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babybluebex · 4 years

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sugar pie, honey bunch [lee bodecker smut]

➽ pairing: lee bodecker x fem!reader(y/n) ➽ word count: 4.3k ➽ summary: lee gets tired of your secret rendezvous at work, so he comes to your house and does something about it. ➽ warnings: NSFW/MDNI. explicit language, smut, unprotected sex (pls wear a condom), daddy kink, degradation, infidelity by both parties, loss of virginity, mentions of anal sex ➽ a/n: if you know me irl no u don’t <3

It was quiet. Too quiet. I hated that. The silence let my thoughts run amok and that was never good for anybody, but least of all me. I had a tendency to overthink things, and quiet and still only amplified that. Knockemstiff, Ohio was the absolute worst place to live if you hated silence, because nothing happened in that little town. About twelve years ago, there had been a veteran who killed himself after his wife died, but that was the loudest thing that had ever happened to my little Knockemstiff. I should know; I worked as a secretary at the police station. I heard all of the gossip from around town. Earlier today, someone had been arrested for being drunk, which I think everyone in Knockemstiff could be in violation of. Every other day was quiet. It was hell.

I could hear the crickets way out in the fields as I walked around the house. Those bugs served as my soundtrack as I found a box of matches and quietly slid a few into my mouth, and I padded through the house until I reached the front door. Knockemstiff was the sort of town where people didn’t use their front doors unless the Pope was showing up; it was all side doors and garages (if you were lucky enough to have one, which most of us didn’t). All that to say, I knew I could smoke by the front door and nobody would smell it.

The night was hot. Oppressive and stifling, nearly suffocating. My skin was tacky against my nightshirt as I struck a match and lit a cigarette, and I leaned up against the side of the house. The moon was full, casting silver light onto my barren front yard and the dirt road that stretched exactly from one side of town to the other that ran in front of the house. It was a weird sort of beautiful. But quiet. Oh so quiet.

Quiet, until I heard the far-off rumbling of a car. It wasn’t unheard of to get visitors in the night-- usually someone coming to ask me about the police station, because nobody had the balls or willpower to call our sheriff after hours-- but the noise drew closer at a snail’s pace. Whoever this was wasn’t in any hurry at all. Finally, a car rolled up in front of the house, the headlights off. There was a moment where I watched the car, then I sighed when the door wrenched open to reveal Lee Bodecker. The sheriff was a nice enough guy, maybe at the risk of being too nice sometimes and a total prick at others, but I was at a loss for why the hell he’d be here this late at night with his cruiser’s lights off. If it were an urgent police matter, he’d have his flashing lights on.

“You shouldn’t do that,” Sheriff Bodecker told me, his voice carrying across the yard.

“Do what?” I quipped.

His boots brushed the porch as he climbed the steps up, and I caught his eye in the moonlight. “Smoking’s unbecoming of a young woman,” Bodecker told me pointedly. “Anyway, it’s a bad habit.”

“You come to lecture me on smoking?” I asked. “I ain’t quite finished typing up that arrest report yet, if that’s what you’re after.”

“No, no,” Bodecker said. “Nah, I ain’t here for that, sugar.”

“Oh?” I said, crossing my arms. “And what are you here for?”

“We’ll get to that soon enough,” Bodecker said. “Ain’t you gonna invite me in? It’s awful late.”

“Exactly why I’m not gonna do that,” I said quickly, taking an exaggerated drag on my cigarette. “People talk, Lee. Blowjobs in the supply closet during lunch break are one thing; showing up to my house unannounced at half past midnight is something else. And I ain’t gonna be no Whore of Knockemstiff, ya hear me? Run along. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Invite me in, Y/N,” Bodecker said, tilting his head down to look me in the eyes. Bodecker was imposing: six feet tall and sturdy as a mule, even if his middle was getting a little soft. He had these steel-blue eyes that cut right to my core and gorgeous eyelashes, with puffy pink lips and a little cleft in his chin. Maybe if he were ten years younger, thirty pounds lighter, with one less marriage, I’d be into him properly, but that wasn’t the case. Our relationship was one of necessity (but aren’t they all?). His pretty little wife had stopped sucking his cock and he had a thing for my pink lipstick. It worked. That wasn’t to say that I didn’t enjoy our little trysts, because I definitely did, but something felt off about this certain encounter. He had never paid me a visit at home before. “Be a good little host for me.”

I huffed and stamped out my cigarette. “Come in, won’t you?” I grumbled, throwing open the squeaky screen door. It felt off to have Lee in my house, but everything about us was off. I guess this was only normal.

I flipped the light on and settled myself against the counter as Lee pulled off his tan sheriff’s hat. His hair was dark as pitch, shorn short on all sides but getting a little long at the top, and little wrinkles appeared at the corners of his eyes as he squinted at the pictures I had on the fridge. “And who’s this?” he asked, pressing his thumb into a picture.

I looked at it and clenched my teeth. “Boyfriend,” I answered simply.

“Oh?” Lee chuckled. “And where is he?”

“Well, right now, he’s in ‘Nam,” I answered. “He enlisted, got sent over.”

“And he didn’t propose before he left?” Lee asked, and I shook my head. “Hmm. Usually when men go to war, they make sure that they’ll have someone waiting for them when they get back.”

“Why are you here?” I asked suddenly. “What do you want?”

“The wife’s mad at me tonight,” Lee said. “She was drinking and started yellin’ at me. Said I was better gone.”

“And you came here?” I said. “Why?”

“Got nowhere else to go,” Lee shrugged. “And I figured that you’d welcome me.”

“You couldn’t go to a bar?” I asked.

“Not unless I wanted to run into my sister,” Lee said. “And I don’t feel like having a fucking lecture.”

I sucked in air through my teeth. “Fine,” I finally said. “But you’re on the couch.”

“Aw, c’mon, babe,” Lee groaned. He approached me at my place at the counter, and his arms went on either side of me, keeping me right where he wanted me. “It’s been a long day for me. You’re not really gonna make me sleep on no stinkin’ couch, are ya?”

“I sure am,” I told him. “‘Cause you’re sure as hell not sleeping in the bed.”

Lee tilted his head. “Not even a good night kiss?” he asked.

“No,” I said. “This is an inconvenience for me. I got shit to do tomorrow and I need sleep.”

“Which is why you were outside smoking,” Lee said.

“Helps me calm down,” I snapped. “Lee. Let me go.”

“You sure are a stupid little bitch, huh?” Lee sneered. “You really think I rolled up to your house just wanting a place to sleep? Honey, you shoulda been expecting more.”

Lee regularly spoke to me like this, but it was usually while I was tying my hair back and kneeling down in front of him. “Don’t call me that,” I said.

“It’s true, though, ain’t it?” Lee asked. “Just a dumb bitch, that’s all you are. You fuck a married man and try to act like you’re better than everyone else. And you don’t think everyone knows?”

My ego deflated in half a second. “Do they?” I asked shakily.

“That’s why the wife kicked me out,” Lee said. “Someone told her I was fuckin’ you, and she got mad. Asked for a divorce and all.”

“We’re not fucking, though,” I tried to counter.

“Oh, so you’ll put my cock in your mouth and call it ‘convienience’, but you draw the line at calling that ‘fucking’?” Lee scoffed. “C’mon, sugar. The whole town already knows it.” I tried to keep my chin up, but I know that Lee saw my lip trembling. “Oh,” he chuckled. “Except the whole town doesn’t know, do they? Your little boyfriend goes to sacrifice himself for the betterment of our fuckin’ country, and you’re here, whoring yourself out for me? Is that why you don’t wanna fuck me proper? Saving your first time for that bitch-boy?”

“I’m not a virgin,” I said, but Lee instantly saw through my lie.

“Bullshit,” he said. “You know how I know? You suck cock like a high schooler.” Lee’s hand went to my waist, and he held me a tight, bruising grip. His hands were so much stronger than I had imagined, and an unfamiliar heat bloomed between my legs. My arousal wasn’t usually a part of the supply closet moments between us, and I had never really felt that before my boyfriend left. This was uncharted territory for me, and I hated that Lee seemed to instantly know that. “I bet you think about me every night, don’t you?” Lee asked. He leaned into me and pressed a kiss to my neck, and a shiver ran down my spine. “Don’t you?” He growled, taking my skin between his front teeth.

“Fuck,” I hissed. “You’re a dick.”

“Answer me,” Lee snapped, smacking my ass hard enough to make me gasp in pain. “You think of me fucking you stupid every single goddamn night, don’t you? I can tell, with the way you eye me at the station. You’re not subtle, honey, not in the slightest.”

“Lee,” I whimpered. “You’re hurting me.”

“Good,” Lee huffed into my neck. He shoved his hips against mine with enough force for my waist to collide with my countertop, and I became well and truly stuck between Lee’s rock-hard cock and the counter. I knew what he was offering, and I couldn’t deny that the thought of his thick cock inside of me made butterflies erupt in my tummy. He kissed my neck, becoming more needy by the second, and he finally sank his teeth into my skin. “Gonna have to make up your mind, sugar, or I’ll do it for you.”

I gulped down my anxiety, and I whispered, “Be gentle.”

“That’s a good girl,” Lee chuckled. “Show me where that bed is, sugar. I’m gonna fuck you ‘til you can’t remember your own goddamn name.”

As soon as I pulled Lee into my bedroom, he had pushed me onto the bed and was kissing me hard. He bit my lips and sucked on my tongue, and he swallowed every pathetic moan I let out. God, I was pathetic. I was shaking, I wanted him so badly. Lee obviously knew that and had no problem with letting it go to his head, because he situated himself over me and gave me a wolfish smile. “You want me to undress you, sugar?” he asked.

“I can do it,” I told him.

Quickly, I rid myself of my nightshirt, and my skin tingled at the exposure to the air. Lee gave a gentle sigh, almost like one of relief, and dipped his head to my chest. He ran his tongue from the dip of my neck to between my breasts, and he latched his teeth onto one of my nipples with no warning. I nearly gave a shout of surprise, but I kept it contained. If this bit of foreplay was any indication, there would be enough time for shouting and crying later.

“These…” Lee growled, grabbing at my breasts with rough hands. “Perfect fuckin’ tits, sugar, Jesus. Wanna come all over them. I just might have to.”

Lee’s mouth went to my other breast, and one of his hands fluttered down from my chest to my waist, and even lower. Again, without so much as a censure, he pushed a finger past my folds and sunk himself knuckle-deep into my throbbing heat. My back arched against my will and I cried out at the amazing feel of it, and Lee laughed into my tits. “I’m only doin’ this ‘cause it’s your first time,” Lee told me, slowly dragging his finger in and out of me. It was a feeling like nothing I had ever experienced before, and I felt tears welling in my eyes. It was so fucking good. “If I had it my way, I’d already have my cock in you. Have you on your belly, fucking the hell outta you, watching myself fuck you so deep.”

“Please, Lee,” I sobbed.

Through my watery gaze, I saw Lee smile against my chest. “Oh, what a good girl,” he moaned softly. “You’re my little fuck-toy, ain’t ya? Just fuckin’ desperate and begging for it. I guess it won’t take too long to fuck you absolutely stupid, will it?” I shook my head, and I jerked in surprise when his calloused finger drove itself into that spot inside of me. I called out his name; I was too far gone to care about the sick pleasure I knew it gave him. “Beg for it, sugar. Beg me to fuck you dumb.”

“Please, Lee,” I whimpered. “Lee, fuck, please. I-I want you to fuck me so hard, please, babe.”

Lee withdrew his fingers from me and sent a hard slap to my throbbing clit. This time, my gasp was one of genuine pain. “That ain’t what you call me and you fuckin’ know it,” he grunted. “Do it right or don’t do it at all.”

I knew what he wanted, and I was too far gone to care. “Oh, Daddy, please,” I mewled, squirming, longing for his touch once more. “Fuck me, Daddy, fuck me ‘til I can’t walk. I want you so deep in my pussy, please.”

“That’s more like it,” Lee whispered. Then, with a strength that I didn’t know that he possessed, he turned me onto my stomach and tugged my hips into the air. My arms shook as I tried to steady myself, and I felt my wet arousal drip down my thigh. As I tried to steady my breathing and remove the fog from my mind, I heard the sounds of Lee undoing his belt and shoving his pants down his thick thighs. His big hand captured a handful of my hair unexpectedly and he tugged me upright with only a small huff of exertion, and he bit my neck again. Lee Bodecker was an animal, and I liked it that way.

One hand stayed in my hair as his other guided himself inside of me, and I nearly felt sick. The stretch was otherworldly and, dare I say, painful. Maybe the prep he had been doing wasn’t such a poor idea. But I had made my bed; now I had to lie in it. “Slow down,” I panted, feeling the tears return, and I writhed in his grip. “Fuck, Daddy, it hurts.”

“I know it does,” Lee whispered, biting my ear. “But you asked for this. You asked for me to fuck you, and I’m gonna do just that. And ya know what? I think I’ll come in this pretty little cunt. What do you think of that?” I started to protest, but Lee shoved his fingers in my mouth, effectively shutting me the hell up. Even if I wanted to say something, I couldn’t. “Fill you up to the fuckin’ brim, have it drip outta you, it’ll be such a filthy thing to see. Your little boytoy comes home from the war and you’ve been letting an older, married guy stuff you full of cum? You think he’ll like that? Think he’ll wanna share?” Lee snapped his hips forward, fully burying himself inside of me, and I gave a wrecked sob around his fingers. I thought for sure that he would split me in two.

Lee’s fingers dug into my hip as he started a steady rhythm. I truly had no idea how old he was-- I imagined probably late 30s or early 40s-- but he was fucking me hard and fast with the stamina of someone my age. Either he had a lot of expertise in the field or he truly had the fantasy of coming inside of me and was wanting to hurry the process along. The more I thought about it, I realized that I really knew nothing about Lee. Not his wife’s name or if he had kids; I didn’t even know that he had a sister until he had mentioned it earlier. However, something about not knowing was better than knowing. At least, this way, I could sort-of distance myself from the act. I was fucking the sheriff (or, technically, he was fucking me), but we weren’t an item. I was just his favorite toy.

Lee suddenly wrenched my arms behind me and captured them against his chest, fully restraining me and leaving me pliable for him. With his fingers still in my mouth, I could hardly do anything but submit, but I liked that. I couldn’t tell if the throbbing in my pussy was pleasure borne from the way he was punishing my g-spot, or pain derived from his taut balls hitting my wet pussy every second. I had gotten my wish; there was to be no walking in the morning. I could feel spit gathering at the corners of my mouth, and I nearly choked on it, but Lee suddenly slowed down, molding his soft body against my back. “Fuck, honey, I’m gettin’ close,” he panted in my ear. “Now’s the time to tell me if you want me to come in ya or not.”

His fingers left my mouth, and I tried to form any thought. Lee was the only thing in my head, though, and I could only whimper out his name. That was answer enough for him, because he released my arm and shoved me down onto the bed. His hand grasped the back of my neck and held me down as his hips pounded in and out of me, huffing and panting. I never could have imagined that the sound of that would have turned me on as much as it did, but my muscles tightened around his fat cock, and he laughed. “Aw,” he cooed. “Does the little cunt need to come? I’ll be honest, I forgot all about that. Wanna make a mess all over Daddy’s cock, don’t you?”

I answered with a keening whine, but that didn’t seem to be enough for Lee. He smacked my ass hard, surely adding to the redness and bruising that I know already existed, and he fisted my hair tighter. “Answer me, bitch,” he growled. “Say it. Say ‘I wanna come on your cock, Daddy’.”

“I wanna--” I started, and a shudder went down my body when I felt something warm and wet find home on my asshole. I was so far past the point of degradation, and my mind instantly went somewhere else. I had heard about that, sure, but I had never imagined that that could be something that I wanted. And yet, here I was, Lee’s spit coating my ass, mumbling out words that would send me to hell. “Fuck, Daddy. Can you fuck my ass?”

“Oh, is that what you want?” Lee asked. “As tempting as that is, I’ll save that for another night. I’m not sure you’re a virgin, sugar, begging for it up the ass. But, fuck, it looks so good… I guess we have something to look forward to, huh?”

Lee’s arm wound around my body and he instantly went to my poor clit. His fingers had tugged at it enough to make it tender to the touch, and he abused it as he fucked right into my g-spot. “Jesus Christ,” Lee whispered. “Squeezing the shit outta me. I’m serious, honey, let me know if you don’t want me to come in you. You’re about to not-- fuck, Y/N-- have a choice.”

“I want it,” I told him. “I fuckin’ want it.”

That seemed to be the final straw, because Lee sent one more hard fuck into me, and I felt his cock twitch before warmth spilled into my pussy. The squelching as he continued to fuck me through his orgasm was so loud that I was afraid that the whole of Knockemstiff would hear it, but I couldn’t make up my mind on whether I cared or not. Somewhere in the middle of that, Lee cussed and began to rub my belly, whispering sweet things to me that would have felt out of place only minutes before. I didn’t realize that I had come. I liked the feeling of it, though, especially with how sweet Lee was suddenly.

“Good girl,” Lee told me. He shushed me as I moaned and cried, my pleasure edging on pain, and he pushed my hair away from my neck and placed gentle, open-mouthed kisses on my throat. “So, so good for me, ain’t ya? So goddamn pretty when you’re coming all over my cock. I can’t tell you how much I dreamt of this…”

My entire body trembled as Lee pulled out of me, and I collapsed onto my bed, panting and trying to form a coherent thought that wasn’t just the sheriff’s name. Only a few seconds passed before he was on me again, but it felt different this time. Lee moved the two of us under the blankets and rubbed my back, and he kissed my forehead gently. I nearly thought it was love. As my tears dried and feeling returned to my fingers and toes, I became aware that Lee was naked against me. As far as I knew, he hadn’t undressed as he had fucked me. His skin was so warm and it was comforting, and I nuzzled my head into his soft chest. My throat was so dry as I tried to swallow to form words, and Lee titled my face up in order for me to look him in those pretty blue eyes of his.

“How’re ya feeling, sugar?” He asked, his voice as wrecked and raw as mine. “Feelin’ alright?”

“Sore,” I mumbled. “It hurts, Lee.”

“I’m sorry, honey,” Lee whispered, and I knew that he was being honest. Lee was perhaps the biggest jerk in town, his elected title obviously inflating his ego more than it should have, but I never knew that he was capable of being sweet in this manner. “I was real rough with ya and I just shouldn’t have been. I feel plum awful ‘bout it.”

“No,” I croaked, splaying my hands against his chest. Underneath the coarse hair, I could make out white marks on his skin, and I pressed my forehead against him. As I studied his body, I saw more and more of the marks, and it was only when I saw my hip against his that I connected the dots. Stretch marks. My Lee had stretch marks all over him, just like I did. “Please don’t. I woulda stopped you if it was too much. Thank you.”

Lee nodded and sighed into my messy hair. “You looked so beautiful,” he told me. “Any man that calls you his is a lucky fuckin’ bastard, I’ll tell you that much.”

I couldn’t help myself. My lips pressed against my chest, and I took care to kiss every mark I laid my eyes on. “You’re…” I began. “You’re gorgeous, Lee.”

“Nah, knock that shit off,” Lee chuckled. “I ain’t nothin’ compared to you, sugar.”

“No, really,” I told him. “Those big blue eyes, your pink cheeks… Your fat fuckin’ cock--” I laughed at myself, and Lee kissed the top of my head. “You’re the most handsome man I ever met.”

“Even more than your soldier boyfriend?” Lee asked.

“My soldier boyfriend’s like a twig, Lee,” I told him. “There’s nothing there for me. But you…”

“I’m fuckin’ fat, s’what I am,” Lee said with a smile, but I saw the hurt in his eyes. “I’m old and I’m fat--”

“Alright, shut up,” I said. Suddenly, a different sort of desire burned in me, and I pushed Lee onto his back before I straddled his waist. “There ain’t nothing wrong with you, ya hear? You are fucking perfect, Lee.”

The insecurity flashed across his face, darkening his features for only a second. ��But the marks--”

I twisted my body to show him my hip and thigh. “I got ‘em too,” I said. “And don’t act like you didn’t see them, not for one second. And what did you do? You didn’t give a shit. I don’t either. They’re a part of you, and you are so sexy, Lee. I wanted to jump your bones from the moment I met you, and nothing ‘bout that’s changed and nothing’ll make it change. And ya know what? I’d reckon you’re stuck with me, so get used to it.”

“Oh, I’m stuck with ya, am I?” Lee asked with a smile. He tugged me down to him, pressing his tongue into my mouth once more, and the ache between my legs was replaced with the now-familiar pleasing tingle. “And I get no say in it?”

“I think you got your say when you wanted to fuck me up the ass,” I said, sinking my teeth into his plush bottom lip. “What a fuckin’ cliche we are, huh? The sheriff fuckin’ his secretary.”

“When I first hired you,” Lee began, his warm hands traveling all over my body, and his fingers took special care to trace the white marks along my thighs, hips, tits, and ass. “My wife hated the idea. She said she was worried that late nights at the station would wreak havoc on me, and having a pretty little thing like you there with me was dangerous.”

“Don’t go talkin’ ‘bout your wife,” I groaned. “That’s such a turn off, Lee.”

“Oh, is it?” Sheriff Lee Bodecker laughed, stuffing his fingers back inside me, just like nothing had ever happened. “‘Cause you seem all wet for Daddy, just the same.”

#lee bodecker #lee bodecker x reader #lee bodecker x y/n #lee bodecker smut #lee bodecker fanfic #sebastian stan #sebastian stan x reader #sebastian stan x y/n #sebastian stan smut #sebastian stan fanfiction #the devil all the time #tdatt #i am SO going to hell #but i had fun uwu

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faerienextdoor · 4 years

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general relationship hcs with (some) pastas

Fair warning, I'm using and hinting at mine and my friends’ writing for these creeps :) enjoy also as soon as i figure out how to open an ask box, I’ll be accepting requests

Brian:

- oh where to start with this absolute himbo

- he melts around you. like he's your bitch, and you're his.

- he's the type of boyfriend that takes you out in the snow and shoves a handful down the back of your jacket, and laughs until you shove snow in his face

- it is snow war

- it ends with you cuddling him, wrapped in a blanket and content in front of the burning fire he got started just for you <3

- but he also has some weird... habits.

- drinks pickle juice.

- gets his hand stuck in the jar.

- looks at you like 🥺 until you sigh and help him. for the fifteenth time.

- he can cook some basic breakfast foods, and happily breaks out a cookbook to prepare you something as a surprise or to learn something with you!!

- baking with him would be a mess. he forgets flour goes everywhere and now you both look like you took a bath in cocaine

- but the cupcakes are mediocre at best. they aren't absolute garbage, so... cupcake points!

- he worries about how hoodie treats you. he doesn't remember anything when he regains control, but you've reassured him hoodie is just fine.

- and he is

(hoodie)

- hoodie is like a rottweiler or a doberman.

- protective. intimidating. energetic.

- but also a giant fucking baby.

- this large ass man lumbers over and drops to his knees. places his chin on your lap and stares at you from the fabric of his mask until you stop what you're doing and stroke his head awkwardly

- you could swear he does those happy grumbled a rottie does.

- hoodie is silent but shows he loves you just as much as brian does. He strokes your hair silently, even places a kiss to the crown of your head as you sink into his beefy arms.

- he smells nice too. surprisingly.

- but that raises the question: if hoodie showers, does he shower with that damn thing on?

- you won't get an answer if you were to ask.

- brian introduces you to his grandma julia. and she dotes on you.

- the immortal old lady remarks that you’re the best s/o brian has brought to her yet.

Tim:

- a lumberjack man with biceps like a fucking tree trunk

- how'd you land him? give me your secrets (/j)

- he's such a love bug. a tired stressed love bug.

- he finds /every/ excuse to have physical contact with you. it's like a little touch from you reassures him that you're real. you're like a dream to him.

- he's the best for cuddles. He holds you to his chest

- and you get special access to his moobs

- and he gently strokes your head, traces shapes into your back, etc. it's a special intimate moment each time.

- my man's is italian-american but can't cook to save his fucken life

- he always gets your favorite microwave meals though!! he never forgets.

- not feeling good? dw baby he's making it for you <33 shitty low tier bean and cheese burrito coming up

- slowly he learns the basics and surprises you with lunch or even dinner if you're lucky!!

- he loves you so much. and wants you to feel it and know it. all the time.

(masky)

- god where to start with this bitch

- he's not jeff levels of bad ofc, but he's silent and... weird. creepy, some may say. he doesn't mean to be.

- and he's a hard ass. far more strict than tim.

- he follows you around like a giant fucken puppy and will spook you by grabbing you abruptly and holding you tightly

- you can't escape him. he really utilizes his physical strength

- he loves lifting you up and just... holding you. or carrying you off.

- protective and overbearing.

- but tim keeps him under control.

(angst)

- he wouldn't want to lose you like he lost his last wife.

- you find pictures of a woman laying around and a small girl that bears a striking resemblance to her and tim.

- tim goes quiet and questioned but eventually caves and tells you about his family

- or what he used to have

- his wife died and his daughter disappeared.

- it broke him and you're all he has left now

- constantly needs your affection in return to his own

- pls love him

jeff:

- why the fuck would you date him

- he's the absolute worst in so many aspects. But he genuinely tries for you.

- even if his gifts are shitty, it's nice to know he thoughts of you, right? even if it's a half dead flower or a rib torn from a deer caraccas.

- but you get the butt end of his shithead antics. ranch bath, specifically. he smelt like spoiled milk for a week after and you had to cuddle that fucker.

- and don't get me started on mayo bath

- but he still loves finding himself in your arms. or finding you in his. he's demanding affection wise, and will yank you into him for some cuddles. whether you like it or not.

- he isn't one for a lot of pet names, but calls you curse words or "sweetheart" in polish.

- and you get to see the side of him that only shows when he breaks down.

(bit of angst)

- he misses his family and the life he used to have. he'll reminisce what it was like in poland with his mom and family with you, and you sometimes swear you can see his brown eyes gloss over at the memory of her.

- he never talks about his dad, you've noticed.

- don't ask.

- he brushes off heavy conversations with some dumb quip ("wanna see my renegade?")

- he sucks at cooking. god awful at it. but he really tries for you. manages a bowl of oat meal that's edible.

- but he overloads it with sugar and for some reason, salt.

- he's confused. he thinks that's normal (it isn't)

- his idea of a date is napping with you. or rather, forcing you into nap time.

- I mean it when I say this man is strong in a weird fucken way. latches onto you with that iron grip and you won't be able to leave for at least a few hours.

jane:

- ethereal wlw woman.

- could break you with her heels. or a flutter of what eyelashes she has.

- you're lucky to have her, and she's just as lucky to have you!

- she's sweet and charming. very smooth and takes good care of you.

- her love language is a mix of physical touch and acts of service.

- she'll cuddle you all night, and then make you breakfast in the morning.

- she loves showering with you when she's comfy enough around you! it's super intimate and she washes your hair.

- massages the soap into your hair, suds spilling down your neck and back as her fingers scrub circles into your scalp.

- it's heaven on earth. such a domestic life.

- it'll take a while for her to settle enough in the relationship for you to see her without her mask

- you make her feel so loved and wanted

- secure, even.

- she's protective but not controlling or overbearing. shes that type of girlfriend that's just a worrywart and relaxes as soon as you're curled up in her arms. you fit there perfectly, too. like you belong there.

- which you do. at least in her mind

- she has such a gentle touch and hold on you. like she's afraid you'll combust in her arms if she holds you too tightly.

- she loves stroking your hair and having you nap

- using her tiddies as a pillow 👌

(angst)

- she needs affirmation from you when it comes to her scars.

- she thinks that jeff ruined her. permanently marking her once spotless body.

- and she thinks you'll hate her or find her disgusting.

- that's why she freezes if/when you gently slip off her mask.

- she stares at you with those teary green eyes. then leans in and kisses you

- you make all of her worries disappear.

- she's also financially comfortable, but not really rich (on that topic: eat the rich)

- she spoils you every chance she gets. gifts, a nice dinner date, you name it

- she almost spoils you as much as she does her cat Emory

- little shit has the sparkliest fucken collar and acts like he's the shit

- he's your fur baby too now

Helen:

- oh my god this disaster of an art boi

- he's convinced he's the luckiest man in the world (and he might as well be!!)

- he obviously wouldn't have been the one to confess. but it was really obvious by how he painted and drew you constantly, that some feeling for you was lodged into his beating heart.

- he treats you like the finest china. with the most care a man can manage.

- he's the definition of clingy and affectionate from the very start.

- he curls around your sleeping form perfectly when y'all cuddle.

- his hand dances in your hair, soothing you into a dreamless sleep each night without fail.

- he has a magic touch and a gentle voice.

- and he cherishes you so fucken much. (like a simp /j)

- he shies away from kisses at first, but will hold your hand and melts if you hold his face in them!!!

- he's greek, and often speaks sweet things to you in it. he's so comfortable around you that he speaks in his native language to you. that's an accomplishment.

- he loves when you baby him. helen loves being cradled and loved.

- taking a nap with his head on your chest also hits different. he's so in love with you

(angst)

- he's afraid of losing you. who wouldn't be? you're amazing and you love /him/ of all people

- he thinks very negatively of himself. please scold him for self deprecating.

- he always worries he'll wake up and you'll be gone.

- so he holds you extra close at night. and follows you around when you leave for any reason. Trails behind you like a lost puppy in need of a gentle kiss.

- which, is what he essentially is

- and also: pls steal his sweater and wear it. he'll cry over how cute you are.

#creepypasta #creepypasta hcs #cp headcanons #jeff the killer #brian thomas #marble hornets #timothy wright #creepypasta headcanon #creepypasta x reader #cp x reader #scenarios #creepypasta scenarios #jane the killer #jane arkensaw #helen otis #bloody painter

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bokutosworld · 4 years

Text

tonight | akaashi k.

pairing: akaashi keiji x f!reader

wc: 1.9k words of fluff and love confessions. written in 3rd pov.

summary: a typical college au where akaashi finally confronts his hidden feelings for his roommate.

it wasn't unusual for akaashi to spend his weekends at the apartment. especially now that he was a college senior, he spent extra time on his studies and internship work. he recently signed up to be a junior editor for a known publishing company, and because of his natural knack for writing, his superior trusted him with more transcripts to review and edit.

usually, he would be holed up in his room, seated on his desk for hours as he read through pages and pages of words. whenever he was in the zone, he had a bad habit to forget eating or drinking water. and if it weren't for his roommate who was always generous enough to check up on him, bug him to take a break, and bring him deliciously-cooked food, he was sure that he would have passed out sooner.

however, tonight was different. final exams in university just ended and all the students apparently made plans to take the night off and head to the bars.

'hey, keiji, are you sure you don't want to come with us,' she plumps down to his bed, swinging her socks-covered feet over the floor. he swivels his chair to look at her and sees that she has dressed up for the evening. and for a minute, he swears that his breath was caught in his chest as takes in her appearance. after being so used to seeing her in hoodies, shirts, and sweatpants in the dorm, he was always struck with her beauty when he saw her prepped in outside clothes.

'i'd love to come with you, y/n,' she lights up at his answer, however, sensing that he was about to follow up his statement with a but, she lowers her head in defeat and raises her hands. 'no, don't say it. you're gonna turn me down again, aren't you?' at this, he smiles, 'i am swamped with deadlines for my internship and i want to finish it as soon as possible.'

she sighs and stands up, making her way to his desk and ruffles his hair. 'alright, just don't forget to eat dinner and text me if you need anything.' with a final nod from his end, she retreats to the living room where she picks up her bag and shouts a goodbye to akaashi. this is going to be another long and lonely night, he thought.

11:51 pm, at club evanescent

the girls were currently having the time of their life, dancing the night away to the tunes played by club's dj. admittedly, y/n has had one too many drinks of alcohol that she feels more confident to sway to the beat and laugh freely with her friends. from time to time, she feels her phone vibrate in her pocket, feeling giddy inside as she knows it's probably her cute roommate checking up on her.

back in the dorm, akaashi has just finished his mountain of work and was currently pacing around his bedroom as he waits for a reply from y/n. whenever she was enjoying a night out, she never failed to send him messages, updating him of her whereabouts, and sometimes even sending photos of whatever she found amusing at that time. he didn't know why, but he always appreciated these texts as it put him at ease. but now, she wasn't texting him, not one mail since she left the dorms and it was putting him on edge.

akaashi lays down on his bed, tossing and turning around for a few times as a voice nags him in his mind. why do you care? it's not like you're her boyfriend. this was an internal debate he's been having for the past year. often, he would rebut himself and say that he's just doing what every other nice and kind roommate would do. it's not like he has actual feelings or anything.

but somehow, somewhere in the constant visits to his room, lingering glances shared in the hallway, and unplanned all-nighters watching studio ghibli movies in the living room, a seed of emotion has been planted in both y/n and akaashi's hearts - only he was oblivious to it or so he forced himself to believe.

'y/n, i dare you to get a guy's number tonight,' her friends laughed in harmony around her, their eyes full of playfulness, teasing her as if she couldn't do it. she snickers, 'what? you think i'm gonna back out from this dare?' immediately, she scans the dimly-lit place, searching for someone who looks friendly enough not to reject her. she pauses and gasps when she thinks she spots a familiar face. her friends don't miss this and look over to where she was staring, 'what's got you looking like a deer caught in headlights? did you see akaashi here?' another fits of giggling erupts from them and she stands astonished.

her friend nini speaks up, 'you don't have to deny it. we know you like him.' in an instant, she is flustered, hands waving around in the air as if to fan the hotness in her cheeks, 'i don't know what you guys are saying.'

'please, y/n. we haven't missed the way you've been looking at your phone all night and grinning when you read his message,' another friend pipes up. 'honestly, we're surprised you guys haven't confessed to each other yet, after living together for so long.'

she thinks it was the alcohol. she blames it on the way she's let herself drink too many vodka on the rocks, because now she was trying to stop her tears from falling as she thinks of her crush on the said boy. her friends became frantic, surprised to see that she was a cryer when drunk. 'i don't know what to do. he's always so busy, and honestly, i admire keiji for being a hard worker but sometimes i wish he would rest and spend time with me, you know,' she was now bawling, almost screaming as she lets out her frustrations about him. her friends found it amusing, if they were being honest.

they all exchange a glance, knowing the fun night has come to an end and that they needed to get their friend home. as they waited for a cab to take to her apartment, she continues her outburst of emotions, 'you know, akaashi's a good cook.' she smiles as she clings to nini, telling her stories about him. 'one time, when i was sick, he made me a porridge, and it was so delicious, i felt my fever go down in an instant.' silly girl, nini thought, look how lovestruck you are.

on the taxi ride home, she calmed down and lay quietly in nini's lap. she was y/n's designated caretaker as they both lived in the same apartment complex. as nini stared idly at the window, she was stroking her friend's hair to bring her comfort. this gesture seemed to put a content smile to her face, but what shocked nini was what y/n muttered, 'that feels nice, keiji.' she couldn't wait to drop her home and tease him.

12:58 am, at the apartment complex

the incessant buzzing of the doorbell seemed to wake akaashi up from his nap. he looks at the time on his desk clock and sees it was almost one in the morning. the ringing continued as he made his way to the door, revealing a sleeping y/n leaning to her friend, who he recognizes as nini for support.

'what's up,' she greets. 'sorry, did we wake you up? your roommate here enjoyed herself too much and drank more than her limit.' akaashi makes a move to hold her by the waist as the two of them bring her to the couch. 'thank you for bringing her home safe. i was getting worried when she wasn't replying to my texts,' akaashi said as he bowed in gratitude to nini.

nini chuckles, 'if you were that worried, you should have just come with us, akaashi.' she reaches out to his shoulder, 'y/n would've liked to have you there.' he looks over her peaceful figure and lets out a subtle smile, 'i'd have liked it too.' and though he thinks he was being discrete with his feelings, nini notices this and takes it as her cue to leave. 'well, i should get going. good night, and good luck with your mutual feelings.'

akaashi hears this and was about to say something when the door shuts close. he tries to wake her up, hoping that she can at least change out of her clothes before dozing off for the night. he shakes her lightly, 'y/n, wake up. you'll have neck pains if you sleep here in the couch.' minutes pass by before she stirs awake, akaashi exhales and helps her sit up. he gives her a glass of warm water to help ease her hangover for tomorrow.

'can you walk to your bedroom,' he asks. still out of consciousness, she looks at him and blinks once, twice. without a word, she raises her arms up like a child and akaashi assists her in standing up. the walk to the room was quiet and he swears he can feels his heart beating at their closeness - with her arms wrapped around his torso, his on her waist as he tries to steady her. he sits her down on the bed and brings a change of clothes from her drawers. 'hey, change into your pajamas for me, will you? i don't want you sleeping uncomfortably.' thankfully, she nods and akaashi quickly makes a beeline to the bathroom to give her privacy and as well get her some mouthwash.

he returns to see her still sitting on the bed, slowly nodding off to sleep. he quickly catches her just before she falls face down on the floor, calling her name sweetly, 'ok, just one more thing before you sleep. can you quickly rinse with this mouthwash?' she nods and lifts her head to let akaashi give her the mouthwash. she rinses for a few minutes before spitting it back in the glass. like a good friend, he doesn't mind it and retreats to the bathroom to dispose it.

when he comes back, she was already lying down, her head resting in a weird position on the pillow. akaashi notices this, and proceeds to tuck her properly to bed. when he wraps the blanket around her, he lets himself adore her for a few minutes, staring at the way her eyelashes fall on her face and how her hair covers her forehead. unconsciously, his hands move to brush away some of the loose hair, moving to caress her cheeks, and he misses the way she opens her eyes and looks at him.

'your eyes are beautiful, akaashi,' she mumbles quietly that he almost misses it if it weren't for the fact that that they were a breath's away from each other. he was so lost in her gaze that it takes him by surprise when she says, 'i think i am in love with you.'

and in that moment, everything finally clicks to akaashi. he finally gets why he would feel warm inside whenever the both of them would cuddle on the couch, he finally gets why he would smile and laugh at the most mundane things that she would do, he finally gets why he would always look forward to her daily reminders for him not to overwork himself, and he finally gets why he felt worried and empty the whole time during this particular night.

he hopes she'd remember this when she wakes up tomorrow morning. but even if she didn't he wouldn't mind repeating it until his feelings were conveyed, 'i'm in love with you too.'

#haikyuu x reader #haikyuu scenarios #akaashi x reader #akaashi scenarios #haikyuucreations #haikyuu imagines #haikyuu one shot #haikyuu fluff #akaashi fluff #akaashi x you #hq x you #hq fics #haikyuu akaashi #hq akaashi x reader #so i got way too engrossed in the thought of college roommate akaashi #please the things i'd do to be roommates with him then kiss kiss fall in love with him #also honestly the title has no relation to the story omfg i had a hard time thinking okay SKKSKSK

229 notes · View notes

paranetics · 4 years

Note

hiya could you do a kiadam for 17. and 22.? if your not too busy. thanks !!

17. “Looks like we’ll be trapped for a while…” 22. “I’ve seen the way you look at me when you think I don’t notice.”

He’s completely minding his own business, being friendly with his physics textbook, all pressed up against the end of the bookshelf in the library, successfully having a love affair with headache-inducing math equations, when Mira ambushes him.

“Hiya,” she says, suddenly right in his face.

“Aisghls!” he gurgles, in a completely manly way, thank you. She sits back on her heels and laughs at him, loud and mocking. He scowls at her.

Her braces are blue now, matching the streaks in her hair. She looks nice, he decides, all neon green and blue. The loudness of her wardrobe suits her -- she’d be strange to him if she ever tried to tone it down.

“Oh, man, you should’ve seen your face.”

“Fuck you,” Kai snaps, smoothing out the pages of his book. “I am busy learning how to destroy the AP Phys exam. Stop being a distraction.”

She pouts at him. “Come on, you're seriously not still mad at me about the ceramic pig.”

“I’m always going to be mad at you about the ceramic pig,” he says primly. Then he sighs, unable to resist. “What’s up?”

Her smile turns bright, and his heart does that familiar little stutter. Kai has always, always loved her. Sure, she’s Adam’s best friend and has inclinations more Reeve-based, but there’s always going to be something about her that just catches him in the right spot. He’s over it now, and he has erm, other areas of interest, but she’ll always be special.

“Nessa’s having a party--”

“Ugh,” Kai interrupts.

“--with alcohol--”

“Double ugh.”

“And cute boys will be there,” Mira wheedles, whipping out her best puppy-eyes.

“I don’t care,” Kai says, shuffling away from her and looking back at his textbook. The particles will... he reads.

“Adam will be there,” she tries. Obvious trump card. Goddammit.

He cuts his eyes toward her, calculating. She’s grinning, triumphant, confident that she’s got him. He groans internally, because it’s either that he goes to this party and enjoys at least twelve percent of it, or Mira and Adam will wake him up from a dead sleep sometime in the AM, drunk and needy.

Part of his resistance is a lie, he always likes parties. He doesn’t like Vanessa, but she’s Reeve’s friend, and by proxy, Mira’s friend. He can pretend to like her for one night, especially if he gets to hang out with people. What can he say, extroversion. It’s a disease.

It’s just, recently, there’s been this trend. It’s like he’s been cursed.

Kai pretends to think about it.

“Fine,” he grits out.

“Yay!” Mira says, standing up and doing a little celebratory wiggle. She pulls her phone out of her pocket and unlocks it. “I’ll add you to the group text. Also, I want Reeve to drive me so you’re taking Adam alone okay bye.”

“Huh,” Kai says as she speed-walks away from him. “What? Hey!”

But she’s gone, vaguely eucalyptus-scented-shampoo left in her wake. Alone? With Adam? Fuck.

His phone buzzes.

Group: party ��🥂🥳🎊 time

mirakat added humantorchkai to the group

abeaverdam: Oh he’s coming?

lochnessa: Damn I didn’t know he left his house anymore

mirakat: ya i cornered his ass in th library

mirakat: hes a total slut 4 skool

mirakat: kais my bitch tho lol so ya hes comin

mirakat: dam hes drivin u

abeaverdam: Is that ok kai?

humantorchkai: yeah

humantorchkai: when?

lochnessa: Friday.

Kai’s late to first period on Wednesday, which Reeve notices, and bugs him about for ten minutes straight. He rolls in twenty minutes after the bell, wearing the clothes he left on his bedroom floor, all rumpled up and disorganized, and without a note. He drops into his seat and makes it approximately two minutes before Reeve leans over, into his space, and starts the interrogation.

“Oh my God,” Kai says to the ceiling. “For the last time, my alarm didn’t go off.”

“My Spidey-senses tell me you’re a liar,” Reeve says, and seriously, what does Mira see in this complete dork? He’s so nosy.

Kai drags his gaze from the ceiling to stare at him. “I think your janky-ass ‘spider-sense’ needs a psych eval.”

Reeve crosses his arms and sniffs at him. “Rude. I thought we were friends.”

“We are--” Kai scrubs his hands through his hair violently, frustrated. He catches the smirk on Reeve’s face. “Hey! That doesn’t work on me anymore. I’ve evolved.”

The smirk doesn’t leave Reeve’s face.

The truth is, Kai’s late because he had a nightmare. Or a wet dream. Depends on your definition of either thing. It’s been reoccurring pretty consistently, and Kai always wakes up from it breathing hard, adrenaline in his veins, and a hard-on. Today just happened to be shittier, and he couldn’t get back to sleep right away, so he overslept when his alarm went off.

It’s pretty much the worst, been happening for almost a month, and Kai is slowly losing his mind. But. whatever, the important part is this: he’s with Adam, and Adam kisses him. They could be in space, or in a submarine, or whatever Kai’s subconscious feels like cooking up. They could be anything, pirates, elven rebel warriors, it doesn't matter. In every dream, Kai’s with Adam, and at some point Adam leans over, the smell of Hennessy whiskey on his breath, and kisses Kai.

It’s why Kai’s been so rigid lately, avoiding his friends and refusing to go to parties, because of what happened Last Time he’d gone.

Mad Libs! Fill in the blanks, Sherlock.

He’s so totally, totally, totally screwed. And no one is allowed to know, not even Reeve, who knows Adam’s a flirty drunk and that Kai’s pathetic, and hasn’t even told anyone any of Kai’s other secrets, because this? This is world-ending levels of FUCK.

So, when the bell rings, Kai basically sprints out the door to avoid Reeve.

Group: party 🎉🥂🥳🎊 time

speedyskeet: should i bring da weed

reever: ohhh shiiiit hell yeah

lochnessa: No LSD though

speedyskeet: :O

speedyskeet: um ok MOM

reever: wtf ness

reever: psychedelic rights!!!

speedyskeet: let me get us fkd up!!

mirakat: wait didnt we hav 2 call an ambulance 4 coop last time u brought more than weed to a party

mirakat: or was tht a different school

speedyskeet: .........

speedyskeet: ok so im assuming edibles and my bong right

Kai takes his lunch to Mr Tucker’s room.

Mr Tucker is the APUS history teacher for the senior class, and he is the only non-STEM teacher that Kai likes. Mira is also his favorite student, so he lets them eat lunch in his room. It’s better than fighting for a spot in the crowded cafeteria, and Kai likes hiding from the rest of the student body.

Adam, Reeve, and Mira are sitting at one of the table groups when Kai walks in with his plate of chicken nuggets, Vanessa and Skeet nowhere to be seen. They’re probably getting high in the parking lot.

Mr Tucker is scrolling through youtube, his computer desktop displayed on the projector screen.

“Why’d you look up Nyan cat?” Kai asks, tilting his head as he watches Mr Tucker scroll.

“It’s stuck in his head,” Mira pipes up, helpfully.

Mr Tucker grunts confirmation and apparently selects the version he likes. Reeve groans when it starts playing, slumping forward over his tuna salad. Mr Tucker picks up his normal vegetable-based salad, his bushy mustache wiggling in that way that means he’s smiling.

Kai sits next to Reeve, across from Adam. Mistake, Kai realizes too late. Big mistake. Because now they have to make eye contact, and Kai’s belly catches fire at the memory of drunkAdamhe’sKISSINGMESOMEONEHELP when he looks down at his plate of chicken nuggets. It’ll be obvious on his face in a few moments, he’s never been able to fight off a blush well, and then there’s going to be Questions. Capital-Q Questions.

But Reeve’s talking about, like, whatever drama majors talk about, and when Kai chances a peek up, Adam’s not looking at him. So.

Kai can’t help it, okay? He’s creepy. Sue him. No wait, that’s not-- ugh.

Kai studies the contours of Adam’s face while he’s not looking. His high cheekbones and his sharp chin. His heavy eyebrows that are shaped perfectly (”Ugh, you’re so fucking gross,” Reeve had said when Kai had voiced this thought aloud. “His eyebrows? I think you need to ask him out. Get it out of your system.”) and his eyes are that warm shade of brown, almost gold, soft and kind.

His hair is longer now, and errant curls flop over his forehead and around his ears. Kai watches the long line of Adam’s throat when he tilts his head back from the force of laughing at something Reeve said. Kai’s transfixed by the inviting stretch of dark skin, entertaining a thought of leaning over and just biting down so it’s not his fault he doesn’t see it coming when Reeve violently jabs him in the rib.

Kai jumps. “Ah! What the fuck?”

“Language,” Mr Tucker says in the toneless inflection of someone who doesn’t really care but responds on reflex. He’s now scrolling through Seasame Street videos.

Reeve shrugs, unrepentant. “You were gone there, dude.”

“Yeah,” Adam agrees, eyebrows raised in polite curiosity. “Planet Zenon gone.”

Kai ducks his head. “I’m, uh, stressed about AP physics?” he tries.

“Uh-huh,” Reeve says, “and are you asking us to confirm that for you?”

“Leave him alone,” Mira interrupts mildly. “Only, like, a hundred people a year get above a three on that exam.”

“Wow, how is that class still funded?” Adam asks.

“Elitism?” Mira guesses. “Maybe it’s like, a torture thing. Like, a test within a test.”

“What,” Reeve says, “like, if you pass you can become a super-secret spy?”

“Or I can, like, do another Chernobyl. Or I’m allowed secret access to government secrets. Ooh, maybe they’ll tell me the moon is a projection into the sky.” Kai says, warming to this idea.

“Then how would they explain waves?” Reeve asks.

“Uh, giant wave pool,” Kai answers.

“Hot take: the world is in a giant wave pool,” Mira grins at him.

Adam blinks almost in slow-motion, the sweep of his eyelashes against his cheeks, a smile growing on his face, and Kai is once again caught like a fly in honey. Just like that, all the saliva is gone from Kai’s mouth, and he’s completely lost the thread of whatever’s happening around him.

Okay, so, recap: totally, totally, totally screwed.

adam: U sure you’re ok driving me?

kai: dam i swear its fine

kai: i’d say something if it was a problem

kai: my parents have been trying to kick me out basically every weekend, this’ll make them so fucking happy

adam: Lol

adam: [A stock photo of two white parents sitting on a beach towel in a tropical location, smiling adoringly at each other. In the blurry background, a toddler with similar skin color and hair is being attacked by a seagull.]

“There is a PROBLEM!” Kai announces, flopping heavily onto his bed, tossing an arm dramatically over his forehead. Mira doesn’t even look up at him.

“Hm?” she says from the floor, knees drawn up to her chest, eyebrows furrowed in deep concentration. She’s looking more at her iPad than at him.

“Oh my God,” Kai groans. “You don’t even care. I’m nothing to you. You enjoy my suffering.”

“Die white man,” Mira says tonelessly. “I’m trying to beat my old high score in Tetris. What’s your damage.”

“I have nothing to wear on Friday,” Kai moans, pained.

“What? Why do you even care? Your regular clothes are fine.”

“Oh my God, Mira! It’s a party,” Kai breathes the word like its holy, a precious thing nestled in the crook of his tongue, not to be defiled by people who wear school clothes to special events. “And I want to get hit on.”

“I’ll hit on you,” Mira promises. The iPad makes a wah-wah-wah sound. She sighs, setting it aside and looking up at him, expression thoroughly unamused, clearly blaming him for her high-score loss.

“I did not do that,” Kai says. The blood’s started rushing to his head, so he sits up and blinks away the black spots as they dance in front of his vision. “I just wanna be hot,” he whines.

“Okay, so, wear that stupid blue button-up with the tigers on it, and the black skinny jeans. It brings out your eyes,” she elaborates. “And tucked-in button-ups are hot on dudes. Oh, and--”

“If you’re gonna Queer Eye me, I swear to God,” Kai complains.

“Will you just... I was gonna say you should wear a tiny bit of eyeliner. It’s like, accentuating your features or some shit.”

“Why should I trust you?” Kai asks playfully. “I’ve never seen you go anywhere near a make-up in my life.”

Mira shrugs. “I saw it on Instagram. Anyways, Reeve said I have ‘good bone structure’, what does that even mean?”

“That he’s an idiot and I can’t believe you’re into him?” Kai ventures. Mira glares at him, so Kai leans back on the bed, rolling his eyes up to the bedroom ceiling at the glow-in-the-dark stick-on stars that have been there since he was seven. “Okay, okay. He was probably trying to compliment you, but since he’s a robot sent by aliens to infiltrate the earth he did it in a really bizarre way.”

Mira perks up. “You think?”

“He said ‘good’.”

“What should I say back?”

“Erm, that you’ll have his babies?”

Mira throws one of her glittery highlighter pens at him. It bounces off the center of his forehead and onto his lap. He laughs, picking it up and tossing it back.

“I don’t know,” he admits. “Maybe say that you like his bones, too.”

Mira takes out her phone.

adam: [A picture of a pina colada sitting on a kitchen counter in a pool of sunlight.]

adam: Winky face

kai: you could just like, use the emoji keyboard instead of typing it out

adam: Don’t make me frowny face

Kai spends fifteen minutes messing with his hair in the mirror. He gels it sticking up, twists his mouth critically at his reflection, and wets his hands to wipe it out. Nothing’s working for him today. It’s just one of those things, his clothes seem to hang off him awkwardly, and nothing looks right.

He makes a sound of frustration, and his mom pokes her head into the bathroom.

“Oh,” she says. “I thought you were going to a party?”

“Mom,” he growls. “I’m getting ready!”

“Hm.”

She pushes the door all the way open, surveys him from head to toe, and reaches over to run a hand through his hair, leaving parts sticking up in her wake. Kai looks in the mirror. Now, instead of awkward ‘trying-too-hard’, he looks artfully tousled. He unbuttons two top buttons of his tiger shirt, and messes with the collar to make it look like someone had grabbed it and reeled him in for a kiss. He grins at himself.

“That’s better, I think,” she says.

“Thanks Mom,” he says, shuffling past her and out to the hallway.

“Limit yourself to three drinks!” she calls as he stuffs his feet into old converse. “If you get too intoxicated to drive, spend the night! Just text! Don’t forget to wear condoms and--”

Kai shuts the door in her face.

His car is a silver Prius, owned five times prior to him. The interior always smells a little bit like shamrock shake and in the winter requires a prayer and three engine turnovers to start. Kai loves it.

He pulls up to Adam’s street and texts without looking that he’s close. He parks in the street, and jogs up to Adam’s front door. He raps his knuckles on Adam’s door, the red one with caterpillar decals, and a blue handprint on the doorknob.

Adam throws open the door. “Gimme a sec, gotta grab my jacket.”

He’s wearing a white shirt and Kai’s favorite jeans of his (do Not judge him, okay, liking your crush’s ass is basically a given and is no longer considered a sin under the New Testament, so really Kai’s not weird for liking this pair of Adam’s jeans because it accentuates his butt.), the ones with rips in the thigh and at both knees, because Adam lives reckless and dies reckless.

He jams his feet into vans and grabs the heavy olive jacket off the coatrack and follows Kai out to the Prius.

“You look nice,” Adam says, offhand. Kai feels how hot his face immediately gets and hopes it isn’t ugly, sometimes his blushes look like a rash.

“Thanks,” he says, rubbing his neck, right hand fumbling for his keys.

They slide into their seats, and Kai is hit with the violent-sense memory of Hennesy whiskey, and dark streetlamps, and Adam’s soft voice and brown puppy-dog eyes imploring Kai, look at me. Look at me, please. And. And.

His phone buzzes.

“Oh, Vanessa wants us to pick up some soda,” Kai says through the rock in his throat.

“Ooh, ooh. Cherry 7-Up, Jarritos Lime, uh like, a ton of Mountain Dew... and Coke! We’ll need Coke,” Adam rambles as Kai pulls away from the street and heads toward the local general store.

mira: WHERE

mira: R

mira: U

mira: 2

mira: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Kai frowns at his phone. They’re in the check-out line, waiting for their turn with about three tons of soda on the conveyer. Kai’s got a fifty dollar bill from his parents, because they’re stupidly open-minded, but he’s still gonna make Vanessa pay him back. Adam’s inspecting the tabloids, making comments about all of the covers and whatever he thinks about them.

kai: WE’RE

kai: FUCKING

(Not sent !) kai: GETTING

(Not sent !) kai: DRINKS

mira: FUHDUK WHATTTT!!!?????????

Kai groans.

The party’s already alive by the time Adam and Kai get there, music thrumming against the walls of the house, the glass panes of the windows shaking with the vibrations. Weighed down by plastic bags full of drinks, and a little bit anxious, Kai fumbles with the door handle three times until Adam reaches over him and opens it.

The crowd is huge. He didn’t even know that Vanessa and Skeet knew this many people. There’s a wall of heat that hits them when they step inside, the difference between the inside and outside must be a solid ten degrees. Most people are crammed in the living room, near the speakers, where a sort of impromptu dancefloor has evolved. There are plenty of people lining the hallways, sitting on the stairs, and spilling over into the other places of the house.

Vanessa has changed the lightbulbs to fuschia, cobalt, and teal colors, so the house looks almost like a club from a TV show. There’s this haze over everything - and, yep, definitely Skeet’s weed - that makes it seem smoky and mysterious. Adam kicks the door shut behind them as they begin to navigate the crowd.

Skeet’s leaning against one of the walls, talking to a tiny girl with piercings and too much eyeliner. She tosses her head, her hair flying up like a halo for a moment, luminescent in the multicolored lights of the house, and leans closer to Skeet. She’s holding a red solo cup, Skeet’s holding weed, and Kai’s arms are starting to hurt from all the soda.

“So, your, like, real name is Skeet? What kind of name is that? I mean, like, who does that to their kid?” she’s asking, valley girl accent and everything, even twirling a strand of hair around her finger.

Skeet shrugs, unbothered. “My parents are hippies.” he spots them, then, and lifts his joint in a get over here gesture. Kai and Adam shove some people to stand in front of him. He grins. “Oh, dudes, nice. You got drinks. I wasn’t sure if you would, since Mira told us that you, uh, made a pit stop.” he waggles his eyebrows.

Kai groans, flushing.

“Uh, yeah,” Adam says, lifting up his bags. “for drinks? Hello?”

Skeet leers, grin stretching bigger. Kai scowls. He’s going to eat her one day, all Hannibal-Lecter style.

“Where is Mira, anyway?” he cuts in before Skeet says anything weird. “Where should we put the drinks?”

“Oh, just, you know,” Skeet makes a vague gesture with his hand that doesn’t really mean anything. “I think I saw her in the kitchen?”

“Thanks,” Kai mutters, shoving through the crowd and deeper into the house.

Mira and Vanessa are leaning against the sink, Reeve’s standing at the counter, completely covered in bottles of alcohol, thumb and forefinger at his chin like he’s surveying fine art.

“Oh! You made it! I hate vodka without coke,” Mira says, striding forward and grabbing the bags from Adam.

Kai followers her back to the counter, and shoves the receipt into Vanessa’s limp hands without looking at her. Together, Kai and Mira start to set up the drink line, stacking up all the empty red cups at the edge of the counter as they try to make sure all the soda and alcohol are equally accessible. How Skeet even gets this stuff... he shudders to think.

Kai waits until Adam and Reeve have wandered out of earshot to lean into Mira’s space. Vanessa had vacated the premise the moment it looked like any physical work would be happening, so he doesn’t worry about her particular brand of nosiness. He takes his phone out of his pocket and tilts the screen so she can see it.

“My texts didn’t send,” he tells her in a low voice. “We weren’t actually, you know.” he flushes violently.

Mira shoots him a grin. “No, I guessed that something had happened. It was just funny. You look nice.”

He smiles at her, genuinely, which means his gums are probably showing. She looks nice too, in her little black dress with a flared skirt and combat boots. The neon green streaks in her hair glow in the weird light of the house.

“I like your outfit,” he says. The din in the background is starting to grow. More people have probably showed up.

She nods at his jeans. “Cuffed jeans. The true mark of a bisexual.”

Kai nods very seriously. “I can’t leave my house without announcing every aspect of my sexuality to the entire world.”

Adam’s talking to a group of people at the other end of the kitchen, his smile is blindly white in the pink light, skin pitched a shade darker, a stark difference against the glow of his white shirt. Staring, unable to look away, Kai steals Mira’s cup and takes a swig. It’s straight vodka, so Kai coughs immediately when it hits his tongue.

Mira laughs at him.

Group: party 🎉🥂🥳🎊 time

speedyskeet: do any of u know anyone named travis montery

mirakat: no

lochnessa: No

abeaverdam: Nope!

humantorchkai: no

reever: nah

speedyskeet: fucking L lmao

speedyskeet: im kicking this fool out then

Kai’s wandering around, pleasantly buzzed from two Cherry 7-Ups with a tiny bit of vodka, looking for any familiar face. Mira and Reeve had abandoned him pretty much straight away, he’d left Adam alone in the kitchen, and he’s actively avoiding Vanessa.

He stumbles around, moving his shoulders a bit in time with the music, his body gone languid and loose from the heat and the alcohol and the atmosphere.

His phone beeps at him again. He really hopes it's not Skeet checking with them before he bounces a guy again. It’s just Mira, he sees, when he’s fumbled his phone out of his back pocket. He has to squint to read in the pink light amid the thrumming bodies of people all around him.

Eventually, he escapes the crowd and heads down the stairs to the “game room” and finds another living room, with a soft white carpet and a couch in front of a big flatscreen. There’s a group of about a dozen kids, plus Kai’s friends, sitting on the carpet in a circle by the couch, with a beer bottle laying on a Monopoly game board. Kai blinks, the lights here aren’t fun colors, and everyone in the circle raises their arms and cheers when they see him.

He walks over to them. Mira grabs his arm and begins to drag him onto the carpet beside her. The group begins to chant.

“Spin the bottle! Spin the bottle!”

Oh, no fuck, Kai thinks, beginning to resist Mira’s grip on his arm. His drink is sloshing about, and Kai holds it away from his shirt and pants as he tries to reverse his crouch and pull his arm back. Skeet reaches up and confiscates the cup, downing the rest of it in one go.

“Spin the bottle! Spin the bottle! Spin the bottle!”

But he’s buzzed and his coordination is spotty, so when Adam reaches out with his hand and spins the beer bottle, Mira tugs once, hard, and Kai crashes onto the carpet, and the bottle spins,

and spins,

and spins.

And points the neck straight at Kai’s disheveled spot in the circle.

So, let’s revisit that cursed theory, shall we?

Kai looks at Adam, and Adam looks at him. He’s got that dopey half-smile on his face, and his pupils are blown wide, iris a thin gold ring around them. Kai knows when Adam’s drunk, or blackout, and he’s tipsy right now, just like Kai. And... oh no. But the kids in the circle are jeering, giggling delightedly.

“Uh,” Kai says.

Adam licks his lips, and Kai tracks the movement of his tongue helplessly. His eyes are moving on Kai’s face, like he’s cataloging everything, like he can’t keep them still. Kai’s mouth is very, very dry, and he misses having the cup in his hand.

“So, uh,” he says, and the tension buzzes even harder. “Is this, like, a kissing thing?”

Skeet grabs him by the arms and manhandles him up. Reeve and Vanessa grab Adam and start frogmarching them down the short hall toward some rooms and closed doors.

“No,” Skeet says, “This is more like a seven minutes in heaven thing.”

“Wait,” Kai says. Skeet reaches past him and opens a door. “Wait.” Skeet pushes him in, and Adam follows behind. “Wait.” The door clicks shut, then there's a clunk, then the sound of something heavy being pushed against the door.

Kai tries the knob, but it's locked. He jiggles it, but his muscles won’t cooperate and yank hard enough. Adam could probably break it open, but Kai has the vague thought of Vanessa’s parents and property damage, and underage drinking.

“Guys!” Adam yells. He pounds on the door with his fist. “Guys! This isn’t funny!”

But they don’t answer.

Evil. Mental note: make sure your friends aren’t evil next time.

“Looks like we’ll be trapped for a while,” Kai sighs, giving up on the door.

They’ll just have to wait out the seven-minute sentence. It’s simultaneously worse and so much better than the alternative. This way, Adam won’t have to kiss Kai if he doesn’t want to. But also: he won’t have to kiss Kai if he doesn’t want to. It’s a testament to how drunk all of them really are.

Kai turns, presses his back against the door, and slides down it, pulling his knees to his chest, wrapping his hands around his shins, and resting his cheek on his knee. He surveys the room. It’s small and dark, Kai doesn’t have the wherewithal to search for the light switch, but from what Kai can see it looks like a guest room no one ever uses and has accumulated with old junk. There’s a tiny window at the opposite wall that leads up to the lawn. Adam groans and drops onto the ground beside Kai.

The night is clear the moonlight is touching the window and peeking into the room. Adam’s shirt is glowing against his skin from the moonlight, his eyes a bright point in the semi-dark of the room. Kai locks eyes with Adam, and the tension from earlier crops back up tenfold.

This situation is... stupidly pointed. Kai’s pretty sure Reeve is the only person in the world who knows Kai thinks Adam is kinda hot, but he’d also have to be massively stupid to ignore the strain in their friend group lately.

Adam’s looking at him the way he does right before he reaches out to touch Kai’s hair, or brush his fingers against Kai’s freckles, or leans over to kiss Kai’s cheek. He’s looking at Kai like a hungry man, like he’s about to make the stupidest decision of his life and never look back. Kai can feel the pull of that look drawing him in, the temptation to run his hands against Adam’s chest, touching his shoulders or his mouth.

So Kai does the only thing he can think of.

“What did you think of that new Hey Arthur episode?”

Adam blinks at him. “Uh. You mean that kids show?”

Kai bites his lip and nods vigorously.

Totally. Totally. Totally screwed.

reeb: [A video of Mira on the dancefloor among a huge throng of teens. The song in the background is completely drowned out by people attempting to sing along drunkenly. She’s grinding against Vanessa, who’s wearing Skeet’s sunglasses and drinking a mimosa with a cocktail umbrella in it.]

(Not sent !) kai: let us out of here!!! its been like 15 mins!!!! guys!!! dam’s phone is dead!!!!!

(Not sent !) kai: goddamn it COME GET US

(Not sent !) kai: NOTHING IS SENDING!!

reeb: lol wya we cant find dam either

(Not sent !) kai: YOU LEFT US IN THE BASEMENT

“Ugh,” Kai says, flopping back down onto the pillows beside Adam. At some point during their imprisonment slash debate on the ethics of twenty-three seasons of the same children’s cartoon, they’d moved from the floor to the twin bed. “I’m pretty sure they forgot about us.”

“Well, it’s been like thirty minutes. And they’re drunk.”

Kai’s starting to sober up. He has to pee, and his mouth tastes like cherry coughdrops. He stands up on the bed, bouncing a bit on the mattress. He reaches up and touches the seam of the window and the sill.

“What are you doing?” Adam asks, trepidation in his voice.

“Uh, escaping?” Kai says.

Kai presses his foot onto the upside down elliptical that’s propped precariously against an old wardrobe. He puts some of his weight on it, testing. Satisfied that it won’t give, Kai lifts himself up onto it, closer to the window, and pushes against the glass pane. The window opens out suddenly, making Kai wobble. The wardrobe groans.

“Careful!” Adam barks.

Kai glances back at Adam, his worried eyes watching Kai from the bed, sitting up on his knees in a half crouch. Kai sticks his head out the narrow window, then his shoulders, and manages to drag himself up and out.

He turns back around and offers his hand to Adam.

“Come on,” he says. “I’ll help you out.”

Adam climbs up onto the elliptical like Kai had, reaches his right hand to Kai’s left and uses his left to leverage himself closer to the window. The wardrobe and the elliptical make that sound again, like they’re scraping together.

“Hurry!” Kai says, afraid of the whole makeshift apparatus falling apart. Adam’s left palm slaps against Kai’s right and Kai pulls.

The elliptical falls over as Kai yanks Adam up, a great big crash resounding in the room they just escaped. Kai’s momentum and Adam’s weight makes Kai step back once, then twice, then his footing goes and he sprawls onto his back, Adam on top of him, in one big undignified heap.

Adam looks down at him. He looks more sober, too, like he hasn’t had much to drink. Kai should really be pushing Adam off of him. Or trying to sit up. But his hands are on Adam’s waist, and Adam’s looking at Kai’s face like he can’t quite look at anything else, and Kai cannot, for the life of him, break this moment.

Adam’s hands are on either side of Kai’s face, boxing him in. His breath puffs against Kai’s mouth over and over as he breathes shallowly. His eyes flick all over Kai’s face, and Kai’s thinking kiss me, please so hard he’s pretty sure NASA catches the brainwaves.

“I’ve seen the way you look at me when you think I don’t notice,” he says, voice soft and vulnerable, like Kai has the power to hurt him with whatever Kai says next.

Kai’s hands tighten on Adam’s waist. He’s thought about this a lot. Like, a stupid amount. Who doesn’t daydream about confessing to your crush? But Kai cannot dredge up any words to say. He’s dry, completely dry, and he can only think about how good Adam’s weight feels on him. He dips his eyes to Adam’s mouth and thinks This is where I kiss him, right? and Adam’s eyes slide shut as he leans in, towards Kai, and Kai loses his mind.

The backdoor opens, the sounds of the party spilling out into the night air, pink light washing over them. Adam scrambles off Kai so fast that he’s pretty sure he breaks the world record for speed, and stands up.

Kai props himself onto his elbows and squints at the silhouette in the doorway.

“Vanessa?”

“Oh my God, there you guys are!” she leans back into the house to yell, “Guys! I found Adam and Kai! They were fucking around in the backyard!”

“Hey!” Adam snaps indignantly. “You locked us in the basement! We had to escape!”

Vanessa rolls her eyes at them.

adam: hey uh

adam: sorry about what i said when i was drunk lol

adam: i didn’t mean it

Kai turns his phone off and stuffs it into his bag, frustrated. He hadn’t meant to not talk to Adam all weekend, he’d just needed to think things through, and then his dad had asked him to help paint the deck, and he’d had to finish up some code for robotics and time had kinda slipped away from him without really meaning to.

He hadn’t meant to ignore everyone else, either, but they weren’t in a Situation with Kai on Friday night, and he’s not in love with them, and they didn’t seem to mind so much.

Kai had spent all weekend staring at the texts, in between being too busy to answer them, but he can’t figure out what to say back. He’d gotten them Saturday morning after the party, probably because he hadn’t stuck around long enough to be left alone with Adam again.

Kai had left because.

Well, because.

Because he feels played.

Is that it? He can’t tell. He just feels so hollow about it. Adam doesn’t mean to, Kai knows that, but it still feels like he’s being led on. Adam has kissed him once while black out and almost kissed him while tipsy and flirts pretty outrageously, and it’s all too much for Kai’s head, which is designed for building robots and lying to his English teachers.

So at lunch, instead of going to Mr Tucker’s room, he lets Freddie from Calc drag him to the auditorium to help build the drama department’s Spring play set.

He’s not avoiding anyone. He’s just... helping his friends.

Fuck.

reeb: ok i give

reeb: wtf is going on

kai: ?

reeb: don’t “?” me mfer

reeb: adam is sulking n shit and u’ve been sorta MIA

kai: i’ve been busy, sorry

kai: i am the captain of a team u know. its not personal. i’ll hang out with you guys soon

reeb: spidey sense says there is something u are not telling me

kai: i really do think your spidey sense is actually overactive bladder syndrome

reeb: [An image of the caveman spongebob meme.]

He’s in the library, sitting in his favorite spot nestled in the bookshelves, brow furrowed over The Great Gatsby, his English journal, the notes Hannah lent him, and the Sparknotes page for the novel, surrounded by every color highlighter and pen, just trying to get his homework done, when Adam ambushes him.

“You’re avoiding me,” he says, out of nowhere.

Kai jumps, sending his highlighters and books flying. Adam is standing above him, eyebrows furrowed and his arms crossed. He looks a little bit light a superhero, all righteous indignation at injustice, his muscles buldging slightly. You’re dead. Goodbye. his brain supplies.

“Holy shit,” he says, gathering his stuff back up slowly. “You scared me.”

Adam’s eyes soften. “Sorry,” he murmurs.

Kai shrugs. “Don’t worry about it.”

The silence hangs there as Kai avoids his gaze, reshuffling Hannah’s notes back into their correct order. He’s lost his page in the book, so he opens it to the middle and starts looking for the correct page number. There’s no sound in this corner of the library except for Kai’s over-loud breathing and the turning of pages.

Go away go away go away, Kai prays, wanting the world to end so he won’t ever have to face this moment. He thinks about the echo of Adam’s voice in his memory, Kai, look at me, the feeling of Adam’s weight in his lap, the ache Kai feels when he looks at Adam, and wishes that he could just stand up and run.

Adam clears his throat. “You’ve been avoiding me,” he says again, only this time it comes out more like a question.

Kai keeps his face as blank as possible, schools it into something politely curious unlike the shattered glass mosaic he feels like. “Am I?”

Adam rubs his hand across the back of his neck. “Look, I’m sorry,” he says haltingly, sliding his hands into his pockets. “I shouldn’t have... come on to you like that. It was inappropriate, and we were both drunk. And I didn’t mean it.”

Kai looks at him for a long moment. He can feel it, a rock on his chest, crushing him. He feels the ball in his throat, the hot prickle against the backs of his eyelids. “I know,” he says eventually. His voice comes out steady, even though he feels like he’s falling apart.

“So... we’re cool?”

Kai forces himself to nod. “Okay.”

“Really? Because I still feel like I fucked up somewhere here.” Adam takes his hands out of his pockets to open them, palms up, like he’s pleading. “Tell me what I did wrong so I can fix it.”

And it’s now or never. As much as Kai abhors the idea of talking about his feelings in the school library at 4 PM, as much as he wants to just lie through his teeth and stitch this all back up into one big internal bag of FUCK and pretend like nothing happened, he’d be leaving Adam hanging, and Kai’s not a dick.

He takes a deep breath. Then another one. He tries to channel his internal Reeve, but decides against it because Reeve’s kinda an asshole.

“I just... wish you did,” Kai says eventually. If he wasn’t himself, he’d slap him. Adam stares at Kai like he’d just spoken another language, like he’d just spat out part of a puzzle to piece together.

“Wish I did... what?” he asks slowly.

“Mean it,” Kai grits out, the words dragged from him. He feels ridiculous. This is stupid.

“Mean...?” Adam says, like he’s stupid. Kai scowls at him.

“Do you remember the St Eve’s party?”

Adam shrugs, looking helpless and confused.

“I drove you home that party. I drive you home every party. And every time we’re alone, you say that you like me, that you want me to go inside with you, that you think about me all the time,” Kai’s stomach is churning and Adam looks like he’s about to faint.

“I didn’t...”

Kai can’t hear him say it again. “And I know that you’re just drunk, and that’s just what you’re like when you’re drunk, but I just... I just wanted it to be true so bad. Part of me kept driving you home because I wanted you to be like that with me, part of me just wanted to pretend. But then you kissed me, and I just...” Kai makes a helpless gesture with his hands.

Adam licks his lips. He’s breathing a bit hard.

“...Fell apart,” Kai finishes.

Adam’s looking at him, wide-eyed, deer-in-the-headlights look, pure panic. Kai’s fucked it up, ruined their friendship, destroyed their friend-group, and will probably be unable to look anyone in the eye for a very long time.

Adam didn’t want to hear this. Kai should’ve just lied, shut it all up and let himself wither up inside. He should’ve avoided Adam harder, or refrained from falling in love with him in the first place. He should’ve just dated Jesse when she’d asked and made himself get over Adam.

“How long?”

Kai blinks. “Huh?”

“How long have you wanted...?” he shrugs.

Ah. The million dollar question.

“Officially? Middle of junior year. If I’m honest with myself? Probably since middle school.”

Adam’s mouth opens and closes nonsensically. Kai asks God to strike him down, just so this can end, just so Kai can go back to trying to figure out what the fuck is up with Gatsby and Jay, just so Adam will stop looking at him like that, like Kai’s killed his puppy.

Adam drops to his knees in front of Kai.

“Okay. Since freshman year. And I’m a liar. I did mean it. I kept thinking, you know, maybe you’d like me back, because I could see you looking, but I just couldn’t make myself say anything. And I meant it. I mean it. I do. I want to kiss you.”

Kai swallows. He’s feeling that dangerous thing again, like there are snakes in his chest, or his feelings are in a bucket that’s about to overflow.

“Okay,” he squeaks out.

Adam leans down and fits their mouths together. It’s chaste, and Kai’s lips are a little bit chapped, and he didn’t close his eyes, but when Adam pulls back Kai smiles so hard his mouth hurts.

And he leans up to kiss Adam, insistent, insistent, tasting Adam without Hennessy whiskey (and he does taste fantastic), and something electric happens to Kai’s spine when their tongues touch. He feels like he’s going to burn up, burst into stars, create a fissure in the earth that goes down to the core, or all three at once.

Adam licks along the roof of Kai’s mouth and yeah - that’s the one thing he’d like to never, ever, ever forget.

He’s about to be totally, totally, totally screwed.

Group: dandilyin hoes MFERsssss!! skeet DONT CHANGE CHAT NAME

mirakat: omfg

mirakat: k & a suckin face in library

mirakat: [A blurry creeper picture of Kai pressed against the bookshelves, Adam leaning over him. Their silhouettes are blacked out against the sunlight streaming in through the window, so they almost look like one body. It’s taken at an angle and half of a wooden shelf is in frame.]

speedyskeet: arent they in this GC too

lochnessa: Lmfaaooooooo

speedyskeet: they r gonna see this.....

reever: WTF ADAM’S INTO KAI???

reever: ?????

lochnessa: What planet do you live on

speedyskeet: fuckin jesus christ reeb

locknessa: Literally no one knew KAI was into Adam. EVERYONE KNEW ADAM WAS INTO KAI

reever: WHY AM I THE LAST ONE TO KNOW STUFF

mirakat: s2g i tld u this whn we were @ fortescue’s u nvr listen 2 me

“I hate them all,” Kai announces.

Adam looks up at him from where his head is pillowed on Kai’s thighs, Pride and Prejudice held aloft.

“Don’t worry, I set all their ringtones to Maroon 5.”

send me a ship + a prompt and i’ll write you a drabble!

#The Hollow #My writing #answer #kaidam

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beatricebidelaire · 3 years

Text

party people

ernest and esme's mission is to steal a specific key at the party while pretending to be each other's dates. it goes smoothly until it doesn't.

**********

while he won’t deny that he has been keeping track of his ex since the party began, that doesn’t mean he’s not also a great date performing exactly what needs to be performed, if he does say so himself. he dances with her and he offers to get food and drinks for her - which she accepts, with her usual air of slight condescension and sometimes warily frowns at the said food accompanied by wondering if it’s in or not.

he wonders how much of it is a performance.

she takes a sip of the orange juice - innest drink right now, he’s heard - and smiles daintily. “darling,” she simpers, “we should go try the spring rolls.”

“of course, sweetheart,” ernest replies, flashing her a warm smile.

the two of them exchange a glance of understanding behind their smiles. it appears she has just gotten information that the waiter serving the spring rolls has the key they want to steal.

they slowly head in the direction of the spring rolls, greeting people they pass on the dance floor. he notices bertrand has just stopped dancing and sat down on the edge of the fountain for a rest, while lemony snicket kisses him on the cheek and then leaves - presumably heading towards root beer float section to fetch a drink, if one were to hazard a guess.

“pay attention to your steps, darling,” esme warns, a warning edge under the false sweetness of her voice.

“thank you,” he says. “sweet of you to worry.”

he notices that once lemony snicket fades into the crowd, kit snicket has joined bertrand by the fountain side. she, unlike most people here, is simply dressed in t-shirt and jeans. esme apparently notices where his is gaze lingering, and comments, “that woman has no fashion sense whatsover. she’s the worst.”

“couldn’t agree more,” he replies cheerfully. it may be one of the most truthful things he’s said tonight. “on both accounts.”

he notices that they exchange a few words before both standing up together, and to his displeasure they’re now heading towards the same direction as he and esme are heading - the waiter with the spring rolls.

“darling,” esme says, sharp and sweet, “are you seeing what i’m seeing?”

“we need to move fast,” he agrees.

they soon come face to face, the four of them, blocking each pair from moving forwards without doing something drastic and attention catching.

he needs to say something. a pretense to hide why he’s actually here, or a distraction, maybe. so he says, “i see you’re here with lemony snicket tonight.”

“extremely ugly hat he has,” esme contributes, a mere comment, not made out of loyalty but perhaps disguised to seem so.

“tell me, is he a ..... better version of me?” ernest continues, mean in a way as if he’s been hurt, although of course that’s all pretense. “hates vfd but is willing to try to fix it instead of leaving it like a normal person would? hates vfd but still believes in it? is that why you chose him? because he’s the better version of me?”

bertrand looks like he’s about to say something, although kit is quicker. “i rather think instead of my brother, your brothers are the better version of you,” she scoffs.

a glass shatters in the distance, although it may just be inside his head.

esme turns to him, narrowing her eyes. “brothers plural?” she questions, batting her eyelashes at him while glaring daggers underneath. “darling? surely she didn’t just said that? not when you specifically told me you only have a twin brother?”

“oh, he didn’t tell you the secret yet? that the legendary brother is actually real?” bertrand asked, mildly polite, with a hint of faint smugness of an ex. ernest is quite sure all that is extremely fake, they all know he would never tell esme about dewey. he’s gambling something here, ernest suspects, maybe he’s banking on esme to conclude that the volunteers would never reveal a secret to her like that therefore it must not be actually real and merely a way to cause friction and distrust between firestarters. maybe frank has plans of revealing dewey soon that he hasn’t yet let ernest in on. ernest refuses to consider the possibility. it must be the former, he thinks. bertrand’s not usually a gambler, but he can be quick on his feet.

bertrand leans closer to ernest, murmuring in a voice that’s loud enough for esme to hear. “looks like you and esme aren’t at that stage yet, no?” and then in a much, much lower voice that even ernest has to strain to hear, he says, softly, “bug me,” before pulling back and smiling coolly. “you look handsome, by the way.”

“...... so do you,” ernest finds himself replying before he could rethink whether it’s a good move or not. he fishes out a recording device from his pocket and expertly inserted it into the pocket of bertrand’s suit jacket as he pretends to examine it. “nice jacket.”

bertrand nods politely at them, and then leaves with kit.

“whatever questions you have,” ernest says immediately. “we should focus on the spring rolls.”

esme narrows her eyes at him.

“also, i bugged them,” ernest says, offering an earpiece for esme. she raises an eyebrow in surprise and accepts it. he puts another earpiece in his ear and suddenly, bertrand and kit’s voice are coming through.

b: do you think esme bought our ‘the dewey legend is actually real’ act?

k, mean and almost gleeful, in ernest’s opinion: she’s ready to rip him apart, didn’t you see? she definitely bought it. she’ll start distrusting him.

“sneaky volunteers,” esme scowls.

“the worst,” ernest agrees.

“well, we’re not going to let them get their way,” esme determines. she smiles, brilliantly again, “now, spring rolls, darling?”

“of course,” he agrees.

esme successfully pickpockets the key from the waiter, and ernest sighs in relief internally. a good ending to a mission, despite the ups and downs during. he smiles at esme, “well done.”

it will be much later when he finds out the key is a decoy and has already been replaced.

**********

kit meets lemony at the chocolate cake stand and asks, quietly, “L, you replaced the key?”

“yes,” lemony confirms, giving kit the key he found on the waiter before replacing it with a decoy.

“good,” kit says. “now go dance with B, and then at some point fix his jacket for him, and discover the recording device in it. put on a show and then destroy it.”

#ernest denouement #esme squalor #bertrand baudelaire #kit snicket #lemony snicket #brotp: pencil bun and strawberry blond #vera.txt

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authorized-trash · 4 years

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To Tie a Knot: Chapter 5: Important Meetings in a Coffee Shop Bathroom

Ao3

Chapter One | Chapter Two | Chapter Three | Chapter Four

Content Warnings:

Self harm, self deprecation, making out, stress, emotional turmoil, elusion to character death, (If anything else needs mentioned tell me)

Chapter Summary:

Damian should know better than to walk into coffee shops when he’s the protagonist of a romance fanfiction smh

Word Count:

3,600+

Note: I posted the last chapter on Ao3 a day or two ago, and it got so many comments so fast I was inspired to write another on. So here is nearly 4k words of >:]. Chapter six is halfway done as well, so please, keep the comments up, I’ve never written so much so fast in my life asdf

By the time noon had come and gone and Logan had left, the others were restless. Patton was stress baking and Roman was practicing his lines a bit louder than normal. Virgil was nowhere to be seen, most likely hiding in their shared room listening to too-loud music.

Patton kneaded dough between his hands, planning on making bread. One would think he would make cookies or something while stressed, but he found the process of homemade bread and the smell of it baking was much better for calming.

Over the years he had gotten pretty good actually, won a few dumb little neighborhood competitions with his baking. His soulmates all adored his cooking, Roman had stated one of his favorite things to wake up to was the smell of pie or bread.

Patton let his mind wander while he worked, thinking about his new soulmate. He couldn’t help the wave of anticipation and impatience that hit him when he thought about their meeting. He was just so excited! A large smile stretched across his face, and he did a few happy stomps with his feet.

Roman stopped repeating his lines and looked over to him, a soft smile on his face.

“You okay over there, dear? You’re lucky that bread isn’t alive, you’re beating it quite thoroughly,” Roman said with a teasing tone.

Patton looked up at him, blushing a bit at being caught, “Oh! Yeah of course I’m fine! I’m just overwhelmingly giddy, I guess.”

Roman laughed and crossed the room with a few long strides, grabbing Patton around the waist and setting his chin to rest on the other’s head. He gave a kiss to Patton’s scalp, and Patton giggled and swatted playfully at him.

“Ro stop, I’m trying to cook,” Patton whined, placing the kneaded dough into a bread pan. He leaned back into Roman’s hold either way, looking up at him through his eyelashes.

“Sorry Sweetheart, I simply couldn’t resist,” Roman winked, laughing softly. They stood there for a few moments in silence, swaying slightly.

“Do you think they’ll like my bread?” Patton asked quietly.

“What? Of course! If they don’t I will have to fight them,” Roman said dramatically. Patton chuckled.

“No fighting Roman, everyone has their own tastes.”

“If someone’s taste doesn’t like your bread, they’re wrong. Sorry, I don’t make the rules,” Roman spun Patton and gave him a peck to the lips.

The oven beeped a few times behind them, and Patton started to squirm in Roman’s hold.

“Babe, you gotta let me go so I can cook!” Patton said, squealing as Roman held steadfast, unmoving.

“Nuh uh, you are in the Princey Dungeon of snuggles and cuddles, I’m very sorry Padre, but I simply cannot let go unless you pay bail.”

“Which is?”

“Kiss me.”

Patton didn’t protest as he pressed their lips together. Roman hummed and smiled into the kiss, trailing his hands up Patton’s back and threading his fingers into Patton’s hair. After a few long seconds they parted for air, but Roman didn’t seem to want to stop, and at this point neither did Patton.

Before long Patton was up against the counter, kissing back with fervor as Roman picked his legs up and sat him on the counter. Patton made a small noise into the kiss, arms draped around Roman’s shoulders.

Just as Roman was teasing his hand up and under Patton’s shirt, a gagging noise came from the door.

“Eugh, can ya’ll like, not be horny in the kitchen please? I don’t want you contaminating my bread.”

Roman nearly fell to his ass with how fast he jumped off of Patton, and Patton buried his head in his hands and grumbled something under his breath.

Virgil laughed all the way to the kitchen’s island, wheezing and wiping tears from his eyes.

“You two should see your faces, you would think your parent’s just caught you or somethin’. Calm thyselves.”

Patton just stood silently and went to put the bread in the oven.

“Wait, excuse you. Your bread? No, sorry sis, it’s mine,” Roman said as he brushed himself off.

“Oh god, please don’t call me sis, I’m your boyfriend, that’s weird,” Virgil said, moving to sit himself up onto the counter on the other side of the room.

“Oh,” Patton spoke up suddenly, “Roman, I meant to ask, how’s Remus? You haven’t talked about him in awhile.”

Roman’s brother Remus visited them every holiday. It was getting close to thanksgiving at this point, and they were all looking forward to seeing him.

Roman shrugged, “Don’t know, haven’t talked to him in… a little over a month now?”

“How come?” Patton asked.

“Normally I’m not the one who reaches out to talk, I just haven’t thought about it. And since, ya know, I don’t talk to my parents, it’s easy to lose contact for larger periods of time,” Roman explained, slumping into a chair at the kitchen table. Patton nodded in understanding.

They went back to their routines, this time with both Roman and Virgil on their phones while Patton baked a few more things.

Half an hour went by with little words, just a comfortable silence as they all enjoyed the company.

A sharp and hard tug caught their attention.

“Ow, damnit,” Virgil said, shaking his hand roughly as if it were burned. The other two looking down at their hands in confusion, wincing as their yellow strings gave another sharp and painful tug.

“Language,” Patton chided absentmindedly, then, “Do they want something?”

“I don’t think people yank on their strings that hard in order to get someone’s attention, Dearest,” Roman said, flinching as he bent his finger. It was already sore.

“They’re not trying to take the string off or something, right? That’s impossible, they should know that,” Virgil said shakily, curling in on himself and his hoodie.

“It is. Maybe they’re not thinking clearly?” Roman said, trying to offer an explanation.

Patton pouted,

“I hope they’re okay.”

Damian was not okay.

You wouldn’t be able to tell it, though, with the way he was carrying himself.

His strides were confident, and he held his head high. He tipped his hat at the people who walked by and offered polite hellos. He looked like every bit of a man who was sure of himself.

But he was far from it, really.

If you knew him personally and were looking closely, you could see the way he sometimes fidgeted with his jacket sleeves. You’d notice the slight tremble in his hands, or the way he seemed to run his fingers through his hair too many times. He honestly probably had his hat off more than he had it on, lifting it off of his head as much as he was.

Damian was a nervous wreck, but a nervous wreck who was good at hiding it.

His classes that day were ridiculously stressful, and it didn’t help when every other person exclaimed suddenly when they noticed the shadows of his soulstrings. He would wave them off, or excuse himself. Hell, a few times he even made up what his soulmates were like. He wove tales of wonderful people who had swept him off his feet, if only to appease the asker and get them to stop bugging him.

He had watched earlier that day as the indigo string seemed to detach from the others, just barely heading in a different direction. It was a very slow process, meaning they were probably decently far, but it still scared him.

Were they going to work? Coming to find him? Oh god, what if indigo left the other three because he couldn’t deal with another string showing up? What if Damian was the reason why they broke up?

No, Damian thought to himself with a shake of his head, no that was ridiculous. Really, he needed to stop letting his head go off in random directions, the self deprecation was getting old.

Damian walked up the steps of his apartment building, entering with a nod towards the doorman. The man smiled and waved.

“Heya, DJ,” He greeted.

“Hello, Larry. How’s the wife?”

“Oh you know her, same old. She’s missed you, you know. You should really come over for some tea sometime soon,” Larry said, opening the door for Damian.

“Sure thing, how does Thursday sound?”

“That would be awesome, see you then, Damian.”

Damian smiled to himself as he entered the elevator to his floor. He let out a shuddery breath. Small talk came to him easily, he was never really introverted to be honest, but that didn’t stop it from being taxing on the days when he really didn’t want to have to see people.

As soon as he crossed the threshold to his apartment, he checked the time.

Okay, it was a little past five in the afternoon, cool. He figured Remy would be up to go somewhere, if he wasn’t already out with Emile.

He shot him a text, which he got an immediate reply on.

Girl course i wanna hang. Ill be there in half hour, see ya hot stuff xoxo

Damian chuckled to himself. Of course Remy would be the kind of person to still unironically use X’s and O’s.

He double tapped the message to like it, and took off for the restroom. He needed to freshen up before he left for the outside world.

He went ahead and re-brushed his teeth, combed his hair, and washed his face. He really needed some moisturizer for his burns, they were getting a little scratchy around the edges, the sensitive skin looking a little red and agitated.

By the time he was done toweling himself off, his eyes fell from his face in the mirror to the strings tied neatly around his fingers. He had spent most of the day ignoring them, other than the occasional check-in on Indigo’s progress.

He looked at them for a long while, feeling how they moved. He always found it so fascinating, how sometimes they would be pulled tight and sensitive to any slight movement, and how other times they seemed to pool onto the floor in piles of color. He figured it depended on some kind of need or something, it was always when someone’s emotions were high that the strings seemed to tighten, maybe as a way to aid communication.

Damian just figured it was some weird magicky shit, and didn’t let it bother him too much. He had gotten over the trying to explain the strings stage back in middle school, back when it was just him and green.

Nausea and guilt ate at his insides even thinking about the green string. It hung loosely to the fingers on the hand opposite the new strings, its once brilliant earthy color now a faded grey.

It was so pale and sad looking in comparison to the other brighter strings, and Damian couldn’t help but want to cry again. It was such a lovely color, and he was sure they would have been such a lovely person.

He didn’t even have a name to mourn, a funeral to attend to. Only a sad little frayed string to cry pitifully over.

And that brings up another question, why frayed? Damian hadn’t met anyone who had a dead soulmate that had a frayed string. Sure, others had their colors dulled, but the end looked clipped with scissors. Damian’s looked as if someone had pulled it apart with their teeth.

It wasn’t fair, Damian thought. It wasn’t fair that he got all these questions. It wasn’t even a simple, “oh no, my soulmate is dead, I’m doomed to be lonely and soulless.” No, he had to deal with all these mysteries. Why frayed? Why four others? Why add him to an already complete group? Why not someone else? Why had it been a month, when the average wait on the reassigning was a week? Were the other’s even able to love him like they loved each other? Damian wasn’t paired with someone equally as heartbroken and lonely, he was paired with an already complete soulmate relationship. Was he doomed to be an outcast?

Damian didn’t want this, he didn’t ask for this.

His emotions were all over the place, but he steeled himself, and with an angry huffed, he grabbed his four strings, and yanked.

White hot, dizzying pain lanced up his arm, and he gave a shout. His vision blanked, and a throbbing headache pounded behind his eyes.

His vision cleared after a while, stars and dots still dancing across his eyes. The pain was so bad, it was nearly incapacitating.

And in a mix of morbid curiosity and the horrible feeling of self loathing, he yanked again, harder.

He stumbled to the ground, sweat beginning to drip from his forehead. His heart was pounding in his ears, and what sounded like a dull roar caused his eardrums to hurt. Every bone in his body ached, and his arm hurt to move.

Well, he thought, guess they were pretty authentic then, at the very least.

He heard a knock at the door and tripped over himself to get up. He dabbed his face with the towel once again, wincing at the pain in his arms.

By the time he left the bathroom, Remy was already standing inside.

“What on earth were you doing in there, you look awful,” Remy asked, before going a bit pale, “You know what? Don’t answer that.”

“Oh shut it,” Damian snapped, taking his hat off the counter and fitting it back into place.

“So, wanna head out to that coffee shop you like downtown?”

Damian shrugged, “Why not.”

“Sweet, let’s blow this popsicle stand.”

Damian sighed but laughed at his friend's antics, following him out the door with a fond shake of his head.

The coffee shop was nice. It was small, cozy, and had a nice arrangement of potted plants scattered about. The barista was kind, and pretty cute. They had a cute grungy-emo thing going on.

Damian had a thing for emos.

He, like normal, had ordered some black coffee with two creams and a sugar, much to Remy’s dismay. Remy had then proceeded to buy some ridiculously over sweetened drink with a stupid name and two muffins to share, much to Damian’s dismay.

“You have got to stop buying food for me Remy, I’m a grown man, I can pay for myself.”

“I offered. Besides, you need your money for your hobbies.”

“What hobbies?” Damian laughed, smiling despite himself.

“I don’t know, your music. You play the clarinet, right?”

“Flute, actually,” Said Damian, rolling his eyes, “And it’s not a hobby. Band was the only reason I managed to get into college. You know this, why are you asking?”

It was Remy’s turn to roll his eyes, “Small talk, babes.”

Damian was so caught up in their conversation he missed as the indigo string tied to his finger moved at a rate much, much faster than earlier that day.

“Mhmm, small talk about something we are both familiar with?”

“I don’t know, you band nerds seem to like to talk about band, despite making sure it is known that it is hell on earth,” Remy laughed, “Why don’t you, I don’t know, tell one of those ‘this one time at band camp-’ stories, babes?”

“Uh huh, and which one haven’t you heard?” Damian did in fact have a lot of stories, as every band kid tended to, but he was almost certain Remy had heard every one three times. It was obviously his best friend was just trying to cheer him up, and honestly? Damian really appreciated it.

“I don’t know, what about the one time you passed out on field and went to the hospital for a broken rib after being stepped on?” Remy’s grin was shit-eating, and Damian felt his face turn a deep crimson.

“We agreed not to talk about that,” he hissed, attempting to hide his face behind his coffee as he took a sip.

Remy shook his head as he laughed, before standing up.

“I’m heading to the restroom babes, try not to miss me too much.”

Damian sighed and sat back in his chair as Remy left, closing his eyes and smiling to himself. He was enjoying himself, this was nice. Remy was an awesome friend and really helped Damian to forget all about his stupid soulmates.

If all went Damian’s way, he wouldn’t have to deal with soulmates for the rest of the day.

Of course, knowing how fate liked to fuck him over, that isn’t what happened.

Logan had had an exhausting day, and he was ready to get it over with. He wanted nothing more than to go home to his soulmates and curl up against them, but he knew he couldn’t. He had been sentenced to sleeping in a cold hotel bed, alone.

The day had started well, with breakfast with his beloveds and a few kisses to his cheek, and a few kisses he returned. He had left with a small smile on his face.

But his good mood had slowly disappeared as the day wore on, as no sign of his other soulmate was to be found. The string slowly started to move more and more as he was sure he was getting closer, but the direction it was in was so vague, he could only hope he was going the right way as he drove.

Honestly, he didn’t know why some machine to find them hadn’t been invented yet. Surely there was some way to get some magnetic something or other to pick up on soulstrings, and then lead you there with a convenient little GPS voice.

But nope, the stupid strings were too stubborn to be beat. Everyone had just accepted them as immovable magic and was done with it.

Everyone including Logan, but he still felt like he was allowed to complain about that fact.

It was a little past six in the evening at this point, and the sky was beginning to darken considerably. Logan could feel his body getting heavier, but wasn’t quite tired enough to stop yet.

He didn’t think his perception skills were too bad, surely he had a few more hours left in him.

That was probably a bad judgement call, as they were apparently bad enough to not notice how fast the string on his finger moved as he turned the corner into coffee shop parking lot.

He locked his car as he stepped away from it, and entered the building. He took a right to the restroom, wanting to wash his hands before doing anything else, not enjoying the feeling of sweaty driving palms.

He heard the door behind him open, and looked up to see a man wearing sunglasses (indoors?) walk in.

“‘Sup Babes,” the man said, and Logan lifted an eyebrow in confusion.

“Babes? I’m sorry, do I know you?”

The man laughed, “Nope, you just look like someone who would be fun to piss off by calling them babes. For real though, why are you wearing a necktie in a coffee shop?”

“Plenty of people wear neckties in a coffee shop,” Logan answered, fixing his tie with an affronted look. The other man just laughed, running a hand through his hair.

“The name’s Remy,” The man said, offering his hand to shake. Logan took it, if with a little hesitance and confusion.

“Logan.” Logan responded. Remy nodded, going to turn around and leave, probably deterred from using the restroom in what would now be an awkward situation. He stopped suddenly, eyes going wide from behind his sunglasses.

“You have four soulmates?” He said, looking at the slight shadow cast on the tiled floor.

“Yes,” Logan answered, easily. Remy was not the first one to ask that today. There was the woman at the gas station, and the man walking his dog outside of the Ihop. It was a little disorienting hearing four instead of three, but whatever.

“You here with someone? One of your strings seems to be pointing in a weird direction,” Remy commented, nodding down at the shadow heading straight out the bathroom door. Logan looked down hurriedly, just now noticing the yellow string that was pulled tight.

“I- no I’m not. I’ve actually been looking for our fourth soulmate all day,” Logan didn’t take his eyes off the string, “In fact, it only appeared recently. Me and my other soulmates decided it best to find them as soon as possible.

After a few more minutes of staring wide eyed at his yellow string, he looked up at Remy. He, once again, looked confused at the wide smile that had spread across Remy’s face. The sunglasses clad man grabbed Logan by the hand and tugged him towards the door.

“Come on, there’s someone you need to meet.”

Logan allowed himself to be pulled back into the main part of the coffee shop and led in the direction of a booth in the back. He opened his mouth to protest, but stopped when he caught sight of the man seated at the table.

“Damian, babes, you will not fucking believe who I just ran into,” Remy exclaimed. The man, Damian, turned around to face them.

The two men locked eyes, and Logan felt his heart hammering in his chest, that familiar yet foreign feeling of something clicking into place in his chest was present for the fourth time in his life, and he was almost certain he had never been happier.

Logan was at a loss for words for one of the few times in his life.

“Uhm, hello?”

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surveys-at-your-service · 3 years

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Survey #370

“breakdowns, obscenities, it’s all i wanna be”

Do you have any bad habits you aren’t working on changing? If so, do you ever think you’ll try to break them? Downloading music, for one. I really should just start using Spotify... but my iPod has over 1k songs on it and I just seriously don't want to got through all the trouble. When was the last time someone surprised you with their reaction or behaviors? Hm. I dunno. What kinds of videos do you like to watch on YouTube, if any? I watch SO many different kinds. It used to be pretty strictly let's plays, but I've definitely expanded my watching interests. Now I'm really into watching educational reptile and tarantula husbandry and keeping channels, I watch one woman who is like my weight loss idol (Jordan Shrinks, she is amazing), there's a few vloggers, I enjoy some World of Warcraft channels, and then there's a couple urban exploration guys I like. I also occasionally watch some beauty YouTubers just for their personalities and the art of it. Have you ever reached out to a crisis center for mental health support? If so, how was the experience? Yes, but they were so busy that I didn't connect with anyone before I finally gave up and ODed. When was the last time you did something you were afraid to do, and how was the outcome? Ummmm I don't really know. What is one positive thing you believe about yourself? I care a lot about other people. What is something you have been through that has made you stronger? The breakup. It brought me to the lowest of lows, where every day was a struggle to survive. It taught me I can endure through almost anything, even if it doesn't feel like I can. Other than money, what is something you wish you had more of in your life? Happiness, contentment, being in love, motivation, energy, activities, travel... There's genuinely a lot. IIs there anything that you tend to ignore for the sake of your sanity? I'm very bad at ignoring things. If something is bothering me, it's going to put up a beastly fight to be at the forefront of my mind. What is something you wish was different about your family? I wish we were closer and better off monetarily. What keeps you going lately? The hope for a happy, satisfactory future. Have you ever been in an unconventional relationship (long distance, polyamorous, same gender, age gap, etc)? if so, what challenges did this relationship present, and were they worth overcoming? I've been in a long-distance relationship with another girl. I think the hardest part was that there was not being able to physically be there for each other when one of us was really struggling, and sometimes communication was an issue, not being able to read body language when we voice chatted or hear the tone in which we "spoke" when texting, though I'm pretty sure that's an issue with any online relations. I also feel it's difficult to really build and experience your chemistry with one another when you're not physically with the other person. I still think all these challenges were worth overcoming, though. I in no way regret the relationship and got only good things out of it. What is the most unhealthy relationship (whether friendship or romantic) you’ve ever had? What made it so unhealthy? Do you still talk to each other? I'm kinda torn between Jason and Colleen, but I think my bond with Jason was ultimately more unhealthy because it went beyond love: he was an obsession. Having him with me was the only thing that brought me joy, and I lit-er-a-lly could not imagine my future without him. Like that concept just didn't exist; it was entirely impossible in my head. On his end, he failed to communicate what he was going through emotionally, which only contributed to the damage. I never knew he was struggling because of me. Without realizing it, I put so much pressure on him to make me happy, so to answer the last question, no, we don't, by his decision - and I don't blame him. Have you ever been abusive in any way? Were you able to change or make amends, or, in general, what do you think people should do to make amends in that situation? A neverending battle I have with myself is if how I treated Jason after the breakup was qualifiable as emotional abuse, specifically with messaging him things like "thanks for sending me to the ER" and shit. My therapist reassures me that it wasn't abusive because I wasn't being deliberately manipulative, but rather genuinely hurt and convinced I had been wronged and wanted him to know and acknowledge it. She agrees that it was wrong, which I entirely agree with, but sometimes, I'm still convinced I was abusive. I fucking hate answering this question, so hurrying up: I don't know if he's forgiven me. As for how others could reconcile, that's not for me to say. I know sometimes the answer is to NOT make amends and completely stay away from their abuser. It's not my right to tell others how to cope with their abuse. Have you ever forgiven someone for being abusive or allowed someone toxic back into your life? Did this person change for the better or not? My former best friend Colleen was toxic as all fuck hell, and I let her back in way too many times. No, she never changed. I honesty doubt she ever will, given her pride. When was the last time you did something “meant” for children? Do you think it’s okay for adults to do these things (ie. watch cartoons, have stuffed animals, dress in cute clothing, etc), or do you think there’s an age beyond which it becomes unacceptable - and if so, why? Hmmm... I know this was semi-recent, but whatever it was is evading me at the moment. I personally have zero issue with adults engaging in activities like that; let people do what they enjoy if they're not harming anyone, especially things as innocent as dressing how they think is cute, etc. I would far rather people "act like children" (not emotionally, you know what I mean) than run around the streets selling drugs and shit. What was the last thing to “trigger” you (as in, in a true mental health sense, I’m being serious here) and how did you cope with it? What kinds of things do you tend to find triggering? What do you do either avoid or face your triggers? When I was riding to the sleep study section of the health plaza, where the hospital is, my anxiety spiked quite a bit, recalling all of my ER stays for being suicidal. It didn't help that the psych hospital I visited most is also in that whole jumble of buildings. I dealt with it by reminding myself I was in that area for a very different reason, and Mom reassured me that where I would be staying was more like a small hotel room than a hospital bed, which was true, so that helped. Regarding the next question, I'm not gonna lie to ya, I have a stupid amount of PTSD triggers: certain music, shows, fandoms, places, smells, even tastes of certain foods. I tend to stay away from my major triggers, but I'll *sometimes* fight the tiny ones, because I want that sense of ownership of myself back. If you’re diagnosed with anything, do you feel that it accurately represents what you’re experiencing? Yes. What are some minor physical discomforts that really bug you (eyelash in your eye, a wedgie, rumpled socks, etc)? I'm VERY sensitive to feeling anything in my nose, and it leads to me needing to blow it a lot. I also can't stand having holes in my socks, but since I wear flip flops essentially everywhere, I don't experience this much. Are you ever afraid to admit to liking something because you’re afraid other people will judge you for it? What is the worst that’s ever happened as a result of you liking something different from the crowd? What about the best thing that’s come as a result of a unique interest? Y E P!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Nothing really bad has happened because of admitting my interests, other than hearing things along the lines of "I don't get it." It's very odd, just how horribly receptive I am to judgment about things I like when I don't recall a time where I was ridiculed for anything. But anyway, the best thing to happen from sharing interests for me is making a new friend that likes the same thing, and I will IMMEDIATELY be closer to you than most people I associate with once you've helped me past that vulnerable spot of mine. Have you ever remained good friends with an ex? Yeah. Do you have a negative view of mentally ill people, or are you mentally ill yourself? Do you ever call others crazy, insane, etc? Do you ever call yourself those things? I'm mentally ill and empathize heavily with those who suffer themselves. I absolutely do not have a negative look on mental health sufferers; we don't choose to be victims. I'm definitely not a big fan of abusing terms like "insane," because I've fucking been there, and it's not a term to take lightly. I've thrown 'em around before, but I try to avoid it. I don't call myself any of those things nowadays, but in the deepest trench of my depression and PTSD, I honest to God think I fit the definition of "insane." Does it bother you to have people comment on what you’re eating, or do you not care? What are some comments that would bother you, if any? Do you ever comment on what other people are eating or make assumptions about their intakes? YES. JUST DON'T FUCKING COMMENT. I get EXTREMELY self-conscious when my mom does this sometimes when I occasionally need a small snack to hold me out overnight, and I absolutely never will say something to someone else. It's just rude, imo. Well, I guess if someone was really destroying their health and I was close to them, I would out of concern and be very gentle, but when regarding most people? I'm keeping my thoughts to my damn self. Do you like Redbull? I've never tried it and don't want to. I'm not an energy drink fan. Who is the last person you spent money on? My mom. I remember I bought us fast food when we were out once. What are you looking forward to in the next 4 days? G U Y S!!!!!!!!! I GET MY TATTOO TOMORROW!!!!!!!!!!! :'''') Also on the same day, I start my TMS therapy, which I have high hopes for. Have you ever gone a whole day without eating? No. Do you sometimes use your music player to help you fall asleep? No, but I did that for years back in middle school. Have you ever had a crush on someone “too young” for you? No. Do you shave your legs more than once a week? Haaaaaaaaa. If you could cuddle with anyone right now, who would you pick? I really wish I could cuddle my late pup Teddy again. :/ I was thinking about that recently. Are you tanned? God no. I never am. Do you try to wear dresses whenever you can? No. I wish I was in a shape where I was comfortable wearing spring dresses again... I had this floral skull one in high school that I adored. Are you wearing something that belongs to someone else? No. Have you ever been called a bitch? Yes. Did you like the person you last kissed when you kissed them? I loved her. Who did you have a meaningful conversation with last? Sara. Do you have feelings for someone? Yeah, but they're like... on a leash, you could say. I don't let 'em run free and wild, and I know that even if nothing comes of those feelings again, it's fine. Are you trying to avoid liking somebody at the moment? I think Jason will be this answer for a very long time, if not forever, given the trauma and all. I have to remind myself frequently that I love his memory, not him, because I don't even know him anymore. It's been YEARS since we spoke. Just like I've changed incredibly, I'm sure he has, too. If you saw life in black & white, would that be okay with you? I mean, it would suck, but it wouldn't be the end of the world. When you wake up in the middle of the night and can’t get back to sleep, what kinds of things are you likely to do? How often do you find you have trouble sleeping? I do exactly what you shouldn't do and get back on the laptop. I'd say I most often get on WoW and refresh the auctions I have up because that tends to tire me out because I do that shit manually to avoid any addon mishaps, and I have a looooot to put up as a gold farmer. What was the last lengthy packet you filled out? Something to see if I qualified for a sleep study. Are you a patient person? What is one way you have a lot of patience? What about not very much patience at all? I am NOT patient, at least regarding more trivial things, like sitting in waiting rooms. I do have patience though with other people with more serious things, like getting someone to open up to me. At what time during the day do you tend to feel your best? What about the worst? When I first wake up. It's a "fresh start" and it's nice to feel rested. Plus, I open a fresh can of cold soda as my "coffee" for lack of better word, haha. I'm in my worst mood probably late afternoon/early evening, by which time I am incredibly bored and just dulled down. What was the last thing you did that you wish you could take back or do differently? The last thing... I dunno. How frequently do you stay overnight somewhere that isn’t your own home? What things do you miss about home when you’re away? Do you tend to get homesick easily? Pretty much never. I do miss my room and its privacy when I'm away from home, but I wouldn't say I get homesick all that easily, so long as I have WiFi, haha. Do you tend to eat more in the beginning of the day or at night? Do you have a tendency to snack when you’re bored? If so, what kinds of snacks do you normally go for? Not necessarily the beginning of the day, but definitely more than at night. I am BAD about snacking when I'm extremely bored, but at the very least I'm conscious enough to try and find something semi-healthy, like granola bars, fruits, a scoop of peanut butter, but I also sometimes just eat like... a slice of bread or a tortilla. Horrible choice. I'm a carb fiend and I hate it. If you have any dietary restrictions, do you ever miss foods you can’t have? If not, what’s something you haven’t had for a long time that you wish you could eat again? I thankfully don't have any. I've been craving cheesecake like a madman lately. :< The spicy shrimp fritas from Olive Garden, too. Is there something you still can’t do even though you’re an adult or might be expected to do this thing? I don't have my license, and my driver's permit is even expired. I'm terrified of driving. I also don't have a job, and I can't cook. When was the last time you congratulated someone? Were you happy for them, indifferent, jealous? Uhhh I think someone on Facebook had a baby. Of course I was happy for them. What was the last milestone you reached in your life (graduating, buying a car, starting a family, etc)? What milestone are you going for next, if any? Um... I haven't reached a true milestone in years. Hell, I don't think since I started recovery from the breakup. Do you enjoy getting comments or messages? How likely are you to leave comments or messages for other people? Yeah, it makes me feel cared about. It really depends on the platform on how much I leave other people comments, and I'm extremely shy about messaging, but I'll do it sometimes. When are you most likely to scream (either out of fright, anger, or whatever)? Do you scream or yell often? When was the last time someone screamed at you (or in your presence)? Frustration, for sure. I've screamed into a pillow more than once. I definitely don't yell or especially scream often. I'm sure the last person to yell at me was Mom, but I don't remember about what. What would you say is your STRONGEST emotion? Maybe not the most frequent, but the most intense? And what emotion do you feel most weakly, even if you might feel it more often? I'd saaaay... maybe love. When I love something/someone, I love HARD. I think I experience joy the weakest; it's very muted for me. And lastly, what are you listening to? Is this a band you listen to a lot "The Heretic Anthem" by Slipknot. I wouldn't say I listen to them a lot, but I have been more than usual lately.

#survey #surveys #questions #lyrics: ''the heretic anthem'' by slipknot

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deathtrapnest · 4 years

Text

Waves That Pulled You Under

fandom: One Piece pairing: Luffy x Nami notes: -Takes place after Usopp joins but before Baratie arc. summary: Nami watches him atop Merry’s figurehead from afar and thinks that the sea might reach up to take him, to swallow him and carry him away. And then one day it does.

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Luffy had chosen his favorite spot on the Going Merry the first day they'd set sail- sitting perched on top of the figurehead, balanced precariously over the water- nothing but an unobstructed view of sea and sky stretching out endlessly in front of him.

Nami has yet to meet a Devil Fruit user so unafraid of the sea as Luffy. It should come as no surprise- she has yet to find anything that Luffy is afraid of. Nami isn’t afraid of the sea but she knows better than to disrespect it. She knows that like her captain, Luffy, that the sea has no sense of boundaries, is beholden to no logic or reason. And like her other captain, Arlong, it has no mercy and it can take and take indefinitely.

Nami watches him atop Merry’s head from afar and thinks that the sea might reach up to take him, to swallow him and carry him away. And then one day it does.

It’s an afternoon where the horizon is endless on all sides of the ship, with no island expected to appear for days to come. The skies are muted, there’s a stillness in the air, but Nami is a navigator, she knows that stillness on the sea is always a lie. Luffy, too, on the figurehead, looks momentarily still and calm but she knows that won’t last either. Nami can predict the weather. She’s given up on trying to predict Luffy.

Merry rides on the ocean’s back, creaking gently as waves crawl up her sides and then retreat like living things. Nami stands at the balcony of the quarter deck.

With his back to her she sees where his hair is getting long, tangled at the nape of his neck. And thinks, if it will be up to her to cut it, at some point. Like how it has fallen to her to cook the crew’s meals and sew shut the holes in Luffy’s hat. Strange, intimate, tasks of care that she’s never performed for anyone but herself before.

Sometimes he turns his head slightly and she gets a glimpse of the sickle shaped scar on his cheek; of the nearly serene expression he wears sometimes when he thinks no one is around to witness it.

Occasionally a breeze blows over the water and the hat on his head twitches at the edges- a tease, like the wind is reminding him how easily it can blow his treasure away. It makes Nami nervous but Luffy never seems to notice. She wonders if he’s never had anything taken away from him, if that’s how he can stay so self assured. If all the important things she’s had taken from her are why she can never seem to relax. The hat keeps its place even when he doesn’t reach up to hold it down.

But no one stays on luck’s good side forever.

She’s looking down at her map, and then when she looks up, he’s gone.

There’s not even a tell tale splash of him hitting the water. The sky hasn’t changed, the sea still, and yet his seat is empty.

Nami is paralyzed. Her throat too tight to even call for help from Usopp or Zoro who are below deck and out of earshot anyway. She drops the map she’s holding and runs toward the bow but she’s pulling off her shoes with one hand already as she goes. Before she has time to think she’s diving in over the edge.

The water she plunges into is cold, silent, breathless.

There’s enough sunlight cutting through from the surface to make out his silhouette as she pulls herself further down, to where the sea is wine dark and heavy.

In the water, everything is dyed indigo, and Luffy is suspended in it like a bug in amber, motionless and limp, though his hair and clothes move without gravity, his hair a dark, swirling, crown obscuring his eyes, his shirt a flag of color in the dark, floating in an almost imperceptible current, trying to pull away from the anchor its attached to.

Nami’s hand seeks his, she pulls at slippery, icy, fingers. But he’s heavy as lead, continuing to sink further like someone is deep below him, pulling him down by his feet. The ocean laying claim to him, taking revenge on its would-be king.

Her arms encircle his waist and she pumps with her legs, eyes on the twinkle of sunlight above their heads. Luffy is so heavy. And cold.

Nami isn’t a hero. She’s scared. And angry. The muscles in her legs burn and her chest aches from holding her breath. But she can’t stop thinking, again and again, “if I hadn’t been here, he would be dead right now. He would be dead right now.” And the image of Luffy lifeless at the floor of the ocean is unbearable. He’s supposed to be the one with all the luck.

When she reaches the surface she gasps for breath so deeply that her head falls under again, her legs forgetting to swim, she inhales water deep up her nose, chokes. She rights herself and pulls Luffy’s head up next to her by his hair, his mouth falling open, though she can’t hear him taking in any air.

She turns toward the ship and sees that on the surface of the waves, the straw hat is bobbing, only a few feet away. Luffy had been taken from the safety of his favorite spot on the figurehead, the hat had been taken from the safety of its favorite spot on his head, and looked lost without him, lonely, even. Nami uses one arm to pull herself closer to the ship, the other arm holding Luffy up, and before ascending the rope ladder, she considers the hat, and she thinks about leaving it to float away. Just for a half a second, she thinks about it. Just to see what would happen. To see what he’d do. But she’s done a lot of cruel things in her life already, and she’s trying to do less. She adjusts her grip on Luffy’s waist and reaches out to grab the hat.

She drops Luffy without ceremony on the deck of the ship and his head flops to the side lifelessly, his face ghost pale all the way down to his lips. Motionless in a way that couldn’t be mistaken for sleep. Nami can barely catch her own breath, there’s water in her sinuses and she’s shivering but she bends over his body, pressing her ear to his mouth. She can’t hear his breathing, even as the wetness of his lower lip brushes the shell of her ear. All she can hear is the ocean lapping against the side of the boat, reaching to reclaim the prize she’d deprived it of.

All she can hear is her own desperate gasps of breath, wracking her body, like sobs. Like them.

“Dammit…”

She intertwines her hands and places them over his ribcage, and begins compressing them against him, digging her palms in and trying to keep the rhythm steady even as her hands shake and water drips from her hair in cold rivulets down her back. Soaked through to the skin, Luffy’s shirt is the color of a dried bloodstain.

“C’mon… C’mon… C’mon…” with every compression.

She stops, swiping her hair out of her eyes, lifts up Luffy’s chin and pinches his nose. His lips are cold and salty to taste, yielding under hers as she breathes into him. She comes up for air, inhales as deeply as she can, tips his head back by the hair this time, fingers curling against wet strands at the nape of his neck, wrings it into her fist until sea water drips past her knuckles and over her wrist. She clamps her eyes shut and she tries to teach him how to breathe again. To remember how to live again.

It’s the third breath, he makes a gurgling noise and his body begins thrashing against hers. She lets go and he flops onto his side, choking up brine onto the deck and coughing water out of his lungs.

Predictably, the first thing he does when he catches his breath is touch the top of his head, feeling for his hat, then turns to see it laid next to him. He doesn’t even shake the water from his hair before putting it back on his head and flashing a wide grin to Nami and letting out a hoarse laugh.

“That was close!” His voice scratchy from choking.

“Don’t laugh. It isn’t funny.” Nami says coldly.

“I’m relieved to be alive.” He leans his head back, taking long, grateful, gulps of air.

Nami glares at him.

“How stupid would you feel? Losing your dream like that? Before you even get to the Grand Line?” She bites out. But he looks back at her serenely. Water drips from the brim of his hat onto his face, clumping his eyelashes together, dark and dewey.

“But you saved me.”

He says as if it had always been a certainty. And there was nothing to worry about. In the world. Ever. That makes her furious.

“What if I’m not around next time, dammit?!” her voice rises and cracks and she remembers that she’s out of breath too.

Luffy fixes her with one of those solemn looks he only saves for rare occasions. Luffy can veer from clueless to penetrating faster than an ocean gale.

“Why wouldn’t you be around?” he asks.

She shivers, her clothes cold and clinging to her skin. The tattoo on her arm. She wonders if he can see it through the white of her wet shirt. Sometimes it feels like it itches, now it feels like a sunburn. She turns, wrings the water out of her skirt.

“I’m not going anywhere.” She mutters. She lies. It’s a well rehearsed lie, but it doesn’t come out as easily as it usually does. For some reason the look on Luffy’s face makes her think he doesn’t believe it. But he smiles back at her anyway.

She looks away from him, toward the horizon. “Next time… Get one of the others to save your ass… It can be someone else’s problem if you die on them.”

Luffy gets back on Merry’s head because he never learns. He closes his eyes and folds his arms behind his head, letting the breeze dry him. She doesn’t waste her breath scolding him. There’s some things she’ll never learn either.

A storm comes that night. Just like she’d thought it would. The rain beats steady as a drum at the circular porthole windows of the dining room after dinner.

“You need a haircut.” Nami observes. And leads Luffy back to her bedroom, away from the noise and laughter of the others. Where it’s silent except for the faint growl of thunder, the waves battering the sides of the ship.

She lights a candle. Shadows cross Luffy’s unsmiling face and he looks so different than he does in the sunlight that for a moment it takes Nami aback. He’s a man. Not just a boy.

She kisses him. His lips are warm now, more dry, but she runs the tip of her tongue just faintly against his lower lip and imagines she can still taste the sea on it. Luffy lets her, not closing his eyes, until she pulls away and he blinks at her with a face devoid of curiosity or surprise.

“What was that about?” he says.

Nami huffs a laugh. “You wouldn’t understand.”

His eyebrows knit together and he sticks his lip out petulantly. “I understand plenty.”

This time, he initiates. Clumsily, brief, his teeth a hard wall she feels the press of behind the softness of his mouth. He straightens up, unabashed by the display and waiting for her rapport.

She remembers abruptly sometimes, he’s really not much younger than her. She feels like she’s been alive for a hundred years. She wonders how many hundreds of years he’s been alive. He already has one indelible scar. She wonders how many he’ll have someday. And does he ever forget that it’s there? Like she does with her tattoo? Then catch a glimpse of his reflection and remember who he is and how much it hurts?

“You can touch it.”

“What?” she whispers, because it’s dark, and they’re the only two there- in the dark with the candle’s warmth between them, and she doesn’t want to speak over the sound of the sea.

He sits on the edge of her bed without looking away. “My scar. You can touch it. I don’t mind.”

She realizes she’d been staring. She sits down next to him and raises her hand to his cheek, traces the scar with her fingertips while he watches her without blinking. It’s rough, a divet in otherwise smooth skin, the ridge of it guides her fingertips along its curved path like a line drawn on a map. Whatever did it, had gone deep.

He laughs, and it’s so sudden she jumps in surprise.

“Tickles.” he says.

Nami takes his face in both her hands, pulls him down onto the bed with her, opens his mouth with hers. She breathes against his lips, feels his breath returned on her skin, proof of life- his and hers. She lets his breath fall between her lips, breathes it in as her own.

Her fingers slides up his shirt, landing just west of his heart. Like the sea, she reaches out to touch something she can’t have. She tries to pull him under, she kisses him breathless.

Luffy’s hands roam over her body with uncertainty, like a mouth trying to form the words of a language foreign to him. The ocean beneath the ship makes the bed roll gently on its wave, her hips canting into his thigh on the swell, and on the next crest Luffy flips her over onto her back, blanketing her body with the weight of his. In the candle light he watches her as he kisses her, his eyes open and his lashes low.

She puts her arms around his neck and holds onto him as if he could be her lifeline.

End.

#one piece #luffyxnami #monkey d. luffy #nami #fan fiction #my fanfic

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chocoluckchipz · 5 years

Text

A Bride for the Prince - 14

A03 ~ < Previous ~ Next >

Lady Volpina’s shriek echoing through the hallways was enough to send any king running as far away as he could.

“We should’ve taken the main hallway, Father,” Adrien groaned behind him. “I’m not in the mood to deal with another of her tantrums.”

“Main hallways are littered with people preparing for your birthday celebration, and it’s less of a hassle avoiding them than avoiding Lady Volpina.”

“Right,” Adrien sighed. “Well, if we walk by fast, hopefully, she won’t notice us.”

And that was exactly what Gabriel had been planning to do, instantly quickening his steps. Yet, as he was passing the slightly open door to the room that the voices were coming from, the words of another lady made him halt in his spot.

“… why don’t you be quiet long enough for Lady Bug to answer. For it seems that she has a far different view on staff than us.”

Gabriel paused at the confident, assertive voice talking about one of the two girls on Adrien’s shortlist of potential brides. Interesting. He walked closer and glanced inside only to see that it was Lady Riposte who was talking, the other girl that caught his son’s attention. She was the perfect candidate for the Queen’s title in Gabriel’s opinion. A competent lady from a distinguished family who, as far as he’d heard, shared a lot of his own values and beliefs.

“Father?” Adrien whispered behind his shoulder. “We should move along before they see us.”

Gabriel raised his finger to shush Adrien and listened. Lady Bug was speaking, and with every word, his heart clenched. He swallowed. It couldn’t be. These words and these beliefs… This exact point of view… He knew it was possible for others of a noble descent to hold those opinions, but it was so rare, he could hardly believe his ears. He quietly stepped into the room to make sure it was Lady Bug who was speaking and not the grief and longing in his heart giving him hallucinations.

“Compassion can be a weakness,” Lady Riposte said, none of the ladies noticing Gabriel’s presence as they continued their discussion. “Show too much and the kingdom will suffer. You must act logically to lead your kingdom the best way possible for all.”

“But how can you possibly know the best way if you do not care to know what those of the kingdom are experiencing?” Lady Bug countered.

“Their needs are ever-changing.”

Gabriel held his breath.

“Having the ability to understand the commoners you rule over is a talent only acquired through associating with those below your rank. Otherwise, how else would you know you are ruling effectively if those you are ruling don’t tell you?”

Gabriel sucked in the air, scarcely able to believe what he was hearing. It was incomprehensible, but he couldn’t deny what he heard with his own ears and what he’d seen with his own eyes. No wonder Adrien liked this girl. If not for the fact that she was clearly a different person, Gabriel would’ve thought he’d just gone back in time and witnessed his beloved Emilie serve Lady Bourgeois her ass on a platter, wrapped in a bow.

Thankfully, Lady Riposte took it with more dignity than Andre’s wife ever could. Gabriel hoped he could say the same about Lady Volpina, but the reality was different as the girl snapped and proceeded to verbally attack Lady Bug. Staying as quiet as he could, Gabriel eagerly watched, curious how Lady Bug would handle the brat.

She didn’t disappoint as she managed the situation beautifully and with grace, just the way his Emilie always did. Gabriel glanced back at Adrien. The proud smirk on his son’s face was hard to miss. So was the lovesick warmth in his eyes. It seemed to him his son had made his choice already.

The clock on the wall chimed six, and Lady Bug stood up to leave. She gathered her embroidery, not giving Lady Volpina a chance to retaliate and headed towards them. A confident smile on her lips, a fire burning in her eyes, Lady Bug walked proudly towards the door, halting her steps as soon as she’d noticed their presence.

“Your Majesty! Your Highness.” Lady Bug instantly curtsied before the King and the Prince, her face red.

Gabriel nodded.

“Oh! Your Majesty. And Your Highness,” Lady Volpina cut in, her smile excessively fake as she came from behind Lady Bug. “To what do we owe the honour?” She batted her eyelashes at them, curtsying lower than was appropriate, no doubt trying to show off her overexposed bosom.

Gabriel pressed his lips into a thin line. How did this person even dare to think she was suitable to become a Queen?

“Lady Volpina,” he said, his patience with her wearing thin. “I tend to encourage people of higher ranking to ignore snide remarks when it comes to people’s unsolicited judgement of you. However, in this case, it might behoove you to listen for once.”

With those words, he turned away and marched off down the hallway, leaving not only the trio of girls but his son in shocked silence.

***

Adrien knew his father could be harsh and could humiliate anyone with a single word. Yet, he’d never seen him exercising that ability on anyone who wasn’t his enemy and especially not on anyone belonging to the families that formed his legislature, which Lady Volpina’s family was. However, even his father had his limits, and Adrien was thrilled to have witnessed him not holding back in this particular situation. Honestly, it was rather mesmerizing and highly satisfying to watch Lady Volpina squirm as Gabriel departed the room. Her face red, she clenched her fists, scrambling to compose herself as Adrien glanced her way. Marinette and Lady Riposte could hardly contain their giggles. Adrien would’ve gladly joined them, but, alas, his father wanted his presence at the dinner tonight, so Adrien nodded to the ladies, wishing them a lovely evening, and followed Gabriel’s footsteps.

“That was unexpected,” he said, catching up. “You should’ve seen her face after you left.”

“That was nothing to be proud of,” Gabriel replied. “As a king, I should’ve had more composure, but honestly, I’m rather tired of her presence. Her and her cousin’s Duke Barbot. Thankfully, I won’t have to see them daily anymore soon.”

“I’m eager for that day to come as well.”

They walked in silence for a few moments when Gabriel asked, “Have you made your choice yet? You do realize your birthday is tomorrow? Meaning you must choose a bride before the day ends.”

“I know,” Adrien said, an anxious feeling rising in his gut. He’d gone through most of the laws and regulations with only a few hours work left at most which he’d already planned to complete tonight after dinner. So far, he’d found nothing that could’ve helped him, apart from the lack of a list of eligible ranks for marriage for royalty in general. If it’d come to worst, that might be his only ploy because if the law didn’t specify the ranks and titles royals were allowed to marry, then who was to say he couldn’t marry into any social status, even a commoner one?

“I’m not sure yet. I’ll decide by tomorrow.”

Gabriel scoffed. “It’s plainly obvious you prefer one girl over the other.”

Adrien tensed. He couldn’t put Marinette in the middle of attention yet. Not until he had all the cards in his hands. “You must be mistaken, Father—”

“You know, son,” Gabriel stopped and turned to face him. “I’ve never duelled for your mother, even though sometimes I wish I would have. You, on the other hand, have broken our family’s perfect record without a second thought to defend a woman you are not even betrothed to. Although, after witnessing her just now, I’m certain she didn’t need you to do that. She can perfectly take care of herself. Beautifully and with the grace of a queen, at that. I must admit, I prefer the lineage, family standing, views, and values of Lady Riposte, but who am I to tell you that when I married a woman of a lower-rank nobility who believed the same things as your Lady Bug? So, you do what your heart tells you.”

Adrien held his breath, braving to voice his thoughts only after his father turned to resume his walk. “So, you approve? If I were to choose Lady Bug, and she’ll have me, would you approve of our union?”

“Why wouldn’t I? I already approved of all the ladies in that group, didn’t I?”

Adrien shifted his eyes to the side, nervously chuckling. “Yes. Of course. Never mind, I’m just worried she won’t accept me, so I didn’t—”

“Nonsense,” Gabriel scoffed. “There isn’t a girl in that group who wouldn’t accept your proposal. You’re the Prince. They cannot refuse you.”

Adrien frowned. “That’s not my stance on that. I don’t want a wife to lord over. I want a partner and a friend. An equal. And I want a marriage where we both would be happy and comfortable and loved. I want what you and mother had, and something like that can’t be built without my bride wanting to marry me because of her feelings for me, not because of her love for my title. When I propose, I’ll be asking her as a man, not as a Prince. I’ll be giving her a choice, not an order.”

“And do you think this Lady Bug loves you for who you are?”

Adrien couldn't help a smile, remembering Marinette’s and his encounter at the library. She’d begged the Prince to withhold his attention, admitting to loving another man, a man that, unbeknownst to her, was right in front of her. Not a lot of women would do that, none from the group of the ladies in the running to become his wife. And considering his title and her position, doing so was rather bold of Marinette, which gave him faith her feelings towards him were genuine, something a man of his statue rarely encountered and treasured when he did. “I know she does.”

“Then what are you nervous about?”

His face saddened as he shifted his sight to the side. He couldn’t tell his father yet that he could be the one standing in the way of Marinette’s and his happiness, so Adrien voiced the other reason that haunted his mind. “Her loving me doesn’t necessarily mean she’d want to marry me since, as you know, I come with responsibilities and complications.”

Adrien could feel his father rolling his eyes as he continued to walk in front of him. “Sometimes, you’re ridiculous, Adrien. If she loves you as much as you seemed to believe she does, then she’ll say Yes. If she doesn’t, then you have plenty of others to choose from, but by the end of the day tomorrow you must present a bride to the kingdom’s legislature.”

“Yes, Father,” Adrien mumbled and fell quiet.

They soon reached the dining room, and conversation shifted into a different direction, yet throughout their dinner, Adrien couldn’t stop obsessing over the thought that his father approved of Marinette. He thought she’d been worthy of a Queen’s title based on her actions alone, so maybe they had a better chance to be together than Adrien had thought they did. It made him anxious to go finish his research to find out if those last few books had anything to help him or at least nothing to stop him; anxious to behold his Father’s reaction when he’d reveal he’s fallen in love with and wanted to marry a commoner; anxious to finally take that mask off before Marinette and beg her to marry him. He was anxious for her answer. So anxious it made him nauseous.

“I don’t feel hungry tonight,” Adrien said only fifteen minutes into the meal. “Would you excuse me, Father?”

Gabriel quirked an eyebrow, looked at his untouched plate and nodded. “Get some sleep. You must look your best tomorrow.”

“Of course,” Adrien said, standing up. He bowed and departed, heading straight for the library. The faster he’d get through this, the better, and if the food didn’t sit right with him at this moment, why should he waste his time on dinner?

***

His research done, Adrien soaked in his bath, hope warming him more than hot water. He let out a sigh, sinking deeper into the tub. Tomorrow was so close yet so far away. He wondered how it’d go. Would his arguments be enough to convince his father? Would he be allowed—

“Adrien? You here?” Nino knocked on the servant’s entrance door.

“Yeah. Come in. Keep in mind I’m bathing.”

The door creaked open, and Nino slipped in, stopping behind the screen servants used as to not look at Adrien.

“Your coming in from that door means only one thing,” Adrien teased. “How was your date with Alya?”

“Fantastic,” Nino replied. “And I’ve got your answer. About Marinette’s feelings.”

Adrien perked. “And what is it?”

Nino sighed. “Alya said one has to be blind not to see that Marinette’s crushing hard on the Prince and is disgustingly, deeply in love with the guard, which may I mention causes her a lot of turmoil.”

Adrien grinned, his chest filling.

“And don’t you feel happy!” Nino snapped on the other side. “You should be ashamed of yourself. The poor girl is hardly sleeping these days, worrying herself sick, and it’s all your fault.”

“I’ll make sure to properly apologize and compensate her for all the troubles,” Adrien replied, sinking deeper into the water, a lovesick grin shining brightly on his face. “Thank you for confirming, though.”

“Confirming?”

“Yup. I already knew.”

“What? How? Don’t tell me you did something stupid and confessed, Adrien!”

“No, I didn’t. Don’t worry.” He chuckled. “But she did.”

“What?”

“Lady Bug asked the Prince to stop his advances because she was in love with someone else. And when the Prince asked if that someone else was Adrien, she admitted it.”

Nino swore under his breath. “I still think it’s too early to celebrate. What if your father won’t approve? Anything helpful in your research?”

“Only that there are no lists of titles I’m allowed to marry and a few cases of royalty marrying a low-ranking nobility, including my father.”

“But no commoners?”

“No commoners,” Adrien sighed. “Still. I say if the law doesn’t forbid it, the King can’t either.”

“The law may not forbid it, but you know how keen your father is on keeping the traditions, and the kingdom’s traditions say you shall marry nobility.”

“I’ll take my chances. She’s worth fighting for, and this is the only thing I can do here. Unless you can suggest something else?”

“I wish I could,” Nino sighed. “What’s the plan for tomorrow?”

“I’ll go to Father first thing in the morning and tell him everything. Once I have his approval, I’ll go to Marinette.”

“And if you won’t get his approval?”

Adrien fell quiet. “Don’t know,” he eventually responded. “I haven’t thought about that much.”

“You know you’ll have to choose someone, regardless of your father’s decision on Marinette?”

Adrien closed his eyes, his chest tightening. “Thank you for being supportive Nino. Love how optimistic you are.”

“Do you think I enjoy it?” Nino scoffed. “Adrien, I warned you from the start to be careful, but did you listen? You’ve always tread your own path, and I supported you while I could, but I think it’s time for both of us to face reality. You are a prince, Adrien. You have a duty and responsibility to your country and people. Your life isn’t yours as much as you might want. And I know this is unfair, and I wish I could change it for you, but I can’t and… I don’t know!” Nino threw his hands up in the air. “This whole situation sucks, and I just feel so helpless to do anything. You’re my best friend, Adrien. My job is to protect you, but what am I supposed to do now? How do you protect someone from breaking their heart?”

Adrien said nothing, clenching his fists. As much as it pained him to admit, Nino was speaking the truth. His life wasn’t so much about him as it was doing what was best for his country.

“I do root for you two,” Nino added quietly. “And I do pray you can be together. I wish I could do anything to help. You know that, right? But I just… I just think you should consider the not-so-happy outcome as well, so if it happens, it’ll be less of a blow.”

Adrien said nothing. He knew Nino was right. There was a huge possibility…

Ugh!

Who was he trying to fool? His father would forbid him to even think about Marinette once the truth would be out. Adrien was just too much of a naive romantic and an optimist—courtesy of his mother’s influence—to see the reality. He sat up in his bath and closed his eyes. “Can you tell my butler I’ll be out of here in a few minutes?”

“Adrien—”

“Please, Nino,” Adrien said, his voice cracking. “I understand everything. I know you care and want to help, but… I’d like to be alone right now.”

“Alright. Can I just suggest, though, that if the worst possible scenario happens, I think Marinette deserves to find out the truth about you before the bride selection happens? Preferably in private and from you personally. It’ll devastate her to see you getting engaged to someone else without knowing the whole story.”

With no more words, Nino walked out. Adrien clenched his fists, jaw tightening as he grit his teeth together. He shouldn’t assume the worst just yet. He shouldn't, no matter how likely it was to happen. Swiftly, he got out of the bath and dressed from the waist down, heading to his bedroom chamber.

The moment he closed the door behind himself, someone grabbed hold of him before he could react. His eyes bulging, Adrien froze in his place, sucking in a breath at the feeling of a woman’s body pressed against his back. What was going on and who the hell was she and how did she get in here?

“My Prince,” a woman behind him purred.

Adrien cringed.

Lila?

Her voice dripping with seduction, she slowly petted his chest. “You’ve finally graced me with your presence. How kind of you. I should reward Your Highness for such consideration. It’d be awfully impolite of me if I didn’t.”

Shaking the shock away, Adrien pulled Lila’s hands off himself, escaping her clutches, but didn't let go of her wrists, trying to keep her a reasonable distance away from himself. “What are you doing here, Lady Volpina? How did you get in? Weren’t there guards at the door?”

“Oh, yes, they were there, my Prince,” Lila said, leaning closer, batting her eyelashes at him. “But once they’ve learned I was here by your order, they let me in and promised not to let anyone else interrupt us.”

“By my... what?” In his confusion, he made the mistake of loosening his hold, giving Lila a chance to slip her hands out of his.

“Of course, you did, silly.” Lila stepped closer, trying to reach forward to run her fingers across his chest, only for Adrien to move away again. “Wasn’t it you who said after our last meeting that you were looking forward to seeing me again soon? I’ve waited for days—” She swooned so artificially, shivers ran up Adrien’s spine. “—and seeing as tomorrow’s the big day, I’m afraid tonight is our last chance for that meeting. So here I am, my Prince. All of me. Just for you. Any way you want.” Smiling seductively, she leaned closer, stopping only mere inches away from Adrien.

He bent backwards. “Lady Volpina. I’m afraid—”

“Ah, don’t be shy, my Prince.” Her eyes half-lidded, Lila cocked her head to the side, puffing out her chest, as she crooned further. “All I want is to talk about how perfect we’ll be together, how amazing of a wife I’ll be to you, how much love and affection I can give you, my Prince. Believe me, you won’t regret your choice. I know how to satisfy a man the way no other woman would ever be able to. You’ll be happy with me. That I can promise you, Your Highness.”

Swaying her hips, she moved closer, Adrien backtracking her every step. She reached forward, running her finger down his chest. “I heard you want children, right? I’ll bear you all the children you’ll desire, Adrien. Can’t you just see them already? How perfect they’d be? Little heirs and heiresses to the throne.”

She smirked. It sent goosebumps down Adrien’s skin as Lila continued. “With our combined beauty, our exceptional physiques—speaking of which,” she murmured with a smirk, reaching for Adrien’s face. “I suppose the rumours of your facial mutilation were a hoax? You’re very good-looking for someone who supposedly endured a horrific accident, my Prince. Why did you need to wear that awful mask all the time?”

Adrien pried her hand off his face. His voice stern, he said, “I have my reasons for what I do. That aside, I’m afraid you misinterpreted my words and my intentions, Lady Volpina. There is a difference between being polite and meaning things. Saying I was looking forward to our next meeting didn’t mean I’d be actually happy to see you again, but it’s polite to say when parting with a lady and is a requirement for someone of my statue. I’m sure you know that.”

Lila dramatically gasped. “Are you implying you didn’t want to see me, my Prince? Oh, but I’m certain you’ll change your mind once I’ll show you my outfit.” Momentarily, she untied tassels of her robe and let it drop to the floor, revealing next to nothing underneath with even what little she wore being see-through.

Adrien snapped his eyes closed and turned away. “Lila, please. Dress up and leave. I don’t want any troubles for any of us.”

“What troubles are we talking about here?” She suddenly was right in front of him, her hands, her fingers running across his bare chest. “I’m sure there are some we can indulge in—”

“No, we can’t.” Adrien backed away with his eyes closed, immediately bumping into a wall table.

Lila followed. “My Prince, why are you so flustered? Is this because of a little me?”

Adrien creaked open his eyes and scanned the area, avoiding looking at Lila as much as possible. He couldn’t go back to his bath chamber. Per his own order, the servants must be already there, taking care of his bathwater. His jumping out from his bedroom half-naked with an even less dressed Lila behind might give them the wrong idea and start rumours he didn’t need right now. Exiting through his front door would yield the same results, seeing as the guards were always there…

Actually, never mind. Adrien pressed his lips together. Exorcising Lila the same way she came in was probably his best option right now. He’d shove her out, give the guards a good talk about letting people into his private quarters without an invitation and clear his name and reputation. He tilted his head to glance at the door, looking for the best way to set his plan in motion.

“Oh, didn’t I mention,” Lila murmured, catching his line of sight. “That not wanting anyone to interrupt us, I’ve locked the door. I found the key in the drawer of that table by the wall. However, unfortunately,” she sighed dramatically. “The key slipped out of my hand and fell out of the window while I stargazed waiting for you, my Prince.”

Adrien growled, closing his eyes shut. That hussy! If he hadn’t known Theo and Lila were related, he’d sure suspect something by now.

“I hope you’ll forgive me,” Lila clung to him, pressing her barely covered chest to his, her arms wrapping around his torso. “I’m just a little clumsy, and the way I feel about you doesn’t help me…”

Trapped against the wall, Adrien got hold of Lila’s shoulders this time and pushed her back. Then, he tuned out the nonsense Lila continued to blubber and concentrated on searching for a safe exit strategy. One thing was clear: he couldn’t afford a scandal right now. Not when he was about to beg his father to let him marry a commoner. And that meant Adrien had to get rid of Lila without servants noticing or at least without anyone having the least of a reason to believe something transpired between them.

Shouting or calling for guards wasn’t an option considering the state of undress and intimate position they both were in at this moment. Not to mention the door was locked and who knew where that key really was. The only other door leading to the bath chamber was out of the question as well… His eyes fell on a balcony door. He couldn’t jump out of the window, no matter how much he wanted to do that right now: his apartment was a little too high in the building for that, and he wanted to stay alive so he could be with Marinette.

But! He could go up to the roof from his balcony! He’d done it before. That was a valid option. He only needed to get the clinging hussy off himself so he could get to that balcony.

“You know what? I think you’re right,” he said, faking his best smile.

“Of course, I am,” Lila purred, leaning closer. “Should we move to a more comfortable place to elaborate?”

“Absolutely,” Adrien nodded, taking a step aside and pulling his hands away from her. “Let me just close the windows, so no one eavesdrops. We wouldn’t want anyone to overhear our secrets, now would we?”

“I have no secrets, my Prince.” She weaved her arms around his torso again. “And it’s awfully hot. If you close the windows, we’ll die of heat.”

Adrien swallowed but mustered a smile, untangling Lila from himself once more. “We could always take the layers off to keep cool.”

Lila’s eyes widened, her lips spread in a victorious smirk. “I like your way of thinking, my Prince. I’m glad we’re on the same page at last.”

“Yes. I’m happy we’re finally getting somewhere as well,” Adrien said, taking a few steps away to the closest window. Lila followed. Adrien pressed his lips together. He had to win some distance or his only exit opportunity might be compromised. “So tell me,” he asked, closing the window. “What place would you want us to take this conversation to?”

Lila looked around ceremonially, walked to his bed, and sat down, leaning on her arms, exposing more of her chest in the process. “I rather like this one. It is spacious and comfortable. Just perfect.”

“Great choice.” Adrien nodded, closing the next window. A few more steps. He was so close. Just keep up the charade a little longer. “And what topic shall we start off?”

“I’m hot already,” Lila said, lightly pushing the strap of her nightgown down. Her sultry look travelled to her shoulder as she let her fingers run over her breasts. “Why don’t we talk about that, my Prince?”

“I’d rather not,” Adrien said as he reached the balcony doors. Quickly, he got outside and closed the doors. Jumping on a banister, Adrien grabbed the nearest ledge and pulled himself up. He continued climbing upwards until he was safely on a roof, just in time for Lila to scramble onto his balcony.

“Au revoir.” Adrien saluted and ran as fast and as far away as he could. In a few minutes, he hid behind one of the towers, pondering on what his next actions should be, ultimately deciding that going back through his front door would be the best option. He could play ignorant and pretend he wasn’t in the room all this time in the first place, playing up the surprise of finding Lila inside. That probably was his best option despite Nino and his servants knowing full well he’d spent the last half an hour in his bathroom chamber just now. He supposed Nino would have his back once explained the situation, and if Nino was on his side, the rest would follow because Nino was a saint and couldn’t lie to save his soul. Everybody knew that.

His mind made up, Adrien stood up to execute his plan, only for his eyes to be drawn to another balcony across from the place he’d hidden at. Marinette’s light was still on. She must be trying to relax after a hard day and that confrontation with Lady Riposte and Lady Volpina. Knowing her, however, she was probably freaking out because of tomorrow. Adrien paused. Maybe, he could swing by while he’s here just to say Hello and see how she was doing? If he’d be quick, he was sure everything would be fine. He hesitated only for a few moments and then, throwing the rational part of his brain aside, Adrien headed away from his quarters into direction his heart was taking him.

He didn’t bother to go down until he’d reach a spot just above Marinette’s room. A few quick tricks and Adrien landed on her balcony. He peeked in, a smile splitting his lips as soon as he caught a glance of Marinette sketching something in her album. His heart swelled. She looked absolutely lovely.

Adrien knocked. Marinette stirred, looking around for the source of the sound. Adrien knocked again, and once she spotted him, waved. She gaped at him for a moment before setting her album down and heading his way.

“What are you doing?” Marinette whispered, her face flushed, as she forced herself to look away. “Where’s your shirt, Adrien?”

“Oh, right,” he chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. “Sorry. I was in a hurry. Didn’t have time to put it on.”

“In a hurry? What… nevermind. Wait here,” she said and dashed inside, coming out a few moments later with a cloak. “Here. Put this on. Save yourself some decency.”

“Thank you, my Lady.” He smiled, swaddling himself in a garment that smelled so much like her.

“Do you often run around shirtless?”

He shook his head. “Only when I see rats in my room and have to escape as soon as I can.”

Marinette squeaked, eyes widening. “There are rats in the castle?”

“Yup. Huge ones.” Adrien chuckled. “But don’t worry. They don’t visit lovely ladies.”

She frowned, her brows furrowing cutely in confusion. “How can rats know who lives in a room: a lovely lady or an overgrown man-child who can't handle them?”

Adrien laughed. “The rats nowadays are extremely smart and sneaky, my Lady,” he said with a wink. “But enough about them. How are you? I’ve heard you’ve had quite a day, and that you served someone their rear on a platter.”

Marinette grinned. “I did. I still can’t believe it, but it feels incredible. Even the King and the Prince were there, and I dare to say they agreed with me.”

“I know for sure they did. Heard from a proven source that the King said, and I quote ‘She handled it with a grace of a Queen’. How about that?”

Marinette rolled her eyes despite the blush rapidly spreading on her cheeks. “Well, I wouldn’t put ‘grace’ or ‘Queen’ in one sentence with myself, but I do dare to think I’m getting the hang of this whole ‘being noble’ business.”

“And you’re quite good at it already,” Adrien purred, finding her hand and placing a lingering kiss on top of it. “You’re amazing, Marinette.”

Her face crimson, Marinette nervously giggled. “You know, if I’d been back home, I’d celebrate this with some eclairs and hot chocolate.”

Adrien paused. He had to go back to “catch” Lila in his room. But then, it was, probably, already too late. Lila was smarter than to simply sit around, waiting to be caught. So, it really didn’t matter if he went back now or later. Therefore…

“You know, maybe we should celebrate?”

Marinette’s eyes sparkled. “You think so?”

“Yup. Get ready, while I’ll go steal something from the kitchen. I’ll knock at the door as usual.”

Marinette grinned. “Alright. And get a shirt for yourself while you are at it.”

“Of course.” Adrien saluted and went down from her balcony to the ground. Taking Marinette out to celebrate her victory was a much better way to spend his evening than dealing with Lila. So, he’d just ignore the hussy for now and enjoy himself. After all, they might not have a lot of time left together. Life might break them apart tomorrow, so a few extra hours with each other without the burdens of titles and social hierarchy might be exactly what they both needed right now.

#miraculous ladybug #fanfiction #adrienette #adrinette #adrien agreste #marinette dupain cheng #lila rossi #needs a kick #A Bride for the Prince #Gabriel is impressed #Lila on the prowl #Adrien is her prey

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hadestownmodern · 4 years

Note

I remember one (?) of you mentioning that Eurydice once thought Junie was Orpheus' daughter. If you have the time, that fic or headcanons would be amazing!

Hi hello I wrote this last night because I agree it’s the cutest thing (I’m just a sucker for Orpheus with Junie lets be real)

-A

“Alright, remember Junie Bee, what are we doin?” Orpheus prompted his niece, holding her higher on his hip as he pulled the door to the coffee shop open. It was their Thursday tradition. Orpheus picked her up from school, took her to Dance, then did something with her until her parents got home from whatever date night activity they planned that evening. He had been doing this with her as long as she could remember, and in truth, neither of them would change it for the world.

Junie giggled, kicking her little feet in their fur boots. The weather had just turned to the crisp bite of late fall, just past half way in the semester, that had Junie bundled in little leggings and a tiny toddler cardigan over her dance leotard. “You’re gettin’ me a cookie, right ophie?” She batted long, dark eyelashes at him, bottom lip in a slight pout.

Orpheus can’t help but smile at her, and nods. “Of course you get a cookie, you did such a good job at dance! But, i’m here to do some school work, remember?” School work, and to hopefully catch the eye of a little brunette who sat dutifully in her corner, which he didn’t inform his blunt little niece of, in fear she’d walk right over to the girl and introduce herself.

“Mmhmm, you gots to write a song!” Junie announced in her sing song little voice as they passed the threshold into the coffee shop, the rich scent of coffee beans engulfing them as they did so. “It smells like daddy’s office.” She decided, waving her little head along to the beat of the music that played in the shop.

“I have to write a song, that’s right! You are so smart Junie!” Orpheus saw his corner booth, and made a beeline for it without stopping to order a drink quite yet. He hadn’t adjusted to the taste of coffee, but if he got a frappuccino with the right amount of carmel, he could trick his brain into seeing it as a milkshake. He sat their bags and his guitar on one side of the booth, settling Junie into the other. He got her coloring pages and crayons out before kissing her forehead. “I’ll be right back, okay?”

Eurydice, of course, had in fact noticed Orpheus returning to the little corner shop that he seemed to frequent nearly as often as she did. She had been surrounded by an array of highlighters, making notes for a sociology exam coming the following week, when she saw him. He was hard to miss, the tall skinny man, as when he enters a room it lights up with him. There was something magnetic about him she couldn't quite understand. Until today, of course, when she watched the mystery musician walk in with a little girl in his arms.

Well, fuck.

A baby meant a mother, and even if Eurydice wasn’t making any moves on the man with the kind smile, her heart still sank at the prospect of him being unavailable. Baby means mother, and based on the fact that there hadn’t been a child with him before, she assumed that meant her mother was in the picture.

Still, she couldn’t drag her eyes away. He was exceptionally gentle, with the way he settled the curly haired little girl in the booth, brushing hairs from her eyes before he went to the register to order. She was a bit enamored, by the way his hands adjusted little curls, and flattened coloring sheets for his daughter. The little girl, too, was a cute thing. She had to be a toddler, but Eurydice hadn’t been around a child in ten years, so she couldn’t be too sure. There was something about her, too, that was oddly familiar. Maybe her mother came through the shop sometimes, too, or was in a class of hers.

She was knocked from her reverie when her favorite barista placed another mug infront of her.

“What's this, I didn’t-” She was out of hers, yes, but she couldn’t be splurging on too many coffees a day, not with finals only a few weeks away that she would certainly need to fuel for.

“Secret admirer? I dunno, but he knew your order. Then again, so does everyone. The only college girl out here drinking black coffee, one sugar.” Her barista friend teased, placing the mug in front of her.

Eurydice smiled, wrapping her fingers around the white ceramic. “Thank you. And thank whoever this was, too.”

“Already did, sunshine. Now go back to your homework and make me proud.” He waved her off before disappearing back behind the glass case of baked goods.

She smiled to herself, inhaling the rich scent of the dark roast, before picking up a pen to continue annotating.

Orpheus, meanwhile, was not lost to the way the smile crept along her face as she accepted the drink, a warm haze distracting him until the physical feeling of his hand being repeatedly smacked pulled him out.

“Ophie? I’m done, can I have my cookie?” Junie is patting his hand with one of her tiny ones, cocking her head as she looks at him. Half of the turkey sandwich remains, while the other half is mostly gone. She blinks at him innocently, flashing a little smile, before resting her head on her hands. “Peeease?” She pleads, sticking her bottom lip out in a pout.

Orpheus sits his guitar to the side and just shakes his head. “Of course, bug. Here. You can take this for lunch tomorrow, deal?” He wraps the triangle sandwich in the white deli paper, and tucks it into his bag to drop off with Junie later that evening. In the same motion he pulls out the chocolate chip cookie, which dwarfs Junie’s face in size.

“Here buggy, don’t chocolate on your sweater.” He warns, placing the unwrapped confection in front of her.

He picks up his guitar and strums a few more strings, looking up to see the dark haired woman returning to her seat, though he isn’t sure from where. Junie is crawling into his lap before he knows it, cookie still in hand.

“Hold me.” She demands as she settles herself on one of his knees, leaning her back into his arm.

Orpheus doesn’t miss a beat, holding her with his less dominant arm, and he continues to support the guitar and keep playing, struggling to strum the words to accompany this melody together. He had a few weeks until that final, but he wanted to be ready. Songwriting for Orpheus did not happen overnight.

“Do you like my song, June Bug?” He begins to ask after a few tries, glancing down at Junie. To his shock she is asleep against his chest, one hand still clutching the cookie that now melted in her fingers. Orpheus begins to extract it, to save it for tomorrow as well, when another drink appears infront of him, as well.

“What-”

“From your muse over there, lover boy.”

Orpheus stumbles over words of thanks, skin glowing a shade of red that begins to match the pink crayon Junie had covered her paper in.

Across the shop, Eurydice watches the poet with the little girl, and grins to herself.

#hadestown modern #hadestown modern au #orpheus #eurydice #junie tag #annika writes #i'm soft as fuck #Anonymous

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cynicallystiles · 5 years

Text

Always Here

Disclaimer: Gif originally posted by me.

Author: @cynicallystiles

Request: Anon: Could you write one with Justin? Like maybe something like they’re together but it’s a secret. And one day they’re at his and Clays place cuddling and being cute and then Clay catches them? Cuddling with Justin just seems like the sweetest thing tbh

Warning: Verbally abusive parent, and maybe cursing? I can’t remember.

Notes: Thank you for requesting it, I hope it is somewhat like you imagined anon! Please COMMENT/REBLOG if you enjoy!

Pairing: Justin Foley x Reader

Masterlist

Words: 2,001

You feel his lips move against yours slowly as his fingers press into your waist. A content hum escapes your throat and both hands grip his hair a little bit harder. Delicately, you drag your tongue across his bottom lip. His hands squeeze even harder as he groans involuntarily while pulling away from you.

"Wait, wait, wait," he pauses, letting his heavy pants calm down. "As much as I love when you do that..." He stops and looks from your eyes to your lips longingly, "and I really, really love when you do that...we should stop before we get caught," he sighs, looking around the abandoned hallway for any sign of your classmates.

Pushing your bottom lip out, you let your head fall backward dramatically. "Uggh," you groan playfully and slide your hands from his hair to his chest to grip his open button-up.

"Heyy," he chuckles, trying to lean his head into your line of sight. You let your head fall back forward to face him, though your eyes watch as your fingers trail the fabric of his shirt. "Y/n, don't pout."

You bobble your head a little, raising one eyebrow. "'M not pouting," you murmur. He lets out a huff, and you finally crack a smile. "I'm not. Really. Justin, I know we both decided to keep this...us...a secret..."

"But?" He prompts you to continue when you start to lose your confidence.

"I dunno," you say with a shrug. "That was back when everything crazy was happening." You finally look up into his eyes. "It's been almost a year...I just thought by now I could show you off."

He laughs and pulls you into a hug by your shoulders. You clasp your hands behind his back quickly before he pulls back again, cupping your face with one hand. "Now still isn't a good time...I wasn't supposed to start dating until I've been sober for a year. And even then, they say I'm supposed to take it slow-"

"Oh, you can take it slow when you want to," you tease, nibbling on your bottom lip. He rolls his eyes, fighting the laughter that bubbles up. Sighing, you place your hand over his. "I get it. We can just...stay secret until it's a better time."

He leans forward and places the softest of kisses on your lips for a few moments. "Thank you, baby. I appreciate you so much." You give a lackluster smile as he brushes your nose with his.

"Bell's about to ring...I should get to my locker," you say softly, unable to hide the tinge of disappointment that comes out. But, before Justin can reassure you again, you're already out the double doors into the next hallway.

Later, you sit at the lunch table with your group of friends and zone out into your food as you take a small bite every once in a while. You hear your friends laugh around you, but it's not until Clay bumps your shoulder with his that you look up to meet his eyes.

"Huh? What?" You ask, blinking in surprise.

He snickers a little. "I said you've been unusually quiet today," he says observantly. "Is everything okay?"

"Uh..." your eyes flick across the table to Justin who looks at you with brows furrowed in concern. Just as quickly, you look back to Clay. "I've just been feeling off today. I think I might be sick or something," you half-lie.

Clay promptly puts his wrist to your forehead. "There's no way...yep. As I thought, no fever," he says shaking his head as he looks you over. He pulls on your ear as he pretends to look in. "Nope, nothing in there..." Then, he leans his head to your chest for your heartbeat. "All good there..."

"Stop!" You giggle trying to push him away.

"What? I'm just trying to make sure my best friend is getting the proper attention she deserves," he laughs. "Give me an 'aaah'."

You stick your tongue out at him but keep your mouth closed. "Mmm," you hum before snickering with him. "I feel better now. Thanks, Clay."

"Another satisfied patient!" He jokes and you shake your head before getting up to throw your tray away.

Justin rests his forearms on the table as he watches as you go, slight jealousy burning in his cheeks that Clay is being so openly affectionate with you. He knows the two of you are best friends, and he loves that. But, sometimes he wishes he could be like that and more with you.

The rest of the day goes by and the final bell rings to let out for the day. You gather your things. Deciding not to get a ride home from Clay and Justin, you hop on the bus that goes by your house. As soon as the bus pulls out of the parking lot, you get a text.

JJ: Where you at?

Sighing, you respond quickly.

You: Took the bus today, didn't wanna make you late for your meeting

It wasn't a total lie. It just wasn't exactly the truth either. You'd been feeling bummed about your conversation earlier and you didn't want to make Justin feel bad about your mood.

JJ: Wish you would've told me. We would've at least walked you to the bus babe

You: I know. I'll stop by after your meeting while Clay's at work

You lean your head against the window as the bus rocks gently. You were really hoping that you'd be out of your weird mood by then. Too bad you can never seem to catch a break. As soon as you get home, the usual drama starts in.

"You're home early today," your brother pointed out, calling the attention of your dear mother.

Inhaling deeply, you retreat into the living room where she sits on the couch. "That deadbeat boyfriend of yours finally drop ya?"

"No, ma." You ground your teeth. Hating the way she talked about Justin. "I took the bus."

She rolls her eyes from the TV screen to you, sizing up your outfit. "Is that what you wore to school?" You stay silent and stare at the ground. "I've told you before...no nice boy is gonna want to date you when you dress like that-"

"Dressed like what, ma?" You deadpan.

"Some kind of hussie," she bites. "It's why you only attract junkies like your boy toy. You could date a nice football player if you wanted. They're going places. And they might as well take you with 'em."

You frown deeply as you turn and head out the front door without another word. It's a long walk to Justin's house but you don't really care right now. You hug your arms to your chest and feel the tears dripping from your eyelashes. It bugged you how easily she tore apart your confidence. You felt like you should have thicker skin after living with it for this long.

The sun was setting when you made it to Justin's house. You stopped down the street and wait until you see Clay's car leave the driveway. Quickly, you walked to the carriage house where the two boys stay now. You tapped on the door quietly before stepping back and waiting.

You were beginning to think he didn't hear you as the seconds ticked by so you raise your hand to tap again. Then, the door swings open and startled you. "Y/n? You're here early," he observes, pulling you in from the biting winter air. "You're freezing! Did you walk here?"

Nodding, you let him lead you to the bed. You kick off your shoes while he disappears into the closet for something. He re-emerges with his favorite sweatshirt and gives it to you. You shed your frozen through coat and put on the warm sweatshirt.

"How many times have I told you not to walk here in the winter?" He asks exasperatedly. You shrug silently, lacking any energy to quip back. He begins noticing your behavior. "What happened?"

You look at him with watery eyes, your lip quivering while you fight the emotions. "Oh, baby..." he whispers and pulls you into him. That's all it takes for you to release all your pain. Your shoulders shake and your face contorts as your body is wracked with silent cries.

He lays you down, cuddling you from behind. Justin knows the only thing that makes you like this. It's not the first time it's happened. You showing up at his door a wreck and no idea how to stop it.

You begin to calm down as the tears make your eyelids heavy. Justin gently runs his fingers through your hair, comforting you with soft kisses behind your ear. "Everything's gonna be okay, y/n. Only a few more months and we can go wherever we want. All we need is each other. Okay? I'll always be here for you," he lulls you into a calm state of sleep with his words.

Thirty minutes later when you're sound asleep, lights flash across the windows and Justin hears a car pull into the driveway. Normally, you'd both panic and you'd hide or quickly go out the window. But, you were so exhausted that he couldn't possibly be so cruel to wake you.

Instead, he buries his nose in your hair as the doorknob turns and it pushes open. Clay enters, not noticing you yet. "So turns out," he begins while shedding his coat, "they scheduled me tomorrow and not tod-" he stops in the middle of laying his coat on a chair.

Justin simply looks at him calmly. "Keep it down, would you?" He whispers only slightly sarcastically.

"What's going on here?" Clay questions in whispers.

"What's it look like?" Fully sarcastic. He loves Clay, but he will not hesitate to kick his ass if he wakes you up.

His eyebrows raise and he contemplates the scene. "Uhhh..." he walks over and sits down on his bed. "It looks like you're spooning y/n while she sleeps." Justin squints at him. "Wait, is this a thing?" A tiny tinge of excitement in his voice.

"Yeah," Justin smiles to himself. He's tired of sneaking around and he honestly doesn't even remember why he still wanted to at this moment. "Yeah, it is. Has been for a while," he admits.

Clay breaks out into the most ecstatic smile he's ever seen. "Really? Oh man!" He fights to keep his voice down when he laughs. "That's so great. You two are so good together. I was just waiting for you guys to realize it!"

"You what?" Justin asks quizzically. This was not the reaction he was expecting.

He rolls his eyes. "I've been dropping hints to y/n for months about you two should go out," he rambles. Justin looks down at your sleeping face. "I mean, you two are the most stubborn and strong people I know. No one else would ever keep up with you two."

"Huh," Justin chuckles before looking back to Clay. You must've been keeping those hints a secret. "You're right. Sometimes I can't even keep up with her. But, I sure love trying..."

A small smile comes to your lips. "Me too," you mumble. He rolls his head back and over to you.

"And...you've been awake the whole time," he surmises with a laugh.

You shrug, opening your eyes fully and look from him to Clay. "It's not exactly like either of you are quiet when you whisper." You smirk jokingly.

Justin glares daggers at Clay, who holds his hands up in innocence. "Hold up, it's not my fault," he pleads as Justin springs up and over to Clay. "I'm sorry! Ah! Okay, I'm sorry," he apologizes through laughs as the two begin to wrestle.

You just giggle as you watch them act like brothers. These two really felt like home. Without warning, you hop into their play fight and you all laugh hysterically.

Justin Taglist: @elfie6405 @fandomrulesall @crazyfangirrll

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notfunnydean · 4 years

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Challenge: SPN Family Quarantine Bingo Prompt: Dreamcatcher Pairing: Dean Winchester / Castiel Warnings: Watching someone’s dreams, first kiss, fluff, cute!Dean, crying!Dean Word Count: 3.620 Summary: Dean can’t sleep. There are too many nightmares and he struggles to get through them. Castiel has an idea to help but somehow this turns out different than they both think. It turns into something better. Link (if posted on AO3): https://archiveofourown.org/works/23400031

“Good morning.” Sam says happily, when he enters the kitchen. Dean grumbles something into his mug, filled with way too hot coffee, but he doesn’t care. Today already sucks and it’s only nine am.

Sam stops on his way to the counter to look at Dean, who almost hides his face. He knows how he looks. His hair is still a mess, there are dark circles under his eyes, and his fingers are shaking.

“You okay?” Sam wants to know before he takes an apple out of the bowl and bites loudly into it. Dean looks as annoyed as he can and then rolls his eyes too.

“Do I look okay to you?” Dean snaps and he can’t even help it. He didn’t sleep tonight, or yesterday or any night of this week. Well no, he does sleep a bit, but he wakes up screaming bloody murder because of his nightmares.

“Rough night?” Sam guesses and Dean nods. Already feeling exhausted from this short conversation. His head is pounding and he doesn’t even want to finish the bacon on his plate. Alone that should be a clear sign.

“Yeah. I… had a bad dream.” Dean offers, even though he doesn’t want to talk about his dreams to Sammy. Sure they at least inform each other that they have nightmares, but they rarely talk about them in detail.

Dean would not change that tradition today.

Or ever.

“About… Rowena?” Sam whispers, sounding sad himself now. Dean feels himself shaking his head, while his heart grows heavy. Yeah of course he misses her, she kind of grew on him, right?

“Not only.” Dean manages and Sam nods shortly. They both don’t want to talk about it. Too much guilt on both their hands. Too much blood.

“Ketch too, huh?” Sam says, while he gets himself some coffee. Dean squeezes his eyes shut, feeling worse with every minute.

He should feel bad for Rowena and Ketch, right? Or Kevin. They were all his friends and while… and while Dean misses them and knows he will suffer in hell for their death again… the nightmares are not about them.

Anymore.

“Whatever. I don’t wanna talk about it.” Dean whispers and he hopes Sam would drop the topic already. Dean could for sure just take some sleeping pills or whatever. Maybe he should drink a bit more again.

“Dean.”

Dean almost pours the coffee over his robe, when he hears that voice. Castiel is standing in the doorway, looking a bit nervous. After their talk in Purgatory, Dean has no idea how… how to look him into the eyes.

Fuck. He had almost poured his whole heart out there. But luckily Castiel didn’t let him finish when they had met each other again.

Saved him the heartbreak. Or at least that’s what he is telling himself.

“Hiya Cas.” Dean whispers, not looking at the angel, while Castiel walks into the kitchen. Dean knows now that Castiel’s grace is low and he is glad that the angel is back in their bunker and not… elsewhere.

“Dean is grumpy. He has not been sleeping well.” Sam says and Dean glares at his brother. What a damn traitor. Dean growls, before he looks up at Castiel, almost batting his eyelashes and what the fuck!?

“Dean, why didn’t you tell me. I could’ve helped.” Castiel says and Dean winces quietly. That is exactly what he didn’t want.

“I don’t wanna bother you with my silly dreams.” Dean finally gets out, but Castiel is already shaking his head. Castiel sits down as well and takes Dean’s hand into his own one. Dean’s eyes widen at that.

“I can help you.” Castiel says, sounding so horrible honest. Dean looks down at their hands. He knows exactly how he would sleep a lot better, but he can’t say that. He wouldn’t… put himself out there.

“I don’t want you to spend even more grace on me.” Dean settles on and Castiel smiles so softly at him. Dean’s heart almost jumps out of his chest because of that.

“I won’t have to. Remember Sergei? I bought a few things from him and I should just have what you need.” Castiel says and he already gets up from the table. Dean watches a bit helplessly as Castiel leaves.

Sergei. He hates that guy. He didn’t even know they stayed in contact and it bugs him a lot.

“You know, you could just tell him.” Sam says, as if he knows anything - oh god does he know? Dean leans back to look at his brother, who smiles well too knowingly. Fuck.

“Shut up! This is all your fault.” Dean says and then he yawns so hard, that his jaw pops loudly. Dean whines pitifully.

Why does God hate him?

Well he knows why.

“This is weird.” Dean says, when he sits on the edge of his bed. It’s late again, Dean is still just as tired as this morning and Castiel is not really helping.

“It is not. So where do you want it?” Castiel asks and he holds this monstrum up. Dean growls and then gets up to find his drilling machine. Castiel smiles way too smugly, while Dean kicks off his shoes and then stands on his bed.

“For the record, you tell anyone about this and I will kill you.” Dean says and they both know that is not true. Still he takes the bright rosa dreamcatcher reluctantly and attaches it to his ceiling.

It looks of course horrible.

The dreamcatcher has a lot of feathers on it. A lot of them are black. Dean carefully strokes over one of them, somehow they remind him of something. Otherwise there are a lot of pearls in there and some glitter.

“I think it looks great.” Castiel says happily from where he is standing. Dean groans and then sits down on his bed, getting rid of his flannel. He would change the rest of his clothes, when Castiel is gone.

“Of course you would. And you think this works?” Dean asks, looking up to the Dreamcatcher again. It should be right over his head, while he sleeps. At least it will be dark then, so Dean doesn’t have to see it.

But he would still know it is there. Urgh.

“Yes. Sergei said it will catch your dreams and you will not be disturbed while sleeping. Even the worst nightmares will get stuck in it.” Castiel explains and Dean nods, before he wipes over his face.

His head is already hurting.

“Okay fine, I’ll try it, but if it doesn’t help, I wanna kick Sergei’s ass.” Dean says and Castiel smiles so genuinely again. Dean loves that smile, it’s soft and only meant for him. He wishes Castiel would always look like that.

“Deal and now sleep, Dean. I wish you ‘Sweet Dreams’.” Castiel says and he walks over to the door. Dean doesn’t know what’s worse, that he is still doing his air quotes or that he waves at Dean before leaving.

Dean’s heart squeezes painfully. He’s way too much in love with him and that is exactly the problem. Dean’s nightmares?

They are full of Castiel leaving. Again. Forever. Permanent.

Dean shudders and then gets out of his jeans. He finds a soft pair of sweatpants and dresses in them, with another dark shirt and then he finally lays down in his bed. He watches the Dreamcatcher dangle from his ceiling.

“Weird. So weird.” Dean mumbles and then turns onto his stomach. Luckily this time it doesn’t even take long for him to fall asleep.

“Dean!”

Castiel smiles widely when the hunter comes into the kitchen. Dean already looks so much better this morning. His hair is soft and sticks in every direction and there is the tiniest smile on his lips.

“Hey Cas. I have to say man, that ugly thing worked.” Dean says and Castiel didn’t realize he was actually holding his breath. He is so glad it worked, Dean deserves some good sleep after everything he does for the world.

“I’m glad, Dean. I told you it would work.” Castiel says and Dean rubs over his hair, while grinning at him. Castiel’s heart stutters in his chest. Dean looks utterly adorable sometimes and Castiel’s fingers itch to touch his hair as well, but he knows he is not allowed.

While Dean starts to prepare some breakfast, Castiel can’t help but think back to Purgatory. He had heard Dean crying, telling him he would forgive him and he had wished for something more.

When they had seen each other again, Dean wanted to tell him more. But Castiel’s heart couldn’t bear another ‘You’re family Cas’ and so he stopped him.

“Here we go.” Dean says happily, he even whistles, and puts a plate in front of Castiel. The angel smiles himself, when he sees that Dean made him some sort of special breakfast burrito. He knows how much Castiel enjoys them.

Lately he’s able to taste food a lot more anyway.

“I mean it, Cas. Thank you so much.” Dean says, when he is sitting in front of Castiel, his plate even fuller than Castiel’s. The hunter grins before he starts to stuff his face and Castiel admires him for a second, before he starts with his own food.

Their feet under the table touching.

Castiel knocks on Dean’s door a few hours later. When the hunter doesn’t answer, Castiel opens the door and finds the room indeed empty.

Well then he would change the Dreamcatcher on his own. Castiel looks at the feathers in his hand and then carefully takes the stool that is in the corner of the room and puts it next to the bed, so he wouldn’t ruin Dean’s bedsheets.

He takes his old feathers out of the Dreamcatcher and they glow in a dark blue, when he touches them. Castiel sighs. Seems like the dreams were really bad. He takes three new feathers and binds them into the Dreamcatcher.

Just as he steps down the stool, the old feather in his hand glows a lot more. Castiel sits down on the bed, closing his hand. His eyes glowing blue and the world around him changes.

Castiel gasps and suddenly it’s dark around him. He feels like he just broke through the water surface or something.

“Cas please!”

Castiel looks up at that and his eyes widen when he sees himself and Dean. They are in the bunker, Dean sitting on the war table, glass of whiskey in his hands. The other Castiel is standing with his back to Dean.

“Well, I don't think there's anything left to say.” The other version of himself says and Castiel realizes what this is. His fight with Dean. This time Castiel can see Dean’s reaction. The pain in his eyes.

“Where are you going?” Dean asks and Castiel’s chest hurts just as much as it did, when he really experienced it back then. The other version of Castiel leaves, he walks slowly upstairs and the door sounds too loud.

Castiel’s breath hitches when he looks back to Dean.

The glass in his hands falls loudly to the ground, but Dean doesn’t seem to care about the whiskey. Instead he puts both of his hands over his eyes and to Castiel’s utter shock, he starts to cry.

Not quiet, not pretty. No he pours his heart out.

“‘m sorry, Cas! Please… don’t please don’t go. I… I just miss my mom and… not you too Cas. Please don’t le-leave me here alone.”

Dean sobs loudly and Castiel wishes he could go over there and comfort him. Dean’s words still hurt, of course they do. But Castiel understands that Dean said them in anger and because of the loss of his mother, that he can’t move on from.

Of course it’s still wrong to let it all out on Castiel, but the angel knows Dean is sorry for it. Still it hurts him to see Dean likes this.

“Cas, come b-back please!”

And just like that Castiel opens his eyes again and he is back in Dean’s room. Dean’s pleas still loud in his ears. Castiel presses the feathers against his chest and leaves.

Dean’s biggest nightmare is Castiel leaving. And not coming back.

The next days continue just like that. Dean sleeps better, Castiel takes care of the dreamcatcher on his own and finds his heart breaking at each nightmare. It’s always the same.

Castiel leaving Dean after a fight.

Castiel dying.

Castiel leaving Dean for heaven.

“I hope you sleep well.” Castiel says, when he finds himself in Dean’s room again. Dean knows at least that he has to power the dreamcatcher up each night, but he doesn’t know how.

Castiel hadn’t told him that those are his feathers, but at least had assured him that it wouldn’t eat his grace away.

“I’m sure I will.” Dean says yawning already. He sits on the edge of the bed, already wearing his clothes for the night. Castiel loves that look on him and he wishes he could just lay down beside him. Hold Dean.

“Me too and Dean…?” Castiel says, when Dean finally lays down. The blankets are new, softer and thicker as well. Dean’s green eyes are already smaller. He’s really tired and so adorable.

“Hm?” Dean makes and Castiel smiles.

“I can’t wait to see you in the morning.” Castiel whispers, not even waiting for an answer before he closes the door. It’s not the promise that he wanted to give Dean, but it’s a start.

Castiel had done that a lot lately. He always tells Dean where he would go and when he would be back and it seems to work, because Dean seems more relaxed lately. He seems happy.

Castiel imagines how he cuddles now in his blankets and thinks of him. Maybe one day, Castiel would be allowed to see him like this. Soft and sweet sleeping in his arms.

Sure he had seen Dean sleeping before. But normally Dean moves a lot during his sleep, drowning in nightmares and tears. He watched over him before, until Dean banned him from doing so.

He really hopes that would soon change.

The next morning, Dean actually goes on a morning run with Sam and he tells them happily about this new recipe he wants to try for dinner. Sam seems eager as well and tells him about the farmer market they could run to, to buy everything they need. Castiel can’t help but smile himself and Sam seems to do better as well.

Castiel uses the time to change the Dreamcatcher again. This time he stops in his movement, because his feathers aren’t glowing in a dark blue. Instead there is a soft pink around it.

Maybe that means Dean didn’t have any dream tonight. Castiel looks down at his feather, closing his hand around them. Wouldn’t hurt to check what the color means, right?

“Hiya Cas!”

Castiel looks up, when Dean enters the kitchen. He probably followed the smell and that’s why he is still not dressed. Again only in his sleeping clothes and in his robe, but Castiel has to say he really enjoys that sight.

“Good morning Dean. I made you breakfast.” Other-Castiel answers and Dean is behind him in just a second. Dean even puts his head on Castiel’s shoulder and looks into the pan. The other Castiel smiles widely.

“I know why I fell in love with you.” Dean answers happily, before kissing Other-Castiel’s neck. Other-Castiel chuckles and turns around in Dean’s arms, putting his own arms around Dean’s neck.

“That the only reason?” Other-Castiel asks cheekily and Dean shakes his head. Pouting adorably, before leaning closer and kissing Other-Castiel. The kiss stays incredibly soft, but Castiel’s heart aches for this.

He can’t believe Dean would dream about something like this. He almost holds his hands out, when Dean breaks the kiss.

“But it’s one of the reasons.” Dean says cheekily while he grabs around Castiel and steals a piece of bacon out of the pan, before stuffing it in his mouth. Other-Castiel laughs loudly, when Dean bats his eyelashes.

“You are unbelievable.”

Just then the world around Castiel turns again and he finds himself back in Dean’s bedroom. He almost huffs, because he is annoyed that he didn’t get to see much, when he looks right into wide green eyes.

“Cas what the fuck!”

Oh no. This is the real Dean standing in front of him and he looks a bit angry. Castiel swallows and the feathers are almost falling out of his hands.

“I was just…” Castiel starts but Dean shakes his head.

“I forgot my wallet and when I come back you are in my room, staring at nothing, your eyes a bright pink and lost in something. Did you… did you watch my dreams?” Dean’s voice breaks at the end.

The betraying so clear in his eyes. Dean is hurt. Again, because of Castiel.

“Dean wait, I didn’t know at first that I could do that. It was an accident.” Castiel tries but it sounds weak in his own ears. Dean looks to the ground, his jaw ticking.

“How long?” Dean asks, his voice sharp.

“S-since the first night, but Dean I didn’t…” Castiel doesn’t finish the sentence because he has no idea what to say. Dean continues to look down, Castiel is afraid that now they will fight again.

“I… I don’t remember my dreams but I can guess what they are about. But today I had a good dream and I remembered this one. And… Cas, I’m sorry.” Dean finally looks up his green eyes full of tears.

And before Castiel can react, he already turns around and is on his way out. Castiel sputters at nothing, but luckily he is faster than the hunter.

He catches him in the war room and holds him against his chest. Dean doesn’t even struggle, so Castiel pushes him with his ass on the war table.

“Cas please - I really didn’t mean to fall…”

While this is what Castiel always wanted to hear, he kisses Dean quiet. He can’t wait any longer for this. Dean whines quietly but opens his mouth without any further protest and Castiel kisses him like there is no tomorrow.

When he breaks the kiss, Dean’s eyes stay closed for a few seconds longer. Castiel smiles a bit, when they do flutter open.

“What?” Dean whispers and he even strokes over his lips, as if he can’t believe Castiel kissed him, so the angel presses another kiss to his forehead. He wishes he’d never have to stop kissing Dean.

“I’m in love with you too.” Castiel says and Dean looks so shocked before there starts to form a smile on his lips as well.

“I dreamed about this.” Dean says and Castiel looks a bit sad, almost apologizing again, before Dean winks at thim.

“I know.” Castiel answers just as smug and then they stare at each other. Dean is still sitting on the war table, Castiel standing between his legs. Dean is only wearing shorts and Castiel strokes over his thighs.

“I’m still sorry for just looking into your dreams, I shouldn’t have done it, but I couldn’t stop because I hoped that you would love me too.” Castiel tries to explain himself. Dean nods slowly.

“It’s… okay. I understand why you did it and I’m just glad… it led to this.” Dean grins a tiny bit and when he leans closer, Castiel kisses him shortly. Dean seems pleased.

“Too bad it wasn’t a sexy dream.” Castiel mutters into Dean’s ear, who gasps quietly at that. Castiel laughs, seems like someone already had those.

“Hmm, I’m sure I can show you some time, what I dreamed about before.” Dean whispers back, he sounds so lascivious. Castiel can’t wait to hear more about those dreams. Can’t wait for Dean to show him.

“Do they involve those shorts?” Castiel wonders and Dean laughs loudly.

“No they do not, but we could easily change that. For now though, Sam is waiting outside.” Dean says and Castiel helps him up from the table. Dean is right, that all could wait, Castiel is just happy that they finally solved this.

“Fine. I’ll make you breakfast. Extra bacon, extra cheese.” Castiel says and Dean hums happily, before kissing Castiel again.

Seems like they both can’t stop.

Dean finally jogs up the stairs but he stops at the balcony again.

“Cas? Your uh feather… it didn’t hurt you did it?” Dean asks, clear worry in his voice. Castiel shakes his head.

“No, I lose them all the time, normally you just don’t see them.” Castiel answers, smiling up at Dean, who seems a bit relieved when he hears that.

“Well if I have to keep the shorts, you should show me your feathers more often.” Dean smirks and Castiel laughs loudly. That sounds like a good deal.

“Fine. Now go and be safe. I love you.”

Dean looks surprised at that and he turns red all over, Castiel can easily see that. The blush looks beautiful on Dean’s cheeks. He needs to see this more often.

“Love you.” Dean mumbles so sweetly before he is out of the door.

Castiel clearly hears Sam asking what took him so long and if he already ran because he is so red in the face. He doesn’t hear Dean’s embarrassed answer, but he doesn’t have to.

Instead he indeed goes into the kitchen to make breakfast. But to be honest he can’t wait for the night. Because this time he would make sure to be the one keeping the bad dreams away.

He keeps the dreamcatcher anyway.

For sentimental reasons.

Dean doesn’t complain.

#destiel #destiel fic #destiel fanfic #destiel writing #destiel fanfiction #my writing

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butididnottried · 5 years

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“The Dragon Prince” season 3 thoughts. In no particular order.

- Callum is such a mood in second episode. I also totally would roll myself in those small, adorable sticky furballs.

- Viren got a (light) case of dumbass disease and he don’t really know what he is doing. Aaravos is like “so, what do you want, be king, conquer, destroy?”, and Viren was just like “idk man, i’m just improvising”, lol. Also, his queen was dying in his arms and he still have audacity to be practical dark mage and catch her last breath into jar. Wtf man. But he also beat in a fight two of the bests moonshadows assassins alone? Just like that? Sick moves dude.

- Soren got such GOOD arc this season. I really thought he was going to be the one to stick to Viren, and Claudia would have doubts and leave, but NO, surprise, he’s the one to grow moral backbone! Also, “dear moon lady”. Precious.

- I really thought better of Claudia and was disappointed in her decisions. There’s probably no coming back for her. I don’t mean that this is a bad arc, no. Also, why she order her illusion to attack Ezran? Was she testing Soren? Forcing him to change his mind and make him get beck to her and Viren? It was “kinda” extreme. And oooh, maybe it’s weird but i really want to know how many bugs and critters, and maybe something (someone?...) else, Claudia kills to bring Viren to live. Damn, girl, how far did you go for that?

- HOLY $*)%@& SOREN JUST DID THAT! ...oh, it’s just an illusion... Listen here TDP, you can’t play with my emotions like that. D:

- Sooo... Ezran really bring those dragons to the battlefield and incinerating all those people. Like, i know that he totally doesn't want that, but still. Idk what to think about that. :/

- Kill count in this season is CRAZY. It wen’t from 0 to 100 at the speed of light. So intense. In the very first scene they turn human to ash. On screen!

- So, people and elves and dragons are totally ok with each other right now. I SOOO much want, no, i NEED, to see how Mr. Sol Racist Regem is going to react to this. Immediate heart attack from anger. Good.

- They wen’t into Power of Love territory. Not cool dudes, not cool. Ugh. Me no gusta this trope.

- Ibis have such a young voice. Didn’t expecting that. Not a big fan but it’s ok i think.

- I know that almost we all are thirsting after Aaravos, but i personally do not dig this negative filter of his. Except those white eyelashes, they’re just <3.

- Monarchy is stupid and should be banned and illegal. Like, the very first thing after when Ezran got back to castle should be to choose a regent for him, seriously, this is basis. Also, anyone can just proclaim themselves to be king/queen? Yeah, i know this “must be an orphan” rule, but still. And people was totally ok with this smug asshole taking the crown???

- Apparently it is very easy to walk into Xadia. xD

- Its was sometimes too whimsical and cheesy for me. ...fart flowers, really?...

- What’s with this continent? In Xadia every creature and plant is magical, even dirt is full of magic, but on humans territory there’s no magic at all. None. Zero. Null. Absolutely nothing. Was it always divided that way, but before dark magic humans were allowed to live on the right side, and elves and dragons were - for reasons - living on the left where’s no magic? Or magic was everywhere but somehow they get rid of it from humans part? Oooor, most probably, human mages just use it all already and Bait and that giant fish from first season are just sad leftovers from better, magical times.

- Crow Master and Kazi are so awkward and adorable, protect them at all costs.

- Sunfire elves makes such pompous impression with their attire and attitude and french accent, it’s just hilarious.

- Don’t know what’s going on with wormaavos. For now i think that it really might be a star dragon, and that’s what going to hatch from this cocoon. I know that people are theorizing that it may transform into new body for Aaravos and he is going to somehow move his consciousness into it, but... idk, it’s feels out of place in this lore. But i would love to read some theories how he could do it.

- Can’t believe that this mirror was just standing there like that, almost in middle of the nest chamber. It was pretty bright in there, so we can be sure for 99,9% that Thunder wasn’t talking with Aaravos. And how Viren take it with him when there was only two of them?

- Weirdly not felt sorry for Thunder. Since childhood i hated when characters in movies and cartoons were killed like that, even when they were the biggest scums. Don’t know why, but it always felt to me like one of the most painful and awful thing in existence. Until now. Oh well.

- Hot husband revealed. Expectations satisfied. But at first i thought that his name is Atari and excuse me WOT.

- asdfghjkl when Runaan and Ethari kissed and Runaan caressed his husband face with such tenderness and delicateness and my emotiONS and ohdeargod i wish that were me love level over 9000 for everything whats good in this world BEST FEW SECONDS IN THIS ENTIRE SHOW.

#tdp #the dragon prince #tdp season 3 #se3 spoilers #tdp spoilers #thoughts #tdp theory #aravos #viren #dragon #elves #claudia #soren #xadia #ethari #wooohooo #it was a blast #so good #such a wild ride

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sukunas-play-thing · 5 years

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I hope you are doing well may i request Nsfw and Sfw headcannons For Tetsutetsu And Kosei

I am doing quite fine anon bean thank you! I'd love to write kosei and tetsu (god I love my metal hottie) characters will be aged up in the NSFW headcanons!! Also reader is female

Word count: 8559

Warnings: nsfw content below and alotta fluff.

Kosei Tsubarbura

SFW

- very competitive when it comes to you.

- He shows off when you two go to the gym to work out. Dumbbells look awfully sexy when he's looking at you with those bedroom eyes.

- Coffee and ramen dates my dudes this guy dotes on you like you're the queen if England.

- Loves loves LOVES when you support him. Seriously this guy holds so much high standards for himself it's unbelievable at what lengths he'll go to be a good hero to his people. And you.

- complete sweetheart. He melts when you cook for him, help him with his training or anything else to help his life be much mire easier.

- But don't get it twisted. He goes above and beyond for you too.

- Gets mad when you think you have to do things yourself, what kind of a man would he be if he didn't help his old lady?.

- Can't help the lecherous thoughts flood his mind when you're just being. You.

- Wearing skimpy clothes of any kind? Touched him a certain way? Simply look his way with an all too sexy look of any kind? The man falters in his steps and has to stop himself before jumping you.

- You'd think after high school his closet perv would go down? Nope his thoughts only got worse after graduating and going out into the adult world.

NSFW under the cut

- he loves it when you use your tongue on him. Lap at his neck while whispering naughty things to him, making out with him, blow jobs. This man can't help himself your tongue does the hottest things to him. It should be a sin.

-He has a kink for doing the dirty in public.

- Netflix and chill. The dude pretty much invented it. Sex scene comes on the telley? Pssh guess what let's fuck.

- Praise kink. He needs to know he's fucking you good. And that you love him deeply.

- He's competitive in general so I van see this in effect tenfold in the bedroom.

- Sees how much he can get you to orgasm before the actually sex itself. Overestimation is a must in his book.

- of course he doesn't go too far he stops occasionally to make sure you're okay.

- His favorite position is Gemini and doggy style. Gives him a damn good view of your ass and loves watching it bounce and jiggle

- Gives that booty a nice spank too.

- Up to try anything you bring to the table. In fact he's a very adventurous man in the bedroom and isn't afraid of using toys of any size as long as it gets the job done and you both are splayed out on the bed sweaty and chests heaving in pure after glow.

- Takes very good care of you afterwards.

- Makes sure you're cooled off, gets wet rags and cleans you up

- Need a snack or drink he'll get it for you just wants you to be happy.

Tetsutetsu my metal hottie (also I really love this picture of him)

SFW

- GOSH this man here.

- Apple in your eye you fell for this man the moment you came to U. A to train to become a hero.

- Your friends from other classes at first complained about his loud and boisterous behavior.

- You shot them down immediately

- You thought he was the most beautiful man you've ever seen. The main thing that you loved most about him? His eyelashes. You were kinda jealous about them.

- approaching him on the other hand?

- Gosh you couldn't be as outspoken and honest as him

- He is an inspiration to you and you're whole class.

- When you finally had enough courage to tell him how you felt? He was taken aback for sure.

- It was during the villain attack at your camp you fought moonfish trying to protect an unconscious juzo and kodai.

- Running on pure adrenaline you ran to find kendo and tetsu whom you knew were nearby after your fight with the villain. With friends in tow you found the two. tetsutetsu was happy to see you were okay but angered at the sight of your bloody self .

- "TETSUTETSU IVE DISCOVERED MY DEEP SEATED FEELINGS FOR YOU AND I CANT IMAGINE A LIFE WITHOUT YOU IN IT. "

- god you were nervous the silence was deafening.

- "Like... Friends? " kendo facepalmed. "No idiot she just proclaimed her love to you. " his eyes lit up with glee.

- "Oh well why didn't ya say so!!?? " he enveloped you in the manliest hug possible.

- You two work out and eat healthy together now.

- After graduating from U. A you both decided to officially move in together.

- Best. Time. Of. Your. Life.

- you cook meals full of iron to help his quirk.

- The best dates with tetsutetsu are when you both go to arcades. Watching him play fighting games is so wholesome sometimes you forget you're supposed to be playing too and end up losing.

- "Babe!! Plus ultra!! You're supposed to kick that dirt bags ass!!"

- he's a movie night type of guy for sure. Mostly action and the like. Bends when you give him puppy eyes to watch something besides pure action. Your choices in films shocks and surprises him all the same.

- Horror.

- He gets so into yelling at the characters making dumb decisions and ends up dying. "THE CHIN. KICK HIM IN HIS BALLS DONT LET HIM KILL YOU. "you may or may not have recorded his reactions to movies before to show your friends later. He's such a dork

- Behind hugs while your doing anything around the house became a thing to him. Something about watching you work on anything you're doing at the time entices him to go up and hug tf outta you.

- He may be loud and hot headed but he's such a cuddle bug.

NSFW under the cut

- first off. Hes loud. Very loud

- the first time you both did the deed was in your living room. And apparently the walls are not near thick enough for this man.

- Neighbors complained some though gave tetsutetsu fist bumps.

- Eventually have to invest in moving into an actual house. In the country. Away from ears.

- You both wanted to do it way sooner, but being in school and the fact his mother threatened to kill him if he got you pregnant scared you both into waiting till after high school.

- when you realized how bad you loved this man and wanted the relationship to progress to physical intimacy was when he came home real late from patrolling. You woken to him just getting out of the shower and seen his bare back turned to you while he was rummaging for clothes to wear.

- God he was so sexy. Watching his muscles flex and move under his skin while water droplets fell. It made you so wet and the urge to climb him like a tree took over you.

- Slinking from bed as quiet as you could, you walked to him while he was putting a shirt on. Midway he felt small arms wrap around his stomach and stopped. His arms still in the air and shirt still over his head he felt your hands languidly move from his abs feeling every dip and curve of his body. Kissing his shoulder blades muttering words of praise to him.

- When your small hands reached his pecks feeling his clothed bulge grow in size through his sweatpants. He threw his shirt off him turning and picking you up so fast you squeaked a surprise.

- "Aight time to fuck."

- Sometimes his straight-forwardness was timed so right.

- his strength tends to leave him at times and forgets to be gentle. Unless you're into it he won't stop.

- Biting. That's it.

- Loves blowjobs

- His favorite position is any position especially those where he can pet you and see you're face contort in the most sinful expressions

- Gets off on you wearing his clothes.

- Walking around naked or in just a shirt and panties they'll be ripped off immediately.

- He tends to get jealous. Especially if you're around kirishima. I mean they're both nearly identical

- So jealous sex is common. Not that you'd complain. The mans got such a hot blooded personality and needless to say you love it when he's rough.

- The aftermath is messy and at times painful. So he always always takes care of his lady

- Hot baths together and watching a movie after is such a calming high.

- Praise kink

- May be dirty or gross to some but he's used your panties to beat the meat before.

- so all in all 100/10 Tetsutetsu is best man.

((Uhhmmm.... I'm sorry I wrote more for tetsutetsu than kosei I need to practice writing kosei more. I'm sure I am an inner hoe for him just gotta let her lose. But can you blame me? Tetsutetsu is best boy and deserves the whole damn world and then some. Please guys u be sleeping on him!))

Guys got anymore requests??? Send em in show me that inner hoe!!

🐲Queen Targe 🐲

#tetsutetsu tetsutetsu #bnha tetsutetsu #mha tetsutetsu #mha kosei #my hero academia #boku no hero academia #boku no hero imagines #boku no hero fanfic #boku no hero x reader #tetsutetsu x reader #kosei tsuburaba #class 1 b #don't read in polite company

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