#some of these are what will happen in future chapters...hehe

[cosmica-galaxy]

MY APOLOGIES TO THOSE WAITING FOR THE NEXT CHAPTER FOR MY DW FNAFIC TO DROP! PLEASE TAKE THIS ART AS AN APOLOGY!!

[bangtanshelves]

JJK Fanfic Recos

Hi. These are some of the fanfics I've read.

I've read A LOT but I'll only be including the ones I really enjoyed reading.

I'm in the process of recollecting them, please bare with me.

I'm also updating this post often, so whenever I end finishing a fic I like I just post it here. hehe

💓 - Fluff ❤‍🩹 - angst 🥵 - smut 🚨 - violence/drugs 🤪 - crack ⭐ - fav 🎣 - latest addition to the list

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚. SERIES ⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚.

My Love is Here - @/solemnreads

Completed ✅ ⭐

Genre: 💓, ❤‍🩹 (so much angst, I love it), 🥵 summary: "You didn’t mean for it to happen. It’s not like you purposely woke up one day and thought “Hey I’m going to fall in love with my best friend!” No, that is not at all what happened."

Knife's Edge - @/readyplayerhobi

Completed ✅

Genre: 💓, ❤‍🩹,🥵, 🚨 The Jeon Clan is Family, built on blood and loyalty. It’s been an unspoken fact that one day you will marry the heir to the Clan, Jeon Jungkook. You would be a fool to deny that you love him, but what happens when you meet a blue haired man who offers you a chance at normality?

Four Seven Eight - @/jiminrings

Completed ✅ ⭐

Genre: 💓, ❤‍🩹 (fic made me cry) ,🥵 you’re secure when it comes to loving jungkook, knowing that your husband loves you beyond words. what you aren’t so secure about is his first love — someone who isn’t you.alternatively, jungkook’s married to you, but he still celebrates his anniversary with his ex out of sentimentality.

Close to you - @/muniimyg

Completed ✅ ⭐

genre: 💓, 🤪 It should've been easier than this, right?In which oc and Jungkook sleep together and he can't get over it.

Falling Skies - @/fortunexkookie

Completed ✅ ⭐

Genre: 💓, ❤‍🩹,🥵 Jeon Jiyeon was your childhood best friend; her brother, Jungkook, was something else entirely. Once upon a time, she had called you her sun and him her moon; it was fitting, given the constant push-and-pull between you two. You used to consider him a friend, but then he had gone from endearingly frustrating dumb boy to card-carrying fuckboy so fast it had given you whiplash.

Please Love Me - @/ahunderedtimesover

Completed ✅ ⭐

Genre: 💓, ❤‍🩹,🥵 As the only unmarried Jeon and Kim children, your families propose a union to symbolize your unbreakable bond that spans generations. But despite developing an affection for Jungkook growing up, he never returned it; he never seemed to like you, actually. You’re okay with the proposal, but surprise surprise, he isn’t.

Lowkey - @/xpeachesncream

Completed ✅ ⭐

Genre: 💓, ❤‍🩹, 🥵 In order to pass organic chemistry and pay off your car damages from an accident, all you have to do is help the nerd, Jeon Jungkook, with a few things: pretend to be his girlfriend and teach him the way of dating.

Hotter Than Hell - @/chateautae

Completed ✅ ⭐

Genre: ❤‍🩹, 🥵 Jungkook, Lucifer and king of hell, has been cast out of the crimson underworld for a reason he's unsure of. Embarking on his journey for the answers should've been easy, if it weren't for you, the human that nurses his wounded body in her home, and accidentally witnesses the truth of his identity. Kickstarting a hellish adventure with the devil himself, you discover Lucifer is the most infuriating company ever; and Jungkook finds out that maybe his answer to returning home lies within his annoying human confidant.

An Ode to a Broken Heart - @/smoochkooks

Ongoing... ✍

Genre: ❤‍🩹 (bro I've been crying over this fic for days), 🥵 (future smut)  you’ve watched jeon jungkook slip out of your reach your entire life. now it’s time for you to finally move on, bury the past and open a new chapter. however, you’re doing it in your own, unconventional way - by publishing anonymously a novel about your miserable relationship.

Mutual Help - @/personasintro

Ongoing... ✍ (this is also posted on AO3)

Genre: 💓, ❤‍🩹,🥵 (damn... that's all i can say)  in order for you to pretend to be his girlfriend, he helps you with your sexual desires ⏤ he calls it mutual help

Way Back Home - @/solemnreads

Ongoing... ✍

Genre: 💓, ❤‍🩹 (please i really love angsty fics, fite me), 🥵

"Please tell me this isn't what I think it is" he asks you with tears in his eyes. You look down at the sight of your son with an oxygen mask on his face while your daughter is sleeping on the couch near the wall. You look into his eyes, broken, and sad. You've dreamt of this day for years, wondering how he would react. But here you are, hoping he could've meet the twins under different circumstances. "Yes... they're your children."

Strawberry Kisses - @/pixieknj

Ongoing... ✍

Genre: ❤‍🩹, 🥵 (Chapter 1 has been posted, but its something else) Jungkook is notoriously known as a f^ckboy who doesn’t eat p^ssy, until he finally gets alone with you…

⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚. ONE-SHOTS or TWO-SHOTS ⋅˚₊‧ ୨୧ ‧₊˚.

The Right Choice - @/honeytae

Genre: 💓 for as long as you've known Jungkook, you would think that you're witnessed all sides of him. But when you notice the way he's looking at you right now, you think you may be wrong about that.

Rainy Days - @/rklve

Genre: 💓, ❤‍🩹,🥵 Your life choices left not only yours, but Jungkook's hear broken in pieces. Now you're back in town, and just like Pluto, even if its cold and dark he tends to orbit around his sun forever.

High Demand - @/bunnyhugs77

Genre: 💓, 🥵, 🚨 A modern day Romeo and Juliet

SOJU - @/hoseoksluna

Genre: ❤‍🩹,🥵 Jungkook gives you all that he has—his feelings, his dominance and his cum.

Lost & Found - @/kooktrash

Genre: ❤‍🩹 (if you squint), 🥵 your college years have never been something you dwelled on for too long. you didn’t want to think of all the chances you lost and that’s why when the guy you had a crush on moves back to town, you try not to let it affect you again. but then he brings up old memories that didn’t go the way you thought they had and you’re thrown for a loop. you’re stuck between finding something new with him and falling back into old habits of never standing up for yourself. it probably doesn’t help that he dated your best friend, where everything seemed to go wrong.

Bottle Up Old Love - @/wintaerbaer

Genre: 💓, ❤‍🩹,🥵 Jungkook may have broken up with you a year ago, but that's not going to stop him from coming to your rescue when he sees you being cornered by a creep.

Pink Sapphire - @/jiminrings ⭐

Genre: 💓, ❤‍🩹(please I'm a sucker for this) ,🥵 Having Jungkook as a husband is great as far as arranged marriages could go; he's easy to love. Your relationship's perhaps become so easy that Jungkook doesn't think sometimes— and that's what makes it the easiest for you to hate him.

Will it fit? - @/jeonsweetpea

Genre: 💓, 🥵, 🤪, ❤‍🩹 (just a little bit) So what if your roommate caught you masturbating? At least he forgot about it the next day. But he can't exactly forget the big dildo you left in your shared bathroom...

Break up with your Boyfriend - @/spideyjimin

Genre: 💓, ❤‍🩹,🥵 Jungkook, the campus fuckboy, has decided to make you his next victim, but you're far from being like any of his previous hookups. You're not single. You're actually in a very long-term relationship with Baekhyun, the man you consider the love of you life, but it's for sure something that won't stop Jungkook. He wants you, and he's going to do absolutely everything to have you, even falling in love.

Paint me naked - @/gimmethatagustd

Genre: 💓, ❤‍🩹,🥵 After the mysteriously hot guy in your university class starts taking an interest in you, should you really trust that he's not like all the other college fuckboys? Especially when his best friend is the guy who broke your heart?

I hate you, I love you - @j/ungblue 🎣

Genre: ❤‍🩹,🥵 You hated him at seven, warmed up to him at twelve, and liked him at fifteen. Now the two of you are twenty years old and inseparable best friends... and you're absolutely in love with him; he's in love too—just not with you.

How to Get a Guy - @/taeshobipop 🎣

Genre: 💓, ❤‍🩹, 🥵 Star basketball player Jeon Jungkook has a reputation as the ultimate fuckboi. He's loved by everyone. Everyone. And you would have followed suit if he had not broken all your strict Roommate Rules™ within the first week of his stay. Jungkook, on the other hand, thinks you're absolutely bizarre. But there's a silver lining— Mr. Fuckboi here knows basketball captain Min Yoongi, your dreadfully clueless crush. He strikes up a deal with you: he'll teach you the ways of flirting if you lessen your load of rules (so Jungook can continue persuing his way through the ladies on campus). Yet the longer Jungkook spends with you, the more he realizes that maybe he doesn't want to tbe the campus fuckboi anymore. The problem is, how does he prove that to you?

[f1cflcfic]

The Prophecy (SMAU ft. Lando Norris): Epilogue

pairing: lando norris x singer!reader (fem!y/n)

summary: what happens after the break-up that noone saw coming? as Y/N L/N gears up to release her next album, each song reveals a little bit of the past, present and future of her relationship with Lando Norris. Inspired by a curated playlist built around "The Prophecy".

note: this is RPF and is obviously in no way, shape, or form reflective of real persons. also, this chapter contains some (implicit) references to sex.

genre: social media au (with written parts), angst, exes to lovers, happy ending

[A/N: hehe it's never really over, this is for my bff who just got engaged over the weekend <3]

part i part ii part iii part iv part v part vi

♥･*:.｡ ｡.:*･ﾟ♡･*:.｡ ｡.:*･ﾟ♥

June, 2027

[Excerpt from Y/N L/N's Buzzfeed Playing with Puppies Interview]

Y/N is sitting down on the floor, enthusiastically chatting to someone off camera. “Listen Roz I’m so serious, you’re going to have to physically incapacitate me when I want to take them all home. It will happen, and you will need to stop me.”

Someone from the crew giggles, as they instruct Y/N to readjust her lavalier microphone.

“Alright, so it’s super easy – you just sit there, and we bring the pups to you!”

“Oh my god. This is my dream. I always say to my friends that I’d just really love to be in a puppy pile, and it’s finally happening. The pinnacle of my career. This is why I became a singer,” she chatters, then gasps as the first puppies are brought out.

“Oh hiiii,” she almost whimpers at the sight of them, some a little more active, others a little sleepy. One immediately snuggles into her lap, and Y/N looks off-camera to someone meaningfully. “I am taking him home.” Someone can be heard laughing and saying “no, you can’t” in response, to which Y/N sighs in defeat.

“So, can you tell us who you are, and what you do”

“My name’s Y/N L/N, and I’m a singer-songwriter. But today I’m a professional puppy cuddle buddy.”

“Here’s your first question – you mentioned recording a song in Taylor Swift’s studio for the Prophecy. What does it look like?”

“Oh my – oh they smell so good I swear, I’m so sorry I didn’t hear a word you said.” The interviewer repeats the question, as Y/N tries really hard to maintain eye contact with them instead of the puppies roaming around her.

“It’s a really beautiful space, a sanctuary, really. And it’s just amazing to think that so many iconic songs and albums have been partially written and recorded there as well. Taylor is a wonderful friend to have in this industry, and – oh just look at this little guy. He’s so cute!!!”

“Second question: You’re in the middle of a world tour right now. What was your own first tour that you remember going to?”

“Oh look at this one, he’s just playing around, such a little goofball. Sorry, sorry – the question. My first concert? You know it was probably some type of children’s act? My parents aren’t super into music, so the first time I went to see someone and paid for the ticket myself, it was probably Taylor actually.”

“Third question: You said you’re into reading. What’s your latest recommendation?”

“I try to read, yeah! It’s so easy to get sucked into my phone, but I always bring books and an e-reader. Oof, careful little guy, those tiny teeth are sharp,” she disentangles her finger from a puppy’s mouth, then hugs him close to her chest and kisses his head. “I love you, don’t worry. So, yeah, what was I saying? I think with reading I’m always in two minds about it. I enjoy literary fiction, but I also love fantasy. So I recently started There Are Rivers in the Sky from Elif Shafak, and then I’ve been re-reading the Fourth Wing series by Rebecca Yarros. Love that dragon. Maybe we should name you Tairn, or Xaden,” Y/N points at a puppy with dark fur and brown eyes.

“Do they all have names already? All of them are up for adoption, right? But surely these personalities – ah okay. His name’s Lewis?” She smiles cheekily, but doesn't comment further.

One of the dogs lets out a pitiful little whine, and Y/N immediately looks down. “What’s up little pup? Are you unhappy? Can we get them some water, some snacks?”

Someone steps in with a bowl of water, then asks the next question. “What’s something you do to relax on your days off?”

“Hmm aside from reading? Honestly, I love to just hang out with my family. Go do minigolf, something fun together.”

“Not actual golf?”

Y/N snorts, her fingers absentmindedly petting the puppies that have since fallen asleep in her lap. “My partner has tried to get me into it, and I love how much he enjoys it, but it’s not for me. So I’ll happily drive the golf cart and cheer him on instead.”

“Are you not competitive?”

You scrunch your nose at the word. “I think I am, but I’m more scared of others thinking I’m not good enough – so then I abandon serious pursuit of victory. If it’s just a laugh, then it’s fine if you’re not great at something. It’s something I’m working on!”

She kisses one of the pups that’s woken up from its nap on his tiny nose. “I love you, you, you’re such a tiny little angel aren’t you?”

“Alright, next question: If you were in an emergency situation, who would you call to bail you out?”

“Probably Lando. He’d be fast, you know?” Y/N smiles at the camera. “By the way, he’s going to be SO jealous of me for getting to hang out with pups all day.”

“If you weren’t a singer-songwriter, what do you think you’d be doing?”

“Hmm, I’d probably have gone to university – maybe literature, or maybe political science. Then I’d go work for an NGO? I’d love to know I was making a difference in people’s lives I think.”

“Last question – what are you most looking forward to?”

“Aside from the new, upgraded tour? I can’t believe I’ll be playing stadiums. That feels very surreal. Apart from that, we’re getting some renovations done on the house right now and I’m super excited to see my library fantasy come to life. I want to have a ladder on wheels.”

You quietly stroke the fur of a red and white puppy that’s been curled up in your lap since the beginning. “I’m going to cry having to give these back. But I’m going to, I will. It’d be irresponsible to adopt a dog right now, maybe next year we’ll get on that. Please, if you are able and willing, adopt these sweet little puppies – and I will personally come by and hangout with your pup and you.”

The screen fades to black, and then there’s a shaky camera that follows Y/N as she laughs while talking on the phone. “I know! I said you would,” she’s overheard saying. “There’s one in particular, I just – ” she trails off, listening to whatever’s being said on the other end of the line. “Do you really think so?” Her smile widens. “I love you so much, you have no idea,” she nods excitedly at her assistant and starts walking towards the animal shelter representative. “Yeah I’ll keep you posted, say hi from me to your brother and Sav please. Ok, see you. Bye.”  

August 14th, 2027

December 8th, 2027

June 18th, 2028

♥･*:.｡ ｡.:*･ﾟ♡･*:.｡ ｡.:*･ﾟ♥

You can read the previous parts & access various bonus content by going here

♥ likes, comments, reblogs are always very much appreciated ♥

taglist (open) : @charlesgirl16, @linnygirl09, @hoeforsirius, @motorsportloverf1, @sarx164, @idkimbadwithusernamesandstuff, @formulaal, @tvdtw4ever @sadiemack9 @seonghwaexile @screamingwines

[vettelsvee]

GOODBYES ARE BITTERSWEET | Sebastian Vettel ✩₊˚.⋆ PART 5: I'LL NEVER LEAVE... NEVER MIND [PREVIOUS PART] [NEXT PART]

goodbyes are bittersweet masterlist | wattpad f1 masterlist | ao3 | ask anything or let's talk!

ferrari sebastian vettel x ex gf!female reader

word count: 4437

summary: after not seeing each other in almost five years, seb and y/n finally meet with just one purpose for her: telling seb they have a 4 year old daughter. will y/n be able to tell him?

warnings: mentions of sex. i think nothing else but i literally cried while writing this. i recommend that you listen to loml by taylor swift while reading this hehe

taglist: [ @saltycomicsanimalssalad @hc-dutch @mycenterfold @simplyamberj @spitesfvl-blog @jaydaaasworld @lottalove4evelyn @zoeyjadetice2010 @jehun @ferralari @cosmoscoffeee @mcmuppet @myescapefromthislife @sleutherclaw @youre-on-your-ownkid ]

a/n: i'm finally back! sorry you had to wait this long to get a new chapter but writers block had me going like crazy, as well as my mental health in general. i had something else planned for today BUT be aware of what I'm posting tomorrow since you might like it! christmas is coming soon and i have a surprise ready for you. let me remind you that feedback and reposts are truly appreciated. and also comment me your thoughts and theories on the story pls! missed you so much guys, thank you for everything, love you all <3

© VETTELSVEE (2024). please, do not steal, copy or translate my works. thanks for reading!

May 15th Heppenheim, Germany

“Y/N, remember that you need to be careful with what you say to Seb. I know you want to tell him about Emily, but also consider whether today is the right time. Imagine if…”

You stop listening to Hanna the moment her lips utter your daughter’s name. Instead, your mind started creating a thousand different scenarios about what could happen when you saw your ex-boyfriend today. Your gaze remained fixed on the mirror in your room.

You only returned home five days ago, but it felt like an eternity.

You knew perfectly well why, or rather, you knew perfectly well who was to blame for your distorted sense of time: Sebastian Vettel, of course.

The trip to London felt like a fresh start. While the main reason to go was your meeting with Capital Records to discuss what your near future might hold, you considered it as an opportunity to rethink what you wanted to do with your life from now on. 

You had just turned 30, and the only thing you longed for was to start this new decade with a clean slate in every possible way. That, of course, included facing your past mistakes and recognizing your faults, one of which you might be about to commit today.

Hanna acted as some sort of mediator between you and Seb because, no matter how hard you tried, you couldn’t bring yourself to send him even the simplest of messages. The driver seemed to understand, as he told Hanna not to worry, that he understood, and that all you needed to do was show up without standing him up. 

Despite having agreed to meet at your house, you decided to dress up a little to present yourself in the best way possible. After spending far more time than you’d like to admit choosing what to wear, you settled on a light blue knee-length dress and white Converse sneakers, with a bracelet your daughter made (or better said your mother made, just Emily took credit for).

"Y/N, are you even listening to me?"

The reflection of your best friend in the mirror startled you. You turned towards her, trying to maintain the calm you’ve lacked since returning from London. Exactly five days that have felt like five years.

Like the five years since you last saw Seb.

"Hey, cat got your tongue or what?" insisted the blonde. "Seriously, Y/N, I want you to be speechless, but preferably when you and Seb take the conversation from the couch to the bed and he makes you scream his name again just like he used to do when..."

"Hanna, for God's sake, shut up! Seb and I are only going to talk about..."

"I know, I know, I was just trying to make you laugh. You know I like to..." 

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

If you were restless before, pacing back and forth in your room, checking that there was no trace of Emily in the house for Seb to find, now you were frozen like a statue.

You looked at Hanna, and she looked back at you. You shrugged, but Hanna just put her exaggeratedly unfriendly faces.

"Hanna, no..."

"It's Seb, Y/N! It's just Seb, for heaven's sake," she interrupted, and you cut her off just as fast.

"It's the Seb I haven't seen in five years!" you stammered, feeling the anxiety taking over. "Seriously, Hanna, this was a very, very bad idea. I don’t even know why I asked you to tell him to come and..."

"Because he's the father of your daughter, and your only goal is to tell him!" she yelled, trying not to raise her voice too much but failing miserably. You hoped to God Vettel didn’t hear that.

"Hanna..."

"Since I know you're not going to open the door, I'll do it myself. Stay here or come down, do whatever you want, but I'll tell Seb to come find you because clearly, you can't handle welcoming your guest," she declared.

Without saying anything else, she strided out of your room. You could only follow her, practically tripping down the stairs, legs trembling like a teenager on her first date. Your pulse was pounding in your temples, while your mind kept screaming at your body to calm down.

As soon as you stepped onto the ground floor, you saw Hanna opening the door. Her cheerful voice broke the silence, asking Seb how he was and, to your surprise, inviting him in.

You inched closer, not quite enough for them to notice you. Then you stopped, inspecting Seb from head to toe, as if you didn't already know every inch of his body by heart. Even though you were used to seeing him on TV and social media daily, it felt like you haven’t seen him in all this time you’ve been out of touch. He was wearing a slightly worn-out white t-shirt and jeans. His hair was perfectly trimmed, though a bit longer on top, and his beard, probably several days old, was what caught your attention the most, looking just the way you liked it.

But what really captivated you was the bouquet of yellow tulips he was holding, just like he used to bring you for dates or whenever it was a special day for either of you back when you were dating.

You swallowed hard, guilt washing over you as you thought, for a fleeting moment, about him handing you a flower bouquet before you told him you were having his baby.

"Hi..."

You thought your whisper was too soft to be heard, but it was quite the opposite.

Both Seb and Hanna turned to look at each other, then focused on you, still standing in the entryway. Your best friend tensed up slightly, but you tried to reassure her with a slight movement of your hands. The expression on your ex-boyfriend’s face seemed to light up at your small intervention, even if it was minimal.

“Well, Seb, I'll leave you with Y/N. I have a few errands to run…” Your friend tried to excuse herself, though both of you knew it wasn’t true. “See you later for a drink guys!

She winked and quickly slipped out, shutting the door behind her before either of you could even say goodbye.

Now, it was just the two of you, alone.

Seb looked at you again, and you couldn’t help it but get lost in the blue of his eyes. The situation felt strange. You used to cherish every moment of being alone together, but now you didn’t even know how to say a simple "hello." 

You once trusted him completely, and now you were unsure whether to offer him a drink or tell him that you have a four-year-old daughter.

“Hi, sunshine,” he said, breaking the silence.

“Hi, Seb.”

He took a step towards you, slowly moving closer. You noticed how his gaze shifted from the flowers to your eyes, as if he was searching for some kind of answer from you. His eyes reflected a mixture of nervousness and tenderness, stirring a whirlwind of emotions inside you. 

He didn’t have to say it, you could see it in his eyes. He was afraid of how you’d react to this gesture, this little detail that used to drive you crazy, but now… you didn’t know how to feel about it.

You, on the other hand, were utterly stunned. 

How, after all this time and how cold you ended things, could he still do this? How could he still remember?

“These... are for you,” he finally said, his voice low and shaky. He handed you the bouquet, his hands trembling.

You met his gaze, and the way he looked at you was filled with fear, insecurity, and maybe, just maybe, a bit of tenderness. He didn’t need to say it out loud because you knew him too well. He was afraid of how you’d react to this gesture.

“Thank you,” you managed to say, taking your time to smell the flowers.

You couldn’t hold it in. Tears began to blur your vision, and a wave of embarrassment washed over you.

He noticed. Even though you didn’t want to, even though you didn’t feel capable of getting close enough to give him a kiss on the cheek or maybe even a hug, Seb did it anyway.

“It's okay, Y/N,” he whispered. “It’s okay...”

But it wasn’t okay… it was far from okay.

Sebastian Vettel was here, once again, standing in front of you, and possibly back in your life. The boy you once considered your best friend, the best friend you fell in love with, the driver you always supported, and most importantly, the father of your child, was back in your life in such an unexpected way that it still felt surreal.

“I don’t know...” you tried to speak, but the words wouldn’t come out. “It feels surreal that after everything, after such an empty goodbye, here we are, together again,” you confessed. “It’s weird seeing you in front of me in the flesh and not as pixels on a screen.”

“Y/N…”

“I’ve missed you, Seb. So much.”

You knew your honesty didn’t catch him by surprise, because he felt the same way. That’s what hurt the most.

“I missed you too, Y/N. I really did...” he said after a moment, wrapping his arms around you, and you pressed your face against his chest.

“Seb…”

“Don’t overthink it, really,” he interrupted gently. “I’m not here to talk about the past or blame anyone,” he paused, letting out a breath before continuing. “I just want us to go back to who we were before we were together. But, if I’m being honest, we’ve been in love with each other for so long that I can’t remember a time when you weren’t my everything.”

Your lips trembled. The weight of his words was too much for you to handle, at least today, in a first encounter where you haven’t even spent ten minutes together.

You felt awful. You felt shattered inside knowing that if you were in this situation, it was because of you.

“Well, Y/N, tell me…”

“No, no,” you quickly interrupted, grabbing his arm and guiding him to sit on the couch. Immediately after, you rushed to the kitchen to grab the drinks and snacks you spent all morning preparing. “You tell me first. Even though I’ve seen you on TV, I know you’re very private about your life, you know... You never share anything with the media, and well, you don’t even have social media so… How are you?”

He let out a short laugh as he picked up a bottle of water and a cheese-and-salmon toast.

“Well, to be honest, I’m doing much better than when you left me,” he revealed. It didn’t surprise you. After all, it was what you expected him to say. “You must have had your reasons for breaking up with me, and after all these years, I’m not going to ask why you did it. But I won’t lie to you… you left me shattered, Y/N.”

“Seb, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

“I know,” he cut in softly, making a gentle gesture with his hand to calm you down. “Like I said, I’m not looking for an explanation or an apology. I just want you to know how I felt. Mentally… damn, Y/N, you broke me, and I completely lost myself, but at the same time, that’s what gave me the strength to win the championship in 2013,” he looked away from your eyes, shifting his gaze to the wall. Nervously, he started playing with his fingers. “All I could think about was you and that, maybe, there was a chance you were watching...”

“Of course I was, Seb,” you said softly, trying to hold back the tears and keep your composure. “No matter what happened, I never stopped watching or supporting you. I’ve always been, and will always be, your number one fan.”

He nodded, a bittersweet expression crossing his face.

“That year, everything I did was with the thought in mind that you were watching and, somehow, it helped me move forward. But… 2014 was when everything fell apart,” he admitted. “Red Bull wasn’t the same anymore, or at least, I didn’t feel the same way. I wasn’t winning, Daniel was beating me… I felt like I had lost everything, including you and, with time, I started to feel like I had no reason to stay with the team or maybe even in Formula 1. Until Ferrari offered me the contract.”

You remembered it like it was yesterday. Unlike any regular sports fan, you found out through Heike when you were out for a walk with Emily.

“When I was given the chance to sign with Ferrari in 2015... Y/N, really, that’s when I realized it wasn’t the end. That’s what I needed to move forward. I think I mentioned it to you on WhatsApp, but I don’t know if you remember…”

You swallowed hard. Of course, you remembered. He told you just before the news became public, before his mum told you, but you didn’t know how to answer him or if you really should do it. The demons in your head made you think it was a joke, even just an excuse to get closer to you. And you also felt that if he did sign with Ferrari, it would open a door you had closed because you weren’t ready to face the truth.

Just like you were doing now.

“I remember, yes,” you murmured, unable to look him in the eyes.

“When I didn’t get a reply from you I decided not to push it. That’s when I realized you didn’t want anything to do with me. Yet I kept sending you stuff as you might know…”

“That’s not it…” You could barely speak. You were as broken as he was. “I read the message, Seb, but… I burst into tears and didn’t have the strength to reply. I didn’t want to give you false hope when I wasn’t ready to… I didn’t want to hurt you more than I already had,” you confessed. “I knew that if I spoke to you again, I’d hurt you again. And I’d hurt myself too. I couldn’t do that to you, Seb.”

He nodded, looking for some kind of affirmation in your gaze.

“At first, I felt really out of place on the team, you know? And I felt that way for a long time,” he revealed. “It was completely out of my comfort zone, and I felt like I’d never fit in. But little by little, Kimi, Maurizio, and the team made me feel like family. It’s strange to think about it now, but I can’t imagine being with any team other than Ferrari.” You agreed with him, from what you had seen on TV, it was clear he felt that way. “Fighting for the world title with them this year and having a real shot at beating Mercedes… I never thought I’d get to this point.”

You looked at him with a mix of admiration and nostalgia. This was the Seb you knew, the Seb with ambition, who always desired more and more. The Seb who never gave up.

The Seb who didn’t break down, even when he had every reason to.

“I’m so proud of you, Seb. I’ve always been, and I always will be. Don’t forget that.”

“Of course, Y/N,” he looked uncomfortable. Quite a bit, actually. “Well… enough about me. You know I don’t like talking about myself… What about you? What have you been up to all this time? My mom told me a bit, and I’ve seen you a few times, but…”

More than not knowing what to say, you sensed he didn’t want to intrude too much into your life.

You swallowed, trying not to get more nervous than you already were, because now, you supposed, was the moment to tell him about Emily.

“Well, not much has changed, really,” you started, unsure of what to say. “I’ve been in Heppenheim the whole time, except for a couple of trips to Berlin, but nothing unusual,” you tried to smile, but your mind kept circling around the fact that you had to tell him you had a daughter. “I’ve been working at the bar and writing music. To be honest, since we broke up I’ve had a lot more inspiration.”

And since I gave birth to Emily, you thought.

Seb didn’t say anything. You figured he understood. After all, he had thrown himself into his career to cope, while you had poured your emotions into writing songs about the story you shared to cope with grief.

“Now things have changed a bit,” you continued, trying to sound more upbeat to push away the painful memories. “Ever since Red went viral… I swear, I uploaded it without expecting anything, but the reaction…”

“The song is amazing, Y/N. Of course it went viral.”

“I’ve been offered a record deal,” you blurted out. “A few years ago, I met Niall Horan at the bar. You know, the guy who was on that band, One Direction…” Seb nodded, his eyes wide, encouraging you to continue. “He told me he was traveling to find some inspiration for his solo career, and I guess Heppenheim seemed like a good place for him to visit.”

“Wait, wait… a record deal?”

“Apparently, Niall told his label that I was the voice behind Red, and, well… Capital Records offered me a contract,” you explained. “They called me to have a meeting in London, which is why we couldn’t meet up last time…”

His face was calm, unreadable, though his mouth had curved into a big smile. He didn’t seem surprised, and you knew there was a strong chance Hanna had told him everything.

If that was true…

“I hope you accepted, Y/N.”

“Well… actually, I didn’t. I turned it down.”

His smile faded for a moment, and his expression became completely serious.

“You turned it down? Why? Sunshine, this is an opportunity…”

“Yes, I know it’s an amazing opportunity, but I can’t accept it. Not right now.”

You figured this was the moment you should tell him the real reason behind rejecting such a big deal, which included a tour if you sold a certain amount of CDs.

Sebastian kept staring at you, which only made you more nervous. You tried to gather your thoughts, searching for the right way to tell him you had a four-year-old daughter, but you couldn’t find the moment.

You couldn’t just drop it on him now, after all, this was your first real conversation in almost five years.

“Y/N, darling…”

“I can’t take the risk when the only thing I’ve managed is to get one song out of all the ones I sent to the label to go viral,” you half-lied. It was true that you didn’t want to talk about it yet, but you were also insecure about your music. “As much as I’d love to have an album, to fill stadiums and have people singing along to my songs, I can’t take that risk.”

“But, Y/N…”

“I’m not sure all the songs on the album would be successful, Seb.”

“Y/N, you have no idea what you’re going to regret if you let this go....”

“No, Seb, I know exactly what I’m doing, really,” you shook your head, firm in your decision. “This is the best thing for me.” 

And for Emily too, though you didn’t say that out loud.

Seb remained silent for longer than you would have liked, as if trying to process what you’d just told him. Then, he stood up, crouching down to your level, and taking your hands in his, he said:

“Alright. If you think your songs aren’t good enough, sing one of them to me.”

“What?” you asked, confused.

“If you turned down the record deal because you think your songs aren’t good enough for the world to hear, sing one of them to me.”

His tone, though calm, was direct and insistent.

“Seb… I can’t. I’m too embarrassed,” you laughed nervously.

“Come on, Y/N,” he said, gently rubbing your hands with his thumbs, just like he always did when your anxiety was at its worst. “It’s just me. I’m still the same after all these years.”

You sighed, knowing he wasn’t going to let it go until you gave in. It was Seb, and he always got what he wanted from you, even when you didn’t want to. In the end, you gave in, carefully standing up from the couch and heading towards the piano at the back of the room, gesturing for him to follow you.

You carefully slided the bench back, lifting the lid as you sat down. You positioned your hands, starting to play the first few chords to warm up, ensuring your memory flawlessly recalled the piece.

“This is song number 5, like your driver number... It's called loml.”

You continued playing, finally giving way to the song.

Who's gonna stop us from waltzing   Back into rekindled flames?   If we know the steps anyway   We embroidered the memories   Of the time I was away   Stitching, ‘We were just kids, babe.’   I said, ‘I don't mind, it takes time.’   I thought I was better safe than starry-eyed   I felt aglow like this   Never before and never since.

Your voice shook as you began to sing, but you kept going, holding on to what your ex-boyfriend had told you about how he knew it was about him. As you settled into the song, you started feeling more comfortable, just like you did when you used to sing for Seb. Though you couldn’t look at him because you were absorbed in the key, your fingers delicately moving over it, you could feel his eyes on you.

You shit-talked me under the table   Talking rings and talking cradles   I wish I could un-recall   How we almost had it all   Dancing phantoms on the terrace   Are they second-hand embarrassed   That I can't get out of bed?   Cause something counterfeit's dead.

Tears started falling from your eyes as you approached the final part of the song. Memories of your shared history flashed through your mind like a movie. Your vision was completely blurred, and you felt a tightness in your chest that was overwhelming, making it hard to breathe, almost impossible to keep singing. Somehow, though, you fought to hold it together, just as you did the day you said goodbye to the man now sitting beside you.

Oh, what a valiant roar   What a bland goodbye   The coward claimed he was a lion   I'm combing through the braids of lies   ‘I’ll never leave’... ‘Never mind.’   Our field of dreams, engulfed in fire   Your arson matches your somber eyes   And I'll still see it until I die   You're the loss of my life.

Silence filled the room as you played the final notes. With your hands still resting on the keyboard, you looked at Seb. Once again, you didn’t know what to say to him, and you knew he didn't either. He was motionless, running a hand through his hair, probably trying to process what he just heard.

Y/Ni, this song... it’s about us, isn’t it?”

“It might be,” you admited, unable to lie to him, at least not about this.

He sighed. You could tell he was affected; you knew it the moment his tears began to form, just as yours continued to flow.

“You should rethink the contract,” he said firmly. “This song deserves to be heard by more than just me, your parents, and Hanna.”

“I can’t, Seb. I just can’t…”

“Can I sit next to you?”

You looked up and saw him gesturing to the bench. Confused, not sure what to do or say, you shifted a little, making space, and he sat beside you. Seb didn’t hesitate to wrap an arm around you, offering a comfort that felt wonderful but also caused you to crumble a bit more inside. 

You surprised yourself by resting your head on his shoulder.

“Why are you so determined to convince yourself you don’t deserve this opportunity?” His tone was soft, just like the way he stroked your hair. “Do you really think you're not good enough to be a successful singer?”

“It’s not about being good enough, it’s that I’m not,” you whisper,ed your throat tightening. “I’m not a good person, Seb, and it’s only a matter of time before I screw up again and hurt someone, just like I hurt you.”

“Does this… have something to do with the second date in your YouTube channel username?”

You stood your head up, staring at him in confusion while trying not to panic.

“What are you talking about?”

“Your username,” he repeated, moving closer. “I figured out that the numbers represent two dates. I know for sure that one of them is June 15, 2006, the day we started dating, but the other one… I don’t know what January 12, 2014 means for you because we weren’t talking by then, but it must be important. And based on what you just said…”

Your eyes widened in shock. You were paralyzed, not knowing how to react. 

How could he have noticed something so… insignificant? How had he connected the dots and figured out the dates you had in mind when you created that account?

You thought this would be the perfect moment to tell him that the second date marks the birth of your daughter, the daughter you had together; that on that day, while you were in labor, he was at the hospital waiting for some exams results and he was talking to your dad, who couldn’t contain his excitement about his granddaughter’s arrival and had to keep it a secret from him.

But you couldn’t. Not yet. You need to regain his trust first. You and Seb needed to rebuild the kind of relationship you had before you became the love of each other’s lives.

“Seb…” you trailed off, unable to continue. “I swear, on everything that matters to you, I’ll tell you, but right now… I just can’t.”

He looked at you for a few seconds that felt like an eternity. You knew him better than you knew yourself, and you knew he was persistent, that he needed an answer, but you also knew he was respectful and wouldn't push you.

“That’s okay,” he said finally, a bit resigned. “I understand, it’s fine. I’m not asking you to tell me now if you’re not ready, but I want you to know that when you are, I’ll be here to listen.”

You looked at him, grateful, and nodded without saying anything else. 

You both sat at the piano bench for a while, in silence, listening only to the sound of your breathing and the melody of the song replaying in your mind, as intrusive thoughts overwhelmed you.

“If I waited almost 19 years of my life to be your boyfriend, I can wait a little longer, it doesn’t matter the time you need, for you to tell me,” Seb finally spoke, and his words broke you a little more than you already were. “Let’s be friends again, what do you think?” he offered, giving you a small smile. “Let’s take things slowly, like maybe we should have done when we first started dating. You know…”

“Slowly, no problem,” you repeated, smiling back at him.

You felt a weight lift from your shoulders at his words. Maybe you were not at the peak of your relationship, and maybe you’d never got back there, but at least you were working together to turn your story into something new.

“You know what, Y/N? I’ve always felt like our story wasn’t over. I don’t just mean that romantically, but in a broader sense,” he said quickly. “We have a whole lot of history, and now is when we’re going to start writing our second book.”

“I know, Seb. I’ve been thinking the same thing ever since I said goodbye to you,” you confess. “That day, goodbyes were bittersweet, but I knew it wasn’t the end and that I’d see you again.”

Before the year ends. I’m telling Seb Emily is her daughter before December 31st.

[pikahlua]

Ahhh I meant to ask, if you do end up giving thoughts on the leaks, I would LOVE to know your thoughts and this epilogue’s endings for bakugou (obviously!) and ochako as well.. in detail pls hehe

Everyone and their dog apparently wants my thoughts on the chapter, and I have to say I just don't wanna give them in the detail people seem to crave. Look, the chapter is meh. It's just meh. There are some cute things that happen in it and it seems that's at the expense of consistency in the story. They clearly didn't think about the things they were implying hard enough. Oh, Izuku and Ochako just didn't fucking interact for 8 years after high school but NOW Izuku wants to talk more? What about Ochako's school program with children that seems RIGHT UP Izuku's alley? They're both practically pursuing the same thing but apparently never breathe each other's air. Despite not thinking about each other for literal years apparently they're still attracted to each other, which, why? What are they attracted to? They're entirely new people now, they're meeting as adults with quite a few years missing between them? Oh, here's the rankings but also we're gonna give a throwaway line about how they're volatile and useless bUT STILL WE'RE GONNA GIVE YOU THEM. THEY DON'T MEAN ANYTHING ACTUALLY BUT HERE THEY ARE. Okay let's just imply Himiko is going to be Ochako's voyeur for life.

But worst of all is the weird idea that this is somehow the logical conclusion of the story that came before it. A conclusion should cap off the themes of its story and MAYBE introduce a new question to ponder. The story should LOGICALLY lead to the conclusion. But this conclusion basically turns around and says "Things change when you're an adult. You'll be a totally different person and maybe have new dreams. Except also you may not. Life is normal and boring and dreams sometimes die." What? WHAT????? Where's the theme of service to others? Where's the theme of heroes inspiring the next generation? Why are we implying heroes who are too good at their job will force their job to become unnecessary and die out but then try to prove no wait heroes are still necessary because sometimes people get weird urges to steal cars? What? Whatttt??? So heroes just exist now to be the quirk police basically. This is what all those kids were growing up to be? That's a weird implication after a whole story where the entire adult generation showed a VERY DIFFERENT AND MORE ADMIRABLE BRAND OF HEROISM (except for those that didn't, which was far more interesting than whatever this is). So the future of heroes AND villains is banality? Petty useless shit?

This is why 430 was such a good ending chapter. It DID showcase heroism in a mundane setting that actually had meaning and impact and inspiration. It made Izuku's adult life look like a fulfillment of his dream just in a new way.

In 431, Katsuki Bakugo is the only major character that shows a connection to the story that came before. He's the only one that still dreams of heroism and unity and inspiration, and he still thinks about who Izuku is deep down and resolves to save him from his stupidity AND SUCCESSFULLY DOES IT. He's the only one that resembles the heroic ideal that All Might supposedly instilled in everyone's hearts. MAYBE Ochako does too, but it's for a brief flash and then suddenly we're back on the mundane train (pun not intended) in a bad way.

And Shouto. Shouto can stay because he's the only character who PROPERLY introduces the question of "more to a hero than heroism" in the ending as a conclusion that introduces a new question, but it just...doesn't lead anywhere. I could see a potential path for that to have led the chapter somewhere meaningful, but it didn't.

So I maintain Katsuki is standing there watching on as the only character thinking about how the fuck to inspire people to be heroes again.

In summary, if I consider this the actual conclusion to the whole story, it's ass. I don't want it. It's useless and almost condescending. It's like the chapter is shaming me. How dare I enjoy the 430 chapters that came before, how dare I dream and feel inspired, how dare I expect anything of the concept of "hero" introduced by All Might and then the next one introduced by Izuku? But if I consider it an extra DLC bonus omake what-if didn't-think-too-hard-about-this-I'm-just-spitballing-and-having-fun-or-whatever side comic, fine, whatever, the mundane banality it wants to be succeeds, because I'm bored and I'm ignoring it. I'll have fun with it in fanfic maybe if I feel like it, but I ain't tying this shit into the themes of the actual MHA story. It doesn't belong there.

If that all sounds like more than you bargained for with your ask, it's because I received 30 other asks all wanting me to expand on these points, and so I decided to consolidate them all here. It's just too many asks for me to respond to individually. If I don't answer your ask, random anon reading this, it's because I consider your ask answered well enough.

[satoruxx]

okay if you want something done you have to do it yourself. RHEYAAAA

help i’m imagining the first time you scratch wolf toji’s ears. I think it’d take some time to get there, easing gently into being in each other’s personal space and then even more time to be comfortable with being comfortable with casual, constant physical touch, like sitting next one another on the couch.

but somehow, some day, your hand is resting near or on his head during a movie or show. and almost instinctually, without realizing it, you’re gently drawing your fingers back and forth, lazily playing with the furry lil ears atop his head. would he freeze? melt? the internal confusion and conflicting feelings of being touched in a place that’s vulnerable to him, but wanting more— he’s just going nuts beneath your petting and you don’t even have a clue bc you’re so comfortable in is presence!!

sigh. please talk to me about this im going bananas

SAGEEEE ARE YOU INSANE??????? YOUR BRAIN MWAH MWAH !! i have a few scenes with ears scratches written out in future chapters too hehe :33

BUT YES YOU'RE ONE HUNDRED PERCENT CORRECT???????

wolf!toji is very reserved already. like i said in the other ask, i don't think he enjoys physical touch as much, and it takes a lot of time for him to get used to the idea that you don't have any bad intentions. even though he trusts you completely, letting you touch him in places that are so vulnerable is difficult. but casually, slowly, he starts opening up to it.

he also finds it very easy to let himself touch you??? like the very simple hand on your back as he squeezes behind you to reach the fridge. or the occasional ruffle of your hair in between his claws. as he starts becoming more comfortable with that i think he'll simultaneously open up to you touching him too.

he realizes how much he enjoys the feeling, but refuses to comment on it. even just the simple act of you almost dozing off against his shoulder has his head spinning.

so the day your fingers do accidentally wander, he swears he feels his brain short-circuit. it's so casual too—he doubts you even know you're doing it. he has gotten used to your hands in his hair by now, but this is new. you're so deeply engrossed in the movie you're watching, fingers absentmindedly tracing over the softer fur lining his ears.

your touch is so gentle, so caring—it takes him a second to realize that it feels good.

he just sits there, claws digging into the rug as he stares straight ahead with his teeth grit. the movie is playing but he doesn't know what's happening in it, too busy practically preening under your light touches.

his shoulders relax, his eyes feel heavier. it feels so natural it scares him a little bit.

he wants you to stop.

(he never wants you to stop.)

he hates the feeling.

(he has never felt something so pleasant in his life.)

he briefly wonders why you're touching him in the first place. he who is so dangerous, so scary, so utterly animalistic. but when he glances at you from the corner of his eyes, you look like you've never been more content.

(as usual, you are disgustingly sweet.)

normally the idea of being pet is gross to him, almost demeaning in a way. but this is different. this is so inherently innocent, such a blatant display of comfort and affection.

(he feels stupid as he leans into the touch, but makes no effort to stop himself.)

you brush over a particularly sensitive spot, and he cannot control the twitch of the muscle, ears flicking uncontrollably. as soon as the movement occurs, you're broken out of your focus, turning to look down at him.

"oh! sorry!" you flash him a sheepish smile and retract your hand, before your eyes settle back on the screen.

(and once again all he can do is internally curse his stupid instincts for getting in the way.)

[ghostchems]

infernal - terzo x f!reader - part six

art by the most talented @piaart -- they are also cooking up something extra hehe

author’s note: 18+! mdni! yeah yeah uhh… things happen between our favs. this is a nice chapter! future chapters may not be so nice… 5k!!! words. part one/two/three/four/five. ao3 linky.

Terzo’s pajama pants drag across the floor, having had trouble finding basically any pair of pants that fit his length since losing out on the ministry’s tailor. He’s grown used to it and has even gone so far as to hardly wear socks anymore due to his pant legs curling beneath his toes. Anxious to get back to you, to see how you’re handling falling headfirst into his trap. As he nears the guest room he is met with silence until he creeps closer to the door. A dim light spills into the hallway and he can hear soft pants and whines coming from inside. His stomach drops, lurching to push the door open. You’re on the bed with your knees pulled up to your chest, cheeks wet and eyes red.

“I-I can’t stay here,” you whimper as shaky hands rub your red eyes. “Something’s n-not right here.” Terzo is immediately in front of you, knees working his way to around your legs and his hands gingerly pushing your fingers away from your face to cup your cheeks. He is practically on top of you, the concern in his eyes nearly sending you into another fit of tears. Your head feels so heavy in his hands.

“What has happened, principessa? You are shaking like the leaf.” You’re surprised by the softness of his voice compared to the grip he currently has on your face, like you’ll disappear if he were to let you go. He brushes the hair out of your eyes with his thumbs. You try to catch your breath, almost unable to focus on anything other than how devastatingly handsome he looks. God, you really are *drunk*. Mumbling, you lift your arm that feels impossibly heavy to point at the suspicious telephone on the dresser.

He follows your fingertip and his entire body goes rigid as he sees it, rage boiling up inside of him. Terzo knows he can’t let it blow, not now, not while he has you in his arms. He takes a deep breath and turns back to you, leaning in so close that strands of his hair skim your forehead. “I am here now, topolina, eh? Here to protect you from the monsters.” Your eyes widen as if he’s serious. Is he serious? Was that phone call even real? You find yourself nodding. “I will take you to my room now, yes?” He doesn’t wait for you to respond, instead scooping you up into his arms and hurrying out of the guest room.

Terzo is so *warm*. The fear and tension evaporates from your body, going completely limp against his chest. You are nearly being lulled to sleep just by his heavy steps and the steady beat of your heart. Visions blurs and when you’re able to focus again you’re being lowered onto a plush mattress. A comforter magically drapes across your body and you continue to sink into a cozy haze.

He stands over you unable to tear his eyes away or even move. Bewitched to see you in his bed. Terzo considers taking to the couch so you can have the bed to yourself but… but he’s a selfish, bad man. The mattress dips as he slides into bed beside you though he does allow for some space between you. Sleepy eyes flutter open and you look at each other. You start the little game, inching closer to him every few moments just for him to do the same until the tips of your noses touch. It’s almost juvenile, like having your first sleepover with a boy.

Lips brush against his and you’re kissing, timid and cutesy at first. The taste of alcohol is strong on your tongue and lips that he greedily sucks and laps at as your bodies press closer together. Terzo has his arms curled around your waist, pulling you tight against as your hands roam his coarse chest hair at your fingertips. You’re head is so heavy but your thoughts are light, each little sound from him sending you further into madness.

“Puffetta, you are tipsy,” he murmurs against your lips but there’s an edge of seriousness — you are drunk and no matter how hard you beg for him it would be wrong for him to truly take advantage. Still, his cool fingers slip beneath the hem of your t-shirt and he starts to stroke along your hip bones. Your hot skin only becomes hotter, face flushing as you try to wriggle yourself even closer to him.

“But I *want* you to.” An exasperated whine while your heart beats out of your chest. The whiskey he had you drink is going directly to your clit, throbbing with a primal need. You can’t believe you’re here in his bed, between luxurious purple sheets. Another whine and you hook your leg over Terzo’s hip to pull him in closer. “Touch me. Touch me *please,”* you whisper and chew on your lower lip.

*Fuck. Fuck fuck fuck.*

Eve tempting the serpent.

He could take you so easily. Push your underwear to the side while you press into his touch. You’re probably so wet right now, so wanting. Terzo groans and removes one hand from underneath your shirt to gently push your leg off of his hip. The disappointment in your eyes makes him hesitate for just a moment until he gives your thigh and rough squeeze, making you mewl. Oh, what sweet sounds he could get you to make. He sucks in a deep breath, taking a moment to settle himself and ignore his burgeoning hardness in his boxers, and then brushes the tip of his nose against yours with a wicked grin.

“Okay, I’ll touch you. I’ll touch you along your stomach… your hips, your thighs…” His eyes are dark as they bore into yours. “Everywhere that isn’t *private*.” You huff and open your mouth to interject but he cuts you off. “I’ll make you feel good, *prometto.* Let me, gattina.” His husky voice and sharp squeeze of your hip has you nodding in agreement. Terzo knows best, doesn’t he?

He begins to trace slow, tantalizing circles along your inner thighs, making you shiver. You can feel the heat pooling even more intensely between your legs, but his touch remains just shy of where you need it most. For now, you let yourself get lost in the sensation, trusting him to keep his promise. Terzo’s bare fingers dance along your skin, igniting tiny sparks of pleasure with each stroke mixed with how soothing it all feels. To *finally* feel his hands all over you. You arch your back slightly, trying to coax him to where you need him, but he remains just shy.

"Terzo..." you breathe out, your voice a mix of desperation and drowsiness.

“I knew you wanted me,” he chuckles softly, his breath warm against your ear. Strong hands drift up your stomach and sides, so close to your breasts but just grazing the sides of them. You let out a shaky sigh, your body trembling with anticipation. “Calm yourself, puffetta. Aren’t you sleepy?” His fingers continue their journey, tracing patterns along your sides.

His touch is maddening, a tease that leaves you both frustrated and yearning. You nod slowly, feeling the weight of the alcohol and desire pulling you into a hazy state. His lips brush your temple as he whispers, "rest now, there will be a time for this.

"Promise?" You murmur, your eyes fluttering closed as you lean into his gentle touch.

"Prometto," he assures you, his voice a low rumble that vibrates through your very core. His hands continue their soothing patterns along your sides, easing you into a sense of calm and comfort.

Your breathing steadies as you sink further into the couch. The fire inside you starts to die down, limbs growing heavy. Terzo’s soft breath on your skin and his deep strokes of your hips soothe you to sleep in his arms. He gives a shuddered gasp as you finally succumb to sleep, burying his face into the crook of your neck to take a deep inhale of your scent.

He can’t let you leave now, can he? Not when you’re finally here, so close and so vulnerable. He tightens his grip on you, a possessive edge creeping into his touch. Lips graze your shoulders and he shudders again, white hot desire coursing through him. Terzo bites the inside of his mouth *hard* to calm himself, to focus on something other than you.

But you’re *here*. In his arms. Snoring quietly. He sighs against you, arms around you giving you a firm squeeze. Sharing his bed with someone almost seemed like something he would never do again. But you’re here. His mind quiets, a sense of peace washing over him. You are here for him. Not because of his position or his family. Eh, perhaps the money and the mystique helped but… Terzo hums quietly and brushes his nose along your shoulder.

You’re here.

***

You wake up with your head in his armpit. Eyes blink open and the scent of him fills your nose, musky and comforting. You wiggle slightly, trying to adjust your position, but his arm tightens around you, pulling you closer. If your head didn’t hurt so much you would be swooning. Cheek rests against his chest and you take a deep breath. Terzo stirs beneath you, his hand drifting up your head to lazily pet your hair. A content hum leaves your lips and you feel him stiffen, fingers digging into your scalp. You lift your head so that you can see him.

Terzo’s eyes are already dark. A beat passes between you, holding each other’s gaze until he gives in. He presses a timid kiss to your lips as his other arm wraps around your waist. You blink as his head tips back for a moment, a delicious grin spreading across his face before he rolls you on to your back.

His lips capture yours again, more urgently this time, as his hands roam your body with newfound purpose. Morning light filters through the curtains, bathing you in a comfortable warmth that spreads beneath your skin. Cheeks are already flushed and you mewl into the kiss as you bring one of your hands up to cup the side of his face. The tips of your fingers brush along his hairline, feeling his silky hair for the first time.

"Terzo," you murmur against his lips with a huff, the desire in your voice evident. He responds with a low growl, his fingers tracing the along your collarbone, sending shivers down your body. “Please.”

He feels a pang of deep arousal in his gut as that word falls from your mouth. There’s a brief reprieve, his nearly black eyes gazing into yours, giving a sharp inhale before he grabs you. Fingers dig into the back of your head, his mouth hovering just over yours as his hand snakes down the front of your sweatpants. Palm presses against the heat between your legs and your entire body jolts from him finally touching you where you want him to. Your jaw goes slack, giving a small whine as your eyes flutter shut.

“*O-oh,*” Terzo gasps, shuddering just from the noise you made. He desperately wants to hear more of it so he pushes your already damp underwear to the side and runs his deft fingers over your wet folds. Your hips buck against his touch as his name falls from your lips. Terzo moans and leans down to press his forehead against yours, sharp gaze locked on your every reaction. A finger slips inside you and your whole body tenses, breath caught in your throat. He starts with long, slow strokes in a come hither motion, making your toes curl and your legs tense.

He is absolutely loving this, completely consumed by the way your body reacts to him. This is a moment he has dreamed about, thinking up the perfect things to whisper in your ear that have sadly slipped his mind now that he has you beneath him. You rest your one hand on his arm, squeezing as your other one digs into the sheets. Terzo adds another finger, a hiss leaving his lips before crushing them against your mouth, swallowing up your needy moans and gasps. You’re drowning in him, pumping his fingers into you now at a heated pace with all your muscles clenching around him with each thrust.

You murmur his name again, your hips rolling against him with each movement, eyes half-lidded. Terzo lifts his head, a string of spittle connecting your lips as his grip on the back of your neck tightens. He’s panting heavily, his chest nearly rising and falling at the same rate while your fingers dig into his arm, whining at the loss of his mouth. Tension continues to rise within you, heat spreading beneath your skin. His body is nearly between your legs now, hips grinding along with each of his thrusts until he’s rutting against your inner thigh. You can’t handle it, a thunderous moan spilling from your lips as you clench around his fingers. The orgasm rips through you, pleasure so intense that it makes you see stars.

The snarl that rips from Terzo’s throat brings you back to the present. His hand bunches up your shirt and shoves it up your chest, exposing your breasts. You give a sharp gasp only for the air to be immediately expelled from your lungs as his other hand frees his throbbing cock from his briefs. It is perhaps the most handsome penis you have ever seen. He grasps himself with his large hand and starts to stroke at a frantic pace, his mouth dropping open with a groan. Impossibly dark eyes meet yours, heart thundering in your ears as you watch him pleasure himself. Your name tumbles from his lips, your *actual* name, before he gives a stuttered grunt and comes undone. You can’t help but flinch, arms flying up to shield your face. He moans with each pulse of his cock, his seed spilling on your chest and stomach.

Wide eyes stare into his hazy gaze. Terzo pants heavily, chest rising and falling with force as he takes in the mess he’s made. “You are afraid?” His voice his hoarse but his eyes have softened and his lips twitch into a barely there grin.

“Afraid?” You blink at him, eyebrows shooting up in confusion. It tears your mind away from overanalyzing the fact that your boss’ jizz is currently pooling in your bellybutton.

“Of my sperms,” he trills, unable to hold back his smirk any longer. You roll your eyes as he leans over you to grab a towel conveniently on his nightstand.

“I didn’t want it to get in my hair,” you huff and lean up on your elbows. Terzo gently wipes down each boob and continues down your stomach.

“Ah, si. Makes it, ehhh, clumpy.” He smiles wide, crinkly eyes forcing your frown to dissolve into a giggle. “Need a shower, cara?”

“I’m okay, thanks.”

“Mmm, well I need one.” Terzo presses a kiss to your forehead before slinking off you to his feet. “Don’t snoop. I will know if you do.” He wags a finger at you, squinting his eyes. Drama king. You hold your hands up with an innocent look on your face. His nostrils flare and then he wobbles to the bathroom, his briefs around his ankles. You sink back into the bed, sweatpants around your thighs and your shirt bunched up underneath your armpits. Sitting up, you adjust your clothes so that you’re covered up and finally, you let your mind wander.

The insides of your thighs are still twitching. You feel like you could be drunk again, your head still buzzing from the way he worked you with his fingers. The water starts to run, filling the room with soft white noise.

You dangle your legs at the edge of the bed, eyes wandering the room now that Terzo is in the shower. It’s the nicest room in the whole house — chic, vintage furniture that is beautifully stained a deep purple that stands out against the intricate black wallpaper. Candelabras are scattered throughout with black candles half burned away. The mattress is comfortable, soft with a mass of pillows and several blankets including a sprawling comfortable that’s currently pooled around your waist. You catch your reflection in a floor to ceiling ornate golden mirror.

Hair a mess and swollen lips, complete with an exhausted expression. You run your fingers through your locks in an attempt to smooth it out and untangle some of the knots. Tips of your fingers travel down your cheek so settle on your pink lips with a light touch, thinking about the night before, or at least what you could remember from it. The way he pressed the glass to your lips and made you swallow all that whiskey before stealing your breath away with a bruising kiss. The line has been more than crossed, it’s been pole vaulted over. Eyes continue to drift around the room.

You become focused on the golden framed artwork on the wall in front of you, taking up the space above a low dresser. It’s him; Terzo with his hand raised above him holding up a geometric ball of light that streaks through what looks like the night sky. You’re compelled to your feet to get a closer look at the details. The shower turns off but you’re distracted — he looks almost like a statue, his figure a pale yellow in contrast to the dark sky. Like he carries the light inside of him. You want to reach out and touch the frame but the light is so bright, a worry crosses your mind that it could shock you — like Terzo had shocked you the other day. This doesn’t stop you from leaning in closer to it, admiring the image of him. You realize that he doesn’t have his scar.

It draws you in like the rotary phone did last night, except the art is much more welcoming. As your mind drifts to the phone call you feel a chill. Did that actually happen? The sounds echo in your head, the screams of agony and the squelching. Had you fallen asleep and dreamt it? You hum quietly to yourself. It’s not the best omen for a budding romance. Then again, it is only one of several red flags that have popped up since working for him and none of them have stopped you thus far.

The bathroom door opens and Terzo steps out, a towel draped loosely around his waist, droplets of water still clinging to his skin and his paint still drying. He pauses, admiring you from behind for a moment until his gaze falls to what you’re doing.

*Lightbringer.*

Well, an edited version. He didn’t want to be reminded of the Clergy’s chess game, how he was merely a prop to forward *their* cause. Not the true cause. Lightbringer reminds him that for a time people truly did see him as a guiding light. Terzo’s eyes drift back to you, still in his clothes from the night before. His chest tightens, realizing that you’ve been the one guiding him these days.

“How are you feeling?” His voice is heavy with sleep as he takes a few steps towards you. You’re caught — jumping at the sudden sound of his voice before anxiously laughing it off, turning to look at him. You feel a jolt of arousal. Despite seeing him rather naked, the way water drips down his thick chest hair makes a sound bubble up your throat. Still, your eyes linger on the jagged scar that spans his entire neck.

“Could use some Advil I think,” you manage, rocking on your heels as use one hand to massage your temples. “Do you mind if I freshen up a bit?”

“A-ah, yes of course,” he shuffles out of the way before having a seat on the bed, pointing you in the direction of the bathroom. “There should be Advil in the cabinet.” Terzo props up his head in his hand, eyes lingering on you for a long while. You feel frozen in his gaze, the air catching in your lungs. You’re here in his room. In his clothes. You spent the night with him. He fucked you with his fingers not long ago. Forcing yourself forward, you give him another anxious grin and hurry by him to the bathroom.

He watches you go, drinking in your figure with a hungry look. The minute you’ve disappeared behind the bathroom door he gives a shaky exhale, his hand falling to grip the edge of the mattress. Nails easily tear through the fitted sheet, leaving claw marks. He brings his hand up to his nose to smell what’s left of you on his fingers with a growl. You’re still here and sober. Now, Terzo has to *keep* you. He has unending experience with seduction, luring people who can be easily swayed into the clutches of the ministry but he was only the figurehead. He was the shiny, handsome man who would reach out his hand and have twenty people take it but getting them to stay was never something he never had to worry about.

And his track record with relationships is abysmal. Is this even a relationship, though? He exhales through clenched teeth — he’s getting ahead of himself. You’re here and you *must* stay, no matter what Terzo decides to put you through. You’re his toy, after all. But he *likes* you*.* He chews on the inside of his cheek. An internal struggle ensues between wanting to give you the affection and love you so deserve or to ruin you like how he ruined all his other toys.

Terzo could use advice but the person he usually got it from *could* have been who was on the other side of the phone call you received. Why did it appear to you? It only ever would manifest for him, having been touched by the hells and all, why would the proverbial *they* want to communicate with you? **He can’t help but think he must have cursed you somehow.

His thoughts melt away as you emerge from the bathroom looking fresh and alert. He leans back on his hands unable to hold back the smile that cracks across his face. It may be the first time he’s felt true happiness since coming back.

“There’s a really good breakfast place right down the road from here if you wanna go.” You rock on your heels in front of him. His face goes blank, wide eyes meeting your gaze.

“Ehh… I don’t drive or have a car.”

“I can drive.”

“Your tire is flat.”

“Ah, right. The tire,” you sigh, having completely forgotten. “I could always get us an Uber—“

“*Puffetta*,” he interjects, his voice stern but still an edge of gentleness. You clamp your mouth shut and feel a pang of fear in your chest. Are you being too much already? Thoughts start to spiral until he speaks again. “I, eh… I don’t leave the house much. It’s…” he drifts off, running a hand over his face. “Difficult. It is difficult for me.” You take a moment to process his words, feeling a mixture of understanding and concern.

"That's okay," you say softly, stepping closer to him. There’s a hint of fear and worry in his eyes that makes you feel an ache in your heart. It makes sense, though, doesn’t it? He might be worried about being recognized by leaving his house… or maybe it’s something deeper. You remember that despite spending much of your time with him each week there are "We can stay here. Maybe get delivery?” You scan his face, waiting for the first inkling of relief.

Terzo gives you a small, appreciative smile and you melt. "Mm, yes, let us do that." He reaches out to take your hand, toying with your fingers. You give a quiet exhale as you take a step toward him, closing the distance between you. His lips brush against your knuckles before planting soft kisses on each of your fingertips. It’s surprisingly sweet of him and it takes your breath away. Terzo’s free hand slips to your waist and pulls you into him so he can rest his head against your stomach. You start to run your fingers through his hair with a hum and you can feel him relax from your touch. He wraps his arms around you and the entire world falls away.

You stay like that for a quiet moment. This man just fingered you into oblivion but somehow this is more intimate. He lefts his head to look up at you, his mismatched eyes bright.

“Shall we start the day, baby?” Terzo’s voice is barely there, a low rumble that gives you butterflies. You nod and he’s immediately on his feet, arms still around your waist as he ushers you toward the door. He nearly trips over you with a loud giggle that fades as something catching his eye out the window.

Terzo does a double take, eyebrows furrowing. There’s an *imp* in his driveway. A small creature with claws and wings just wandering around your car. He focuses his eyes and realizes that it’s *changing your tire*.

“What’s up?” You start to turn around but he quickly squeezes you in his arms to keep your facing forward.

“E-eh, nothing. Come on — if I do not have french toast in the next hour I will *perish*.”

***

He spends most of the day watching you over the top of his copy of *The Turn of the Screw*. A book he read in his early days of his studies that he continues to come back to. There’s something… comforting about the story despite it being a horror. Perhaps Terzo could relate to the loneliness that plagues each of the characters— and the madness that follows. He’s not usually this quiet on the weekends, spending some time being… well, loud. Unruly. Not in a destructive way but in an over imaginative sort of way. He marches through the house and sings. One time he decided to roll himself up in his comforter and slink across the floor like a worm. The man needs activity but with you here all he wants to do is relish being in your company.

You are content with being with him, even when sitting in silence scrolling your phone while he reads. Terzo’s presence was felt more than seen during your usual working hours and you’ve never quite felt comfortable when he was around you until… well, *today*. You started with your head on his lap, his fingers massaging your scalp as you drifted in and out of a post-breakfast nap. As the day went on, the both of you shifted from room to room either settling sprawled over each other or snuggled in your own plush chair. It’s like two cats spending quality time together, cohabitating.

It’s not all that different from how you spend your current weekends now that your life is on a better schedule. You get to actually sleep at night now! But most of that extra time is spent in your bedroom alone, spacing out or watching some kind of trash reality tv show. Now you’re with him, breathing his air and taking up space in his home all while *not* working. And he’s been uncharacteristically quiet which at times sends your thoughts spiraling. Does he regret crossing the line with you? Have you overstayed your welcome? Just as you’re about to ask if you should leave he springs up from the couch.

“I have an idea, ‘fetta!” Terzo excitedly snuffles over to you with his hand outstretched. “We must enjoy the yard right this second!” You are *game*. Putting your hand in his you let him tug you up from your chair and out of the den. He slows down once you reach the kitchen, taking a moment to look out the window, remembering that *thing* that was outside earlier. Thankfully, the imp was nowhere to be found.

“You know, this has become one of my favorite pastimes.” Terzo squeezes your hand while he fishes a joint out of his pocket.

“You’ve had that this whole time?!” You reach out for it but he playfully swats your hand away.

“This doesn’t mix well with reading books,” he murmurs as he brings the joint to your lips. You swallow thickly before parting them to let him delicately place it in your mouth. “A joint and a nice lay in the grass on a warm day.” His voice dips, making your cheeks flush. You blink and the joint is suddenly lit — he must have had a match at the ready. “We must enjoy it together, si?”

“Yeah, we should,” you mumble around the joint before giving it a deep drag. Terzo plucks it from your lips just as you start coughing and slings his arms around your waist, pulling you against his hip. You walk in unison out the back door and into the yard, the sunlight bathing the both of you in its warm rays. He immediately flops onto the grass with the joint in his mouth, dragging you down with him. You don’t get outside much aside from the outdoor improvements you’ve cared for.

It’s nice to enjoy the freshly mowed grass and the cool breeze that keeps you from getting too sweaty. This is the first time you’ve seen him in sunlight, the rays kissing the wrinkles around his eyes. Terzo reaches for your hand with a sharp smile and deep dimples, lacing his fingers in yours.

Everything is so… perfect in this moment. So much so that you don’t want it to end.

[g4rvez-r3id]

Silver Springs : Prologue

Summary: It’s your best friend’s wedding day, a last minute wedding planned and you’re supposed to be happy for him. But you aren’t. And you aren’t the only one.

Category: Angst

Warnings: brief spoilers for 7x24 “Run”, reader is lowkey down bad for will, lowkey Love, Rosie reference, some tension between everyone tbh, wedding themes, wedding speeches, drinking champagne, addictions/alcoholism mention if you squint? unrequited love RAHHH

Author’s Note: hey lovelies! here is the prologue hehe😋 special thank you to @beenreidingaboutyou and @thegloryofliterature for proofreading this and correcting my mistakes because i didn’t notice them (sick brain is no bueno) i love you both so much <3 anyways yes the prologue is taking place in s7– sue the fuck out of me🤷‍♀️ every chapter is lowkey taking place in a different season (still working out logistics here) real ones know i actually posted this fic on wattpad and didn’t know what the fuck to do with it oops anyways sorry here it is hopefully more soon!

You could be my silver spring

Your mother would've scolded you by now. Your mother would've scolded you for a lot of issues at this wedding. Having your mother's voice in the back of your head, you looked down at your lap, your thumbs fiddle together as you place your hands down into your lap. It was something you did when you were stressed. And you were stressed often.

But how on Earth could you be stressed at your own childhood best friend's wedding? This was the happiest day of his life and it may as well have been yours.

Maybe because of the fact that this was a last minute wedding? Maybe because you had prior to this — pulled Will into a different room and told him that he was making a mistake and revealed your undying love for him an hour ago before the reception?

No, certainly, not.

You watch from a distance at the happy bride and groom sitting with one another at the table. Will could barely look at you, he had kept eyes on his wife. Of course, how could he not?

Jennifer Jareau was the epitome of gorgeous. And you were not jealous, no. You loved JJ, she was perfect for Will. They worked out together. Of course, in the pit of your stomach, you couldn't help but feel sad and numb whenever you’d seen them together. As pathetic as it sounded.

You would think that after years of them being together, that sinking feeling would've gone away. You would think that maybe you would've moved on by now since they'd already been together and had a child together. Of course, you couldn't blame your godson for this mess that you were currently in. Only yourself.

Why couldn't I have just kept my mouth shut? You thought to yourself as you brought your head into your hands. Now, he hates you and thinks that you hate the fact that he's married now! You looked over at the couple again, the pit in your stomach making your face drop low as you felt your heart burn in dismay.

Spencer was watching, too. He watched the married couple as he took another swig of the champagne glass in his hands. He didn’t drink often, only on special occasions. He knew you did too, but he knew your history. You didn’t drink unless you were stressed.

It was bound to happen. Jennifer Jareau and Will Lamontagne Jr., even their names sounded good together. He knew that he never stood a chance. Did he fully believe that he and Jennifer were true twin flames? A twin flame involves two people who share the same soul, of course. Once these twin flames meet, this results in an intense, magnetic attraction and connection. These individuals share similar past experiences and trauma. The answer was yes, he did.

Spencer had gotten over this crush years ago, but there was a part of him that longed for a future with JJ. And now that was done. He could no longer pine for her. This was something that he had to move on from. The wedding guaranteed that.

The man's eyes then trailed over to the woman who also stared. Of course, you were there, staring at the two sadly, something you’d done so often, it was a habit by now. You probably hadn’t even realized it.

There was something about you that intrigued Spencer Reid when you were around. The fact that you’d spent years in love with the groom and when he thought you were finally over it — here you were, in the same position you’d often found yourself in. Or that he’d find you in. It nearly irritated him, almost. How could you do this to yourself? Over and over again and expect a different outcome? I mean, what did you expect? Truly. That Will was gonna drop everything for you?

But he couldn't blame you. In ways, he'd often understood and thought that you holding on was admirable. You never gave up. It was something he lacked when it came to relationships he cared about the most. It’s not like he did it on purpose, he just wasn’t as connected as you were. You’d known Will since childhood.

Your eyes locked with Will’s. And they lingered for a moment, and before you could even question if he was thinking of you, his eyes immediately snapped back to the blonde woman next to him, his bride, his everything, the love of his life.

You didn't know what to think now. You should've backed off. What did you think Will was going to do with that kind of information? Drop everything for you? Leave his bride and child? What did you expect?

Foolish, you were...

But not as foolish as you were being in this very moment as you stood up from your seat with your heart in your hands.

Spencer noticed this before anyone else had. He noticed how you smoothed your silk green dress down with your red polished nails that you were previously picking at before and as you picked up your half-full champagne glass and a fork as you tried receiving the attention from those at the wedding to deliver a speech.

Before this mess started, you had promised Will that you would say something at the wedding. You had promised the speech so who were you to deny that at your best friend's wedding? Even in your rough patch with him at the moment, you’d be his biggest supporter.

You plastered on a fake smile as you stood in front of everybody, after finally gaining their attention. You looked at your paper that you had sitting on the table, a splotch of wine from earlier still remained stained on the corner of the paper. "Hello, everyone!" You spoke, cheerfully to the best of your ability.

Great, now you were a deer in headlights as everyone stared at you. You could tell that some knew who you were, while some didn't. "Um, for those of you that don't know me... my name is Y/n L/n…" You swallowed the lump in the back of your throat and looked down at the paper in front of you and could barely maintain eye contact with the groom.

"I want to start this off by saying that... this..." You gesture to the wedding itself. "... has got to be one of the happiest days of my life."

Spencer watched you carefully as you spoke. He could read the fake smile from a mile away. In the time he'd known you, he knew when you were genuinely happy and when you weren’t.

Your eyes were drooped down, it was evident you were crying earlier. There was a wine stain on the bottom of your dress that you had tried to wipe off with a paper towel and failed. A person from a far, far distance could notice that you were a wreck. And at your best friend's wedding of all places.

The bride and groom didn't notice, obviously enraptured in one another.

You looked down at the paper in front of you before you continued to read and reminisce on the actions that led you here. Maybe if you had changed something, maybe if you had done something different. Maybe if you admitted your feelings that night Will stayed over, could this have been your outcome? Your wedding?

It wasn't.

The traitor watched as you, the one person he loved like a little sister — up on her feet and falsely smiling down at her paper.

Once looking up at him, Will, the traitor – you took a deep breath and your smile faded away again. Spencer noticed as your breath hitched in that moment. Will always made you anxious, especially now more than ever.

All eyes were on you but you looked right at Will, with guilt in your eyes, and wondered how the hell you two had gotten yourselves in this position?

[gingerteawrites]

BY THE HEARTH: ARC

A/N: Did I say I was going to be back in a week? yeah.... that didn't happen. I can't even justify such a long absence, I am just so sorry. Disregarding my inconsistent posting schedule though, I was so so happy to read all of your comments on the previous chapter. We're finally there folks! I am excited to explore the king and queen's future dynamics now that they finally opened up hehe. As always thank you for all your messages and love on this series, it truly makes my days. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your week. Kisses.

Read previous part here

Content: Royalty!AU, Nanami x female reader, king Nanami, Princess Y/N, Widower Nanami, Toddler Yuuji, hurt, angst. Not beta read

Word count: ~3K

Banner by: @cafekitsune

ACT XII

Nanami could hardly believe everything that had transpired between the two of you. Not how you had voiced your want for closeness, eyes shining and voice firm. And even less how you had returned his kiss with a fervor that almost broke him. He could still feel the ghost of your figure against him, your lips on his, resenting the moment when you parted and took away the soothing warmth of your body. It had been a long time since he had held anyone this close.

Now in his own room, he still didn’t know what to do with himself. You had wanted to be close to him. You wanted him.

This was real. For once no more pretense, no more appearances to keep. No more illusions of duty.

Real was unfamiliar, and real was scary. But he had made a promise. And Kento was nothing if not a man of his word. What he had thought was a mere soft spot for you had unfurled into a wild torrent of emotions. He now knew that there was little he would ever be able to refuse you.

He shook his head with a chuckle. Reduced to a puddle because of you.

A dangerous thing for a king, that he was fully aware. But maybe love was a game worth the risk. Maybe this was God, or the universe giving him a chance to experience the real thing.

He finally drew from his lovesick haze, standing from the desk where he had been trying to draft some official decree. He chuckled under his breath, looking at the half-formed words that stained the parchment in dark in.

It was funny, now being unable to work for an altogether different reason. How deplorable. But even this bout of unproductivity did not dampen his mood in the way that it usually did. Right now, he had found something else more deserving of his attention. He headed for the exit, pushing through the heavy ebony doors.

Calling for Alma he breathed resolutely. There were things that needed to change.

The sun had long since dipped under the horizon, leaving the castle illuminated in the vermillion hue of chandeliers and candles. You had stayed in the library for the better part of the evening, practically transfixed by the kiss and words shared with the king. With Kento. The fear of being selfish had overwhelmed you the second the words had left your mouth, and the drawn out moments when he had looked at you with unbridled astonishment made your stomach sink with dread.

But all the worries had simply vanished when he drew closer. A wistful sigh, maybe a bit too juvenile exited your lips at the mere thought of the warmth shared within that small vignette of your memory.

You walked back to your quarters, hoping to relish in the feelings that flooded your chest in your bed. Maybe roll around and scream into the pillow with a giddiness only rivaled by when your teenage self had experienced her first romantic venture. But your aspirations were stopped dead in their tracks by an uncharacteristically beaming Alma walking through the halls. Her steps were heavy and resolute, indicative of a clear mission.

As soon as your eyes met, she sauntered over to you. “There you go your majesty!” how had she gotten to your side so quick?

“Good evening Alma,” you greeted, eyes round with curiosity. “Is everything alright?”

“Oh, more than alright,” she replied quickly, the lines on her skin easing as they were pulled into a bright smile. “We are past due for a dinner, aren’t we? Please follow me.”

She looped an arm around yours before you had the chance to respond, pulling you along with her. This energy almost reminded you of Yuuji. The kid could rub off on anyone.

She eventually let go of your arm, suddenly embarrassed by her lack of propriety despite you assuring that it was fine. You followed behind the head maid as she led you through the corridors that separated your room from the main royal wing, your curiosity only stirring more deeply upon noticing the change in scenery.

You had not been here since Yuuji’s bout of smallpox. The memory of the sick child soured your positive emotions, but only for a brief moment. As if summoned by your thoughts, the boy emerged from his own room, beaming when his eyes met yours. He immediately launched into a race towards you.

You bent down, bracing yourself for the impact when the boy jumped into your arms. He never failed to remind you how freakishly strong he was for his age, but you were not going to break his enthusiasm with such trifling complaints.

“Mama!” He nuzzled into you as you stood, wrapping his arms around your neck. A laugh, full of mirth escaped your lips, pressing your cheek against his.

“Hello, my little prince.”

“Are you here to eat with us?!” His voice was loud in the night air, but that didn’t bother you. “I have no idea,” you reply with a wide smile of your own, both of your heads turning at Alma who gently cleared her throat. You almost expected a reprimand, but her smile shone brighter than before.

“If you would both follow me,” she gestured to the path ahead before walking again, “you would see.”

And so you followed, with Yuuji discussing what possible dinner options there could be.

“I hope we have chicken! I love chicken,” he gestured with his hands, suddenly diving into an impression of the flightless bird. You nodded in serious agreement. “And lots of veggies too, right? Isn’t there so much to love about spinach too?”

He scrunched his nose, earning another laugh from you.

Alma finally came to a stop in front of a small door, carved with the kingdom’s royal crest . You eyed the door curiously, not sure what room laid behind it. This was the farthest you had ever been into this castle. The matron motioned for you to head in, still beaming at you.

“In here, your majesties. If you need me, just call.”

Yuuji squirmed in your hold, indication that he wanted to be let down and made quick work of pulling the door open, extending a hand to grab yours and pull you in.

The solar that laid beyond the door certainly was a sight to behold. Those you were accustomed to, from your home always felt a bit too cramped with a little too many little things. Most likely than not a reflection of your mother’s semi-hoarding tendencies. They were rooms where you knew to find solace, but only when nothing else was available. Places where your thoughts tended to tangle even more.

But this room exuded nothing but peace. A fireplace crackled on the opposite wall of the room, supplementing the light from the chandelier that hung above the small table at the center of the room along with the various candles all around. The large window that occupied most of the West wall framed the crescent moon, pearly and bright as it illuminated the landscape outside.

Most of all, in the center of the room stood the object of your many thoughts. Sensing your wonder, Nanami gave you a few minutes to acclimate to the area before approaching and bringing your hand to his lips.

“My queen,” he greeted, his warm eyes boring into your in a way that made your entire body warm. You bowed slightly, returning the greeting. “My king.”

“Papa!” Yuuji tugged at his father’s pants, a small frown on his features.

The man chuckled, crouching to ruffle his son’s hair. “I apologize, I made you wait for dinner, Yuuji. I was preparing a little something,” he smiled down at him, and the child’s frown eased as quickly as it had appeared.

Yuuji took a hold of both of your hands, pulling you along to sit around the small table.

“Let’s eat then!”

After helping Yuuji sit down, Nanami pulled the chair for you and then took the seat across from you, an almost shy smile brightening his features. You decided you liked it. Watching this self-assured man be so candid. A little like a shy kid finally breaking out of a mold he was trapped in. He was letting you in. The hard line he had drawn at the edge of himself blurring.

A light chatter carried through the dinner, one that oozed more joy than you had felt in a while. While you were trying to sneak peas into his plate, Yuuji, ever the perceptive kid had leaned in closer to you, a tired smile pulling at his lips before announcing.

“Papa and Mama have made up.”

Putting the child to bed was an easy task; he was basically dropping of sleep already. So much so that even his excitement at both you and Nanami reading him a bedtime story could not keep his little body awake for long. You gave him a kiss on the cheek, contentment blooming in your heart as you exited the room. You took a step away from the door, turning towards the night breeze.

“Thank you,” you whispered, eyes closing. “For tonight, for everything.”

You felt Kento’s hand on your shoulder, hesitant at first, but then relaxing against your skin and giving you a comforting squeeze.

“No, thank you, Y/N,” his breath tickled your neck, the exposed skin erupting in goosebumps. Pleasant.

The air hung heavy with a drawn out silence. Not tense, but still heavy with the weight of words unspoken. You knew he wanted to say more. The way his fingers flexed slightly over your skin, the hesitation. But the tension dissipated, leaving only a gentle caress before his hand slipped down to the small of your back.

“Allow me to walk you back,” the gentle pressure egged you on, walking together in the quiet corridor. But it took little time for your mind to realize that this was not the direction to your room. You were not heading towards the guest wing of the palace.

You looked up at him with a quizzical brow, which he answered with a smile. Slowly, he led you to a new room. One whom you recognized was across from his own. One you had passed many times during your care for Yuuji. Never giving it too much thought. Never allowing yourself to wish.

But as he pushed the doors open, your heart rate picked up slightly, alight with realization. This room, much like the solar where you had shared dinner was illuminated by many candles, casting a warm glow over the velvet covers, silk canopy and soft cushions.

“I took the liberty of having your things moved here,” he explained while you were still taking in the decor, gaze returning to him. “So you could be closer… If you want to, of course,” he added in a rushed breath, cheeks warming slightly at the thought of your possible rejection. One his heart would hate, but he would accept regardless.

You chuckled, bringing a hand to cover your lips. You liked this Nanami. Soft and a bit aloof, but altogether lovely.

“I am happy to be closer,” your words soothed the light tension that was building up in his shoulders, and he exhaled softly.

“I am happy to make you happy,” the words left his lips in a quiet whisper. And there he was again, looking like he wanted to say something more, his fingers twitching lightly by his side, but visibly holding back. You noticed but allowed him the space to come to terms with his own mind, moving away to sit on your new bed, hands resting at your sides to support your body. The fuzzy blanket filled the space between your fingers, warm and buttery smooth.

“I would like to do more,” you spoke after a few bouts of silence, eyes fixed his unmoving self from your position.

His brows shot up. “More? In what way?”

You tilted your head to the side. “I know presiding over ceremonial duties and social events are important things for a queen to do,” you prefaced, suddenly feeling nervous. How was he going to take this? “But I was raised to be a heir in case something happened to my brothers. I am capable. I want to do more for the people of this kingdom.” Your voice, still warm but resolute filled the room. You had spent quite some time learning about the role of the queens in this kingdom. Days on end spent in the library meant you eventually picked up a history tome or two. And while the queens from here played more prominent roles in the social court, the idea of not doing more than that made your being itch uncomfortably. Wanting to reach out for more.

Before uttering any word, the man in question walked towards you. He paused briefly at the foot of the bed, a silent request to sit. You nodded your agreement and he took his place by your side, fingers almost brushing against yours.

“I know you are more than capable,” his smooth voice was still quiet, you both focused on the painting that hung on the wall adjacent from the bed. A castle amid a lonely field, a setting sun whose fading warmth matched that of the candles around you.

"I never properly thanked you for everything you did while I was away. Not just for Yuuji, but for keeping everything running in my absence. It was a burden I unintentionally placed on your hands." He turned to face you, his gaze searching. "I have always shouldered responsibility alone, but the last thing I want is to overwhelm you the way I have before. To put you under unwarranted stress" A sigh escaped him as he glanced down at your hands—close, yet not quite touching.

You sighed in return, covering his hand with yours. Boldly intwining your fingers. “I care for the people in this palace. For the people in this kingdom.” you begun. “If any stress is to come with it, I willingly accept it. Especially if it can take some away from you.” You smiled. “May I say this is another clause of the ‘no line’ agreement?”

The realization hit again. There was very little he would ever be able to refuse you. Nanami brought your joined hands to his lips, placing a chaste kiss on your knuckles. “This suits you,” he breathed against them, closing his eyes briefly. When he reopened them, they had taken on a more somber look. “I have something to show you then.”

Yet another unfamiliar room, and maybe you would have expected your wonder to quell after some time. Instead it rose, that feeling of giddiness at the unfamiliar. At this new openness. The king’s bedroom was much like what one would imagine for him. Neat and to the point, no gaudy furniture or excessively ornate vases. A large bed, a small parlor set and an office area. Just what was needed.

Nanami noticed the way you stole glances at everything in the room, trying to but failing to contain your curiosity and excitement. A foreign sense of giddiness overtook him too. A reflection of the joy oozing from you.

But alas, it was not the time for his mind to reel over the fact of your presence here. Distractions threatened to cloud his brain at the thoughts of you in his most intimate space. Vivid visions of you lounging on the couch. Sharing his quarters. Sprawled in his bed… He shook his head lightly.

This is not the time.

He walked over to his desk and grabbed a handful of documents, handing then over to you as you followed closely. You squinted, trying to make out the words on the taupe pages.

“I am certain you have already deduced that a critical issue is afoot in the kingdom at the moment,” eyes still glued to the papers, you nodded.

“Someone or some people are actively fueling conflict in the South. Someone who has power, and a thirst for influence beyond what is afforded to them. ” You frowned deeply, eyes scanning over the rest of the words. A report about dubious activity, reluctant deductions about high treason.

“Do we know who that someone is?”

“I have suspicions, but there is no conclusive evidence,” Kento crossed his arms over his chest, lips pulled tightly in thought.

“How could I help?” The words left your mouth hastily, fired up by the audacity of it all. Treason against what most considered a kind rule. Threats to the peace and lives of a kind people. Anguish added onto the life of your husband. How dare they?

“Next week,” he gently coaxed the papers from your hold, and you noticed the deep wrinkled where your hands had gripped them. “The Northern duchy holds their decennial retreat. It is a time when the entire aristocracy is required to reside in the North for celebrations commemorating the unification of the kingdom a hundred years ago,” he explained. “As per tradition, the royal family will all have to attend,” a deep frown overtook his features. “And I know the culprit will be among the attendees. All I ask of you is to keep close,” worry coated his features. “I am telling you this because I want to be honest. Per our agreement, right?”

If the traitor had taken actions as brazen as trying to strike down a major economic center in the region, there was no telling what they were willing to do to anyone else. Nanami felt another one of those emotions he would rather have bottled away. Fear. Sharp and miserable. He could not lose anyone else. He would not put you at risk.

“Of course,” you gave a tight-lipped smile, recognizing the anguish in his features. But also knowing that you could not just sit and twiddle your thumbs while in the presence of a threat to the entire kingdom. Your new home.

The northern Duchy, the Zenin family. You had heard of them in passing, a recluse family, 'wholly unsociable and stingy' in Mei’s own words.

The ominous feeling of trouble brewing had already set root in your heart. Kamo’s words, Gojo’s interest. They all put you on edge.

If anything was to put the integrity of this newfound family in jeopardy, you would not stand for it. You were the people’s queen. Kento’s wife. You had already made up your mind. If need be, you would act.

Y'all let me know what you think! I also finished writing this at 2am so apologies for typos/other errors.

Comments and reblogs are much appreciated (❁´◡`❁)

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[moonchild9350]

Lavender Fields-Chapter 4: Anger

Summary: you both yearn for each other, but are held back by your positions within the lab. you believe Hyunjin will be there with you for the foreseeable future, but may have to learn that nothing lasts forever.

Pairing: Hyunjin x humanoid!gn!reader

Genre: sci fi au, romance au, angst, fluff

Word Count: 3.0k

Warnings: mention of minor character death, teasing?

Notes: another chapter is here. I loved expanding on Hyunjin’s relationship with our dearly beloved hehe.

If you enjoyed this please consider a like, reblog, or comment ♡

Divider by @cafekitsune

Series Summary: you, a humanoid from a different planet, was born within a lab here on earth in the near future, your days filled with servitude and testing within the labs to learn more about your kind as your kind are not able to feel emotion. you had nothing to look forward to until you met Hyunjin, a technician assigned to you. you learn much at his hands and invaluable lessons, enlightening your once purposeless life.

Please do not copy, modify, use, translate, or repost my work without my permission. ©️moonchild9350 (2024)

Series Masterlist

Prev | Next

Hyunjin opened his file once more, preparing to divulge his secrets.

“Y/n, was successful in their session, showing the capability to learn emotions. However, there is still some push back so I will need more time with them.”

Raoul smirked from his seat. He knew Hyunjin was lying. He had an orderly that he has under him follow Hyunjin, keep tabs on him. He knows that the sessions were more than successful.

He needs to catch Hyunjin in his lie, get him unassigned to you so he could have his little plaything back. Raoul misses the fear that would grace your face as he berated you. It gave him great joy to see something lesser than him to cower in fear.

Yes he called you a something, you’re not a someone to him, none of your kind are.

“Hyunjin,” Raoul said lifting his finger up as if to call attention to himself. “I think you’re missing some things. Like how y/n not only understands emotions, but can express them as well. Let’s not forgot too how you went to their quarters late last night. What was that about I wonder?”

Hyunjin froze in his seat at Raoul’s words. How did he know that? Was he following him? He could feel a thin sheen of sweat form, his shirt feeling a little too sticky for his comfort. His heart felt like it was going to burst out his chest at the thought of this man knowing everything that has occurred between you two.

Hyunjin swallowed and tried to think of an answer, not wanting to divulge the truth.

“Well yes, but it is still unclear the extent of their knowledge. More sessions need to occur before we come to any conclusion.” Hyunjin said.

The others in the room stared at him and a disgruntled look on the chief’s face did not make him feel particularly great.

There was silence throughout the room, no one moved or said anything. Hyunjin wasn’t sure what would happen next, but he knew nothing good was going to come out of this meeting.

“Well, since we need more data, why don’t we run a few more tests before continuing the sessions? We can have Y/n moved to the testing center in the meantime.”

Hyunjin stared at the chief with horror. He could not like that happen. If you truly did go to the testing center, you would come out broken, all hopes of any further sessions gone.

“But sir, I don’t think that’s a good idea. I believe that will only hinder progress.”

“On the contrary, Hyunjin, I believe it will help. We will move y/n tomorrow that is final. I will work with the team to get a protocol in place for testing in the meantime. You are dismissed. “

Dismissed. The meeting is over. Hyunjin closed your file with shaky hands. This isn’t good. He needs to see you, explain to you what is going to happen, apologize before you are moved.

His heart was heavy, his mind a jumbled mess as he exited the room. Everything would have been fine if Raoul hadn’t been there.

Hyunjin sat at his desk and rested his head in his hands. He knew his feelings were getting in the way, but how could they not. Look at you, with your lust for life and to learn, your beauty.

He will visit you later and maybe you won’t hold this against him.

-- --

You started your day off good, feeling better than you have in ages. You’re working again today since you don’t have a session.

You couldn’t believe it, but you’d much rather be with Hyunjin than sorting the clothes for the wash. You’re not sure why you feel this way, your heart soaring at the thought of him.

You caught yourself thinking about him, thinking of his warm eyes and how gentle he is with you. A smile almost graced your face, but you stopped yourself just in time. You’re not sure what would happen if you had actually let it happen.

Last night before bed, you gazed at the necklace perched on your chest, your fingers tracing the edges of the moon pendant and traveling over to the star.

It suited you, the diamonds shining as the light reflected off of them. You had to hide the gift, just as Hyunjin suggested so that way no one would know you had it.

You definitely didn’t want Hyunjin to get in trouble on account of you.

You toiled away, wishing the time to speed up so you could go back to your room. You wandered if Hyunjin would visit you tonight, your lips twitching at the thought.

You didn’t have to wait long as the bell tolled signaling the end of the shift. An orderly escorted you out, guiding you back to your room as always.

Once inside you sat down and picked up your favorite book, deciding to reread it yet again. Time passed as you got lost in the pages, your mind traveling to the faraway land that was being described.

The silence in the room would be deafening for some, but you loved it, sitting in silence. It was comforting to hear your own breath as you breathed evenly, in and out in and out, as your fingers thumbed the pages, the sound of paper rustling as you went to the next page.

You could occasionally hear someone walk by your room, their voice muffled as they continued down the hall.

You’re not sure how much time passed, as there was no way to tell time in your room. As you got to your favorite part, there was a knock on the door and the sound of the door unlocking.

You looked up to see who it was as you held your breath. You let it out as you realized it was Hyunjin, a big smile gracing your face.

You slammed your book shut and jumped up, running to the man. You wanted to try something you say in the clips from yesterday’s session.

As you approached him, you stopped and placed your hands behind your back. You avoided his gaze as you rocked back and forth on your heels. Deciding to go with it, you closed the gap and wrapped your arms around his torso, resting your head on his chest.

Hyunjin was surprised, not expecting this reaction from you. He cautiously returned the hug, his arms wrapping around your frame. You were warm under his touch, your head fitting perfectly under him. He nuzzled his head gently on yours as he let out a sigh.

Standing there in your embrace made him sad however, his heart aching at the fact he’d have to break the news to you soon. It’s part of the reason he came to see you anyway.

He gave you a squeeze before disentangling your arms from him and holding you at arms length.

“What was that for?” He teased, a soft smile spreading on his face.

You looked up at him, gazing into the eyes you wished to see all day.

“I am happy and saw those people do this in the clip from yesterday and I wanted to try it.”

Hyunjin peered down at you taking in your innocent face, your eyes wide as saucers.

“I’m glad you’re happy y/n. I need to talk with you ok?”

You nodded and walked to your bed, sitting down on your blanket.

Hyunjin sat next to you in silence, his eyes on your mural. He was sad as he took in the beautiful painting, knowing you wouldn’t get to work on it for a while if ever again.

Might as well rip the bandaid off.

“Y/n, you will be moved tomorrow for further testing. I spoke with the higher ups and they want to proceed with this plan.”

You looked at Hyunjin, your head cocked. “Moved? Where will I go?”

Hyunjin couldn’t look at you, couldn’t answer your question. Instead he fiddled with his hands, taking interest in his manicured nails.

You needed to be prepared, Hyunjin thought. You’ve been kept in the dark your whole life. He wants you to be aware of your history, the purpose of this lab, the purpose of your existence on this earth. He owes you that at least.

“What do you know of your birth y/n? Of your purpose?” Hyunjin asked, getting the courage to look at you.

“Nothing,” you answered. What was going on? Hyunjin seemed to be acting strange.

“Well I feel as if you should know. You know where you’re from, the planet Gevora. Your mother and some others were brought here under the pretext of having a better life as it wasn’t so great on your home planet. That was a lie however. They allowed the children, including you to stay with your mothers until the age of five. Then you were taking away to start your training or testing.”

Hyunjin took a deep breath and let it out, as he’s sadness turned to anger.

“The lab, this corporation wants to experiment and test to see if any of your kind has emotions or feelings that can help you integrate into human society. Most of your kind cannot understand and emotion as it wasn’t needed on your home planet. However, you’re different, probably a genetic mutation, a minor change in your DNA that has allowed you to comprehend these complex emotions and express them. Since you are so different, they are ecstatic and want to keep you here. They won’t let you go. I just know it.”

You watched as Hyunjin balled up his fists, his face scrunched up as he breathed rapidly. You recognized this, seeing the reaction on Raoul’s face more times than you can count.

You started to scoot away before Hyunjin gently stopped you.

“Don’t…I’m sorry y/n,” he said, his eyes searching yours for any discomfort.

You stopped moving and looked at Hyunjin. Is what he said really true? Was your mother forcibly taken from your home planet? Lied to by humans?

You felt heat raise to your face, little red spots forming in your vision. You felt tense, your muscles contracting as your mind wandered.

You wanted to ask Hyunjin one thing and one thing only.

“What happened to my mother?”

Hyunjin was silent for a moment. “She died shortly after you were taken away.”

You could sense something else Hyunjin wasn’t telling you. You could tell something was wrong.

“What are they going to do to me?” You asked cautiously, not sure you want to hear the answer.

“You’ll probably go through a series of tests. What exactly those tests are I’m not sure. You most likely won’t be living like how you are now. It’ll be pretty miserable. It’s just not right! It’s not!” Hyunjin exclaimed.

He stood up abruptly and paced the floor, mumbling under his breath. There was nothing he could do. There’s nothing. Nothing.

He feels useless, a failure. He’s supposed to further advance research, not torture and lie to others.

“Hyunjin…what’s wrong?” You asked, your eyes following him as he paced your room.

“I'm sorry…I'm just, ugh so angry! This shouldn’t be happening!”

You were taken aback at his screams, your heart beating so hard you could hear it in your head, the constant thump thump loud in your ears.

“Angry? I don’t understand.”

Hyunjin stopped pacing and turned to look at you. His facial features softening as he took in your concern.

He rushed to your side and sat down, placing his hand on your thigh.

“It’s another emotion y/n. It’s a feeling of being tense, maybe speechless. You may want to scream, shout, needing to get the energy out.”

You considered his words, taking in the explanation. “I think I’m angry Hyunjin.”

Hyunjin nodded at your confession, his eyes roaming your face. You did seem more flush than usual, your muscles tense. He’s once more amazed at how quickly you can grasp such a complex emotion in such a short time frame.

“It’ll be okay Y/n... okay? I’ll try and come see you. Maybe help out, that way you’ll see a friendly face.”

Hyunjin caught your eyes, making sure you were grasping what he was saying.

“Ok,” you whispered, your hand going to your necklace automatically.

Hyunjin smiled that you were wearing the necklace he gave you.

“I’m so happy you’re wearing my gift I gave you. But make sure to hide it well before they come get you tomorrow ok?”

You nodded your head and smiled. You knew things would be okay. Hyunjin was looking out for you after all.

“What were you doing before I came in?” Hyunjin asked.

You picked up your book and showed him the cover. “I was reading. It’s one of my favorite books.”

Hyunjin carefully took the book from you and looked through it. It seemed to be right up your alley full of adventure.

He didn’t want to leave just yet. He had some time. “Can you read it for me?”

You were shocked that he wanted to listen to you read. You were excited at the prospect of Hyunjin staying here with you, so you took the book and opened it up.

You began to read, your soft voice echoing throughout the room. You settled into the pillows, your body relaxing with each passing second.

Hyunjin is seated at the foot of your bed, his back resting against the wall. He’s turned slightly towards you, so he can watch, not wanting to waste another moment not looking at you.

He was captivated as you read to him, your focus on the book in front of you. He could tell you had visited this story many times as you knew it by heart, your expressions matching whatever scene was playing out.

He loved the sound of your voice, so soft and sweet, that he felt his eyes droop, exhaustion taking over.

It would be okay to close his eyes right? Here tucked away in your room, away from demands and responsibilities. Here where he can listen to your voice.

Yeah, he’d be alright. He slowly drifted off to sleep, his ears listening to your story until he fell into a deep sleep.

At some point during your story, you looked up and noticed Hyunjin asleep, his head tucked into his chin. You felt your heart skip a beat at the fact that he was asleep here in your room and on your bed no less.

You carefully closed your book and set it down. Grabbing one of your blankets, you draped it over him and gently laid him down, his hair splayed across your sheets.

Satisfied, you got and quickly changed, making sure Hyunjin was still asleep first. Once dressed for bed, you slid under the sheets and snuggled under.

You felt tired but comfortable, since Hyunjin was here. You didn’t understand this feeling, but you were happy nonetheless.

Closing your eyes, you drifted off to sleep. The two of you slept soundly and completely comfortable, your heads filled with soft dreams.

-- --

“Hyunjin! Hyunjin!”

Hyunjin could hear his name as someone was shouting it. He thought he was dreaming, that is until he heard it again.

“Hyunjin!”

He sat upright, blinking the sleep from his eyes. He looked around, forgetting where he was at first. Once he realized he had fallen asleep in your room, he jumped up, as panic took over.

Looking up, he saw not only a few orderlies, but the chief too.

Shit. He’s really fucked up now. He looked over and saw you cowering in the corner of your bed , your blankets pulled over your body.

“Why are you in here?” The chief demanded. “We needed you to finalize the plans for tomorrow but you were nowhere to be found. Instead we find you here…with…with them.”

He said the last word with malice, disgust clear on his face.

“You’ve proven you’re too close in this case. Hyunjin as of now, you are no longer y/n's technician. Leave immediately.”

Hyunjin was devastated at the chief’s words, his worst nightmare coming true. Hyunjin has known you for so long and even though you just physically met, he feels fond of you.

He looks at you once more, trying to convey his apology through his eyes before getting up and dragging himself out of the door. The chief follows closely behind followed by the orderlies.

The door shuts with a sort of finality, like the worst is yet to come.

You stare at the place where Hyunjin was lying, the imprint from his body still present on your blankets. You reached a hand to touch the spot, the area still warm.

You became tense again, your eyes narrowed as your breathing increased.

Anger. That’s what Hyunjin called this. You were angry, your brief period of happiness gone.

You were angry that the lab took your family from its home. That they took you away from your mother, that you couldn’t say goodbye.

You were angry that you spent so many years kept in the dark, shielded from anything that could lead to your advancement and benefit you in this world.

You were angry that the lab forced Hyunjin to partake in this project.

You were angry.

You were furious.

You were….

As you sat on your bed, your fingers playing with the fringe of your blanket, your heart felt heavy, the ache spreading as you continued to think of how Hyunjin was gone.

You might not ever see him again and that was a thought you couldn’t bear. You were frustrated, not understanding why you felt this way. You wished you could have asked him about this before he left.

You sat on your bed the rest of the night, as you stared blankly ahead. You didn’t dare move, only sit there quietly as you felt a fire rush through you.

You let the anger boil over until your hands were shaking, until your eyes filled with tears again.

You didn’t know what to do. What to say. All you knew is you wanted Hyunjin, needed him.

You needed him to tell you everything would be okay.

And as the morning hours came and more movement was heard on the other side of your door, you continued to sit, staring straight ahead as the little happiness you had faded away.

Taglist: @jehhskz @jeonginsleftcheek @simpforleeknaur @armystay89 @palindrome969 @slut4hee @ivydoesit23 @amarecerasus @kaysungshine @fun-fanfics @baby-stay92 @velvetmoonlght @possum-playground @katsukis1wife @my-neurodivergent-world @hanniebaeee

[girlfriendsofthegalaxy]

tuesday again 6/17/25

crazy how much reading a good book can improve ur mood

listening

reader, i am also surprised that i like a 100 gecs song. unfortunately, along with frequently asking myself shit like where is my beautiful wife? i frequently ask myself where the FUCK my head is at

-

reading

still attempting to get my bookshelves under control (the goal is nothing double stacked. still unsuccessful so far) partly bc i want an excuse to drag my bestie out to one of my favorite used bookstores and trade some stuff in for credit. five books came to work with me last week and two of them will stay.

Ship Breaker by Paolo Bacogalupi. YA debut, postapoc climate change. read when i was the appropriate age and loved it back then. holds up! hate his adult books bc it is absolutely wretched to be a female character in his books but hey. sometimes if you have to tone down the yuckydisgustingness of your books and cut out any gratuitous sexual assault for a teen audience your books improve. sometimes that’s the way the cookie crumbles. may not hit as hard if you did not grow up within a mile of working docks for all of your most formative years.

Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. oooough i loved this one. exactly the right book for me at the right time. i love a framing device of “found this book in a cave/had it told to me/and now i will tell it to you 😌”. follows a fake ancient greek tale and how to barely survives through the ages to the near future. ive been wading through so much terrible scifi and fantasy it was really nice to read a book by someone who knows what the fuck he is doing and has the technical chops to successfully execute a 500 page book. i would be fascinated to see Doerr try his hand at TV bc, like suzanne collins, he is extremely good at leaving a character in peril at the end of a chapter without it feeling cheap. about libraries and books, but not really in the way a performative #content reader who picks fights about if audiobooks are books will enjoy? about books and libraries and the way they can get you through periods of wracking loneliness in both your childhood and adulthood.

Daughter of Witches by Patricia C Wrede. fantasy for adults (not in a horny way. just the age range. very short! 200p) that felt a little choppy and unfinished. felt a bit what we might categorize today as New Adult? i understand wrede wrote some extremely successful YA and im fascinated by that like. interplay between this book and her later ones.

Daughter of Fortune by Isabel Allende. didn’t vibe with the style on this one. kind of sad about it bc i want to read more cowboy westerns that are women focused but there are so few of them im interested by

A Secret Atlas by Michael A. Stackpole. cool geography focused premise, unfortunately lovingly dedicated to former Senator fucking John fucking McCain so i did not even start it. i hate stackpole’s star wars books but couldn’t really put a finger on why and now i know it’s the latent republicanism.

-

watching

finished the apothecary diaries. had a tremendous amount of fun with it! what a show!!! the sheer gamesmanship by maomao and how she beautifully and effectively outmaneuvered everyone???? SO fucking excited for s2 in 1.5-2 years

this show is such a perfect blend of trying to solve a murder mystery before it happens and How It’s Made. i would watch several hours of maomao making various potions and ungents and explaining what everything is and how it works. i loooooove a weird little gremlin of a lady. not a trait i value in a partner, but i love watching two people get very possessive about each other and deny it :) hehe you fucking idiots

a final thought: the Gender happening in episode seventeen. much to consider. much to consider.

-

playing

genshin is both delightful and really frustrating, in that i can uncover new chests in areas ive been running around in for five years. only ventured back here bc i needed mats for a weapon i got very early in-game and then neglected. apparently i had just Never beaten these four big mecha on this one island bc i needed a crazy DPS (navia) and three carefully tuned support characters (all five star characters of course leveled to the max) and for it to start raining in-game. i pay less attention to elemental reactions than i should bc the fun of this game’s combat (for me) is hitting things Very hard with my umbrella shotgun. the umbrella shotgun really lets me tank a lot of things im sure the developers would prefer i do not tank. anyway new major story (but not :( a new map) update this week yahoo yippee yay

please ignore the crab the octopus the off screen seahorse and the little mobile ice machine.

-

making

i have completed my brother’s birthday gift a year late, just in time for his next one, and it is now washed and blocking on my kitchen table. did not do a good job with thread tail management on this one. fortunately it looks fine from the front. i have immediately started one for me bc i don’t have the floss i need to start a different project, and had to abandon the one meant for me mid-WIP due to the moth debacle four years ago. this is the fifth time i will be stitch this pattern i have gotten WAY more than my money’s worth out of it lmao

[ahgasegotarmy116]

He Doesn't Deserve You | A Jeon Jungkook Series | Chapter One

Summary: Life didn't turn out the way you wanted. You got the guy, and the job but everything else you had ever wanted has been crumbling around you. Pairing: Noona reader x Jeon Jungkook (She's 28 and he's 22) Word Count: 2.1k~ Warnings: yändere, manipulation, domestic violence, self harm, cheating, explicit language, hints at smut, angst, idk what else lol a/n: Ahh thank you so much for all of the love so far on the intro and even all the notes on the masterlist hehe. I'm really loving the direction this story is going in so I hope you guys will too!

Opening my laptop I pull up the most recent edit I had done on the next chapter I was working on. 

I'm a writer, not an incredibly famous one but a writer nonetheless.

I make enough to get by and I'm able to work from home so that's all I ever really wanted.

Just a silly girl, writing her silly stories, living her silly life. 

But unfortunately things don't always turn out the way you want them to. 

I thought I had it all, perfect grades and a perfect boyfriend with a loving family and a bright bright future. Now looking back at it all and seeing all of the stuff in the background that I somehow missed just makes me feel foolish.

How could I not notice Taehyung's wondering eye? Why did I not listen to what my friends used to say about him? Why did I leave all of my friends behind for him? 

Being so wrapped up and so in love with him I didn't even notice the fact that my family was falling apart. My mom cheated on my dad and I never knew until they told me they were getting a divorce.

While my brother was struggling in high school along with being around all of their screaming and fighting and finally got committed to a mental institution when he had a psychotic break.

I never knew anything about that.

It's not like I didn't care, but I just never really reached out or gave them enough time to reach out to me. 

I was always like 'Oh Tae just got home I have to go' or 'Tae is expecting me so I need to get going'.

My world has revolved around him for so long that my family and friends feel like strangers. 

How could I have been so stupid and neglect them, all for one guy?

The one that I wanted to build a future with and promised to do the same with me. Now here I am, 24 with student loans up to my neck and a sorry excuse for a marriage with a husband that is never home. 

I don't know what I managed to do in my past life that ended up royally fucking me up in this one but I'm sorry.

Why couldn't I have done better so I would be saved from having my spirit broken and my heart ripped to shreds. 

The only positive thing that's come from this is that it has given me the inspiration to come up with an even more fucked up series of books that has been my only source of income for the past few years. 

Years? Wow. 

Thinking about how much time has passed and how things went to shit so quickly helped me continue down this downward spiral and I don't know how to make it stop.

Although the sound of keys jingling outside the front door is my rude awakening, my brain knowing I need to be conscious of what may happen next.

 I quickly wipe off the tears that I didn't even realized had started to fall and clear my throat.

Moments later I'm met with the sight of Taehyung walking in wearing the same shirt I had seen him in yesterday but sports a brand new hickey near the collar, just barely noticeable but he makes no effort to hide it. 

"Y/n" I hear him call out, breaking me out of my train of thought.

"Yes?" I question, hating that I've been caught off guard even though I was staring right at him.

"I asked if we have anything to eat" he says, making his way over to the refrigerator, now going to see if he can answer his own question before I'm even given another second to speak up. 

"Um yeah I think there's some left over pizza from last night" I say and get up to walk towards him.

"So how was work yesterday?" I ask tentatively, still not sure what kind of mood he's in. "Exhausting but it is what it is I guess" he says while stuffing his face full of a cold slice of pepperoni pizza. 

I turn to walk away while nodding my head, not bothering to ask anything else since it seems from his vague answers that he's not in the mood to talk. 

"Hey" he says, gently grabbing my wrist with the hand that wasn't occupied with the pizza, leaving me frozen in place.

I know better than to walk away from him. Even if he's not mad at the moment doesn't mean that he won't be in the next. 

"Where are you running off to?" he asks pulling me close by that same wrist. Still doing so carefully but pressing on the bruises that he had left there from the last fight we had. 

He sees my slight look of discomfort and how my vision is trained on the wrist he's still holding and rolls up my sleeve, taking a quick look and seeing the evidence of his past transgressions.

"It left a mark huh?" he says examining the spot further and then bringing it up to his face where he places a few featherlight kisses on it, making a flash of heat run through my system when he looks back up at me with those eyes.

Those bedroom eyes that never fail to put me in a trance.

He lifts his hand up towards my face and I flinch not knowing what to expect and see him stopping for a second, surprised by my reaction.

"Don't be afraid baby, it's just me" he says and keeps going, hooking his finger on the collar of my turtleneck to pull it to the side, no doubt searching for other marks. 

"There's marks here too. I guess it's a good thing you stay home. Don't want to have to make up excuses for those now would you?" he says tapping under my chin twice, a slight lilt in his tone, enjoying my clear discomfort in showing them to someone, even if it's the person that's caused them.

"What did you do today baby?" he asks, letting go of me and going back to grab a few other things out of the fridge to complete his meal.

"Oh you know, just some writing" I say, trailing off and giving him the same answer that I've given him time and time again. 

"You almost done with it?" he questions, only really asking so he knows when my next big payday will be. 

I shake my head "No, not yet. I think I'm only about halfway through" I say, giving simple answers to his simple questions.

"Well you better get it out soon. I bet your readers are dying to know what happens next" he says giving me a quick wink before taking everything he has in his hands and carrying it over to the couch. 

"Do you think you could grab me a beer?" he asks, but I know it's more of a courtesy than anything phrasing it like I actually had an option. I respond with a quiet yeah and bring it over to him, placing it on the coffee table. 

"Thanks babe" he says and grabs a ahold of my hand and angles his head up, clearly asking for a kiss to which I oblige. Again something I don't really have an option in doing.

"I missed you" he says and rubs his nose against mine cutely, or at least it used to be cute. Now it just makes me sad thinking of all of those times when we were happy.

"Are you gonna watch the game with me?" this time giving me something that I actually have a choice in.

"I think I've got some more writing I'd like to do" I say and he nods his head not even bothering to look at me or give me a verbal sign of acknowledgment before turning on said game and slumping back into the couch to watch. 

I walk over to my desk that happens to unfortunately be in the living room so I'm forced to grab my headphones to drown out the sound so I can hopefully get another chapter or two in before I call it a night. 

~~~~~~

"Baby" I hear him call for me through my headphones after some time, that's something that I've had to fine tune. Making sure I can hear him when he talks to me no matter what so it's one less thing I have to worry about him getting upset about. 

I pull out my headphones and turn my attention towards him, half expecting him to ask me to get him a beer. "Yes?" I reply, waiting to see what he needs. "Come here" he says holding his hand out to me and spreading his legs, showing me where he wants me. 

I get up and walk towards him, straddling him once I get close enough and putting my arms around his neck.

"Hi" he says in a deep voice sending a shockwave through my nervous system. "Hi" I respond quietly, intimidated at the thought of what he might do next.

"How was the game?" I ask tentatively, hoping for my own sake that there was a favorable result. 

"We won" he says, mindlessly tracing his hands up and down my curves. "How's your book?" he asks leaning into my neck, placing kisses over the bruises he had noticed from before.

"It's going" I whisper, starting to feel breathless from his warm breath fanning the sensitive parts of my skin.

"Ready for a break?" he asks, question laced with a mischievous tone. I hum in acknowledgment, tilting my head to the side so he can have his fun.

~~~~~~

"I'm gonna head out but I'll be back later" Taehyung says while getting dressed with me still laying there with only a sheet to cover my body.

"You're leaving?" I question, knowing he just said that but hoping he'll give me some sort of explanation.

"The guys wanted to meet up for a couple of drinks to talk about the game. Get some rest okay? I'll be back in a few hours" he says planting a soft kiss on my lips and one on my forehead. 

I nod as he pulls the comforter over me as well, already starting to drift off to sleep. "Stay safe" I mumble and flip over to the other side to try and get more comfortable.

He looks down at me for a second and chuckles at my fucked out and sleepy state before walking out of our bedroom and soon I'm left with the sound of him closing and locking the door behind him. 

Although this night was bittersweet I'm thankful that it ended up like this. He's not a selfish lover when it comes to sex so I'm always left sleepy and satisfied except for the times that he's more rough.

Rough is putting it lightly so I guess I should say when he's more violent. 

I hate thinking about those nights and I refuse to let those dark thoughts cloud this physical euphoric feeling I have but I can't help but worry about what he might actually be going out to do.

 Would having a drink with the guys really make him want to leave his naked and freshly fucked wife alone in his bed?

I just don't get it.

If he's already been with me tonight could there be a possibility that he would wake up in another woman's bed and leave me waking up alone again tomorrow?

There's no use worrying about it though. It's not like it hasn't happened before, but why do I always let it get to me?

Yes he's my husband but our marriage isn't like other ones in anyway shape or form.

I'm here when he wants or needs me and that's it. I'm not allowed to want or need him because I'm just left disappointed every single time.

He doesn't love me, he just loves what I can give him and I need to come to terms with that. But it's nights like these where he's gentle and whispers sweet nothings in my ear that make me second guess things. 

Maybe he's changed? Maybe he's realized what actually matters? And maybe I'm just getting my hopes up.

I can't keep lying to myself but I don't know what else to do. I feel alone most days but these little glimmers of hope are what keep me holding on and unfortunately that's all I have left. 

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[dark-frosted-heart]

Roger Barel Main Route - Mad Love Chapter 24

As usual, can’t guarantee 100% accuracy on this. I’m doing this for archiving purposes and you can probably find a better translation out there

Kate: Alfons!

When I left my room, I saw Alfons waiting for me in the hall.

But he clearly did not look pleased.

Alfons: Have you mistaken me for a chaperone?

Kate: “One month today” means I’m Fairytale Keeper until today ends. That’s why I still need someone watching over me when I go out. So, please.

(...This feels a little self-centered of me)

Alfons: You know, you’re starting to become like Roger.

(Ah…I can’t deny that at all. They do say that pet dogs resemble their owners…)

I couldn’t help but laugh when I thought about where I am now after being a “pet dog” for some time.

Kate: Hehe, I don’t know about that.

Alfons sighed in exasperation at my response.

Alfons: Let’s make haste. I only came back this morning, so I’m feeling extremely sleepy.

--

Alfons and I went to the post office where I used to work.

Black-eyed colleague: Kate! I thought it’s been a while since I last saw you, but I didn’t think the next time would be because you’re resigning!

Brown-eyed colleague: Yeah, I was surprised you suddenly disappeared after being “summoned by the palace”.

Kate: …Sorry for the short notice.

Black-eyed colleague: I’ll miss you, if I’m being honest, but things happen in life. Leave this to me.

Brown-eyed colleague: Eh~ I’ll miss you too. Who’s going to listen to my complaints~

Black-eyed colleague: Kate, maybe resigning was the right choice.

Brown-eyed colleague: Hey, hey, what do you mean by that? You’re so mean!

Kate: Hehe…

(Aah…I love this sort of atmosphere)

Friendly colleagues, a hard-working office chief that likes trying new things…, the sound of letters being sorted, the counter being crowded with people holding letters.

This was all an important part of my ordinary life.

(—But)

Kate: I’m so grateful to you all. Everyone, take care.

I waved away the place I loved with a smile.

I had found where I belonged and began my making my way there—

--

On the way, I stopped by my flat on the second floor of the bakery to finalize the process of selling it.

Kate: …Alright.

Alfons: You’ve resigned from your job and have moved out of your flat. Everything is gone now.

There was a look in his eyes as if he wanted to say “you’re an idiot.”

Kate: …Alfons. You once asked, “If Roger did not have very long to live, would you still choose to stay by his side?”

Alfons: …

Kate: Even I think I’m an idiot. As you said, I might end up a widow who spends her days in tears. However…no matter what, I can’t be apart from Roger.

I hated myself for being weak.

Roger was the only one who always stayed close to me.

Roger’s the only one I want to see me grow stronger from now on.

(Even if it means letting it all go, I want to be by Roger’s side)

Kate: This choice isn’t because of self-sacrifice, devotion, or anything idealistic like that. To continue on as I am, I need Roger, so I’ve thrown everything away to take the plunge. This is an extremely egoistic choice, isn’t it?

Alfons: … Has falling in love with Roger turned you silly?

Kate: Hehe, seems so. Unfortunately.

With a brand new future ahead of me, Alfons smiled in resignation.

Alfons: I have no right to criticize your way of life. You’re free to do as you wish, welcome to the depths of darkness.

A gentle voice invited me into a world crawling with villains.

(But it won’t be like when I was Fairytale Keeper)

(I am definitely entering this world by my own free will)

Kate: …Ah, I said all that with so much enthusiasm, but there’s still a chance I’ll be turned down.

Alfons: Aha! Should that happen, then I will sew that man’s mouth shut so that he’ll never speak again.

--

Alfons then escorted me to the bar before disappearing like an illusion with a big yawn.

I entered the bar alone—

(...Ah, found him)

Roger: …

Roger was sitting by the counter.

We had agreed to meet here.

…Because I had something to tell him.

Kate: …Sorry for making you wait.

Roger: I just got here. So, you wanted to talk?

Straight to the point. I felt my heart speed up.

Kate: It’s been one month since I became Fairytale Keeper. As promised, I’ll be released from my duty. That’s why… I threw everything away. My job, my home, everything.

After saying that all in one go, I looked at Roger…

Roger: …O_O

Kate: Roger. Please make me your exclusive Fairytale Keeper. I already have Victor’s permission. All I need now is your approval.

I could see myself reflected in those amber eyes that widened with surprise.

Kate: …I heard all about it. Alfons told me about your lifespan. 

Roger: Ah, then…

As if figuring out the reason, Roger’s lips curved into a self-deprecating smile.

Kate: You were planning on using the final trial to say farewell to me today, weren’t you? I’m sorry, but I don’t want to be pushed around by an egoist like you forever.

I put strength behind my words, but my heart couldn’t stop my heartbeat from going crazy.

My brand new future depended on Roger.

Kate: …I want to be with you so that I can be me. It’s frustrating, but it can’t be anyone else but you…Roger, let me be your Fairytale Keeper. …And your final lover.

Roger: …

What words will follow this silence?

I clenched my fists tightly on my lap, so nervous that I could hardly breathe.

Finally, I heard it…

Roger: Haven't had all my words taken out of my mouth before. Kate, you’ve cleared your final trial.

(...Huh?)

(My final…trial?)

I couldn’t process those words that came out of the blue.

Kate: W-what do you mean… Please explain so that I can properly understand.

Without thinking, I leaned forward, grabbed Roger by his shirt, and shook him.

Roger just went along with it, laughing happily as if being grabbed by a dog.

Roger: What you heard from Al’s true. But you’re overestimating how much of a good person I am. It’s definitely not smart to pick a guy who could die at any time. You also had an important daily routine to “go back to”. But…why does that mean I gotta let you go?

Kate: Huh…?

I loosened my grip on his shirt.

Roger looked right at me with tender eyes.

Roger: Kate, your final trial was going to be “can you throw everything away and choose me?” But then you threw everything away yourself. Pfft…

Roger’s shoulders started shaking.

Kate: …Roger?

Roger: Pfft, hahahahaha! You really are the most interesting woman I’ve met.

This man~~~ +4 +4

Y-you’re the worst!

You expected this?

Kate: This man~~~ ( ｡ •`ᴖ´• ｡)

Roger: Haha, you fell for me again, didn’t you? You love a strong, egoistic man.

Roger’s large hand ruffled my hair.

Roger probably knows that I like being pet by those hands of his.

Roger: Right now, I’m so happy I could die. So happy that I started laughing without even reading the room.

(Ahhh geez…)

I threw away my job, my home, my ordinary life…

This man goes on saying this was all part of his plan and then gives the best laugh.

He showed me how much more of an egoist he could be…I was completely defeated.

Roger: Kate.

The hand that was on my head slid down to the back of my neck and pulled me closer.

We were so close that our noses touched and my heart pounded.

Roger: Throw it all away and become my lover.

He was still the same self-centered egoist who pushes people around.

That will definitely never change even in our time together.

However—

Kate: I’m the only one who can handle you, Roger. I’ll be your lover.

Roger: …Oh?

I felt embarrassed when he smiled suggestively at me like that, so I snatched his glasses.

And then…I pressed my lips against his.

(...Huh?)

Roger: …What’s up?

Kate: I…don’t taste any alcohol.

Roger: That’s ‘cause I’m not having alcohol.

Roger glanced over at the beer mug on the table.

Kate: Why? I never thought you wouldn’t drink at a bar…

Roger: If we’re gonna have sex, I wanna be sober for it.

Kate: ….Eh…ah…

(In other words…)

While he waited for me, he was betting on the fact that I’d throw everything away.

(My chest’s pounding too much for me to form a comeback…)

Roger: …What’s with that cute face? I’m not waiting any longer. Let’s go.

Roger pulled me up by the arm.

Roger: Barkeep, I’m leaving the money here. Keep the change.

Kate: Where are we going?

Roger: An inn nearby.

Kate: …We’re not going back…?

Roger: Do you think you can hold your moans back during our first time together?

Kate: Wha…!

Thinking about what Roger just said to me was enough to make me feel overwhelmed.

Kate: ……Probably not.

When I muttered this, and amused huff brushed against my cheek.

Roger: …Then follow me.

Next

[theobjectofmyobsession055]

Of Wonders and Witches: Chapter 6 (Zagreus x Reader)

Sorry for the long wait! I hope y'all enjoy this chapter! This is where the plot really begins to thicken hehe. Warning, it gets a little spicy in this chapter, but nothing explicit.

Previous chapter

Zagreus had been disappointed to find out that his mother didn’t know much about Y/N, but he decided that perhaps it was better that way. If even someone so physically nearby didn’t know hardly anything of her, then perhaps it meant that Olympus would not so easily find out about her either. Nyx was unable to lend them their aid in cloaking her, as she had told Zagreus when he’d asked, due to the goddess of night having never met the witch personally. But that was alright, because Zagreus trusted Y/N’s capabilities as an enchantress—if any mortal could find a way to hide from Olympus, it’d be the witch who could single-handedly delay the call of the Styx itself.

By now, his quests to the surface were just as much about seeing her as they were convincing his mother to return to the Underworld. He dared not wonder what would become of their budding relationship if he were to actually succeed in bringing his mother back home—that goal felt much too far off in the future to begin worrying about its potential consequences now. But the question still lingered in the back of his mind, quietly wondering if gaining a relationship with his mother would lead to the loss of his one with Y/N.

His runs were getting quicker as he became more accustomed to how his father fought—he’d even managed to beat him a few times in a row at this point. As had become almost routine, he made his way to Y/N’s cottage before heading off to see his mother. But this time, when he knocked on the door, there was no answer. That was odd. He was under the impression that she didn’t get out much. A bolt of terror struck him as the thought of her potentially being in danger popped into his head.

But before he could bust down the door, a surprised voice called out, “Zagreus?”

He spun around so quickly he could’ve given himself whiplash. The tightness in his chest eased immediately at the sight of Y/N standing a few paces away, bundled up in her shawl with a large basket overflowing with fruits and vegetables in her arms. The red flush on her cheeks stood out adorably against the white backdrop of the snow, her expression looking almost sheepish. “I, um, didn’t expect you to be back so soon…! N-not that I’m not happy to see you, I just didn’t have time to prepare…”

Zagreus grinned, feeling almost giddy at the sight of her all flushed and frazzled. “No worries. You gave me a bit of a scare there for a second—I thought something might have happened to you when you didn’t answer.” He eyed the basket in her arms curiously. “Where were you, anyways? Where’d you get all that?”

She stood up a little straighter, stiffening. “O-oh, um, I was just, uh…” She trailed off, her eyes not meeting his gaze. Her grip on her basket tightened. “…Actually, I just came from Lady Persephone’s garden. Except, usually when I go to leave her my offerings I just, y’know, leave them on her doorstep. But this time… she greeted me personally. You, uh, wouldn’t happen to have had anything to do with that, would you, Zagreus?”

His eyebrows shot up in surprise. He may not have known all that much about his mother, but even he knew that for a god or goddess of any kind to meet with a mortal was exceedingly rare (their own relationship notwithstanding). Suddenly he was the one feeling sheepish. “Well, I… may have mentioned you once or twice. Why, what did she say?”

The blush on Y/N’s cheeks became more pronounced, her gaze remaining firmly down on the ground. “Nothing bad, it was just… unexpected. And she had some… very interesting thoughts to share.”

With that adorably flustered look on her face, Zagreus couldn’t resist the urge to tease her. He ran a hand through his hair, flipping it theatrically. “What, you weren’t talking about me, were you?”

“N-no, no, nothing like that…!” Y/N practically squeaked, her eyes snapping back up to meet his. “It was just, um… gardening stuff! Yeah, very boring, you wouldn’t be interested at all.”

Hm. Now, Zagreus might not have been known for his powers of observation, but even he wasn’t dense enough to think she was telling the truth. But why would she lie? They hadn’t… they hadn’t actually been talking about him, had they?

But before he could pry further, Y/N changed the subject. “But enough about that. Since you’ve come all this way, it’s only right that I treat you to a meal. Come along now.”

“Ah, as much as I’d love that, are you sure there’s time? I’d hate to die on you before it’s even finished,” he said, even as he followed her into the cottage.

She turned over her shoulder and grinned at him. “Oh I believe there will be plenty of time.” She strode over to the cabinets and set down her basket before pulling out a vial filled with a familiar red-orange liquid. It almost seemed to shimmer with arcane power as she held it up to the light. “I’ve been working on perfecting your potion, and I’m fairly confident that this version will give you much more time in this realm than before. It won’t stave off the Styx forever, of course, but it should at least give you a few hours.” She handed him the vial before placing her hands on her hips, looking down at it with an air of pride. “I must say, it’s been quite the mental exercise working on this brew. I’ve not had the chance to flex my magical muscles like this in quite some time.”

Zagreus drank the potion without hesitation, nigh instantly beginning to feel stronger. He huffed out a laugh. “Glad to be of service.” A thought came to him, causing him to look at her curiously. “Actually, how is it that you’re able to make such a thing in the first place? It’s no small feat, that’s for sure.”

She turned around and began to busy herself with chopping vegetables for their meal, but even still he could see the faintest hint of a cryptic smile poking out on her face. “A lady is allowed to have her secrets, isn’t she?”

He couldn’t help the fond smile on his face as he watched her cook. “I suppose that’s true. Though mark my words, I plan on uncovering them all someday.”

That sparked a melodious chuckle from Y/N as she looked over her shoulder at him. “I’d like to see you try, little godling.”

That knocked the wind out of him. He was glad she was facing the other way, because he was sure that his cheeks had turned a blazing crimson. Blood and darkness, he’d been called that many times by Lady Aphrodite, but for some reason hearing the diminutive term of endearment from her lips made him feel lightheaded. Gods, he wanted her. Badly. He’d managed to hold himself back last time, but he wasn’t sure if he’d be able to handle such a herculean task again, not if she kept talking to him like that.

Y/N gave him a strange look, which only served to make him feel more self-conscious. His eyes darted down to the delicate column of her throat as it bobbed almost imperceptibly. But the spell only lasted for a second before she cleared her throat, her own cheeks now scarlet, and turned back towards the counter to continue preparing their dinner.

By some divine intervention or what have you, he was able to control himself enough to not do or say something stupid, at least not during the time it took for her to finish cooking their meal. With how bland the fare in the Underworld could be, he gained a new appreciation for Y/N every time she cooked for him. They ate mostly in silence, the occasional comment floating between them, but it wasn’t uncomfortable. That was, until Zagreus reached out to grab a hunk of bread from the side table, only for his hand to brush against Y/N’s as she did the same. Before he could make some light-hearted, flirty remark, she yanked her hand away as if she’d been burned. “S-sorry. You first.”

His brow furrowed. That was… odd. They’d casually brushed hands or what have you many times before, but it’d never invoked a reaction like that. If anything, she usually became flustered, but this time she seemed… abnormally nervous. “…No worries.”

The strange tension surrounding them died down after that, but Zagreus still couldn’t help but wonder what all that had been about.  But when Y/N looked up at him with a mysterious smile, all thoughts of such things flew out of his mind. “Come with me, I have something to show you,” she said cryptically.

Zagreus was pretty sure he’d follow her straight into the deepest pits of Tartarus if she asked him to, so his acceptance came easily. He followed her out the back door and into the snow outside. Night had fallen in the time they’d been together, casting the world in a familiar cloak of darkness. Y/N laid a blanket down onto the ground and sat on top of it, patting the space beside her in an invitation for him to join. He didn’t need to be told twice before making himself comfortable beside her. Despite how cold it was, the small span of air between them seemed to sizzle with a warm energy. He wondered if she could feel it too.

The sound of her voice snapped him out of his musings. “You usually come to the surface during the mornings or afternoons, right? I thought perhaps you hadn’t gotten the chance to see this yet. Look.” She pointed up towards the darkened sky, where thousands upon thousands of tiny little lights dotted the heavens.

Zagreus let out a little gasp at the sight, his eyes widening in wonder. “What are those?”

“They’re stars, silly,” she replied with a little giggle. She placed her hands behind her on the blanket and leaned back, her eyes not leaving the dazzling sight of the night sky. Her voice lowered, almost as though she was sharing a secret as she said, “…I like to come out here some nights and just look at the stars and think. I find it helps me sort through my more… complicated thoughts.”

He pulled his gaze from the sky to examine her. “Have you been plagued by any such thoughts as of late?”

A small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “…There’s been a few. You see, there’s this certain god I met not that long ago who has caused quite a disturbance in my quiet little world, and I often find myself pondering what I am to do about him.”

A cheeky grin made its way onto his face. “A disturbance, you say? Maybe I ought to have a chat with this fellow, set him straight for disrupting your peace.”

“No, no, I don’t think that will be necessary. My peace could use a good disruption now and again.” The smile on her lips widened ever-so slightly. Her voice lowered even more, to the point where he had to almost strain to hear her. “…Besides, it’s been nice to have someone around. Even if he has caused some… unexpected feelings to arise in me.”

Zagreus’ heart did a somersault in his chest. His words left him all in one surge of air. “What kind of feelings…?”

Y/N was silent for a long time, almost to the point where he began to worry he’d done something wrong. But then, she let out a deep sigh. “Zagreus,” she said, still not looking at him. But instead of continuing, there was another long period of quiet. The stillness of the night blanketing the world around them made her silence all the more deafening—not even the wind seemed to blow. The rustle of fabric drew his eyes down to her lap, where her fists had clenched in her skirt. Then, finally, she spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper, “Your mother… she thinks you’re in love with me. That’s what she wanted to talk to me about.”

“What if I said she was right?” The words came rushing out of him before he could even register the shock of what she’d just told him. But he knew, without even the faintest hint of doubt, that they were true.

Y/N whipped her head around to stare up at him with wide eyes. “…What?” she croaked, her voice breaking slightly on the single syllable.

His heart hammered in his chest, blood thrumming loudly in his ears. But it was too late to stop now, the flood of adrenaline in his veins spurring him to grab her hand and continue. “What if I told you I think of you ceaselessly, that this battle isn’t just about my mother anymore, that every moment we are not together I am fighting tooth and nail to get back to you.” Without thinking (because oh, when had he ever thought when it comes to these kinds of things?) he reached up with his free hand and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, allowing his fingertips to ghost against the smooth skin of her cheek. “…What if I told you that every time we part, I have to hold myself back from kissing you?”

She looked up at him with bewilderment, her lips slightly parted as she searched his eyes. But if she was looking for any sign of insincerity, she would find none. He began to fear that he had overstepped, made her uncomfortable, but then, barely audible, she whispered, “…Then I’d tell you to stop holding back.”

The moment their lips touched felt like releasing a breath you didn’t even know you were holding—cathartic, freeing, and oh-so right. For a moment, she sat there frozen against him, but it wasn’t long before she melted into it. Zagreus tried to take it slow and gentle, he really did, but with all the pent-up longing within him he just couldn’t help himself. And oh the little moan she made in the back of her throat when his tongue brushed against her bottom lip was far too enticing. He held her face in both his hands and delved into her mouth over and over again, for what felt like hours.

They pulled away for a split second to catch their breaths, both of them panting just a little. Rebekah opened her mouth as though to say something, but Zagreus didn’t let her get the words out before he kissed her again. He just couldn’t help himself, not with the sight of her flushed cheeks and the sound of her little noises of pleasure. Whatever it was mustn’t have been that important, because she wrapped her arms around his shoulders and pulled him closer, whimpering as their tongues met again.

Her fingers found their way into his hair, and he let out a whimper of his own as her nails scraped roughly against his scalp. He unconsciously began to lean into her, slowly guiding her down onto the ground. She made no move to resist—if anything, the movements of her lips and tongue against his became even more forceful, her hands in his hair pulling him even closer to her.

A low groan bubbled up in the back of Zagreus’ throat. The taste of her was addictive—sweeter than any nectar or ambrosia or any other delights he imagined Olympus could offer. It stoked a fire low in his belly, left him wanting more, more, more.

Her fingers in his hair trembled, just ever-so slightly. He hardly noticed it at first, too caught up in the warmth of her body and the softness of her lips. Her grip tightened, almost to the point of pain, but it only served to make his blood run even hotter in his veins.

He didn’t even register the words she gasped out as he pulled away to press a line of searing kisses along the column of her throat. He hummed, pulling her shawl to the side so he could nip at her collarbones. That was, until the hands in his hair moved to his shoulders and began to push insistently. Not desperate, not playful. Firm. The airy tone of her voice gave way to something more panicked as she called out his name. “Zagreus… Z-Zagreus, we need to stop.”

He was off of her the instant he realized what she’d said, though he didn’t have quite enough self-control to pull away entirely, his hand still trailing soothingly along her arm. “I’m sorry,” he said, full of remorse. “I got a bit carried away. We don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with.”

“No, no. it’s not that, it’s—” She took a deep breath. “Zagreus, I—we—we can’t do this. At all.”

His heart, which had felt so warm and light before, immediately dropped into his stomach. “What? But you said—”

“I know what I said!” She sat up suddenly, wringing her hands together. Blood and darkness, that look on her face was terrified. She couldn’t meet his eyes. “I just—I can’t.” She stood, turning around on her heel and heading back towards the cottage.

Zagreus scrambled to his feet, alarm and confusion striking his core. He grabbed onto her hand, pleading with her not to leave. “Hey, wait! What is going on?! If I did something wrong, I’m so, so sorry—please let me fix it!”

He heard her take in a shaky breath, her back still facing him. “It’s… not you, you did nothing wrong,” she whispered, and his heart broke at how her voice trembled almost imperceptibly. “I can’t do this. Not with you, not with anybody.” Before he could protest, she pulled her hand out of his grasp. He let her. Without looking back at him, she continued, voice dull and emotionless, “…You need to go see Lady Persephone. Goodbye, Zagreus.”

As the door closed behind her, the dread in Zagreus’ gut was almost enough to make him think he was being sent back to the Underworld already. But instead of the sharp, searing pain that typically coursed through his body, his chest just felt hollow.

[thyme-in-a-bubble]

hey lea ! i am SOOOO excited for the next THUYW chapter ! do you think we'll ever get a Y/N interaction with Gamma Sigma Zeta frat club in the future ? (maybe some interaction or smut scene **cough** Johnny Storm **cough** **cough** Nick Fowler **cough**) Thennn maybe someone from the Kappa Alpha Nu frat club heard that she's been hanging out with GSZ frat club and all hell break loose ? 😌 Love youuuu ♡

well, there has been some talk about the time when the guys finally take her into the basement (sex dungeon) it is because she innocently flirts back when one (or multiple) of the GSZ boys lay his charm on her after class, then invites her to the next party, where our boys spot them and then all hell breaks loose (i kinda already have a plan but i wanna keep it a surprise. let’s just say, she doesn’t see it coming. take that spoiler as you will hehe)

in other words YES, i want there to be interactions with that frat as well. maaaybe even some other stuff could happen….. i mean, it’s a rivalry between those two frats and she is their only weakness… who knows what could happen to her now that she’s caught in the crossfire…. 😏

[seraphinitegames]

The Wayhaven Chronicles - Update 25/August/2023

(So sorry I forgot to post this last week) So this week I did a bit more fleshing out to the scenes I wanted to go back to before the next step.

One particular scene was good fun! I got to build out an…interesting conversation between a certain character and the villain (I’m calling them full villain now rather than antagonist because, well, they are pretty darn bad, hehe!). The moment gives the player a deeper insight into how the villain thinks—or likes to portray that they think!—and about why it is they’re doing what they’re doing.

It’s really fun getting to explore how these things happening are viewed by different characters!

Some of the other scenes I looked at again are some quite big moments in the romances too. Some things really can push forwards with those, and the scenes are ones I’ve been thinking of for a very, very long time! So I want to make sure they still work with all the new ideas I’ve been adding into the plan—so far they have so that’s a major happy relief!

Next week, I’ll be moving onto the next step and printing out the plan to begin breaking it down into more detail.

My hopes are having the plan so super detailed means that writing will go smoother, and I can get it done a lot quicker. I can already see that the way I’m setting out the chapters and the individual scenes is going to be WAY better to organize in my head as well as on paper!

But the next stage is also where I’ll be thinking of how to add in the storyline I’d been umming and ahhing about that I now really want to do…

A villain romance! :D

This isn’t 100% for sure yet, and it won’t take away from the main romances (which are always my priority) at all as it will only be available in the ‘Friend’ route where the MC isn’t romancing anyone.

It also will be a villain romance. And this baddy is bad. Like, pretty much non-redeemable kind of bad. So obviously…that’ll be personal preference as to whether it’s right for you, hehe!

The only reason I’ve been contemplating it is because this villain only pops up for Book Four, so I don’t have to worry about extra branches and variations for future books, which means it won’t be adding too much workload.

Plus they are just…yeah, I really like them even though they’re awful, lol! And the way they go about interacting with the MC already opens up the easy possibility of a romance.

So some exciting things this week, and I’m really eager to get onto the next stage to put me another step closer to starting writing! :D Hope you all have the most fantastic weekend! It's a bank holiday here on Monday in the UK, so I'll talk to you all again next week!