#the texture looks off too :/ L

[tankwolf]

side eye 🙄

@lostinanothersmemories made a post about quinn in a rabbit mask and tank in a wolf mask, but I got too invested in just tank's mask and suit and tired myself out :^)

[monamipencil]

───── “imperfections?”

               ⋆˚｡ or, in which svt appreciates your beauty.

pairings; hyung line x reader, established relationship. | a/n; this was so lovely to write. pls be kind to yourself and life is too short to worry about shallow things. love yourself, just a bit more today <3

⋆ SEUNGCHEOL ⏤ hip dips; cheol is someone who does not care for so-called flaws. if anything, he only loves them more. would do a double-take when you say that you hate your hip dips. he rests his hands on your hips, holding you like you'd break and he looks at you softly. “see? they're molded for my hands.” he presses his lips to your forehead and stills for a moment. “you're so beautiful. don't ever doubt it.” he takes you to greek museums, pointing out that even aphrodite has hip dips. “my beautiful aphrodite,” he kisses your hips, worshipping your body.

⋆ JEONGHAN ⏤ scars, birthmarks; he has curious hands, always discovering your body and memorising the map of your skin. his fingers outline any birthmark littered on your skin, and he kisses them. same for scars and stitches. he grazes his nimble fingers along them while asking for the backstory. he listens intently, still brushing his fingers over them. if you got it in a funny way, he chuckles and shakes his head. but if not, he locks his fingers with yours, comforting you silently. jeonghan kisses your scars and birthmarks like a silent prayer against your skin and you won't ever feel inadequate.

⋆ JOSHUA ⏤ stretch marks; he never understood the hate around stretch marks anyway. soft fingers trace the lines scattered on your belly, shoulders, hips and elsewhere. it's a habit he has developed, to slip his hands under the waistband of your pants and feel the lines under his fingerprints. it's calming and it grounds him to earth, a wordless reassurance that he's ok and that you are there. a frown decorates his face as you complain about them. but he cuts you off, telling you how much he loves your marks, and he's not saying it because he has to, but because he genuinely feels that way. because he loves you for you.

⋆ JUN ⏤ smile; more than anything else he loves to make you smile and laugh. and if you try to hide your smile, he'll remove your hands and kiss your lips. if you try to tone down your laughter or laugh in a different way, he'll tickle you. jun loves you in the most authentic form. he frowns when you tell that you've never liked your smile or laughter. how could anyone hate a smile? that too, yours? he'll never understand that. he shakes his head, telling you that you look beautiful always. he loves it when you smile into kisses, to taste your happiness on his tongue, to feel your smile, to be the reason behind your laughter. his love heals your inner child.

⋆ SOONYOUNG ⏤ nose; soonyoung is filled with so much love that it pours out through his finger tips. and he can't help but boop your nose all the time. if you do something he finds adorable, he'd crush you into a hug before showing cute aggression all over your face. he pinches your nose, cradling your face and kisses the tip. but he's overcome with so much love that he doesn't really know how to contain it. he rubs his nose against yours and there's something so intimate about it to him. he will cry if you tell that you don't like your nose. and he's very passionate about proving that it is beautiful. no days pass by without his compliments and kisses.

⋆ WONWOO ⏤ acne; he has eyes for the little details. he notices any small changes too. if you get acne before your periods, he'll notice it and remind you. and it's kind of cute to him, little spots that grow on your face and when they're tinted a bit red or brown. kisses your skin, feeling the texture with his lips. and if he gets any pimples too, he'll introduce it to your pimples. he's goofy like that. stares at you like you're the night sky, connecting your acne like constellations with his fingertips and feeling like he touched the sky with his bare hands. he doesn't allow you to be insecure ever, always appreciating you no matter what. life is too short to care about small pimples anyway.

⋆ JIHOON ⏤ dark circles; whether it's by lack of sleep or genetics, he loves them. eyes are the window to the soul, and sometimes those emotions can seep out, staining the skin around your eyes. or maybe, it's a gift passed down by your ancestors. he's worried that you are not getting enough sleep but if it's normal, he finds them attractive. he caresses it under his thumb, kissing your eyes. he doesn't get why you want to hide them. why would you want to hide your moon-kissed eyes? they're beautiful, you're beautiful and you're his muse. it makes you look serene, your smoky eyes brings a calmness that only the moon could do. he writes about your eyes often, a secret serenade.

tags;

@seungkwanschicken @aaa-sia @dokyeomkyeom @bangantokchy @jespecially

@asyre @armycarat2612 @bewoyewo @gyuguys

(send an ask to be added on the taglist!)

[lixie-phoria]

bff!stray kids and the little things they do when they have a crush on you

pairing : stray kids x reader | genre : fluff | warnings : none

🧿 ┆ CHAN - he stalks your pinterest saves to see your latest interests

He doesn't do it in a creepy way, i promise. he just likes to go through your latest pins and find out what you're into and surprise you without you even having to tell him!! He spoils you so much :(( You recently saved a really cute fit inspo? He's going to order it for you. Saw you saving pins of pretty bouquets? You'll find the very same one in his hands as he picks you up from work. This man is such a sweetheart you're so lucky.

🧿┆ LEE KNOW - purposely forget his hoodies and tshirts at your place so you can wear them

Is it really an accident that he forgot his hoodie at your house for the fifteenth time even after you reminded him multiple times? Of course! Or at least that's what minho insists. He's never going to tell you that he intentionally forgets them at your place because it gives you an excuse to wear it. he will never tell you how delusional he is and how much it plays into his fantasies of you dating him when he sees you in his clothes. He's such a simp lmao please.

🧿 ┆ CHANGBIN - will buy anything that reminds him of you

He misses you so much on tour and can't stop thinking about you :(( even the smallest objects remind him of you. He goes to a beach in Australia and sees a shell whose colors match those of a really pretty dress you have? He's going to take it without a second thought, somehow managing to make a hole in it and looping an expensive chain through it because the shell may be simple but he loves spoiling you rotten with expensive gifts too. He sees a potted plant in some foreign country that looks somewhat like the one you have at your place? Of course he's going to buy it. Please don't ask him how he plans on getting it through airport security. He's too busy thinking about you to worry about all that!!

🧿 ┆ HYUNJIN - he lets only you paint his nails and do his make up!!

He's going to be sooo whiny as you drag him into the cosmetics store at the mall but anyone can see the stars in his eyes as he looks at your excited smile. The second you're in he's going to be all over the place, picking out items he thinks would go well with your features. And if you want to try out any of the products, he's offering himself before you can even pick the samples. Loves to have you paint his nails, try a new shade of lip gloss on his skin or the texture of a new blush. he will do anything for you. he does not care about the looks he gets as he proudly walks around with all 10 finger nails painted in mismatched colours.

🧿 ┆ HAN - He always let's you have the first bite of food

lover boy is so whipped i cannot stress enough. whenever you guys go on dates hang out, he purposely orders a starter he knows you like and insists you have the first bite. always. if you accompany him on set he remembers to carry snacks so he can share them with you and fights any member who tries to take some hahaha

🧿 ┆ FELIX - always takes your input when getting ready for a comeback

you see all those funky hair colors felix sports every comeback and pulls them off every single time? yeah thats all you. never once has he failed to ask you what colors you'd like to see him in. and he won't listen to you complain about how it might potentially damage his hair. you want to see him in blue? he's already texting his hair stylist l. you've been into purple lately? he's already discussing the different shades with you. it's so sweet and he loves it when he can finally show you the new look.

🧿 ┆ SEUNGMIN - "accidentally" takes your stuff so it gives him an excuse to drop it off at your place and see you

seungmin being upfront about his crush on you? of course not. he's such a baby lmao will never have the courage to tell you but he also doesn't know how to explain why he always wants to be around you. so he comes up with a (supposedly) fool proof plan!! he takes your stuff whenever you guys hang out so it gives him an excuse to come over and give it you later on. if you're ever missing a clutch clip or your lip gloss best believe he has it. and watch him laugh it off as an accident. he gets so embarrassed when the other 7 see right through him hahaha but he'd rather be teased because its worth seeing you

🧿 ┆ JEONGIN - aggressively confesses his love for you

he's so adorable. he isn't really sure how to navigate your relationship because its all so new to him but he also wants you to know that he genuinely likes you. so he sticks to saying i-love-you's at the most random times and so aggressively it nearly scared you the first time. so many of his good morning texts read along the lines of good morning i hope you're up or i will splash water down your pretty face. don't forget breakfast because it's important for you. if you forget it, i will fight you. i love you 😠😠😠😠 but once you catch on it's obviously got you giggling and blushing because it's such a jeongin thing to do and honestly how could you not fall for him when he's just awkwardly trying to confess how much he's in love with you

tags : @foxinnie8 @hamburgers101 @starlostlaiba @jiisungllvr (send an ask to be added/removed)

©lixie-phoria, 2023

[goldeunoias]

Sunghoon stans I give you lovey-dovey sex with hoonie please don't let me down and not say anything comments and anons and reblogs are the the bestest thing in the world to keep me writing 🥺💕

"Turn off the lights" you muttered to him, covering yourself with the sheets. Sunghoon gave you a soft smile that only showed the tips of his fangs and leaned over to turn off the lamps on either side, leaving only silver moonlight peering through the window.

"You look beautiful regardless," Sunghoon shyly whispered against your lips, his warm hands coming to caress your sides.

"Easy for you to say when you look like that" you retorted back at him softly, body burning at seeing the snowy outline of his toned arms and abdomen. He smiled against your lips and kissed you gently, giggling to himself from his own bashfulness.

"What's so funny," you huffed, relaxing your shoulders a bit as Sunghoon started kissing down the outline.

"My eyes have adjusted, and you do look beautiful," he said gently against your skin, soft lips trailing down over your chest.

You jumped slightly and relinquished the sheet and felt your breath hitch as he started kissing down your sternum, his hands finding yours and squeezing them as he kissed over your belly.

"You can relax angel you don't have to tense up your body for me," he cooed softly, kissing over your belly and any stretch marks on your pelvis, squeezing your hands every time you sharply inhaled.

"W-wait where your lips-"

"It's okay," Sunghoon interjected, unlocking your hands so he could secure them around your thighs to prevent you from shutting your legs.

Your toes curled as you felt the heat and texture of his tongue prod against your folds, your hands gripping down on his shoulders as you shook underneath his touch.

"Sunghoon god-"you choked out as you felt plush lips close around your clit, his middle finger circling your entrance before pushing its way in.

You whimpered at the intrusion and Sunghoon cooed at you softly, kissing your inner thighs as his finger worked to loosen you.

"Does it hurt angel? Talk to me and tell me what feels good," Sunghoon murmured against your skin.

"Move a little l-lower," you panted out, moving Sunghoon's wrist to guide him. He let you and hummed in satisfaction when you let out a deep breath, his finger circling the spongy part of your walls.

You couldn't help but squirm as saliva and syrupy arousal started to mix on your core, the soft sounds coming from between your legs making your body burn.

"I'm gonna slide in another, tell me if it's too much angel," he hummed, sliding in his ring finger. You chewed on your inner cheek as your walls stretched around his thick digits, walls spasming every time his soft digits rubbed against your walls.

"Angel your cunt sounds so pretty, you're spilling around my fingers every time I slide my digits in," Sunghoon groaned, wrapping his lips around your swollen bud and sucking softly. The tip of his tongue made languid circles around it and the heels of your feet dug into the mattress, his name leaving your throat in an airy intonation as your walls started squeezing down on his digits.

"It feels like you're close, you're clamping down on my digits so tightly, " Sunghoon groaned as if he was the one about to cum himself, partially rutting his hips into the mattress from seeing you so turned on.

You couldn't even speak and vigorously nodded as you felt your lower belly tighten up, your body freezing up as the knot snapped tightly, liquid gushing from between your legs as Sunghoon's digits rode you through your high.

"There we go~ that's a good girl," Sunghoon praised as he watched you shake, sucking digits clean and moaning around them. He moved onto his knees and pulled down his sweats, and even in the dim lighting you could see the size that hung between his legs, drips of precum leaking from his tip and onto your belly as he stroked himself.

He bent down and messily kissed you as he reached for a condom from the nightside, his tongue messily sliding against yours as he groaned against your lips.

"Hold onto my shoulders, it's gonna feel tight", he warned, very much aware of his size and just how tight your walls were when he slid two digits in.

At the last minute he reached for a pillow and placed it under your lower back, causing you to give him a perplexed look.

"I, um, read online that it helps with reaching your g-spot", Sunghoon uttered out bashfully, tips of his ears turning to cotton candy as he slid the condom over his length.

"You did research?" you remarked to him, whimpering slightly as his warm tip pressed itself against your entrance. The mere contact caused him to hiss through his canines, nodding and letting his head fall into your shoulder.

"M-mhmm," he stuttered out, breathing getting heavy. "I-I wanted you to feel really good so I looked up a lot of things," he swallowed thickly as he pushed his tip past your entrance, high pitch moans contradicting the normal resonance he spoke in.

You gripped his shoulders and felt yourself tensing up as he pushed himself past your gummy walls, Sunghoon kissing your shoulder and collarbones as he slowed himself.

"Deep breaths angel, relax for me," he cooed softly, grabbing one of your legs to wrap around his waist to make it easier. When he was halfway you already felt full, Sunghoon deciding not to push you and go all the way.

"Y-you can do more," you breathed out, grabbing his hip to push him more into you. Sunghoon tensed and looked at you through hooded eyes, his cheeks turning to the color of persimmons. He nodded and bottomed out, deep groans when his base pressed against your walls.

"Shit, you're clenching around me so tightly" Sunghoon groaned into your ear, his voice getting airy.

You were no better off, every breath you took making you much more aware of his tip pressing against your gummy walls.

“Is it too much? Should I pull out?” Sunghoon questioned between heavy breathing, his hips picking up pace when you whimpered out a “no”

He couldn’t help himself as he pinned your hands above your head to keep you in place as your core took all his inches, heavy groans leaving him every time he kissed your cervix.

“S-Sunghoon,” you whined out, brows furrowing as your squirmed under his grip. You felt a tight knot forming in your lower belly again and your heels began digging into the mattress to cope with the feeling, a surprised moan leaving you when Sunghoon wrapped his plush lips around a pert nipple.

“I know princess I’m close to I’ll get you there, I’ll make you feel so so good,” Sunghoon whimpered against your chest, canines nipping at your chest like a puppy.

“Wait hoonie slow down it’s-oh god,” you choked out as your body started tensing up, Sunghoon now holding your hips in place so you could do nothing but take it.

“Does it feel good? You’re pussy sounds so pretty taking me princess, you can take it I know you’re close I know baby,” Sunghoon babbled out, his cheeks the color of roses as he sped up his pace.

Your nails started digging into his back as your teeth bit down on his shoulder. The knot snapped harder than you expected you felt your mind go blank his tip pushed against your walls to carry you through your orgasm.

You whined and whimpered out his name to tell you how sensitive you felt, Sunghoon kissing you messily as an apology.

“It’s okay baby I-I’m really close god you’re so wet you’re gushing everywhere,” Sunghoon groaned, biting down on his bottom lip and scrunching his face when he came.

Even through the condom you could feel hot liquid pulsing out of him, heavy breaths the only thing that filled the room as you both came down from your highs.

You swallowed thickly when you felt him harden up again, Sunghoon pulling out and reaching for another condom as he gave you soft carob eyes.

“Can we, um, go again? Please?” He bashfully asked, the tips of his ears becoming crimson.

You giggled and nodded, your hand wrapping around his base to stroke it languidly.

“I didn’t think we’d be stopping so soon.”

[anemptypuddingcup]

contains semi-public sex.

Got a glimpse of Film Gold and immediately started writing.

“Oh my goodness Luffy! You did so good out there!~ Good job all three of you!~” You hug Luffy tightly as you both walked out of the raceway, with Luffy winning ten times the amount of beri it costed to get in. Luffy smiles brightly as he had his arm wrapped tightly around your waist, appreciating the affection he was earning for their win.

“I could barely focus cuz of ya an’ th’outfit ya got on~ I couldn’ stop thinkin’ bout’ it~ M’happy we won that though!” He says to you, a bit of blush dusting his cheeks. You blush and pepper a kiss to his cheek, making his body burn up with excitement. “Aw, don’t act like you’re not looking up to par either Luffy~ My handsome little man~” You complimented him, softly yanking on his flower-printed collar.

“Ya keep tellin’ me how good I look and I might rough ya up~” Luffy warns, his arm pulling you closer to him while his other hand grip your dress strap. You smirk mischievously and giggle as he swoops you off of your feet, your glittery heels nearly slipping off as he pulls you up into his arms. “Oi Nami! We’ll be back! We’re gonna go play sum games togetha!~” Luffy’s yells to Nami, a wide smile spread across his face.

Nami turns to you both and sighs. “Don’t you two get in any trouble, and make sure you know how much beri it costs in the games this time! You idiot..” Nami scolds Luffy. Luffy nods and runs off with you, carrying you into another game room with the casino’s game chips jingling within his pocket.

***

“Ahhh L-Luffy~” You mewled out heavily as you felt him shove his cock deeper inside of your gushy little cunt, your walls squeezing him tight as he thrusted into you with ferocity. Luffy lets out little grunt as he felt your cunt squeeze and suck him in, his hands gripping your thighs tightly to make sure you wouldn’t slip from his grasp. “Fuck, ya squeezin’ me so fuckin’ tight~” He groans out heavily, the texture of your sequin dress rubbed roughly against his fingers.

You gripped his pearly white vest tightly as he ruts into you, your toes curling within your glimmering heels as they began to slip from your feet. Luffy lets out a lengthy gasp as he stared into your eyes through his candy-glass shades, whimpering a bit before smushing his chapstick-coated lips into your glossy ones. He suckles and bites on your lip while lifting one of your legs up a bit higher to hit you at a deeper angle, making you mewl out louder.

“Mmgh! A-Ah! O-Oh god~” You moan out, pressing your face deep into his neck and getting a deep whiff of his strong cologne. “Fuck baby~ M’gettin’ close~” He huffs out, pushing your back a bit farther against the stall door. You whimper out as your nails began to dig into his vest, leaving a few marks while his cock kissed your cervix.

A sudden gasp leaves you and you arch your back as he shoves his cock deeper into your cunt, close to pushing past cervix and deeper inside of you. “Mmgh! Luffyyyy!~” You bit your bottom lip tightly while your brows begin to furrow from the pleasure. Luffy breathe heavily and his eyes begins to roll back as he begins to move his hips a bit faster against yours. “Mhh! Mhh fuck baby~ Ya gonna make me cum~” He mewls out shakily, burying his face deeper into you neck.

“Ooh Luffy~ I’m so close too, please keep going faster~” You gasp out, shutting your eyes tightly before gasping out for air. You hear Luffy chuckle against your neck before he press smooches against your neck, leaving oily chapstick marks behind. “Cmon an’ cum then baby gal~ Wancha to cum ‘round my dick~” Luffy urges you, a heavy huff leaving his lips. Your wrap your legs around his hips tightly while he pulls your dress up a bit farther with one hand, making sure you wouldn’t ruin it with your sweet juices.

“Oh Luffy~ Luffyyyy!~” You groan out heavily and hit your bottom lip a bit tightly, close to scarring it as the pleasure began to fill and fuck up your brain. Luffy presses his lips against your once again, stuffing his tongue past your cherry-flavored lips and dominating you while you let out a muffled moan. Your hand slowly trail up his neck and to his fluffy curls, combing your fingers through them while he continued to thrust up into you.

Feeling Luffy’s cock twitch within your warm and soaking walls, a groan leaves him as he felt himself ready to burst deep inside of your needy pussy. His arms wraps tightly around your body and his hands practically grip your dress as he groans out heavily. He pulls his lips from yours and lets out a breath moan, his legs trembling as he struggled to hold his orgasm back a bit longer.

“G-Gonna! Baby m’gonna!~” He gasps out and throws his head back while his hips trembled against yours. “Please! Please! Do it Luffy!” You begged, a lengthy angelic moan leaving your glossy lips as you felt yourself ready to cum around his length. “F-Fuck! Fuck m’cummin’!” He shuts his eyes tight and his body shudders against yours before he lets out a gasp of pleasure, his cock finally spurting cum deep inside of your warm cunt before he lets out another whine.

You mewl out heavily and your legs trembles as you squirt out onto his lower abdomen, coating his tanned sun-kissed skin. A little laugh spills from Luffy’s lips before he presses a kiss to yours, his eyes half-lidded as he stared at you through his shades. “Ohhh~ Oh Luffyyyyy~” You moan out, hugging him tight while you tired your best to recover from your orgasm. “Shishishi~ Look at it drippin’ down ya thigh~” He whispers, looking down at your thighs and the marble bathroom floor.

You whimper out and he presses one more kiss to your lips to soothe you, giving you a sweet smile afterwards. “Can ya stand baby?~” He asked, lifting you up a bit more so you couldn’t slip from his grasp. “M-Mhh…I-I dunno.” You admit, looking away as a bit of blush dusted your cheeks. Luffy snickers and pulls your panties back in place before fully pulling your dress down your legs.

“Ya lucky this dress is long enough~ They woulda been able to see m’sticky cum leakin’ down ya thighs~” He whispers to you, a little chuckle leaving him. You blush as his lewd words and sigh before pressing a kiss to his lips.

“Cmon~ Let’s go play some more games~ We can finish the rest tonight can’t we baby?~” You asked, pulling his thick and lighter straw hat onto his head. He nods before slowly placing you down onto the floor.

“Yeah~ Wanna fuck ya in ya dress when we get back though~ Shishishi~” Luffy snickers, his hand wrapping around your waist once again to prove support for you. You smile before chuckling to him. “Of course baby, as long as you promise to keep your sexy little suit on for me~” You whisper to him before pressing a smooch to his cheek.

[riddlesb1tch]

Guardian Angel

Azriel x reader

summary: Azriel loves your wings, especially after a long mission when he wants to hide from the world.

warnings: none

—————————————————————

One of the reasons you and Azriel looked like the perfect couple was because you seemed to fit the “opposites attract” saying quite well. While Azriel was dark and broody with his massive black wings behind him, you were bright as sunshine with your enormous white wings. While he had bat wings, yours resembled angel wings more, with a larger wingspan and feathery texture that made them incredibly soft. 

It was because they were so soft that Azriel loved to cuddle into them. You only took them out when you were about to fly. Otherwise, they stayed neatly folded behind your back, protected from any imposter intending to harm you. 

Ever since meeting your mate, you’ve found another use for your wings: when your mate needs to be hidden somewhere safe from the world. The first time he told you being surrounded by your wings made him feel safe, you practically melted on the spot. You vowed to protect this male at all costs. He would often, after long missions or on bad mental health days, cuddle into your chest with arms wound around your waist, and you’d bring your wings around the two of you. You’d cocoon Azriel safely away from the world for however long he needed to recover. 

The first time you did this, Azriel cried afterwards claiming no one had ever taken measures to protect him. It had only ever been the other way around. Your heart swelled and broke at his confession, and from that day forth, you promised yourself to provide Azriel that safety whenever he sought. 

And tonight, when he came home from a bad mission where you couldn’t have protected him, you would be more than happy to provide that safety and comfort.

You knew the mission hadn’t gone well because after it was over and Azriel was on his way back, a simple, “I’m heading home,” was all he said through the bond. Normally his journey back would be when he opens his side of the bond, letting you inquire about his well-being and how the mission went. So when he didn’t do that, you knew he was brooding and trying to stop his feelings from getting through. 

You sat patiently on the bed, awaiting Azriel’s arrival while sorting through some paperwork. His thudding footsteps were the first sign he was back and soon, a looming figure stood in the doorway of your bedroom. With sagging wings, dark circles under his eyes, and blood covering various spots on his leathers, Azriel looked utterly defeated. His shadows reached out to you but even they seemed to lack happiness as their master did. Your heart ached at the sight of him and you wished you could somehow soothe the raging storm in his head. 

You got off the bed and headed towards him with your arms extended. Azriel dropped his bag full of belongings on the floor and slumped into you. He held onto you tightly, exhaling deeply as if he’d been waiting for this forever. Your arms wound around his neck, one hand in his hair scratching at his scalp. From the storm of broody thoughts, a sliver of happiness slipped through and reached you down the bond. You smiled and kissed his temple in return. 

Sighing, he muttered, “Missed you,” and pressed a kiss to your collarbone.

Your heart squeezed. “Missed you, too,” you muttered back. 

After kissing his temple a couple more times, you pulled away from each other. Aside from the tried bags and a few splotches of blood on his leathers, Azriel looked unharmed. Yet the look on his face told you his mental state was far from it. Frowning slightly, you took hold of his hand and led him into the bathroom where you prepared a hot bath to relax the physical aches, and added lavender soaps and salts to soothe the mental ones. 

Azriel stood behind you the whole time, watching, admiring, the wonderful female who cared so deeply for him. His throat tightened with emotion. He never thought he’d be lucky enough to have someone like you.

Azriel reached out a hand tentatively, stroking your wing affectionately. Your wings ruffled at the sensation and you smiled, turning around to face your mate. He tugged on your arm, asking for a hug and you gladly obliged. He rested his cheek on top of your head and sighed tiredly. You squeezed him tighter, rubbing his back. 

Gratitude came shooting down the bond in abundance. It made your throat tighten at the knowledge that such small acts of kindness earn you so much gratitude from Azriel as if he’s experiencing affection for the first time but also from the fact that he isn’t like this with everyone. It isn’t often people get to see the affectionate side of Azriel and you felt lucky to be one of the few who did get to experience it. You rubbed his back while gently swaying side to side. 

“Thank you for always looking after me,” Azriel mumbled in your hair. 

You pulled back and looked into his eyes. “Thank you for letting me,” you replied with a smile.

Azriel smiled too before leaning down to kiss your shoulder and then pulling away to get undressed and get in the bath. You exited the bathroom to give Azriel some privacy while he bathed and compartmentalised his thoughts. 

Meanwhile, you went into the kitchen to bring Azriel a cup of chamomile. After missions like this, he was rarely ever hungry because the events of the mission were still fresh in his mind. That usually killed his appetite. You prepared the tea for both of you and headed back to your room. 

When Azriel finally came out of the bathroom, he found you sitting on the bed with the sheets pulled up to your waist. A book was perched open on your lap and two cups of steaming tea rested on the table beside you. He gave you a small, warm smile that conveyed all these thoughts to you. I am so grateful to have you. 

You gave him the same smile back before setting the book aside and opening up your arms. Azriel visibly relaxed further, tossing the towel aside and plopping down into your arms. Immediately you brought your wings around him, cocooning him in the warmth and safety he craved while he was away. 

Azriel hummed, cuddling further into your chest. Removing one wing from around him, you handed him his cup of tea before picking up your own for a sip. 

“I love your wings so much,” Azriel muttered. The tip of your wing brushed against his cheek and he smiled at the ticklish sensation.

“You do?” you asked. You put the cup back on the nightstand and brought your hand up to his hair, scratching at his scalp lightly and brushing the strands back from his face.

He hummed in response, eyes falling closed.

[dandylovesturtles]

I should be asleep lol

Immediately post-S2

———

Donnie grew up in the sewers, so maybe he has no room to judge, but Draxum’s apartment is pretty terrible.

The first night - after they defeated Shredder, with their home so destroyed they couldn’t return, Draxum had (only a little begrudgingly) offered them a place to stay - Donnie had been so tired he hadn’t given it a second thought. He’d collapsed in the nest of blankets and sleeping bags they’d made and slept blissfully through the night. He learned the next morning that Raph had not gotten much sleep at all, too keyed up and full of adrenaline, but the rest of them had conked out immediately.

The second night, Raph had joined them in sawing logs. And they’d all slept soundly through the third night, too. But now it’s night four, and Donnie’s finally well-rested enough to realize that everything is very wrong.

The sheets are a different texture. The thermostat is set too low. The ambient sounds of the apartment building are not the ambient sounds of the sewer.

His dad’s snores from the couch and Raph’s deep rumble are familiar, at least. Both of them are out, Splinter the first to fall asleep that evening in front of Draxum’s crummy TV. Even Leo is asleep again, his insomnia yet to rear its ugly head, and Donnie can’t help but be a little jealous.

And of course, Mikey can sleep anywhere and anytime, so Donnie knows without even looking that he’s asleep. It’s just Donnie awake, then, staring at the ceiling and trying to will away the persistent itch of incorrectness.

At least, that’s what Donnie was thinking, until he hears a distinct sniffling noise from the pile of sheets that is his little brother.

Donnie goes as still and quiet as he can, listening closely. Maybe he just misheard? No, but that was definitely another sniffle… and the mound of sheets is quivering, now.

Mikey is crying. Donnie’s little brother is crying, and he may not be the one who usually handles these things, but Donnie is still a big brother, and more importantly he is the big brother who is awake.

He sits up, blanket draped around his shoulders, and carefully scoots himself around Leo’s tangle of limbs. Then he flops down next to Mikey’s mound, reaching out to lay a hand on top.

“Mikey?” he whispers.

There’s some shuffling, and then Mikey’s face peeks out from under his sheets. His eyes are wet, visible even in the dim light of the room, and he keeps snorting. Donnie makes a gallant effort not to flinch at the sound.

“Dee?” Another sniffle. “Did I wake you up?”

“No, I was already awake.” He rubs at the mound, for all the good it will do. “Are you okay?”

Mikey snorts hard, then blinks furiously to banish his tears. It doesn’t work. “I’m fine,” he insists, but it comes out hoarse and stuffy.

Donnie holds up a finger, then pushes himself to his feet. He pads across the apartment to the coffee table they’d shoved aside to make room and retrieves a box of tissues that he brings back, setting it pointedly in front of Mikey.

Finally, Mikey sits up, letting the sheets pool around him. He pulls out two tissues and blows his nose as quietly as he can - it’s still pretty loud, but Splinter’s snoring covers it up.

“Thanks,” he whispers once he’s done, tossing the balled up tissues to the side. Donnie pointedly ignores them (no matter how gross) and focuses on the matter at hand.

“What’s wrong?” he asks, not giving Mikey an out this time.

Mikey chews his lip. “It’s just… hitting me finally, I guess.”

Donnie tilts his head. “What is?”

“That… that the lair’s really gone. That we’re not going back.” New tears spring to his eyes, and Mikey grabs another tissue. “It’s just… I mean, we saw it yesterday, but… I don’t know. It’s l-like I didn’t really g-get it until right now.”

His voice is wobbling hard by the end. He chokes off a sob, rubbing his nose furiously with the tissue. Donnie knows that there’s definitely snot on Mikey’s fingers and probably his arms, too, but he can’t watch this anymore. He offers Mikey a hug, his arms barely open a second before Mikey is throwing himself into it.

As Mikey holds onto him and cries, Donnie thinks about the day before (well, really the day before the day before - it’s after three AM, now). They’d gone to the lair, to see what they could salvage. Everyone had been subdued; even Leo wasn’t managing to joke like he normally would. Only Mikey was still upbeat, able to see the silver lining in every cloud, cheering over every item they found that was still intact enough to bring with them, encouraging them to come back later and look for more.

Maybe they’d been a little too complacent that Mikey was going to be okay, after all that. But of course he isn’t; he loves their home as much as the rest. Sewers and all.

“We’re homeless, aren’t we?” asks Mikey after a minute or two. Donnie hasn’t really thought of it like that, but now that Mikey has said it, he knows he can’t refute it.

“In the technical sense, yes,” he says, and regrets it when Mikey bursts into a fresh round of tears. For the first time in his life, he abhors technical correctness.

But while it may be correct in the technical sense, what about other senses?

Donnie pulls Mikey down onto the sleeping bag, then works the sheets and his blanket over the both of them. Finally, he snakes a hand around to grab another fistful of tissues for Mikey, passing them over without dislodging Mikey from his hug.

“Do you know what I think Dr. Feelings would say, if he were here?” Donnie asks, once they’re both settled.

Mikey blows his nose again, then peers up at Donnie. “What?”

“I think he would say that home is where the heart is. As long as you’re with me, and Leo and Raph and Dad, you can’t be homeless.”

He delivers this with a great amount of conviction, so he can’t help but be a smidge irritated when Mikey laughs.

“Hey! I’m trying to help!”

“I know!” Mikey giggles, burying his face against Donnie’s plastron and lightly head butting into his chin. “That was a really great Dr. Feelings, Dee. Thank you.”

“…Hm, well, I was just passing along his recommendation.”

Mikey hums. There’s still a bit of a wheeze from breathing through a stuffy nose, but he sounds like he’s stopped crying.

“Hey, Donnie?”

“Yeah?”

“Love ya.”

“I love you, too.”

Sleep doesn’t find Donnie that night. But it finds Mikey, and he considers that a win.

[hope-you-brought-kneepads-bitch]

Y/n trying to cook a meal normally: I can do this

Venom’s tentacles appearing to “help”: Y/n! I can help, we are making a special valentines meal for our loved ladies and we need dancing music too!

Venom turns on the radio playing let’s call the whole thing off: You like potato and l like potato! Let us just call the whole thing off!

Y/n trying not to have a breakdown: Thank you Venom, truly

Venom finishing the meal: You are very welcome Y/n! Wanda and Miss witch will like it very much!

Wanda walking into her kitchen seeing you with your eyes closed and Venom trying to make food

Wanda: Y/n? What’s going on?

Venom: Wanda! We made breakfast for Valentine’s Day!

Scarlet Witch: Darlings this looks delicious!

Wanda: Really?

Scarlet Witch: Oh come on Wanda they tried their best

Wanda: It’s covered in ketchup

Scarlet Witch: Gives it a white person spicy texture

Wanda: That makes no sense

Y/n: I need a lie down

Venom: Good thinking Y/n! I am exhausted!

[steelsartcorner]

If you wouldn’t mind sharing your secrets, can you drop a quick tutorial for the hades art style? You seem to capture it very well!

Hey anon! Thanks so much, I’m flattered you think so!

To be honest there's really no secret, just a lot of trial and error. I am an amateur, but I’ll point out a few of my observations of the amazing Hades team’s work that I attempted to incorporate into this Astarion drawing, especially SuperGiant Games art director Jen Zee. Everything below is just my layman’s observation of her much, MUCH better work. You should check her out yourself!

First off, here’s a simple split out of the whole process (this will be long, more below the cut:)

POSE & PERSONALITY

Hades art is full of personality so the first challenge was to pick a pose that illustrates just one or two aspects of the character. For example, Dionysus from Hades 1 below has a languid, draping pose that reflects his chill-guy party vibes. Just looking at him you get an immediate idea of his personality.

And as much as I love the later wet-cat version of Astarion as he matures as a person, for the purposes of illustration in this style I chose a pose and expression that leaned into his early, less complex, more wily self. The dagger, wink, jaunty hips and head tilt are meant to communicate, without additional context, that he’s both trying to be appealing and is not trustworthy. 

LINEWORK & SHADING

Next is the linework and blocking! The Hades art team tends to use a combination of near-mono-thickness black lines, where exterior lines are thicker and interior lines are thinner or have no lines at all. They will often forgo an interior line to communicate form via color blocking instead. The style also makes heavy use of absolute black for the deepest shades, especially on more sinister characters or spooky aspects of a characters design. (See: Zagreus’ three dog head skulls and his red eye perpetually cast in deep shadow.)

It took some back and forth to find the right balance of black shading for Astarion. Too much and he looked too sinister and not approachable enough. Too little and he looked too innocent. 

Picking a strong light source helped with determining the direction and placement of the shadows so that just enough was obscured/revealed. It also helps in differentiating forms from each other so that, for example, the arm doesn’t disappear into the chest and become unreadable.

Using heavy black shading was a particularly useful trick in Astarion’s case, because his camp clothes color palette is fairly monochromatic between his light hair, pale skin, and white/cream shirt. That much light color can easily blend in too much and become boring: the flats I used were slight variations of white, from a warm reddish-peach to a yellowy cream to a cool light gray for the dagger.

COLOR & LIGHTING

Last is color! In Hades 1 and even more so in Hades 2, the lighting schemes are deceptively complex. There are often multiple light sources and use of bounce lighting to add a lot of visual interest. For example, check out this lighting on Polyphemus from Hades 2:

Not only does he have a cool moonlight hitting him from above, he also has a warm orange rimlight lighting him from the left, AND cool lavender bounce light bouncing off the ground and hitting him from below. All these combine and layer on top of one another to help emphasize the forms of the cyclop’s musculature and the textures of his sheep wool coat. 

I don’t think I was as successful in my own lighting scheme, because I’m an amateur, but I determined that the scene in which I was placing Astarion has a high sun and was outdoors. This means that the light hitting him from above would be a light, warm yellow and the bounce light hitting him from the left would reflect the nearby water and blue sky of the environment. 

To achieve this, I made use of different layer modes in my art program (Clip Studio Paint) to apply purple shadows (via the Multiply layer mode) and highlights (via the Soft Light layer mode) in a light sky blue and a light yellow for the primary and secondary light sources.

I ran into trouble with the blade, because it was also a light metal in an already light-color-heavy color scheme. At first, it was blending in too much and hard to read. So I decided to give it a bit of a magic teal glow to help it stand out, which meant adding a few specks of magic light reflecting back onto the face and clothes as well. 

INTEREST & DETAILS

Speaking of, Hades style art makes extensive use of adding little speckles of high-saturation color to add visual interest and cohesion. See this Zagreus portrait which is primarily made of grays, a tan bone-color, and reds: 

But sprinkled in are neon teal and magenta that don’t relate to the lighting at all. It’s just there to break up the blocks of color, bring unique colors like his green eye into the rest of the portrait, and direct the viewer’s eye. These highlights are slightly less bright in Hades 2, but still there, such as in this depiction of Apollo, who mostly glows with a warm sunlight but also has random pops of sky blue and green flecking his armor and hair.

The pops of color are often placed more centrally on the figure to keep your eye on the important parts of the portrait, like near Apollo’s face and on his armor. The color pops aren’t as frequent at the extremities; too much on the arm and your eye would be drawn away from his face.

I took a similar approach where I grabbed some of the brighter colors (like Astarion’s red eye, and the teal glow of the dagger), to add dabs of color that normally would not “make sense” from a lighting perspective, but add a little visual interest:

Also I totally studied their approach to Apollo’s curly hair to create the impression of Astarion’s curls!

Anyway, I think that's all I got for now, I hope this helps! There's more but this is already REALLY long so I'll stop here. In the end, it's really just a process of observation and replication of things you love in artwork you admire. Give it a try, it's a lot of fun :)

[beiasluv]

okay, funny idea but…

sully boys in the undergarments section w/ u

masterlist

enjoyy🤍

jake (2009)

kinda used to this, but actually not

would eye out the bras and underwear shockingly on the outside but inside he’s down bad like DOWN BAD

would follow you like a lost puppy but when he see something that catches his eyes, he’s gone.

“ooo, what’s this,” and then proceeded to walk away like AWAY.

probably have go on the announcement “jake sully, jake sully, please go to the information, thank you.”

he loves teasing you with those ‘extreme’ undergarments.

probably show you a red, laced, see-through bra and be like, “i think it’ll look good on you.”

sNATCHING that out of his hand IMMEDIATELY

if you tell me this man does not squish the bras, you are LY-ING

he loves squishing them and earning a weird look from an old lady (bless her soul 😭)

loves touching the mannequins’ butts and boobs. LIKE PLEASE- NO

cheeky asf but you love him. he will grin while looking over to you and mouthing, ‘you’re next.’

def give comments on each piece like “ooo, it’s giving disco, but you know i like them laces.” “don’t pick these, it scratches my skin, don’ like it.”

he be into them granny panties 😳 like the laces and stuff definitely turned him on- SIR- JAIL

erm…will borrow your bag to cover his boner😭💀

getting really comfortable, like TOO comfortable, and asking the employee for recommendations. feeling the textures and everything

BEGGING AND THROWING himself on the floor if he finds something super hot for you to try it. making faces like ‘WE NEED THIS’

if you come out of the fitting room, wearing the ones he picked for you, he will be like: “I’M COMING IN. I’M COMING IN!”

would compliment you as you try each outfit for him.

WILL SPOIL YOU AND PAY FOR EVERYTHING

“okay, honey, if you pick this piece, i’ll buy everything for you, JUST that this piece have to come home with us,” 😏

jake loves going to shopping underwear for life

in conclusion, jake spoil you, bbg

neteyam

awkward but teasing boiii

he’s very confident EVERYwhere else (in the bedroom 🤭) but as soon as he step in an undergarment shop, he’s flustered ASF

CAN NOT stop looking at them bras and underwear.

drooling over them, my ass

hold your hand and walking behind you are a must.

can not move his body like he usually can, would just stop functioning 💀 *neteyam.exe has stopped responding*

would whisper seductive and teasing comments to you. “these will look hot on you, but it’s better if they are on the ground.” PLEASE- SIR-

if you wanna go try them on, he’ll cry, for the love of his life, he CANNOT stay alone in the shop. “pleaseee, gorgeous, i wanna come too.”

WILL and definitely secretly look through the shelves for a piece for you 🥺

he knows that you can be sometimes picky with the designs and color, but he love you for that. it doesn’t bother him that you wanted to feel comfortable in something so uncomfortable for SUCH a long time.

imagine coming out of the fitting room like neteyam just standing there like: “i think you’ll like these”

AAAAA, sir, please, let me order one of you

AND LET ME TELL YOU they will fit perfectly and FEELS great (he really knows his job, guys- wait- how did he know your size- 😳)

anyways, will look after your things while you are changing

you are lying if you say he doesn’t try some bras on just to be funny for you. gurl, snatch them OFF cuz he’s getting a little too comfortable in them.

will 100% secretly squish bras. if you catch him doing that, he’ll just say like “it’s for testing how soft they are for you.”

maybe, don’t tell anyone this, but he loves to see the hooks of each bra. definitely doing something appropriate here, neteyam.

overall just love being there to support you and tease you, hehe

lo’ak

before the day you decided to go undergarments shopping, he had to prepare himself 😭

lo’ak will get so nervous about it and asking you do’s and don’t’s. like, sir, PLEASE CALM DOWM

walking in the store would count as his top 10 scariest moments in his life 💀

he’ll clutch on to your arm as if he will die, pressing his body against you and everything

will be so uncomfortable walking around the store 😭 hands clammed up together in front and everything. slow pacing around the store like a grandpa.

WILL not touch everything and only pointing at the ones he thinks will look super HAWT on you

once he calmed down, put your seatbelts on, the show’s about to begin.

WILL 100% get excited by different stuffs. touching everything like

“wtf, these are soft asf!” “ooo, these are scratchy” “they are sparkly!” (yes, but, sir, the sparkles in your eyes are falling out)

getting comfortable, going on an adventure mode, and opening drawers to be surprised by super seggsys stuffs

being a supportive boyfriend and picking things for you

“white or black?”

“white, white all the way.”

“but they are see through”

“exactly.”

would ask question about EVERYTHING and his face will turn red 😭 once he realized how extreme some bras could get, he is red like a tomatooo

WILL ask you to try on some HAWT stuff for him, but will cry if you leave him alone outside

def picking cute sets for you and waiting outside the fitting room, holding your stuffs

if you come out to show in your outfit, his jaw is DROPPED, SMASHED, AND CRUMBLED ON THE GROUND.

“darlinggg, you- I am lost for words- I’M COMING IN.”

in conclusion, a boy holding on to his dear life and fighting demons in the undergarment store.

today’s a great day to eat and take a break! 🤍 take care

@rosaryos / @bumblinbumblvee / @nyotamalfoy / @fangirl-2610 / @astablacksword / @lokisblueskin

[crappymixtape]

laugh like lovers, kiss like friends

you're getting married – steve’s in town for the ceremony and it dredges up old memories, ones you thought you'd forgotten, but you have to decide, will you say ‘i do’ or will your heart realize what you really want has been there all along?  | (  9.1k, angst, fluff, friends to lovers, steve x you, steve x reader )

L A U G H L I K E L O V E R S, K I S S L I K E F R I E N D S 🎶 cold water swimming, quiet houses

“How about these, dear? Eucalyptus pairs lovely with peonies. Besides, wildflowers for a wedding? In all my years as a planner I’ve never seen it. No one does it. It's just tacky, hon.”

Twirling the stem of a daisy between your fingers you bit the inside of your cheek, only half hearing the woman standing next to you among all the buckets and vases of flowers in the greenhouse.

Wildflowers for a wedding? No one does it.

Pulling your eyes off the daisy you forced a smile, “Of course, I’m sorry. Peonies sound great.”

“Wonderful, I’ll add it to the day-of agenda and make sure the florist knows you’ve made up your mind. It’s an excellent choice, one your fiance will be happy with I’m sure.”

Your fiance.

Sam proposed less than a month ago in the kitchen of your little downtown Indianapolis apartment with his grandmother’s ring. A huge, gaudy diamond that made your hands look even smaller than they already were and after you’d called your mom the news had spread like wildfire.

Sam didn’t want to wait, he probably would’ve dragged you down to the courthouse if it hadn’t been for his parents and your mom, but it meant things were moving at the speed of light and you were running to catch up.

When he’d looked up at you, ring box outstretched, you knew what your first thought should’ve been. Tears and overwhelming joy and a resounding Yes! but none of it came. Instead your first thought had been long stalks of grass. The glittering turquoise water of the quarry. Skunky weed and wildflowers and hot, sticky Indiana summers.

Steve.

“Babe, you gotta call the bakery back, the lady doesn’t get it. Idiot,” Sam’s voice cut through into your thoughts and you blinked them away.

“What?”

“The cake? She’s not getting it. I told her we wanted vanilla, like actual vanilla not that imitation shit.”

“Julie’s not an idiot,” your tone grew clipped, short, brow furrowing as you folded your arms across your chest. Julie had lived in Hawkins since before your family moved in across the street from her. The only, and best, bakery in town with the sweetest baker known to man. Julie was a saint.

“Okay, well then you try and explain it to her. I’m done,” Sam huffed, pinching his nose between his fingers and shaking his head. “I’m gonna go get food with my mom. Can’t wait until this is all over,” he grumbled under his breath. “I’ll see you back at the house," and with that he hastily pressed a kiss to your forehead before stalking out of the greenhouse.

“Not really a man’s arena is it,” the planner said giving you an overly sweet smile, “Better to let us take care of it, hm?”

“I guess,” you couldn’t bear to force another smile, “Thanks for your help, but I need to go get ready for tonight. Call me if anything else comes up.”

“On it and don’t you worry, only a few more days. Just think! The happiest day of your life!”

The happiest day of your life.

It sure as hell didn’t didn’t it feel like it.

The high vaulted ceilings in your parents’ living room looked the same as they had when you lived there. Same ugly, bumpy texture and yellowed color, now with a few too-high cobwebs just out of reach hanging in the corners.

The buzz of conversation filling the air around you was incessant, blending and blurring together and making you feel like you were far away. Like you were a spectator and not the bride-to-be and your chest squeezed with nerves. There were so many people packed into the house and as guests hurled their questions at you, your anxiety only grew.

“Oh, sweetie you look amazing! You’ll be a beautiful bride!” “Tell me again, where are you going for your honeymoon?” “Sam is such a catch, does he have any available friends? Just kidding! But seriously?” “Oh my god, look at that ring! He must really love you.”

One of Sam’s cousins had been hammering you with question after question, barely giving you any room to reply and you felt like you were drowning in it. The walls of the living room suddenly felt like they were closing in on you, making you feel claustrophobic and you needed air. Outside. Anything other than this. “Is-is it warm in here?” you stuttered, pulling at the collar of your dress.

“No? What d’you mean–”

“I’m sorry, excuse me,” you didn’t wait for her to finish and instead moved as quickly as you could through the crowd, trying not to project your panic with a fake smile plastered on your lips until you reached the slider door.

“Honey!” your stomach sank. Your mom. “Your aunt and uncle just got here, you need to say hello!”

Looking over your shoulder she was standing with her hands on her hips, brow furrowed in frustration, watching as your fingers gripped the handle of the patio door.

“I know,” your voice was edged with irritation and you bit your tongue. “Please? I just need some air for a minute. I’ll be right back,” and you could tell she didn’t like your answer, but she didn’t fight you on it as you slipped outside, all the noise and voices and music blunted and sliced in half as you shut the door behind you.

Leaning back against the glass, eyes closed, you pulled in a breath of air and let it out slowly. Trying, telling, yourself you had to keep it together. Just a minute out here and you’d feel right as rain. Ready to dive back in.

The happiest day of your life.

“Shouldn’t you be inside?”

Your eyes flew open, an all-too-familiar voice making your heart leap into your throat.

He was sitting on the edge of one of the pool loungers like it was nothing, a few locks of stray hair falling into his eyes, all warm honey and burnt caramel and the boyish grin he was giving you made you feel dizzy. Like it always did.

“I’ve been inside for like two hours,” you shot back, but you couldn’t ever bring yourself to really sound mad at him.

At Steve.

“Well don't sound like you’re having too much fun. Not like you’re getting married in three days or anything,” he teased, scooting over on the lounger, a silent invitation for you to sit next to him and you took it.

“Don’t remind me–” fell out, “–what I mean is–it's just–just planning everything has been...a lot.”

Steve caught your slip up, but didn’t call it out, only humming in reply as he threaded a hand through his hair, watching as you settled down next to him. “I’m about a month late, but congrats,” he offered with a small smile before taking a drink from his beer.

“Oh, yeah. Thanks,” you replied lamely, cheeks flushing when he looked over at you. You were entirely too sober for this. “Here, gimme that,” reaching over you took the beer from his hand, chugging half of it in one go and pulling a laugh out of Steve.

“Jesus,” Steve laughed, amused at you, a sound you’d missed so very much. “Take it easy,” he chided gently, but it was all warm and sticky sweet like popsicles on a hot day and when you gave it back he shook his head.

Silence lingered between you for a moment, the static sound of the pool filter trickling in the background, and your thoughts drifted back to a moment a few years ago. Up in your room while summer spun by outside. The last time he'd been over here. Steve.

Bobbing along to the music coming from your stereo, you crammed the last of your photos into one of the empty supply boxes Steve had brought over from Family Video.

“I wanted to be with you alone and talk about the weather, but traditions I can trace against the child in your face won't escape my attention,” you sang a little off key, giving your shoulders a little shimmy as you turned to grab the pile of books on your bed.

“You keep your distance via the system of touch and gentle persuasion. I'm lost in admiration, could I need you this much?” Steve sang back, browed knitted together in dedication to the bit, hips swaying as he wiped down your dresser. Turning with the roll of paper towels in his hand he held it out to you as the chorus neared, both of you singing horribly.

“Oh, you're wasting my time, you're just, just, just wasting time!”

“God, who’s gonna sing shitty with me when you’re not around?” Steve tossed the roll onto your bed, leaning back against the drawers behind him.

“Robin sucks more than I do,” you shot back, and Steve mumbled in agreement.

“Yeah, but she hates Tears for Fears,” there was a slight whine in his voice that made you look up at him over your box and grin.

“Well then save it for me when I’m back on Christmas break.”

Steve gave you a pout and folded his arms over his chest, “That’s like, a fucking eon from now.”

“It’s not that long,” you moved around the other side of your bed to sit in front of him, a small pause swallowing you both into silence.

Clearing your throat you dropped your gaze down your shoes, kicking them in time with the song still playing in the background. You glanced over at Steve’s dirty, beat up Blazers and smiled. “I guess I’ll miss you,” you teased, looking back up at him and he gave you a smile, but it softened the longer he looked at you.

“I know I’ll miss you,” he said, and you knew he meant it, and your heart fluttered in your chest like a bird caught in a cage as the air around you grew thick with words unsaid, but implied. Steve took a step away from the dresser, standing in the V of your legs, hand moving to lift your chin up with his thumb and forefinger.

You bit your bottom lip between your teeth, meeting his gaze, and everything felt hazy. “Miss you too, Stevie,” you murmured and he leaned down slowly. Tilting your chin ever so gently he hesitated for just a second before pressing his lips against yours. Your room and half-packed boxes and everything fell away in the warm, glittering feeling of Steve and summer and the last of the light falling through your window washed you both in gold like it wanted to hold you in that moment forever.

“How long are you in town for?” your voice broke the silence between you and Steve took another drink of his beer.

“Just til the day after the wedding, need to get back to things,” he said softly, stealing a look at you out of the corner of his eye, smiling at the way your nose scrunched up when you were thinking, “You look really pretty by the way.”

Your cheeks warmed and you stole a look at him too, “You have to say that.”

“No I don’t. I do on your wedding day, but this is a freebie,” he teased, trying to make it seem lighter than it was, but you both knew the weight it carried.

“Babe, c’mon. You gotta get back inside. It’s rude. People are looking for you,” the sudden sound of Sam’s voice sliced your moment in two and Steve sat up straight, leaning away from you as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“Alright, I just needed some air,” your voice sounded tired and Steve caught the look in your eyes as you roughed your hands over your face, “I’m coming.”

“Harrington,” Sam sniped, and Steve gave him a big smile, knowing just how much the other man hated finding the two of you sitting together.

“Sammy,” Steve teased and you had to bite back a laugh, hiding it in a cough, but Sam knew.

“I fuckin’ hate that,” Sam gave Steve a look and he just smiled.

“I think it’s cute,” you chimed in, but knew you should’ve kept it to yourself when Sam glared daggers at you.

“Inside,” he said, patience short, and you felt your own run out as you glared right back, but moved toward the slider door anyway.

“I’ll see you,” you told Steve and just before you slipped back into the chaos, he gave you a look. The same one you remembered from that hot summer evening in your room as you packed your life into boxes. A look that put fire to the embers lying dormant in your chest and something you thought had been extinguished flickered back to life.

“Sam, hurry up, we’re going to be late!”

“I’m trying. You know how much I hate being outside. These stupid boots are too tight and–” Sam grunted, leaning over to tug at his socks, “–these are itchy as hell.”

“You don’t have to wear them, but your legs are gonna get bit up and scratched on the trail,” you shook your head, yanking your own worn-in boots onto your feet.

“Bit? Are you kidding me?”

“What? It’s summer, there are a ton of bugs out right now.”

Sam sucked in a breath and put his face in his hands, standing on the other side of the bed from you. He’d agreed to it at first, thought maybe it might be a quaint little jaunt through a park, but when he realized it was an actual hike up the bluff just outside Hawkins – in nature – he’d thrown a fit.

It was one of your favorite places, a special piece of home, and you were going to go with or without him.

“Just stay home, Sam. It’s fine,” you huffed, kicking your suitcase shut, tugging your ponytail through the back of your baseball cap.

“You know what? Maybe I will. This whole place is too much. Jason’ll get beers with me,” he growled under his breath, yanking his boots off to get to his socks, “Enjoy your hike.”

“Great, thanks, will do,” you almost left the room without saying goodbye, but something made you hesitate and you paused for a second at the door, eyes squeezed shut. Why was everything so damn hard? This was supposed to be easy.

The happiest day of your life.

Resigned, you turned around and retraced the few steps over to Sam. “I’ll see you when we’re back,” you muttered, bending down and brushing a hasty kiss to his cheek.

“See you,” he didn’t meet your gaze, instead scowling at the ground and it was the push you needed to leave, the weight on your shoulders lifting as you hurried down the stairs and out the door.

The sun was just coming up, painting the sky cotton candy pinks and blurred warm tangerines. You could feel the heat already and as you got out of your car at the bluff the feeling of the sun on your bare legs pulled a heavy sigh from your lungs. Breathing out the stress and pressure of the last few days and you closed your eyes for a minute, leaning against the warmth of your car.

It would be okay. Today was for you. This was for you.

Opening them again you heard another car rumbling up the dirt road behind you and when you turned around you grinned so big your cheeks started to hurt.

“OH MY GOD,” Robin squealed. She practically leapt out of the backseat of Steve’s BMW and ran over to you, gathering you up in her arms and squeezing tight. “What the hell! You look amazing! Shit. Is this like, pre-wedding glow or did you stop eating meat or something? I hear it’s like, totally bad for your skin.”

“Robin,” Steve shook his head as he shut his car door before walking around to get Robin’s too.

“What? All legitimate questions! Right, Eds?” she shot back.

“I mean, not the first thing I’d ask,” Eddie replied with a grin, but you could hear the softness of him behind it.

“Alright, well I wouldn’t expect you to know anyway. Weddings are like a foreign language to you plebs,” Robin said simply, clicking her fanny pack around her waist.

“Hey, that’s not fair, I know enough,” Steve chimed in, propping a hand on his hip and giving Robin a look.

“Children, not about us today!” Eddie chided, following after Robin and gathering you up into one of his bear hugs. “Hi, sweetheart,” he held you out at arm’s length and gave you a warm Eddie smile.

“Hi,” you grinned back, the happiest you’d been in days just listening to the comforting sound of your friends bickering, “Missed you.”

“Mmm, you too,” Eddie hummed, shooting a quick glance over at Steve. “Some of us more than others,” he said a bit quieter, bringing his eyes back to you and you felt your cheeks flush.

“Okay, hike?” you deflected, then accusingly looked back at Eddie, “You’re not still smoking are you?”

“Only on Wednesdays,” he flipped back casually, but you knew he was full of shit.

“Munson, you’re a horrible liar,” Steve drawled, rolling his eyes, starting the walk to the edge of the bluff. “Nance and Jonathan are already at the top,” he said over his shoulder, “Jonathan wanted to get a time lapse of the sunrise.”

“Oh, sick,” Eddie clapped his hands, “I gotta see it. C’mon, Buckley get with it.” He waved an arm forward, pulling Robin into a jog and you shook your head with a soft laugh as you caught up with Steve. Starting up the bluff two by two.

The sounds of everything coming to life swirled around the four of you as you walked. The buzz of the insects, birds chirping their morning songs and tractors rumbling to life in the fields alongside the bluff.

Home.

“God, the last time we were up here was so Dustin could talk to Suzie,” Steve half-laughed, Eddie and Robin walking just ahead of you. You grinned at the memory.

“Oh no,” you shook your head, “They might be worse than we are at singing.”

“Didn’t think it was possible to be honest,” he teased gently, smiling over at you, looking for a long moment before dropping his gaze back down to his feet.

You could feel his eyes on you and the warmth of it filled you up and spilled over at the edges, making you happier than you’d been in a long time and a tiny pinch of guilt squeezed in your chest.

“Thanks for getting up so early,” you exhaled, breaths getting heavier as the incline of the bluff steepened, Steve pulling in a breath next to you.

“Oh, I don’t think I’ve slept in since high school,” he waved you off, “Managing a store’s got me up ass early every day. Besides, wouldn’t miss it.” Arms swinging at your sides, his fingers brushed against yours as you walked and the embers in your chest glowed bright.

“Yeah,” you sighed, wishing that for once Sam had come along. That he’d put even a little bit of effort into your interests. That he’d care even a fraction of what Steve cared and the embers flickered again with your frustration.

“You two are slow as hell!” Eddie teased and when you looked up you saw he and Robin had been moving much faster than you and Steve. “I’m smoking a victory cigarette at the top!” he yelled and Robin smacked him, both of them dissolving into laughter.

“C’mon, that asshole doesn’t need another cigarette,” Steve’s brow furrowed in frustration and he picked up the pace, pulling you along with him as he lengthened his stride.

Jonathan and Nancy were waiting for the four of you at the top and, much to Eddie’s dismay, Robin beat him by a couple of feet, stealing his cigarettes and jamming them into her fanny pack as punishment.

Jonathan had asked Nancy to marry him two years ago now, Christmas eve under the tree at the farm and they’d eloped that spring there on top of the bluff. It had been a small, but sweet ceremony, with only family and close friends. Perfectly Nance and Jonathan and as you thought back on it your stomach twisted with a longing feeling.

As you sat scattered among the long grass in pairs – Eddie and Robin, Nancy and Jonathan, you and Steve – a breeze picked up and blew through the wildflowers around you, taking then with it and you watched as the buttercups danced in the wind.

You wanted wildflowers. Not peonies and eucalyptus.

“Hey, where’d you go?” Steve’s voice pulled you out of your thoughts and you looked over at him, sat close enough to you in the grass that you could see all the little moles and freckles that dotted down the line of his jaw, his neck, the exposed skin along the top of his shirt.

“Flowers,” fell out and you didn’t shy away from him, meeting his gaze.

“Flowers?” he asked, brow knitting together in confusion.

“Stupid flowers. And cake. And nature and socks and–”

“Whoa, whoa, whoa. Slow down. What are you talking about?” Steve scooted closer to you, your legs pressing together as you sat facing each other and he put a hand on your knee.

Your throat tightened and you felt tears pricking at the corners of your eyes, but you willed them away. Not here. You didn’t mean it.

“Hey,” he said softer, hand lifting from your knee to press into yours and you blinked hastily, pulling in a breath to steady yourself.

“I don’t know,” you started, closing your eyes for a minute, trying to ground yourself. “I just–I thought this would be easier. We’re supposed to be in love and planning this should be fun, but it sucks and he–” catching yourself you looked back up at Steve and felt him squeeze your hand. “I’m sorry, it’s just stress. I shouldn’t–”

“You don’t have to apologize,” Steve said, thumb brushing over the bump of your knuckles, soft and warm and reassuring.

He was looking at you again like he had at the welcome party, like you were the only thing that existed in that moment and you felt yourself moving closer, your legs hovering over his with the lack of space.

“I wish Sam would look at me like that,” you whispered and Steve’s lips parted in surprise, anticipation grabbing hold of both of you as the wind picked up again.

“He’s an idiot if he doesn’t,” Steve whispered back, leaning closer still and you could feel his breath as it warmed over your cheek. The scent of his shampoo and spearmint gum and cedar and wildflowers flooding your brain and making everything feel hazy. His eyes all bright amber and flecks of gold in the sun. Closer and closer and closer and–

“Harrington! You left the food in the car!”

Leaning back from each other you felt the tension shatter with the bark of Eddie’s voice and you leapt to your feet.

“God, what a dingus,” Robin grumbled, “Now we gotta go back down.”

“Hey,” Steve scrambled to his feet ignoring them, grabbing your hand in his, “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, yeah I’m fine. I just–I forgot I have to meet with the baker today about the cake this morning.”

“Oh,” Steve’s expression was edged with concern and he let your hand drop as the others started moving to the top of the trail.

“Rehearsal dinner is tonight right?” Robin asked offhandedly, grabbing a piece of licorice from her fanny pack.

“You have licorice in there and didn’t offer me any?” Eddie accused.

“Yeah, tonight at seven at Hop and Joyce’s farm,” you said, trying to sound casual, but the warm feeling of Steve was still holding you tightly.

“Open bar?” Eddie grinned.

“Oh my god, Munson. Shut up,” Robin chided, shoving him as they all wandered down the path in a line, you and Steve bringing up the rear.

“Course it’s open bar,” you tried to laugh, but it fell short, everything feeling like it was crumbling now.

The breeze picked up, swirling around your feet, carrying spearmint and Steve’s shampoo and boy with it and as you watched the bachelor buttons sway with the wind you felt a thought gnawing at the back of your mind.

What if.

There was still time.

Nothing’s permanent.

People change their minds all the time and…

Come over here. All you've got is this moment, twenty-first century's yesterday. You can care all you want, everybody does, yeah, that's okay.

“Chug, chug, chug!” “Don’t be a pussy, Jason!” “No way, he’s too old!”

It felt like you were back in high school throwing a rager over at Tina Rochester’s house not having drinks after your rehearsal dinner, but after most of the ‘adults’ had all gone home things got carried away.

Hop and Joyce’s farm was far enough outside of town that the noise wouldn’t bother anyone and thank god because it was loud. Maybe open bar hadn’t been the best idea, but Sam was having a great time, smiling and laughing for once and you didn’t fight it. You were having fun too.

“Ohhh! He did it!!” “Get that man a medal!”

Jason Carver, Sam’s best man, crushed his empty beer can under his foot to whoops and hollers. You weren’t sure who started it, but someone had told someone else they could shotgun a beer faster and it spiraled from there. Sam was in his element, partying alongside the other ex-basketball players, and for a minute you felt like maybe things would be okay.

Gathering you up in his arms, Sam spun you in a circle, pressing his lips messy and drunk against your cheek. “God, babe. Should be illegal to look that good,” he slurred into your ear, arms still holding you tight as he lowered you slowly back to the ground.

A grin tugged at the corners of your lips. “Gonna write me a ticket?” you teased and he reached a hand around to grab at your ass.

“Maybe I will,” he breathed and you felt a shiver run down your spine, but then a voice pulled him away.

“Sam? Oh my god!”

Carol and Tommy. Great.

“Carol?? I didn’t think y’all were getting here til tomorrow! Tommy, you look like shit,” Sam barked a laugh and lunged at his old friend, grabbing him around the waist and pushing him across the patio.

“Fuck off, you’re one to talk,” Tommy growled back, digging his hands into Sam’s ribs and both of them fell back into their old selves. Talking about a couple of friends that had gone pro, work, what married life was like for Tommy and Carol.

“Babe, go get me another beer, huh?” Sam said over his shoulder and you rolled your eyes, but giving Carol a quick hug you made your way over to the keg.

Priming the tap you started to pour beer into a cup, but it sputtered and choked before spilling foam and you frowned. “Piece of shit,” kicking the keg you shook the garbage can it was sitting in and tried again, but this time nothing came out.

“Need a hand?”

Eyes still on the keg you sighed, a smile pulling at the corners of your lips as you dumped the foam in your cup onto the ground. “Tapped already,” you grumbled, turning around to see Steve grinning at you, hands jammed in his pockets, tie loose and hanging around his neck and you swore he was the most handsome human being you’d ever laid eyes on.

“Hmm, I don’t think so,” he took the last few steps toward you and primed the tap again, giving the keg one firm shake, and grabbed the cup from you. Foam started coming out and you jammed your tongue into your cheek.

“Ha! Told you–”

But then the foam turned into cold, amber beer, and you clamped your mouth shut.

“You were saying?” Steve teased and you shoved him, spilling some of the beer that he’d just poured into your cup on the ground. “Hey! You’re a menace,” he chided softly, shouldering you back, but grabbing the spout again he filled the cup once more and handed it back to you.

“Thanks,” you muttered, glancing over at him as you took a sip.

“Sam seems to be having a good time,” he commented, finding a cup of his own and filling it.

“Yeah, right back to high school.” You watched as your fiance, Tommy, and Jason all snickered and laughed at each other, talking about ‘the good old’ days, and your smile fell.

You couldn’t remember the last time he laughed like that with you. When he was drinking he got more handsy, liked to keep you close to his side and brag about how you were about to get married, but nothing about how hard you worked or the fact that you were saving up to buy a place.

“I dunno,” Steve sighed, taking a drink of his beer, “I don’t miss it.”

“Me either,” you agreed, glancing up at him, and your heart stopped.

God he was pretty. The string of lights that wound around the property washed him in a warm glow. Hair falling out of place as the night spun on, the line of his jaw cast in half light, dark and strong, the long sweep of his lashes as he blinked and looked down at you, the way his lips pulled up into that smile.

“What?” Steve asked, tone amused and playful and your eyes grew wide.

“What?” you echoed stupidly.

Steve laughed and gave you a lopsided smile. “You tell me, you’re the one zoning out,” he teased and your cheeks flushed.

“Oh, n-nothing,” you stumbled over your words and quickly filled the silence with another gulp of beer.

“Okay, well when it comes back to you lemme know.” His eyes lingered on yours for just a moment longer and then a look came over him. Like he remembered something. “Oh, hey. C’mere a minute,” and then he was grabbing your hand and pulling you around the side of the barn.

As he pulled you into motion you felt just how buzzed you were and a giggle pushed itself through your lips. “What the hell are we doing?” you asked, Steve loosing a laugh of his own as he yanked you both to a stop a few yards away from the party out in the long grass of Hop’s field.

“There,” he said pointing up and you followed the line of his arm into the sky until your eyes landed on it.

“Oh,” you breathed, pulling your gaze back to Steve as he looked up into the inky black expanse of the Indiana night. He was just how you remembered him. Hair messed, all boyish and eyes full of wonder and curiosity, just like he’d been those years ago that night in his backyard while you floated in his pool.

“Yeah, that one. Right there,” Steve swam closer to you, grabbing your arm, fingers folding yours in to make a point and tugging it up over your head.

Your breath hitched in your throat as his legs brushed against yours under the water and it took everything you had in you to pull your eyes from him to look up.

“See it?”

“That one?” you asked, pointing on your own, and he nodded as your eyes trailed up the line of your arm to land on an especially bright star.

“Mmhm,” Steve murmured and all you wanted was to look at him again, so you did. “While you’re gone you can just look up at that at night and think of me,” he said matter-of-fact, giving you one of his lopsided grins.

“What if we’re not looking at the same time?”

“I’ll always be looking,” Steve’s voice was barely above a whisper and the way he looked at you made you feel like you might melt. Blinking water from your lashes you lifted a hand to his cheek and at your touch his hands slipped along the bare skin of your waist, sliding down to your hips as he slowly pulled you into him.

The pool filter was humming heavy between the all crickets and frogs and lightning bugs, but you knew the thudding of your heartbeat was louder than all of it.

Wrapping your legs around Steve’s torso, you laced your fingers at the back of his neck, wanting him closer and tighter. Hair messed and flat against his forehead, his lips were parted as he breathed you in, water dripping off the end of his nose and eyes glittering in the pool lights, burnt caramel and honey and if he hadn’t been holding onto you, you would’ve floated away.

His fingers pressed into the soft skin at your hips and you sucked in a small gasp.

“Sorry,” he whispered, and you shook your head in reply. It’s okay. And then he gently pressed his thumb to the corner of your lips, swallowing against his nerves, and asked, “Can I kiss you?”

Heart racing, fingers still tangled at the back of his neck you whispered, “Yes.”

“Remember when we found it?”

Steve’s question brought you hurtling back to the present and you shook your head, heart racing in your chest like it had that night in his pool. “Of course I remember,” you murmured, and you knew you were crossing a line, knew you shouldn’t have done it, knew Sam was just around the other side of the barn, but something in you snapped. Shifted. Decided it didn’t care and you took Steve’s hand in yours.

His eyes flicked down to where they were joined and then back up to you, “But–”

“We’re friends,” you reasoned softly, “Friends hold hands.”

“Are we?” he asked and you swore you felt your heart crack as your fingers scrambled to tangle up with his.

“Yeah. Yes. We are,” your words came spilling out, the beer spidering warm and hazy through your body as you tried to justify your action and Steve’s brows furrowed as he dropped his gaze.

“I should go,” he said and regret gripped you like a vice.

“Don’t, please don’t,” your tone was almost pleading, watching as Steve’s eyes fluttered shut for a moment, working through his own decision and you thought for a minute he would cave like he always did for you, but then his hand was untangling from yours and the ache in your chest was almost enough to pull tears from your eyes.

“You’re getting married tomorrow,” he said, voice thick and low, and when he opened his eyes finally to look at you, you saw a thousand I’m sorrys, all the regret and lingering kisses on hot summer nights and promises whispered in the dark and you shook your head.

“But it’s not–we can’t–please stay,” nothing you said made sense and Steve ran a hand through his hair, pulling his lip between his teeth.

“Get some sleep. I’ll see you at the church.”

And as you watched his figure walk away, silhouetted and dark against the indigo sky, your star blinking bright above you, you felt tears finally well up and spill down your cheeks.

Sucking in a breath you turned back to the the wide open expanse of field behind you and buried your face in your hands, trying to calm down, willing the tears to stop, telling yourself that you loved Sam. You were getting married. The ring on your finger a constant reminder of what was supposed to happen tomorrow and when you finally lifted your head from your hands your eyes fell on a bright patch there in the field at your feet.

Wildflowers.

Walking back to the party felt like a blur, Steve’s words playing over and over in your mind, and when you came back into the glow of the strung up lights your eyes searched frantically for Sam. If you could just hold his hand, pull him in close you’d know you loved him. Would know you wanted to marry him, but he wasn’t there and everything felt like it was unraveling.

“Hey, are you okay?” Robin’s hand was at your elbow and when you looked up at her, her brow furrowed with worry. “Whoa, what happened?”

“I just need to find Sam, have you seen him?”

“Yeah, yeah I think he was just over here, c’mon. Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I just need Sam,” you choked out, Robin’s hand grabbing yours and pulling you along.

“Okay, we’ll find him, it’ll be okay.”

And as you rounded the corner into the quiet of the barn you heard hushed voices. Robin flicked on the overhead lighting to reveal Carol and Sam talking, huddled close to one another and your heart stopped in your chest.

“Wha–Sam? Carol?”

Carol’s eyes went wide and she took a couple steps back, giving you one of her smiles, all flimsy and saccharine sweet. “Oh my god, we thought you left!” she exclaimed, trying a laugh and you heard Robin mumble something under her breath next to you.

“Well, I didn’t. It’s my rehearsal dinner.”

“Babe, we were just trying to plan a surprise for you. For tomorrow, that’s all,” Sam said, taking the few steps toward you, taking your hand in his, but you felt sick to your stomach. You knew that look in his eye, his tone of voice overcompensating for something, lying.

“Yeah! Totally,” Carol said a little too enthusiastically and Robin had had enough.

“Oh my god, totally great!” she mocked, throwing one of Carol’s empty smiles back at her before taking your hand. “It’s super late, Carol. Time to go,” this time Robin’s voice was void of all joking and the look she gave the other girl was enough to push her to leave.

“Absolutely, sure thing. See you tomorrow! Can’t wait,” she purred, but her smile faltered as she met your gaze, walking quickly back out into the night.

“Babe, we really were planning a surprise, I–I just want tomorrow to be perfect,” Sam took your hand from Robin, shouldering her out of the way and she scoffed, still lingering in case you needed her.

“In here? In the dark?” your voice wobbled a bit as you realized what you were implying and Sam squeezed your hand, but it felt suffocating not warm or safe like Steve and you pulled it away. “I’m gonna go home, get some sleep.”

“Of course, baby. Whatever you need,” Sam crowded around you, rubbing your shoulders and pressing a kiss to the nape of your neck, but you didn’t want any of it and shrugged him off.

“Can you give me a ride, Robs?” you asked, pulling away from Sam, your feet not moving you fast enough.

“Yeah, yeah I can give you a ride,” Robin took your hand again, Sam finding himself alone in the wide expanse of the barn on the eve of your wedding.

The happiest day of your life.

“Listen, can I tell you something?” Robin said shifting into park as she turned down the radio and idled in your parents’ driveway.

“Sure,” your voice was small, timid, not you as your thoughts still lingered on what Steve had said. What Sam and Carol had looked like huddled close together in Hop’s barn. Asking yourself why. Asking yourself what you really wanted.

“I don’t think you should get married.”

Your head whipped up from your lap, brows knitted together. “What?”

“I don’t think you should get married,” Robin said again voice softer this time, knowing the weight it carried as she let it settle in the car between you.

“It’s literally happening tomorrow. What d’you mean don’t get married,” you were scrambling now, afraid of what would happen if you let her woods take root, the doubt that had been hovering deep down now pushing itself front and center.

“People do it all the time–”

“No, they don’t!” tears were welling up against your lashes, your face growing hot, willing yourself not to fall apart.

“Okay! Okay, I’m sorry. Of course I’m gonna support you no matter what you decide,” Robin quickly recovered, grabbing your hands in hers as her expression softened. “Just–” a small sigh escaped her and she squeezed your hand, “–I want you to be happy. That’s all. Are you happy?”

Are you happy?

Robin looked at you, eyes wide, hands still holding onto yours and you felt yourself wrestling with the three simple words she’d thrown at you. Swallowing thickly, you couldn’t meet her gaze and pulled your hands away, grabbing at the door handle.

“I’m happy, I am,” and even you knew how flimsy it sounded, but your friend didn’t push you on it.

“Okay, okay. See you in the morning,” Robin said softly and all you could do was nod in reply before shutting the door and hurrying up the walk and into your parents’ house.

You didn’t bother showering as you moved quickly up the stairs to your room, not wanting to face your parents, not like this. Quietly shutting your door you felt the sob in your chest clawing its way up your throat and you tried to swallow it down as you threw back your covers and hid in the deep pile of blankets. You thought for a split second to call Sam over at Jason’s, ask him if he really loved you, if he still wanted to go through with this, but you buried your face into your pillow and tried to push your thoughts away.

Doubt had started blooming in the pit of your stomach from the moment you’d said yes, but it had just felt like the next right thing. Felt like you were supposed to. Date your boyfriend for a couple of years, move in together, get married. Right? But the things you tried hard to ignore kept bubbling up.

Your hesitation when Sam first asked you out. Your trips home on breaks and seeing Steve. The feelings you wrestled with when you saw him. When he talked to you and listened, really listened and looked at you. How it felt like a giant weight being lifted from your shoulders without Sam there.

Your first fight with Sam over money. How he spent so much of it going out with his friends. How you knew they stayed out late and talked to other girls. The high he got from it too much to stop him from doing it. The smell of the other girls on his clothes.

The first time he cheated on you and begged you to take him back. How the first person you wanted to call was Steve, but you called Robin instead.

And now the planning. All the disagreements and arguing and fighting and you were exhausted and he couldn’t even keep away from other women, from Carol, still after all that time.

Are you happy?

Robin’s question looped in your head and you knew the real answer.

No. But then…

Tap. Tap, tap tap.

Peeking your head out from under your covers your ears strained, trying to decide what it was you’d heard. Then it happened again.

Tap, tap. Tap.

There was only one thing that could make that sound, an all too familiar one that pulled forth a flood of precious, happy memories.

Rocks on your window.

Steve.

Crawling out of your bed you hurried to your window and yarded it open, sticking your head out and looking down like you’d done hundreds of times before. “Steve?” you hissed into the dark, and as the wind blew the clouds away from the moon, it shone down on the lawn below you washing Steve in soft light.

“Can I come up?”

You bit your bottom lip between your teeth, but knew there was no debate. “Yeah, hurry up,” and you moved out of the way as he started climbing the gutter before you’d even said yes.

Stumbling in through the open window Steve straightened up and dusted off his old, faded Hawkins High Athletics shirt, a pair of grey sweatpants hanging on his hips, the same pair of dirty, beat up Blazers on his feet.

“Hi,” he said awkwardly, tongue jammed into his cheek as he rubbed the back of his neck.

“Hi?” it came out expectantly, a question, but you couldn’t hide the relief in your voice at the sight of him standing there in your room.

“Listen, I just wanted to say sorry. For earlier,” he said, walking to your bed and plopping down on the messed up covers.

“Oh, that’s okay, I shouldn’t have–”

“Just let me apologize,” he said shaking his head with a half laugh, expression mismatched as it twisted with something between regret and care.

So you listened and kept your mouth shut, instead deciding to settle down next to him on your bed, thighs pressed together on the small twin sized mattress. Silence lingered for a minute, but the air was heavy, loaded, like how it felt right before a thunderstorm. The sky holding its breath before opening up and pouring rain, cracking the sky in half with bright streaks of light.

You both stole a look at the same time and it pulled a smile from each of you, tiny breathy laughs falling from your lips, but when it quieted again the tension flooded back in.

“Do you love him?” Steve broke the quiet and you felt your chest tighten. When you hesitated he grabbed your hand in his. “Do you?”

Your pulse fluttered against your neck, your mouth opening and closing like a fish out of water and stumbling and choking on your words, but you knew the answer. You both did. You’d just admitted it to yourself before Steve had fallen through your window and the familiar feeling of panic started to creep in around you, flinging you back to right before you’d left home again. Before you met Sam.

“Steve! Wait!”

You were practically running after him as he stalked back to his car, the sky on fire with the sunset and streaked in cherry reds, sunflower yellows, and bright tangerine.

He fumbled with his keys and dropped them into the grass at his feet, “Shit.”

“Please, just wait,” you were out of breath as you finally reached him and you saw his frame crumple as he loosed a sigh.

“Jesus, what?” his tone was short, clipped as he stared through his car window, your reflection playing against the glass.

“It’s only for another year, it’s not like I’m gonna be gone for–”

“Yeah! Another year!” Steve spun around to face you, cheeks red and lips pulled down into a frown, a muddied mixture of sadness and anger swimming in his eyes. “Just admit it, you don’t wanna come back here, and that’s fine! But don’t make me wait. Please don’t make me wait anymore. It–” Steve choked on his words and dropped his eyes to his feet, biting on the inside of his cheek to blunt the feelings swelling his chest. “It hurts. To sit and wait here for you. Please,” his voice edged on pleading and you felt tears prick at the corners of your eyes.

“It’ll work! It’s just a little longer–”

Steve took a step into you, crowding over you, and you felt your heart stutter in your chest at the closeness of him. He lifted a hand to your cheek, his brows pulling together as he looked down at you, eyes searching yours. “Then be with me. If it’s not that long then be with me. Long distance for a little while until you’re done with school,” he said, voice barely above a whisper.

“Steve. I can’t–” your throat tightened around what you were about to say, scared of what that commitment looked like, scared to fuck it up between you, scared to lose your best friend, but your hesitation broke it anyway.

He dropped his hand away from your cheek, tongue flicking out to run along his lips as he held back his anger. His sadness. Frustration. Snatching his keys from the grass he unlocked the driver side door and flung it open rough.

“No! Wait! I just mean–”

“No!” he shouted into his car and then lowered his voice, tears streaming silently down his cheeks, “No. No more. Good luck with…everything.” And he piled into his car, slamming the door shut and ignoring your cries as you crowded against his window, asking him to stay. To talk about it. To figure things out, but he shifted it in drive and took off down your driveway and into the night.

You weren’t going to fuck it up. Not again.

“No,” and as your admission left your lips the heavy weight that had settled on your shoulders over the last two years started to melt away. “No. I don’t love him.”

Steve’s hold on you tightened, pressing your fingers into his palm and he lifted his free hand to your cheek, eyes searching yours, “Don’t marry him.”

Don’t marry him.

Your breath quickened and you pulled your bottom lip between your teeth, trying to reason out what you’d just decided and you felt anxious, but Steve was there. And your room was warm and safe. Just like it was when you were younger. When you both laughed and traded secrets and made promises to each other in the dark.

“But. The wedding. The flowers, the cake, the guests–”

“Fuck ‘em,” Steve said, still holding onto your hand, and his words swirled around in your head. “It’s only a wedding. This is your life,” brushing the rough pad of his thumb across your cheek you closed your eyes and leaned into his touch, “You’re not happy.”

And you weren’t. You’d had moments with Sam, moments in time where things felt right and like maybe it could be forever, but they were just that. Moments. It shouldn’t be this hard. You’d sacrificed, compromised, bent and twisted yourself to be what Sam wanted, what he needed, not what you wanted and when you finally looked up at Steve you felt tears welling up against your lashes.

“What will my mom say,” your voice wobbled as you tangled your fingers with Steve’s and he gave you a small, reassuring smile.

“She wants you to be happy too. She’ll be okay.”

You were dizzy, hazy with thoughts of not being engaged anymore, buzzing with the anticipation of what this decision meant. Of what it held. What the future could be and you looked back up at Steve, tears started to quietly spill down your cheeks and his hand was quick to gently wipe them away. You shook your head, holding your breath, and when you let it go everything came tumbling out.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry for making you wait. For hurting you. For everything–”

“Shh, it’s okay,” Steve softly chided, but you pressed on.

“No, no it’s my turn,” you said, voice thick through your tears, and then you turned to cup Steve’s face in your hands. A small smile pulled up at the corners of your mouth even through your crying and you pulled in a breath, “I love you, Stevie. I always have.”

The look on his face then was one of pure adoration, of relief, and he gave you a smile back, “I know. I love you too.”

I love you too.

Pulling him into you, you felt the soft warmth of his breath across your cheek, the smell of his shampoo and fresh laundry flooding your senses. Hesitating, waiting for him to tell you it was okay and he silently answered you by leaning in and closing the gap between your lips, pressing his softly into yours.

It was slow and languid, a thousand I love yous. Years of want and aching set free into the dark of your room as you breathed each other in like air. The feeling of Steve scattering you out into the stars to live with the one you’d deemed as yours, falling between all the glittering constellations and floating in each other.

I love you too.

Reluctantly Steve pulled away from you, eyes fluttering open to look into yours and he took hold of your waist. “Run away with me,” he whispered.

Your brows pulled together, “Run away?”

“Yeah. Right now. Throw your suitcase in my car and we’ll just drive. Get away from everything, just for a little while until you’re ready.”

Mind racing, working through the logistics of what he was suggesting, you almost protested, but something in you fought back. Told you to listen to your heart, not your head. What did you want? What would make you happy?

“Okay.”

“Really?” Steve’s face lit up at your response, like he hadn’t expected it, and you felt your lips pull up into a smile, tears drying on your cheeks as you let the feeling swallow you up in its warmth. The embers in your chest crackling and flickering with life, with a fire that burned only for him.

“Yeah, yeah I don’t care. I just want to be with you,” you felt yourself grow more and more confident, more decided and Steve pulled you in again to press another kiss to your lips. This time it was hotter, bolder, a confession of passion and you grinned into him.

“C’mon, if we go now we can get coffee at that shitty diner just off the highway outside of town,” he was grinning now too.

“They make the best pancakes,” you laughed softly and Steve’s smile melted as he looked at you.

Finally.

He helped you gather your things, carrying your suitcase out to his car, and you felt like you could fly. Lighter than you’d been in years and the thought of just driving down the road with him filled you with warmth. Like watching the sun set at the end of a hot summer day. Like dipping your feet in the pool after sitting in the heat. Sweet like the taste that followed after a tart drink of lemonade.

You left your engagement ring on your dresser, a small folded note under it for Sam telling him sorry. Telling him you hoped he would find what he wanted. That you knew he’d be okay. And as you closed the door to your parents’ house you felt like you were closing that chapter. Ready to start new. To free fall into this open-ended story with Steve and as you settled into his car your eyes caught a small patch of lawn on the side of your house. Bright and soft in the moonlight and full of color.

Wildflowers.

crappymixtape™ • steve harrington masterlist // stranger things masterlist

[yukipri]

Look at how cute Cody is!!!

…right, this is supposed to be a product review photoset and said product is stretched hidden above oops

Actual review of the Heroes & Villains Sabine Wren cropped hoodie below:

Text review beneath cut:

Got this Sabine cropped hoodie Heroes & Villains because I really dig Sabine's adult color scheme in the live action Ahsoka, and really liked the application of the design here! I've bought a few clothing items from Heroes & Villains before, and they've consistently been of high quality, and I wasn't disappointed here.

I really like this hoodie because it's got the perfect in-between fabric weight, where it's thin enough and feels great against skin so I can just wear it as a long sleeve shirt, or I can wear it as outerwear with something underneath. It's a perfect fall hoodie, though I'd want to wear something over it in colder winter.

Another thing I really dig is all the textures. It's got embroidery for the patches, the gold bars on the chest representing Sabine's chest armor lights, and the starbird outline in the back, and printed patterns in the front that are tastefully faded for a slightly weathered effect. There are 4 colors of fabrics that are overstitched with plum thread. Just the variety of textures going on here really tickles my artist brain and makes it really fun to touch and wear!

I do want mention that because this is a "cropped hoodie," it does fall shorter than most hoodies do on the torso, though I wouldn't quite call it true crop top short. This means that for people with some chest like myself, it kinda balloons out, and doesn't create the most slimming silhouette. I'm wearing an L here, because I like baggy hoodies (plus, what's the point if I can't fit a cat inside??), and that may also be contributing. I could probably fit in an M size too. But just a head's up there!

I also wish it had pockets, since I'm very much a want-to-tuck-hands person, but I get why they decided not to include them.

Overall I really love this hoodie, and it's a part of my regular wardrobe now!

(also shown: wearing the Rock Love Sabine kyber crystal necklace + loth cat earring)

Here's a direct link to the hoodie:

This review isn't sponsored, just sharing my honest thoughts.

That being said, here's my non-influencer “refer a friend” code, for $25 off $75 the Heroes & Villains site! (plus, they have a sale going on rn!)

(Cats tag: #YukiPriASLKittens )

[crookedkryptonitebeliever]

Okay i lied , im not cutting off yandere sources cause i need Yves to cope with the high stress.

So here's some Yves content at the supermarket

Yves pays close attention to how and where your eyes linger at. Especially at grocery or other retail stores where there are a wide variety of objects. He notes down what catches your attention first, next and last, what caused you to do a double take and for how long. What colour, what texture, what shape and etcetera etcetera. He keeps count and remembers the sequences too.

It's fascinating, your habits change depending on the lighting, temperature, humidity, atmospheric pressure, smell and loudness of the area. Even the feeling of the flooring beneath your shoes would affect the duration you're willing to look at a product.

Yves would pretend to check the nutritional information of an item that claims to be "healthy" and "organic". But in actuality, he's watching you; do not underestimate his peripheral vision, it's almost as if he has eyes on the back of his head.

He would get a small rush of excitement whenever he predicts your next move successfully, shock and slightly more delightful when he's wrong; because that means he has discovered something new about you and must document his findings immediately.

How strange, you're exhibiting signs of under stimulation despite the fact that supermarkets usually fulfill your sensory needs, most of the time, overloading you. So Yves peruses the aisles even more, letting his heels clack against the tiled floors, pushing the shopping cart slowly and observing if the extra disturbances around you will do anything to your predicament.

But no, you're still uncomfortable. How interesting, how can Yves help you? He's dying to know, but he must run multiple tests discretely to find out.

However, before he could proceed, you walked up to him and stared at Yves in the eyes.

He replaced the can of diced tomatoes back onto the metal shelf before peering down at you. Yves intentionally chose to wear one of his taller heels to create that subconscious "guardian" role, making him ridiculously tall.

"Yes, dear?" He asked, bringing his fingers to your hair, gently brushing them away from your face. This seems to improve your mood, it made his heart skip a beat when he realized that you were craving for his touch.

You told him that it's nothing, you just wanted to see him.

Now that's not true, you wanted more but you're too shy and nervous to outright ask for it.

Yves smiled, softly coaxing you closer to his side, which made you automatically cling onto him and bury your head in his torso. Yves stroked your back rhythmically up and down.

While he lets you recharge in the side hug, Yves uses a free hand to inspect more canned items, he also likes guessing what additives might be added into each product and how much of each nutrient does it contain.

It's impressive how his brain works like a supercomputer with trillions of servers, his eyes, nose, ears, skin and tongue work as the world's best sensors. Yves is actively gathering the smallest, most detailed information about you, the environment, himself and whatever he has on hand. All that, without a struggle, without any clashes in thoughts or confusion in data. All that without overwhelming himself, not at all. He's in fact, very relaxed.

You let go of him when you had enough, but it seems you're not willing to fully part from his form yet as you're holding onto his large, smooth and manicured hand.

He walks to the next section of the aisle, pushing the trolley along with him and enveloping your smaller hand in his. He noticed that you've lost interest in looking around as canned goods bore you and you would very much rather look through shelves of candy and other junk foods. Where the companies work their predatory marketing tactics on unsuspecting customers like you.

If you wanted to, you would have left him alone to entertain yourself by now. But you're still stuck next to him as he reads the next list of ingredients.

He doesn't need to hide a delighted smile from you, as you're pushing your face against his lowest rib. Yves can express his glee at your very sweet and considerate gesture to accompany him despite your boredom.

He wanted to see how long you would last before he loses your consideration. That's why, Yves kept going through each can with you inching along next to him. Surprisingly, you're durable. But you're not exhibiting signs of weariness anymore, but instead, you're simply content and comfortable.

Strange. The buzzing, blinding lights above you and him, the monotony of the labels, the droning and other bustling noises would have driven you out of this aisle five minutes ago, let alone allow you to express... Happiness for being present. This isn't usual, Yves knows. He has observed you more times than you can count in this exact setting. Everything is more or less the same: the luminescence, the air quality and the decibels that your ears are picking up.

Except, the only variable that changed was him. His presence.

He gently called out your name, which prompted you to look up at him.

Yves pecked you on the lips, leaving a faint stain of his lipstick on your kisser.

"I love you." He whispered, biting onto his tongue immediately because he wanted to say much more. So much more. But he couldn't, it would be horrific for you to learn what he sees without your knowledge.

You stared at him, confused. Of course, you returned his words of affection. What baffled you was this glimmer in his breathtakingly beautiful, smiling eyes that would only appear if you did something extravagantly sweet and loving for Yves without expecting anything in return.

Like giving him a meaningful gift that you toiled for, trying your best to serenade him with an original piece of romantic music, going above and beyond to please or pamper him... What did you do?

Yves lets out a soft laugh as he watches you struggle to contain your excitement at the prospect of receiving that reward later at home. He can feel your tremors as you hold onto his hand.

Well, whatever it is, it surely earned you a very big reward. You're not one to look a gift horse in the mouth, so you gracefully accepted the silent message from Yves.

But for now, he must buy the groceries needed for the week, and all the ingredients to make your favourite dish of all time.

He pushed the cart to the next aisle, bringing you along with him.

[klausysworld]

Can you make a smut like just pure smut klaus x reader (preferably black/mixed reader)reader is hope Mikealson’s best friend and reader is finally meeting hopes family and she is all hot and bothered by klaus and klaus can tell

“Hii how are you could you maybe make a smut klaus x fem reader hopes best friend (reader)finally meet hope’s family and reader is drawn to klaus and can’t take her eyes off of him and he notices and something happens between them :)”

this was also requested and i wasn’t sure if you could respond to two at once??

Hope and i had been best friends for a while now and i was so nervous about meeting her family. I’ve seen pictures and been told all about them so hopefully everything will be fine but i sort of already have crush on her dad even though i haven’t actually met him?

Hope knows i find him attractive and always makes jokes about it, thankfully she finds it funny instead of making it weird

“i know they’re all gonna love you! You, y/n y/l/n, are gonna become an honorary Mikaelson… or maybe an actual Mikaelson if you marry my dad… will that make me your daughter? should i start calling you Mommy?” i shoved her as we laughed and got out of her car to start walking to to her house, i ended up chasing her most of the way to the door as she fake screamed and ran

“i call maid of honour!” she called as we got to the entrance

“who’s getting married?” was said from behind me making me jump forward towards Hope, she had a big smile on her face as she grabbed my arm

“Dad!! this is y/n remember i told you all about her!?” my face heated up as i ran a hand down my face and glanced at Klaus who looked somehow even better in person than in the photos

“oh god what did you say?” i mumbled shaking my head and both she and her father laughed

“nothing bad love, in fact she said many wonderful things, you enjoy art?” i side eyed a very smiley Hope who was practically buzzing

“she does, she paints too, she’s really good, i think you should show her your art room cuz i know for a fact that she would just looove it, i showed her some of your pieces and her mouth was hanging open like a fish she looked adorable” she rambled but i don’t think Klaus was listening much, he was looking straight into my eyes as his pupil dilated as he licked his bottom lip and hummed

“well them we’ll take her up yes?” he cut hopes rant off and she nodded excitedly

“sure well im gonna see aunt Bex so if you take her to see that- the art! i’ll see you both in a moment” she literally slid out of the room as she slipped and skidded round the corner

“you don’t have to, i think Hopes in a…funny mood” i explained and began walking after her but his large hand took ahold of mine and he spun me back to his chest

“we should go see the art, if she thinks we should see the art then it’s what we should do” i whispered an “okay” in response and he led me up the stairs.

He showed me many paintings and sketches letting me touch the different textures and flip through his books. All the way through he kept a hand on my waist, his face was practically sat in the crook of my neck and he whispered stories of why painted different things. One sketch book had paintings of naked women, or hands touching intimate parts of someone, i felt my panties dampen at the thought of him painting my body, his hands cupping my breasts. He inhaled deeply through his nose and let out a little grunt

“which is your favourite?” he muttered as he bushed himself against me letting me feel his hard on against my ass

“probably that one…” i said quietly pointing to the painting of the women lead on the bed with her back arched and her head thrown back

“mm that was actually a very interesting person, she had very lovely hands you see?” he moved my hand to where hers were, she was squeezing her own breasts, i realised that was the main focus of his drawing, her hands

“you’re very talented Mr Mikaelson” he smirked and rubbed my hip with his thumb

“1000 years of practice can do that, perhaps…you’ll let me do you?” i gulped and slowly turned around so our chests were touching, i was breathing pretty heavily and could feel my breasts brushed against him, i locked eyes with his sapphire ones as i tilted my head up. He leaned down and gently pressed his lips to mine which i immediately reciprocated, they were plump and soft making me push my tongue through them and taste his. He tasted rich and intoxicating making me moan into his mouth and moved my hands to hold the back of his head while his held onto my waist pulling me tightly against him. He moved a hand down and lightly squeezed my ass under my skirt. He pushed his leg in between my thighs and moved me along his jeans, the fabric quickly darkened with my wetness as it went through my underwear onto him. I panted when he moved his mouth down to suck along my jaw and then down and back up my neck finding my sweet spot just below my ear and paying it extra attention. I moaned again louder and i began grinding against him harder. He brought his hands down to lift me up by my thighs, i wrapped my legs around him as he connected our mouths again.

Our tongues entwined and the sound of pages scattering the floor filled the room, i was put into the now empty table, i was pushed flat on my back and my legs were pulled to the edge

“you look so bloody beautiful spread our like this, suck a lovely dress” he told me and kissed down my neck to my cleavage, he ran his tongue along the swell of my breasts. I arched my back and moved my hands up to undo some of the buttons going down so he had better access to them. Klaus gently cupped them both and then attached his lips to my left one making me gasp. He tugged on it and swirled his tongue around it before giving the same affection to the other one. He undid the rest of the buttons and pushed it off my arms leaving me completely bare for him.

Nervousness flooded through me and i brought my knees up to my chest so i was covered

“i want to see you y/n, all of you” he whispered and pulled my knees apart to look at my most private area. The vulnerability of being so open for him while he was still fully clothed had me avoiding any eye contact as he studied me.

“you are magnificent you know that? absolutely divine” he announced moved so he was off the table and pulling me to the edge, he went down onto his knees and held my legs open

“do you want this, love?” he whispered locking eyes with me

“i- i do” he smirked in response and his tongue darted out. His hot tongue kitten licked at my clit, my hands flew to his hair and pulled him towards me breathing out his name as though it were a prayer

“lay back love” he instructed before his actions became more. He was now sucking harshly at my clit and his tongue teased my entrance making me gasp a moan. I opened my legs as wide as they would go when his skilful tongue entered me, he expertly plunged it within me and i called out for him desperately. The dreams i had were no where near as brilliant as the real thing. I could feel myself fluttering around his tongue, his thumb went to my clit and drew figures of eight upon it, he gradually got faster and i pulled at his sandy locks. The burning sensation pulsed through me, my nails scratched his scalp, his groan adding to the pure pleasure coursing inside while my toes curled and i came into his mouth. His thumb slowed and gently tapped my clit as he licked up every last drop that escaped me.

“You taste fantastic y/n” he whispered and kissed me again letting me see how sweet i was in his mouth.

“can you take your clothes off now” i asked shyly still playing with his curls. He smirked and kissed my lips again

“i suppose it’s only fair” he said while removing his shirt. I gaped at his toned body and couldn’t help but run my fingertips down his torso as he undid his belt, when i glanced down to his underwear i audibly swallowed

“i know you’re going to be so good for me” he uttered stroking my cheek with his palm while palming himself

“how…how do you want me?” i hesitated before asking still eyeing his thickness, almost drooling when he twitched

“Let’s get you on the floor” he pulled me down from the table and onto the floor

“hands and knees love” he whispered and i did as told. He disappeared for a second before returning with a pillow, he stretch my arms and and told me to rest my head on the pillow. I arched my back for him and shivered at the thoughts running through my mind

“you’re sure?”

“i’m positive” i replied

A moment later his tongue was in my folds again gathering my juices and sliding into my centre before exiting again and shifting himself forward, his hands rubbed my ass and down my back, he gripped onto my hips and guided me onto his dick. My tight walls swallowed him as soon as he entered his thick length and we both moaned.

“oh god” i mumbled and stretched myself further

“not god love, just me” he slowly removed himself until just is tip remained inside me before thrusting back in forcefully and building a rhythm from there

“i don’t think ‘just me’ is a fair answer there, you’re basically a god” he gave a breathy laugh and continued moving, i had never felt so full in my life, his cock buried far inside me hitting my g-spot just right making me cry out for him to continue. He gave guttural moans from behind me. His hands moved up my back and got ahold of the area between my neck and shoulders, he pulled me back into him to meet his forceful jolts. I tightened around him and i could feel my clit screaming to be touched, almost as if he could read my mind one hand left my shoulder and went to his mouth before down against my bundle of nerves.

“you going to cum for me sweet y/n?” he asked as he twitched inside me and his thrusts became slightly sloppy. I nodded rapidly and my body shook with the force he used to fuck me. i squeezed the pillow between my hands and cried out a moan of his name as i clamped around him and let him fill me with his hot fluid.

He rocked into me for a while longer before slipping out of me and letting out a sigh of contentment. My body relaxed and my face pressed into the pillow, my ass was still propped in the air and i groaned at the ache in my core pushed myself up on my arms and then my hands and rolled over to sit down

“did i do okay?”

“you did perfectly, come here” i crawled over to him and he tilted my head to kiss my lips slowly and softly

“Hope’s waiting for us and you need to meet everyone else but next time i’ll take you out for a romantic dinner, i’ll get you another pretty dress, your favourite flowers which i already know because Hope has told me everything i could need to know and then if you want something like this again ill have you in my bed” i blushed dark and nodded smiling

“i’d like that very much”

[starlahuskyz]

Stay Strong

Summary: Laddie has a dream after Dwayne's untimely death, he receives some much needed reassurance to soothe his aching heart.

This is a lil drabble I made to go with one of my past drawings cuz someone mentioned they wanted to read a fic to go with it. This is the drawing in question.

TW// Sad :(

-----------------

There was nothing, as far as his eyes could see. Laddie had no words to describe where he was. No objects to identify, no textures on the floor or sky, not even a smell to remind him of anything. Just a plain world that made him feel isolated and frightened. He was having the dream again, the one where he simply walked in this void with no answers as to why he was even there. This has happened a few times already, it’s been happening ever since that night. He lost something so important that night, or rather “someone”. Now he felt like he was left with nothing, must be why he’s been having this dream.

As per usual he started to wander to see if anything new might've shown up, but of course there was nothing. Until finally he heard something far off in the distance. Not wasting time, Laddie ran in the direction of the sound. He didn’t care of what he could possibly encounter, he wasn’t alone anymore and that’s all that mattered. He ran forever, no telling of how far he had gone he listened for the distant sounds as they got closer. While the sounds got closer he still couldn’t find it, he checked to his left and to his right but no luck. His determination was quickly turning to anger and sadness, he thought maybe he could find something in this empty world, but nothing came. He stopped moving and just fell to his knees in frustration, he banged his fists onto the floor beneath him and screamed “Why can’t I find you!” Tears fell from his eyes as he just wanted something to soothe his empty soul. Why must everything be taken away from him? He never could understand why the world was so cruel to him.

Still on his knees, he opted to lay on his side and wait for this dream to end. He sniffled and wiped his face with his sleeve, after that he closed his eyes and curled up simply wishing to disappear. For a while he stayed there uninterrupted, until he felt a hand on his shoulder shake him lightly. Getting up frantically he sits up and sees who it was. It was Dwayne. He couldn’t even utter a single word upon seeing him, he just stared at him shocked. He reaches a hand out to touch, he doesn’t even believe what his eyes are showing him. When he does, Dwayne reaches and grabs a gentle hold of Laddie’s small hand. Laddie wasn’t sure how or why this was happening, but he didn’t care. He choked out a sob and threw himself into Dwayne’s arms and Dwayne simply held him close. Dwayne meant everything to Laddie and after he died, a part of Laddie also died that day. Everyone told him that he was dangerous, but Laddie still loved him no matter what. He pulled away to look at Dwayne and talk to him.

“I missed you Dwayne.” He looked at him tearfully.

“I missed you too, bud, I’ve been trying to see you again.” He kept a hold of his hand. 

“Why did you have to die? You told me you were strong but you still died.” He looked at Dwayne frustratedly.

“Look, I may have been strong but I let my ego get in the way I guess. I wasn’t myself that night-“ He was cut off by Laddie who pulled his hand away and started weakly punching Dwayne’s chest and yelling.

“HOW COULD YOU LEAVE ME AND LET THEM KILL YOU! YOU NEVER EVEN SAID GOODBYE!” Dwayne didn’t respond but only simply grabbed both of Laddie’s hands into his own and let him calm down. After relaxing a bit he spoke again “You promised me you would never leave me…” he wiped his tears away and Dwayne felt himself choking up.

Dwayne never liked seeing Laddie upset, he was only a kid and he just couldn’t seem to catch a break. He hated to make him feel this way, and he hated the fact that he couldn’t explain what happened that night in a way that he could understand. He could only pull Laddie into him and allow him to cry all he needed to. He thought about what to say, while he stroked Laddie’s hair and crooned words to him. “I never wanted to leave you, you mean everything to me. That hasn’t changed one bit.”

“Will I ever see you again?” He clutched Dwayne’s jacket holding on for dear life.

“I’ll make sure of it. A vampire can do whatever they want right?” He rested his chin on Laddie’s head.

“Right…but didn’t Paul always get in trouble when he did whatever he wanted?” He asked and the large vampire laughed lightly.

“Yeah, but that never stopped him.” He gently pushed Laddie away and firmly grasped his shoulders. “Now listen here, even though I broke my promise once I still mean it. Just be strong for me and I promise you I’ll be back soon.

“You promise?” He looked him in the eyes sincerely.

“Cross my heart.”

Laddie wrapped his arms around Dwayne’s neck and Dwayne held him closely.

“I love you, Dwayne.” He nuzzled into him more.

Dwayne stifled a sob and answered back “Love you too bud. The pack loves you too.”

He heard the distant voice of David in his head tell him “Let’s wrap this up alright?” He also heard Paul intrude with “Tell him I said hi, okay?”. Dwayne scooped Laddie into his arms and laid onto his side. Laddie was confused until Dwayne spoke again “Close your eyes and rest, you really need it. Also Paul says hello.”

Laddie giggled and clung to Dwayne as he felt himself grow exhausted, he tried to fight the sleep just to spend a little more time with him and he asked Dwayne one more question “Will you always be with me?” 

“I’ll do my best.” He stroked Laddie’s hair and watched as he smiled happily and fell asleep in his arms.

----------------

When he woke, the sun was up. He was wrapped up tight in his blanket and untangled himself. He sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes wondering if what happened was a dream or something else. He looked to his left where Dwayne was before he woke up and saw something that wasn’t there before. A little plush jaguar sat on the bed watching him. He picked it up and examined it, it was brand new as if it materialized overnight. He traced his fingers over its soft fur and then hugged it close. The plush told him everything he needed to know about what happened last night. Jaguars were Dwayne’s favorite animal, they were strong and fierce like him. Laddie knew that Dwayne truly meant he’d always be with him, and this only confirmed it for him.

--------------------

[the-fiction-witch]

Words Swirl On The page

Media The Artful Dodger

Character Jack Dawkins

Couple Jack X Reader

Rating Sweet AF

Requested: Hi! First off I love your writing you're so talented!!!! I was wondering if you could do a Jack Dawkins x reader where the reader's mom makes them go see Dawkins because she isn't good at reading(but it's like dyslexia like what Jack has) and the reader tries to explain that she can read she just has dyslexia. Jack doesn't know what it is and the reader explains that she heard about it somewhere. I know that's not realistic towards the time period but I think it would be cute to see them bond over it. You don't have to write it if you don't want to. Have a lovely day!

Writers Notes: Fun fact! Yeah bet you guys didn't know you were gonna learn something today! Dyslexia or 'word blindness' as it was referred to earlier on was actually coined in 1887 but having been researching them estimated as early as 1877  so yeah now you have a useless fact. 

I sat and kicked my feet a little in my anxious boredom in the hospital room, my mother paced around like a madwoman, I wanted to roll my eyes at her but I knew she was just trying to help. The door opened and a man stepped in he ran a stained hand through his blonde hair moved it over to the side, a well-stained once-white shirt with billowy sleeves, and a textured blue waistcoat slightly too big for him, and a pair of dusty brown trousers. 

"Good Morning, Miss?" He greeted,

"Miss Y/l/n," I answered,

"Lovely, now what brings you to see me today?" He asked leant his elbow on the table, 

"It's her eyes, doctor!" My mother panicked,

and I let out a sigh,

"Her eyes?"

"her eyes! Her eyes doctor! I fear she may be losing her vision!"

"I am not losing my vision mother." I sighed, 

"Alright, what makes you suspicious of her losing her vision?"

"She can barely read for a girl her age!"

"Mother." I snapped,

"Alright, alright, if you could go and wait in the entryway I'll send Miss Y/l/n along when she's done." He told her clearly as annoyed with her yelling as I was, 

She nodded and happily left, she closed the door and her footsteps led away,

He sighed and ran his hand through his hair again, "she always that loud?"

"Yes," I nodded,

"Christ I'm surprised you're not bloody deaf." he chuckled which made me giggle too, "I take it you think she's mad?"

"I think she's overreacting." 

"Mothers so often do," he said, "But how is your sight really?"

"It's fine, I see you just fine, I see the room just fine."

"Fingers?" He asked putting three fingers up near my face,

"Three." I rolled my eyes, 

"Alright, alright just checking." he laughed, before he stepped away leaning on the door and putting two fingers up "Now?"

"Two." I rolled my eyes again, "I have trouble reading I'm not going blind." I told him with a slight attitude which he picked up on because his next test was to hold up one finger of course his middle,

"Now?"

"Doctor!" I protested,

"Sorry sorry" he laughed, "Well your vision seems fine"

"I know,"

"You need to anyone else about this?"

"The pharmacist in the town before we moved here looked me over."

"Ohh did he now," he glared as he came back over organizing some tools, "Bloody crackpots the lot of them."

"They say the same of doctors,"

"Oh I bet they do." he glared, "You know you need a building and a year of training to be a pharmacist? A year. I've been doing this for ten years and I'm still learning new surgeries and new procedures." 

"That does seem ridiculous but he gave me these," I said as I pulled out my glasses from my pocket,

"May I?"

"Sure." I shrug as I hand them over, 

He took them giving them an investigate with his young between his teeth, "You don't wear them?"

"I don't see the point,"

"They help?"

"No."

"I see, not stall doesn't make reading any easier at all?"

"No. if anything worse because they keep falling off my face."

"Yeah eyeglasses aren't the most comfortable." he chuckled, "Ahh well no wonder they don't help they are barely even anything I wouldn't even class these a strength one you may as well just be looking through plain old window glass." He said, "And there is a huge scratch in the left lens." 

"Yeah, I threw them across my room,"

"Fair enough," He chuckled, "Well If I were you I wouldn't even bother with them either." He said, "If anything they are probably making you more strained and stressed." he said finishing looking them over, I opened my hand to take them back but his response was to snap them in his hand, 

"Doctor!"

"useless rubbish." he said as he threw them away, "but I'll check over just to be sure," he said as he came close and checked my eyes with some magnifiers and such doing the dance I was so used to, look left, look right, up, down, how many fingers, how many lights, so on and so forth. The only thing of note about it was of course now... strangely intimate such an exam is given the doctor had to stand with one of his feet planted between my legs at points his face inches from my own his breath across my skin, and I admit it made me a little squirmy in my seat given... he was rather an attractive man. "Doctor Dawkins by the way, I never said."

"Ohh of course, pleasure doctor." I nodded,

"Hummm... interesting," He said, "I can't see anything wrong with your eyes no damage, no cloudiness or anything, and your sight seems perfectly fine. You may have a very mild astigmatism but it wouldn't be causing you any problems with reading or sight if that's even what I'm seeing."

"Astigmatism?" 

"It's a fairly new thing, a cornea that's stretched into an irregular shape. Instead of being shaped round, the corneas of people with astigmatism are often oblong. But I mean... if that even is what I am seeing here and I'm not confident it's so minute that it wouldn't be giving you any issues." he said before he grabbed a book and handed it to me on a page, "read the words for me I'll watch your eyes,"

I nodded and looked at the page but immediately the cream paper and black ink began to fuzz and blur together, the words and letters seemed to dance and change the spacing of the letters going from close to miles within an instant, as it all read like...

'E v      ery     thin  g ha    s it  swon  ders, ev  en d      arkne    sand sile    nceand    I l    ear      n, what     tev      erstate I     ma      y b   ein, the     reinto b  e c    ont   ent.'

"Interesting, it's not your eyes that much is clear," He said, "But still you're struggling to read?"

"Yes," I nodded,

"Can you describe what's making it difficult?"

"It's like... the words are dancing."

"Dancing?"

"Like they won't stay still, everything moves and changes, and the spacing changes I feel like I'm trying to read letters on a bunch of bustling sheep."

"... The words swirl on the page?" 

"Yes!" 

"Really?!"

"Yes, exactly how did you know?"

"I- I get that too."

"You do?"

"yeah, I uhhh I've never met anyone else who does," He blushed a little, he sat down beside me and we looked a the book together, "to you are the words moving around?"

"no so many whole words more just letters,"

"Yeah! like you try and read the word there."

"Ev-Everyt- everything." I nodded, "But the E starts off here and then goes off down the page and then the V seems to want to go over there, and then the ery seems to be too squished that you can barely see the R the T seems to want to turn upside down, the H is dancing around like a damn child and then I completely disappears-" I explained and he took my hand which made me turn my face to his dropping the book,

"I- I see it like that too." 

"You do?"

"I do. I... I don't know what it's called or why it happens but I see if like that too."

"I- I thought I was going crazy."

"So did I!" He gleamed, "I... I've never met anyone like me before." 

"Neither have I." 

"I promise you, it's not you. It's not your eyes, it's not that you can't read or can't understand it just, whatever is makes it hard for people like us," he explained, "I. I never thought I'd find anyone who saw things the way I do." 

"me either, but... I have heard what this could be,"

"Oh?"

"I have been reading... slowly." I said and he chuckled, "About a man in Germany an academic and a surgeon specializing in the eyes, he has been researching and experimenting into what he refers to as word blindness."

"Word Blindness?" 

"That's what he calls it, word blindness or Dyslexia when the reading is impaired but no other sight or mental issues," I explained, 

"Dyslexia, well I will certainly have to read up about it, slowly." He chuckled, making me giggle too, "Sorry I just... I never thought I'd find anyone like me." 

"me either," I smiled squeezing his hand,

"Would-  would it be imposing if I asked to see you again?"

"To see me again doctor? proffesioanly or?"

"Not professionally."

"I would like that," I nodded, "we could go for a walk by the water something that doesn't involve any reading." 

"I'd like that," he chuckled, "It uhh Jack, Jack Dawkins,"

"Y/n Y/l/n," I smiled, 

"I am delighted to have met you," he smiled as he kissed my hand,

"I am too,"