your lips.

“But it’s already like, 70 percent milk.”

“And gummy bears are like, 100% pure sugar. So, you’re just eating spoonfuls of sugar. What’s your point?” He’s stumped for an answer, knitted brows and pursed lips trying to find a retort.

“I don’t like you,” He sighs in defeat, frowning as he takes a final sip from his cup and hands it to you expectantly. “More.”

You don’t take it, crossing your arms with raised brows as you wait patiently. He rolls his eyes. “Please?”

Grinning, you grab his cup and pour freshly brewed black coffee inside it. Five sugars and one creamer, that’s how he likes it. “You should really consider why you don’t have a social life.”

“I have friends,” He says defensively, “And says you.”

“Where?” You ignore the second part of his sentence, placing his cup back down on the counter.

“...I dunno- look, I haven’t spoken to them in a while.” He says tightly, his lips pressed together in a thin line as he stares at his coffee.

“Mine are pretty chill,” You hum, making the decision to change the topic. “I think you’d like Noah, though.” The thought of the two together makes you chuckle. Noah, whose carefree and easygoing nature with Hiro who’s incredibly reckless and irresponsible.

“Who’s that?” Hiro asks curiously, intrigued by the mention of a new name.

“He’s the other barista I worked with at my old job. He’s great and helped me a lot when I first came here,” You say with a fond smile, the both of you moving to sit down at an empty table.

“Oh?”

“Shut it, he’s like 19 with a girlfriend. I’m still surprised he even managed to ask her out.” You snort, sitting down opposite him and holding the coffee, letting the heat spread through the ceramic and warm your hands.

“I could have a girlfriend,” Hiro muses, looking offended at the way you choke visibly on your drink.

“You?” You splutter incredulously, coughing violently as the coffee makes its way down the wrong pipe and burning your insides in the process. You glance up through teary eyes, seeing him smile at your current state as he enjoys watching you suffer. Once the violent coughs end, you clear your throat, pretending that nothing happened.

“Aren’t you gonna get back to your work?” You question, glancing at the clock and realising it’s almost time to open the cafe. “Shoo,” You add, dismissing him with a quick wave. He shrugs, hopping off the seat and heading to the basin. You follow suit, wanting to quickly wash your cups so that you can give the table a quick wipe and unlock the door.

You stare at his outstretched hand, looking back up at him curiously. He rolls his eyes, already having pushed up the sleeves of his hoodie to wash his cup. “Your mug, silly.”

You hand it to him with a bright grin, calling out a quick thanks as you leave to do your tasks. The sign on the door is the only thing left, and you take a moment to breathe, staring at the word ‘Open’ before you turn it so it faces the front.

“What are we waiting for?” You flinch, surprised by Hiro’s sudden appearance. His sleeves are back down to his wrists, his hands shoved into his pockets as he waits for a response.

“Nothing.” You clear your throat, quickly flipping the sign over and unlocking the door. You turn back around, about to ask him another question when you spot the back of his blue hoodie heading back up the stairs. Oh well. Looks like whatever put him in such a good mood this morning finally wore off.

The phone rings in the middle of your shift, vibrating strongly in the pocket of your apron as you hold the milk frother in place, narrowly avoiding a cloud of hot steam as you adjust your stance. You place it on the counter, checking the notifications to see a message from your brother.

Hiro catches you giggling when he rounds the corner of the counter, placing an empty cup in front of you. You put your phone away hastily, grabbing his cup and pouring some black coffee from the jug Cass kept aside for Hiro. He eyes the phone in your apron pocket suspiciously, taking the cup back from you and taking a sip. “What’s so funny?”

“Huh?” You’re momentarily confused, but you realise what he’s referring to upon following his gaze to your apron pocket. “It’s nothing, just a stupid picture Luke sent me.” The reminder makes you chuckle again, a bright grin on your lips.

“Hm.” He doesn’t say anything, taking another long sip and smacking his lips together, proceeding to chug the rest down. “What’d he send you?” He asks casually, eyeing the coffee stains on the inner rim of his mug.

“I told you, a stupid picture.” You roll your eyes in amusement, leaning on the counter as you watch Hiro clear his throat, spotting the tips of his ears slowly flushing a soft pink. What a nerd.

“I wanna see it.” He waits expectantly, and you oblige his request, regardless of how sudden it is. You open your conversation with him, clicking on the picture and turning the phone around so he can see it. He leans in, not noticing that his hoodie strings are nearly in his own empty mug. You react, grabbing the string and moving it aside.

Hiro blinks. “What is this?”

“Told you it’s stupid.” You laugh at the picture of a forklift holding a tiny plastic fork, turning off your phone again after indulging his curiosity.

“Who’s Luke, anyway? Your boyfriend? Can’t be. You’re too old.” He snorts in amusement, smiling smugly when your smile drops, eyes narrowing into a glare.

“We’re the same age.”

He shrugs. “Yeah, but you’re an old soul at heart, so, doesn’t count.” You roll your eyes. You’re not getting anywhere with this idiot. “Another coffee?”

“You have a serious problem,” You mutter, filling his cup with pure milk. “Here, for the growing boy.”

“I will have you know I’m almost 5 '5,” He says defensively. “It’s just taking a little time to set in.” You knew better. Tadashi had revealed in casual conversation that Hiro’s only 5’0. Oh well, it’s too early to crush the boy’s dreams.

“Yeah, maybe when you’re 25.” Your muffled chuckles attract the attention of Cass, who looks over with a curious smile from the cafe table a short distance away. Hiro scoffs, taking his cup and chugging down all of it defiantly, slamming it back down.

“Wash it and bring it back to me afterwards.” He amends his sentence when you raise a disbelieving brow, using a fingertip to push it aside. “I mean, please wash it and put it aside, I’ll come back later to collect it.”

“That’s more like it.” You wink, taking the cup and setting it down in the basin to wash with the rest of the other dishes.

“Still technically your boss!” He calls out as he leaves. You ignore it, starting on the rest of the dishes.

You continue stacking the plates, putting them away in their respective places when you hear something being set on the countertop.

“Hey sweetie, are you feeling better?”

You smile at Cass, standing back up. “I’m fine, don’t worry. It’s gonna take more than that to knock me off my feet.” To prove your point, you flex your arm cheekily. “Built like an al-dente noodle, as my mom once said.”

A delightful laugh bubbles from her lips, your (actual) boss thoroughly amused. “If you say so. Just in case though, maybe you should rest up tomorrow.”

“I’ll be fine!” Cass tuts, effectively cutting you off with a purse of her lips. “Boooo,” You complain jokingly. “But isn’t there anything else I can do?”

She pauses, a hand on her chin as she thinks of a task to assign you. She smiles slowly, a slight chill running down your back. You didn’t like that smile. Not one bit. “On second thought, maybe I will take that day off…”

Cass hums mischievously. “Actually, the cafe isn’t that busy today, so I can handle it. Instead, I need you to drag Hiro out for some exercise. He’s been cooped up in his room or the garage. It’s like he doesn’t even know what sunlight is!”

A chime sounds through the cafe, drawing your attention to another customer who’s just left. It’s currently the late afternoon, and there were just a few customers in their respective seats. All the dishes are washed and kept, and Hiro’s mug sits cosily in the corner beside the cash register.

If there’s anything you’ve learnt from working in cafes, it’s that times like these signal maximum boredom. You look at Cass who’s waiting patiently for an answer, grinning slyly. “All I have to do is get him out to exercise, right?”

She nods.

That’s all you have to do, but she didn’t say how.

“I’m in.”

— — — — —

“C’mon Einstein, let’s go touch some grass!” You exclaim, happily slamming open the door to Hiro and Tadashi’s shared bedroom. The curtains are drawn shut on Hiro’s side of the room, a small desk lamp lighting the piles of discarded blueprints on the floor. The boy himself is sitting cross-legged on his chair, a single headlamp on his forehead as he frowns at the notepad he’s sketching on.

“That’s you, Hiro,” Tadashi calls out as he puts on his cap.

“Where’re you heading off to?” You ask, noting how his side of the room drastically contrasted with Hiro’s. Sunlight spills past the window, dimming whatever items it can reach with a soft glow. The bed is neatly made, not a single speck of dust on any piece of furniture.

“I gotta go back to the lab.” He answers cheerfully, ruffling your hair with a grin. “Have fun, kids!” He calls out behind him as he leaves. Hiro stirs at the sound of his brother’s voice, turning around. His gaze lands on you, and he arches an unimpressed brow.

“Is Einstein the worst you could come up with?”

“What dentist died and made you their heir?” You counter. He pauses for a beat, mulling over your words. He gives you an acknowledging nod, swivelling his seat back around to focus on his work. You take a tentative step forward, avoiding the scattered cans of Red Bull and stray packets of gummy bears that litter the floor.

“Forget about Einstein, I think he lived somewhere better than this pigsty,” You mutter under your breath, freezing when Hiro clears his throat.

“I heard that.”

“No, you didn’t.”

He shrugs, turning his attention back to his notepad. Upon closer inspection, you notice the corkboard perched against the wall, various tools spread across it. A stack of rewired motherboards and circuits remains unfinished beside it. Below his desk is a mini fridge that once you open, reveals a tooth-rotting amount of gummy bears, along with chewing gum and more energy drinks.

He has everything he needs to stay alive and functioning in his room. With a side of a potential heart attack, of course. This realisation makes you scan his desk, hopefully looking for a way to drag him outside. Something catches your eye and you lean closer, staring at a bot with a yellow smiley face.

You lift it up, inspecting every inch of it with intrigue. “Tell me this is your first-grade project without telling me this is your first-grade project.”

“Believe it or not, my project was a volcano.” He says, briefly glancing at the bot in your hands before continuing to write out formulas anywhere with empty space on his paper. “A solar-powered volcano. Had miniature animals and everything.”

“Huh. Did you get first place?” You ask, feigning disinterest, though you were very much invested in this never-before-heard childhood backstory of his.

“Yeah.” Somehow, the memory is enough to break him out of his trance. He grins. “The volcano worked a little too well. I still remember the looks on everyone’s faces when it caught on fire.”

“Y’know what, that actually increased my respect for you by a margin.” You say, unable to hide your impressed smile. “Then when did you make this one?”

He chuckles, finally setting down his notepad and taking it from your hands with a fond smile. “Like, two years ago? Megabot won me loads of bot fights.” You hum in thought, a seed of an idea growing in your mind and further watered by mischievousness.

“Guess I should take him for a spin then.”

“Wha-?”

Hiro doesn’t get a moment to react when you snatch the bot out of his hands and run out the door with a maniacal laugh. You can hear him chasing after you, footsteps thudding down the stairs. You put on your shoes with record speed, racing out the door.

“What’re you-”

“Gotcha.” You grin widely, taking a step forward to hand Megabot back to a panting Hiro. He takes it from you with flushed cheeks, trying to catch his breath after being forced to do unexpected exercise. “We’re going for a walk.”

“I can’t, I gotta get back to-”

You grab the hood of his hoodie, effectively stopping him from heading back inside his house. “And how long have you been stuck?” You ask, prompting an annoyed huff from him. He crosses his arms sulkily, Megabot dangling from his grip.

“If I’m doing this, I want ice cream.”

— — — — —

People tend to think that taking a walk is simple enough. After all, it’s just moving your legs one step at a time. The cool breeze, the warm sunlight, and even the bustle of the city are more than enough to stimulate their senses. Everyone’s happy and cheerful, socialising and being comfortable with themselves.

Clearly, these people have never had the pleasure of dragging Hiro Hamada outside.

“My ice cream is mine.” Hiro scoffs, swatting away your outstretched hand. You frown, drawing it back. “You wouldn’t have to deal with this if you just let me do my work, y’know.”

“I do know, thank you very much,” You sigh, scowling when he suddenly turns to look back and you withdraw your hand once more at the missed opportunity to get some of his ice cream. “I’m already regretting it.”

“Hey, you’re the one that decided to go all saviour on me.” He shrugs, using his spoon to scoop a large amount of ice cream from his cup, pointing it at you accusingly. “Can’t blame me for wanting a treat.”

“Wow. You’re really gonna use my hard-earned money on yourself.” You drawl monotonously.

He pauses with the spoon in his mouth, pondering in deep thought. “Yes.”

“You suck.”

He merely smiles, raising a brow at your finished gelato. “I thought you were lactose intolerant.”

“I eat what I want,” You reply defensively, watching him scoff down the rest of his ice cream in one go. He winces soon after, holding the sides of his head with eyes squeezed shut. “Brain freeze?”

He confirms it with a nod, and you wait patiently for it to be over. Once it is, he stands back up to throw away his cup and yours, waiting for you at the exit. The door jingles shut behind you, the bustling city greeting your ears once more.

You’re tugged to the side from a sudden grip on your arm, looking up with a scowl before realising that Hiro just saved you from being knocked flat on the sidewalk by a skateboarder. “Thanks,” You say gratefully, jogging to catch up with him. He simply shrugs, dismissing his good deed as nothing more than a passing action.

You force him to follow you to the park, taking a stroll around and waving to the little animals that either bark, meow, or caw back at you. Luckily, he hadn’t complained as much after the gelato. Otherwise, you’d be at each other’s necks by now.

“So, how’s your project coming along?”

It seems to be one of the few consistent questions you ask him these days, and for good reason too. Having the pressure of an older brother and his friends all in the same nerd school isn’t something most can shoulder on their own. You eye the way his shoulders sag when he exhales, sudden tiredness in his eyes. Yet, there’s a spark of determination, and stubbornness that refuses to let anything get in the way of his goal.

“It’s going good,” He hums, pulling out his phone and showing you a picture of various mathematical equations and nonsensical handwriting on what appears to be his tablet hooked up to his monitor. “Pretty sick, right? I’ve got all the backend stuff down, and I just need to keep testing and prototyping now for the neurotransmitter.”

“Right,” You say encouragingly, though the hesitance in your voice gives away how clueless you are about all this. Sure, you’ve done your fair share of research on your own, but it’s only surface-level. Who knows what’s going on in that head of his.

He raises a brow, pocketing his phone. “What about you?”

“I’m working on this article about this new policy my school got put in place,” you grimace, “it’s mainly about how the administrators want the campus to be more ‘green’ and environmentally friendly.”

“Huh.” He brushes off a leaf that lands on his shoulder, watching it slowly fall to the ground. “You don’t seem too excited about that.” He remarks offhandedly, observing your every movement.

“That’s because the actions they’re taking are ridiculous.” You explain with a roll of your eyes. “They’ve implemented bathroom break limitations, printers aren’t allowed to be used unless a teacher gives explicit consent…Sometimes a girl’s just gotta pee, y’know?”

“Well, what do the other students have to say about it?”

You huff out a frustrated sigh. “No one’s happy about it, obviously.”

“Then use that,” He states simply, “you’re a journalist, aren’t you? The voices of the people have to be heard. Get their opinions on the changes, and with a voice that loud? The faculty won’t be able to just brush it aside.”

Your steps slow to a halt, pursing your lips in thought as you consider the idea he’s just presented to you as simply as saying the sky is blue. He’s right, of course, but why didn’t you think of that before?

The student council will never let it pass. But it couldn’t hurt to try….right?

The phone in your pocket vibrates with a new notification. You groan, reading the text that Leo, your fellow aspiring journalist in the same club just sent you. Hiro looks at you curiously, having heard your sigh as you hang your head. “Speak of the devil. I gotta go.”

“Gone so soon?”

“Don’t tell me you’ll miss me, Hamada,” You joke, grinning at the way he sticks out his tongue in playful disgust. “That article I told you about? The deadline just moved up to tomorrow.”

He snorts, chuckling in pure amusement as you begin to walk faster. “Good luck!” He calls out to your retreating back.

You wave a dismissive hand without looking back.

— — — — —

@urfavarab @dee-zbignuts @frogindisguise @mangodamochiii @stars4won @whoisgami @nayleannn @millerworld @bodieohbo @1intrusivethoughts1 @randobeetlehouse @riritvt @louvredea

#bh6 #hiro x reader #hiro hamada x reader #series #baymax #wasabi #gogo #honey lemon #tadashi hamada #fred #hiro hamada #big hero 6 #bh6 x reader #hiro hamada x you #hiro hamada x y/n #hiro hamada x female reader #x reader

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whyareyouhere66 · 9 months

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el em ay oh I'm back can I get

Side of Fries: Send in a character & a prompt and I’ll write you a short imagine (include preferred pronouns and whatnot)

okay okay hear me out JJ with the prompt "putting a gingerbread house together" and he just keeps eating the walls and stuff (pronouns don't matter!!)

I love this because he would so do that

side of fries coming up

“Stop touching that.”

You don’t look away from the small, definitely done wrong piping bag in your hands, and ignore JJ as he groans across the table. He slouches in his chair like a child, a pile of candy in front of him that gets smaller and smaller every few minutes.

You probably shouldn’t have given him the candy bags, anyway. He’s proving you right.

“C’monnn, we’re just gonna eat it later anyways!” His head falls back against his chair.

“yeah, when it’s done.” You look up from the sloppy piping job and place two of the gingerbread walls together. “Hold this for me, will you?”

JJ does it, though his face doesn’t change and his eyes keep to the frosting bag in your hand.

Picking up another square of gingerbread, you begin connecting it to the rest with frosting. JJ is watching, looking bored, even as you finish the four walls of the cookie house.

With the weather growing colder, the night dark much faster, you and JJ decided to stick around your house for the night. It was his idea, even though sarcastic, to build the thing. When he realized you guys wouldn’t just be eating the candy inside he lost interest a little bit.

JJ notices a spare piece of cookie, meant to be a door, but its too late for that when he takes a bite off the corner. Pretty good for a store bought kit- he chews it loudly and leans on his elbows. You’re trying to finish the roof when you hear the obnoxious chewing and your head snaps up.

“JJ!”

“what?”

You snatch the cookie from his hand, which bothers him way more than when you yelled at him. “Uh, wasn’t finished.” He tries to grab the gingerbread but you quickly shove the last of it into your mouth. His mouth drops a bit.

“Are you serious?” He deadpans, watching you chew up the last of the previous door. You shrug, going back to the gumdrop-covered roof. The sound of a scoff escapes him and he leans over the table and shoves your shoulder back, you crack a grin.

“You damn hypocrite,” you decide to ignore him when he cracks a handful of gum drops into his mouth.

#66 recs&replies #JJ Maybank x gn reader #Carson’s specials #slug 🐌#Shitty ik #JJ Maybank x male reader #JJ Maybank x fem reader

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plant-acts · 6 months

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A prompt for your theatre AU: shenanigans in costume storage.

I might have gone a little overboard with the "few sentences" and wrote 1,259 words...oopsies...

ANYWAY!

Here is what happens when 8 theater boys are left unattended in costume storage.

Ao3

The theater was quiet, too quiet for Time’s liking. An annoying mix of the air conditioner and his keyboard had been the only sounds for the past half an hour.

Usually, there was always some sort of commotion in the building, whether it be power tools, footsteps running to and from class, or people making weird accents for a laugh. It was never silent, especially with his current students.

The last time it was this quiet, he found the tech boys trying to turn the booth into a bedroom, and the time before that was because they broke a set wall and were trying to fix it without him knowing. So, to say that he was more than a little worried was an understatement.

At least he didn’t seem to be alone. Malon must have also felt that something was off because less than a minute later, she was knocking on his office door. Her red hair peaked in as she asked exactly what he knew she would. “Dear, have you seen the boys?”

He leaned back from his computer and shook his head, “Not since I sent them all to the costume closet to grab some old clothes we can tear up for the show.” Thinking back on it, that had been almost thirty minutes ago. What had they gotten themselves into this time?

His wife froze. “Link.” She stared at him as though he just told her their house had just burned down. “Tell me you did not send actors into the costume closet.”

Uh oh, she used his first name. Time was in trouble. He wilted under her gaze, suddenly very interested in the fake plant on his desk. “What’s the issue with that?”

She threw her hands in the air, pacing in and out of the room as she fumbled over her words, “What-what’s the issue with that?! Actors cannot be trusted in the costume closet! I-you know what, follow me.”

Before Time could even come up with a response, she grabbed his arm and marched towards the back of the theater.

She was probably being dramatic, yeah. I mean, how badly could the boys have messed it up? They are all responsible college kids. If they can be trusted to live without parental supervision, then they can be trusted not to destroy the costume department.

—

Time takes everything back. This was the most irresponsible group of people he had ever met. How they all have lived this long was a miracle.

Before him laid the remnants of hours of organizing. Clothes had been pulled from their racks and scattered across the floor, while accessories were hanging from every surface imaginable. In the middle of it stood the culprits…all dressed ridiculously.

“I could fight God in this!” Warriors called, wearing a blinding amount of knight armor. The helmet was too big and fell over his eyes, causing him to bump into everything and everyone within a five-foot radius.

A blur of blue jumped out from a pile of boxes in front of him. “Argh! Fight me then, matey!” Wind yelled while swinging a foam sword wildly. He committed to the pirate bit by dawning an eyepatch and a red bandana. “Or are ye too scared of my might!?”

Warriors stumbled back, knocking Hyrule, who had fairy wings hanging off one shoulder, to the ground. He rubbed his face in annoyance. “Guys, we are going to be in so much trouble if we don’t clean soon.”

Legend helped him up, struggling slightly because of the obnoxiously large ballgown he decided to wear. “Oh, lighten up ‘Rule, they won’t even- HEY! Don’t step on my damn dress, bitch!” He yanked the fabric out from under Twilight’s foot.

“Sorry, sorry, but I agree with Hyrule. My parents are going to be pissed if they see this. Especially Malon. She spent forever putting this room together.” Although he spoke for tidying up, Twi did not hesitate to take the cowboy hat handed to him by Wind and continue to search for a sheriff’s star in the mess.

The sound of clothes falling interrupted whatever response was coming. “Hey, Lege’!” A pink wig sat on Wild’s head as he stumbled out of the rack with a shit-eating grin covering his half-scarred face. “We match now!”

Surprisingly quick in a dress, Legend lunged at him. “Take that off!” He yelled as they dissolved into a tangle of fabric on the floor.

Sky glanced up from where he sat messing with a bird puppet and looked around. Someone was missing. “Has anyone seen Four?”

The room fell quiet as they looked between each other.

“I just saw him by the suits!” Wind called, somehow sitting on top of a shelf and using a telescope to watch the chaos.

From across the closet, Warriors spoke up, “What? But I just saw him over here with the hats?”

Twilight shook his head. “No way! He was with us near the fantasy stuff.”

A voice from under a pile of clothes startled everyone. “All of you are wrong! I’m down here!” Four struggled a bit before pulling his face out of the mess. “One of you- Wild, dumped the cheer uniform box on me!”

Wild laughed without a hint of sympathy. “Oopsies!”

Seconds stretched into minutes as Time and Malon watched with equal parts horror and fascination at the scene in front of them. He put his arm around the other and pulled her close. “Should I be the one to ruin their fun, or would you like the honors?”

She smiled up at him with a glint in her eyes and gently patted his cheek. “Let them have their fun for now. Lord knows they need it with how long I am going to make them stay here to clean it up.”

He chuckled while planting a kiss on her head. “You’re evil, you know that?”

“Maybe a little,” she shrugged, leaning against him as she watched the boys wrestle for a crown. “But don’t get too comfortable, you’re helping too.”

Time froze, “What!? Why?”

“You let them in, so you’re helping.” The smile on his wife’s face told him he probably wasn’t getting out of this.

“In my defense, I didn’t know this would happen.”

“And in my defense, I don’t care.” Malon turned, standing in front of him with her hands on her hips. “Theater is a family remember, if one of us goes down, we all do. And if eight boys trash the costume closet, then we all have to help clean it.”

All Time could do was sigh and laugh through the future pain. “I hate that you’re right.”

“I know you do.” She smiled and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.

From inside the room, there was an eerie silence, followed by whispers. Looking over, it seemed the boys had finally noticed their arrival. No one said anything for a long moment.

Finally, Twilight spoke up. “Hey mom, dad.” He shifted nervously. “I promise this isn’t as bad as it looks.”

“Don’t lie, it’s worse!” Four yelled, still trapped under the cheer uniforms.

Wind jumped off of his perch and ran to a box sitting in the middle of the room. “We got the costumes you needed, Time!” He held it over his head with a proud smile.

The closet looked destroyed, his students looked like they were the stars of a kid’s birthday party, and his wife looked two seconds away from kicking everyone out of college.

Time could genuinely say he loved his job.

#Linked theater au #linked theater au fics #linked theater au asks #plants fics #linked universe #lu sky #lu time #lu wild #lu wind #lu twilight #lu four #lu hyrule #lu legend #lu malon #lu warriors #lu fic #lu chain

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fitzs-trained-monkey · 2 years

Text

Reaching For The Cloud Layer

Series: A Study In Spite || Part Two

Word Count: 10,500 (I aimed for 5,000 and missed.)

Summary: Kol Mikaelson takes you on a coffee date and it's nothing like you could have expected... But maybe that's not such a bad thing. || Kol x reader || Here lies my Masterlist

Warnings: More disrespect for parents??? Oh, also Kol being Kol. But mostly just fluffy fluff!

A/N: Sorry guys, part two of the Elijah fic is taking longer than expected. There was an error with the document so that just sucks. (Forgive me, I'm working with a 2013 laptop I got for free at a junk sale.)

☕STORY BEGINS BELOW ☕

Your alarm went off at seven thirty in the morning - an atrocity as far as you were concerned, seeing as you had already graduated high school, thus ridding yourself of any reason to get up before ten. Though, why anyone else would bother to set your alarm clock was beyond you so you must have been the one to orchestrate such a crime.

What in the blue cheese had you been thinking?

Eh, you’d figure it out later - after another four hours of sleep at the very least. Though you wouldn’t be able to get any of those hours if that awful alarm kept up its racket.

The sheer willpower it took to fling your arm over and smack the annoying thing was rather awe-inspiring. Unfortunately for you, however; it tumbled off the nightstand and rolled across the floor, continuing its obnoxious screeching. Now, you actually had to get up in order to silence the infernal device. You did so with a groan, rolling your only partially animated corpse out of bed only to land face-first on the floor with an unceremonious thump.

Life sucks.

Crawling over to where the alarm clock had rolled to a stop, you smacked the dismiss button and sighed in relief at the blessed silence that followed. Then you collapsed to the floor with every intention to pass out right on the spot. Why had you ever set an alarm for yourself in the first place? What a stupid-

Oh, yeah…

That’s right.

You had a date.

A coffee date with the psychotic prince of hell. How frickin’ outstanding. So, the better question was not why you had set the alarm, but rather why you had agreed to such an outing in the first place. You definitely won the World's Biggest Idiot award for the day.

Well, at least it was only a coffee date, you assured yourself as you scraped your useless heap of limbs off the floor and redirected them into the bathroom. You had showered the night before - thank heaven - so you just needed to change and arrange your face into something that looked remotely human. As you did that, you thought over your survival strategy.

After having arranged the aforementioned coffee date - and regretting it almost immediately - you had spent the better part of your night knee-deep in research. If you were going to do something stupid then it was probably better to be informed about it, right? So, you had scoured both your ancestor's journals for any information you could find about the bloodthirsty demon who would be buying your cup of joe.

In the end, you had come up with distressingly little. There wasn't too much anyone actually knew about the silver-tongued monster you had agreed to spend your morning with, but you did know three things for certain.

You could not, under any circumstance, depend on Kol Mikaelson to do anything. Namely, to refrain from murdering you.

If he chose to end your life, there would be nothing you could do to stop him.

At the very least - and that is to say, only when push comes to absolute shove - Kol Mikaelson was a man of his word. Which really only meant he was insanely good at exploitation.

You cringed, shivering as you realized just how close to the Twilight premise your internal monologue had just come. Disgusting.

Anyway, you were - in the words of the t-shirt you had decided to wear beneath your sweater - Shitte Kneedeep Inn and sinking quickly. As you got ready, you debated in your mind any possible strategies you could use to get out of your commitment. (You had a feeling that telling him you had changed your mind might not go over too well. He would probably convince you to go with him anyway.)

After about fifteen minutes, you had successfully applied enough make-up to look less dead and had narrowed down your options to simply ending the date as fast as possible, when your younger brother stumbled into the bathroom to get ready for school. Mystic Falls Middle started at nine - lucky kid. Yet, he was still dead on his feet, much like you.

You turned to him. “Hey, my dude. Welcome to the land of the living. Quick, what would happen if I straight chugged a cup of coffee fresh outta the machine with no regard for my fragile mortality?” You quizzed, watching him expectantly.

He stared at you for a moment, trying to remember how to replicate the speech of a fully functional human being. “Uh, pretty sure it’d get you dead,” He said. You made a somewhat rude noise and went back to braiding your hair. After a few more minutes spent trying to wake up, your brother seemed to notice that you were there instead of in bed where you normally were at such a time during the week. “Wait, where’re you goin’, stupid-sauce?” He yawned, blinking at the offensive light of the bathroom vanity.

You grimaced. “I’ve got a date.”

“Mom an’ dad are letting you go on dates now?” The kid tilted his head. “Since when?”

“Since never,” You mumbled.

“Are you sneaking out?”

“No.”

“Are you gonna pretend to go to a friend’s house?”

“No.”

“Are you gonna sneak him in here?” Y/B/N asked, brows raised in confusion that bordered on being impressed.

You gawked at him. “Wha- No!” You shook your head and sighed. “He’s taking me out for coffee and I’m going to make sure mom and dad see it. They need to start acknowledging my life choices.”

Even if those life choices are positively dunce-cap worthy, you thought.

“Ooohhhhhh, Y/N/N’s in loooooooove,” He mocked in a high-pitched voice, waggling his eyebrows at you. “Who is he?”

“Just some guy,” You muttered, shrugging. Your brother didn’t know about the supernatural yet, and you intended to keep it that way for as long as possible. You hated lying to him though.

“Well, is he hot?”

Your cheeks reddened against your will. It wasn’t your fault! For a blood-sucking leach, Kol was pretty freaking gorgeous. “Kinda.”

"Hey, HEY!" He sobered in an instant. “Mom and dad are gonna kill you, ya’ know,” He said as he flicked off the lights and followed you downstairs.

“I know.”

“Five bucks says they’re waiting for you in the kitchen.”

“Oh, undoubtedly.”

He was quick to position himself behind you as you sauntered into the kitchen. The two of you had been right. Sitting at the kitchen table with breakfast set out in front of them while they awaited your arrival, were your mother and father. You slapped a very fake smile onto your face and pulled out your chair.

“I just wanna say that I have no association with this woman whatsoever,” Your younger brother announced, moving to sit as well.

“We’re not mad at your sister, sweetie. We just want to have a little talk, is all,” Your mother said, patting his arm. You rolled your eyes but then she turned her attention to you. “Now, Y/N. I know you feel like your father and I have been really hard on you recently, but that’s only because we love and care about you so much. We just want you to have the best life you possibly can.”

“You mean the life you want me to live - the one where I do everything you want me to and nothing else,” You surmised, nodding. “Yeah that sounds like a lot of bull-crap.”

“Don’t talk to your mother that way,” Your father warned. “We’re not trying to argue with you.”

“O’course not.” Your voice dripped with sarcasm. “Yeah, you just want me to give up and roll over, right?"

“That's not true, we-”

“Oh, yeah!” You pretended as though you suddenly remembered something. “You do want me to fight! You want me to fight so I can live up to your le-” You hesitated, catching your near slip up before something very bad happened. “Er, dreams because you think you can’t.”

Your mother frowned, reaching for your hand but you drew it away. “Y/N…” She entreated. “We understand that you want to make your own choices. But you have responsibilities to consider and we just want you to be safe.”

“Wow.” You blinked slowly. “Man, y’all make it sound like I’m trying to get sexually active or something.” Yeah, that’s right. You had graduated high school without ever having done the devil’s tango with some underage jock with no respect for you or your body.

Your little brother pretended to gag.

“This is not how we raised our children to talk,” Your father said. You just rolled your eyes, though he didn’t take very kindly to that. “Oh, really? You wanna roll your eyes at me? That’s fine! You’re grounded for the rest of the day!”

You opened your mouth just as the doorbell rang.

He was here. Suddenly that didn’t seem like such a bad thing.

You smirked. “Try telling that to the guy at the door.”

Watching the color drain from your parent’s faces as their heads turned towards the door brought you more joy than it should have. Your mother composed herself first, which was quite a surprise seeing as she was usually the skittish one in your family.

“Y/N… please tell me that’s not what I think it is.” She strained to keep her voice calm, though you couldn’t help but notice that she still said what instead of who - even in front of your little brother. Y/B/N didn’t notice however, he was too busy devouring his pancakes.

“Do you want to go get it or should I?” You asked, leaning forward with the same smugly challenging smile you had seen Kol use on your parents at his family’s ball. The one that dared them to break the status quo. You held the withering glares of both your parents for what felt like ten minutes but was probably only one. It wasn’t that you liked disobeying them - they just needed to acknowledge that you weren’t a child anymore. A sharp rapping, that of a fist on wood came from the door. “Better decide quick.” You leaned back in your seat. “I don’t think he’s gonna knock again.”

“What’s he gonna do?” Your little brother wondered, looking up from his pancakes curiously.

“Hard to say,” You answered, somewhat honestly. “The bastard’s committed.”

The squeal of your father’s chair against the kitchen tile just made your smirk widen as he got up and moved for the hall closet where he kept his shotgun. The thing had been loaded ever since the council had gotten confirmation that vampires had returned to Mystic Falls.

“Really?” You scoffed. “That’s what you’re gonna do about this? Man, you guys are more committed to your egos than I thought.”

You stood to follow after your father, shaking off your mother’s hand when she reached out to stop you. Your father cocked the shotgun and pulled the front door open, quick to point the barrel straight into the face of the boy standing on the step.

Kol Mikaelson grinned, but it didn’t look like an expression of happiness in any form. It looked like a threat, like the bared teeth of a vicious predator about to tear out the throat of a lesser, puny, scurrying, little lamb.

“Good morning,” He greeted. His tone was perfectly polite - friendly even - it didn’t match his expression as he pushed the barrel of your father’s gun out of his face with one finger. You could see your father’s muscles straining. He was a deputy on the police force of Mystic falls and he was exerting all his might to fight back, but he was no match and Kol clearly wasn’t even trying. He acted as though this were perfectly normal and your parents had no idea what he was. “I don’t know if your daughter told you, but I’m supposed to be taking her for coffee… right about now actually. Is she ready?" He grinned boyishly. "If not, you can always invite me in to wait.”

“You’re not taking her anywhere,” Your father growled, teeth grinding.

Kol leaned forward, lowering his voice. Your brother in the kitchen wouldn’t hear.

“Yes, I am.”

His lips twisted into that smug smile. The one you’d learned from him.

Your mother caught your shoulder, whirling you around to face her. The expression on her face bordered on hysterical, her eyes as wide as saucers. “So this is where you were yesterday?” She hissed. “You were with that thing?”

“Yes, she was, Mrs. L/N,” Kol replied for you. He turned his head to stare directly at your mother, bearing his teeth. “We had quite the lovely afternoon. Didn’t we, darling?” His eyes flicked to you and he made no effort to hide the lust in his eyes as he raked them up and down your body. You curled your lip in utter disgust until he sent you two quick winks. Then you caught on.

You shrugged, playing along. "I mean, if you pestering me for two hours straight is what you consider fun, then yeah."

He chuckled, shrugging innocently. "Fair enough, love. Are you ready to go?"

"More than ready," You replied, moving towards the door. Your father blocked your path, glaring daggers at you.

"You are not leaving this house."

You stared him down. "Outta my way… dad." He'd stopped being your dad as soon as he'd started seeing you as his soldier.

"No." He spat. "No, you're not going with this lunatic."

"Oh, yeah?" You sneered, gesturing towards Kol. "Well, l'll invite this lunatic inside right now if you don't move.”

His complexion paled. Then his mouth pressed into a thin line and he stepped out of your way. You had been positive he would put up more of a fight.

Your foot crossed the threshold of the door and you heard your mother gasp as you moved to stand next to Kol. Turning back to your parents, you met your father’s icy expression with a thin smile.

Your father nodded. "I hope you're happy with where that choice leaves you.”

“I’m sure she will be,” Kol chimed in, grinning as he wrapped an arm around your shoulders and drew you in against his side. He twisted a lock of your hair around his finger and you did your best not to flinch as the boy - no, not boy, vampire - leaned in close and traced his lips along your cheek in the lightest, sweetest, kiss possible. To your surprise… it wasn’t actually that bad. You couldn’t help the blush that stained your cheeks. Kol’s lips were really soft and warmer than you thought those of a reanimated corpse should have been. You almost wanted him to do it again… almost. “You look exquisite this morning, darling,” He murmured into your ear. The smirk that adorned his lips was downright sinful as he pulled away from you, inhaling deeply and squeezing your shoulders with a voracious hum. “And you smell like a treat,” He added, just loud enough for your parents to hear.

You tried your best to play along, withholding the grimace that wanted to make its way onto your face. Every time you started to like him just the smallest fraction, he went and did something like that. You knew he was acting to infuriate your parents but was it all just acting, or was there some truth to his words?

You rolled your eyes. “Yes the first and thanks to the second, but it’s gonna have to be a hard no on that last one,” You said, passing him a very fake smile.

He grinned. “Three pints says I can make it a yes by the end of the day.”

You were going to brush him off but something stopped you. Honestly, if you were going down the warpath of stupid for the day, why not travel the whole way down it? Even if you lost the bet, it wasn’t like losing three pints of blood would kill you.

“You know what? I think I’ll take that bet,” You decided, meeting his eyes. “You’re on, Mikaelson.”

For a split second, you caught his genuine reaction. Surprise mainly… but there was a hint of excitement buried beneath it that reminded you once again of just how little you could trust him.

“Well, aren’t you just full of surprises.” Then he covered that all back up with his cheeky, dangerous smirk, turning back to your parents whose expressions held nothing but disgust. “Anyway, we’ll just be getting out of your hair now - after all, I’d hate to overstay my welcome. But don’t worry, I’ll have her back here…” Kol pretended to debate it with himself, and shrugged. “Eh, sometime later. I’m not sure yet, we’ll see what happens. Though, I’m sure that when I bring her back, you will receive your daughter with open arms, yes?”

“Keep her for all I care,” Your father snorted, shaking his head. “She’s no daughter of mine. Not anymore.”

Kol hissed. “Sorry, mate - wrong answer.” He leaned forward again, lowering his voice to a mutter. “Why don’t you try again, and this time remember that these walls you live in are brilliantly flammable under the right conditions.”

“You’re despicable.” Your mother’s voice trembled but Kol just shrugged happily.

“Aren’t I just?” He turned his eyes back on your father, the dangerous gleam in them never fading for a second. “I do hope your answer changes by the time we get back, otherwise I’d advise fleeing the state.”

Then he turned away, urging you to move with him as he descended the steps of your front porch. Glancing at him out of the corner of your eye, he could barely contain the smile tugging at the edges of his mouth. As soon as the door slammed shut behind you, Kol threw his head back and laughed. His arm around your shoulders tightened some and you went along with it because you knew your parents were still watching from the windows.

Reluctantly, you admitted, Kol had a nice laugh. It was one of those laughs that are just so genuine, that you simply can’t help but join in. A grin tempted your lips and you let yourself succumb to it, basking in the election that flooded your soul as you realized that you could do whatever you wanted now. You could do anything. You were free! So, you laughed.

“Did you see their faces?” Kol exclaimed. His hand moved down your arm and back up in a familiarly affectionate motion. You didn’t stop him because you sort of liked it. “Your father especially, his was priceless! Bloody hell, now I wish I had a picture.”

You huffed a laugh, nodding your agreement.

It was the oddest thing - just how quickly his entire demeanor changed as soon as it was only you who could see him. It made you wonder which side of him was the act. Perhaps they both were.

“I’m sure I’ll be able to take one for you when I get back,” You chuckled. “So are we walking to get coffee, or…”

“Nah.” Kol tilted his head, gesturing towards the road. You glanced in said direction and the laughter died in your throat.

Of course, he rode to your house on a motorcycle.

You turned back to him. “I’m not getting on that thing.”

“Relax, darling!” He grinned. “Don’t you trust me?”

“Not as far as I could chuck your corpse,” You deadpanned. "Which isn't very far, all things considered."

"How gracious of you."

"You're welcome."

Kol rolled his eyes. "It's just for show, love. I parked my car about a kilometer away. Besides, I can hear your mother ranting about it already, just let your parents see you get on."

You pulled away to evaluate him. "You really are a pro at this, aren't you?"

“We all have our hobbies.” He shrugged. From off the back of the bike, he picked up a helmet and offered it to you. “My lady?”

You huffed a laugh and took the helmet from him, pulling it on over your head. The visor, you noted after flicking it down, was tinted Y/F/C and the outside was mirrored. You sent the boy a thumbs up and he grinned. Watching Kol climb onto the bike really shouldn’t have been as hot as it was but once he was on there you realized that the seat was much smaller than you had thought. You would be sitting really close.

“Any day now, darling,” He drawled.

Rolling your eyes, you straddled the bike, keeping yourself as far away from him as possible. Heat rushed to your face but you did your best to ignore it.

“Okay, I’m on,” You huffed.

“You might want to hold onto something,” The boy advised without looking back. You could hear the smirk in his voice. Bastard. You delicately placed your hands on his shoulders. It was frustrating because all your brain could seem to think about was how he had looked at you earlier - the sensation of his lips ghosting over your skin. Kol glanced at you over his shoulder, raising a brow pointedly at the feather-light grip you kept. “That is an excellent way to fall off.”

He didn’t say anything else. No, that passive-aggressive bastard just kicked up the stand and started adjusting the mirrors.

You clenched your jaw, sighing heavily. You were going to have to do it, weren’t you? The very thing you had been dreading. You were going to have to do it.

Despite every single neuron in your brain screaming that you shouldn’t, you leaned forward and wound your arms around his waist. His reflection in the mirrors bit back a smirk.

“Shut up.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“You were thinking it.”

He just laughed, shaking his head. “Whatever you say, darling.” It startled you just how human the expression on his face seemed.

“You’re just loving this, aren’t you?” You grumbled.

“Little bit, yeah.”

He released the clutch, revved the throttle, and the bike launched forward. You had to squeeze his waist to avoid being thrown off and you knew that the high pitch scream of sheer unadulterated terror that sprung from you would only supply him more ammo with which to mock you later.

Stirred into tiny tornadoes by the bike's crisp wake, hundreds of autumn leaves danced around you in the air. The helmet shielded your face from the wind as it whipped around you, attacking your clothes and hair with a ferociousness that, combined with the insane and dangerous, yet ever-increasing velocity at which you were tearing down the quiet, deserted streets of Mystic Falls, ignited something within you. A spark - a passion for life you hadn't felt for far too long - bloomed inside your chest, pushing outward and demanding freedom. The scream in your throat morphed into a laugh, equal parts thrilled and hysterical. Something bright and spectacular flooded your veins and you sat up a little straighter, letting the tension you'd felt brewing in your bones for so long finally find its release in the holler of glee that burst out of you as the sun bathed your skin and the crisp air of a fading summer pushed through your lungs.

Then came the turn.

Kol put up no pretenses of hitting the brakes before rounding a corner; he took it at full speed, leaning into the turn with all the caution of a daredevil. You shrieked, clutching onto him tighter than you would have ever thought yourself capable of, though he didn't exactly seem to mind. Despite the rush of the wind in your ears, you could still catch the laughter that escaped his lips.

The bike’s sudden halt when he applied the brakes was only slightly less jarring than a collision with a brick wall. It tossed you into Kol’s back, though that couldn’t exactly do much seeing as your entire body was already wrapped around him as tight as was humanly possible. Your heart pounded against your rib cage, your blood buzzed like soda in your veins, and you could feel every muscle trembling. Yet, for the first time in over a year, that twisting in your gut didn’t feel like fear. It felt like elation and you felt powerful. Life finally felt worth paying attention to.

“We’ve stopped moving,” Kol informed you gently. You felt him place his hand over yours which were still clutching onto him for dear life. He ran that hand up and down your forearm comfortingly, trailing his fingertips along your skin and the air around you wasn’t cold enough to be the culprit of the tingling flesh they left behind. “Darling?”

The concern in his tone sounded genuine. Something about it made the grin on your cheeks split wider, knowing he couldn’t see. Because it sounded so real and human and somehow that idea didn’t seem so impossible anymore. Nothing did.

“Yeah, yeah, I know… I’m good!” You assured him with a laugh. “Jus’need’a… Just need a second. Just need to-to catch my breath.”

“Are you sure?” He laughed along with you and your cheeks blazed a shade warmer as you felt him tangle his fingers with yours. Kol was a vampire - you struggled to remember that - and you shouldn’t have liked what he was doing. The way he touched you shouldn’t have been as thrilling as your first time riding a motorcycle, but it was. You shouldn’t have liked it, but you did.

Kol’s touch was like mentos and soda.

Fizzy, sweet, ill-considered fun.

“I honestly cannot move my limbs right now,” You cackled, gloriously, brilliantly mad with excitement.

“Oh, bloody hell,” Kol groaned teasingly. “Please don’t tell me you’re one of those clingy girlfriends.”

You grinned and finally managed to detach one arm from around his midsection so you could smack him on the shoulder. “Oh, gimme a break! It’s my first time on one of these crazy death contraptions,” You said as you climbed off the bike, walking around it to lean against the hood of a convertible that had to be his. Kol followed, somehow managing to keep his grip on your hand as he did. He held your hand so gently, almost as if he hoped you would forget he had it and just maybe, you thought, it might be okay for him to keep it for a little longer. “And don’t act like you didn’t love every second of that.”

He shrugged, smirking. “I do love listening to your heart race.” The smile he offered you was astoundingly youthful - flirtatious, but not the least bit sinister. "Coffee?"

You rolled your eyes. "Alright, weirdo."

Once you were in the car, driving with the top down, you were quick to notice the direction he was taking you. He missed every turn that would lead him to one of Mystic Falls' less than stellar coffee shops and rather took the road out of town, onto the freeway. Not exactly a good notion to start the day off with but you didn't feel like being outrageously paranoid just yet.

"The closest coffee shops were back there," You pointed out. The wind roared in your ears and you had to shout to be heard over it. "Ya missed 'em."

He smirked. "I know."

You laughed dryly. "You are kidnapping me, aren’t you? I knew it."

"Come now, darling," The boy drawled, flashing you a smile. "Have a little faith in me."

"Mmmm… nah."

Some other people might have found the need to shout over the wind annoying, but you simply enjoyed it. People had been berating you to be quiet your whole life, and though you knew Kol would have been able to hear you regardless of the wind, he never told you off. He just shouted along with you.

After an hour of driving, he pulled up to the window of a quaint little coffee shop in a town even smaller than yours. Despite not knowing the town by name, you knew where you were. Surrounding you was the epic grandeur of the Shenandoah mountain range. The town was one of a few much like it, located at the foot of the mountains, just outside the national park.

After getting your coffee and two muffins, Kol continued on the main road and turned off at the gate to the park. He actually paid to get in which surprised you, though you said nothing of it. As he took the turn onto the famous Skyline Drive, you couldn’t help the creepings of suspicion that began to overtake you. Checking your phone, the flashing symbol that warned of your lack of signal seemed to glare almost mockingly.

“You’re not taking me all the way up here to kill me right?” You asked, attempting to keep the nerves out of your voice by sheer force of will. “I mean, I know you keep asking me to trust you and all… but I’m having kind of a hard time here.”

“Why is that?” He hummed.

Despite your efforts, your nervous laugh did not escape his attention. “We’re out in the middle of nowhere, Kol. There’s no cell phone service out here. Great way to make sure I can’t call for help.”

The boy paused for a moment, blinking. “Alright, I’m going to be completely honest - I hadn’t thought about that until you brought it up.”

You huffed. “Right.”

“No, really,” He claimed, holding his hands up defensively. Then he frowned, seeming somewhat confused. “You can’t make calls from here?”

“Nope,” You said, flashing him a view of your phone’s screen and the warning displayed thereon. “No cell service, no calls.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, it’s pretty simple.”

The boy just shrugged. “I don’t know how cell phones work,” He admitted with an innocent expression that you tried to be annoyed by. You weren’t though. He was just… cute. Just cute.

“Well, how do I know that?” You wondered, though your tone was more playful than it had been.

Kol scoffed. “Now, now. I don’t think you’re being entirely fair here, darling.”

“I’m being completely fair!” You countered. “It’s not my fault that literally everything you’ve done this morning has been completely sketchy.”

“Sketchy?” His nose crinkled up and you couldn’t help noticing how cute it was. “What about this is sketchy?” The car slowed and he pulled it into a parking space at an overlook just off the Drive, motioning for you to get out.

“Uh, everything?”

“Ah! Not good enough!,” He insisted. “I want examples.” You went to grab the drinks and muffins but he took them from your hands, shrugging when you sent him a questioning look. “You’re going to want to have your hands free,” He explained.

You raised a brow incredulously but shook your head a moment later. Smirking, you started counting off on your fingers. “Well, there’s that, first of all. I mean, how is that not sketchy?”

“Wha- Because it’s not!”

“Uh, huh… Let’s see then…” You pretended to think as you followed him towards a picnic table in the main overlook area. “You took me on a motorcycle - actual stereotype sketchy move.”

“That was for show and therefore invalid,” He interrupted. “Continue.”

“You took me out of town without anybody knowing, including me.”

“That’s called a surprise, love!” He claimed, rolling his eyes. “Bloody hell, woman. Have you never had a birthday?”

“No, I’ve had them. I just don’t like surprises,” You claimed, placing your hands on your hips.

He shot you a very smug, very knowing look. “You’re a liar.”

“No, I’m not,” You said. Having reached the picnic table, you aimed to take a seat but Kol placed a hand on your elbow. His touch couldn’t have been more gentle - it was the lightning it sent racing over your skin that caused you to jump. Instantly, he forced a smile and pulled his hand away. Yet, you felt yourself missing it.

“We’re, um, we’re not stopping here.” He pressed his lips together and jabbed a thumb over his shoulder.

Kol was a vampire - you shouldn’t have wanted him to touch you. But when he looked at you with that twinge of disappointment in his eyes, there was a feeling in your stomach and it wasn’t the churning sensation of disgust. With that gentle touch and youthful charm, he was someone you could see yourself caring about if only he were human. But he wasn’t.

Kol was a vampire - a despicable, soulless monster. You repeated that to yourself. Yet every time you struggled to remember it, you found yourself believing it a little less. Honestly, you didn’t want to. You didn’t want your worst fears about the boy next to you to be confirmed. Part of you did because that would be easy. It would be easy to write him off as nothing more than a monster. But what if he wasn’t? What if he really could make you happy?

“Oh…” You followed him over to a tiny footpath. The thing was hardly a foot and a half wide and it was steep, with rocks as pseudo steps, some of which dropped two feet, only adding to the decline. The end was made invisible by the thick foliage that encompassed it. You blinked and flicked your eyes from the path to Kol, to the path, and back, before fixing on the path. You pointed. “That looks like an excellent way to die.”

Kol laughed. “I assure you, darling, it’s perfectly safe.”

“Perfectly safe?” You questioned, crossing your arms. “You know, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were trying to kill me.”

“Well, it’s a good thing you know better then, eh?” He grinned cheekily.

You frowned. “By if I didn’t know better, I meant I do not, in fact, know better.”

“I would argue otherwise,” The boy said with a subtle smirk.

“I bet you would.”

He just shrugged, spreading his hands. “Seeing as all your points against me have thus far been proven invalid, the way I see it, you have no reason not to trust me.”

“First of all, Mr. Mikaelson, that’s a subjective statement,” You pointed out. “Second, I do my research, and none of it faired to your credibility. Third, if this right here isn’t the sketchiest thing ever, then I don’t know what is.”

He nodded, smirking in amusement as he leaned back on his heels. Something about it made the butterflies in your stomach take off. “Well, Miss. L/N, to your first point, somewhere deep, deep down, everybody likes surprises and that’s a fact. Second, biased research of biased accounts does not a fact make - and yes, I am aware of just how spectacularly that statement backfired as I said it. Lastly, I can think of much sketchier things than a hiking trail.”

“Well… okay.” You had to bite your tongue to withhold the snicker that threatened to escape.

“Don’t laugh at me, I’m an original,” He warned, playfully nudging your shoulder.

“I’m definitely not laughing.”

“Really?” Kol rubbed his lip, doing his best to fight a smile as well. You felt warmer at the sight. “Do explain your point then,” He said.

“You really expect me to go down there with no safety railing, no clue what's waiting for me at the bottom, and not but your word that you won’t shove me to my death and claim it was an accident?” You surmised, raising a brow. “You can’t be serious.”

He waved a hand dismissively. “Safety railings are for the incompetent, we die like lemmings and for your information, there’s a rocky outcropping - a cliff if you will - waiting at the bottom. Though, if I were to push you off it, I wouldn’t need to make it look like an accident.” Taking a couple of steps down the path, he smirked smugly and offered you his hand - the one that wasn’t holding the coffee and muffins. “I’ll say it again, darling. If I were going to kill you, that’s not how I would do it.”

You eyed his hand with no small measure of distrust. “You’re playing at something.” You narrowed your eyes and backed away. “What are you-”

“I’ll catch you.” He said. There was nothing but honesty in his eyes. Openhearted honesty. “Take my hand and if you trip, I’ll catch you. I would have offered as such from the beginning, but you seem to have an aversion to being touched by me.”

You bit your lip, hesitating. He just watched you and waited. It took a moment but you made your decision. You leveled a finger at him. “If you so much as-”

“I won’t let you fall,” Kol promised. His openness could only last so long, you supposed because a cheeky smile overtook his expression a moment later. “Well, unless it’s for me.”

You did your best to roll your eyes and ignore the bush that crept into your cheeks. Taking his hand, he gripped yours firmly and you took that first step. A pleasant fire spread up your arm with his touch. His hands seemed so soft and though you knew they were scarred with murder and deeds to evil to name, you couldn’t seem to find those scars as his thumb skimmed over the back of your hand and he whispered soft encouragements with each step you took. The ground was slightly slick from rain the previous night and as such, you slipped a few steps into the walk. Yet, Kol caught you and he kept his word. He didn’t let you fall.

When you reached the trail’s end, only one word escaped your lips.

“Wow…”

It was like something out of a movie. Layer after layer of mountains stretched off as far as the eye could see, one right after the other in an imperfect symmetry that was somehow just right. The vibrant colors of the trees made the valley in front of you seem as though it were on fire. Your vision was colored crimson and gold. Breathtaking isn’t a word strong enough to describe the view. You weren’t sure there was a word strong enough but you couldn’t think of one regardless, far too entranced by the exquisite majesty of the mountain range. You walked yourself to the edge of the cliff, not caring that there was nothing below you but a deadly fall. You just stood there, enamored by it all.

You didn’t hear Kol approach just behind you; yet, you didn’t jump when you felt his fingers begin delicately carding through your hair. He was close - too close - but somehow you didn’t mind. He must have set the drinks down somewhere because his other hand came to rest tentatively on your hip. You felt his breath on your neck - warmer than a dead boy’s should have been - but you didn’t flinch. Maybe you’d never quite understand why.

“Look up, darling,” Kol muttered softly. You did as you were told and gasped.

What had always been so far above you - so fascinating yet unattainable - was now just overhead. The ghostly wisps of the cloud layer skimmed over the mountain’s peaks, cascading down with the weight of the water they held. It was one of those half-rainy sorts of days. A little dreary, but that made it all the more beautiful. Those clouds drifted mere inches above you, swirling lazily in the cool breeze of fall. It was a scene out of your most wondrous daydream. What was it about today and making impossibilities a reality?

“They’re magnificent, aren’t they?” He whispered. You knew he must have felt it when you shuddered. “Would you like to touch them?”

Speaking felt wrong. If you spoke, you would surely break this spell. You would remember that Kol was a vampire and that he probably wanted to kill you and that this went against everything you had ever been told. But for once you didn’t want to care about any of that. For once, all you wanted was this moment and this boy to care about you like no one else ever had. So you didn’t speak. You just nodded.

His hand brushed over your shoulder and tugged on your sleeve just a little. There were butterflies taking off all throughout your body, even though there shouldn’t have been. You let out a shaking breath as his fingers skimmed leisurely down your arm - he took his sweet time as if to ensure you were forced to acknowledge every spark as he drew them from your skin. Tenderly, he wrapped his hand around your wrist and then guided you to reach high over your head. You came just inches from breaking the smooth white mist.

“I’m too short,” You mused, a little disappointed. "I don't think I can do it."

“I think you can,” Kol breathed against the shell of your ear. The boy’s grip on your wrist tightened just a fraction and the fingertips of his other hand followed, pressing into your hip just right. Your breathing hitched and your heart sped like a rabbit's. "Reach higher."

Stretching upward as much as you possibly could, you stood on your toes and fought the voice in your head that told you to go no further. As you did your fingers dipped into the swirling cloud and you just giggled. What kid doesn’t dream of touching the clouds? Now, that was a dream come true.

It wasn’t impossible. Maybe nothing was.

You grinned and your heart was racing. With your hand in a cloud and Kol's hands on you, the two of you just stood there for a bit. For whatever reason, you didn't mind his touch as much as you had before. It simply didn't feel as threatening. Perhaps it never had been. Maybe he wasn't lying. Maybe he really did want you.

Oh yeah, he wanted you all right… for lunch.

Your racing heartbeat stuttered in your chest a little as you remembered that little bet you had made earlier that morning and that look in his eyes as you had agreed to it. He'd looked so excited, so eager to rip into your throat.

Just like that, the spell was broken.

You yanked your hand from the cloud layer and fell back onto your heels. Whirling around, you faced him, wide-eyed and blinking rapidly. He seemed to realize that his time was up. There was another forced smile as he took his hands off you and backed away. You pushed past him wordlessly, bowing your head. Meeting his eyes seemed impossible with how hot your cheeks burned.

A smooth, flat rock that bore a remarkable resemblance to a bench stood a few feet away from the cliff's edge and you made a beeline towards it. That was where Kol had placed the drinks and muffins so you grabbed yours, letting them warm your hands as you took a deep breath.

Why had you let that boy - vampire - touch you like that? Why did you let him talk you into things that were so clearly stupid? You were wearing vervain, so logically you knew he couldn't be influencing your mind. But what other explanation was there? This wasn't like you. This wasn't normal!

Slowly and carefully so as not to startle you, Kol moved to sit by your side. You watched him like a hawk, clutching that cup in your hands as though it contained the cure to cancer and the CIA was hunting you down.

"Y/N," He called your name softly, but you just shook your head. Kol reached out and took your hand, brushing his thumb over your knuckles and you felt those sparks crackle and jump. You didn't want him to take his hand away but you couldn't understand why. "Y/N, I didn't mean to frighten you."

Why did you believe him?

"I know." You nodded and watched him carefully for a moment. “Can you do something for me?” You asked, near silently. You may have felt free and open to both new experiences and ideas, but that didn’t mean you were ready to be hurt.

Kol’s face fell and that genuine concern melted back into his eyes but it was a fake smile that made its way onto his lips. "If you want me to take you home, then I will. I won't make you stay with me if that isn't what you want.”

“No.” You shook your head. Your answer surprised him as much as it did you. “No, it’s not you, it’s just… This - what I’m doing right now - it’s crazy and it’s pretty stupid if I’m being honest and I’m very much aware of that…"

"I'd be concerned if you weren't," He said with a wry smile. The corners of your lips twitched up and you played with the soft strings of your sweater. His eyes flicked downward, distracted by the movement.

You couldn't believe you were about to say this. You opened your mouth.

"Kol, I-" The words got lodged in your throat. If you said them, you would be admitting something that would give him a dangerous amount of power over you. "I-I wan-"

He tucked a finger under your chin and lifted your head to look you in the eyes. "You can tell me what it is that you want, Y/N." He smiled and this time it wasn't forced but it was a little sad. "I will respect your wishes no matter how they may pain me."

That statement. That was important.

He shouldn't have been able to claim a thing like that. He wasn't supposed to be capable of decency, or morality.

So why was that more decent, more kind, and more moral than anything you'd ever heard out of the mouths of any of the so-called 'respectable' founder boys your parents had tried to set you up with? Tyler Lockwood certainly hadn't had that much respect for you - and you'd never even dated him! Kol was supposed to be evil so why wasn't he evil to you?

Why did you want to see how good he could be?

"I-I want to see what’s gonna happen," You admitted. "But I can’t just trust you on a whim. So before I go anywhere with you, I need you to promise me a couple things… and I need to know that you’ll keep those promises.”

The boy sighed. “Can’t blame you for being reasonable, can I?” He held your eyes for a moment, thinking. Then he tilted his head and his eyes gleamed with something mischievous as he leaned forward as if to tell you a secret. “Tell you what, I’ll promise you any three things you like if you’ll swear to me something in return for each one.”

"Three?"

He nodded. "Three."

If you did that, then you might have to open yourself up to thoughts you knew you shouldn’t.

“Okay,” You agreed.

Kol grinned. “Then name your terms, my lady.”

You didn't have to think about those for very long.

“Promise me your complete honesty.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Simple, really.” You took a breath, though it did nothing to calm your racing heart. “I want your complete transparent honesty all the time. I want you to tell me what you’re thinking and what your intentions are even if you think something might scare me off. I don’t want to be left guessing as to what, if any of this is real.”

“Fair enough.” The boy held your eyes. “You have my word if you’ll give me yours. I want the same. I want you to be honest even about the things you don’t want to admit to yourself. I don’t want you hiding anything.”

You nodded. “I can do that. Promise me you’ll never hurt my little brother - that you’ll never try to manipulate him or compel someone else to harm him in any way.”

“Promise me you’ll do your best to put aside your prejudices and allow me a fair chance."

"To do what?"

"To earn a second date."

“Done.”

“Done.” No hesitation.

You pursed your lips and swallowed thickly, feeling a little lightheaded as you leaned away from him but not out of fear. Your voice dropped lower. “Promise me you’ll never hurt me.”

He nodded, tilting his head slightly as he watched you with eyes as soft and warm as autumn leaves. “I can’t promise that I’ll never say or do anything that hurts you, darling. However, I can promise that I’ll never try to cause you pain.” Your hair whipped around your face a bit due to the wind and the boy lifted a hand to sweep it back behind your shoulder. His touch was gentle and your cheeks reddened against your will. Resting it against the side of your neck, he brushed his thumb over your jaw as he studied you, his eyes flicking over your features. “Now, promise me that if the time ever arises when you trust me with your life, you won’t consider this promise broken should I want for something that scares you.”

You inhaled sharply. “What do you mean?”

“You know what I am,” He said, smiling dryly. “You asked for my honesty. I can’t promise you’ll always like it.” Slowly, Kol brought the hand he was holding to his lips and you tensed as he pressed a kiss against the pulse at the inside of your wrist. He met your eyes again and you got the point. “Although I may crave your blood, that doesn’t mean I want to hurt you. There's a difference. Promise me you’ll do your best to keep that in mind?”

He'd promised he wouldn't lie. So what reason was there for you not to believe the plea in his eyes?

You couldn’t come up with a single reason why he might possibly care about you beyond his predatory nature. Everything you had ever been taught claimed that vampires were nothing more than animals driven by their instincts and desire to kill - that they had no capability for emotional complexity of any kind. But you knew now, from that look in his eyes that those claims had to be wrong and it wasn’t just some act or a trick of the light. It was right in front of you and you couldn’t deny it.

Your heart stuttered again, but your fear wasn't going to stop you.

“Deal.”

"Excellent." He looked really happy.

"So, now what?"

It didn't take long for the two of you to figure out an activity. Although after three consecutive losses in Never Have I Ever minus the alcohol, Kol gave up. By that time it was about noon. You could hardly believe it when you checked your watch that you had spent three hours on the side of a cliff with an original vampire. Though, it grew harder for you to think of the boy that way the longer you spent with him. He wasn't scary when it was like this - just the two of you swapping funny stories on the side of a mountain. He was sincere just as he'd promised to be.

It was nice.

You didn't want it to end, so you told him that because you had promised to be honest as well. Kol's solution was to find the nearest movie theater and watch whatever was playing which just so happened to be The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. After that, you proceed to introduce him to the world of modern fantasy and Baskin Robbins simultaneously, the latter of which he paid for. Watching a one thousand-year-old being sample no less than thirty-six flavors of ice cream (rainbow sherbet included) while he asked you various in-depth questions about a famous children's book was the most entertaining thing you had ever experienced.

By the time all that was done, the sun had set and you knew it was probably time to get heading home. You still didn't want to go home, but this was the first date and you weren't going to stay overnight in a hotel with any person you'd only been on one date with regardless of whether they were human or not. You weren't that trusting.

The ride back to Mystic Falls was pleasant enough. You laughed and joked and listened to the radio. The only point when you felt uncomfortable was when he reached into the glove compartment and pulled out a bag labeled O-negative. You tried to remain unfazed but seeing him actually drink the stuff made you jumpy. That bet you'd made that morning wouldn't leave your thoughts.

"You wanted my honesty," The boy hummed, aiming for nonchalance though he missed by a hairsbreadth.

"Yeah, I know." You nodded. "So, is that like your favorite?" You asked in a feeble attempt to dispel the awkwardness.

"I don't know if I really have a favorite," Kol admitted, shrugging. He flashed you a grin. "We'll have to see if that changes when I try yours."

He said when. Not if but when.

You swallowed thickly and faced forward, biting your lip with a slight hum to acknowledge his comment. Kol turned his head and frowned.

"I did it again, didn't I?" He sighed. "I didn't mean it, love. I was being facetious just like I was about that bet this morning."

He wasn't serious?

"That's not what I saw."

He huffed a laugh. "Don't get me wrong, darling. As much as I would absolutely love a taste from one of your pretty little veins, I'd rather wait until you offer me one."

The statement was, by no means, comforting. It was the genuine confidence in his tone that disturbed you the most. He spoke with the same surety that one uses when speaking of a morning’s sunrise. At the very least, his words assured you that he would keep his earlier promise.

You exhaled slowly, trying to calm your mind. One date with him didn’t mean anything.

“I am never going to do that, Kol.” Your voice was quiet but firm, cold and hard like steel. Out of the corner of your eye, you saw him turn his head to watch you. Even in the blackness of the night, his eyes weren’t as dark or as cold as you had thought just the day before. They were dark chocolate - not obsidian.

“With all due respect, darling - which is more than I think you’re used to being shown -” His voice was quiet too but in a different way. It sounded more like coffee and warm muffins. “- I wouldn’t recommend making a vow like that. Never isn’t quite as long as you think it might be.”

You nodded, rolling your eyes. “Is this your way of winning yourself that bet? ‘Cuz I hate to break it to you but, uh… it won’t work.”

“I can have my fantasies,” He said, shrugging innocently.

“And I can crush them,” You fired back.

The awkward atmosphere cleared shortly after that and the rest of the ride back to your house was comfortable and fun. When the two of you arrived in Mystic Falls, he parked his car where he’d left the motorcycle that morning, and this time you climbed on without a second thought. The experience was just as enjoyable after dark. All too soon, however, you found yourself parked on the curb in front of your house. Climbing off the bike, you pulled off the helmet he’d given you to borrow and placed it on the back. Kol stopped you.

“Why don’t you keep that,” He said with a knowing smirk. “I have a feeling you’ll need it again.”

You shrugged. “Won’t say no to free stuff.”

He just smiled at you and you had to look away. You were blushing but you hopped it was too dark for him to tell. Kol walked you to the door, like any real gentleman should.

“Well, I suppose this is goodbye,” He said. “For now, at least.”

You could have left; yet, you chose to linger.

You shook your head. “No, it isn’t.”

The boy’s brows snapped together and you could practically see the wheels in his head turning. “I’m sorry?”

“You’re trying to weasel your way out of it, but I won’t let you.”

“You’ve lost me, darling.”

You gestured to the silver crescent moon hanging on the ink-black backdrop above you. “It’s the end of the night. I have officially won the bet,” You announced. “Now, pay up, loser.”

“Wha- No!” He laughed and shook his head. “I’ll admit to losing, but I already paid.”

“How?”

“I bought the ice cream.”

You narrowed your eyes. “I’m pretty sure the agreement was three pints worth,” You said.

“Was it?”

“Yeah…”

He hissed. “Guess you’ll just have to go on another two dates with me then, won’t you?”

“Guess I will.” You played at reluctance but you really didn’t mind all that much. You’d had fun with him. That wasn’t a bad thing.

“Your parents are going to kill you,” He predicted with a satisfied smirk.

“Ya’ think?” You mockingly gasped. “Wow! You know, you should feel ashamed for being such a bad influence on me.”

He snapped his fingers. “I should be ashamed, damn it! Your parents are really going to hate me now.” The boy leaned forward and a mischievous grin danced in his eyes as he bowed his head, looking up at you through a curtain of lashes. “Shall we make it worse?” He whispered conspiratorially.

Your grin matched his. “Hell yeah.”

With a breathy laugh that turned to mist in the chilly evening air of mid-autumn, he reached up and trailed his hand up to your shoulder. You only really noticed how cold it was when he tugged on the sleeve of your sweater, dragging the material away from your neck and off your shoulder. Butterflies and paranoia gripped your insides and you eyed him wearily. He glanced back up to meet your eyes and smiled as he took a step closer to you.

“Relax, darling.” The boy wrapped both arms around your waist. “Promise I won’t do anything bad,” He assured you, taking another step closer. He rested his forehead against yours for just a moment before leaning down. You felt his breath ghost over your neck and you stiffened.

What he did wasn’t quite a kiss - not exactly. Kol started at the curve of your jaw and smoothed his lips down the column of your throat with hardly the pressure of an autumn leaf drifting to the ground. He finished at your shoulder, leaving an achingly soft kiss on the spot. His lips were gentle and sweet, like rain through a mountaintop forest. Your eyes fluttered closed and your heart raced. It was like a dream and you wanted more even though you knew you shouldn’t. Butterflies flitted through your soul as he dragged his perfectly soft lips to the base of your throat and back up. The boy hesitated for a moment before he nipped just lightly at your jaw. Then again at your pulse. Your racing heart skipped a beat and he paused.

“I’ll stop if you want me to,” He whispered.

You couldn’t comprehend why you said: “Don’t.”

Kol leaned down and nipped at your pulse again. You shuddered and he did it once more, a little slower. Then his arms around your waist tightened and Kol pressed your whole body against his own, holding you as close as he could. For a split second, you could feel him smile. His lips pressed gently at your throat, trailing along your jugular. He was gentle and sweet but there was a greediness and a hunger to each kiss that he couldn’t seem to hide. You could say for certain that nothing had ever felt quite as gratifying as Kol's mouth. Even though it shouldn't have. You wrapped your arms around his neck and pulled yourself that much closer to him, tangling your fingers in his hair. The boy hummed quietly, though it was a more innocent sound than you’d heard from him that morning - like he couldn’t help it. His mouth trailed lower, to the base of your throat.

When he kissed you again, Kol was rougher. You drew in a quick breath as he kissed and bit at your skin with blunt teeth. It was still sweet somehow; not as lustful as you would expect. Those teeth had killed - had ripped flesh apart, but for your life, you could not bring yourself to care. Because with you, this monster was sweet - so effortlessly sweet and kind. Kol kept his promise. He didn't hurt you. He only bit hard enough to bruise - just hard enough to leave a mark your parents would see. His mouth slowed and he took a breath. You could tell he wanted to kiss you like that again but you really weren't ready for anything more so you appreciated that he didn't. When he was done leaving his mark on you, he skimmed his lips over it and pressed one last tender kiss on your jaw.

The boy didn't pull away just yet, however. He lingered, hungry for more as if he just couldn't find the strength to drag himself away from you. That one last kiss turned into four or five more but you weren't complaining. He let go of your waist first, moving his hands to your shoulders.

"Sorry about that," He laughed quietly. "I might have gotten a little carried away."

You nodded, struggling to speak. "A little bit, yeah."

"In my defense, both your parents were watching through the windows behind me and I think your mother might have fainted."

"Wait, really?" That would be entertaining if nothing else.

"That's what it sounded like," He replied. Kol finally pulled away from you, smiling just a little bit. "Does this mean I get another date?"

Did he really even need to ask?

"I think I can live with that." You nodded, smirking. "Though it needs to involve ice cream of some variety."

"We already did a movie," He mused.

"True…"

"And just yesterday you turned me down on dinner."

"Also true…"

He pushed a strand of hair away from your face and his lips twitched up into a teasing smile. "Please suggest something, love. I don't think I can survive another one of my sister's modern culture education sessions," He said.

"Oh, I dunno. Can you play mini-golf?"

***

Tagging: @yn-ymn-yln @r13mar @rootbeerfaygo @iiskittles16ii @fandomrulesall-blog @dark-night-sky-99 @railingsofsorrow @apolloroid @thatweirdoleigh @misswe03 @eat-cake @felinegrate @trikigirl271 Hey there, people of the internet! If you want on or off the tag list for this series and/or all my other works, just send me a DM to let me know! And if Tumblr won't let me tag you, I'll just send you a friendly DM reminder at your request. Thanks for reading!

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a-doubleh-x · 5 months

Text

Angel Dust was my closet key (but not in the way you'd expect)

This one's gonna be a bit of a personal post, so bear with me.

For most of my life, I considered myself a pretty hetero guy. I felt attracted to women, I didn't feel attracted to men and I was mostly fine with that. However, around a couple years ago, when I was participating in Yuri Jam, I came across a little term called "biromantic" and something clicked for me.

In case you don't know, "biromantic" is a term that applies to a person who feels romantic attraction for both men and women. Back then I thought "Oh yeah, I guess I am that!", then I came out on twitter, no one cared about it and I moved on with my life.

At the time, I thought I did for attention and out of guilt for being a cisgendered heterosexual male, and to be fair, I think it's a valid expectation for most people to want *some* attention when you have something to say that's comparable to that. A part of me also felt like it wasn't a useful discovery, because 1: I know of no men who want to date other men in a purely romantic non-sexual way and 2: I've been single by choice for a while anyways.

But all of that changed when I first saw Angel Dust on the Amazon series.

I was like: "Oh my gosh" 😳 That guy has a very hot voice. I thought he was so confident, so assertive, every line he spouted made me melt into a giggling 6 year old. And then I was like: "Oh. I guess those feelings were valid. I'm in love with Angel Dust" 🥺💖

Now I just wanna gush a little because I just think Angel Dust is such a cool character. The way he's portrayed makes you think he's meant to be obnoxious, but to me he's so proud, so bold, so brave for being himself. The way he flirts with Husk with such assertiveness is so attractive to me. There's something so raw and geniune about it.

Another thing that blows my mind is that, even though we know this "confident" persona is meant to be façade and he only puts face as a coping mechanism, the fact that Angel is capable of putting that face is mind blowing to me. He's gone through one of the worst versions of Hell I can imagine, he's been used, humiliated and hurt, both physically and psychologically and yet he's still capable of putting on a smile.

Needless to say, I don't intend to glorify the stuggles of an abuse victim, what Angel goes through is an atrocity and it shouldn't happen to anyone in a fair world. But the fact that that's his reality and he still manages to struggle through the best way he can makes him such a badass to me.

I also feel obligated to mention his redemption arc. I think Angel was always a good person, he just needed to right space to grow. From the start, he seemed very sociable and empathetic, it's just that he was too jaded to care about others. I think taking care of Niffty and standing up to her in episode 6 just came naturally for him, there was no need for a very strict guidance, just some nurture.

He's such a sweetheart! His interactions with Charlie in episode 3 are also so cute. I could write a whole post about his relationship with Husk and I probably will. I think it's really cool that despite being so different, they find a way to meet in the middle and come out as better people from it.

I don't know what it is about him, but I watched Angel on the show and I was like "Oh yeah. I wanna smooch that spider man" 😚

It felt like a big relief, because until now I wasn't ever sure if these feelings were "real", or I was just a hetero who wanted to feel special and not hated in the social circles I usually frequent. That's a whole topic of discussion for another day, I know there's people who will argue that heteros can't be the victim of prejudice and I'm not interested in arguing about that today.

I just wanna say, I love you Angel Dust and thank you for opening my eyes. Now I can indulge in my occasional romantic attraction to men without feeling like a false gay wannabe.

Thank you for bearing with me for a very special post. I was a little sick this week, but I managed to find a moment to write it anyways. I'm still working on the next chapter of my fic, but hopefully I'll find a moment here and there to keep writing discussion posts here.

Stay tuned! 🕷💖🤍

#hazbin hotel #angel dust #character analysis #biromantic

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fluffiwrites · 2 years

Note

If you’re taking requests, you should totally write an Omori fic 😭 There’s literally NO tk fics anywhere for the game and it hurts 😤

Request: Literally any character you want. It would be sun to see something with Kel, though (favorite character 💀)

omigosh ilysm for requesting this 😭 i daydream ALOT & I get most fic ideas from daydreaming, & I thought of a lee!kel idea because my boy doesn't get enough tiggles HE NEEDS THEM 💔 so this request is a true serendepity ^^ (btw he's also my fave hehehe)

--------

"Admit it!"

Lee!Kel Ler!Basil, Ler!Aubrey. Warnings: Tickling

This is RW Pre-Death ^^

OKI ENJOY

"Um- Hero? Do you know where Kel is? I need to ask him if he broke my camera..." Basil inquired.

"Oh your cameras broken? Don't worry! I'm sure Mari could fix it for you, right?" She nodded.

"Anyway, I think he's under the tree with the others!" Hero had a warm smile, as he turned back to Mari to finish baking their cookies.

Basil walked over to the tree Hero mentioned, & there he was with Aubrey & Sunny.

"Kel? Did you break my camera?" He asked.

"No.." (Lies)

"But why did i find a photo of you swinging around with it?" Basil interrogated.

"What...there's no photo.." The brunette had a very guilty look on his face.

"Then, what's this?" Basil pulled out the photo!

"That's-uh! Fabricated! Yeah! AUBREY DID IT!!!" He pointed to the young girl.

"WHAT?! I DID NOT, JERK!" she shouted, "Come on Basil let's get him!"

"Yeah!" The blonde laughed.

"AAAAAA SUNNY HELP ME!!!" Kel started to run as fast as he could as the others chased him.

Sunny ignored, claiming it was too "immature for him & carried on silently reading his book.

Being who he is, it was guaranteed Kel would fall at some point, & so he did, right in the middle of the field.

"….. need a minute..." Kel gasped, "God, you run fast..."

"Well we wouldn't have to chase you if you just gave up!"

"NEVER! UAHAHAHA!!!" He leaped up, "YOU'LL NEVER CATCH ME-ACK!" Aubrey caught him just before he got away.

"Time for your punishment!!!" She said with determination.

"What do you- Wait...nonoNONONO-"The boy burst out laughing before he could even finish his sentence.

He folded up like a chair as 20 fingers wiggled & squeezed all over his sides, "Nahahat fahahahir!!!

Thahat's cheheating!" He giggled.

"You lied to us!!!" Basil said.

"Maybe we'll stop if you tell the truth!" Aubrey added.

"IHI DIDNT BREHEAK IT I SWEHEAR!!!" He cackled & flinched at every poke the two sent to his stomach, the tingly feelings shooting across his body.

"WRONG!!!" They said in unison, "Gosh if only I knew you were this ticklish then, I would've definitely have won that play fight." Aubrey teased.

"SHUHUT UHUP- NAHAT THEHERE" Kel's obnoxious laughter raised an octave when Basil's hand snuck under his arm, he quickly shot them down & squeezed tightly.

"Ooh, look Aubrey! I think I found it!" He said innocently as Kel practically died of laughter.

"Good job! Take. THIS!" Kel flailed his arms about in a weak attempt of escape, & once Aubrey started to dig into the ticklish hollows, it was over.

It wasn't long before the boy's giddy laughter had silenced, so the two mischievous kids let up, &

Kel lay there in a messy pool of giggles.

"I gihive uhup...I didn't mehean to break it I swear!" He blabbed out.

"Oh, we're not mad. We just wanted to mess with you." Aubrey admitted casually.

Kel's mouth gaped.

"MARIII AUBREY & BASIL ARE BULLIESSS!!!" He yelled as he, once again, ran away, all the way to the house.

———————

Hehe I hope this was nice to read! ^^ But either way thanks for reading & have a lovely day, my loves! (@^v^@)/☆

#omori #omori tickles #tickle fic #tickle fluff #fluffiwrites #i need sleep #lee!kel #ler!basil #ler!aubrey

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brunchable · 2 years

Text

Conflict Resolution Chapter 4 — 30 minutes || Surgeon!S.S. × Asian!Reader.

Warnings: Coarse Language, Sexual Elements, Medical elements, Arguing, Bickering

Pairings: Stephen Strange x Asian!Reader (OC)

Summary: You and Stephen go to dinner as per the homework Dr. Sofen assigned to the both of you.

A/N: I have no ownership of this story, all credits go to Kate Canterbary for her book, The Worst Guy.

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

Stephen

"What else?" Stephen asked Essex. He paced the sidewalk across the street from Pastoral in the Manhattan neighbourhood while his neuro fellow murmured a few lines from an old Snoop Dogg song through his earbuds. It was fucking freezing out here but he was a minute early, and he'd take all manner of damp, bone-chilling wind if it saved him from dealing with Park. At least for one more minute.

"I think that's the last update I have for you," he said. Stephen could hear him flipping through his notebook and the ambient noise of the hospital around him. "For now, that is. I will come up with something soon enough."

"Please don't complain to me about the general surgery fellow grabbing another case out from underneath you again," he said, giving the restaurant a resentful glance.

"Did you hear me complain? Because I didn't. You extrapolated a complaint about that case-thieving sneak from my overall report. The last time I complained out loud was when I was an intern and had so many pagers, my scrubs kept falling down."

That was fully inaccurate but Stephen wasn't interested in debating that with him now.

"And how many pagers does it take to drop your pants, Essex?"

"Yeah, this sounds like a fully appropriate question," he snarked. "And for your information, it was nine. Nine pagers. Urology, trauma, ENT, cardio, surgical oncology, colorectal, vascular, limb salvage, plastics. What a fucking nightmare."

Stephen stifled a groan at the mention of plastics and frowned at his watch. He was going to have to go in there and get this over with soon. He wouldn't put it past you to break a chair over his head if he rolled in ten minutes late. He shoved his hands into his pockets as another gust of cold, raw air blew in off the water. He hated the way summer bumped and stumbled into autumn here, starting and stopping like there was some serious question over whether seasons were supposed to keep on changing. And then, after cold snaps and heat waves and hurricanes, there was always one day in October, just like today, when it all collapsed and the debate was over. Summer was finished, autumn was here to stay, and he fucking hated it.

Stephen hated wintry weather and all the nonsense that went with it. Snow, ice, everything. Goddamn, it was awful.

"Anyway, that was a night I wouldn't wish on anyone," Essex said.

"What?"

"Did you dip out on me there? You do that a lot, Strange. I have to check the paperwork but I think you're supposed to pay attention to me. You're also supposed to be teaching me, not flaking out in the middle of my twenty-car pileup story, but that's a neglect I've come to accept from you."

It had taken me a bit to get his arms around it but he now understood this was Essex's personality. He was obnoxious in a jaded, cynical way, though he never pretended he was in this business for any altruistic purpose. He thrived on ego and half-baked contempt for everyone.

Stephen understood it too, even if he didn't function the same way Essex did. But the guy had a dry, silly side too and it often came out in stories about his intern years in Minnesota, his assertion that Stephen didn't teach him enough, or riding the line between delinquent and savant.

Essex was a brilliant surgeon but not a single day went by without Stephen wishing he'd known all these quirks of Essex before selecting him for a two-year fellowship.

"What would you like me to teach you while you're recapping the greatest hits of your intern year?"

"You could start by explaining how you organise your shit. I bent down to tie my shoes and it took me twenty-five minutes to clean up the mess from my pockets projectile vomiting all over the place. It was a fucking yard sale, man."

"Sounds like a personal problem." Stephen glanced at the restaurant again. He was notably late now. "Could you…uh, do me a favor? Could you give me a call in forty-five minutes?"

"Is that when you slip into a bath? Glass of pinot, chocolates, fizzy bath bomb? Get your me time?"

"What? No. I might need a reason to—" Stephen stopped, neither wanting to nor knowing how to explain this. "Forty-five minutes. I might teach you something interesting tomorrow if you can save me tonight."

"Sold. Setting a timer now." With that, Essex ended the call.

Stephen popped his earbuds back into their case and accepted the fact he had to go inside, sit down with you for significantly longer than he could bear, and talk to you without rolling his eyes out loud. He was going to fail his ass off. It was warm inside the restaurant and he spotted you immediately.

You were frowning at your phone while typing, pausing, deleting, and typing again.

"Excuse me, sir? Are you meeting someone?" Stephen glanced around to find the hostess with a stack of menus cradled in her arm.

"Uh. Yeah, but—"

"Would you happen to be the most insufferable, arrogant surgeon in the entire city? If so, I can show you to your party." Stephen shifted to face the hostess fully.

"How much did she pay you for that?" Stephen reached for his wallet. "Whatever it was, I'll double it if you—"

She held up a hand and shook her head with a grin. "No, I'm pretty sure I'm on her side."

Stephen shoved his wallet back in hid pocket. "How righteous of you." Stephen jerked his chin in your direction. "My insufferable arrogant ass will lead the way. Thanks."

He reached the table in a few long strides, yanked back the empty chair, forcing a rough squeal of wood scraping over the stone floor. You startled, your phone dropping to the table and a little gasp slipping past your lips.

"Arrogant, huh?" Stephen asked, dropping into the chair. "Insufferable too? How long did it take you to come up with that scheme? Did it take all week? Or did lightning strike while you were waiting?"

You leaned back, folded your arms across your torso. That move had the unfortunate effect of reminding him that you were a pointlessly beautiful woman who could wear the shit out of a turtleneck sweater. But he didn't care. Really, he did not.

You could wear all the sweaters you wanted and have all that long, black hair and be annoyingly, disturbingly beautiful and he didn't have to care. Not his problem.

"You're late," you snapped.

"You were late on Thursday." Stephen reached for the menu waiting at his place setting and gave it a quick glance. "Seemed only appropriate to return the favor."

With a glare that could dilate blood vessels, you collected your phone and tapped the screen. You set it in the centre of the table with a pointed nod. After holding your glare through several blinks, Stephen glanced at the screen. "What's that supposed to be?"

"It would help if you could make an attempt at critical thinking," you replied. "It's a timer. There's no reason this should exceed thirty minutes."

Still staring at you, Stephen raised his hand into the air. Soon, a server appeared at his side. "Hey there, folks. Can I interest you in—"

"A beer, please," Stephen interrupted. "A wheat, nothing pumpkin." Stephen blinked at you. "The margherita pizza."

You arched a brow up as you said, "The bucatini, please. No arugula."

"Anything to drink?" the server asked.

"Water is fine, thanks," you replied.

"And what about nibbles for the table? Calamari, eggplant frites, burrata—"

"No," you and Stephen said in unison.

"Okay, then," the server murmured. "I'll get that right in for you."

Once you're alone, you slid an index card across the table. "Five things about me. There you go."

Stephen peered at the card. "Did you buy a package of index cards just for this purpose? Or do you have index cards lying around? Like you're an intern presenting at rounds for the first time? Do you still make notes for rounds? Please tell me you're past the index card phase, Park. I couldn't stand it if I knew you were walking around with little color-coded notes every day."

You regarded him with a smug grin that made it pretty clear you'd rip his face off if he took his eyes from you for a second. "You're the kind of teacher who abuses interns and residents, then? Do you throw things too or is it just shaming and torment?"

"You are the one with the track record with projectiles." Stephen plucked the beer from the server's tray and drained half of it before continuing. "And I'll have you know I'm a great teacher—"

"I'm sure you think so," you interrupted. "And that's fantastic for you. Really, it is. But I don't have a single fuck to give about any of that because I'm walking out of here in twenty-three minutes. Fork over your five things, Strange."

A snarl sounded in his throat as he studied you. He couldn't stop staring at you. It was mostly self-preservation but a shred of confusion lingered there too. He had so many questions right now but the first and most essential among them was: Who the hell was this woman and why did she kill for sport?

He set the beer down, folded his arms on the table, and leaned in close. "I don't think this is what Karla had in mind when she said we were supposed to get to know each other," Stephen whisper-growled. "If you could just be nice—"

"You want me to be nice?" You whisper-screeched right back. "Nice? That's what you want?"

"It wouldn't kill you."

"But clearly it will kill you," you said. "Seeing as I've made a point of being nice to you since moving into the building and you've—hmm." You tapped a finger to your chin.

"Right, yes, you ignored my pleasantries. And now you'd like me to be all sugar plums and lemon drops because it suits your purposes?" You shook her head, that maniacal grin still pulling up your pale pink lips. "I don't think so. No, I don't think so."

Stephen took his time responding to that attack and finished off his beer. He was drinking too fast and practically inviting a migraine into his day tomorrow but he could barely think about anything other than the dark haired ball of fury seated across from him.

"What the hell are you talking about?" He set the empty glass on the table and ignored a sudden, perverse interest in what you were wearing with that turtleneck.

You'd been seated when he arrived and you hadn't yet leapt up to bludgeon him with a saltshaker so he was clueless as to whether you wore jeans or a skirt or—fuck, he didn't even know. And he didn't care. Not at all. Which was why he ignored that thought entirely.

"I am talking about saying hello to you in the hallway," you replied.

"Right. Let me see if I understand this." Stephen reached for your glass of water and drained it while you gaped at him. "I didn't give enough attention to your chirpy little greetings so you went all tiny tornado on an exam room, and you're going to hold it against me until you can find a way to be rid of me, even if that involves strangling the life out of me with your precious plastic surgeon hands. Do I have that right?"

Okay, so he knew he was an asshole. He knew this. And now you did too. You gave your empty glass a mortified stare before meeting his gaze.

"We both know the exam room was an accident and fully unrelated to our prior interactions outside the hospital. I am not going to revise history with you. I am not going to be nice simply because it makes you comfortable."

"I don't remember the last time I was anything close to comfortable. Okay? Whether you screech at me or not won't change that." Drumming his finger on the table, he continued, "I'm just saying we have to get through this thing. We shouldn't kill each other in the process."

The server arrived with the meals and another round of drinks, which was a huge fucking relief because Stephen urgently needed something to do with both his hands and his mouth. But he made the fatal error of glancing across the table as the server set your dish down—a dish topped with a whole damn field of arugula. Not only did they not hold the greens, they seemed to treat you to an extra helping because there was no way that was the standard quantity.

Stephen watched you purse your lips together and he figured he was in for another explosion now. You'd send that dish back so hard, the chef would set fields of arugula on fire. But you said nothing when the server asked if there was anything else we needed. And you blinked down at the heap of curly greens, fork in hand, like it was a project you'd inherited and didn't have the heart to abandon.

Stephen sat there, his fingers curled around the fresh glass of beer, and stared while you excavated a strand of pasta from beneath the arugula.

What the fuck was I watching? Where was the tiny tornado? Or the screech owl? Or even the hunter who'd happily mount my head on her wall? And who the hell was this?

You and Stephen ate in silence for several minutes. It wasn't until the server arrived at the table to top off your water that you and him shared a momentary glance at the woman's veiny hands. Those were legend-status veins.

Once alone again, Stephen said, "I could get a gray cannula in on the first shot and she wouldn't even feel it."

You gave a dry laugh. "When was the last time you started an IV?"

"Not recently," he admitted. "I usually practise on my residents at the start of their neuro rotation. Gets us off on a good, abusive foot and it helps me rank them by vascularity. Least being best, of course, since they'd never get pulled off the floor to donate blood. It comes back to haunt them when they're inevitably enrolled in a clinical trial."

"You're such an asshole," you said, but there was no heat behind it. You almost sounded amused.

"And what about you? When was the last time you started a line?"

You set your fork down and busied yourself with the napkin on your lap. "You have no idea what I do, do you?"

Stephen dropped a piece of crust to his plate. "Plastics. You make people look pretty after I put them back together."

You dabbed your lips—they were so pale, barely even pink—and set the napkin beside your mostly untouched pasta. You'd moved it around plenty but you hardly made a dent. And then you held up your phone to him as the timer counted down the final five seconds you'd set for the both of you.

After swiping away the alarm, you slipped the index card off the table. "I didn't get yours, so you're not getting mine."

You pushed away from the table and he had no choice but to watch you cross the restaurant. You didn't bother with backward glances, not when you were busy walking like the floor owed you money.

Steohen returned to his beer and pizza, and attempted to figure out what the ever-loving fuck happened here tonight. He was halfway through the last slice of pizza when his phone buzzed in his pocket. He assumed it was you texting him a thesis on his arrogance though he was wrong.

When he saw Essex was calling, he tucked the phone against his shoulder, saying, "What's up?"

The blaring roar of the emergency room came through the line before he said, "I'm early but I gotta deal with an issue. Consider this your fake crisis call so you can get the hell out of whatever you've gotten yourself into now."

"I don't get myself into things," Stephen said, dropping the last of the crust to his plate. "I actively avoid getting into things. I hate things."

"Yeah, yeah. I don't have time to unpack any of that tonight but maybe tomorrow if you buy me lunch."

"I'm not buying you lunch."

"That's cool. I'll get Druid to pick up the tab. He'll want to hear about this. He pays for updates on your misery." A siren wailed nearby and Essex groaned. "Really gotta go now. Be good." He hung up as the server came to gather the plates.

Stephen pointed at your pasta. "She said no arugula. What does this look like to you?"

The server frowned at the dish. "Why didn't she say anything?"

He motioned to the empty seat. "And you think I have any idea?"

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

Tags: @winsteria @classicrebound @gwephen @patbrdac @goldencherriess @elizabethdarcy29 @strangeobsessed @strangelockd @lady-harvey @mirikusashes @rbymoon @k1mikoz @allie131313 @strangesthirdeye @nicoletk @sleutherclaw @dragonqueen89 @bloodyxsaint @3443652 @pinkthick @iamdedsthingz @casualimaginesfluffwagon @im-akira @faltinestrange @ilikedarkrai @alicia-c37 @phatm00d @xunquish-blog @keistange @omgstarks @jotaros-bara-tiddies @gaitwae @sherlux

#stephen strange #benedict cumberbatch imagine #stephen strange x reader #stephen strange x you #marvel x you #benedict cumberbatch x reader #benedict cumberbatch #benedict cumberbatch x you #doctor strange imagine #doctor strange x you #doctor strange #doctor strange x reader #dr strange x reader #dr strange x you #doctor strange fanfiction #mcu fanfiction

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imaginepirates · 2 years

Note

I’d honestly KILL to be in your linguistics class 😂, but anyways, let’s take a look back at school life. Now, which potc characters of your choosing would be the: prankster, shy kid, nerd, snitch, etc?

Yeah the linguistics class is pretty great. Very useful for conlang construction ngl 😅.

In any case, here are my humble takes on the potc characters as school stereotypes (highschool specifically. college is another monster and I'm not yet well enough versed). Sorry I haven't posted anything in a while--school has me fuckin busy.

Jack:

The joker, the prankster, the class clown. Found in schools across the globe, and much needed for the overall social moral. Is well acquainted with the principal's office, who in this case is probably Gov. Swann. Generally liked by all, but no real close friends. The classic comedic character with a sort of sad life.

Lizzie:

Definitely the rich, smart kid, but not in an obnoxious way because she has a great sense of adventure. She tends to use her social advantages for collectve benefit and doesn't really look down on other people. This makes her generally likable and easy to talk to for others. Doesn't hurt that her dad's the principal, so.

Will:

A generally quiet kid. Not necessarily shy, just pretty mellow. Most people don't pay him much mind. That being said, the first time someone openly insults Lizzie, he stands up for her and is pretty adamant about getting them to shut up. Takes everyone by surprise. He and Jack are friends by default -- it's an "alone together" sort of situation.

James:

The fuckin nerd. Also a suck up. I'm sorry, and I love him, but it's the truth. He definitely wants teachers to think highly of him, especially when he comes in as a freshman. He takes a lot of pride in his study skills. By the time he reaches senior year, though, he's exhausted and more than a little burnt out, so his image matters considerably less. Is still probably a valedictorian tho.

Beckett:

Ok I have 2 takes for Beckett, since we get a canon description of him as a student. On the one hand, we have horribly introverted nerd who gets bullied mercilessly. On the other hand, we have elitist asshole who's too fucking smart for his own good and is a vindictive little bitch. Will slip cigs in your backpack and tell the teacher he saw them and that he's "concerned for you" to get you in trouble. Also not above having his friend Ian beat you up.

Barbossa:

The chill upperclassmen who claims to know all the school secrets. He knows which music practice rooms kids make out in, and he was there for the cheese stick that got thrown into the light fixture. He probably smokes weed some weekends and has a dope pet monkey everyone loves. Gives Jack (the person) inside deets on everything.

#potc #pirates of the caribbean #jack sparrow #elizabeth swann #james norrington #will turner #cutler beckett #hector barbossa

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protagonistheavy · 1 year

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Not more than ten minutes into playing more TotK after writing my previous tumblr post about did I discover the steering wheel objects you can attach to things lol. So that resolves one of my biggest worries, mostly. It's still pretty frustrating to be juggling so many awkward physics in a lot of cases, I've come close to losing tons of progress just because building something was tedious + the execution had to be so specific.

Otherwise though yeah Im surprisingly still having quite a bit of fun just putting together all the scraps and pieces the game has left lying around. Lots of the sky islands in particular are just little puzzles like this, figuring out how to use the items around you to get to a higher point or to another island. I've already come across a few "repeat" islands, which is unfortunate but not totally disruptive -- "repeated" in the sense that it uses the same general layout or puzzle situation, but given a little variety of what zonai items you're given.

My goal right now is to get all the parts+batteries necessary to make an RV lol. I want Link to be big truckin' and haulin' across Hyrule. I say this but it also does majorly suck that, at least where I'm at now, there's no way to save anything you build or create. The moment your game has to reload, it despawns all your creations. Pretty lame but I guess that's understandable.

I do wish dying wasn't so, so frequent... I feel like this game much more quickly thrusts tougher enemies at you from that start than BotW did. I mean I remember BotW being punishing too, but jesus fucking christ, every single thing in this game one-shots you for the first 20 hours. It's so obnoxious that you are not permitted ANY mistakes unless the game mercifully spares you with a one-quarter heart. So many times I get swarmed by enemies with spears and I feel like I have zero options but to run away -- which sucks because running away, like, ALWAYS WORKS, you can cheese so many fights by just kiting enemies.

One last note is about dungeon design. I've only completed the Water Temple but I'll say that the dungeon itself wasn't as much fun as the build-up to that area. I quite enjoyed the "pre-temple" obstacle course that takes you to the temple proper, but the actual dungeon itself was surprisingly straightforward. The boss was also a far cry from the BotW bosses lol, and the aesthetics do not match the divine beasts at all. But it's passable, had cute puzzles. My biggest complaint: I accidentally walked two steps faster than Sidon and entered the temple before he did, which left me exploring these puzzles... without Sidon there to solve them. That was REALLY annoying to have to re-enter the dungeon so that it would "start properly."

But I am still very much enjoying the game. Re-exploring Hyrule is a blast, there's enough different with it that it does not feel like trekking the same place as before except for a few nostalgic strips of land where I can go "ohhh yeah I remember doing this here!" which just feels nice. And there's also the fact that uhh just in general, I didn't explore all of BotW's map anyway lol, I completed the map itself but there were tons of places and corners I looked past, so this is a great chance to see more of what was made. And even if I do get tired of Hyrule, the Sky Islands and the Depths are both totally new areas, even if they're a bit bland, they still have a lot to offer and are totally fun to go back and forth between.

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choccy-zefirka · 2 years

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Well then. I had to take a plane ride with some obnoxiously talkative neighbors that would have prevented me from taking a nap, so instead I decided to put on headphones and watch a movie. The in-flight entertainment catalog was not very varied, so I ended up settling on the live action Aladdin, which I have been blissfully avoiding all these years. And yeah, that sure was a movie.

I'd say that I enjoyed it less than both the Lion King and Beauty and the Beast, particularly the latter, which I actually had genuine fun with, albeit most probably because I watched it with a friend and we were so carried away by pointing at the screen and riffing off each other that it might have created an illusion of a grand old time, softening the flaws of the film. Anyway.

There were a number of things that I kind of liked about live action Aladdin. They almost, just barely, brought the experience to the brink of being fun.

I remember all the Blue Will Smith memes back in the day, but he actually was one of the least meh parts of the movie for me? His performance was charming, when he was being himself rather than emulating Robin Williams. And I really appreciated the idea of this version of Genie turning into a human once he was freed from the lamp. Aside from that, I was rather interested in some of the new additions/character expansions (and I actually laughed out loud at the "I am going to get some bread... To go with all the jams" bit, it aligns perfectly with my sense of humor), but then they sort of... slipped away.

I wanna draw a parallel with the visuals here: in some parts of the movie, like the cave of wonders and the landscapes in A Whole New World, the backdrop was rather muddled. Both in terms of a diluted colour scheme and in terms of overcluttered details that do not pop the same way as the more simplistic yet bold and expressive animated scenes.

The plot buildup feels the same: there were moments that made me mentally go "Ooh, nice", like the backstory of Jasmine's mom, or the hints that Jafar and Aladdin are foils of each other, with similar backgrounds as thieves, or the attempt to make the captain of the guard more three-dimensional than "Grr gotta chase Aladdin with a sword"; but then they were not explored in-depth.

And I get that, I am beset by blorbo concepts that come to me as kernels of potentially intriguing plot and then simmer into nothingness all the time. But I am a small gremlin with a mundane day job, not a big-name creator at a multi-billion business meant to entertain people across the globe.

My biggest disappointment, though, aside from the almost complete loss of Iago's personality (which is also why I felt it made little sense for Jafar to pull Iago into the lamp at the end, as this is now less of a sidekick that you want to take down with you, but a random borb that talks sometimes), was the fact that I fully expected the himbo Fantasy North European Prince to show up when Jafar tossed Aladdin into the middle of the snowy nowhere.

I wanted it to be his kingdom, and for him to come riding in on a sleigh or something, and be like "Hey man, I see you got the princess over me, no hard feelings, let me give you a hand". The story paid way too much attention to him during the first act, turning the original asshole suitor from the animated movie into a dumbass but well-meaning jock that got bitten by Rajah not because he was being a douche to Jasmine but because he could not resist petting the Danger Kitty, which. Valid.

Justice for Himbo Prince.

Oh, and I guess the nostalgia bait of the songs worked on me to some extent, and I am now having flashbacks to my own retelling of Aladdin that I toyed with but obviously shelved because I did not want to come off as culturally insensitive. Overall, not the worst alternative to failing to nap.

#disney #aladdin #aladdin 2019 #attempt at movie critique #bear in mind that i am completely uneducated in these matters #just rambling tbh #original things

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emptymanuscript · 1 year

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Really only making a note here because I don't keep a real physical journal and I try to make these notes as important so... I dunno... I have a record I guess. And I am purposefully trying not to dissociate the less acceptable parts of myself by sticking them other places as a bad coping mechanism. So... here. :/ Even though I would kind of rather not.

But it is. So it goes. Bleh.

I fucking backslid tonight.

After taking up pretty much all the space in my group therapy and getting a whole spiel about not self harming... I self harmed tonight. First time in ages.

The obnoxious thing about self harm once you've got the habit is that it honestly DOES feel better for a moment. It's like, "Oh, thank god." I assume it is the same as an addict's first hit in ages. Just that, yeah, that's why I used to do this, it really does feel good. For a moment anyway. And, at this point, it doesn't even itch anymore. It doesn't hurt that much for very long, so the downside is minimal, really. I just don't do enough damage to be really concerning.

Why worry then?

Probably because I had a bigger reaction to freaking out that I might have put a chip in my glasses (I didn't, phew) than I did to running a knife across my face. I just have terrible hand/eye coordination so I jabbed the wrong place while bringing the knife toward myself.

And after making sure that my glasses were fine, I went to stare at myself in the mirror and see if I could see any lines or anything. And my reaction to no was, "Well, that was disappointing."

So, Imperius, my voice in my head that hates me and wants me to be ill is on the louder end tonight. And the worst thing is, is that he has a point. He says, you'll feel better if you jab yourself with the knife, and I did. You'll be happier if you just kill yourself. And it is very hard to argue differently in the moment. It does always come down to, but who will feed the dogs? Who will let them out? That's going to freak them out.

In therapy tonight they referred to my feeling of hopelessness and depression as a well worn rut. And they are so right. It's stupid. I'm stupid. There's no point to all this melodrama. I don't have any problem that I can't fix. I've been making good progress.

And I hear my father's voice in my head. Every time you do a good thing, you get an 'ata boy.' One hundred 'ata boy's and you get a 'way to go.' But just one 'aw shit' wipes the slate clean. So... clean slate tonight. That's the ticky.

And I have therapy again tomorrow morning. And if I'm smart I'll make a lot of phone calls over the weekend because that won't freak me out. And it will all work out. And if I say it enough, while being able to logic that that is all very true because it is, I might even believe it.

It's so much like being a drug addict. I even did use to go to AA and SMART Recovery for it. Which... helped some. And I only hate the cultural christofascism of it a little. And I slipped up and used tonight. It happens. Just have to do better tomorrow. It's never too late to do better.

I just suspect it is going to feel like a very, very long weekend. Probably time for serious distraction coping mechanisms. And I don't look forward to telling my therapist that I self harmed tomorrow morning even after getting a speech about it.

I think I'm pissed that it is this easy to backslide. I really was doing well. I was fucking moving. Finally. Aw shit. So now what?

Difficult conversations and surviving the weekend. Baby steps.

Even this is a baby step. Placing this here instead of running back to a depression blog. If Empty Manuscript is me, then this is part of me, too. And I am better the more toward ALL of me I am instead of cutting myself up into safely separate little masks and identities.

One (or four if we're being technical) backslide isn't the end of the world. I can ALWAYS decide to do better. I want to have done better tonight. And it isn't too late for that.

Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming. What do we do? We swim.

#Priest of Brooding #just my life #available but not for public consumption #about me and ONLY about me #unsafe content #diary I guess #self harm #depression #suicidal ideation #how do real people deal with real problems?#it is beyond me #you're all superheroes

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taiblogcomics · 1 year

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Barely a Cammi-o Appearance

Hey there, Iron Man's undergarments. We're down to the wire! Last three issues of Avengers Arena, starting now! Let's fucking goooooooo~!

Here's the cover:

Honestly, kind of a cool cover. And somehow, judging from my research (i.e. checking the "Shout-Outs" section of TVTropes), this one isn't based on a particular movie or anything, unlike so many covers before it. I guess it's just really echoing that style really well. Thankfully, there is actually remarkably little lust in these comics. A bit too much blood, though, and not nearly enough jetpacks. Also, I know the style of these has always been "I was a teenage X", but "was" implies past tense. Cammi is still very much a teenage astrogirl. That didn't stop being a thing that was true or anything~

So, last time we had a big dumb fight scene with Cullen as a monster that ended in Nara's death. Once again, it's kind of hard to be broken up over this OC that was only introduced in this comic and has been kind of obnoxious throughout the story. Understandably, though, Anachronism isn't taking it well. I'm gonna skip over this first page of Arcade monologuing about the value of slow burn stories (I'd like to slowly burn this story, let me tell you), because I truly do not care, and just get to the part where Anachronism swings his axe into Cullen's stomach.

Thankfully, it doesn't result in another death (although it probably should), though it does result in copious amounts of blood. Just as the cover promised! Cullen thinks he deserves it anyways, because he's on his mopey emo teen kick, where he's secretly in love with his best friend, therefore his best friend should kill him for killing his girlfriend. Real fuckin' tragic stuff. Cammi breaks up the fight by shooting Anachronism with her laser gun, which somehow has enough force to send him flying.

Meanwhile, Nico has correctly concluded that everything sucks in this story, so the time for nice and making friends is over. All it got her last time was dead, so she and Chase blast Reptil aside, then she goes rocketing into the ocean with Cullen. Also meanwhile, Hazmat turns up alive, her radiation suit and probably also her stomach wounds leaking heavily. She stumbles across X-23 unconscious in the forest, and tries to move as quickly as she can away from her. But the lingering trigger scent and her wounds rouse X-23 to consciousness. That's not gonna be good for anybody.

So those two duke it out, which actually loops back around to how this all began. Yeah! You remember the very first issue starting with a fight between X-23 and Hazmat? I don't blame you if you don't, I wanna put every thought of that issue out of my head too. But this is that fight, right down to Hazmat's inner monologue about being a hater, which has only become more tiresome in the months since. If this was something we cared about, it'd be a satisfying narrative thing to see the story finally cycle back around to its foreshadowing. But instead it's this story.

Anyways, watching the fight is Arcade, of course, but watching him watch the fight? Hey, you remember that bit where Apex and Deathlocket fell into his lair? Hey, we're finally coming back to that. The pair of them have been hiding in the duct work this whole time, observing Arcade and learning his routine. Hey, you remember how Arcade is a nanite-infused god? Why hasn't he noticed them? Hey, you remember how Apex is a technopath? Why can't she control Arcade's nanites? It's almost like this isn't a very good story~

So Apex and Tim are switching back and forth almost comically now, essentially to carry an argument with each other. I've no doubt alters argue with each other sometimes, but my problem is the ease of their switching, when it took unconsciousness for them to switch before. But if I keep complaining about every detail, we'll never get this review done. We're three paragraphs deep, and I haven't progressed the plot at all! Anyways, the point is that they've repaied and upgraded Deathlocket's cannon arm. Locket gets as annoyed with their arguing as the reader is and decides to head off and put a plan into action.

The plan is maybe Apex/Tim can hack into Arcade's systems, they just need him distracted enough to do so. Locket first tries letting some of the animals loose, but Arcade's robot assistant just rounds them up. She upgrades to actually breaking stuff, but he sends the robot in to deal with it again. Can't you see Grandma's watching her stories? She picks up Kid Briton's sword and cleaves the robot in twain, but gets startled by one of the other bodies in the storage room. It's Darkhawk, and he's still alive! Seeing him roused from death makes her scream, which is finally enough to get Arcade off his ass to check on things himself.

With Arcade having left his creepy observation deck, Apex swings into action. Or at least she tries, since Tim keeps switching in to argue that they should go check on Deathlocket. That scream sounded real, and she could be in trouble. Once she gets Tim off her back (with a lot of insufferable British slang, by the way), she manages to break into Arcade's network, only to then set off one of his firewalls, which is just him ripping off a similar thing from Jurassic Park, right down to the finger-wagging.

So Arcade comes back in, leading a shocked Deathlocket, and doing his smuggy-smug superior taunting stuff. He's a little impressed they're down here, thinking they were already dead, and he just has them have a seat while he watches more of his teens-fighting-teens spank bank. Nico's still dragging Cullen through the ocean, Cammi has Chase at gunpoint, Anachronism's fighting a triceratops for some reason... And while he's gloating at how beautiful it all is that he's finally pushed everyone over the brink, the comic ends with Arcade getting clubbed over the head by Darkhawk, now fully conscious and mobile! Oh, finally an issue with a good ending~

Well, I could complain about how this is another dumb fight scene issue, or how even the parts that aren’t are annoying because of the constant bickering between Tim and Apex. Or even Apex being annoying all by herself by a combination of her smug attitude (only a hair under Arcade’s own) and the need to remind you she’s English by shoving in Britishisms into every dialogue balloon to the point she sounds like an old-timey Cockney thief character. But honestly, that last panel with Darkhawk standing over Arcade brandishing a weapon is just so satisfying... I can’t wait to see how they ruin this moment next issue~

#comics #reviews #Avengers Arena #Taiblog

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leviackermanscleaningbuddy · 2 years

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SKZ DRABBLE-OT8

The SKZ!Pack is back! And this time, there's no surprises. It's pretty clear who's going into heat, just like it's clear who's going to help them through it. What isn't clear though, is the age old question-does aftercare include changing the sheets?

Tags: SKZ, Stray Kids, SKZ Drabble, OT8, SKZ!pack, SKZ!abo, a/b/o, alpha beta omega dynamics, fluff, Stray kids x you, Stray Kids x reader, SKZ x you, SKZ x reader, OT8 x you, OT8 x reader, bang chan, seo changbin, lee minho, hwang hyunjin, lee felix, han jisung, yang jeongin, kim seungmin

Genre: Fluff, Suggestive

Title: Oh Sheet

“Has anyone seen my Nirvana hoodie?”

Chan comes into the kitchen looking utterly perplexed, his curls styled in that effortlessly messy way that only happens when he rolls right out of bed and runs his fingers through them, his rainy scent spiked slightly with his obvious exasperation.

“Hyunjin has it.” You reply automatically, glancing at the other alpha with one brow raised, as if that cryptic sentence in and of itself should be enough of an explanation.

It clearly is, because Chan’s brown eyes, once clouded with confusion, immediately clear up in understanding with your words.

“He’s ‘nesting.’” Jisung adds, making air quotes with his one free hand as he does so, not even bothering to look up from his phone, still shoveling cereal into his mouth like it’s going out of style.

The smart comment earns Jisung a rough cuff on the ear from Minho, who is standing behind him, and the beta yelps, rubbing at the offended appendage before shooting the alpha a dark glare.

Minho barely shrugs.

“He took my track pants too.” Changbin mutters somewhat dourly, moving to the coffee maker to refill his mug before he lets out a long-suffering sigh and glances at Chan with a somewhat hopeful expression, as if the head alpha can do something about the omega in question. “What am I supposed to wear to the gym now?”

“You know how picky Jinnie-hyung is with his nests.” Seungmin remarks in observation, leaning against the refrigerator, watching as Changbin struggles to tear open his packet of sweetener, before the beta finally takes it from the alpha and does it himself. “You’re not gonna get your shit back until he’s done nesting at this point.”

Changbin groans. “But my track pants-”

Chan slaps him on the back in some sort of lost clothing camaraderie, offering the other pouting alpha a sympathetic look, as he reaches around him to fill his own mug with hot, steaming coffee.

“Sorry, Bin. You’ll just have to find a new gym outfit in the meantime, yeah?”

Changbin grumbles something under his breath that sounds an awful lot like another complaint, and Minho serves him a sharp look, a look which has him scurrying to sit down beside the still preoccupied Jisung, who has now moved onto toast and is watching something ridiculously loud and obnoxious on his phone.

The video is obviously not loud enough to distract him from the conversation floating around though, because as soon as Changbin plops down beside him, Jisung is glancing up and exclaiming around a mouthful of toast, “Listen, he can have whatever he wants of mine. I don’t care. But if he so much as looks at the blue blanket I keep on my bed-” Something murderous flashes across the beta’s eyes at the idea, and it has you stifling back a laugh behind your raised coffee mug. “-there will be war.”

“Nobody wants that ratty thing anyway.” Seungmin quips dryly, leaning around an annoyed Jisung to grab a piece of toast from the plate before it all disappears into the beta’s never satisfied maw. “It smells like feet.”

“Does not!” Jisung protests sharply, trying to land a pinch on the other grinning beta’s side, but when he’s not nearly quick enough, he settles on pouting dramatically instead. “I’ve had that thing since I was a baby!”

“Exactly.” Minho agrees sagely, earning himself another pointed glare from Jisung as he sets a plate of fresh eggs in the middle of the table.

Chan comes to stand behind you, his hands resting heavily on your shoulders, and a comforting wave of petrichor washes over you as the other alpha enters your space.

“Okay, well, we’ll all just have to adapt. We all know how the omegas are when they’re nesting. They’re particular, Hyunjin especially. This isn’t anything new. Everyone will just have to find new favorites while we wait it out.” Chan says firmly, head alpha on display as he addresses your packmates, though his lips hint at a smile, belying the stern tone to his words. He glances down then and mutters softly under his breath, teasingly, for only you to hear, “I really wanted to wear my Nirvana hoodie to the studio today though-”

“If it makes you feel any better-” You chime in, reaching up to pat Chan’s hand comfortingly, glancing at the other pack members across the kitchen table, Changbin still sullen over his track pants and Jisung still obviously offended on behalf of his blanket. “-I have plenty of hoodies and track pants y’all can borrow in the meantime.”

Changbin’s face immediately goes flat at the idea and Minho balks openly in disgust, rolling his eyes.

“Absolutely not.”

“No way in hell.”

“What?” You ask innocently, biting back a smile as Chan chuckles from behind you. “What’s wrong with my stuff?”

Now it’s Changbin’s turn to roll his eyes. “Where do I begin?” Jisung is cackling now, like he’s just heard the funniest joke in the universe. He wipes at his eyes dramatically and takes in a deep breath, stuttering out amidst guffaws, “Oh my god, can you imagine hyung at the gym wearing sweatpants that say ‘juicy’ across the ass?”

Changbin doesn’t hesitate as he puts the still hysterical beta into a headlock beneath one meaty arm.

“Take that back right now, Han Jisung. I happen to have a fantastic ass.”

You raise your mug in a toast to Changbin’s very true words and then fix the red faced Jisung with a harsh glare. “And for your information, Han Jisung, I don’t have any sweats that say ‘juicy’ across the ass.” You sniff and take another sip of your coffee before you add pettily, “If you must know, they say ‘baby girl.’”

“I’d rock the hell out of those.” Seungmin remarks dryly from his position atop the counter, watching the chaos unfold with a blank expression.

Jisung is gasping now, slapping the unyielding alpha’s arm in an attempt at mercy.

“Changbin, let the beta go.” Chan commands with slight amusement, already beside the door, tying the laces on his sneakers.

Changbin does as he asks, and Jisung gulps dramatically for air as he’s finally freed. Minho looks entirely too pleased, smugly standing behind the pair, watching Jisung fight for his life.

“And all of you-” Chan waves a hand between those of you in the kitchen, eyes flashing briefly with something akin to exasperated mirth. “-please, while I’m gone, try not to kill each other.”

“No promises.” Minho replies offhandedly, already turning back to the stove, swatting at Seungmin, still on the counter, with his spatula as he does so.

“I’ll be at the gym.” Changbin offers, sliding back his chair, as Jisung dramatically flinches away from him at the movement. “Don’t have to worry about me.”

“Binnie.” You sing-song out, standing up and crossing the kitchen to the other alpha, who is now crouched beside Chan, putting on his own shoes. You widen your eyes as far as they’ll go and cling to him like a koala. “Are you sure you don’t wanna borrow a pair of my sweats?”

Changbin shakes you off with a grunt.

“No.”

“(Y/N).” Chan says, and you glance over at him, the smell of rain washing away the smokiness of campfire. He leans over and presses a kiss to your lips, before chucking you lightly, playfully, under the chin. “Stop teasing Changbin.”

You pout, and Chan swipes a thumb across your mouth to wipe the expression off your lips with the hint of a fond smile curling his own.

“You do have to admit-” Seungmin muses, passing by your trio on his way out of the kitchen, a suddenly smug look in his normally unreadable eyes as without hesitation, the beta smacks Changbin’s ass with his palm, sending a resounding thwack echoing around the room as the alpha jumps in surprise. “-Binnie-hyung does have a great ass.”

Chan looks shocked, but you’ve joined Jisung in his wild cackling now, as Changbin flushes a bright shade of red and practically whines at the beta, who is already leaving the room, “Seungie, seriously?”

Seungmin merely shrugs offhandedly and Minho looks entirely too pleased with himself, as if he’s just taught a child to say a naughty word for the first time.

Chan shoots the other alpha an exasperated look, and Minho smirks.

“Taught him everything he knows.”

Chan rolls his eyes and Changbin turns an even brighter shade of crimson.

You wheeze so hard you can’t breathe.

“I’m going to the gym.” Changbin mutters beneath his breath, fleeing the room before anyone can say anything else.

Jisung laughs so hard he falls off his chair.

*****

The omegas’ room smells overwhelmingly of citrus-sun ripened oranges and honey glazed lemons-and you can feel the saliva pooling in the crevices of your mouth in response even before you’re fully through the door.

Swallowing down the sudden frenzy of your wolf along with the embarrassing excess of spit, you glance toward the softly playing TV in the corner of the room and then crouch beside the edge of the bed, reaching out with tentative fingers to push aside the blanket that covers the nest like a tent, just enough so that you can catch a glimpse of the omegas inside.

Three sets of eyes reflect the light back at you, and Felix is the first to speak.

“Hey, noona.” His teeth flash white in the muted darkness of the nest, and as your eyes adjust, you can see that he’s wrapped around Hyunjin, lanky body curling around the other omega’s like a weighted blanket of comfort. “Everything okay?”

“Yeah.” You nod, keeping your voice low, fingers ticking along the edge of the blanket you hold aside, careful not to let any more of your body than is necessary touch Hyunjin’s carefully curated nest. “Just came to check on my babies.”

Jeongin yawns widely, pink tongue curling, and rubs at his eyes sleepily, as if they’ve either just woken from a nap or are about to take one.

Your wolf practically melts at the sight of the youngest of the omegas blinking at you owlishly, hair tousled, skin flushed and warm, and you imagine, if you were to scent him in this instant, that he would smell comfortably like a mixture of all three omegas, perfectly ripe citrus and cinnamon crusted bread, all balled into one heady, sunwarmed scent.

“What time is it?” Jeongin manages to ask, his eyes still half closed, his nose already buried once more in the back of Felix’s neck. The older omega rubs his fingers through the younger boy’s hair soothingly, and Jeongin’s body relaxes like butter melting in the warm sun.

“Uh-” You glance down at your phone and squint to see the time. “It’s almost noon.”

Hyunjin stirs then, a fresh wave of sharp lemon tickling your nose with the movement, and he lets out a little whine in the back of his throat that has your wolf on instant high alert, throwing his arm over his eyes as he groans out sluggishly, “God, Minho-hyung’s gonna have my ass. He’s going to have to cover for me at the center and he hates teaching the water aerobics class, even though the ajummas all love him, and then don’t even get me started on the community art project we’re supposed to do this week-”

Hyunjin makes a half hearted move to sit up and you instinctively reach out a protective hand to stop him, but thankfully, Felix has already planted a small hand firmly in the center of the other omega’s chest, gently pushing him back down among the cushions.

“I’m sure Minho more than understands.” You admonish firmly, letting out the breath you didn’t know you had been holding on a sigh, your wolf still all bunched muscles and raised hackles, alert and focused on the oldest omega protectively, eyes scanning his body for any signs of discomfort. “This is your first heat since you stopped taking your suppressants from last semester, Jinnie. It’s bound to be a rough one. No one’s gonna be upset with you.”

Felix is nodding in agreement with your statement, Jeongin’s face once again buried in the side of Hyunjin’s neck.

He looks like he’s ready to cry.

“I just don’t like disappointing people.” He whimpers out, eyes large and dark, bottom lip trembling slightly, and the lemon in the air bitters significantly as Felix’s arms tighten protectively around Hyunjin’s middle. “But I already feel awful, and it’s only pre-heat and-”

Things are spiraling. Jeongin and Felix now look as if they also want to cry, and suddenly, you’re really not ready to have three very upset and very emotional omegas on your hands.

You push out a calming wave of alpha pheromones, and the lemon starts to recede slightly in the wake of the suddenly blooming wisteria.

“Okay, okay.” You murmur beneath your breath soothingly, aware of where you place your hands on the bed so as not to mess up a single part of Hyunjin’s carefully crafted nest, before you stretch out a hand toward the huddled trio. “It’s fine. Everything is fine. I promise. Jinnie, you’re not disappointing anyone. We love you, baby, and we want to take care of you.”

Hyunjin sniffs and reaches for your outstretched hand, his trembling fingers finding your own, and Felix buries his nose comfortingly in his hair.

“And Innie. Lixie.”

You wait for the other two omegas to glance up at you, and when you speak again, a little bit of your alpha voice has crept into your words unwittingly, trying to get them to take into consideration how serious you are.

“The two of you also need to take care of yourselves. Make sure you’re taking breaks to eat and sleep and clean up. You’re such good boys, helping Innie, but we love you both too and want you well. Okay?”

Jeongin nods, his head bumping the bottom of Hyunjin’s jaw. “Okay.”

Felix offers you the hint of a smile, though you can still see the worry in his dark eyes over your packmate’s-and his moonmate’s-obvious distress.

“Okay, alpha.” You nod, placated for now, and squeeze Hyunjin’s fingers tightly between your own.

His skin is already significantly hotter than normal.

“Okay. We’re all gonna be okay.”

*****

Changbin flops down beside you on the couch and you note with silent amusement that he must have decided on a new pair of track pants as his favorites for the time being because the dark strands of his hair are still damp, as if he’s just gotten back from the gym and recently showered.

He throws an arm over the back of the couch behind you and sighs, sinking into the cushions, before he stretches his leg out and nudges Minho's ankle where he sits across from the two of you, distracted by something he’s reading on his phone.

The other alpha doesn’t even bother to look up.

“What.”

It’s not a question, just a dry acknowledgement that Changbin’s there, and he’s vying for Minho’s attention.

Changbin rolls his eyes.

“You know what.”

Minho sighs with annoyance and finally glances up, meeting the other alpha’s gaze with an irritated sort of curl to his mouth, his face still as blank as ever.

“I’m pretty sure I don’t.”

You curl your legs underneath you and prop your chin on your hand, thoroughly enjoying just watching the other alphas’ obviously tense interaction with slight amusement and invested interest.

You know Minho does indeed know what, because no one could miss it, not even a beta at this point.

The sickly sweet sticky scent of honey and lemon clinging to every surface, every inch, of the apartment.

Your wolf has been pacing since this morning.

Changbin groans, as if he doesn’t have time for Minho’s inevitable cagey games, and rakes a hand through his hair with agitation.

“Where’s Chan-hyung?”

“Out.” Minho replies simply, once again dropping his gaze back to his phone casually, as if the conversation is over and done with.

He’s good at hiding his tension, but you can see it bleeding through now, see it in the slight tick of his jaw and the way his fingers curl around the back of his phone just a little bit more tightly than normal.

“Of course.” Changbin heaves a sigh and lets his head fall back on the couch, utterly giving in now to the despair you can see slowly creeping across his black irises the longer he sits doing nothing, fidgeting uselessly beside you. “Asshole.”

Minho’s lips quirk into the hint of an amused smirk at Changbin’s muttered insult, obviously directed at the noticeably absent Chan, but his eyes remain steadfast on the phone in his hand.

“Maybe I should go out.” Changbin muses after a moment of silence, another moment of twitching, sitting up straighter beside you, and you shoot him a sidelong look, his expression morphing into one of confusion at your obvious disbelief. “What?”

“You know he’s gonna ask for you, right?”

Changbin’s eyebrow arches into the dark bangs of his now dry hair.

“Me?”

Across the room, Minho scoffs.

“You’re an idiot. He always asks for you. Have you just wiped past heats from your mind, Seo Changbin? Replaced them with gym mantras and disgusting health smoothies?”

Changbin shoots Minho a scowl and then glances back to you, watching him expectantly, waiting for him to get it.

The air is quickly thickening with smoke from a smoldering campfire.

“Yeah, you, dumbass.” You quip at the other alpha, and Changbin’s glare focuses on you now, as you offer him the hint of a sweet, innocent smile. “Lovingly. Of course.”

Changbin still looks openly confused, and you sigh.

“Listen. Chan is out because an omega in heat-” Your words falter, and the sweet scent of lemon spikes temptingly, as if drawn out by your sudden internal struggle. You swallow hard and bury the almost immediate and possessive flare of your wolf down deep. “-is a lot.” You finish lamely, but shake your head to clear your thoughts and push on.

“However, he’s also out because he knows Hyunjin’s not gonna ask him for help. He never does. Chan could help-hell, any of us could help-” At this Minho nods, watching the two of you now from across the room. “-but Jinnie never asks for us. He only ever asks for you, Bin.”

Understanding is beginning to dawn in Changbin’s eyes, and you can practically see his wolf perk its ears in interest.

“So I should-” He stops, clearing his throat, before he glances toward the hall, the longing suddenly very clear in his eyes, the scent of lemon washing over you anew, tangling with the sudden uptick of smoke.

Minho looks equal parts amused and exasperated.

“You ‘should’ve’ quite a while ago, princess. So get going.”

Changbin is up and off the couch so fast that you feel as if you get whiplash craning your neck back to look at him, towering over you with sudden determination.

You settle back into his previous spot, the couch warm from his body, and curl in on yourself, reaching for a blanket and the remote to the tv as you wave a lackadaisical hand in his direction.

“Go on. I’m staying as far from that room as possible.”

Changbin takes a step toward the hall, toward Hyunjin, and his expression is slightly dazed.

You snap your fingers to get his attention, and when he glances back at you, his wolf is snarling in the depths of his eyes impatiently.

You offer him a knowing grin.

“Come get me when you’re done though. Because we all know you’re shit at aftercare.”

Minho straight up cackles.

The other alpha has enough sense to look offended at your words, his eyes darkening and his brow furrowing as he shoots you a pointed glare.

The smoke filling the room takes on an acrid edge, you can taste it on your tongue.

“Hey. I try.”

You hold up your hands in a sort of peace offering, but Minho is still chuckling and the easy grin hasn’t left your face.

“I know. I didn’t say you don’t, so reel your wolf back in before I get bitten.” His chest heaves with a breath and you cock your head as you study him, offering him a sympathetic look, smile softening into something affectionate, teasing. “You always make a heroic effort. I’ll give you that. But you’re also just hella awkward about it.”

Changbin looks suitably defeated, shoulders slumping and deep timbre heightening into a keening whine.

“Look, I don’t know what to do okay? Like, when we’re all done, am I supposed to cuddle and hold your hand and all that sappy shit? Or am I supposed to help you to the bathroom and start the shower and make you drink water and be the responsible one? Do I change the sheets or stay in bed or-” Minho is howling again, holding his sides with laughter, tears appearing in his eyes.

“Oh my god, change the sheets?”

Changbin huffs, and you take pity on him, standing from your comfortable position on the couch to wrap your arms around his waist.

He smells nice-like the coconut shampoo he religiously uses and embers dying down on the tail end of a fire-and you bury your nose into his neck, just for a minute, until you feel him start to relax against you.

“We’re sorry for teasing you, Binnie. I promise-” You tilt your head back to look up at him and tap the end of his nose gently with your finger. “-you’re doing great. There’s a reason Jinnie always asks for you specifically after all.”

“Big dick.” Minho coughs not so subtly behind his hand, and you shoot him an exasperated look while Changbin glares.

“Just-” You release him and shove him gently toward the door, in the direction of the hall, the way he was originally going, giving him an affectionate tap on the ass for encouragement as he leaves your side. “-go. And come get me when you’re done. Because this heat is gonna be rough after his suppressants, and aftercare means a lot more to omegas than it does to alphas. Biology and all that shit.”

Changbin heaves a sigh. “Okay.”

“Make sure to change his sheets!” Minho calls out after the retreating form of the other alpha wickedly, and you promptly jump him to silence his ensuing triumphant guffaws.

*****

You’re sitting in the bathroom-the good one that Minho usually commandeers before anyone else can-when the door opens, and Changbin appears, leading Hyunjin inside with a slight loop of his fingers around his wrist.

The other alpha handles the postheat omega carefully, as if he’s a fragile bird he’s afraid to break, and you note, with a warm swell of affection, as Changbin carefully maneuvers Hyunjin inside with lingering, pointed touches, that maybe he’s not so bad at aftercare after all.

It’s just a very Changbin way of showing it, and that’s never been more clear than it is now, as the alpha makes Hyunjin sit on the closed lid of the toilet and crouches down at his feet, eyes wide and dark and sincere as he looks up at him.

“Okay, Jinnie?”

Hyunjin nods silently, wane and pale, chewing his bottom lip nervously, and you have to force yourself to remain where you are, force your protective wolf back down, because there’s currently another alpha who has this completely under control and that’s okay.

Changbin’s hands smooth over the bare skin of Hyunjin’s legs, the gesture intimate and reassuring, and his face softens affectionately as the omega grasps desperately at his hands, as if he doesn’t want him to leave.

There is a swell of calming, smoky pheromones, heady in the already humid bathroom.

“It’s okay, Jinnie. I’m just gonna clean up your room a bit and change and take a shower, yeah?” The other alpha glances over at you, dark eyes serious, and you give him a silent firm nod, as if to give him your own reassurance, reassurance that you’ll take good care of the omega while he’s gone.

Changbin relaxes, pulling Hyunjin’s hands from his own.

“Okay, baby. (Y/N)’s gonna help you clean up, okay? Take a nice warm bath, does that sound good?”

Hyunjin hesitates, and then he nods weakly in response to Changbin’s question. His lip is still firmly slotted between his bottom teeth.

Your wolf growls nervously, pacing along your insides.

You’ve never seen him this silent or withdrawn after a heat before, it must’ve been bad.

“Okay. Good boy.” Changbin heaves himself to his feet and tousles Hyunjin’s long dark hair, before he leans over and presses a lingering kiss to his forehead, nuzzling his nose comfortingly against his scent gland for another moment before he finally pulls back. “I won’t be gone long, hm? And alpha will come right back if you call. Okay, Jinnie?”

Another nod, another serious look from Changbin in your direction, and then he’s gone, the smell of campfire fading instantly with his exit.

As soon as the other alpha is gone, you carefully cross the room to Hyunjin, movements slow and cautious, hand outstretched, as if you’re approaching a frightened animal.

“Hey Jinnie.” You hum beneath your breath when your fingers are inches from touching him, hovering over his skin. “Hey baby, can you take this off for me?”

Hyunjin seems frozen, gaze locked on the closed door where Changbin had disappeared, but at your words, he flicks his eyes to you, and you’re relieved to see a little bit of him drop back into his empty gaze, irises flaring and warming with something familiar.

He nods, fingers moving to pull idly at the hem of the long t-shirt he wears, one you recognize now as Changbin’s, and you crouch to help him, carefully pulling the soft material up and over his head, baring his body.

He shivers as the air touches his skin, and you pull at him insistently, gently, until he finally stands up on shaking legs, reminiscent of a new fawn, and takes a few stumbling steps toward the large soaking tub that takes up the corner of the bathroom, already filled to the brim with warm, perfumed water.

You help him step into the water, holding his hand tightly until he’s slid down beneath the liquid and you’re sure he’s situated comfortably, and then you take a seat on the lip of the tub, watching him with open fondness as he lets out a long sigh and sinks further into the warm embrace of the bath.

“Good?” You question with a soft smile, and Hyunjin hums, nodding, the water rippling around him, the bubbles foaming with the movement, sending a wave of fragrant lilac into the steamy air.

“Yeah.”

It’s the first word he’s spoken since Changbin brought him in, so you’ll take it.

You don’t talk, just sit in silence as he soaks, taking in the way his body slowly relaxes, tired, sore muscles finally unclenching the longer you both sit in comfortable quiet.

The wolf in you purrs, content that the omega is finally feeling a bit better, the color returning to his cheeks, the light reentering his eyes, the smell of honeyed lemon slowly overtaking the smell of the bath soaps the longer he lounges in the bath.

When you’re sure that he’s a little bit more Hyunjin, and a little bit less omega, you shift to kneel beside the tub and reach for the bottle of body wash you had preemptively brought with you, holding it up for him to see, his eyes suddenly curious.

“Can I?”

Hyunjin hums in affirmation beneath his breath, entirely relaxed into the warm water now, and you squirt a good amount of the body wash into the palm of your hand before replacing the bottle and moving around to sit behind him.

He leans his head back on the edge of the tub for you and you start with his hair, massaging your fingers through the long dark locks, taking your time to work the suds across his scalp.

The omega’s eyes are closed, his jaw relaxed, and you’re pleased to hear a soft purr mounting slowly but surely in his chest as you continue your gently pointed ministrations.

The smell of lemon is sharp in the air now-pleasant and familiar.

You work your way from his hair to his skin, carefully using your hands and a loofah to wash away the remnants of his heat-the slick and the sweat and the smokiness of a certain alpha-and by the time you’ve cleaned his body, Hyunjin looks much more like himself, so much so, that it makes your wolf preen.

Good alpha.

You sit back with a contented sigh, and Hyunjin cracks open an eye at the feeling of your hands no longer on him, and you wonder, for a brief moment, if he had fallen asleep.

“Feel better?” You ask with the hint of a smile as Hyunjin nods readily.

“So much better.”

“Good.” You hum, teasingly tossing the loofah at the omega, as he feigns dramatic insult, the sponge splashing harmlessly into the waning bubbles. “You should’ve told Changbin not to leave so many marks. He’s never gonna hear the end of it from Minho.”

Hyunjin groans, sliding down into the water, the quickly darkening hickeys covering his throat and chest disappearing beneath the remaining bubble bath as he shoots you a helpless look.

“Forget hyung. What about me? The ladies I teach are gonna have a field day with this on Monday.”

You grin and he fakes a look of pure despair, so convincing you might believe him if this weren’t Hyunjin and his known flair for being exceedingly dramatic.

“God, I’m never gonna hear the end of it. Can you imagine the comments?” He spikes his voice into a higher pitch, waving his hands, as if he’s a concerned, overly nosy ajumma. “‘Oh Hyunjin, darling, what big, bad man did that to you? So sweet and innocent, spending your free time teaching us old birds water aerobics, I just know you wouldn’t do something like this willingly! Tell us, are you safe? Blink twice if no and ajumma will take care of it!’”

You’re giggling now as Hyunjin sinks back into the lukewarm water, a look of clear, dreading exasperation on his pretty features.

“I couldn’t stop him, noona. He’s an animal.”

Hyunjin sighs despairingly, though you very much doubt that he was as much an unwilling victim as he’s making it out to seem, judging off the placement of the bruising lovemarks and how much he seems to enjoy them as he subconsciously runs his fingers over them with something akin to affectionate pride.

Also strongly judging by the skeptical snorting noise Changbin makes as he reenters the bathroom at that moment, hair wet and wearing a clean pair of sweats.

He also looks significantly refreshed after a shower.

“Please.” The alpha scoffs, settling down beside the tub next to you, shooting the suddenly smirking omega a glare that hints more at exasperation than anything else. “Don’t play coy, Hwang Hyunjin. You practically begged me to mark you up.”

You grin, glancing over at the omega, who shrugs casually.

“Guilty.”

“And that-” You push yourself up off the floor, flicking some water at Changbin playfully as you do so, the other alpha now turning his glare on you. “-is my cue to leave. Please play nice, boys. I only have so much aftercare left in me.”

Hyunjin grins and waves. “Thanks, noona. Love you.”

“Love you too.” You blow him a kiss, hand already on the door, as Changbin offers you a pointedly grateful look.

“Yeah, thanks, (Y/N).”

You flash him a grin and wave him off.

“You’re welcome.” You slip out the crack in the door, trying not to let any of the warm air out, but poke your head back inside for one last jab, grin transforming into a wicked smirk. “Oh, hey, Bin, did you make sure the sheets were clean? Ask Hyunjin if he wanted them changed?”

A towel is chucked forcefully at your head, but you dodge it easily as Changbin curses under his breath, and the triumphant smirk doesn’t leave your lips as you finally duck out the door.

******

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mrs-cameron · 3 years

Text

in my business (part 9)

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3 / Part 4 / Part 5 / Part 6 / Part 7 / Part 8

Masterlist | “The cold shoulder”

pairings: slowburn rafe cameron x reader

word count: 3.1k

warnings: swearing, mentions of drinking, i suuuck at fluff

summary: After finally being in Rafe Cameron’s arms, you feel like you’re both comfortable enough to open up to each other. Once the Menzies name is mentioned again, you’re not so sure anymore.

Rafe twitched in his sleep, breathing out loudly as he looked at his surroundings, disoriented for a moment. He glanced at you sleeping peacefully beside him, head turned from him.

Not a dream, this time. You were right there in his sheets.

He caught himself thinking there was no other person he’d rather be with. Terrifying news for Rafe Cameron, your fuckboy next door who coincidentally haven’t been caught with any girl over the past month. He had a fluttery feeling in his stomach when you turned to the other side as his eyes ran over your figure.

A couple of minutes later, he still watched you when you finally opened your eyes. You stared blankly at the window, squinting when the sun shined on you.

“I see your lashes moving,” he whispered. “Turn to me. Good morning.”

“Ew, why are you staring at me,” you replied as your voice cracked, closing your eyes and not moving a bit. With a huge smile on your face, too.

As he hugged you from behind, his nose bumped into the back of your head. “Because I want to.”

You blushed, lightly rubbing your eyes. “Stand in line, sir.”

“Did someone say a line,” you threw a pillow at him.

Without taking his eyes off you for a moment, he leaned for a kiss, brushing his lips against yours before you finally pulled him closer. Rafe felt like your lips stretched out in a gentle smile and he had a feeling as if his heart was about to explode.

The whole night you and Rafe were practically glued to each other, speaking a lot yet practically about nothing. The two of you avoided talking about the charity dinner and anything related to Ward Cameron, really. Focusing his attention on you, Rafe felt like he could escape the real world by simply being around you.

The alcohol you drank that night has come to light, you felt as if you were spinning even though you haven’t moved a bit. You were laying for a while in silence, enjoying each other presence. Rafe took pride in finally having you by his side, even though it took an emotional breakdown to get there.

“What time is it?” You habitually scanned the room with your eyes to find your phone.

“Oh shit,” Rafe giggled. “We forgot our phones at Tanneyhill.”

“Pick up already,” Sarah marched across the room, holding a phone to her ear.

After you and Rafe ran away, she was left alone with Topper and the obnoxious company of old businessmen she wanted nothing to do with; Topper, on the other hand, was given a perfect opportunity to catch her alone.

Their conversation, as expected, did not end well. Topper ended up calling Sarah names, pressuring her to admit to things she didn’t do behind his back.

Her main reason for blowing off your phone, however, was to question you about the last night. Even though Sarah picked up the tension between you and Rafe a while ago, yesterday’s event was the last straw that tied it all together.

“Sweetheart,” Ward knocked on the door before coming in. “I see you’re calling Y/n, but they both left their phones here,” he handed Sarah your phone that he had muted earlier.

“Oh,” she replied, taking it and seeing her six missed calls. “Can I have Rafe’s phone too?”

“Are you seeing him soon?”

“Yeah,” she supposed she would. “This New York course that you talked about yesterday… did Rafe even know about it?”

“He didn’t, but it’s not like he has much of a choice anyway.”

“Dad, what if he doesn’t want to?”

“Sarah, your brother is almost twenty. He doesn’t get to just sit around and get everything handed to him,” Ward raised his voice.

“Why don’t you listen, for once? Please,” Sarah asked. “You’re not solving his problems, you’re only creating new ones. He’s not even allowed in his own house!”

“Sometimes a parent knows better,” Ward hesitated to give Sarah the phone, twisting it in his hand. “You’ll understand when you grow up.”

“And what, do you plan on just sending him away?” He dumped the phone on Sarah’s bed, leaving the room without the answer.

“Sarah must have called a thousand times,” you finally faced Rafe as his eyes fixated on your sleepy self.

“Who cares? She’ll survive a day without you,” he complained, “but barely. You wanna go out?”

“Like, where?”

“I don’t know,” he took your hand, putting it on his chest. “Somewhere far away.”

“Oh, like not the Cut?”

“Hell no,” Rafe laughed. “I don’t tolerate plebeians around me… and you,” he specified. “Tell Maybank you’re off-limits,” he smirked at you, placing his hand on your cheek as you put your leg on him, pulling Rafe even closer.

“Jokes on you, we were never a thing.”

“Who’s we? Like, Maybank and you?”

“Oui,” you giggled.

“No way.”

He pulled you for another kiss, tracing circles on your back with his fingers. You ran your fingers along his cheek, dropping lower, to the neck, and throwing your head back as he trailed kisses towards her collarbone.

“Your pants are on fire,” he said. “Probably why you don’t wear any.”

You frowned. “M-kay, I shut up. Let you fantasize about me and JJ,” you mocked him, removing your leg as he quickly grabbed it again, putting it back onto him. “Since you don’t want to listen.”

“No-no,” he murmured. “Keep talking.”

“So nosy, always prying into my personal life,” you whispered, sitting on the bed and looking down at Rafe as your fingers intertwined.

“Oh, I’m obsessed,” he replied.

You sighed loudly, breaking contact with the Rafe again as you started to get out of bed, getting tangled in the blanket you stole from him earlier. Before you could break free, Rafe held you close from behind, placing you right back on the bed under him.

“You’re not going anywhere.”

Who would’ve thought your uncle’s apartment would be the number one spot for the summertime?

After taking your sweet time with Rafe, you both decided it would be a good idea to unwind somewhere, money Rafe took from his father’s safe last night could’ve easily provided just that. Getting ready to spend the whole day with Rafe on the Figure 8 doing whatever, you still needed to show yourself at home first.

Before dropping off there, you went back to Tanneyhill for a moment to have your phones back... as a side mission?

Stealing Sarah’s clothes was the number one goal. As you entered the house in Rafe’s oversized t-shirt, holding your dress from the night before in a wrinkled paper bag (the only one Rafe could find). Not the best look to show up to your parents, right? You were preparing a strong alibi.

Wheezie let you in, rambling about being bored in the house now that everyone, even Sarah, was gone. Rafe's little sister made no comment about you in his clothes, saving it for Sarah, you guessed. She continued on complaining about her swimming class and you and Rafe silently listened, leading you upstairs to her older sister’s room.

“Thanks, Wheez,” you said after she handed your phones back.

“When are you coming over? You promised we’d watch this show together,” Rafe rolled his eyes at his little sister.

“I will,” you replied. “Maybe sometime next wee-“

You were interrupted by the sound of the front door opening, the three of you focused your attention on hearing what was happening downstairs. “No, we absolutely can renegotiate,” you listened Ward screaming.

“He should’ve been at work the whole day,” Wheezie said.

Rafe looked at you, reaching for your hand. “We’ll wait till he leaves,” he said as you took it, quickly leaving the room.

“Just stay with me this once?” Wheezie buried her face in Sarah’s pillow, sighing as loud as she could, except no one to hear her.

He led you through the hallway to one of the upstairs bathrooms, the confusion you felt at the moment was written all over your face. He closed the bathroom door after you entered the room.

“You want me to hold it for you or something?”

Rafe chuckled, reaching to a small window in the room. You figured where he brought you, finally. It took him a moment to finally open the shutters as they were stuck, and when he did, he finally turned to you. “Just trust me.”

“Cameron,” you whined. “You seem to forget who my best friend is. I’ve been on your rooftop already.”

“Then you have nothing to be afraid of,” he replied, standing on the windowsill and sticking his head out the window.

Rafe finally made his way outside, stepping on the old roofing material and trying to find balance. He turned to you to see if you’re getting out safely.

“I’m fine,” you noticed.

“Just grab my hand,” he insisted.

And you did, following him to the inclined roof surface. He sat down, taking his light jacket off and putting it near him. “Here,” he motioned.

“Thank you.”

You looked around the Tanneyhill’s backyard, workers seem to never leave this place. Whether it was to maintain the landscape, deal with the consequences of a hurricane or do another unnecessary makeover of the yard; they could always rely on being employed by Ward Cameron.

This time around, they were changing the stone tiles, loud construction noises bothered the whole neighborhood.

“I thought you just renovated the whole area,” you commented, fixing Rafe’s jacket under you.

“Rose didn’t like it,” Rafe replied. “She’s been complaining about it since spring… dad must’ve finally given in.”

Watching the workers, you noticed that one of them was JJ, running around with buckets of water in his hands.

“Look at this,” Rafe drew your attention.

One of the roof tiles had “T + S” carefully carved into it. Topper’s handwriting, most likely. You ran your fingers over the letters, examing them.

“Well that… didn’t age well,” you twisted your lips, catching Rafe’s stare. “Should we add a hook so a T becomes a J?”

“Topper will hang me,” Rafe grumbled, looking at the view. “Hmh.”

“What?”

“Maybank,” he tensed. “He’s probably hanging here more than I do.”

“And I was hoping you wouldn’t notice him.”

He hummed. “So… is there anything between you?” Rafe bowed his head slightly, rubbing the nape of his neck.

You smiled kindly, his jealousy wasn’t annoying you anymore. “No. I wasn’t interested in him like that, that’s all.”

“You were sneaking out together at Midsummers,” he remembered his need to follow you.

He also remembered walking through a long dark hallway in hopes of catching you alone, hearing your giggles with another male voice was what he got instead.

“Sarah asked to meet him because he had a note from John B,” you explained.

“Sarah asked to meet him..” he repeated after you, pursing his lips as he felt relief. “And the outdoor cinema?”

“Ah, this time. Yeah, we were totally planning to fuck,” you said in a serious manner, nodding your head as Rafe squinted at you, rolling his eyes.

“Watch your mouth,” Rafe ordered. “I blame this shit on Sarah.”

“Ah, man. So no double dates with John B and Sarah?”

He laughed at your face, you protruding your lower lip to demonstrate your resentment.

“JJ would never,” you laughed.

Rafe put his hand on your shoulder, catching the yellow leaf in the air before it could fall on your head.

“You kind of saw the end of it. When we fought there,” you pointed to the area with lounging chairs, now hidden under the plastic covers. “We figured we’re better off as friends,” you paused. “If we’re still friends, really.”

“What you’re saying is, I’m stupid,” Rafe nodded, turning to you.

“Yeah, basically,” you mocked him.

“Do you think I should go to New York?” Rafe suddenly changed the subject.

Even though you felt relieved he was the one to start talking about the matter, no answer came to your head.

“I can’t decide for you. But… I need you to tell me what you think,” you asked him, intertwining your fingers with his.

“I don’t want to. It still feels like a better option rather than staying here with him.”

And without you.

“Listen… You know you can always take a step back if you don’t feel like it.”

“If so, I’ll have a fucking foot pushing me ten steps forward… for-Ward,” he let out a small laugh. “Besides, if dad already secured me a spot, I don’t have much of a choice.”

“Well, when you decide… you, Rafe,” you emphasized. “Tell me, please.”

“Don’t worry about me. You’re leaving soon too, you don’t have to, y’know-“

“I want to.”

Rafe and you both noticed Ward Cameron pacing toward one of the family’s boats. He greeted the construction workers without stopping, in rush to get a ride.

“The horizon is clear, it seems like,” Rafe said. “But it’s good here. Let’s stay for a while.”

You put your head on Rafe’s shoulder, leaning against him. He pulled you closer, shielding you with his hands.

“We’ll be alright, Rafe.”

________

Taking your time with Rafe, Wheezie joined you for a while on the roof. Even though Rafe was annoyed at the third-wheeling, you couldn’t say no to her.

Finally, you drove to your house. Anxiously tapping on the door of the car, you looked over to see if your parents are outside.

“It shouldn’t take me so long,” you said.

Leaving Rafe at the front of your house, you quietly opened the door, walking as though you were afraid to wake someone up even though it was already noon.

“Long lost daughter,” you heard your mother’s voice from behind.

“I stayed at Sarah’s,” you turned to her, pointing to your outfit. “Sorry for not calling.”

“Figured,” your mom replied. “I have no time for the angry talk. Please make yourself look presentable, we have the Menzies over. We’re having lunch together, you’re going.”

You frowned at your mom. “And Carter?”

“Yes. Now you feel like going, don’t you?”

“I don’t…” you shook your head, not being able to reply as she interrupted you.

“Lunch is the least you can do when they offered to transfer all your stuff to the mainland by their helicopter,” your eyes widened at your mom’s words.

“Oh God, it’s not necessary,” you hesitated. “Haven’t we figured out the way to transfer everything already?”

“God, Y/n. It’s no consolidated shipments we’re talking about. It is a private helicopter, we’re not saying no to that.”

“I have Rafe waiting for me outside,” you added.

Your mom sighed at your words. “Well, invite him with us or call him off. I don’t care,” she continued. “You’re going with us. Wren is coming soon and Carter and his mom are already in our living room.”

Not something you expected from today, but when did anything go the right way for you?

Rafe would’ve never sat at one table with Wren Menzies again. He was used to being forced to face people he didn’t like, you simply didn’t want to be the one to put him in such a situation.

You quickly paced towards Rafe while he waited for you outside his car.

“Okay, listen. We can’t go anywhere right now,” you said. “Us and the Menzies are having lunch.”

“Oh.”

“What if you come with me,” you took his hands, squeezing them lightly as he shrugged.

“As your what?”

“Well… as my date?”

He quickly dropped your hands, running his through his hair as he looked over to your house.

“Or not, Rafe, it’s whatever,” you added.

Shouldn’t have said that. Shouldn’t have said that, fuck.

“Let’s just drop them.”

“Rafe, I can’t. They helped me so much and they’re helping me move too. God, I’d be so lost without them.”

Rafe squinted, looking down at you. “Then go.”

“I don’t want to leave you like this.”

“Then don’t go.”

“You can come with me, Rafe. Fuck whatever the older Menzies says, you know my mom will have your back.”

“And the younger one,” Rafe paused. “Is he in there?”

“He’s inside, yes.”

“What do expect me to say,” Rafe mumbled, hiding his facial expression from you by turning away. “Let’s go somewhere else. Anywhere you want to. Please.”

“I- I can’t, Rafe.”

“Why the fuck not? What’s going to happen that you’re so afraid of?”

You frowned, leaning on the car. “You’re putting me in a very awkward position right now,” you commented. “I don’t like it.”

“Right back at you,” he replied.

You stood in silence for a moment, processing the conversation. “Then go back to the apartment. Call me later,” you suggested.

Rafe ran his hands through his hair. “Right. Tell Carter I said hi.”

“Stop!” You raised your voice for the first time. “It’s just lunch. I’ll be back in, what? Two hours.”

Rafe’s entitlement to your time bothered you. With all the options he had, the problem could be solved in a heartbeat.

“Fine, I’ll go,” he shrugged.

“Call me in the evening, okay?”

Rafe hummed, staring blankly at the road. He opened the door of his car, getting in as you silently observed him.

“Why the cold shoulder?” You huffed, angrily closing the door for him, the window rolled down fully.

“You must’ve misread me,” he replied in the same manner.

You stepped away from the car. “I'm tired of having to read you every time, you know. Drive safe.”

“Have a nice lunch,” he started the car, still not reciprocating your stare.

You’ve been waiting to catch his look at least once before he drove away, noticing the car of Wren Menzies and wondering how long it’d been parked there. But Rafe didn’t look back; your face dropped when his car was lost to sight.

You hid your hands in your sleeves, zoning out for a bit. You didn’t even notice Mr. Menzies coming to you.

“Y/n! Hi, why don’t we do inside?”

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” you stumbled. “Sure. How are you, Mr. Menzies?”

“I’m good,” he answered, smiling. “Where did you disappear last night?”

“Oh,” you brainstormed the ideas for a reasonable excuse. “Rafe got sick, needed to get him out.”

Slumping through the whole lunch, you felt offended. In your eyes, you weren’t in the wrong. You did not deserve the resentment you got from Rafe, especially not after feeling like he finally opened up to you. The feeling that slipped through your fingers so fast you had no chance to have a grasp of it.

You’d just wait for his call in the evening, when, after reevaluating the situation, Rafe would tell you he was sorry. He’d tell you weren’t stupid for calling him his date. Fucking hell, you should’ve said that. He would tell he overreacted.

If only he had called.

a/n: (awkwardly enters the room) heyy, hey. how y’all doing?

i feel like a mess lately and my writing is the same, and i’m sorry for making you wait so long for this part. the next part is the last one, and i hope i’ll be able to put everything into words and not disappoint you. as always, thank you for supporting this series, you’re the best ❤️❤️

Part 10 (last one😢)

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