#taken so long to get here I wouldn't be surprised if everyone had forgotten the host's warning

[kiss-me-cill-me]

Devour

Pairing: Jonathan Crane x Reader

Word Count: 5k

Summary: When you accept a ride home from your colleague, Dr. Crane, the last thing you expect is for him to drug you. Crane is surprised as well, however, as his fear toxin has a very... unusual effect on you.

Warnings: NON-CON smut, non-consensual use of fear toxin, sex pollen-esque situations, kidnapping, S&M themes, dacryphilia, fear play, breath play

***Please read the warnings before continuing. Minors DNI***

You were having an extremely bad day.

There was really no use mincing words about it. From the moment you’d woken up this morning, it had felt like the universe was conspiring against you. A cold shower, thanks to the hot water breaking yet again; facing what should be a criminal amount of traffic on your commute to work; and overall just a miserable shift full of difficult patients and unfriendly coworkers. It seemed like everyone had woken up on the wrong side of the bed this morning.

And now, as this long day was finally coming to an end, there was one more problem to face.

“Crap, crap, crap, where did I park?” you muttered.

The parking lot was dark. It was raining - of course it was raining. And the result was that you had been unable to find your car for the last ten minutes, and were now soaked through to the bone.

You raised an arm to shield your eyes from the relentless downpour of water, and scanned over the cars in front of you, again. You could have sworn you’d parked in your usual spot, but you had been in such a rush from being late because of the traffic that you must have carelessly parked somewhere else and forgotten.

Just as you were about to give up and go back inside to call a cab, you spotted the silhouette of a familiar make and model. Well, somewhat familiar - it looked like the car was listing to one side, at an odd angle to the pavement. As you approached, you instantly saw why.

Two of your tires had been slashed. The front and rear left wheels were completely deflated, causing the car to lean down and scrape its metal rims on the asphalt. There was no way you could drive this home.

“You have got to be kidding me!” you yelled, frustration crumbling into the beginnings of a sob.

It had been hard to hold it together at work, but you were always careful to project a certain sense of stability in front of the patients, and you had done so today as well. But now, in the privacy of a parking lot crowded with cars but devoid of people, you allowed your walls to come down and a tear to escape the corner of your eye.

“Everything okay over here?” asked a voice behind you.

You spun around, suddenly self conscious, to find one of your colleagues, Dr. Jonathan Crane, standing a few feet away from you. It was hard to see the expression his eyes might have held, behind the glare of his glasses and the sheeting rain between you - but you imagined it must be pity. You probably looked like a soaked rat, standing here clutching your briefcase, clothes plastered against you from the rain. Meanwhile, Crane was perfectly dry under an umbrella, his suit crisp and well-fitting as usual.

“I… no,” you admitted. “Some asshole slashed my tires.”

Crane had taken a few steps toward you, and now was holding out the umbrella to you. It wouldn't do much good at this point; you were already completely drenched and shivering. But you appreciated the gesture. You took the handle he offered, freezing cold fingers brushing against his for just a moment.

“Let me take a look,” Crane offered.

You wanted to tell him to not bother. That the damage was done, and there was no reason for him to get soaked, too, when at this point all that could remedy the situation was to call a cab. But before you had the chance to say anything, Crane was already stepping out from under the umbrella and leaning down to examine your front tire.

He kicked it with the toe of his fancy leather shoe a few times. Seemed to consider something with his hand to his chin for a moment. And then turned back to you and held his hand out for the umbrella. You gave it to him.

“Doesn't look like you'll be able to patch that up,” he confirmed.

You had already known that, but resisted the urge to tell him so. He was just trying to be helpful; you weren’t going to snap at him.

“Do you have any other way to get home?”

You shook your head.

“The bus line that goes by my apartment has been out of service for weeks. Something about an investigation,” you told him. “They found chemicals or a potential bomb or something. I don't even know. Just my luck, I guess.”

Crane’s voice had a soft lilt of amusement as he responded, or maybe it was just in your imagination.

“Sounds like Gotham for you,” he said.

For the first time, you looked up at his face. Crane wasn't particularly tall, but he had an imposing presence all the same. It was his intelligence - obvious from the moment you stepped in the same room as him - and his eyes - a hollow, piercing blue even behind his glasses - that gave him an air of authority. You were familiar with him as a colleague, but hadn't spent much time actually working with him. He was the Head of Psychiatry at Arkham, and you were one of the general physicians on staff. There wasn't a great amount of overlap in what you did. Crane made policies and studied the patients’ minds. You just tried, desperately at times, to keep them from succumbing to outbreaks of lice and flu.

As he looked back down at you now, you felt oddly comforted by Crane’s presence. He was intimidating, yes, but he also seemed to hold real interest in your predicament. Like he was concerned about what would happen to you, a coworker he barely knew and probably hadn't said more than a dozen words to before this. You recalled something - just an aimless piece of gossip - that you had heard from one of your nurses a few weeks ago.

“Crane is such an unbelievable creep,” she’d said.

He didn't seem creepy to you. A little awkward, maybe, coming to play the white knight and offer his opinions on a car tire that you could clearly tell needed to be replaced. But friendly; kind. It felt like he was your first piece of good luck all day.

“Tell you what,” Crane said, lowering his head to yours just a bit so as to be heard over the rain. “My apartment isn't too far from here. Why don't I drive you there, and you can dry off and change into some clean clothes while I call a tow?”

Gratitude flowed through you. Okay, you decided, he could play the white knight if he wanted to. If pretending that chivalry wasn't dead meant you could get out of this awful rain, you would take it. Still, part of you felt bad for making him go out of his way.

“Are you sure?” you asked. “I wouldn't want to trouble you.”

“It's really no trouble at all,” Crane assured you.

He motioned for you to walk with him, and set off toward a dark corner of the parking lot. You trailed alongside him, eager to stay under the shelter of his umbrella.

Crane’s apartment felt strangely secluded. It was quiet; with none of the usual bustle of other people coming and going, having arguments over dinner, smoking on the patios. No neighbors, Crane explained to you. He had the fourth floor all to himself, for the time being, due to renovations in the other two apartments. You weren't sure what they could possibly be renovating. The whole apartment building was spotless and modern; expensive-looking in a way that told you Crane had a lot of money. More money than anyone who worked at Arkham Asylum should have, considering the paltry wages they paid. But, you weren't about to judge; maybe he just came from a wealthy family.

“Would you like some tea?” Crane asked, shrugging out of his damp suit jacket and running a hand through his hair.

“Sure. Thank you.”

Crane filled a kettle with water, took two mugs out of a cupboard, and dropped two tea bags into them.

“Hope chamomile is okay,” he said, as he set the kettle to boil. Without waiting for an answer, he continued. “Let me get you some dry clothes. Wait right there.”

And with that, he disappeared into one of the rooms. 

You took a quick survey of the space around you. It was bright in the kitchen, but in a strangely clinical way that reminded you more of an operating room than a place drenched in sunlight. Maybe that's what they were renovating in the other apartments. For all the expensive amenities this place seemed to offer, harsh white fluorescents seemed an odd choice. 

Crane reappeared with a few items in his hands.

“Nothing fancy,” he explained, “but these should fit you. And here’s a towel if you need it.”

He offered what he was holding, and you took it. The logo on the t-shirt was for the Gotham PD. Strange. As far as you knew, Crane wasn’t connected with the police. It seemed a bit odd for him to have this shirt, but you didn’t question it too much. You didn’t really know him well at all, you reminded yourself. Who could say what he got up to in his free time?

“Guest room is down the hall and on the left,” he told you.

You thanked him and shuffled away to get cleaned up. You were dripping onto the linoleum of his kitchen floor, and you felt bad, again, for all the trouble you were causing. Crane surely had his own errands and hobbies to get to after a long day at work, and they almost certainly didn’t include looking after his errant coworkers. You smiled to yourself. Maybe after all this was over, you could do something nice to thank him. 

Crane’s shirt was only a little bit too big on you. He’d given you a pair of lounge pants as well. It was hard to imagine Crane wearing anything like this, even in his free time. He was always so well put-together in his suits and ties. Even though you mostly only passed him in the hallways, it was hard not to notice someone who so clearly took pride in appearances.

As you reentered the kitchen, Crane snapped his phone shut. He looked up from where he was sitting at the table, one mug of steaming tea in front of him and the other at the chair perpendicular to his. He smiled, and you took your seat.

“Tow truck is on its way,” Crane told you. “It’s all taken care of. Drink your tea and then I can drive you home.”

“Thank you… again,” you said. “I really feel bad that you’re doing all this. What do I owe you for the tow?”

“Don’t worry about it. Nothing.” 

Crane waved a hand. He was still in his dress shirt, but had rolled up the sleeves. You noticed for the first time how muscular his arms were. Not absurdly so, but more like the tense, lean muscle of a jungle cat. He still wore his tie, but reached up to loosen it a bit. 

“Drink up,” Crane continued. “It was cold out there. You’re shaking like a leaf.”

You raised the mug to your lips. Crane watched you, maybe just a little too intently, and you suddenly understood the nurse’s comment about him. He did have a disconcerting quality, just below his carefully curated surface. But still, he had been nothing but nice, and so what if he was a little socially awkward? The tea passed smoothly over your lips; the perfect temperature, but still hot enough to warm your throat.

“Delicious,” you commented. It felt like the warm tea was snaking its way through your body, mending aching joints that you hadn’t even realized were tense until now. “What did you put in this?”

Crane’s expression didn’t waver as he answered you. 

“Just tea… some sugar…”

It almost seemed like he was about to say more, but didn’t.

“Just sugar?” you asked.

You took another sip. The flavor was unlike any tea you’d had before; there was a complexity to it that you couldn’t put your finger on. A sweetness that somehow tasted different than usual.

Crane smiled, and said nothing. He took a sip of his own tea, carefully replacing the mug when he was finished.

A rumble of thunder shook through the apartment, and you jumped in your seat.

“Afraid of storms?” Crane asked. Casually, but with a glimmer of interest.

“Not really,” you replied, embarrassed. “Just a little jumpy, I guess.”

You took another long gulp of your tea. The mug was already half empty, and you could still feel the warm liquid soothing you. You were getting more relaxed by the minute. Strangely so. And something else was happening, too. A flutter in the very bottom of your stomach; like you were back in middle school at your first co-ed dance, building up the trembling courage to talk to a boy you liked. You looked up from your mug at Crane, to see that he was staring intensely at you.

“Um, I’m sorry,” you began, not quite sure where you were going with the sentence. “I’m just…” “Feeling okay?” Crane asked. 

There was concern in his voice, but his tone didn’t match the expression on his face. He was rapt; observing you like a rat in a maze. Like he was trying to read what was going on behind your eyes, which now felt like they were bugging out of your head.

“I…”

A new sensation rippled through your body, ending in a sharp pang right between your legs. You gasped, and your eyes went even wider. With shaking fingers, you reached out toward the mug in front of you.

“What the hell did you put in this?” you whispered.

Crane ignored your question. Your heart was pounding as he dragged his chair closer to you, leaning in so that his blue eyes were level with yours.

“What are you seeing?” Crane asked. “Rats, spiders? Does the room look normal to you?”

“What??”

He wasn’t making sense. You didn’t understand his words - and yet, you did, because as you looked around the room, it did seem to swirl in front of you. The bright fluorescent lighting took on an impossibly harsh tone, making shadows appear in all of the far-off corners. They started creeping closer to you, darkening the sides of your vision.

“Snakes are a pretty popular one,” Crane continued, his voice now clinical. “Do you see snakes?”

What was he talking about? Rats, spiders, snakes? Either this apartment needed way more renovations than you’d thought, or Crane had lost his mind. 

“I don’t know what you’re- ah!”

You were cut off mid sentence as another wave of something moved through you. Horrified, you finally recognized what it was. Desire.

Crane seemed to realize it at the same moment, watching you miserably cross and squeeze your legs. 

“Fascinating…”

His eyes trailed over you almost lazily as he took in your whole, writhing body. You weren’t sure how you had managed to stay in your chair this long. As whatever had been in the tea took hold of you, your heart raced faster and faster, and you felt an ever-building need to be touched. By yourself, by anyone. Even… The idea of it repulsed you, but that didn’t stop the want.

“I’ve never seen anything like this,” Crane observed. “Tell me: do you have a fear of intimacy, or does being afraid just turn you on?”

You wanted to spit insults at him and tell him to fuck off. But you were immobilized by a pressure that seemed to squeeze all the air out of your lungs. You had never felt such pure terror before. Your body was too hot; a weightless, flaming heat pulsed through your every limb. And woven through all of it was that gnawing, primal hunger that started deep inside of you and seemed to try and claw its way out. 

Crane sat calmly across from you. He took off his glasses and folded them neatly in front of him on the table. His eyes shined with something that looked like lunacy; ten times brighter now, without the thin pane of glass obscuring them.

“Based on the way that you don’t seem to be bothered by anything else… I’m going to assume it’s the first one,” he said.

It infuriated you that he was right. You’d had bad experiences with intimacy, and they had shaped you into a woman who was fearful of her own sexuality. You had no idea what Crane had spiked your drink with. But whatever it was, it was bringing those fears to the forefront of your mind; forcing you to face them instead of pushing them down deep - where they belonged, you thought bitterly. You couldn't ignore the arousal that creeped through you, clouding your mind even as it terrified you. And the worst part of all of this was that Crane was here to watch. There was, ironically, no greater intimacy than fear. Your fear was the most personal, private part of you.

You took a deep breath, and pushed up from your chair, hands still shaking as you braced them against the table. You were going to get out of here, you promised, even if you had to do it through clenched teeth.

“Impressive,” Crane remarked. “You’re actually trying to fight through it.”

He stood up, easily, and hovered next to your hunched form. You looked up at him, trying to force as much hatred into your eyes as you could, despite the intense pain and arousal that wracked your body. With great difficulty, you stood up straight to face him. It felt like you were about to pass out, but you stood your ground.

“I really don’t know where you think you’re going, though,” Crane said calmly. “I’m not even close to being done with you yet.”

Just as you were wondering what he could possibly mean by that, Crane's lips came crashing into yours. You let out a muffled cry - half of shock, but half, to your ever-growing horror, of need. You mewled against his mouth, disgusted with yourself, but unable to stop. Your eyes were blown wide. Crane’s were closed, his brows furrowed almost in concentration, as he wrapped his arms around you.

When Crane finally broke the kiss, you could feel your lips starting to bruise. He smiled wickedly down at you.

“I’m going to have a lot of fun with you,” he growled. “Does that bother you?” The drug - whatever it was - still had a powerful hold on you. But you could feel yourself slowly regaining control of some of your faculties. Probably, you could have answered him. Still, you refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing that, yes , what he'd said had terrified you.

“Well, it should,” Crane replied to your silence. His tone was still clinical, almost detached, as he continued. “You’re going to do whatever I want you to, or else this is going to get a lot worse for you. Do you understand?”

You didn’t want to answer him, but something within you was starting to slip. You were losing the fight to stave off your own submission. You nodded.

“Good.” Crane kept smiling at you, his eyes now blazing. “You know, I think you like it when I’m mean to you.”

You hated the way that your thighs clenched around his words. The way you could feel the blood rush to your clit. You were practically throbbing. 

“That’s good for me to know,” Crane continued. “But maybe not so good for you.”

You yelped as he lifted you up, forcing you to straddle his waist. Crane was a lot stronger than he looked. Outside, the storm continued to rage; you could hear the rain roaring against the windows.

“I have to say, I really didn’t expect things to go like this,” Crane said as he carried you through the apartment. You were heading down the hallway, but not into the guest room you had been in earlier. “I’m usually not the type to put out on a first date,” he joked. Suddenly, you were thrown down, landing roughly on what felt like a bed. “And I doubt you are either. You know… considering…”

As you lay on the bed looking up at him, Crane pulled at his tie and took it off, throwing it down next to you. Next came his belt. He untucked his shirt and started to work on the buttons, his hands moving nimbly down the front of his body. He wore no undershirt, and you hated yourself for staring at the way his bare chest peeked out from behind the fabric. Leaving his white shirt on but unbuttoned, he climbed onto the bed to hover over you.

“But I think we can make an exception just this once - don’t you?” His lips hovered inches away from your ear, and you could practically hear the smirk in his voice.

The rage that you felt momentarily pushed aside the fear that was still swirling inside of you. Scrambling to grab at the moment, you pushed his body with all of your might, trying to throw him off you.

You might as well have been pushing against a brick wall. Crane stayed exactly where he was, chuckling as he shrugged your hand off.

“Oh, honey,” he said, his voice full of pity. “I like it when you fight.”

He kissed you again, even more roughly than before. His teeth scraped against your bottom lip, and you swore you could taste blood. You thrashed below him, trying to kick out but unable to because of how tightly his body was pressed to yours. You scratched at his back, but that only made him moan greedily. Out of other options, you tried to bring your hands to his throat.

“Oh.” Crane broke away from you, just slightly, enough to snatch your hands away and slam them against the bed. “So that’s what you’re into. You can just use your words, you know; I want this to be good for you, too.”

With one hand keeping both of yours pinned, Crane brought his other hand down to your neck. Your eyes widened with fear, and he seemed to drink in your desperation. Frozen, you willed yourself to fight back, but couldn’t. Crane’s fingers ghosted over the soft skin of your neck for a moment as he looked at you.

With a wicked smile, his hand clamped down on your throat. Your vision was already clouded from whatever drug he had slipped to you, and now the sides of it seemed to close in, trapping you in your own body as his hand tightened. It wasn’t enough to actually hurt you, but the panic it caused made your heart rate spike more than you would have thought possible. You felt your pulse thump against his fingers. You squeezed your eyes shut and started to breathe quickly, in short, desperate gasps. Crane’s hand that was holding your wrists in place came down to tug at the hem of your pants.

“Shhh,” he soothed. “Breathe through it and focus on me.” His voice, gentle but commanding, was in stark contrast to the way his hands hungrily moved over you. You opened your eyes to see his cool blue ones staring back at you. He had somehow wrestled you out of your pants - the ones he had given you less than twenty minutes ago - dragging your underwear down along with them, and you lay beneath him in nothing but your borrowed shirt, tears streaming down the sides of your face.

“You’re so pretty like this,” Crane said, one hand still on your neck. The fingers of his other hand started to trace small patterns on your hip. “Scared, such a mess, crying for me. Sorry if I cum too quick; it’s just hard not to get riled up when you’re like this.”

Crane unzipped his pants and pushed them down to his thighs. You didn’t want to look at him, but you could feel him pressing against the inside of your leg. He was clearly enjoying this.

You let out a choked sob, and Crane’s smile grew. He was pressing against your entrance, threatening to take you at any moment he wanted.

“You’re wet,” he commented. “You’re actually turned on by this.”

No, you told yourself. No, you weren’t; it was just the drug he had given you. Some kind of fucked up aphrodisiac that was making your body function independently from your mind. You didn’t want this. But then, why did you feel such a rush every time his hands brushed against you?

“Fear is exhilarating, isn’t it?” Crane said quietly, still hovering just on the edge of penetrating you. “Some people find it addictive. Seems like you might be one of them.” He let out a short laugh as he pressed just a bit more into you, inch by devastating inch. “It makes the mind so malleable,” he continued. “Just think: less than an hour ago, you were so afraid and alone that you agreed to come with me - a man you barely know - back to my apartment, alone. That was a bad choice. I’m sure you realize that now. But in that moment, you were so pathetic and vulnerable, I think I probably could have gotten you to do anything.”

You tried not to listen to him; to block his words out. This wasn’t your fault. He was your coworker - a senior member of the staff, for fuck’s sake. You should have been able to trust him. But you had, and look where it had gotten you.

“Now here you are,” Crane continued. You realized with a gasp that he was fully inside of you. “Still just a scared little girl, shaking in my bed. Crying her eyes out.”

“No,” you said weakly, tears still streaming down your face. “No, no, no…”

Crane removed his hand from your neck, and placed his elbows on either side of you, caging you within his arms.

“Don’t pretend you don’t like this,” he spat. “I feel you clenching around me. Maybe I was wrong; maybe it is just being scared that gets you off.”

Now that your hands were free, you brought them to grip at his shirt collar, trying again desperately to push him off. You tried to wriggle away from him, but all that did was make Crane moan at the friction and laugh at your struggling. 

“Slow down, honey,” he warned you, his voice thick with sex. “I already warned you how fast you’re gonna make me cum.”

One of his hands found your hip, stopping you and holding you in place. Once he had you submissive again, Crane started to move his hips in slow circles, relishing the feel of you. Despite yourself, you arched your back and grabbed at the sheets with your fingers. He felt good. A fresh round of tears sprang to your eyes as you moaned loudly.

“That’s it,” Crane praised. “Cry for me. Beg me to stop, hit me, scratch me - it doesn’t matter. None of it changes the fact that you’re enjoying this.”

Again, you hated him for being right. Even through the fear - even knowing how horrible what he was doing to you was - somehow, you only wanted more. The room swirled around you, shadows creeping in on your vision again. 

You gasped as Crane’s thumb found your clit. You had been on the edge of an orgasm practically since Crane’s drug had entered your system, and it took everything in you to fight the feeling that was building as he pressed on your most sensitive spot. 

“Don’t be shy,” Crane pushed. “You can rub yourself against me; pull my hair if you want. Whatever you need to get off. I want to feel you cum on my cock.”

You hated Crane. You hated him so much - for what he was doing to you, for how he was enjoying it, and most of all for how he was making you powerless to fight against the pleasure. Making your own body a traitor against you. It was obscene and embarrassing and terrifying. With a flash of passion, you reached up and slapped him across the face.

“Ohhhhh, fuck,” he growled.

It was the first time you’d heard him swear, and the realization sent a new heat pooling between your legs. Crane, usually so organized and meticulous, was starting to come apart.

“You have no idea how good you’re making this for me,” Crane teased. A few strands of hair, slick with sweat, were sticking against his forehead. “You’d better be careful, or I’m not gonna be able to pull out of you in time.”

You cried out, half in frustration and half because of the way his thumb was still brushing against you with every shallow thrust of his hips. Everything you tried to do to him only spurred him on more. Your face contorted in anguish, eyes staring up at the ceiling as an orgasm finally ripped through you.

Crane was babbling in your ear - god, he never shut up. You weren’t even paying attention; too focused on your own private nightmare that was unfolding but never seeming to end. You bucked against his hand, involuntarily pushing his cock deeper, and heard him utter a breathless curse.

“Shit.”

When you were conscious of your body again, the first thing you noticed were the wet ropes of cum squirting across your breasts. You still wore Crane’s t-shirt, and the damp fabric pressed against your skin as Crane rutted into his hand above you. Disgusting. He was so depraved. So unbelievably fucking creepy. So hot.

You shook your head. That was just the drug talking. Crane flopped down on the bed next to you, smiling. Pleased with himself. It made you shudder. He let out a satisfied breath.

“Well, again, not what I was expecting,” Crane grunted, sitting up to balance on one elbow as he looked at you. “But I’m certainly not complaining.”

His blue eyes looked at you, making you squirm under the intensity. Without warning, he pinched your chin between his fingers and held you in place for a long, horrifically sensuous kiss.

“I think you and I are going to have a lot of fun together.”

Outside, thunder crashed again, and you jumped.

[facelesssbirds]

Dancing In The Rain || Genshin

A.N. I found that some of these were longer than others, which I'm so sorry for <33 Enjoy! You dance in the rain, with, or without them. Implied F!Reader, Neuvillette, Dottore, Kaveh, Arlecchino Warning: None, though the Harbinger sections makes allusions to their "work,"

Neuvillette had never liked the rain, it was a reminder of his duty, a sick, twisted sign of his failures. He was the reason for the rain today, a court trial having just been finished when you had burst in, long after everyone else had left. Only he remained, standing in the centre of the room almost dramatically.

"Neuvillette," You spoke softly, setting down the umbrella you had been carrying to look at him.

He may've looked calm, composed even, but you could tell he was a mess, his face set in a firm frown, but his eyes softened when they met yours. You took his hand, quiet, intimate.

"Dance with me." You murmured, coming to rest your hand on his shoulder.

He frowned, looking around the court room, askew with chairs, desks and other obstacles, "We can't dance here," he said, a hint or remorse peaking into his voice, it was was hoarse from speaking all day.

You nodded in agreement, listening to the rain outside grow louder, a crack of thunder in the far off distance. Smiling, almost hesitantly you lead him out the doors, through the large, grandiose halls of the opera and out into the pouring rain, your umbrella long forgotten.

"We'll simply dance in the rain," You said, ignoring his protests, and forcing him into a ballroom waltz.

His hand slipped to your waist with little resistance, the harsh droplets of rain softening, wetting both of you to the bone. You should be miserable, standing here, dancing in the rain, and yet, a smile comes to your face, and maybe, just maybe, a hint of sunshine peaks through those dark, looming clouds.

Dottore was a man of science, cold and cynical, but the seemingly unending rain of the Sumeru Jungles bothered him more than he cared to admit. Omega had gotten some water in through his eye sockets, normally this wouldn't be an issue that he would deal with, and Omega could've just taken care of it himself, but naturally the idiot (himself) had ignored every sign of malfunction to work on the god project.

The one bright side was that he got to visit you, you oh, beautiful, perfect, you who stayed in Sumeru as a street dancer, and a scholar, despite the akademiya's terrible treatment of someone as perfect as you. That truly, was the only reason he was out in the rain, watching as you, despite being drenched in the warm rain, preformed a beautiful dance, your aerial dance had long been discarded, you hadn't wanted to ruin the silks, he assumed.

Truly, though, he was your only spectator. The only watcher of your fruitless efforts. The market had long since closed down, but you had barely seemed to notice, your eyes focused solely on completing your routine. He smirked from under his mask, watching as finally, your dance ended, your chest heaved as he offered you his umbrella, shielding you from the rain.

"Are you finished already, darling?" He questioned, watching as you glanced up at him, surprised.

"Zandik!" You gasped, your eyes widening, though you grinned, "I didn't know you were in town-"

He chuckled, "I had... matters, to attend to, and of course, I had to stop by and see you, my darling."

You giggled, giving him a look, "Well, then, I suppose you owe me a dance for being gone for so long."

"In the rain?" He mused, "Darling, perhaps we should wait, you could catch a cold--"

You hush him, patting his shoulder, "Oh it'll be fine~"

He huffs, but complies, his hands coming to your waist, watching as you revel in the feeling of water hitting your face, soaking you to the bone. He'll be there to nurse you back to help after you get sick, either way.

Kaveh was a hard worker, you knew, and sometimes, he worked a little too hard. You had stopped by his and Al haitham's house, looking for Kaveh, who had promised to go on a date with you, only to learn he had been in the library since yesterday.

Naturally, you were worried, thanking Al Haitham before running off to go look for your beloved. The rain hardly stopped you, running into the library drenched, your rain jacket soaked, and your hair a mess. The Library was empty, the lights shut off as you perused, looking for your darling little blonde.

"Kaveh," You mumbled when you saw him, rushing over to his sleeping form.

He was hunched over books and a intricate blueprint of some architectural design, it was beautiful, almost as breathtaking as him, even sleeping with ink smudged on his cheek he looked perfect. You knew he thought the same about you, his eyes lighting up when he saw you, rubbing the sleepiness away from his eyes in an instant to sit up, nuzzling into your arms for a hug.

"Darling!" He said into your arms, not minding the cold wet water drenching you, only for him to quickly turn sad, "I forgot-- shit-- I'm so sorry--"

You cut him off patting his back, "Kaveh, it's fine really, just-- rest." You said firmly, giving him a stern stare.

He grinned, looking out at the glass balcony behind him, before deviously turning to you, "Say... do you like dancing?"

You raised an unamused-- slightly confused-- brow, "It's fun, yes, but really--"

You were cut off by him practically dragging you towards the balcony, opening the door, not minding as rain wetted his clothes, his hair, his face, smudging his makeup and washing off the ink stuck to his cheek.

"Dance with me." He muttered, breathlessly, looking out at the rain, the air surrounding him, at you.

And, god, those eyes. You couldn't help but comply, spinning out as you waltzed, a night to remember for you both.

Arlecchino had always enjoyed ballroom dancing, the elegant refinery of performance. She had taught the children how to dance when they were young, cultivating dance into an art form of itself, a show that must always go on. And now, the performance they had made Fontaine was finished, only the epilogue to be enacted.

"Father." Lyney said, bowing slightly, "This performance has been finished."

Arlecchino smiled, restrained in elegance, sharp as a knife and hard as an edge, "Very good. Fetch your Mother for me, Lynette."

Lynette nodded, disappearing as quickly as she had appeared, a flurry of wind replacing her, sleight of hand at its finest. Arlecchino directed her eyes towards Fontaine, unaware of the hours that would soon await it as the sun set.

"Arlecchino, darling-" You came to stand beside her, smiling, "You called?"

She nodded, looking over at you, tracing your shoulder, "Yes, walk with me one. One last performance."

You glanced up surprised, "Of course."

And so, it was. Arlecchino's hands gripped yours as you walked through the garden, marveling at the sunset, and the looming clouds in the distance.

"Arle..." You murmured softly, "It's going to rain soon. We should head back inside."

Arlecchino's grip on your hand tightened, "Nonsense. Dance with me," She smirked, her free hand coming to play with your hair, before trailing down to your waist in slow, languid movements. You couldn't ever resist this woman.

"I suppose I must," You say, sighing through a smile, watching as rain hits the pavement around you. Soon, you too will be drenched, but happier than before, after all, dancing with your darling was something everyone wishes for.

[randomshyperson]

Wanda Maximoff x Reader - Pure Heroine Series Part Six - Still Sane

Summary: You and Wanda have been friends for years, but now, you're grown up. Nothing stays as it was. | Album Inspired series "Pure Heroine" by Lorde.

Warnings: (+18), mutual Pining, friends to lovers, fluff, some typical trope angst, high school to college, making out, drinking, substance abuse, fighting, implied compulsory heterosexuality. | Words: 1.426k

General Masterlist | AO3 | Wattpad | Pure Heroine Collection |

-&-

The reason for the delay was traffic.

Wanda didn't mind, not as long as her cigarette was lit at least.

The party was going on inside Steve Rogers' apartment, and Brooklyn was full and bustling on the balcony view. The cigarette on her lips came from the box she'd taken from your jacket pocket before you left earlier, and Wanda could smile to herself imagining your grimace when you realized she'd stolen your cigarettes. Perhaps it was a childish way of punishing you for working on her birthday, when after everything that had happened between you, what Wanda wanted most was to keep you by her side, all the time if possible.

While smoking on Steve Rogers' cold balcony, she came to two conclusions: She really was, undeniably and ridiculously in love with you. From here to the moon, and all that cheesy shit they quoted in the movies. Maybe she should get a ring. And the second thing, Wanda wanted to have sex with you tonight.

She blew smoke into the sky, imagining your reaction when she brought up the subject. Flushed cheeks, a hungry look in your eyes, like every time the make-out sessions got heated and she played with the lobe of your ear between her teeth. Maybe she wouldn't say anything. She was just going to wait for everyone to leave the party, and drag you into the bedroom. And pull your hand under her dress so you'd get the message.

The opening of the door took her attention away from the street.

"Hey, birthday girl." It was Natasha, with a casual smile and a leather jacket. She held out her hand, and Wanda handed her the cigarette. "You're not running away from your own party, are you?"

Wanda smiled at the provocation, shaking her head. "I just needed a moment." She mutters, looking down for a moment. "I'm going to tell Y/N tonight that I want to sleep with her."

Nat choked on the drag with a surprised laugh. "Shit, this... is actually good news." She comments good-humoredly. "But to be honest, I thought you two had done that ages ago."

Wanda chuckles, rolling her eyes. "We've almost done it a dozen times." She comments thoughtfully. "Especially when it became official. But then, it just didn't happen. Someone always interrupted, or one of us chickened out." She says sincerely. "I came so close to fucking everything up, Nat. Like, actually fucking us. And I don't think I ever thanked you for calling her that day. Without that, I don't think we would have ever gotten together."

Natasha takes a long drag, shaking her head. "I doubt that very much, Maximoff." She says, gesturing with her cigarette. "You and her have some pretty intense shit going on. Ever since we were kids, you know? More than the Steve and Bucky drama, and I swear to God that's something." The two laugh at the comment. Natasha hands Wanda back her cigarette. "I think if you'd never apologized, you'd end up OD'ing at one of these parties and Y/N would be the person next to your bed."

Wanda looks away, swallowing dry at the mere possibility. When she speaks again, her voice is hoarse. "I don't fucking deserve her."

Nat clicks her tongue indignantly. "Don't say that."

"It's the truth."

"Wanda, shut up." Natasha speaks more seriously and waits for the girl to raise her eyes to her again. "You made a mistake, but there's no one in this world who deserves to be with her more than you do. Have you forgotten how you were there for her with her parents' divorce, or when her grandmother passed away? Because I'm sure she hasn't. And she stays, not just because she's completely in love but because you've already done the same for her. So stop talking shit, and don't let these insecurities try to ruin what you've fought to build."

Wanda hugs Nat around the neck, the girl laughs in surprise but strokes her back. The brunette murmurs a muffled thank you into her friend's hair, and Natasha nods. 

A moment later, the moment is broken with a joke about Wanda not being able to keep her pants on, and they leave the balcony into the party laughing.

-&-

You know there's something different.

From the way Wanda looked at you when you arrived, or kissed you in the hallway, pressing your back against the wall and biting your lip before dragging you into the party.

She stayed on your lap almost all night, between games and small talk, until she made a complete mess of you when she licked the cake icing off the corner of your mouth.

She was wildly flirting with you until the tie around your neck started to tighten.

When the punch ran out, and she asked you to help her get some bottles of wine with her in the kitchen, Wanda ended up pressed against the fridge, your hungry tongue on hers and your hands everywhere.

"What are you up to, Wanda?" Your question came against her jaw as she paused for breath. The girl squirmed between you and the fridge, her skin burning and her hips impatient. 

"I don't know what you're talking about." She lies in a falsely innocent tone directly into your ear. Nails scratching your back under your shirt are returned with a hickey on her collarbone that makes her whimper. 

You gasp affectedly, holding her still with a tight grip on her hips, unable to formulate any new sentence if she kept grinding against you like that. "You've been driving me crazy all night, baby. Would it be rude for us to flee your party? I really want to take you home..."

Truth be told, she was so turned on that all that came out of her throat was a pathetic plea. You kissed her again until her knees gave way and Wanda began to consider taking off her clothes in the middle of Steve Rogers' kitchen.

But somehow, you managed to let go and return to the party with her hand in yours; blurry, automatic goodbyes now that the cake was cut, and Wanda was hugged by everyone before she was outside.

You took her downstairs, hand in hand, which you only released to get into the parked car. Wanda let out a shaky breath and you leaned towards her again.

The thought of the two of you getting home was almost comical now.

Your hands pulled her onto your lap effortlessly, as you gasped into each other's mouths. Wanda sucked on your tongue, her hips grinding against your lap in the hope that you would help her with the hot knot at the tip of her stomach, and a loud whine when your hands wasted no time. Your fingers pushed the fabric of her panties away and sank into her with ease, the warmth welcoming you deep inside.

The kiss was broken with a dirty moan, and you almost came just from the image. Wanda gripped your shoulders tightly, panting against your mouth as she rode your fingers. 

The car rocked gently, and you let your free hand pull her dress down, exposing her breasts. Your fingers moved to play with her nipples, and Wanda moaned against your tongue.

She came just like that, hard and so pretty, for the first time against your hand. In the seat of the car where you had traveled together dozens of times before, looking at you in a way that at the same time was the same and the most unique way she ever did. A hidden message in her stare that you understood with your heart.

You didn't pull out your fingers from her to tell her you loved her as well.

In fact, you sank them deeper and spun them around her warmth to elicit another moan from her. She choked on her own pleading sighs, and you repeated the movements and the words. Wanda moved against your hand and came again before whimpering:

"I love you too, baby."

And you were still her best friend and the person who could tease her with a breathless giggle: "Really, or is that just the two orgasms talking?"

She chuckled too, more affectedly. "Fuck you."

Your thumb pressed her clit, and Wanda bit your shoulder to stifle a loud moan. "I love you too, asshole." You retorted, kissing her jaw. "But you'll have to say it again tomorrow when you're not riding my fingers."

Wanda bites your mouth to make you shut up.

[shinyrhinestones]

Two doors down

Summary: Reader has had a bad day, and tries to cheer herself up by going to a party she has been invited to, where she ends up meeting a cute boy. (Yes, it’s based on the Dolly Parton song). Reader doesn’t work at the BAU.

Pairing: Spencer Reid X Fem!Reader

Category: Oneshot

Genre: Fluff and smut.

Warnings: Alcohol, partying, kissing, Reader has quite long hair, Reader is studying to become an archaeologist, but Reader is about the same age as Spencer. Smut, soft intercourse, petting, protected intercourse, making-out.

This is my first time writing a little more explicit so it might not be that good…

Also English isn’t my mother tongue, so there will probably be some mistakes.

———————————————————————-

Bad days happen, and that's okay. But they definitely don't make the targeted person feel very good. I guess, it's only a bad day if you let it be. But honestly today had just been straight up a horrible day, and I wasn't sure if any of that could be saved. The day wasn't over yet, but still, it felt like alot to make up for. First of all, the weather had been horrible. It was raining heavily. Thunder coming every now and then giving me a shock, because of how loud it is. Everything had been so irritating today. My sleeves kept getting stuck onto doorhandles, kept dropping things and my hair wouldn't cooperate with me.

The rain drops had felt like sharp diamant pieces falling onto my skin and hair. I had let out a deep sigh entering the warm building of my school. But it was the most uncomfortable feeling in the world sitting on those unbearable chairs in my school, and just walking around in general with completely wet and soaked socks and pants. And my long hair dripping onto the floor. My classmates had been obnoxious. Maybe I just felt that way, because I was already in a bad mood and on edge.

I had completely forgotten about the whole party my friend, Elle was having. Work had been taking up my whole mind that day, that when I looked at my calender I almost had a heart attack. Luckily, I didn't need to worry about the weather and having to find a way of transportation in it, because Elle lived just two doors down from my apartment.

I didn't know what to wear or if what I wanted to wear was even clean. So I decided to worry about that later, and jumped into the shower. One thing at a time.

The warm shower, helped with relaxing and clearing my mind. Also, that meant my hair could sit better, than it had the whole day. I found some clothes that fit a party, like the one I was going to. It wasn't going to be anything wild, but just a gathering with some music and games. I never really went to wild parties anyways.

-

Music was playing at a fitting volume, with people chatting and some playing games like limbo. It was entertaining watching how low people could get until it was just impossible, unless you wanted to break a bone. I was watching some of them, smiling and laughing at it. I did feel a little tired, rubbing my eyes here and then, but I found the athmospehere of my friends apartment too comforting to leave. Also, I didn't want to just show up and then quickly scram from the whole event. Unless, I had a good exuse, and I didn't. So I was sitting there on her black couch, leaning an elbow on my leg and resting my head on my fist. I had a can of beer infront of me, but I had only taken like one sip from it. I really wasn't in the mood for getting drunk or being hungover. I felt the weight on the couch shift when a young man sat next to me. I looked over shortly to see who it was, and to my surprise I didn't recognize him. I knew everyone else at the party, except for him. I straigthened my posture a bit, studied his side profile as he looked at the limbo that was happening. He had a sharp jawline, cute button nose and dark hair. Hair that wasn't to short nor was it too long. "Hi"I softly said. The man turned to me, with raised eyebrows and curious eyes. I already loved staring into those brown doe eyes. "Hi" He replied. A small vague smile formed on my face, and I could see one on his face too. "I'm Y/N" I said, and studied his face further.

"I'm Spencer" He said like he had been holding a long breath. He nodded a little at me, as his way of greeting me, and I must've mirrored his gesture. "How do you know Elle?" I asked, and started fidgeting with the can. The can had gone warm, after just sitting on the coffee table for so long. "I work with her. We're really good friends from work" His lips went into a straight line alot of the time, and I couldn't stop staring at them. They were pink and looked so kissable.

Elle had recently gotten the opening at the BAU as a profiler. Maybe that was why she held this little party, to celebrate in a way. I'm not sure. She didn't say so. I looked over at Elle, who was already eyeing me and Spencer. She smiled at me, and then looked back at the game she was occupied with.

"At the BAU?" I asked, knowing the answer already. But it was just to hear more from that pretty mouth of his. He nodded. "Yes, we work as profilers." He said a little low, like he didn't actually want me to hear him. I felt a warm feeling spreading through my chest, just by looking at him. His own fingers were fidgeting, and he looked around alot. Behind me, infront of himself and only managed eye contact for a few seconds. He tucked his hair behind his ears, and I really wanted to touch it myself. Run my fingers through his dark hair and feel the hopefully soft and nice feeling. I could only imagine it being delicate.

"How do you know her?" He wondered. "I met Elle, when I moved here. I wanted to see if law enforcement was for me, and during my search for maybe my law enforcement education I met Elle. She worked with sex crimes." He smiled the whole time I was trying to find the right words, for my explanation. He nodded along the whole time. "So did you choose law enforcement?" He asked. "No. It felt like there was other great stuff out there for me. I think law enforcement would've been fun, but I feel like there was just more fun stuff out there" I tried to explain my best, but I was truly nervous around this beautiful man. Everytime I meet a handsome man, I find it hard to not be anxious just a little. I bounced my leg up and down, looking around the apartment. The window had been opened to probably ease the smell of alcohol. A cold breeze was lingering in the apartment. Cars were driving by and stars were shining down onto earth. "So what do you do?" "I am studying. I want to become an archaeologist."

Spencer had seemed very intrigued by my interest in history, and talked to me almost all evening about facts and stories including the past. I listened to him, finding it cute the way he was talking and rambling. And honestly, I was happy to have met someone who was interested in something I was. After alot of talking, people were moving over to the living room to rest, and sat down around where me and Spencer had been sitting.

"Hey, do you want to maybe go somewhere more private? A lot of people are moving over here. We could talk about it more, if we just moved." I leaned in close to Spencer, so only he could hear me. My voice was almost a whisper. Spencer felt my breath on him, which only made his fluttering heart go wilder.

He'd been feeling so lucky to have been able to keep a conversation with a stranger, and that that person made him feel that special and rare feeling inside.

"Oh..yeah- uhm..sure" He looked down, not being able to look at me anymore. I could see a small blush being painted onto his pretty cheeks. I stood up, and waited for him to follow my lead.

I stopped walking for a moment to talk to him shortly. "We could just go to my place, it's in the same building"

Spencer had agreed with a shy: Yes. And a nod.

-

Elle had given me a funny look, when I told I was leaving as Spencer did too.

But it didn’t really matter what Elle was thinking because I was now in my own apartment with a guy who was very attractive both physically and personally.

He was shy, kind, clever, sweet and understanding. He seemed to actually listen and be interested in what I was saying. I did go to school with a bunch of people who are also interested in it, but none of those people made me feel the way Spencer did. He had a soft nature to him, and it was almost like I could see the goodness ray and shine around him.

“You have a nice place.” He complimented. I wasn’t sure if he felt obligated to say that, but I appreciated the kindness.

“Thank you.” I replied, and sat down on my couch. “You can look around if you want” I’m not sure why I said that, to a man who I just had met, but it slipped.

He looked through some of the books I read, and kept going on these ramblings about facts and whatnot about what these books reminded him of. And I just sat there and listened with a soft smile, and probably pink cheeks.

He sat down next to me, and a small silence filled. He didn’t really look at me, when he sat down. But at one moment he did, and that’s when my I didn’t even think before I acted. I kissed him, and brought my hands up to his face. I let my hands caress his cheeks, and up to his hair. I felt his own hands wrap around my body holding me closer than before. His lips were so soft. I could feel every single butterfly basking it’s wings in my belly.

At one point we had to pull away for air.

We just looked at each other. In to the others eyes, studying them. I know, I could look into his pretty ones for an eternity. I tilted my head while looking at him. My arms rested around his neck, and his were still around me. They were careful and gentle. His hands were large and honestly so beautiful.

Then I kissed him again. I swear I could see the almost hypnotized look in his eyes, and the way his breath got caught in his throat. But he melted into the kiss, just like his body did. I couldn’t keep my hands away from his hair. He started to lay his body on top of mine, which I was only happy to experience. Feeling his weight on me, but of course he didn’t lay all of his weight on me. But it still felt nice to have him so close.

As we laid there just kissing and letting our hands wander on each other, we both got more into it.

So I asked him. Carefully though. I really didn’t want to make him uncomfortable, but I wouldn’t know if he wanted to if I didn’t ask. He seemed completely hypnotized in some way. He mumbled a yes, and I had pushed him off me to sit up on the couch both of us. I think that had scared him. That he had done something wrong, but that was not my intention at all. I just wanted to ask him about his boundaries and what he likes, and then I told him my own aswell. I’ve always found it important to know each others boundrasies and no-go’s in order to have a good time together.

I normally wouldn’t really have gone this far with someone I’ve only known for a few hours.

I guess, the reason why I did it was because I had had a bad day and just needed something to relieve all of my tension and frustration.

I remember holding his hand and guiding him to my bedroom, with him following me like a puppy in a crowd.

The light in my room wasn’t too bright because I just turned on the bedside lamp. I went over to close the door, and when I turned around Spencer was sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting for me. I decided to just lay down on the bed guiding him on me.

He started kissing down my neck and went down to my collarbone. His hands slid under my blouse, and caressed the skin under. I had reached for the buttons on his shirt and started unbuttoning them. I immediately let my hands roam over the already exposed skin on his chest. We didn’t even break the kiss, while we snuck our hands under each others clothing.

But at one point we had to break the kiss to get off each others clothing completely. Being intimate with Spencer was a time worth remembering. He was a lover who really cared.

We were both bare at this point. He had taken my shirt off and didn’t even throw it. He just let it fall from his grip onto the edge of the bed, not even looking where it landed. He kissed down my neck and down my collarbone. I sighed, and my hands ran through his dark hair. His hands slowly and carefully brushed down my belly, and right when he was to touch my most sensitive spot, he looked up at me.

His brown puppy dog eyes looked up at me through his eyelashes. “Can I?” His voice was low and comforting in a way. “Yes” I looked back at him with a subtle smile, resting my weight on my elbows. He ghosted his middle finger above my already wet folds. He didn’t put any pressure yet. He kissed my belly and kissed down my hips, and then let lingering kisses on my inner thighs. I closed my eyes, enjoying the gentleness from a man like him.

I opened my eyes again, looking at how pretty he was exploring me. He caressed one of my thighs with one of his large hands. His other hand softly sliding through my folds, before hus middle finger ended upon my clit. He started to rub his finger against it in circles. I started panting just a little, my breath getting heavier. I let out a barely audible whine, but because it was quiet in my quite small flat, and it was just me and him, he heard it.

I reached for a condom in drawer of my nightstand.

“Could you wear protection?” I asked so I wasn’t just doing stuff without being thoughtful.

He noddded. “Oh- No, yes of course”

I remember how his eyes were observing my figure. He looked completely star struck. I probably had the same look on my face. It was rare for me to see a man who was handsome, cute and beautiful but Spencer was definitely all of those. His eyes were a mix of brown and green, shining with admiration. His hair framed his face perfectly even though it was messy, and all over the place.

My finger traced down his nose. I opened the condom and let the wrapper be on the bedside table.

He had been hard ever since I guided him on top of me. He was holding himself up with his hands on the sides of me. I put it on him, and held him closer to me right when I got it on him.

I kissed him and he immediately kissed back. His thumbs were sliding up the sides of my waist and I slowly guided him towards my entrance. I sighed, and held my arms around him, caressing every now and then. Before I let him enter I reached my hand down to wrap my hand around him, and letting it stroke a few times. His eyes fluttered, and he let out a short moan. Hearing him moan like that, made me a little impatient. It only made me want more of him. I kissed his jawline and then left kisses on his throat, holding him closer to reach him.

I then guided him towards my entrance letting him enter this time. I took in a breath, feeling him like this was a little surreal. This man was so sweet, and here I was being this intimate with him. Spencer let out soft moan, and kissed him on my lips. He didn’t move, until I let one hand reach his lower back and told him to.

“Move Spencer” I whispered against his delicate skin. I whined when he started to move at a steady pace. I knew he was trying to hold in his own sounds. I saw him biting his bottom lip, and how he only let out small huffs every now and then.

“I wanna hear you, Spencer” I said in between breaths. Everytime he hit a spot that really felt good I let out a real moan. But it wasn’t that loud. Not that it didn’t feel good, but normally I’m not that loud. Whenever someone would be moaning with their chest I knew they were faking it. Its supposed to come from the down in the stomach, where the pleasure shoots up. He hid his face in the crook of my neck, before he finally let himself relax and let sounds and noises go.

I closed my eyes, and held him as close as I could. “Hold me” I muttered and he immediately obeyed. His long arms and large hands held me securely but gently in his grip. His chest close to mine.

I’m not really sure how much time had passed, but I guess that doesn’t really matter. All that matters is that it felt good. He was doing it just right, hitting the right spot inside of me. I was panting much heavier now along with Spencer. I felt it building up in my stomach. “I’m almost there” I said almost breathless. “Spencer” I barely whined. His lips parted a little his eyes studying me before he let out: “Oh god” I felt his thrusts getting more slow, but it still added onto the heavenly feeling. My body tensed. I held onto him for dear life, letting out a choked moan. He started leaving butterfly kisses on my jawline, before he let more lingering kisses on my neck. My back arched a little, and my head leaned into his touch.

Shortly after I felt himself let go. I heard his low moan, and felt his body almost collapse on me. His body was sweaty and his eyes closed in a moment of bliss. I relaxed in his embrace and let myself rest against my bed. I let out a final sigh and Spencer smiled at the sight of me. I saw his soft smile at me, when my eyelids fluttered open. A breathy giggle came out of me, and I caressed his cheeks, as he leaned his face into my hands. He crawled next to me and sat up. I admired his figure, before I got up myself to get cleaned up just like him.

Even though the day had started badly it ended up becoming a good day. Or atleast a better day.

———————————————————————

[honeybeefae]

I adore Lucien and always had the thought about like the best friend (who definitely definitely had feelings) he had to leave in the Autumn court and them meeting up again later on in life

Stop this is so adorable because I can absolutely see it too! One of my fav tropes is friends to lovers so I've been waiting for this one! Turn it up!

You, just like the rest of Prythian, had been shocked when you learned who the next heir to the Day Court was. Lucien had been born and raised in the Autumn Court and while his tan skin had gotten some looks you had just dismissed it as a genetic thing somewhere down the line of Beron.

But when Helion had stepped forward and claimed him as his own son proudly, taking the Lady of Autumn in his home after she fled from her home, it was jaw-dropping.

The fallout had been nothing short of catastrophic, especially when you took in the bruised ego of the jaded Beron, but after the dust had settled it seemed things were returning back to normal.

Well, as normal as could be when you found out that your former best friend was now the future High Lord of Day.

And now here you stood at the grand doors of Helion's home, your hands clasped in front of you as you and a few of your friends awaited to join the festivities inside. They had invited everyone in Prythian to celebrate and boy was it a party.

Music was flowing, bodies were moving, and it screamed Helion. While the party was supposed to be for Lucien you knew the kind of things the former got up to and weren't surprised by how...intimate things seemed to be.

You were surprised, however, when you heard your name being called by a voice you had yearned to hear for several decades.

"Y/N!" Lucien shouted, his white robe hugging his muscular form as a sun ray crown sit atop his russet hair.

Your feet led you directly to him before you could let the fear seep through at seeing him after so long, your eyes wide as you came to a stop in front of him. "Lucien...I can't believe it's you."

He wrapped his arms around you and held you close, squeezing you as if you might vanish, and you returned the gesture immediately. It felt like no time had passed at all as you both held each other for several moments.

"I've missed you dearly, Y/N." He said into your hair before pulling away, though his hands stayed holding your upper arms. "You have no idea how good it is to see you. I've done nothing but regret how I left you."

"Hey, I understand. You had to leave. It wasn't like you were given a choice." You reassure him with a smile, breathing in his familiar scent. "I'm just glad you haven't forgotten me after all this time."

"Forget you?" He scoffed, his gaze incredulous. "How could I forget my best friend? The girl who's been by my side since we were toddlers?"

His words dug into your soul like a knife and you were taken back to your teenage years, to the feeling of rejection as you knew he saw you only as a friend. All the longing stares, late-night conversations, it was all in your head. You were just a friend.

And you thought you could live with that, you really did. Even before you came you had reassured yourself that it was only friendship that had him inviting you. But now you weren't so sure.

Your smile was forced as you nodded and stepped back, watching as confusion flashed across his face. "Yes, best friends forever right?"

Lucien could sense how off the phrase was, how off you were, and he wanted to get to the bottom of it.

"Is everything alright?" His voice was low as he stepped closer to you, his lips close to your cheek. Your lips parted in surprise as you gazed up at him through your lashes, his presence intoxicating. "You're flushed."

"I'm, I'm alright." You swallowed thickly. "Though I do believe you should step back. You wouldn't want to give people the wrong idea."

"And what would that be?" His question was genuine though you could tell by his hooded eyelids that he was also affected by the closeness of your bodies, if only on a basic level.

"That we're...you know," You move your hand to motion between the two of you. "Together. We're just friends. I would hate for your girlfriend or mate to see us like this."

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Lucien smirked, glancing around the party. "Us being together that is."

"It's not something you want so I would assume it is a bad thing." You frown, eyebrows furrowed as his head cocked to the side. The two of you used to tease each other like this often as young teens but now you didn't understand the game he was getting at. "People are staring."

"How do you know what I want, Y/N?" He murmured, two fingers catching your chin to turn your face back to his. "I feel like I've been dropping hints since we were young. Unless the feelings aren't reciprocated I don't think you understand who I've been chasing after."

"This isn't funny, Luc." You step back, crossing your arms, but before you can turn and leave he has you cornered in between a wall and his body. The air between you is thick as he stares at you intensely.

"I'm not trying to be funny. I've wanted to be with you since the Autumn Court. You have been the only person in my life who has truly gotten me, who truly understood my pain and what I've been through." His words were rushed but his voice was soft. "I've loved you since I could understand what the word meant. I just thought you didn't feel the same."

You took a moment to process the information, your head spinning as you played back every encounter with him. Had you been so dense that you didn't notice? So blind to your own insecurities that you didn't see the man who you were in love with watching you the same way you did him?

"Are you telling the truth? You've truly loved me this entire time?" You breathed, a shaky hand coming to cup his face. "How could I have been so blind?"

"Allow me to let you see clearly then." He purred before kissing you tenderly, his lips molding perfectly against your own. It sent sparks shooting through your body and made butterflies erupt in your stomach as you lost yourself in him.

It was the kiss you had been dreaming of for years and now that you had it...you never wanted it to stop.

[blog-name-idk]

Mold a Pretty Lie | 07

Pairing: professor!Jin x Fem undergrad!Reader

Genre: College!AU, Unhealthy relationships, toxic relationships, virgin reader, eventual yandere, eventual smut

Summary: They say love is like a garden that requires regular care and attention. Kim Seokjin, your kind and handsome professor, is more than happy to cultivate the vines that bind his heart to yours.

Word Count: 4139

Rating: 18+

~~~~~

"Heyyy! Lookin' good [Y/n]!" called Ashley, waving as she made her way past rows of other students with their posters. You perked up at the sight of someone new. The judging professors had long since come by and asked you questions about your research, and you were now just twiddling your thumbs and wondering how long you were supposed to stay at your station.

"Me or my poster?" you asked with a laugh when she was close, dodging when she tried to ruffle your hair.

"Both! But I already knew your poster was going to be good."

You beamed at the upperclassman's praise. Ashley was one of those people who seemed both effortlessly cool and brilliant, whose casual confidence was something you hoped to achieve one day.

You opened your mouth to respond, only to be distracted by three familiar faces.

"Sierra? Tae? Jimin?" you asked in surprise, not having expected any other visitors. "What are you doing here?"

"You've worked so hard on this all semester, of course we wouldn't miss it!"

Your roommate rolled her eyes as if offended you even had to ask, and you felt warmth bloom in your chest. She said it so matter-of-factly, like it was a given, and you were overcome with appreciation for your friends.

You could count on one hand the number of times anyone had shown up for your achievements. When you had landed the leading role as Sandy in your middle school production of Grease – which, why had that even been a thing when they had to remove all references to "inappropriate" topics – your dad had to work the whole weekend while your mother drove your older sister's high school volleyball team to regionals. When you placed first in your high school science fair, the only one there to cheer you on was Phoebe - mostly because everyone in your grade had been forced to participate.

You were the second child, the one whose good grades were unremarkable because your older sister got them first. Your issues were overlooked or forgotten because you weren't as loud and dramatic as your younger sister.

You knew your parents loved you, but it still hurt to feel like an afterthought when all you ever wanted was for them to at least acknowledge your successes even half as much as they did when baby Brooke got a B on her final English paper. Yes, she had worked hard when her grades had been in the gutter, but hadn't you worked just as hard the entire year?

The fact that your three new friends had taken time out of their day to come to some weird academic showcase you hadn't even officially invited them to – well, it was affecting you much more than you would have thought.

"Whoa, hey, are you okay?"

Taehyung was suddenly in front of you, his hand on your arm and you realized your eyes were suddenly burning with tears.

"Um," you hiccuped, taking a deep breath to keep your emotions at bay. "I'm just - thanks for coming, it really means a lot."

"Awww you're so cute," cooed Ashley, wrapping her arms around you from behind and shaking you obnoxiously from side-to-side.

"Oh my god, get off," you wheezed with a laugh, secretly grateful for the distraction from your inconvenient influx of feelings. "Guys, this is Ashley. She's my TA and works with Dr. Kim too."

"Nice to meet you all," she said with a grin, freeing you from her grip to wave cheerfully at the newcomers. "Glad to see [Y/n] has such good friends, mine wouldn't come even if I begged."

"Well we love [Y/n]!" piped Sierra, so enthusiastically you blinked. "I mean, platonically. At least I do. I mean, we're good friends. Just friends."

You, Taehyung, and Jimin stared at the normally unflappable Sierra and her uncharacteristic babbling. Then you looked at Ashley, whose lips were twitching.

"What did you say your name was?" asked your TA, cocking her head and smiling. You were suddenly reminded that Ashley was very attractive and very much into women. It was just hard for you to notice other people when Dr. Kim was right there.

"I'm Sierra," your roommate replied a little breathlessly, though she seemed to have at least found an additional brain cell to keep her stable.

"Were you interested in any of the other projects?" asked Ashley nonchalantly. "I could walk you through them."

"I mean, if you don't mind," Sierra replied, trying - and failing - to appear just as nonchalant. With a cheery wave, Ashley took Sierra's hand and ushered her away before anyone else could get a word in.

"Wow," was all Jimin said as he watched them leave. He sounded so admiring that you found yourself giggling. "I want to be her when I grow up."

"Are you sure you don't want to go with them?" you teased, absolutely tickled that your roommate and your TA might be hitting it off. You had never seen Sierra so wide-eyed before, and it was incredibly endearing.

"We came to see you," Taehyung replied with his usual easy grin. You smiled back, feeling warm and fuzzy. Even after that uncomfortable exchange with Taehyung, he and Jimin had continued pestering you during and after lectures. They toned down the flirting, but otherwise still treated you the same way as before. The only reason you hung out less these days was because you were so busy with finals and this project.

It went a long way toward soothing the hurt and uncertainty you had felt at Dr. Kim's well-meaning - but likely unfounded - concern. You'd given no indication that your decision had changed, and yet they had even come to a boring science showcase to show their support.

So when you realized Taehyung's hand was still on your arm, you didn't move away.

"Well, do you want to hear about my incredibly exciting research on ocean temperatures?" you joked, only for the boys to nod.

"Please enlighten us, Professor [L/n]," said Jimin, a mischievous grin on his pouty lips. "What could possibly have been interesting enough to keep you working on this instead of hanging out with us?"

You rolled your eyes at his dramatics, though you were unable to keep the smile off your face.

"Oh you know, mass extinction, the loss of ecosystems, and the eventual impact it'll have on human society," you replied, giving him an innocent smile.

"Okay, but do those ecosystems steal you late night pizza from the cafeteria?" asked Taehyung teasingly, making you laugh and shake your head.

"I guess you two have your uses," you teased. Jimin gasped in mock-affront, making you laugh again. You missed hanging out with these two.

"I'm glad some people are having fun today."

You jumped and turned to see Dr. Kim behind you. He was smiling, but his normally twinkling eyes looked a little sharper when they zeroed in on how close the boys were standing, and for a moment you felt like you were doing something wrong. Then you shook off the odd sensation.

It was probably just because as far as Dr. Kim knew, Taehyung had been toying with you while juggling other girls. Not to mention the ill-considered kiss you definitely did not lie awake at night kicking yourself over.

But Jimin had actually pulled you aside separately to explain to you exactly what happened during the conversation Dr. Kim had seen. He had been uncharacteristically serious, telling you he wasn't trying to change your mind, just that he wanted you to have all the information because Taehyung didn't want to seem like he was pushing you to forgive him. Jimin had also assured you that whatever you decided, they did still want to be friends, and he'd tone his behavior down.

Oddly enough, the conversation in which Jimin assured you that you were still important to him even if you didn't have feelings for him, was enough for you to start seeing him in a different light. You had always enjoyed his presence and his teasing attitude, but he seemed so flighty and flirty that it was hard to take him seriously. His obvious care and consideration - not just towards you, but to Taehyung - showed you he could be thoughtful when necessary.

The Kiss Incident - well, it was a one-off mistake, a blip in the otherwise normal trajectory of your college life. Dr. Kim himself had said it couldn't happen again. Even if he had enjoyed it. Well, more specifically said "it wasn't entirely unwelcome," but you would let your daydreams exist where they could.

And anyway, even if Dr. Kim was just concerned about Taehyung or Jimin messing with you, it was your business. He was your professor, not your father (not that either of your parents checked in very often anyway) or… or any other type of role that gave him the right to comment on your personal life.

So why, when he looked at you with those dark eyes, did you feel the urge to assure him that nothing was going on with the boys?

Was it because no matter how hard you tried, you couldn't get the brief pressure of his lips as he reciprocated the kiss out of your mind? Or because sometimes when you caught his eye, his perfect lips curved into a smirk that made your mouth go dry?

Despite his words - of his kind, humiliating rejection and insistence that nothing of the sort could ever happen again - Dr. Kim's behavior still confused you. The sporadic touches when he was close, the little gifts he'd leave you, the way the occasional compliment slipped from his lips and left you stammering. It was enough that you couldn't shed your feelings, or keep him from your mind long enough to think about starting something with anyone else. Not that anything had even "started" with him.

You weren't immune to Taehyung and Jimin's charm and good looks. And getting to know their personalities just made you like them more. Taehyung's kisses made you weak, and Jimin's flirting could set your heart racing, but neither of them consumed your mind like Dr. Kim. He had somehow wormed his way into every crack and crevice of your brain, like the creeping ivy that grew atop the walls of your dorm.

"Aren't you supposed to be into this stuff, Professor?" asked Taehyung with a grin, not registering anything amiss with the intensity of Dr. Kim's gaze.

"Unfortunately judging several presentations isn't always the definition of a good time," the older man replied lightly, though the set of his mouth told you he wasn't in as good of a mood as he sounded. His eyes focused back onto you, and his smile became more genuine. "And I can't even evaluate the one I know will be good, because it would be a conflict of interest."

You really did not need to hear your professor say something about a conflict of interest while smiling at you like that. You had too many delusional fantasies blooming in your head already to allow another one to take root.

"Well Professor, in your unprofessional opinion, how do you think I rank?" you asked tentatively, peeking at his face and your heart flutter when he smiled back at you.

"Definitely first!" chirped Jimin, slinging his arm around you in a show of support you wished could have waited for a more opportune time. Still, it was an innocent enough gesture, and you were genuinely happy he had come.

"Thanks, Jimin," you said with a laugh.

"Well, I might be biased," Dr. Kim teased, so casual you wondered if you had imagined the way his eyes flashed. "But I do believe this is one of the best projects in the category."

"Really?" you breathed, his praise making you turn towards him like a flower to the sun. Jimin's arm around your shoulder reminded you not to make a complete fool out of yourself.

"Of course," your Professor replied. "We'll find out soon enough, in any case. Everyone has turned in their evaluations."

"Oh hey Prof! I thought you were evaluating the other room!"

Ashley announced her arrival with her typical aplomb, a smiling Sierra in tow. You raised an eyebrow at your roommate, grateful for the distraction, your friend winked.

"We finished, so I thought I'd come see how [Y/n] was doing," Dr. Kim replied. "Though it seems she has all the support she needs."

He said it lightly, like a joke. No one else seemed to notice anything amiss, not even Ashley, but the way his eyes met yours briefly made you uncertain.

"Of course, we're her personal cheer squad," Taehyung announced, draping his arm over your other shoulder and bringing you in for a one-armed hug. Jimin squawked when the action pulled you away from him, and tugged you back towards him in a playful tug-of-war.

Sierra and Ashley laughed at their antics as you struggled to get free, complaining you weren't a yo-yo.

"But you're so fun to play with," teased Jimin, the most suggestive thing he had said in weeks. You knew he didn't mean it that way – his tone was more playful than smooth – but you couldn't help but peek at Dr. Kim out of the corner of your eye.

He had been pulled aside by another professor, and you weren't sure whether you felt relieved or disappointed that he seemed to have missed the exchange. Then you forced yourself to pay attention to your friends, because you realized that once again you were being a selfish idiot.

When the results were announced, you were dogpiled by your friends while Ashley cheered by your side. For a moment you felt eyes burning into the back of your head, but when you turned, all you saw was Dr. Kim smiling and offering you congratulations.

~~~~~

The airport was bustling with holiday travel, and you felt a little overwhelmed by the crowd. You chewed your lip as you scanned the lines, hoping to see your broad-shouldered professor, to no avail. This was supposed to be the spot you, Dr. Kim, and the other student-professor pair met up at before going through security together, and yet no one was in sight.

For a moment panic filled you. Were you late? Was this the wrong airport? Oh no, what if it was the wrong day and you had already missed the flight?

"[Y/n], were you waiting long?"

A familiar voice cut through your anxiety and you let out a sigh of relief as you turned to greet your professor.

"I just got here," you assured him, resisting the urge to cling to his arm to make sure he wouldn't leave. "Where are Dr. Li and Jason?"

"They unfortunately both came down with the flu," said Dr. Kim ruefully. "I got the call this morning. One probably got it from the other."

You gulped. A weekend alone with your beautiful professor? Well, not alone alone, since most of the days would be taken up by the conference activities, but without the buffer of two strangers you were a little worried about how the state of your crush would be by the end.

"Oh," you squeaked, looking down at your carry-on. It was just a three-day trip, you could do this. It would be totally fine. You were breezy.

The mantra carried you through the security line, where you tried not to stare as your professor removed his jacket and shoes. It bolstered you through the walk to the gate, when he asked if you needed anything and bought you a water anyway. It lasted through boarding, when he smiled and asked if you wanted the window seat.

You buckled the funny-looking seatbelt, scolding yourself for being disappointed that Dr. Kim had left the middle seat empty between you. If he had, his warmth might have distracted you from the not-as-pleasant butterflies fighting to the death in your gut as you discovered that you might have a tiny fear of flying.

As the overly cheery safety and thank-you-for-flying-with-us video began to play, your traitorous brain decided to latch onto keywords like "if a water landing is needed" and "life jackets" and "oxygen masks". Was the plane getting warmer? You stole a surreptitious glance at the people sitting in the exit row seat and wondered if they could be trusted to assist in the event of an emergency.

Still, you had to pat yourself on the back. Despite the rising panic you felt inside, you were able to smile and laugh absentmindedly at Dr. Kim's jokes, even if his voice is starting to feel a little far away. Until the plane began to move and your hands latched onto your arm rests.

"Are you alright?"

Your professor was eyeing you in concern, and you tried to relax your white-knuckled grip. But – oh god the plane was speeding up and what if something went wrong or a wing fell off or the engine exploded or –

"[Y/n]."

Dr. Kim's voice was soft in your ear – when did he change seats? Your breaths were coming in short, frantic pants and for once it wasn't his proximity that was making your heart pound.

"Can you hear me?" he asked, hands on your shoulders and warm eyes fixed on yours. He was close enough that you could hear him over the rumble of the plane and the cotton static in your ears, and you clung to his voice like a lifeline. You opened your mouth to respond, which was when you felt the plane lift off the ground. You snapped your eyes and lips shut, wondering why, of all things, you were going to die of a heart attack at the tender age of eighteen.

A soft touch on your face startled you enough for you to open your eyes again, and you vaguely registered that Dr. Kim's hand was cupping your cheek.

"Try to breathe with me," he murmured, making a big show of puffing out his chest as he inhaled. You would have giggled had you not been on the edge of hyperventilating. Still, you did your best to obey your professor despite the tightness in your chest, and he didn't scold you when your breath hitched or you gasped or messed up the rhythm.

You weren't sure how long he stayed like that, breathing with you and stroking your cheek gently with his thumb, but eventually your breath evened out and you realized the plane was no longer shaking or rumbling so much. You winced as you tried to relax your hands from the vice-like grip you had on the armrests, flexing your fingers to try to relieve the stiff ache in your joints.

"There's my girl," whispered Dr. Kim softly, smiling at you. His hand was warm on your skin, and his words sank into you like a rock tossed into the ocean. One that was still falling to depths unknown.

"Are you feeling okay?" he asked, making you swallow whatever had been at the tip of your tongue. Instead you nodded, feeling your lower lip drag between your teeth as you tried to think around the cotton-like fatigue weighing down on your head. Dr. Kim's eyes flickered to your mouth at the action, and for a moment something dark bloomed in his gaze.

"Sir, please fasten your seatbelt."

You both jumped at the pleasant, professional voice of the flight attendant, and Dr. Kim apologized as he settled into the seat and clicked the clasp into place. You were incredibly relieved he remained next to you. It wasn't even for your daydreams, at this point - his solid presence was comforting, and even if the flight had evened out you were still tense.

"T-thank you," you mumbled, suddenly embarrassed by your inability to do something as simple as sit in a chair. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Dr. Kim replied, smiling gently and patting your arm. It was a far cry from the way he had been so tenderly stroking your cheek, but you felt butterflies all the same. "I'm sorry, I didn't know flying was hard for you."

"I didn't either," you said with a self-conscious laugh. "This is my first time."

"Ah," your professor replied in understanding, hand still on your arm. "Well-"

A ding sounded over the speaker system, and a voice spoke.

"This is your captain speaking. We are about to enter into a patch of turbulent air, so please return to your seats and fasten your seatbelts."

"Oh," you said faintly, wondering if this was your karma for lusting after your professor. Perhaps you deserved this.

"Do you want-" Dr. Kim began, looking at you with concern, before the plane jolted and you let out a humiliating whimper, squeezing your eyes shut.

It was an even bigger shock when you felt a strong arm encircle your shoulder and pull you into a very firm, very broad, very wonderful-smelling chest.

"It'll be okay," your professor murmured into your ear as his other hand stroked your hair gently. You drew in a shuddering breath, enveloped by his warmth and his scent. Then the plane lurched again, and you wondered if it was possible to be simultaneously in heaven and hell.

"S-sorry," you managed to choke, trying to breathe the way Dr. Kim had earlier. Another lurch had you gripping your professor's shirt for dear life, and his arm tightened, pressing you more securely against him. "I know in my head it's fine, I just - "

"Shh, I understand," he said soothingly, his chest rumbling soothingly against your cheek. You hated your brain for deciding flying was a problem so you couldn't properly enjoy what was probably a one time pity thing. Then again, this wouldn't be happening otherwise.

"I'm here for you, okay?" Dr. Kim was a steady source of reassurance, full of encouraging words and soft touches. "Always."

~~~~~

You stirred against Seokjin's chest, and he shushed you gently. To his mixed relief and dismay, you snuggled closer with a cute little grumble, and he felt those vines constrict around his chest.

He had somehow managed to soothe you to sleep earlier, and he hoped you stayed like this for the remainder of the flight. For your own sake, not because your body nestled against his so perfectly.

He hadn't expected you to have a fear of flying - neither did you, apparently - and he hated seeing you so distressed. Though the way you obeyed him, the way you looked at him with total trust in your eyes did send a dark tendril of satisfaction purring through his veins.

He had almost lost himself in that moment. You were so beautiful, and he felt himself drawn like a bee to honey.

Seokjin's mind had been more troubled than usual of late, since the Honors showcase where you won second place and a junior won first. Since he had seen for himself that those two college whelps had wormed their way back into your good graces like the pests they were proving themselves to be.

It had been infuriating to watch the shameless way they flirted with you. Jagged thorns had pricked through his chest at the sheer nerve, and when they had pulled you between them like a prize to be won, the thorny briars had blossomed into something ugly and bitter.

It was clear you weren't used to being cared for or doted on, if the little hints and snippets he had gotten were anything to go by. You had been so shocked when he addressed the bullying at the beginning of the semester, as if you had never had anyone stick up for you.

You deserved - needed - better. Someone to take care of you, who appreciated just how special you were. Someone you could trust, who had your best interests at heart.

It irked Seokjin more than he wanted to admit, that he knew so little of you outside of academics. He wanted to read through every page of your life he hadn't had access to, wanted to see you through those still unwritten.

If he let you be, would the next person tend you the way you needed? Or would they take and take like a parasite until you wilted to nothing?

You shifted against him, soft and sweet, a perfect flower begging to be plucked. He found his hand tracing the curve of your cheek again.

Seokjin wondered just how much more you might consume his thoughts after a weekend together. The vines in his chest constricted at the thought of how you would have fared on this trip without him. The way you clung to him, the way you needed him.

It should have worried him. Yet all he felt was more fondness and concern for you sinking roots ever deeper into his veins.

~~~~~

Next | Masterlist

Tags: @moonleeai @random-and-out-of-context @amenjiminsan @innebulae @seoqity @lilacdreams-00 @chowb @shescharlie @mazmaz30 @definetlythinkimanalien @seokjins-luigi @lucci-girl @xicanacorpse @bighitbabie @8loominghell @jung-nika-hoseok @staradorned @zealouslightcookiebasketball @kissme-ornot @dyhrbls @nabiolive

[bari-the-witch]

For @steddiemas Day 4: Questionable Holiday Movies & Winter Songs

(I only chose a song, I hope that's okay. Didn't know if I had to do both in one fic. Lmao)

Song: Sweater Weather - The Neighbourhood

Rating: T (sex is only implied tho, but I don't take any chances)

So let me hold both your hands (in the holes of my sweater)

Laughing, they stumbled through the door into the house, out of the cold that crept under their clothes and touched every bit of skin with icy fingers.

He and Eddie had just returned from a Christmas party at the Byers-Hoppers and were now looking forward to a little bit of alone time. Not that they didn't enjoy celebrating with their friends, quite the opposite. With Nancy and Robin having moved to Indianapolis and Jonathan having started university on the other side of the States, it was nice to see everyone coming back together.

But he still wanted some alone time with his boyfriend. Sue him.

That was until he felt icy cold hands sliding under his sweater, eliciting a surprised gasp from him followed by a hiss through gritted teeth.

"Ah, much better!" Eddie said with a broad grin, pressing his palms against Steve's stomach, soaking up his warmth like a heat vampire. Goosebumps broke out on his skin.

"Glad I could help," Steve replied drily.

Eddie's hands felt like death, even though it had taken them less than a minute to get from the car to the front door. Nevertheless, Steve made no move to push him away, enjoying the fingertips now sliding across his skin up his chest far too much to complain.  

"What do you say," Eddie began, his voice low and seductive," if we go upstairs now and you warm me up a little?" Then he leaned forward and pressed his lips to Steve's. "Just look how cold my poor poor hands are."

Eddie's fingers continued their way upwards, skimming suggestively over Steve’s nipples, already hardened from his cold touch. Instead of answering, Steve only kissed him before pulling him upstairs happily following Eddie's suggestion.

--

A mind-blowing orgasm later, the two of them lay tightly wrapped around each other in Steve's bed.

"Want some tea?" Eddie suddenly asked, lazily drawing circles on Steve's arm with his finger, following an invisible path.

The question made Steve smile. It was funny how, as soon as it got cold outside, Eddie was practically glued to a steaming mug of tea all day and rarely seen without it. Even now, minutes after he had screwed Steve's brains out.

"If you don't mind," Steve replied. "I can go downstairs if you want, though."

"As much as I'd enjoy seeing you naked from behind. Again," Eddie grinned meaningfully at him, "you stay up here and let me do it."

Then he scrambled up from the bed, pulled out some various clothes from Steves drawer and put them on before heading downstairs.

While Eddie was in the kitchen, Steve was left alone in bed, quickly becoming lost in his own thoughts. In moments like these, he sometimes wondered how he could have been so blind for so long. How he could have run away from what he would never give up under any circumstances now.

And he didn't just mean the fantastic sex that made him question everything that happened before, because holy shit, but also everything else that came with the package that was Eddie Munson. Day after day since they had started dating six months ago.

Nonsense, it had been quite a while before that. Steve just hadn't wanted to admit it to himself.

But then it had just happened. And he could never imagine it any other way now.

When Eddie still hadn't returned after twenty minutes, Steve decided to get up and see where he was. It wouldn't be the first time he'd been distracted by what should have been a mundane activity and forgotten everything around him. With a smile, Steve thought about the time he had caught Eddie meticulously sorting through his tapes, world completely forgotten around him, even though he had only wanted to grab one for their trip to Indy.

Before he went downstairs though, he grabbed a pair of sweatpants and a shirt from the floor, not caring if it was Eddie's or his. Their wardrobe had long mixed anyway.

There was no sign of Eddie in the kitchen. Only the two steaming teacups on the counter indicated that he had been there at all.

In the living room, Steve finally found him.

Eddie had his back turned to him, looking through the sliding glass door that led out to the back porch. Following his gaze, Steve could see what had grabbed his attention.

Thick, soft flakes were falling from the sky, covering the landscape like a white fluffy blanket. It had already snowed several times in the last few days, winter had long since descended on Hawkins, but today, on the eve of Christmas, it felt even more special.

Eddie had noticed his presence because he turned his head slightly into Steve's direction and gave him a gentle smile before glancing back outside.

Another thing Steve had learned about Eddie in the last few days: he loved snow. Loved watching the flakes dance as they glided through the air towards the ground. They would probably spend the whole day outside with the others tomorrow after they had unwrapped their presents in the morning.

Steve was already looking forward to it.

Slowly, he walked over to Eddie, wrapping his arms around his stomach from behind and pressing himself against his boyfriends back.

Only then did he realize what Eddie was actually wearing.

Steve had believed that he had long since discarded the old thing. When he had asked Eddie once why he was wearing that particular sweater, he shrugged his shoulders.

"I just like it," he had simply replied.

Then the sweater disappeared for a while until it had obviously reappeared from the furthest corner of Steve's closet.

It was completely washed out by now, the once green color only a pale memory and the sleeves were so baggy that they stretched out quite a bit over Eddie's fingers.

"I'll never get rid of this thing, will I?" Steve asked with a smile, tugging at the faded fabric with his hand.

"Never. Sorry, but I think you're stuck with it for life, sweetheart."

And somehow Steve knew Eddie wasn’t only talking about the sweater. That his words had a far deeper meaning to them.

„I love you,“ he whispered into Eddie’s ear, enjoying the shiver it caused to run down the others spine.

“I love you, too,” Eddie said back, turning his head a little to press a kiss on Steve’s lips. “So much.”

Then, following a sudden urge, Steve put his hands through the sleeves of the sweater, firmly gripping Eddie’s hands in his own. He squeezed once, twice. A silent I love you they normally used when they couldn't say it out loud in public.

Eddie squeezed back.

Once.

Twice.

While the world outside slowly got swallowed by fluffy white.

[pip-n-chips]

Everyone been talking to you abt Harper so I want to do it too. Although sorry for not being horny lol

What do you think about one dialog with a patient in asylum that says that Harper was a patient? I think about it a lot… Perhaps one of the main reasons why I like them

The text in question: "That Harper isn't a Doctor," a person mutters. "Not really. When I first came here Harper was a patient like the rest of us. But now suddenly Harper's our Doctor. THEY all play along, and everyone who might remember has conveniently forgotten. Or disappeared."

omg hi!! I love your art a lot kdhd, and no worries! I enjoy the non horny parts of the game just as much lmao

Harper isn't a real doctor, never has been. But he's clever, and knows how to work in the shadows to get what he wants, and he wants power (COUGH control freak COUGH)

The details are fuzzy for what got him landed in the asylum in the first place- maybe he went somewhere he wasn't supposed to go, maybe he saw something or someone* he wasn't meant to see. Maybe his facade was easier to break down in his youth, maybe he reached his breaking point.

*I'm a fan of the headcanon that Harper met/saw the Ivory Wraith at some point, even if it was just for a few seconds, and he couldn't get them out of his head no matter how hard he tried. Harper craves knowledge, so I wouldn't be surprised if his little obsession with the figure in the lake got taken out of hand as he tried to find out more. I can also see him having an encounter with the tentacles in the mirror, because I feel like it connects well with his experimentation later on. Either way, his mind is strong, but he can only hold on for so long until it slips from his grip.

ALSO a bit of an unrelated thought but I would also like to mention that while he was still mansplain manipulate gaslight girlboss in the past, he was less put together and less calculated like present day Harper. Part of it probably chalks up to teenage hormones since he'd probably be like 18 or 19 when the asylum thing happens, but also inexperience. (He's had less victims, and I like to think that's because a lot of his peers in his hometown thought he was a little fucking freak and avoided him like the plague lmfao, but other people- more specifically authority figures like therapists and teachers- were easier because they either recognized his talent or were wrapped around his finger. He told people what they wanted to hear.) He also had less control over his emotions and that caused more slips in his little facade + more impulsive decisions

Anyway, he gets himself landed in the asylum and he does NOT like it, because his sense of control is stripped from him. The treatment works, at least they all think it does. And maybe it does genuinely work at first, but it's hard to say where the line between it being real and him faking it lies. But either way, it builds up the trust of the staff according to plan

I headcanon that Harper turned the tables on his original doctor, and I wonder if he would have practiced hypnosis on fellow patients before making a move :0? Though I could just see him doing it for fun lmao,, Either way he sees it as a game and a way to get out of this god forsaken place.

He's subtle enough to not arouse suspicion, and he plays around a bit because while he's done this stuff before it's never been this big, but he's still confident in his abilities. He begins by sowing the seeds, putting ideas in his doctor's head, and it just escalates and escalates until he can make a big change.

I'm unsure if he'd act like he's always been a doctor here or transfered to the area, but I do know he'd make sure to delete any evidence of his previous,, position. If any staff speak up instead of turning their pretty little heads, Harper has a chat with them to clear up the confusion <3 (gaslighting and hypnosis xoxo). He doesn't pay as much attention to patients because they're crazy, they don't know what they're talking about. But if they're insistent then, well, it's off to the quiet room-

Hey, wait a minute!

What have you got me talking about? Those are just rumors, there's nothing to look into. And the patient who fed you lies is crazy, look at how paranoid they're acting. Why do you think they're here in the first place? Harper is a real doctor, always has been.

[char-lie-spirals]

Alright, I need to scream about mag 003 for a bit or else I'll literally explode so!! Two things I can't get out of my head about the episode!! I'm putting them under the cut for everyone else's sake-

So FIRST OF ALL!! There was a struggle I think. In Graham's flat. After Amy watched the NotThem climb in, she remarks she could see some "vague movements inside", which... sure, could just be the NotThem looking around for its victim but?? After the lights came on, Graham's passport was on the floor?? It wasn't mentioned before (and Why would it be there in the 1st place??) and given Graham's state at that point, I wouldn't be surprised if he was keeping it on him/near him all the time.

So there was a struggle!! He tried to run or fight or whatever, he tried to do something!! Whatever it was, it lasted long enough for him to drop that passport and this fact will never stop haunting me. There was a pointless struggle that must've been long enough for him to realize how fucked he was before dying. Head in hands. When will the horrors end.

And then the next thing?? The way Amy remembers Graham is heartbreaking on its own. It's all just so?? She watched him. She watched him and that's how she got most of her information. She knew his habits, details such as his Favorite Pizza (!!!!), all without him knowing she knew!! And then the things he did willingly share?? "Dull". She called his conversation about his interests/life/etc DULL!! Those were the things about himself he actually considered worth sharing!! But no, she'd rather remember him "freaking out over an ice cream truck once".

Her image of Graham was so horribly wrapped,, That wasn't the same person he saw himself as, that was just the "weird, off-putting guy living across the street who ate a notebook once"!! Amy even admitted that she didn't want to speak to him after she started watching him because she "didn't think she could carry a conversation after everything she saw"!! And it's just??

That's all that's left of him. That wrapped image he probably wouldn't recognize himself in if he was given the chance. All he's remembered by are the weird things he did when he thought he was alone, a horrible mockery of someone who was so much more than that!! And the things Amy didn't see? No one will ever know. What he did when he left his flat "often enough", how he was when she took a "break" in watching him near the end, what went through his head on the night he was taken? How was he around other people?? What were his other relationships like??? What was he like before all this started????? We'll never know because Amy never knew!! So much of him is just straight-up gone, as though it was never real in the first place--

Then again, that's kind of the thing with all of NotThem's victims, isn't it? A guy remembered only by the cousin who hadn't seen him in ages. A mother remembered by the daughter who she had a very rocky relationship with. Hell, even Sasha being remembered by someone she only met once instead of any of her friends! All those people had lives before they were taken, and all of them are now forever forgotten because those meant to remember never knew in the first place.

,,,,yeah. So uh. As you can see I have feelings about mag 003.

If there are any mistakes here that's because I'm writing this after taking my sleep meds and setting it free without fact-checking anything. Ask me to elaborate on anything and I will forever keep you in my heart

[seidenbros]

Happy Birthday Princess

Hello there! This is the first time I'm writing for this fandom (or any fandom apart from The Witcher) but after stumbling upon @holamishamigosj2gotmegood in the tags last night, I had this idea, that I needed to write down, get it out of my head, write this little (it was supposed to be short, I swear) birthday fic, so here you go. I really hope I captured the characters well.

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader Warnings/Tags: mostly fluff, friends to lovers, a bit of pining, fluff fluff fluff Word count: 3754 Read on AO3

It wasn't easy to get through work today, not directly because it was your birthday, more because nobody seemed to care. Yes, your boss had congratulated you on your 18th birthday just like your parents had, but apart from them, none of your friends had bothered. No calls in the morning before you'd headed to work, nobody had showed up here, and nobody had said anything beforehand that they wanted to do something with you, maybe go watch a movie or something, just spend time with your friends. Sure, you could have initiated something, but after hearing that they'd already had plans for the weekend, you hadn't even bothered. Well, good thing there was still ice-cream in your freezer and ordering a pizza while watching a movie wouldn't be so bad in the end, right? Still, it stung a little that seemingly everyone had forgotten your birthday.

You changed out of your working clothes into your denim shorts and plaid shirt. It wasn't a long way home, but maybe you could get something at the store for your one-person-pizza-party tonight.

“Hello princess,” you heard immediately when you exited the building. Swirling around to the source of that voice, you couldn't help but smile in surprise.

“Eddie? What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to have a meeting with Dustin and Mike?” At least that was what you'd overheard. Well, they'd talked about it loud enough for pretty much everyone to hear.

“Nah, already finished with that.” He pushed away from the car he was leaning against, grinning to himself. “Planned it so I was finished when you got off work.” Closing the distance between the two of you, he pulled a single sunflower from behind his back and held it out to you. “Didn't think I'd forget your birthday, did you?”

“I...” You didn't know what to say, because yes, you'd thought all of them had forgotten, but that Eddie was the one to remember made you heart beat faster. The sunflower was a nice touch as well, made your smile widen even more when you took it in your hands. “Thank you, that's really sweet.”

“You deserve it.” For a moment there, his grin turned into a warm, sweet smile. A smile that you didn't see often, but that you loved all the more.

Eddie and you had been friends for roughly two years now. You were the new kid, shy, hiding behind books, but Eddie hat taken it upon himself to draw you into his group of friends, after you'd bonded over The Lord of the Rings, the books he'd always seen sou read at lunch break. At first, you'd been apprehensive about the whole situation, but you'd soon discovered that you fit right in with him and his friends. After the first evening you'd spent together just the two of you, you'd fallen for him, but had never said a word about it. To anyone. Moving to Hawkins had been hard enough as it was for you, so you'd been more than happy to finally have made friends. Ruining this by telling the one person who'd gotten you out of your shell again, that you were in love with them could ruin all of that. That's why you'd kept this to yourself and had enjoyed the friendships that had bloomed in this time. You couldn't imagine your life without this assortment of different people, because they all had a special place in your heart, but Eddie was still in its throne.

“Hop in.” Eddie opened the passenger door to his car for you, gesturing for you to take a seat.

“Where are we going?” Not that it really mattered, because you were already getting in, going wherever he'd take you with him. Spending your birthday with Eddie? That won over pizza and a movie all by yourself.

“Now, now, it's a surprise. See it as an adventure.” With a wink he closed your door and got in on th other side, firing up the engine.

“Adventures are nasty disturbing uncomfortable things that make you late for dinner, remember?” you said with a grin on your lips, never one to pass upon a Tolkien quote.

“Want me to call you hobbit then?” Eddie stole a quick glance at you before he kept his eyes on the road ahead again.

“I don't think they'd accept me as a hobbit. I'm too tall for one, my feet are not hairy, but I would love to attend one of their parties, that's for sure.” You closed your eyes for a moment, enjoying the warm breeze that came in through the open windows. “Besides, hobbit or not, I'd always join you in an adventure.” You still kept your eyes close so that you wouldn't see his reaction. It wasn't exactly something that showed what you really felt for him, but to you it felt like he could see right through you. Better not look at him.

“And I'll always make sure you won't be late for dinner. Though dinner might consist of takeout now and then.”

His words made you laugh. Takeout was more than fine, and for the first time today, you felt yourself relax completely. Not all of your friends had forgotten your birthday. Eddie had remembered.

When the car slowed down and stopped, you opened your eyes, only to find yourself in front of the trailer Eddie was living in.

“You do know that I’ve been here before, right?” Raising a questioning eyebrow you look at him. What kind of adventure was this?

“Trust the process,” he simply said before he got up to open the door for you again. Eddie extended his hand so that you could place your hand in his and you did. Trust the process.

“You’re not gonna show me your collection of magazines, are you?” Another grin appeared on your lips, making Eddie roll his eyes.

“Only if you want to see them,” he managed with a chuckle. “Come one, we need to get inside.”

“And I won’t break an ankle trying to walk through your room?”

“Bet you’ve never seen it as clean as today.” Of that much, he was sure. He’d done his best to tidy his room, clean up, and he was rather proud of himself. Sure, you’d seen it in all kinds of states, so he really didn’t need to worry about what you might think, but it was your birthday, and he had a plan. That plan included a clean(er) room.

“Close your eyes,” he said, unlocking the door and leading you inside the trailer, but instead of closing them, you narrowed them at Eddie “Really? Okay, then you leave me no other choice, my lady.”

Eddie was behind you in a second, covering your eyes with his hands. Your back hit his chest, making you hold your breath for a moment. There had been body contact here and there, once you’d even kind of wrestled because he’d wanted to get a book out of your hands to see what you were reading, but this… this felt different. The warmth from his body seeped into your skin, as the smell of cigarettes mixed with his cologne and his own scent filled your nose, leaving you a little lightheaded.

“Ready to walk?” Eddie’s voice was so close, his breath tickling your ear, sending a shiver down your spine. There were no words coming out of your mouth, but you managed to nod, putting your right hand on his forearm to have at least something to hold onto, while you walked step after step into his room.

When he eventually took his hands from your eyes, breaking the contact when stepped next to you, you wanted to protest, but didn’t say a word. That would only lead to problems that you didn’t need. So, instead you blinked to get accustomed to the dim light in here, and looked around.

“Eddie Munson, I never thought I’d see the floor of this room one day, but apparently… it does exist.” Turning your head to look at him, you couldn’t help but grin. Was he blushing? It was probably just a trick of the light in here, but it did look like it.

“Well…” he said, looking for the right words, running a hand through his unruly locks. “While I’m proud of that achievement, that’s not what I brought you here for.” With another wink, he walked up to his bed and picked up the guitar lying on top of it. It wasn’t his usual one - his baby was still hanging on the wall - but apparently a new one. A beauty, that much was for sure, but none that you’d seen here before.

“You got a new guitar! She’s beautiful!” Not that you were able to play, but you knew a couple of things about instruments, guitars especially. 

“It’s not mine,” he said, sitting down on his bed, patting the spot beside him. You follow this invitation and sat down next to him, a frown on your face waiting for him to explain further. “It’s yours.”

“What?” Surely, he must have been joking. Yeah, you’d always said that you wanted to learn how to play, but you’d never been able to teach yourself

“You said you wanted to learn how to play. Means you need your own guitar so you can practice.” He handed it to you, positioned it in your lap. “Happy birthday, princess.”

His gentle words, the soft voice with which he said them, and the way he called you princess made your eyes water for a moment. All this was more than you ever could have expected. Your birthday had turned from a miserable day into a rather special one, where the guy you had feelings for, was the one to give you one of the best presents you’d ever gotten. Why? Because he’d listened to what you’d been talking about, had listened to what you really wanted, had remembered that and gotten you a guitar.

“Thank you, Eds!” Blinking away the tears, you turned a little so that you could hug him, press a kiss to his cheek. When you sat up again, you could see the sheepish smile on his face, because he hadn’t expected that kind of reaction.

“But I still need lessons. You know I suck at teaching myself.”

“That’s the best part, sweetheart. That guitar comes with a teacher.” Eddie winked at you, before he reached for the guitar again to adjust it so that you could get a good grip on the neck of the guitar. “I’ll teach you.”

“You’d really do that?” You didn’t even know why you were surprised, because as much as Eddie portrayed the metalhead, he had a really soft heart, and that was one thing you really loved about him. You’d never met anyone as genuine, as caring as him, which especially showed when he was with the other guys, with the younger ones that still needed a little guidance here and there.

“Who else is going to teach you to play Dio’s Sacred Heart?”

True. At every guitar course, they’d come up with all kinds of songs, but not the ones you’d want to learn, and ever since Sacred Heart came out, you’d heard it once a day at least. It was one of your favourite songs at the moment. You couldn’t help but giggle at his words, while you nodded. He definitely had a point there.

“C’mere!” He gestured you towards him with his hands, but then he thought better of it and got on his knees, moved around a bit so that he could sit behind you, his legs to your left and right, your back leaning against his chest again. “Here…” His hand covers yours, adjusting your fingers on the strings. “The first chord.” His head nearly leans against yours, distracting you, so you need a moment to react and play the first chord, but you manage to do it. His locks are tickling your cheek, the plec on his necklace dangling just right above your shoulder. “And the next one.” His voice was now barely above a whisper. How were you supposed to concentrate, when he was practically hugging you to his chest? You were closer than you’d ever been before and the certain kind of intimacy wasn’t lost on either of you.

“Okay,” you still managed to whisper back, letting your fingers be guided by him, trying your best to memorise what he’d just shown you.

“Now just switch between these two chords. You can do it.” He let go of your hand, let you try that all by yourself now.

Your nose scrunched up in concentration, as you positioned your fingers on the right strings. It sounded right, but still a little bumpy, which was only natural. After all, you were just a beginner. Still, your fingers didn’t start cramping up which they’d done the first time you’d picked up a guitar just to try it out.

“Perfect,” you heard Eddie say as his hand landed on your waist. He didn’t need to adjust your hands anymore right now, because you knew where your fingers belonged and were getting better and faster at switching from one chord to the next. Eddie wasn’t looking at your fingers, though, he was looking at you.

“I'm far from perfect, but I’m trying.” With a laugh, you turned to look at him and found him looking straight at you. The grip he had on your waist tightened just a fraction, but you felt it in your whole body.

“Maybe that’s your point of view. But to me, you’re perfect.”

“Eddie…”

He hadn’t planned on this day turning out like this, had kept his feelings to himself, because he hadn’t wanted to ruin a wonderful friendship. Losing you was something he wouldn’t be able to deal with. Dustin knew about his feelings, because Eddie had told him at one point, but he’d made him swear that he’d never breathe a word. Dustin had also been the one who’d told him to shoot his shot or regret it, because you would find someone else. Little did he know that you didn’t want anyone else, because you’d kept your feelings completely to yourself.

“No, I mean it.” His right hand came up to brush some loose strands from your face, tuck them behind your ear, his fingers lingering for a moment before he cupped your cheek. “You’re kind, you’re intelligent, you’re funny, you’re-”

“Eddie!” you stopped him. If he kept on talking, you’d probably melt completely, while your heart gave out due to his words, to this moment. You knew that it was the right moment, to show him what you thought, not with your words but with your actions. And so you leaned in, placed your hand on his chest and brought your lips to his.

It was almost innocent, lips lingering on lips for a moment, before you drew back a little bit, suddenly not so sure anymore whether this had been the right decision or not. Doubt was clouding your eyes when you looked at him, but the grin on his lips eased that doubt at least a little bit.

“My, my, who would have thought that you’d be the one to surprise me today.”

“Believe me… that wasn’t on my agenda at all,” you whispered, leaning your head against his shoulder and closing your eyes, hoping that you hadn’t interpreted his words wrongly and ruined a wonderful friendship now.

“I think that should be on your agenda every day.” His chuckle vibrated through his whole body, as he put his fingers beneath your chin to make you raise your head again. “On our agenda,” he corrected himself, before he let go of your chin and instead ran his fingers through your hair to pull you close and kiss you again. Not another innocent kiss, but one that made your toes curl as you felt his tongue against the seam of your lips and you opened them for him. Eddie managed to snatch the guitar from your hands and put it aside so that he could pull you completely into his lap. Your fingers raked through his hair, your fingernails scraping against his scalp until you reached the back of his neck, enjoying every second.

It almost felt like a dream. A dream that was interrupted by the phone ringing, that you could only hear because for once Eddie wasn’t blasting some music - due to teaching you how to play guitar.

He ripped his lips from yours, as the phone rang for the second time. There had only been a couple of seconds between these two phone calls.

“You need to get that?” you asked with a chuckle, lips slightly swollen from the kiss you’d just shared that was still leaving you a little lightheaded.

“Nothing important,” he said, his eyes still fixed on you, dropping to your lips, then back up to your eyes. His hair was dishevelled due to your hands, so you tried to smoothe it down a little bit. 

There was silence for a moment, before the ringing picked up again, making you laugh.

“You sure? Don’t think they’ll leave you alone.”

“Fuck,” he grumbled. Heaving a sigh, he lifted you from his lap,turned around with you to prop you up against the pillows. “Don’t go anywhere!”

It was a fair warning, but you really didn’t want to be anywhere else than here right now.

“For fuck’s sake, WHAT?” he said as he answered the phone. You could hear every word of that conversation, were rather sure that he’d tell the person on the other end to go to hell and leave him alone, but that was not what happened. “Ah fuck… I forgot the time. Be there in a minute.”

You sat up, scooted to the edge of the bed, waiting for an explanation when he returned to you. He was already donning the puppy eyes as an apology.

“We have to get going. There’s another surprise I got for you.” Well he didn’t technically have that surprise for you, but he was supposed to take you to that surprise.

“Okay, let’s go.” When you got up, you reached for your guitar but then thought better of it. Eddie wanted to teach you, and this was the perfect place, wasn’t it? As long as you didn’t get distracted again, but with that distraction, you were willing to put off learning how to play the guitar a little bit longer.

“Can’t wait to get out of here, eh?” he teased, reaching for your hand and not letting it go until you were at his car again.

“I’d love to pick up where we left off,” you admitted with a sheepish grin. “But since your first surprise was already wonderful, I’m curious about this one.”

“Fair enough.”

You both got in, but before Eddie started the engine, he stole another kiss from your lips. Something he wouldn’t get enough of, especially now that you both didn’t need to worry about how the other felt. That had been pretty evident in his room just minutes ago.

When he stopped the car in front of your house, though, you were a little confused.

“Why are we at my house?”

“Patience, sweetheart.” He knew that you weren’t the most patient person out there, which was why he took his time getting out of the car. You would have already been halfway to your door if it weren’t for him reaching for your hand again, slowing down his steps a little more.

“Eddie, come on.” You couldn’t help but chuckle. He behaved as if he’d rather stay out here with you than get inside, which… was the truth. He’d rather have you to himself a little longer than share you with your friends again, but that was why he’d brought you here. There wasn’t even a chance to tell you this, when the door opened and Dustin appeared.

“Finally, we’ve been waiting for you!”

“What?” You looked from one to the other, confusion clouding your face, but in the next moment, Dustin was by your side, taking your hand and practically pulling you inside.

Every one of your friends was here. They’d asked your parents if they could arrange this, and they’d happily agreed, were even staying the night with some friends, knowing that they’d only be in the way. Your friends had arranged this without you even having the slightest idea - and Eddie had kept quiet about it as well, as he’d spent the afternoon with you. 

“Surprise!” they yelled in unison, though Dustin’s voice was the loudest of them all. They’d decorated the living room, had taken care of food and drinks, and the music was already playing. Just a little get together between friends. It was perfect and a real surprise after you’d thought that all of them had forgotten. Your friends had really managed to lead you on.

“You’re crazy! All of you!” you managed to choke out, wiping the few tears away that had fallen.

“Nah, we just love you, so we made this plan.” Dustin spoke up again, grinning at the others. “Eddie was supposed to distract you until we were finished here to surprise you. And it worked.”

You stole a glance at Eddie, who was already on his way with a drink for you, trying to hide his grin behind his own glass.

“I’m surprised none of you blew this,” he said with a laugh, handing you the glass that was meant for you.

“We did our best. It was an important matter,” Steve chimed in carrying what looked like a birthday cake to the table. He only lit the candles before he gestured for you to come over. The cake looked delicious, though all of you would probably get a sugar rush from all chocolate, but honestly? Who cared?

“Make a wish when you blow out the candles,” Eddie reminded you, placing his hand on the small of your back, a smile on your lips.

Surrounded by your friends, having spent the afternoon with the man who’d stolen your heart, what was there left to wish for? The two of you would have to talk about what this was, where this would lead at one point, but right now, you were more than happy. So you blew out the candles, made your wish, and got ready to enjoy the rest of your birthday with the people you loved.

______

AND I'm tagging @astrangegirlsmind for the wonderful support and hyping me up <3

[twiixr4kidz]

IM SO HAPPY FOR YOU THAT YOUR MOTIVATED!!! I had an another idea, for DJ with a reader who plays softball. Maybe a situation on the island where the reader hits something (be it for protection or part of the challenge, blah blah) out of the ballpark (pun intended) or it could be just general headcanons! Idrc about the format. thank you :) -👻

YES this is such a fun idea omg!!

dj x softball player!reader

sigh.

another day, another challenge for yours truly, chris mclean. he'd been on some kind of kick where it was consistently challenges involving sports and outdoor games. and today was no different.

except this time, you were confident you were going to win.

when chris had called for everyone, he said something about a game involving sticks and balls. and oh boy, if you weren't paying attention before, you definitely were now. you were the first person to arrive, followed by dj (of course), and then everyone else sort of just trickled in. dj had taken mental note of the fact that 1, you were there first and 2, you looked INCREDIBLY excited.

chris announced that today's challenge would be baseball. except, with fruit. like fruit ninja with no slicing. it was simple. the two teams would take turns batting and standing in the field. instead of hitting home runs, you'd have three chances to hit some random fruit so hard it exploded.

things were going to get... messy. and you were absolutely SIKED about it.

as soon as chris was done talking, dj, who'd been standing next to you since he got here, asked why all the excitement.

"okay so," you started, surprised you'd forgotten to tell him in the first place. "i've been playing softball for so long and it's like, my favorite sport ever so yknow!!"

dj, who is literally the most supportive partner ever, was happy for you. the two of you had the same train of thought in that you were going to win the challenge for your team without a doubt.

now, dj didn't doubt that you were talented in your trade. He didn't doubt that at all. but when it came time for the actual challenge itself? he didn't expect it at all.

every time you were up to bat, you annihilated every fruit with one sharp hit. when you were in the field, literally nobody could get passed you. you were absolutely KILLING it. and the other team was NOT happy.

both because they were covered in fruit remains and because they had a minimum of 1 point while your team had like, 12. but what really took the cake was the fact that, while you were distracted, heather thought it would be funny to throw a rock at you out of rage.

typical heather, you know how it is.

and so she did.

and the bat which you'd been gently gripping in your hands was suddenly swinging in front of you. without a second thought to it, you hit the rock so hard it went flying. it was out of the woods, out of the island, probably sinking to the bottom of the ocean as you spoke.

and dj went from impressed to "HOLY SHIT DID YOU SEE THAT OH MY GOD THAT WAS SO COOL". he was raving to everybody about it, and he was lowkey bragging about it to the other team. it was just so cool he wouldn't shut up about it.

[tigirl-and-co]

Hmm-hmm, little unedited snippet I banged out real fast! Sorry if the dialogue word choices sound off, my brain is full of fog and mist today so I’m having trouble remembering how everyone talks!

Anyway, here’s a short scene for Donna in the TARDIS with 12 and Bill! I just love the idea of all of them together, and finally got inspiration! I’m imagining this taking place after an adventure where Bill and Donna meet for the first time, and something happens to get Bill down.

~~~

Donna looked right into the eyes of the young adult who had taken a seat on the console room stairs and gave her the most no-nonsense, completely self-assured expression she could muster up. "Oh, don't you worry, we'll get you a man. Hell, we'll get you one before I get one, if we can."

Bill winced instinctively. "Actually, I'm... not particularly interested in men." She wanted to avert her gaze, but this was her Doctor's TARDIS, and she wouldn't cow, even for one of his old friends. She didn't see the Doctor rolling his eyes.

"Oh thank God, most of them are shite."

Bill couldn't help it- she broke out into a surprised grin. This was the best-case scenario, the one she had been hoping for.

But Donna wasn't finished. "So, girls, then? Or aliens? Kids are into aliens these days, right? Or both! Alien women, like in Star Trek!"

The Doctor was staring very intently at a screen on the main console. He wished he had his sunglasses.

"Oi! Spaceman!" Donna whipped around to face him, and he straightened up and tried to look professional. Bill, who was experiencing whiplash, managed to note he was struggling to contain both amusement and a little bit of fear. Too deep in shock to say anything, Bill instead briefly wondered just how powerful Donna was to inspire that sort of reaction.

"Yes, Donna?" he asked, quirking an infamous eyebrow despite knowing exactly what she was going to ask.

"What planets are out there with people on them that work with humans, romantically?" Donna paused for a moment, looking back over her shoulder at Bill. "Do you want them to work in all the other ways, too...? Yeaaaah, of course you do. You're young and you need fun." She turned back to scrutinize the stone-faced space Scotsman. "Well?"

He took his chance to egg on his old companion. "Donna, why exactly do you think I know anything about romance? You remember how the last bout ended, don't you? Well, I mean now you remember, of course you had forgotten be-" he cut himself off when he took notice of the glower, made more threatening by the low lights of the console room. "Sorry."

She didn't lighten up. "Yes, I do remember that a clone of yourself went off to live a long and happy life with Rose."

The Doctor frowned. "Well-"

"I wasn't finished. You also told me that River -- remember her? -- you said that she turned out to be your wife so obviously you aren't as clueless as you always say you are." She snorted, and Bill found herself wishing she had popcorn. Or chips.

"Donna-"

"And you told me you had kids back on Gallifrey, and your granddaughter fell in love with a human!" Bill almost choked on air at that.

I wonder if his granddaughter's cute...

Donna was winding down. "So don't you tell me that you don't know anything about romance, mister! Even if you were unbelievably ungraceful after kidnapping me from my wedding." She smiled in confident triumph.

Suddenly, a laugh rang out from behind Donna. Bill had finally caught on to what was happening.

"You two are hilarious!" she choked out. "Donna, thanks but no thanks- I'll find a woman on my own." She paused. "I hadn't considered an alien girlfriend before, but I guess it wouldn't hurt to be open-minded." Bill turned to look at the Doctor, who was grinning cheekily. "And you're going to tell me about... whatever she was talking about. I can't believe you ever found the time for romance!"

The Doctor frowned. "Now what makes everybody think-"

Donna seemed to be enjoying cutting him off today. "You're welcome- I'm sure a cute and clever woman like you won't have trouble finding somebody once you're ready to start looking." She walked over to Bill's side and slung her arm over the younger woman's shoulder. "And between you and me, you've got plenty of time."

Two pairs of eyes rolled this time, although only the Scottish pair had something to say. "So, Bill, I take it you don't want to go to the planet of incredibly attractive humanoid aliens, of which all are female?" He smirked. "That's good. I'm an honorary member of the species, but it can still be a bit awkward."

Bill paused, and she could feel Donna's smile, because it was infectious. She grinned even wider. "Well, I guess it couldn't hurt to check out!"

"Oh, that's good to hear, because it looks like they're being invaded and need some help!"

Both girls' grins vanished.

"Wait-"

@cloudbustingss​

LMAO TWO YEARS LATE BUT I FINALLY MANAGED TO WRITE SOMETHING FOR THEM

sorry it’s not the greatest, had an idea but brain didn’t want to cooperate

[masterwords]

happy place

Summary: Derek asks Penelope to pick Hotch up from the hospital. Post-WITSEC soft and sweet.

Warnings: hospital/chronic pain stuff

Words: 3.9k

Pairings: Hotch/Morgan

Notes: This has been in my WIP folder for months without progress. It's not going anywhere, there is no point, it's all just cute nonsense. Gotta clean out this folder, and if I can't seem to put together new words I'll share old ones that are halfway decent.

**

Penelope didn't even know he was back when Derek called and asked if she'd pick Hotch up from the hospital. “I'm stuck in D.C., I can't leave...just pick him up and take him to your place? I'll owe you one...maybe more...anything you want.”

All she really wanted was to know why she didn't know he was back in town, out of WITSEC. Why no one had bothered to tell her. (Okay, she also really wanted to know why he was in the hospital but she'd probably get THAT answer if she agreed to help.) She'd been watching for his name to pop up the moment his fake identity was retired and Aaron Hotchner was back in use, but Emily had mentioned he was going to reintegrate slowly, give Jack a chance to settle before making any big moves...going back to work, seeing people again, he was just laying low and considering his options. She knew that meant he was already seeing Derek, that didn't bother her at all, but this wasn't exactly how she'd imagined their reunion.

Still, it seemed fitting.

“Have you talked to him?” she'd asked Emily when they all got the news that he and Jack were in the process of being released back into their lives. It had been long enough that she couldn't remember the sound of his voice, the exact color of his eyes, which ties he liked to wear on certain days or for certain occasions. Things she swore she'd never forget she suddenly realized she had. Once she'd asked Derek if he felt the same, he had to right? But he seemed to have this perfectly saved image of Hotch in his mind, he missed him terribly but he never wavered. “His eyes are the color of raw honey,” Derek told her wistfully once, when she'd cried over him being gone. She loved that about Derek, that he could conjure it up so easily.

“Once,” Emily replied, feeling the sudden weight of sitting behind his desk and doing his job in a permanent capacity. He could come back to town, but he wouldn't come back here. She closed the file and handed it to Penelope with a sad smile. “He sounded tired.”

She wasn't surprised that that parlayed into getting a call from Derek at 4:11pm on a Wednesday practically begging her to leave work early. “I don't have time to go into details, it's nothing serious...he's just been there all day and I can't get out of here, I'm in the middle of signing papers at the bank on a house that's been pending forever. If I leave now I'll lose it.” He would come though, he'd leave if she said she couldn't do it and she knows it. But she also knows how long he's been fighting to get this house in his hands...it's his dream house and it's in Chicago. A multitude of reasons why he can't just up and leave that bank, but he won't leave Hotch sitting at the hospital all night either.

She agreed, of course she did. There was no reason not to. Even if she was drowning in a sea of work, it could all wait. She'd forgotten the smell of his shampoo, it was soft and barely fragrant, expensive and she could only smell it when he leaned over her shoulder to peek at her screen. “Make it quick please...I don't think he was ready to...” she stopped there at his sharp intake of breath.

“He wants to see everyone, sweetness. It's just been complicated.” Complicated sounded an awful lot like bad the way he said it. Coupling that word with Emily's admission that he sounded tired, and now the hospital...it made her feel icky. Like she was going to pick him up and he would be a different person, like WITSEC had taken everything that she knew and loved about Hotch and just ruined it all. Then she'd feel even worse not being able to remember all of those silly little things.

She wasn't surprised when she found him sitting on the edge of his bed refusing a wheelchair from a stern nurse who wasn't taking any of his shit. He looked just like himself and she was glad to see it. Maybe a little thinner, a few more lines, and no suit...but it was Hotch. His hair was longer, his sweater was soft, his frown...she remembered that.

“You'll get in if you know what's good for you, Hotchner.” The nurse had her hands firmly planed on her hips, a force of nature in her bright purple scrubs covered in hearts and stars. Penelope smiled in spite of her fear of what she'd find, completely amused at their standoff. She would put her money on the nurse, she looked tough, like she could snap him in half easy. Even in his younger years.

“I don't need it.” His arms, clad in long black cashmere, were folded over his chest in a stance any eight year old would have called a pro move, hands tucked beneath his biceps defiantly. A bright yellow fall risk bracelet peeked out from beneath the cuff and the nurse tapped it...one, two, three with her fingernail. His legs dangled over the edge in his worn old khaki shorts, hospital grippy socks still on his feet. They were pink, a stark contrast to the black sweater he wore over his lithe frame. What Penelope couldn't see was that this particular nurse was actually happy to see him, grouchy and troublesome as he was. She'd missed him around here, but neither of them would admit to that. Instead she held up his tennis shoes with a smirk.

“You want these back, sourpuss? Hop in.” She was indicating the wheelchair that sat next to her, braked and ready for him to take a seat. A wheelchair he had no intention of getting into. Neither of them paid any attention to Penelope as she watched from the doorway.

“Unlike you, I own more than one pair of shoes.”

“Yeah? You got 'em here in some magic pocket I'm unaware of?”

He narrowed his eyes and considered his options. Penelope could see it, he was still willing to argue further. He really didn't want a ride in a wheelchair, he wanted to walk. He settled, though, on a simple plea. “You know I can walk out of here just fine, Norma. I walked in on my own two legs.”

“I know that, sweetheart, but it's hospital policy and you know that.” She had softened considerably and was pleading now for him to just follow the rules. What she really wanted to point out was that he came in hobbling and he was leaving with a pharmacy coursing through his veins, so the wheelchair was really the least of his concerns. It would only take him as far as the car, after that he was on his own.

Penelope thought for sure he'd argue, say something back, but she watched with wide eyes as he caved instead. His features softened and he extended his arm to Norma, let her help him off of the bed. She knew, when he swayed where he stood, that Norma was right, the wheelchair was the best option. He looked like he could walk, unsteady, but a ride was better. The way she carefully maneuvered him into the chair was gentle and Penelope could feel her fondness for him. He had that effect on people. A delightful pain in the ass.

“Um...” she finally said, so softly, when she realized they were about to turn and see her eavesdropping. “Hi. Sir. It's...” she paused, taken aback by the soft way his eyes met hers and it felt like lightning. Gold, his eyes were gold with just the faintest flecks of green and brown, like a late November forest just before the frost. How could she have forgotten that? “It's good to see you. I guess...maybe it could be better...circumstances and all...but...”

“It's good to see you too, Penelope.”

Norma smiled at Penelope before crouching beside the chair, snipping the bracelets from his forearm and checking the IV site to make sure it all looked good. She never bruised him. “Where's that hot tamale of yours? I was really looking forward to seeing him...”

Penelope couldn't help laughing, especially when she saw the flush rising from the collar of Hotch's sweater. His neck was turning beet red.

“So you could both gang up on me? He's in D.C. Signing some papers.”

Norma offered the rundown to Penelope on the way to her car, as if Hotch wasn't even there. In a way he really wasn't, the drugs they'd given him to handle his pain levels made him groggy and he was barely awake. He hated the way they made him feel, sleepy and hungry and sometimes things irritated him that would normally not even be on his radar. Like right now, the way that Penelope's heels were clicking along the floor was making his skin crawl and he bunched his hands into fists in his lap to try and distract himself.

“He's a problem patient,” He heard Norma say, and he knew very well she was explaining to Penelope just how long the two of them had known one another. She'd been on duty the night Foyet brought him in barely breathing, she'd been on the code team. Shocked that old ticker of yours back into rhythm, she'd told him with a wilygrin. You owe me one, now hold still. She was never going to let him live it down, either. She used it against him every time he complained. “Real piece of jerky. You know what I mean? Tough and chewy...”

Penelope giggled helplessly. “Yes. I know.” She had plenty of stories of her own, some of which she shared quickly and without any concern for whether or not he wanted to hear them. If his time in WITSEC had taught him nothing else, it had taught him to find contentment with the people who love you. It's awfully easy to be erased from their lives.

“You said I was a brownie last time.” He sounded a little hurt, and Penelope almost felt bad for him but Norma just patted him right on the shoulder. Casual touch that he didn't shy away from.

“Yeah, sure I did. You were nice last time. All sweet and gooey in the middle. Flashed those big maple syrup eyes at me so I'd run on up to Maternity and get you a box of cranberry juice.”

“I was thirsty,” he almost whispered, it was so quiet. “I don't like apple juice.” Penelope suddenly wanted to know Norma desperately, this woman who held a part of Hotch in her hands that she'd never seen before. And not just for that reason, but she called his eyes maple syrup and Penelope couldn't think of anything that sounded more fantastic or magical, she wasn't likely to forget it...or Norma the nurse with her super fun scrubs and her black hair that looked like a raven's wing under the harsh fluorescent lights.

As they folded Hotch into Penelope's woefully tiny car, she pulled out her phone and sent Norma a quick text. “Now you have my number, too.” She said it with a sparkle in her eye and Norma slipped her phone out of her hip pocket, poked in Penelope's name with a starry-eyed cat emoji beside it and bid them farewell.

It was on the tip of her tongue, wondering why he'd been in the hospital all day. Instead of asking, though, she nudged him away from the couch and toward her bedroom. Her couch was covered in bags and rather than figure out where to put them all, the bed was right there and so much easier. He looked like he would fall asleep sitting up, had almost done so in the car. Derek wanted them to wait for him at her place, said he'd bring dinner and hang out a bit. The three of them hadn't been together like this is too long, really, and she wasn't going to argue with him even if she thought Hotch would probably have preferred to be in his own home. He didn't look sick, he didn't look bad necessarily...no visible reason for him to be in the hospital. Maybe that scared her more. What didn't she see?

The first sign that anything was wrong, aside from his general malaise, was when he took a little longer to ease himself down onto her bed. He listed to the side, catching himself first with the left hand and then squared up, holding his breath until all movement had ceased. Scooting backward with slow hips, he almost seemed to drag his legs up onto the bed. She helped him where she could, lifted his ankles and took off his shoes, helped him position himself. “Sir...?”

“It's nothing, Penelope. Really.” He meant it, too. It was nothing because it wasn't new. Nothing worth talking about, nothing she could do for it if she did know. The look she gave him when she sat down beside him on the other side of the bed was strange, like she was realizing now that he wasn't her boss any longer and she didn't have to tip toe around quite so delicately. Something about his private nature still held her off, at least a little, but not like it had when he held her job in his hands. He thought he detected something simmering behind her sparkly red glasses that felt like danger, like some long overdue honesty.

“Sir, with all due respect...”

“Aaron,” he corrected, almost hoping to derail her. “I'm not your boss anymore, you don't need to address me so formally.”

“Right. Aaron, with all due respect...and you know I love you right? Like so so much. But...you don't spend a day in the hospital over nothing.”

Weighing his options, he smoothed a soft pink blanket over his legs. Tracing huge peonies with his fingertips, he attempted to sort his thoughts. The medication they'd given him made him foggy and fragile, the first few hours afterward were usually either sleep or cry, rarely in between but he thought he could manage his way through this one without having a completely irrational breakdown.

“I'm sorry.” He always started there, because he was. “It isn't nothing, but it isn't anything you need worry about. A few too many explosions, a few too many car wrecks and rough takedowns...” Years of firing weapons hadn't done him any favors, and neither had Foyet. His body was a wreck, and that was simply all there was to it. When he was working, he didn't have time to pay it much mind. A body in motion stays in motion. A handful of ibuprofen would get him through a few bad hours, something a little stronger on days off...he'd managed well enough. Now he was moving slowly through semi-retirement and it was all catching up to him. He wished he could tell her a story, give her something like a diagnosis she could look up and understand and feel comfortable with...he knew that would make it easier for her to swallow, but he didn't have anything to offer. Just a back that, today, wouldn't allow him to move. Getting out of bed on his own had been nearly impossible, and maybe the hospital was an overreaction on Derek's part but Hotch couldn't fault him for that...this was still somewhat new to him, too. He'd heard, they'd had secret backdoor ways to keep in touch, but he hadn't seen until recently and he'd had Hotch in the hospital for it twice when normally he would have laid at home in bed willing it to pass. Or sleeping. He got a lot more sleep these days. “I think he just likes when they pump me full of drugs. I'm nicer.” He smiled, but it was strained and a little sad, made her wonder how he'd gotten on all alone for so long.

Hotch knew better than to argue with Derek's will. Especially now, after so much time apart. He'd get tired of hospital visits that didn't do anything too, it would just take time. The same way it had taken Jack time. A few days of the kid beside himself thinking something was terribly wrong, that his dad was dying, and Hotch giving in and sitting in the Urgent Care or the ER for hours only to be told the same thing each time. Unless he wanted another surgery (and he did not), it was all just comfort measures when it got bad. Jack knew the drill, get the meds, get the heating pad, get a book. But now he had other things to think about, like Norma's suggestion that he really should consider coming out of retirement. A body in motion stays in motion, she and Derek loved to parrot one another...they had a point. He loved being with Jack but he also missed the purpose that came with working. And the distraction.

“Are you moving to Chicago?” she asked, no longer feeling like digging through something that made him so uncomfortable. Her sharp swerve jarred them both.

“It would seem that way.”

“Do you want to live in Chicago?”

He let a sly smile light up his features, his maple syrup eyes twinkling with mischief. Although, now that she really had time to consider it, she might have to let Norma know that they weren't exactly maple syrup...though she loved the implication of sweetness there, and how Norma seemed to compare everything with food. She'd love to hear Norma's thoughts on Derek. “No. But I want Derek to be happy, and I know it would make him happy to live close to his family again. He's given up enough on my behalf, I think it's my turn.”

“Is that where Jack is?”

“Yes. It's spring break so we flew him out to stay with Fran. She's going to show him a few schools, feel him out...I thought it might be better coming from her.” What he meant was that she could soften the blow. After so long in witness protection, they were planning to move again. It had taken some consideration, it was only after Hotch decided not to return to work that Derek asked him about Chicago. Said he'd been eyeing a house for years and it was finally for sale. Nothing ever went totally according to plan or dream, though. His bank didn't love a lot of it so he had to jump through some hoops, liquidate some assets and pay cash. It was worth it, he decided, it was his dream house. Close enough to his mother and the rest of his family, in a good neighborhood, good solid bones. It would be at least a year of jumping back and forth, Virginia to Chicago, working on the house with a team of contractors. Penelope pretended her heart wasn't breaking at the thought of losing both of them. All of them. Her family, together for so long, was drifting farther and farther apart.

Derek was at the door before she had a chance to inquire further, giving him a short reprieve from thinking about things that were a little overwhelming in his current state. He just wanted his eyes to focus on something because the little twinkly Christmas lights she had dancing over her walls were tripping him out. They really gave him the strong stuff this time. At his most vulnerable and pliable, Derek took full advantage. Using one finger he nudged Hotch's chin and tilted his head back to give him a kiss before he even said hi.

“Stay,” he directed with a grin when Hotch shifted and started to move, as if they were getting up to leave. “I brought dinner. We're sleepin' over. First night back with Penny and we owe her, yeah?”

“A sleepover?” Hotch squirmed.

“Think of it as an away case...this is just a really interesting hotel room.”

They ate dinner in Penelope's bed over a protective layer of towels. The television was on in the other room, but Derek and Penelope spent the entire time talking about Chicago while Hotch worked his way slowly through his meal. The medications they had him on made him feel dizzy and hungry, a dangerous combination if not managed properly. He was old hat at it now, knew exactly what order to go in, how slow to go, to make it work for him. The only real problem was that he was starving and would have liked to mow through it without restraint.

Derek, smashed in between his two favorite people, tried to help Hotch with his slow dinner. He picked at a spring roll playfully. “I'm doing just fine on my own, thank you,” Hotch muttered, snatching the fried treat back. “Saving it for last.”

“Not if I have anything to say about it.” Derek gave him a sly smile, a smile that Hotch knew meant he'd shove it whole into his mouth any minute now if it wasn't eaten with some haste. “I'm gonna lick it.”

“You wouldn't dare,” Hotch gasped, locking eyes with Derek who only grinned.

“Wanna bet?”

Derek, for all his bold talk about movie night and having a good time and being together again, was asleep before anyone. The stress of Hotch's hospital visit and signing his life away on a house in Chicago had taken everything out of him. He lay passed out between them once everything was cleaned up, snoring and curled around Hotch but with his legs kicked out into Penelope's space. “At least he's wearing his boxers,” Penelope muttered, pulling the blanket up around him. She didn't mind him invading her space, he was warm. Her family was here, there was nothing in the world she could complain about even if the two of them had left her nothing but a sliver of bed to sleep on. She would probably wind up on the couch at this rate.

“You liked Norma,” Hotch whispered, glancing at Penelope over the mound of Derek's shoulder. “I think she liked you, too. Who wouldn't?” He was getting chatty as he faded. It was soft and groggy. “She's nice. Bossy like Jessica. Real mean streak. Good cook.” The nighttime meds Derek had poked down his throat worked fast. He sank into the pillows and his eyes took on a dreamy quality as she spoke nervously about Norma the Nurse who had already sent her a number of what she hoped were flirtatious texts.

“She's a good woman,” he continued, his syllables slurring while he drifted off. His head fell to the side, floppy too long hair in his eyes now. “You should ask her to dinner.” He paused, licked his dry lips and even with his eyes closed he grinned a little devilishly. She could smell his shampoo on her pillows. “Bring her to Chicago when you come visit.” Ever the romantic, she realized he'd already mapped out a long love affair for them in his mind and she didn't mind it one bit. First dinner, though. Then maybe a double date in Chicago. And lots of whipped cream if she was really lucky.

“Sir...” she muttered, carding her fingers through his hair while he drifted off to sleep. She couldn't understand how she'd forgotten anything about him, but she was glad to have it all back. Even if it was temporary. “I missed you. So much.”

“Mmmm...” he hummed back, and she knew it meant he missed her too.

[infoglitch]

RWBY: Fate

(I tried, I swear I did it's just so damn annoying!

I didn't feel like having you guys wait another fucking year just for me to drop a page.

I am so sorry everyone I have failed this time.)

Our focus changes to jaune who is in some kind of locker room as he managed to find a locker as he put some stuff in specifically a box of pumpkin Pete cereal.

He sighed after getting all of the unnecessarys in the locker. He closed it as he began to hear people entering the locker room.

"Thank the brothers I got here early." He spoke softly as he then noticed the locker next to him opened as he peeked around and saw a familiar woman with bright vermilion hair strung up in a pony tail. She wore a golden armored corset aswell as a black body suit underneath with a gold plate armor chest piece covering her upper body. Along with that she wore golden kneepads and shin guards. She also wore long black gloves over her hands with the symbol of a maple leaf on the back hand of both gloves. She also had a golden arm guard on her right arm. The most defining addition to her outfit was red sash the hanged out from the side of her body suit.

Jaunes eyes stared at the marvel of a woman infront of him before he muttered a simple "hello". The woman immediately turned on her heel to face him.

"Oh hi there! Who might you be?" The woman said as jaune shook his head before speaking his. "Jaune d'arc. Nice to meet you." Jaune spoke as he waved at her.

The woman seemed to detense as she stuck out her hand. "Pyrrha Nikos. It's a pleasure." Pyrrha spoke as jaune looked at her hand before shaking it. As jaune looked at her he felt a memory pop into his head. "Hey um. Weird question but you wouldn't happen to have been on a box of pumpkin Pete cereal have you" jaune asked as pyrrha looked at him Abit surprised.

"Yes actually. Though it was only for a month. The companies support is one of the reasons I'm here. Who knew sponsorships could get you into a huntsmen academy." Pyrrha answered as she pulled away from the handshake as she rubbed the back of her neck. Jaune had a shimmer in his eyes as he began to babble on about cereal trivia as pyrrha just listened oddly amazed by all the pieces of trivia of cereal history.

Suddenly a small chuckle was heard as the two looked to see Weiss walking in. "I'll be honest madam pyrrha I never took you for a cereal enthusiast." She said smiling Abit as jaune had small blush on his face as pyrrha just rolled her eyes at the mention of "madam pyrrha".

"Weiss schnee. What a surprise. Aren't you supposed to be counting your mountains of lien." Pyrrha spoke coldly as she crossed her arms. Weiss seemed a bit taken aback but kept walking until she was right infront of the vermilion gladiator. Weiss stuck out her hand as she smiled a bit. "I would love to be friends with you." Weiss spoke with confidence as pyrrha just stared at her observing her bodies disposition. "U-um Id like to be friends-" jaune spoke up which caught Pyrrha off guard. She had forgotten he was behind her listening to everything. She turned back to Weiss who was no longer staring at pyrrha instead just glaring at the blonde knight. Jaune just piped down as he opened his locker and made it look like he was looking for something.

Weiss turned her attention back to pyrrha as she Changed to a friendly disposition. "So about my request-"

"No." Pyrrha interrupted the schnee heiress as she had a aura of dangerous intent. "O-oh. Ok then. I apologize for bothering you madam pyrrha" Weiss spoke as she spoke as she curtsied before heading back to locker.

"Did I ruin the chance?"  jaune asked as pyrrha looked at him her posture softening as she shook her head. "No. I just don't like making friends who give off... How do I put it?" Pyrrha spoke as she tapped her chin. "Off energy?" Jaune said as pyrrha snapped her fingers. "Yeah that! Now then how about we head to the exam course" Pyrrha spoke as she grabbed jaune by his hoodie as she walked off with the blonde knight as we see a defeated Weiss rummaging through her locker before feeling a pat on her back as yang stood by her. "You'll get on her good side soon ice queen." Yang had a large stupid smirk as she talked which Weiss just grumbled at. Stupid blondes.

With Ruby she was wandering through the Locker room in awe of it sheer size. before seeing two familiar figures. "REN! NORA!" Ruby shouted with glee as she ran towards the two as Nora turned and grinned before running right towards ruby as both had their arms spread ready to bear hug each other.

The two collided as they hugged each squealing in joy as ren just watched unamused as eventually we see everyone enter the locker room and prepare before finally hearing bell signaling the end of the grace period. Eventually everyone found themselves on a cliff as there were launch platforms as we see Ruby and jaune standing next to each other as jaune was shivering in his armor meanwhile ruby was inspecting the red case that she was carrying.

"S-so... You scared r-ruby?" Jaune ask as he looked at the rose reaper. Ruby looked at him a bit confused. "Nope. Are you?" Ruby answered with her own question. Jaune vigorously shook his head as Ruby noded.

"Attention future huntsmen." Ozpins Voice rang out as everyone turn to see him standing to the side as he held a microphone. "You will be given a flare gun with two types of ammunition. One with red and one with green, the green flare signals that you give up. Red means you have completed your objective and are returning here. You will be given these to ensure that there are no casualties when we can't observe you. Any questions?" Ozpin asked as jaune raised his hand.

"Um What is our objective?" Jaune asked nervously as ozpin stared at him, his eyes narrowed as he saw a symbol of the crescent moon on the boys shield.

"You're an arc correct. Your families full of legends you should know this. Now tell me how is crocea mors doing." Ozpin asked as jaune was about to say something before ozpin pressed a button as jaune was sent flying from his launch platform.

"Oops. Begin. And make sure you use your semblances." ozpin spoke as everyone rocketed off as Glynda and hazel stood behind ozpin. "Ozpin that was oddly cruel" hazel spoke calmly as the megaphone in ozpins hand disintegrated. "Apologies. Just a bridge that I didn't burn." Ozpin answered as he walked of before stopping.

"Glynda be a dear and keep tabs on the students. Hazel get the rescue unit ready if we get any green flares." Ozpin added as he walked away before vanishing into thin air.

Our focus changes to ren as he pulled out two Chinese dow only transformed into it looked like pistols with the blade turned into a bayonet before it fired off the bayonets leaving a trail of string attaching to both blades as they hit a tree as ren swung himself across the tree as he landed on a large tree branch as he hear screams of what sounded like a helpless girl. He looked up and so Jaune heading towards the ground as ren sigh as the bayonets returned. He aimed his pistol at jaune before firing a bayonet as it pierced through Jaunes hood as it nailed him to the tree.

"Well hello" Ren spoke calmly as he sat down as jaune looked at him with a nervous expression on his face. "Um hi. I'm jaune d'arc. Nice to meet you um... Wait what's your name?" Jaune asked as ren just sighed as he cleared his throat. "Lie ren. My friend Nora calls me Ren though." Ren answered as he looked to the sky as we see a pink lightning bolt shoot by the two before crashing into the ground as we see the one and only Nora Valkyrie Face planted into the dirt as a crater surrounded her before she shot up as she had a huge grin as she turned to Ren. "Nailed it!" She spoke as if she was a toddler who got a toy she wanted.

"Wow. Your five minutes early. I figured you show up here as soon as me and jaune here were on the ground." Ren jested. Well jaune assumed he did. His monotone voice didn't really help discern whether he was joking or being actually serious.

Nora raised a eyebrow as she looked at the blonde knight before she narrowed her eyes. "Cereal man." She spoke plainly as she suddenly grinned as jaune gulped nervously.

Our focus finally changed to ruby soaring through the air as she had a calm disposition as she grabbed the red box and removed it from her belt as we the emblem of a flaming rose. Suddenly the box transformed into a giant scythe that had the end of a sniper rifle barrel. Suddenly she fired a blast of wind from the barrel as she suddenly gained momentum as we see petals envelope her before a cascade of rose petals was in her place as it flew right towards an area full of strange werewolf creature, the main body had black fur as bones covered each of them. Suddenly we see Ruby emerged from the rose petals as she reared the scythe as we see black lightning envelope the blade as she brought it down piercing into the earth sending a shockwave as the creatures disintegrated.

In the aftermath we see Ruby leaning on her scythe which had the name "crescent rose" engraved on it.  Ruby removed the scythe as it transformed into its red box again as she attached it to metal emblem on her belt.

"Now. To find the objective. And hopefully Ren and Nora." Ruby spoke happily as she began walking through the dense forest. 

Our perspective changes once more as we see yang wearing a pair of sun glasses as she soared through the air as she... Wait was she NAPPING?! Yang soon yawned as she looked to see a tree in her way as she just smirked she tapped her bracelets as they transformed into two gauntlets that a bullet strap wrapped around as they had shotgun rounds. She brought her first back before getting close to the tree as she SLUGGED IT breaking the tree in half as we hear the sound of a shot gun FIRING. The top half of the giant tree was sent flying as yang fired a blast from her other gauntlet sending her soaring through the sky as flames enveloped her. Eventually we see her land on the ground as we hear a BOOM. As everything around got scorched.  She stood up and dusted herself off.

"Now to get to work." Yang spoke as began running through the forest.

Next we see Weiss soar through the air as she prepared a repair a with a revolver chamber in the guard as she spun it before stopping on the cyan chamber as Weiss eyes glowed as we see circles with a giant snow flakes in the center appear before turning into ice as a icy slide form as Weiss landed and began ice skating on the slide as we see the same glyphs under her feet. As she skated across the icy slide she saw the same black werewolves ruby encountered as she readied her rapier and spun the revolver until it landed on the red chamber. "Myrtenaster, flare form." Weiss spoke calmly as she leaped into the air spinning upside down as she sliced through the air sending a blast of flames towards the monsters scorching them as she landed graceful. "That's 10 beowolves added to my Talley. Let's see if I can beat winters count." Weiss spoke to herself as Blake watched from the shadows as she rolled her eyes as she began walking towards Weiss.

"Rivalry between schnee's? Interesting" Blake humored to herself as she suddenly found the blade of weisses sword myrtenaster pointed towards her. "You have alot of gaul to act all chummy with me after insulting me." Weiss spoke coldly as Blake rolled her eyes as she moved myrtenaster to the side. "Look schnee. I'll be honest I don't care for you or your family. But if you want to finish your objective you'll need teammates." Blake said bluntly as Weiss just looked at her before sighing as she sheathed myrtenaster and out stretched her hand. "A truce. Being antagonistic to another isn't going to get either of us anywhere." Weiss spoke as Blake just smirked as she grabbed weisses hand and shook it.

Lastly we see Pyrrha already on the ground as she walked through the forest as she had her spear and shield on her back. Before hearing a hiss as two massive snakes covered in bones surrounded her one was black, one was white. Pyrrha out stretched her unarmored arm as her shield snapped onto it as her spear went into the hand of her other arm. She stood ready to fight. Her shield infront of her as her spear was at the ready.

The white serpent darted towards her as she bashed it away with her shield as the black serpent fired a blast of venom towards her as she dodged it before chucking her spear through creatures mouth and piercing it brain as it fell dead as pyrrha's free hand glowed black as her spear returned to her as she stood infront of the white serpent as circled around her. Pyrrha placed her shield on her back as her spear transformed into a rifle as the snake went straight towards her as we hear the sound of a gun firing as we see both serpents dead at the vermilion gladiators feet.

///

....FUCK ME!

FUCK ME!

WHY?!

WHHAHAHAHY??!

I JUST SAID I WOULDN'T DO THIS!

FUCK!

I am so fucking sorry everyone.

Like me when I play hollow Knight steal soul I die will trying to attempt the feat of writing more than or equal to 3,000 words.

I swear I'm gonna make this right. I swear to you all! Or else my account is fuk-ma-az!

FUCK

But before I go I need to let you all know that I'm going to be taking a break. I think I'm finally experiencing burnout. Or something similar.

I'm going to be back y'all can count your lucky stars on it. But I'm tired.

Now rock on till ya drop tata motherfuckers 🤟

🟥⬜⬛🟨

🌹❄️🐈🐉

[ssahotstuff]

Lie To Me

An Aaron Hotchner x reader series

Aaron Hotchner/Ozark crossover

Part 12

Part 11 can be found here

Warnings: arguing, cursing, alcohol use, that's it

Word count: 2.3k

The following morning, your day started as usual. You were at The Blue Cat, getting ready to open everything up, waiting on Kay to arrive. Things had been eerily quiet since Darlene and Wyatt had been killed. Marty and Wendy were in Chicago finalizing a deal that would put The Byrde Family Foundation on the map forever. You were thinking about what you were doing for Charlotte for her birthday. You'd taken the day off, scheduling Kay to work a double that day so you could take her out and show her a good time. It was coming up quick, and even though Marty and Wendy seemed to have forgotten, you didn't.

You left at 5, and Aaron was already home. You doubted that he was at his place; you only went there for privacy now. He'd all but moved in with you, staying with you every night. You'd wanted to suggest moving in together but it seemed like a big step and you didn't know how he felt about taking such a giant leap, even though you were together nonstop now.

"Hi guys," they were all working on dinner, even Jonah. He was setting the table while Charlotte and Aaron cooked, chuckling at something from their spot at the stove.

"Hi gorgeous," you'd never get tired of how it felt when he stopped everything he was doing to come kiss you, even if it meant bounding across the room in long strides. You changed clothes and met them in the kitchen, everyone sitting down to have dinner together.

When the kids went to their rooms, Aaron pulled you to the door, and you walked across the street to his house, taking a seat on the couch with him.

"Feels weird being here, huh?" He nodded, arm outstretched on the back of the couch as you climbed into his lap, your hands on the back of his neck.

"Your house feels like home. I don't miss this place at all."

You thought now was a good time to bring up living together, so you took a deep breath and told him about the idea you had, and what it could mean for your future.

"I was looking at the listings today and there's a really cute four bedroom house for sale near The Blue Cat. It's lakefront property, but there was a decent price on it."

He raised a brow, looking down at you to see if you were serious.

"You want to buy a house?" You shook your head, because you didn't even necessarily want to leave the house you were in, you just wanted him around all the time.

"It's not about the house. I just--why don't we move in together?" He thought for a moment, blinking back at you like he wasn't sure what to say.

"Maybe we can talk about it when all of this is over," he said, and you felt the excitement that had been building burst and fade away quickly, replaced by disappointment.

"Okay," it wasn't exactly a no, but it was enough to send your hopes into a downward spiral.

"Living together is a big step. I want to do it without worrying about the repercussions."

You weren't sure what the difference was in living together versus what you were doing now. You sensed his reservations were coming from somewhere else, and not the investigation.

"So what would you call what we're doing now?"

He chuckled, kissing your cheek before he answered.

"It's still different, baby. We'll talk about it again when things calm down."

You weren't really surprised when he stayed at his place that night. Even though it was civil, your conversation had put a lot of tension in the air, and he needed time to breathe. You tried to hide how upset you were when he said he wouldn't be coming back over, chewing your lip as you climbed out of his lap.

"Why are you being weird now? You've stayed with me every night for months now," you hated being defensive but you felt like you were left with no choice.

"Who's being weird? You're the one wanting to move in together after a couple of months," he shot back, making you regret having said anything in the first place.

"And obviously that was a mistake. I shouldn't have even said anything." You didn't bother stopping until you made it to your house, shutting the door softly so you didn't wake the kids.

✨✨✨

You still hadn't heard from Aaron and it was nearly time for The Blue Cat to close. You were in the office when you heard the bell, rushing out thinking maybe it was him, but it was Ruth instead. She had been crying, her eyes red and her nose wet.

"Javi. You met him?" She asked, sitting at the bar. You handed her a beer and opened one for yourself, sitting at the bar with her like old times.

"Not a fan," you said simply, and she nodded; she felt the same way.

"Do you ever think there's got to be more to life than trying to survive?"

You didn't quite follow her sudden change in conversation, but you were quick to reply anyway.

"What's the point in life if you're not living?"

She didn't have anything to say back. She killed her beer and asked for another, so you sat drinking with her until she looked like she felt a little better.

"We can go back to my place and have a fire," you suggested, but she shook her head, politely declining.

"I've got to get on the road. You're one of the good ones. I just wanted you to know."

She left without another word, but you had a sinking feeling that Ruth was slowly breaking down.

You were disappointed to see his lights on at his house, but you'd expected it. You thought maybe you'd been spending too much time together and he was just needing some space, so you left him alone. You didn't want to get into another argument over nothing, so you went to your house, finding Charlotte and Jonah on the couch.

"Where's Hotch?" Was Jonah's first question, so you pointed in the direction of the front door.

"He's across the street. I think he needs some space, I'm leaving him alone for now."

Charlotte seemed confused, but she wouldn't say why; she just found it odd that he wasn't around considering he was always attached at your hip. It felt strange, being so distant from him. You hated it. You were constantly on edge without him around, afraid of everything. To beat it all, he hadn't told you that he loved you in two days, and as silly as it sounded, you missed hearing it.

"Guys are so weird," she said instead of whatever was on her mind, and you were quick to agree. You ate quickly, the kids heading to bed long before you. You sat in your living room and watched across the street, his lights still on. It was like he was taunting you--trying to get you to come over just so you could have another fight, because if you caved, that's what would happen. You'd just have to wait until he was done being upset.

✨✨✨

You were a little shocked that Aaron was able to go three days without talking to you. By the second morning, you were texting him asking about his day, which you never got a response to. You were angry with him for being able to avoid you so easily; it was killing you not being able to talk to him, and he seemed fine.

You were off work for the day and Charlotte had your car, so you were confined to the house, which meant watching him come and go knowing he was okay; he was just ignoring you. After his second trip out and back in again, you were storming across the street, and he stopped dead in his tracks when he saw you.

"Are we breaking up?" You couldn't hide the emotion behind your words because it was the harsh reality you'd been faced with for days now. You felt like you were losing him.

"I'm exhausted. Can we please do this later? We're not breaking up, I just--I need some space. We're constantly crowding each other and it's not good for us. We spend every spare moment with each other, and that's not healthy." You could tell he wasn't even convinced of the bullshit he was trying to sell you--he was hiding something, and not knowing what was driving you crazy.

"You're so confusing. One second you never want to be away from me and now you're telling me you need space. You'll get all the space you want when I move, and seeing me becomes a lot harder than it already is."

Your life was busy but you always made time for him. You really didn't see him as often as he claimed; for a couple hours at night before bed and that was it unless you ended up with the day off together.

"You're going to move?" Now it was an entirely different topic, and you could hear the hurt in his voice--you'd been heavily debating the house that was closer to work. It was gorgeous and you'd have a terrific view of the lake.

"I'm thinking about it." You'd done more than think--you made an appointment with the realtor to see it on your next day off.

"Well that's just great." His tone was sarcastic now as he stared at his feet, leaving you grasping for what you were supposed to do that would make everyone happy.

"I'm sorry I bothered you. I'm just going to go," you turned around to leave, but you heard the scurry of footsteps behind you and felt his hands grip your waist, keeping you in place.

"Don't go. God, I don't mean to be such a jackass. You haven't done anything wrong--will you come inside so I can explain? I shouldn't, but I'm going to, because I'm tired of acting like not being around you isn't the hardest thing I've ever done." He was holding you in the middle of his yard, not caring who saw. He was shameless with his love for you; everyone saw it.

"As long as you're sure I'm not bothering you," you replied, your arms at your sides. You were still fairly hurt at the fact that it had been three days since you'd spoken to him.

"Stop. You're never bothering me." He led you inside, making the two of you a cup of coffee before he said anything. You could tell he looked spent--it was written all over his face.

"Marty's newest deal includes you, Jonah and Charlotte being charted to an undisclosed location until we can bring down the cartel. Javi--Javi is dead," you knew Marty had no deal without someone to lead the cartel, and you also knew that he'd do anything to make sure his kids stayed uninvolved, even if it meant sending you away with them.

"I won't go," you said a little too quickly, but he shook his head.

"You will. If I think you're in danger, you have no choice. I thought if I put distance between us it would make it easier to see you leave--no amount of distance can make this easy," he sat down at the bar with you, hoping you'd take his hand when he offered it. You did, gripping him back with all of your strength. Being away from him had been hell--you shuddered to think about what would happen if you were separated by oceans and not just a tiny street.

"You can't just make me go," you argued, but you knew he had the power to do whatever he wanted. His only priority was your untampered safety, in whatever form he could assure it.

"I'm telling you, you won't have a choice. The FBI will force you onto a plane and you won't be allowed to come back if we don't sort this out soon."

You prayed it didn't come to that; you had faith that Aaron would come up with a solution to everyone's problems.

"I hate this. I feel like everything is out of my control. You'd rather ignore me than tell me the truth. I don't know what else I'm supposed to do."

He turned towards you, sighing deeply before he brushed your hair back, studying your face.

"I didn't want to ignore you. I told you, I thought it would make you leaving easier. All it did was cause a fight."

You shook your head, because that wasn't even what started the fight in the first place.

"The fight was over moving in together. You could've just told me that it was possible that we'd be leaving," if that was his only reason for not wanting to live together, it was a dumb one. This wouldn't last forever, no matter what he thought, and there'd be a time when owning a home was something you could look forward to.

"It wasn't just about that. We need to see what's going to happen with the kids before we move in together. It'll change the entire dynamic of living together if we're raising kids too," he mentioned, further proving that he was iffy on living together for more than one reason.

"It's not your job to do anything you don't want to do. If you don't want to live with me, that's fine, but I'm going to look at that house anyway. I need more space and I'm not going to wait around for you to be ready to live with me." You'd never put your foot down before, but he'd put you through three days of hell for no reason, and it was time to make sure he knew you were serious.

"Now wait a minute--"

You put your hand up to stop him before he could even start. If you'd be living separately, then what he had to say on where you lived was obsolete anyway.

"Moving is my decision. If we're not living together, you don't get a say so." You knew it was escalating into another argument but you didn't care, you wanted him to know that no amount of distance would make you change your mind. You were moving without him, and he could be the one to figure out how you'd see each other so much without being neighbors.

"The reason our relationship works so well is because you live right across from me. Moving would destroy the routine we're on," he tried and failed to make a good argument, but you weren't having it.

"Maybe when we only see each other once a week, you'll realize you've taken living next to me for granted." He was with you literally all of the time--you coexisted perfectly the way things were now. Moving in together wouldn't change anything, in fact, it would make your lives easier. He could eliminate several bills, and his house had gone untouched for months. He'd never miss it.

"My mind is made up. It's the wrong decision, not right now." It was your turn to leave him stranded, because you'd never been so angry with him than you were now. All of his excuses were shit--if he didn't see a future with you, he should've spared you the last couple months of false hope. You thought it could be the perfect step for you two, but obviously you were wrong.

Master tags: @wheelsupkels @periodtcevans @hausofwhores @criminallyobsessedcm @tojithesourcerkiller @fireworksinthesky @realdirectionx

[casspurrjoybell-24]

My Unwanted Mate - Chapter 8 - Part 2

*Warning Adult Content*

Calvin Frey

"Would you like to press charges?"

"Robert," Torin spun on the Alpha, giving a hard glare.

"I'd say getting punched by your own mate is enough of a punishment."

"We need to address this as their Alphas, babe, not family."

Robby ran his fingers through his hair in distress, clearly unsure of how to proceed.

It wasn't everyday that pups were taken.

Looking up from where I had been staring at my bruised knuckles, I met my best friends eyes.

He was upset, I could tell by the way his eyebrows pinched together but aside from that he kept his expression blank.

"You dislocated his jaw," Torin butted in, reminding everyone.

Not that I needed the reminder... I couldn't forget.

The stench of their fear, the snap of Nathan's jaw, Tatum unable to even look at me.

Despite my rejection of them, my most primal part, my wolf still claimed them.

And I hurt him... I had always known I would, it was only a matter of time.

"No, I won't be pressing charges."

I cleared my throat, eyes shifting away from the Alpha staring me down.

Benjamin was fine... he spent the day being pampered while I worried.

I had no way of telling what they'd do to him, if they wanted revenge for being rejected.

At the end of the day, I didn't know them.

They were my destined mates but aside from that they were strangers and my family refused to look at it from my point of view.

My pup was fine though... they hadn't hurt him and I knew deep down that they would never dream of hurting him.

Torin was right... the twins had been punished for what they'd done, I had made sure of it.

"Okay," Robby exhaled.

Torin crossed his arms over his chest.

"In case you've all forgotten, we're not human," the little male shouted, stomping his foot.

"You're not dead, they'll never get a second chance with a mate."

"Enough, Torin. We will talk about this later, privately."

"But..."

"I said enough, now go," Robby growled.

Alpha pheromones filled the office as he stared down my little brother.

Torin stared for a second, as if unable to believe Robby had dismissed him.

Even I was a little surprised.

Robby was a pushover when it came to Torin.

My brother's head dropped in defeat, his cheeks reddening with embarrassment.

It wasn't my place to say anything.

Torin slammed the door behind him and Robby took a deep breath, releasing it in a long sigh.

"What a shit show," he murmured, finally looking away from the door and back towards me.

"I can't say I'm okay with what happened. You and your mates are fucking nuts."

"This would have never happened if they'd left the first time I rejected them."

"Or if you had given them a chance."

I laughed but there was no humor behind it.

Robby would never understand, he had always wanted a mate.

"I can't just send them back home," Robby changed the course of the conversation, knowing we'd get nowhere.

"Their father... he wasn't all that happy when he found out they were mates."

That confused me.

The twins had never really talked much about their pack or their family.

Then again, we never really talked much at all.

"They're from an old pack. A traditional one. The pack didn't take well to two submissive wolves being mates," Robby stated, shaking his head.

"They were sent here to give their father the time needed to find a dominant mate for them."

"Are you fucking with me?" I asked, refusing to believe what he was saying.

Things weren't how they use to be, times were changing, evolving and so were the packs.

"You wouldn't imagine the shit I have seen passing through packs."

Robby shook his head as if in disbelief himself.

"I believe the Moon Goddess has a plan for all of us and you're a fucking idiot for rejecting them but that's your prerogative."

He chuckled under his breath with a sneer.

"It's best if you stay out of the house for a while, we don't need anymore incidents."

I stood as he did, giving a single nod to show I agreed.

As much as I hated what I have done, it was deserved.

At least I thought so.

There was no boundary I wouldn't cross when Benjamin was involved.

"Now, I have to go and apologize to my mate."

Robby's shoulders slumped as he left his office and I had the suspicion that he was scared of my little brother.