#this is rushed but i had to get my thoughts out in the world xoxo

[ginevrapng]

they've had such a long tiring day and they miss you terribly. all they want to do is lay on your lap while you play with his hair. his day perks up when he sees you though.

he sneaks up behind you and you're unaware he's there, that is, until he grabs a hold on your plush tummy and squeezes you, causing you to squeal. you've never really liked having someone pinch or grab your stomach, most people wouldn't and you always slap people's hands away, these people meaning your boyfriend. who takes immense pleasure out of the situation feeling your soft round body spill between his fingers, heavenly.

he could listen to the noises you make out of surprise when it happens all of the time. when you grumble afterwards about how he's such a meanie. you'll grumble and complain about it halfheartedly but never straight up tell him to stop, if you did he would. he just grins every time. a laugh escapes their mouth every single time, you yelp and jump away from him. every time he greets you the same way. he always making up any excuse he can to be able to get his hands on you. grab, pull, pinch, squeeze, squish they're doing it, they can't get enough of you and your soft body, they love you so much.

GEORGE, dean, sirius, lee, JAMES, ron, barty, seamus, blaise, evan.

[probablysimpledreams]

You're All I Desire

(Dazai x reader: NSFW)

a/n: omfg it has been a moment since I've written a full fic but here I am !!! the idea for this one has been on my mind ALL DAMN DAY bc the Dazai brainrot has been so real lately my man <3 my man <3 my mannnnn <333 so enjoy some smut xoxo

cw: mention of masturbation (reader getting off by thinking of Dazai & Dazai getting off by thinking of reader), use of clit vibrator, gender neutral reader however reader does have female parts, Dazai refers to reader as "Bella" aka his famous Belladonna petname, Dazai eating reader out, thigh hickeys

word count: a tad over 1.6k

You mentally curse yourself as you pull up to your apartment complex, putting the car in park. After turning off the car, you and Dazai begin heading up into your apartment. Of course of all the days in the world, the day you're assigned to help Dazai with a case is the day you leave all the documents you needed to give him at home. It already took you an entire week to convince Kunikida to let you take them home so you could continue work later into the night with the comfort of your own TV and snacks right at your fingertips. If only you had woken up ten or twenty minutes earlier, then you wouldn't have been rushing out the door this morning.

"Okay they should be-," your eyes widen at the disastrous sight that was awaiting you behind the door. "FUCK ME!" you exclaim as you throw your shoes at the entranceway, Dazai's faint laugher in the background as he follows your lead. "I promise it's usually this bad," you sigh as you turn to Dazai, turning back to the mess of an apartment in front of you. This week you promised to cat sit for your friend, assuring them the cat would feel right at home in your apartment. What your friend failed to mention was their cat's love for wrecking havoc in new places.

"It's cute~" Dazai chuckles as he looks around your messy yet cozy apartment. "You have a good eye for decor," he mentions as he begins walking around the living room, giving himself a self guided tour. You smile at his compliment, trying not to show how nervous having him in your apartment makes you.

It was pretty obvious to everyone at the office that you had a little crush on Dazai. I mean, how could you not? Not only was he beautiful, but he was funny and smart and so much deeper than the persona he puts on for the world. Something deep inside wants to unravel these layers he hides himself under, both literally with bandages and emotionally with his charming nature.

You only allowed yourself to fantasize so much about him though since you were unsure what he felt about you. Sure he flirted with you almost daily, but at what point is that Dazai just simply being Dazai? You always allowed yourself to indulge in his flirting advances, but never forgot that it was just a workplace crush.

"Shit and they were right here," you sigh, palm of your hand hitting your forehead in frustration as you stand in front of your desk. Dazai looked over your shoulder, scanning the desk covered in old papers, a random book, pictures of you and your friends, and random trinket. A small smile forms on his lips as he studies these items, imaging you sitting here at night hard at work. The thought made his heart skip a beat. You were too cute for your own good.

"Time to get searching then!" Dazai exclaims, a little too excited for your liking. However, he was right as these documents needed to be found as soon as possible. You began looking around the desk as Dazai trailed off to other rooms. Too focused on finding these documents and keeping your job, you didn't may much attention to him doing as he pleased. Dazai smiled and hummed to himself as he peaked into your bedroom, admiring how your personality was so clearly visible through your decor. He couldn't help himself as he began scanning your book shelf before moving to your bed, poking the random plushies threatening to fall off your bed. He then finds his way to your nightstand, chuckling at the random assortment of things you sleep by. After scanning the small table, he raises an eyebrow at the halfway opened top drawer. Curiosity getting the better of him, he opens the drawer fully. Oh and is he happy he did.

"Phew okay Dazai I found the papers! We should get going or else-," your jaw almost dropped as you stared at the sight in front of you. Never in a million years did you image you would walk into your bedroom to find Dazai sitting on your bed, twirling your vibrator lazily in his hand. "Put that away. We're leaving."

"But I didn't get a chance to play with my new toy," he pouts.

"Dazai, I'm being serious." You try not to show how embarrassed you are, knowing it will only fuel his flames.

"So I am," he smirks as you walk towards him, trying to take the vibrator from his hands. "Tell me Bella~ Tell me all the fantasies you have of me when playing with yourself~" he teased, waving the wand around. You go silent at his taunt, face feeling flushed as you try to get words out. I mean of course you can't help yourself some nights, allowing yourself to get fully lost in the idea of Dazai touching you, pleasuring you. His name leaving your mouth in a muffled whimper as you finally find release. But he didn't know this, right? Because that would be weird. You wanted to yell at him for even thinking such nasty things, but your face gave the truth away.

Dazai's heart nearly stopped beating as he watched you fight yourself at his taunts. You usually never get this worked up over him, that's when he realizes: you actually do get off to him. His head almost exploded at the thought of you alone in your room, desiring him and only him. He was only half way kidding when he made this comment to you, not realizing you felt as much for him as he did you. He's had a full blown crush on you since you began working for the agency, but never expected his advances to go anywhere. He also was guilty of getting himself off to thoughts of you, letting desire run rapidly through his veins most nights. However, he wrote it off as another sin he will one day have to answer for. He would have never expected you to commit the same sin. The idea drove him crazy. Without thinking, he pulled you by your shirt into a sloppy kiss.

Your eyes widen as he pulls you in suddenly, but it doesn't take long for you to melt into the kiss. He helped you get seated on his lap, your body slowly grinding against his as the kiss deepened. You wrapped your arms around his neck, hands tugging at his hair as you two continued making out on your bed, like two horny teenagers. The last thing on either your or Dazai's mind was getting back to the office as you felt a familiar wetness between your legs, and Dazai's hardening cock. The two of you pull away from each other's lips, a smile on his face as you pant.

"You're easy to get worked up~" he teased, making you roll your eyes and chuckle. Even in a heated moment he was too much, and you loved him for. "Here, let me help you." He shifts where he is sitting, lowering you onto your back. Once you're comfortably laying on your back, he slides your pants and underwear off so he can begin softly kissing your thighs. You whine as his lips leave soft, teasing kisses along your flesh.

"A-aah," you shut your eyes as he bites down on your inner thigh, sucking on the skin until a dark mark is formed. He chuckles before tracing the area with his tongue, leaving more soft kisses along this sensitive area of your body. "D-Dazai....please.....please touch me," you whine, becoming impatient as he repeats this process along your other thigh.

"How could I ever say no to you, ______~" he smiled as he turned the vibrator on, immediately finding the highest setting. You scream out as the toy made contact with your clit, an amused smile spreading across Dazai's face. He began moving the wand up and down, eyes glued to the way your body trembled as the vibrations shot through your body. Your hands began gripping the sheets as you quietly moaned out his name.

"That won't do," he sighed before applying more pressure to how he was holding the wand, increasing the vibrations on your clit.

"D-DAZAI!" you exclaim.

"Much better~" he teases as he continues playing with you, practically drooling at the sight of you. You're so close to coming, and Dazai can tell. You whine as he suddenly pulls the toy away from you, head shooting up to look at him and see what on earth he thinks he's doing.

"Dazai what the f-OH FUCK," you throw your head back as his mouth makes contact with your swollen clit. You moan as his tongue swirls around, his hands gripping your thighs to keep your legs wide open. You scream a mix of curses and his name as your legs shake, Dazai's face becoming slick with your juices. It doesn't take too long until you reach your climax, pulling at his hair as your thighs practically suffocate him. Dazai doesn't slow down, making your eyes roll back in pleasure as you ride out your high. Your legs continue to shake as you try to steady your breathing, watching as he sits up to wipe his face, massive grin shining on his face.

You smile up at him, starting to sit up yourself. "We should probably actually start hea-," you're cut off by him pushing you back down on the bed with one hand as his other hand begins undoing his belt.

"Oh, Bella," he smirks, "we're only getting started~"

[unforgettwble-sumii]

GO TO SLEEP, AMOR ୧ ‧₊˚ 🍮 ⋅☆

(Wednesday x Fem!reader)

> It's 11 a.m and you're still on your phone reading a fanfic about your favorite fictional character. (For the sake of the oneshot let's say that said fictional character was Draco Malfoy.)

⚪ Your roommate Yoko went to have a sleep over at Enid's and Wednesday's dorm, So it was the perfect opportunity for Wednesday to stay over at your dorm.

🟠 It's been hours and you still haven't went to bed so, she tries her best to convince you to go to bed without attempting any murders.

—–·—–·—–·—–·–—·–—·–—·–—·–—·–—·–—·–—

"For the last time, Amor. Go. To. Sleep." Wednesday said glaring at you. What was so important that was on your phone? Why did you keep on giggling?

"Waitttt Wennnn, I'm almost done reading this!! 20 minutes moreeeeee" you say whining, you quickly glanced at her then back to your phone.

At this point, Wednesday was about to loose it. You said that about 2 hours ago. It's a miracle that she hasn't dragged you to your bed.

Wednesday sighed. "What are you even doing?"

She got up from your bed and moved towards the baby pink couch you had in your dorm room that you were sitting on.

You were sitting with your legs crossed and was hugging the adorable giant bat plushie Wednesday got you from the carnival awhile back when you were sick.

Wednesday sat beside you, observing you like a hawk. Wednesday wondered how the hell she managed to get with you.

'Eres perfecta' she mumbled, cheeks lightly coated with blush, not too visible for you to see. Her lips curled up into a very small yet loving smile.

She snapped out of her thoughts and glanced at your phone.

"what are you doing?" she asked looking back at your face.

You giggled and moved your phone so it was much closer to Wednesday's face.

"I'm reading a fanfic!!!!" You exclaimed, a big smile plastered on your face.

'Fanfic?' Wednesday questioned herself. She glared at you in confusion.

You noticed the expression she made, you giggled at it. She was really adorable.

"Enlighten me." She said, one eyebrow raised. You went on explaining it to her, it took her quite some time to understand.

"Why would you wanna read these so called 'fanfics' when you can read books." She tilted her head as she said that.

"well...I don't know, plussss they also have some great stories hereee" you say batting your eyes at her.

"they corrupt the minds of young and adult girls and romanticize the cruel world. I think it's pathetic." She says glaring at you.

"hey! That's not true!" You say crossing your arms infront of your chest.

"You're acting like a big baby." She says

You laughed at her reply and hugged the plushy infront of you closer.

"We should go to bed now, Cara mia." She says sighing.

"but-" you say pouting. "No buts. It's 12 am and we have to go to class early tomorrow." She says with a stern expression.

"fine..." Your lips formed a small pout. You stood up from the couch, making your way to your bed. Wednesday following right behind you.

You laid down sighing, making sure to leave space for your love.

Wednesday laid down beside you and pulled you closer. Her action surprised you but, nevertheless you melted in her touch.

You gave her a smile and hugged her even closer than before "I love you...wen."

She gave you a peck on the cheek as a way of her saying 'i love you more.'

"Sleep well, my love." She says with a small smile.

And with that you both started to doze off

a/n:

I just had a random strike of motivation and decided to make this (hence the reason why it's short) however it is rushed so I deeply apologize if it isn't that good.

Oh and I didn't proofread it so I apologize for any errors, as again, I made this in a rush.

That is all thankyouu, luv u all!! ♡︎

</3 xoxo - unforgettwble-sumii

/ᐠ. ᴗ.ᐟ\ 💐

©unforgettwble-sumii's work. Pls do not repost, steal modify, or translate.

[444rockstargf]

REQUEST FOR CLYDE!!!

omg okay so my thought was a kind of situationship where Clyde and the reader have kind of been flirty to one another for a while (and they both secretly like each other), but at one of the concert/hangout things they go to Clyde sees the reader making out with a random person, and we get JEALOUS!CLYDE🤭🤭 potential for angst and/or smut?

anyways thanks for considering my idea and keep writing cus your stories are literally what keep me on this app🛐🛐

xoxo

aww ur so sweet 🙁🫶🏽

"do you want me or do you not?" | clyde

happiness is a butterfly. - lana del rey

✮⋆˙ [tags] @faesucksass @lustkillers @mayathepsychic1999@josibunn @livingdead-materialgirl @romanroyapoligist@auggiethecreator @oliviah-25 @vanlisbon @lankysimp @livingdead-reilly@imoonkiss @lankysimp@nom-nommmm1@xxbl00d-cl0txx@k1ll3rh0rr0r@wildathevrt@mommymilkers0526

female!reader x jealous!clyde

word count: 1.4k

contents: a little fluffy, angsty, reader "cheats" on clyde, mention of sex, violence, blood

your first smoke, first high, and first ever successful kickflip all happened thanks to clyde, and you always joked about owing him your life for that. he also took your virginity, and you thanked the heavens that he was the one that did it.

“so first, you take a hit of the blunt.” he said. your expression looked puzzled. “what does that mean?” he rolled his eyes, rolling a little weed into the paper before pulling out a lighter from his flannel pocket. “suck on it, like you’re drinking from a straw.” clyde didn’t notice the shift in the atmosphere after he made that comment. he’d always been so oblivious to the dirty things he’d say by accident.

a friendship that had started as a practical joke in high school turned into one where if any guy looked at you the wrong way, he wasn’t afraid to knock a tooth out and earn another prison sentence. as much as you didn’t want to admit it, you had fallen for the high school dropout, white, rich kid drug addict that you’d always been warned to stay far away from. but it was too late now because here you were, sitting on the bench in front of his favourite vape shop, braiding his hair while the rest of his friends were at the skatepark less than a block away.

“alright, your turn.” he said as you tugged on a lock of his hair, his hand resting on your thigh. you thought for a moment, finding the right question to ask him. “okay, never have i ever tried to get a blowjob during a church sermon.” he scoffed, rolling his eyes in annoyance as he put a finger down. “i thought we agreed to never bring that up again.” you finished off one braid, preparing to do the other. “nope, you asked if i’d ever forget, and i said no.”

he tried to suppress the smile tugged at his lips, but before he knew it he was grinning from ear to ear. he brushed a strand of hair behind his ear. “ok, since you wanna play dirty: never have i ev-” he was interrupted by the loud ringtone of your phone. you brought your hands out of his hair, pulling it out of your pocket and checking for the caller ID. when you saw it, your skin went slightly pale.

as inattentive as he was, he noticed right away. “everything okay? you look like you’ve just seen a ghost.” he laughed at his own joke, but you just giggled nervously as you stood up from the seat. “i-ill be right back. i’m going to… the bathroom.” his gaze said that he didn’t believe you  for a second, but you were already halfway down the sidewalk and rushing into the nearest alleyway.

he sighed, leaning back on the bench. “alright then…” he looked up and down the street, not really having noticed anything when you were with him. it always felt like it was only you and him in the world. he reached into his pocket, pulling out the slip of paper that had been burning into his soul. 

“for y/n.” it read, containing more words underneath the fold. he had been planning out this day for years. he had never been the type to write love letters, but when you told him that that was what you were into all those years ago, he told himself he would do exactly that when it came to spilling his guts out to you. and today was the day, he had just been waiting for the perfect moment to give you the note.

several minutes passed, and you still hadn’t returned. his hands were clammier than usual and his leg was bouncing on the ground, something that always used to happen whenever he got nervous. his grip on the note tightened, but he still tried his hardest to not crease it in any way. but the dreadful feeling in his gut continued to grow, spreading like a deadly plague until he couldn’t take it anymore. he stood up, walking down the same path that you had gone, starting to search for you.

you were pressed up against the brick wall of the alley, the scent of stale plants and smoke filling your nostrils as your dating app match forcefully kissed your neck. “i’ve been waiting to meet you all week…” you squirmed underneath him as his teeth dug into your neck, surely leaving a bruise. the only thing going through your mind was how different he looked from his picture.

his dirty hair brushed against your cheek as he came up to your lips against, kissing you with a mouth that probably hadn’t been cleaned in days. your eyes darted around the alley as you desperately searched for a way out of this situation, but his fingers began trailing underneath your shirt, tugging at the fabric as he went to remove it. until a booming roar broke into your thoughts.

“what the hell?!” it was clyde and before you knew it, he tackled the man, shoving him to the ground and punching him upside his jaw. you lept out of his way, eyes wide and mouth open as blood began to spray out of your date’s nose. but clyde only got more violent, his anger growing by the second.

“you think you can just touch any woman you want, huh?! what kind of a fucking animal are you!” clyde grabbed a large rock, surely about to smash his skull into pieces until your piercing scream intervened.

“wait! c-clyde stop!” you pulled him off, an animalistic rage in his eyes as he spat out on last thing. “get lost, fucker!” he quickly got to his feet, blood pouring down his shirt as he bolted out of the alley, scared for his life.

clyde’s mood flipped like a switch when he turned to you, tears filling his eyes. “o-oh my god. are you alright? i-im so sorry, i never should’ve let you go alone. i-i should’ve been there with you. i-” “clyde, stop.” you fidgetted with your thumbs, suddenly feeling like the most terrible person to walk the earth.

you sighed deeply, your next words cutting through his heart. “h-he wasn’t harrassing me. he was… my date.” your words were mumbled, but sharp as a blade. his hands fell to his sides and he stared at you with this blank expression that held a magnitude of pain. you took a good look at him. his hair was still in the unfinished style that you put it in. he had been waiting for you to come back.

he closed his eyes and started to pace around the alley. you could feel the tension getting hotter, but in a bad way. and then he spoke. “so, you left me out there to see your ‘date’? you told me you’d be right back, but you were just gonna leave me there sitting like an idiot.” he was angry, but his eyes were full of tears.

your lip quivered. “c-clyde, i’m sorry…” he brushed you off dismissively. “i don’t want to hear it.” he started walking out of the alley, but you grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back. “well can you blame me?! we’ve been doing this whole ‘friends with benefits’ bullshit for years! is it so bad that i wanted something real?!” 

he got up into your face, staring daggers at you. “you want something real? well here you go.” he crumpled up the note in his hand, shoving it into your chest and pinning you to the wall before shoving his hand into his pockets, walking away.

you unfolded the note, reading it through tear-filled eyes:

❝ dear y/n, my favourite person in the world: i remember seeing you for the first time and thinking to myself “i want to marry this person when i grow up.” you were everything i wanted in a person. kind, wild, and beautiful, and everything i’ve ever wanted in a spouse. i know we’ve been taking it slow, so i want to thank you for sticking with me no matter what. through thick and thin, and all the other bullshit ive put you through, you’ve always been the one to bring a smile to my face when i thought no one gave a shit. i will do anything and everything to protect you for as long as I live. you’re the high that i’ve been chasing my entire life, and i’d love to be able to call you my one true love. i just pray to God that you feel the same way.❞

love, clyde.

author's note: nothing beats writing for tumblr at 4am in the morning on a school day :))

[hades-in-bloom]

A Swim | Leon S. Kennedy x Reader

I somehow had it on repeat while writing *cracks up*

summary: Colorado wasn’t the only self-indulgent vacation that Kennedy took before he found a road to sobriety. When the world is the oyster, Bangkok is the pearl.

content: cheesy af (help me), older Leon, drunkard Leon, thus mentions of alcoholism; mentions of/implied thoughts of suicide, kinda light angst (obviously); Hunnigan with an agenda; gn! and a tad bossy reader with Interpol background; heavy sexual tension, swearing

author’s note: that was unplanned and uncalled for, proceed at your own risk. Also, I need to scream about the man in Death Island. Omfg.

if you’re a minor, go away <3

love y’all, you beautiful souls

xoxo

***

Ingrid called you in the middle of the night, reassuring that only you could track down the infamous Leon S. Kennedy. You breathed out a sleepy “…Why?” and got a response that you could barely consider an explanation. He took a vacation, Hunnigan said. He seemed to disappear, and she needed him back immediately. You could not see her face, but you could hear a pretty please in her voice.

“I am not even under D.S.O. command.” You groaned lightly. You have been working with several D.S.O. agents for the past couple of years, particularly with agent Kennedy, but you have been directly reporting to Interpol instead.

“I have already cleared you for this assignment,” Ingrid confessed. You stayed silent for a moment and then sighed. There wasn’t anything that Hunnigan could not do, after all. “He trusts you.”

As for you, Leon Kennedy trusted no one, but you wouldn’t get into this argument.

“Where was he seen last time?” You pulled yourself out of bed and walked towards the pair of jeans that were casually hanging from the only chair present in your room.

“Ingrid?” You called again when radio silence was your answer.

“We assume he is Bangkok, Thailand, since two days ago.” You sensed a touch of guilt in Hunnigan’s voice. “You have already been booked for a commercial flight.”

It took your tired brain a bit of time to do the math.

“Isn’t it like fifteen hours or so from JFK?” You inquired, genuinely concerned.

“Twenty hours,” Ingrid confirmed mercilessly. “You need to be at the airport within an hour.”

Rushing to your wardrobe, you devotedly cursed Kennedy to the high heavens.

***

Bangkok was hot. Your shirt became almost transparent in minutes and now felt like a second skin clinging to your body. You didn’t like it. You didn’t like any of it. Not until you find the son of a bitch, Kennedy, who went rogue due to no particular reason and made a decision to vacay on the other side of the planet Earth.

The taxi driver that you hailed on the street was painfully chatty, thanks to your creeping headache, but your suffering was about to end when your cab stopped in the middle of the road abruptly.

“That’s the place.” The driver told you in broken English, and you swiftly left the creaking vehicle that smelled of cheap cigarettes and incense.

The place was a dimly lit bar with little to no likable people inside. Damned Leon S. Kennedy was occupying one of the bar stools but was also spearheading the list of human beings that you felt no sympathy for at this particular moment.

He was drunk. You knew he appreciated his liquor, but you had never seen him even close to the condition he was in right now.

You briefly messaged Hunnigan that you have just found her “runaway bride” before shortening the distance to Leon’s chair. He made no effort to check out the newcomer, and you took it to your advantage.

“Surprise, you asshole.” You greeted him coldly. The agent blinked; you could see gears turn inside his intoxicated head while he was trying to identify you.

Finally, he grunted.

“The heck are you doing here?” His voice was hoarse. You blamed it all on some cheap brandy in his whiskey glass. “I am on vacation.”

“Your vacation is my vacation now, too, after Hunnigan made me fly twenty fuckin’ hours to find you.” You grimaced and took over the closest seat to Leon. He looked annoyed. You didn’t care.

“You look like you’ve had enough.” You concluded, having his drinking spree in mind.

He let out a drunken laugh that was devoid of joy. “What’s it to you if I have? I can take care of myself.” He scoffed and slurred his words a little.

A stubborn dumbass—you let out a heavy, irritated sigh. You felt your heat-infused headache intensifying.

“You cannot.” You gave him an unimpressed look. “At least I don’t consider it self-care when one drinks himself to death.” That was harsh, you thought. But right now he probably deserved it.

Your comment seemed to strike a chord with him.

“I told you I can take care of myself!” He raised his voice slightly, and some of the patrons looked over.

Jesus Christ. You wouldn’t consider yourself religious, though.

“How are you planning to take care of yourself?” You raised your voice slightly, too, giving him an unappreciative look. Suddenly, you quietly snapped. “I don’t know what you are thinking, Kennedy, but this is not a vacation. That’s a bloody suicide waiting to happen.”

You have seen alcoholics in your line of work before, and it didn’t matter what Leon thought of himself in this situation – but he looked like one.

To your surprise, he went silent, visibly taken aback. He blinked; there was a noticeable glimmer of confusion in Leon’s eyes.

Did not he realize that he was hurting himself this much?

“I’m fine…” Kennedy groaned, although his denial was slowly crumbling. “I’ll be fine…”

You could see he fought it – the alcohol numbed his feelings, but now, with a glimpse of sanity, they seemed to return to him in droves.

You watched him in awkward silence while he was babysitting his demons until he looked at you, both headstrong…

… and embarrassed?

“I swear, it would be better if Hunnigan sent some D.S.O. shrink, not you.” He grunted in disappointment, unwillingly sobering up. This vacation was over.

“Ingrid is worried about you.” You muttered, then scoffed. “And I’m your witness, Leon – you haven’t been fine in years. I know you long enough.”

He didn’t have to like what you said, but you thought he needed to hear this.

Leon gave you a dirty look. How could you see through him? The rest was tiptoeing around his alcoholism for ages, nurturing his drunken arrogance. You might not be nice, but what the others did was not kind.

The man cursed and fumblingly pulled his wallet out of the back pocket of his Hawaiian-looking shorts; these made you stifle a chuckle. The image of invincible Leon S. Kennedy looking like this would be imprinted into your brain forever and ever.

He threw a few – too many – bills in local currency on the table and got himself up heavily from the bar stool. Now he towered over you grumpily. “What a buzzkill you are,” he mumbled, and you could smell that cheap brandy you noticed before on his breath.

You smirked, showing no remorse. “Let’s get you a cab, handsome.”

***

He stayed in one of the hotels right at the beach, and, stepping out of the taxi, you froze for a second, enjoying the view.

“That's one thing people got right about Thailand; it's beautiful here.” Leon hummed, approaching you from behind.

You still had your gaze fixed on the curves of the twilight bay when Kennedy spoke again. “You're right... I haven't been fine in years.”

You raised your eyebrows at him, making no attempts to hide your flabbergasted facial expression. Was this man admitting that he was wrong?..

Then pigs were about to start flying.

But Leon kept going.

“Do you want to know what's been happening in my head... How badly have things affected me?”

Was he even drunker than you thought?

“Yes, you dumbass.” You replied softly. Whether it was Ingrid’s push or not, Hunnigan was not the only one who cared about Leon to follow him around the globe.

The man walked towards the seashore, letting the waves lick his feet.

“My mind is so chaotic these days,” Kennedy admitted; his voice was barely a whisper. “Sometimes, I even lose sleep at night because of the nightmares of...”

Leon hesitated. You didn’t nudge, afraid of ruining his mood. He has already called you a buzzkill once.

At last, he sighed. Why was it so hard to talk about it?

“I made promises I couldn’t keep; that’s all you need to know.” Leon summed it up without looking at you. Did he really want to talk about it? You followed his tired, unfocused gaze, staring at the horizon.

“How about a swim?” Your suggestion came out of nowhere. You tilted your head, waiting for his response, and he glanced at you, confused, for the first time in the past moments.

Leon then let out a laugh in a drunken manner. “What? Now? In my state? I'll sink straight to the bottom.”

“You decided to vacation in Thailand – and not to swim?” You rolled your eyes at him jokingly and pulled him by his wrist. “Come on, Kennedy.” You begged. You might have been a tad aggressive back then, in the bar, but now…

You thought he deserved a break.

Leon groaned slightly but didn’t fight it, tagging along behind you. He felt a little dizzy; the cheapness of the served brandy was finally getting to him. Despite it all, he scoffed, his tone friendlier than before. “You are not going to let me forget that I am on vacation here, are you?”

You smirked, stepping into the gentle ocean waters and shamelessly ignoring his question. “We are not going to go far. I won’t let you drown, Kennedy.”

He smirked. “I trust you.” Oh, did he? Suddenly, shivers ran down your spine when you recalled Hannigan’s words. Why were you special?

You submerged in the water further with no regard to your clothes, now soaking wet. Leon, to your amusement, did the same.

“That should help with your hangover tomorrow.” You gave him a dirty look, and he huffed out a laugh.

“What's with all the dirty looks you've been giving me all day? You think I deserve it?”

“Oh, you deserve all of them.” You snorted - right before he pulled you by the waist, making you scoff out of surprise. You froze, barely reaching his chin covered with two-day stubble.

“You are drunk, Kennedy.” You reminded him softly, still making no attempts to leave his embrace. His intense gaze was trained on you.

“I'm not that drunk,” he scoffed, a grin forming on his lips. What the heck was going on?

“Oh, you are that drunk, Kennedy.” You smirked at him.

And then you felt it; his lips crashed into yours. Unconsciously, your hand darted to his hair, playing with the dirty blonde strands. A soft moan escaped your lips.

What were you thinking? It felt so wrong; you have been partners for years, and you didn’t like to mix work and pleasure. And if he had an excuse, let alone an awful one, to kiss you, you had none.

It felt so good, though.

Leon pulled away from your lips only when your lungs started to burn with a lack of air. His grin was too cheeky for your liking.

“You don't mind spending the night with me, do you?” The audacity.

You smirked. “I’ll spend a night with you when you sober up, handsome.” Otherwise, one of you might have regretted it – while him standing in front of you with wet hair and a soaked-up t-shirt made you hot and bothered. Damn, that man was fine. One way or another, at least.

“You should get to bed, Kennedy.” … And sleep through that hangover.

“Just one more…” He mumbled—one more taste of your lips. “... For today.”

Liar. So you whined into his lips softly when he kissed you again. And again.

Forcing yourself out of the water later, you looked at the boiling ocean; the waves crashed against each other as the sun set behind them. It took you all your willpower to let go of him this evening, and the only thought that brought you peace was that he was suffering at the loss of contact as much as you were.

***

You called him the following morning when you were making yourself a coffee.

“Hey.” Your lips curved into a smile. “How is your hangover, handsome?”

Leon, barely awake, first laughed, then groaned, and there was an audibly sound note of hangover in his voice, too.

“A dreadful headache... And I can still taste you on my lips, which doesn't help.” Your breath hitched. His comment about him tasting you stained your cheeks bright pink.

He yawned. “…I feel like crap.”

You mischievously bit your lip, although your tone was innocent. “Is there anything I can do to make you feel better?”

Leon, no doubt, knew precisely what would make him feel better right now.

[admirxation]

Sticky Notes part one

Sticky notes part two here

Pairing: Leon S. Kennedy x afab! reader

Summary: Leon and the reader have come back from saving Ashley Graham, but during the mission, the reader develops feelings after a moment of cuddling and Leon consoling the reader's anxiety in the abandoned house. Leading to confusion about whether Leon just thinks of the reader as a friend or more.

Warning: no smut in this part but mentioning of anxiety.

Word Count: 1.4k

Authors note: Hello again! thank you all for the engagement with my Leon oneshot. 'I've missed this'; I appreciate it; I didn't think people would like it, but I guess I was proven wrong, haha. This fanfic is going to be in two or three parts. The next part might have a bit of a delay since I'm currently doing exams and only posting this because of it being the weekend, after the 23rd I should be free to write more and even take some requests. Hope you like it, and please reblog and like it helps me see if people like it, haha. Any feedback is greatly appreciated, and feel free to send a message xoxo

Anxiety overwhelmed you that night. You remembered the shaking, cold sweats and heavy breaths as your vision clouded with perturbation. This was the night of your first mission. You were still a "rookie" and had to be partnered with Leon; he was more advanced, and the task would be successful with him. You wanted to impress him, and you were doing so before you stepped into the abandoned house. That was where the pressure got the best of you.

You and Leon were in the abandoned house, keeping watch as Ashley rested upstairs, and everything was fine for a while. But you got in your head, hearing the sounds of the infected around you led to the shaking and tears beginning to form in the corners of your eyes. The breakdown would have given your location away if Leon hadn't rushed over, grabbing you as he covered your mouth as he heard footsteps moving closer.

While luck was granted to you, you still felt guilty that Leon had to be stuck with the "rookie" who could have killed him and Ashley. But, to your surprise, Leon didn't look down on you; he felt sympathy and knew what you felt. The events of Raccoon City remained in his psyche, and he knew the trauma that you were beginning to form in the entanglements of your memory.

When the footsteps moved away, Leon slowly lifted his hand away from your mouth, gently hushing you as you let out heavy breaths. You eventually calmed down, still shaking as you tried to be thankful for him.

"I'm so-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to put us in that situation," you apologised as the tears dried on your warm cheeks.

“Don’t apologise, I don’t want to hear it,” you thought a lecture would commence, “I’m sure you’ve heard of my… past. I know what you’re feeling.” You remembered hearing about the events of Raccoon City, and as you looked into his eyes, you were reminded of the pictures you saw of him before, young and ready to change the world. His eyes revealed his trauma, lacking the energy and spark you remembered from past photos and what people have said.

Leon noticed you observing him, knowing you still felt apologetic, so he comforted you. He swiped away the tears under your eyes, feeling his chest press against yours, consoling you with warm words: "We're going to get through this. I will protect you—I promise." You looked into his eyes and felt safe.

"You should rest now, Y/N; I'll keep watch."

"But how will-"

"I don't sleep much anyways. Just rest; we'll move in the morning," you weren't going to continue to fight, knowing you needed that rest and to feel at peace after the events you witnessed.

You laid on the makeshift bed on the floor, wishing to be back in your warm room and missing your life before you got mixed up in missions—regretting the desire ever to be a hero figure. But as you curled up, slowly drifting into sleep, you felt Leon lay next to you. It was the strange limbo of sleeping and not being awake but being aware of what was happening, you felt him put his arms around you and softly kiss your shoulder as you continued to drift.

That was the memory that lived in your mind. When you woke up, you didn't want to ask about what Leon had done, just focusing on saving Ashley and yourself. The mission was a success, of course, and you found yourself happy to be home surrounded by your friends on the force—in an office setting and not a life-or-death situation.

As you slouched in your chair, the memory replayed in your mind, still imagining the tranquillity of being in his arms and safe. But while reliving the memories made you feel content, you weren't pleased with the confusion you felt about how Leon felt about you. You had experienced the inner dialogue of convincing yourself you were concluding leaps of logic. The stream of consciousness moving into: he was consoling you, but who hugs and kisses a friend when they're asleep? It was just a shoulder kiss. Nothing physically intimate happened; yes, you hugged, but there was no real kiss and nothing more—just comfort. You wondered if this was a moment where Leon was subtly showing his feeling to you or if you were reading into his comfort.

More memories came back; as you remembered when you woke up in the middle of the night, you felt him still against you and his fingers running through your hair.

Men... Story of my life, you thought to yourself as you hated the confusion of it all.

As you sunk further into your chair, you saw Chris walk past your desk.

"Hey rookie, good to see your back... And ruining your posture," you were thankful he walked in; you needed someone to move your current thoughts onto another focal point, and you liked Chris. He was always lovely, and could always laugh with him.

"Lemme be myself," you laughed.

"I'm only messing with you. How was the mission? Was the partnership okay?" Chris was the one that suggested the partnership for your protection; he knew you were ready for a mission but needed more preparation to be alone.

"Fine, wonderful," you needed to learn how to lie, "it was... rad."

"Rad? Y/N I'm older and don't use that word. Look, if the partnership didn't go well, it won't happen again—I'll go with you and leave Kennedy," he was very protective of you.

"No, Leon and I were fine, just... ruthless mission... I didn't really prove myself worthy for this position," your words slowed down as you stopped thinking about how Leon held you and focused on the breakdown you experienced.

"I heard," you looked down in embarrassment, "Don't feel bad, we've all had a moment of weakness. I've seen you train, I know you are worthy of the position... I am the one that found you and recruited you," you nodded.

You and Chris talked as the minutes flew away, Chris making sure you were easy on yourself and collecting as much detail on Leon as possible to see if you could be partners in future again. While lost in conversation, you saw Leon walk around and tried not to stare at him; you hadn't seen him after returning Ashley.

"Um... Did you see Blondie?

"Don't make it so obvious, please."

"All right, all right," he raised his hands in defence, "You should still talk to him; you can't avoid him... After all, he got very cuddly with you."

Your eyes widened, "How the fuck do you know that?" was this a rumour going around, you thought.

"All right, Miss, don't make it too obvious; calm yourself. I heard from Claire; she told me that he hugged you while you were sleeping."

"Why would he tell Claire?"

"They have a good friendship after all the shit that happened, don't worry, it hasn't gone around just me and Claire know, Redfield secret," he tried to lighten the mood.

"Okay, I think I'll mention it... when I can and want to."

Chris later left, making sure you were okay. Once again, you were left with the circulation of thoughts that wouldn’t silence themselves.  

You were leaning on the side that Leon wasn't interested, especially seeing Ada during the mission. But you knew Leon wanted to cut ties with her and no longer wished to be under control.

You worked at your desk until the end of the day, until everyone was starting to leave while you were still finishing up small things, your eyes observed the pages and felt them get heavier, and the desire to go home and sleep grew. As you watched the room, you noticed Leon walk out, part of you wanted to catch him before he went home, but another was too scared. You threw yourself back into your chair as your hesitation let him get into his car and leave.

As you sat there thinking about everything Chris told you, you put a note on his desk; if he talked to Claire about hugging you, a note wouldn't be detrimental and might help break the ice.

You grabbed a sticky note and pen and wrote:

I loved it as much as you did.

You folded it and put it in the notebook he opened daily, knowing he would see that first thing when you got to work. While knowing you were taking a chance, you just wanted to feel him hold you again.

[vamperinee]

What even is love?

It's overrated.

Growing up, I've seen people indulge in that sickening, unfamiliar word. Isn't it just a chemical reaction you get down your genitalia? A rush of hormonal teenage excitement! Quite frankly, I should've understood how important you should have love in your life...

A love that makes you sleep from a lullaby in the arms of your mother. A love-colored blush which creeps up your cheeks when your heart feels his presence. A love that allows you to heal from the traumatic childhood you run away from. A love that you never expected would come, but always needed.

I wish I could grasp real love. Maybe I had it-- once or twice? Now I simply cannot fathom to feel anything but regret for myself, for rejecting love. Note to self; I will sit here and wait. Life held me on this train, and my patience was slowly losing all its hope until I found you.

Now on this blue night, I call out your name, waiting for a response or at least a sound of your voice in this hellish nightmare I call life without you.

I don't know when I will see you, love.

I must find you in all other life forms. I will learn how to swim! Going as far down the deepest oceans of the Bermuda Triangle to see all the treasures of mystery you keep to yourself. I will know how to ride a bike! So I can search the entire world for your vast beauty which sets the wheels on fire. I won't stop. Until I've explored the multiverse to catch a glimpse of every version of you. And if I fail to find your heart, use mine. If I fail to catch your lingering lips, kiss someone better. Satisfy your needs.

If I never see you, at last, then I can finally give up. For without your holy presence, I can declare myself dead.

And if my heart palpitates one last time as it slowly sinks in the restless thoughts of your disappearance, then let me drown in you.

Hold me for I will do nothing more than to remove your excruciating pain I have once felt because I will never leave.

Ever again.

Xoxo, Catherine.

1/12/24

[silvervioletvalentine]

🦋Whenever , Wherever, we’re meant to be together! Part 2! 🦋

Pairing: Quinn Hughes x OC Spanish popstar!Lina Valentina.

Word count : 10k

Summary: in which its a year later and it’s time for him to meet lina’s parents, including her over protective father Carlos.

A/N : another Quinn oneshot. Sorry dudes , I promise I’m still gonna write for f1 drivers but I’m on a hockey obsession again at the moment so..yeah. Sorry (not sorry) but you’ll have to put up with a couple more Quinn ones then I’ll get back to it. Promise xoxo

Lina could only smirk in slight amusement to herself as she got ready for the day, trying to focus on rubbing her skincare creams and lotions onto her skin when she noticed Quinn hovering by the bathroom door, leaning against the frame with a small pout on his face as he watched her , quietly.

Still, he didn't say anything . Just watching her pull out a brush as she pulled her hair back into a sleek braid for their plane ride back home.

Sighing loudly as she finally acknowledged him, meeting his gaze in the mirror in front of her with a small smile tugging at her mouth .

"I know I'm beautiful Q but you're drilling holes into my face. Get a camera." She teased him, chuckling as she fondly watched as his cheeks immediately went a dark pink at being caught out, having thought that he was being subtle in his staring.

He was not. He never was. Not when it came to Lina.

It filled her chest with butterflies to know that even a year on, she still managed to have such a schoolgirl effect on him. She only fell in love with him more and more everyday , each nervous laugh, each wandering gaze , each shy smile and sweet embrace , the way he was unable to go too long without touching her in some sort of way...all of it only endeared him to her further.

He was the one. There was no doubt about it.

She had already started daydreaming about their future wedding , wondering if she could somehow convince Quinn to wear a different suit that the same one he always wore to conferences and such . She imagained him in a cool grey, fitted suit with a slight unbuttoned white shirt underneath and sighed dreamily , feeling dazed just at the thought of him.

That's my man. She smiled , pleased, as she looked back up to her reflection just in time to see Quinn averting his eyes back from his feet , where they had fell to shyly at her teasing comment.

"Does your dad own any weapons babe?" He asked her worriedly , having spent the past few days in a constant loop of panic and stomach aches , ever since it was revealed to him that he would be coming home to Madrid with her to finally meet her parents.

Lina had tried putting it off for him for long enough now , but it had been a year of being together and even moving in together in her apartment , her mother was getting antsy with her the longer she refused to let them meet her new boyfriend.

He was The first serious guy she had gotten with since the whole baby daddy fiasco. So it was only warranted that they would be anxious and impatient about meeting Quinn, especially since she spoke so highly about him, always casually dropping his name into any conversation around her . It just came naturally to her now. It drove people around her mad sometimes..

Like when her friend told her about a cute linen dress that she thought Lina would look pretty in, Lina had beamed and replied "it looks so cute! Oh my god, they do a men's selection! Q would look so cute in white linens . Actually he would look good in all the colours . I'm gonna get them all. Then me and Quinn can match!" She had gushed before rushing off back into the store to purchase both her and Quinn matching sets of clothes , her friend left blinking at where she had just been stood in disbelief.

It usually went something like that now. But oh well. It wasn’t a crime to love her boyfriend so much that everything came back to him, was it?

He was apart of her world now, of course she was going to mention him any chance she got. She thought that Quinn was amazing , and she wanted everybody else to know that too.

'You'll really like this pasta!' She would reply at lunch with friends "I would as well but it's too spicy for Quinn. Let's make two but add more cheese for mi amor."

She had gone completely soft for him, her usual 'guys ain't shit, I want nothing to do with them. I'm going to become a nun before I fall in love again' attitude , was now nowhere to be seen.

But looking at Quinn's worried eyes , seeing him biting his nails with anxiety had her whole demeanour softening.

Yeah. He was the one. He had her heart. He could keep it forever. She knew that she would be holding onto his tenderly forever too.

She reached back, eyes still down to the vanity table as she looked through which skincare syrum she wanted to use that morning, gently pulling his hand away from his Mouth before he could make his nail beds bleed again .

"He does not." She simply replied, amused by how scared Quinn was to meet her parents , considering the fact that her mother had taken to calling and messaging Quinn almost everyday to make sure that he was okay.

She would love to see his reaction if her father called him up out of the blue like that, it would be hilarious no doubt. The first time her mother had demanded Lina to give her her new boyfriends number , she had gotten to watch as poor Quinn's face paled when her mother's loud and annoyed voice rang down the line.

He had looked up at her in panic, eyes blown wide in shock as his mouth dropped open in absolute disbelief.

"what the fuck?" He mouthed at Lina panicking , his girlfriend too busy giggling as she made them something to eat in the kitchen.

“You gave your mother my phone number?!" He whisper shouted at her in exasperation , Lina just winking at him mischievously, enjoying every second of it.

"Quinn? That's your name? American?" Maria , her mother, immediately started to shootout her curious questions at him loudly. Pausing between them to yell something out to her husband that sounded suspiciously like 'she wasn't joking! I hear the accent! My poor heart!'.

Quinn didn't know what to say, heart pounding in his chest as he looked helplessly over at Lina , this being the first time he had had any contact with her parents at all.

They had been dating for six months at that point and her mama had enough of her hiding him away, so she decided to take matters into her own hands. By forcing her daughter to give her his number so she could smother him, already treating him like he was one of her own kids .

"Yes. It's Quinn. Er-American . I guess." He confirmed quietly , eyes still wide in shock as he heard her mother inhaled sharply , sounding a little too much like grief .

He smiled a little in amusement without realising , knowing just where Lina got her drama from now .

Lina had already warned him about her parents dramatics , about how exaggerated everything they did and said was. She had told him to just go with it, that they meant no harm. It was just the way they were.

Quinn thought it was both funny and terrifying , unsure if they were joking or not. The last thing he wanted to do was laugh at something her parents had said only to find out a little too late that they weren’t joking at all.

She muttered something in Spanish before sighing loudly .

“Quinn. You play sports? Lina tells me that you get hurt a lot? Will you die? Is this something we need to worry about?" She rushed out in concern, having spent the night googling him and seeing all the pictures of poor Quinn getting injured on the ice all the night .

Her mother almost had a heart attack. Used to lina's boyfriends either being football players or European models , some chefs.. none of them American. And none of them needing to wear head gear to protect their skull for work. Maria was worried sick.

Quinn chuckled a little bit , face softening as he heard the concern in her mother’s voice. Accent thicker than lina's was. He wondered if the more time Lina spent in Madrid , the more she would sound like home.

He knew that at some point Lina would want to go back home for longer periods of time , having told him herself that if he wanted to be in her life for a long time , then he better start practising his Spanish.

So far it hasn't been going too well , although he was certain that he could curse fluently in Spanish now , seeing as the love of his life has a motormouth like a sailer when she was even slightly annoyed. Everybody knew.

"No, no. I'll be okay.. it's usually my nose if I'm honest. It's apart of the sport unfortunately. And the teeth-" he tried to play it down for lina's mother sake, wincing a little in regret when she let out a sharp gasp at his words .

She sounded absolutely Horrified "teeth?! No! You keep them in your mouth,  I will not have it! I'm cooking for you when you and Lina come here, you need to keep all of your teeth in your mouth , por favor! Are you trying to kill me? American boy!" She ranted on, muttering about how there was no way she would be feeding him only soup and that he better keep them or else.

He laughed, finally relaxing a little as he peered over to the kitchen to see Lina feeding Juan his food , his eyes softening as he gazed at them with love in his eyes, so overwhelmed with it.

"Sorry. I'll make sure to have all my teeth in when you see me." He tried to joke, amused as he realised just where Lina got her dramatics from.

A few weeks ago when he had gotten a cut to his head while on the ice, he had come home to a furious Lina giving him the silent treatment .

Because apparently him getting a puck to the face was his fault and it was also his fault for scaring her. She had chucked an ice pack, a packet of painkillers and a flannel at him before stomping away. Refusing to speak to him until he had physically picked her up, pulled her into his arms to apologise for scaring her, wiping the tears from her pretty eyes as he promised her that he was okay.

She had started to come to more of his games after that, bringing a genuine smile to his face when he skated past and heard her cursing out someone from the opposite team loudly, if they even so much as bashed into him, she went all mama mode.

Quinn had been forced to tell her to stop calling the other team 'useless sperm and brainless bastards' before she got herself kicked out. No matter how much he enjoyed hearing her defend him in her slightly unhinged ways.

It was the thought that counts.

Even little Juan had started making outraged noises when he saw Quinn take a hit or push, the two year old gasping and yelling nonsense , or just his name over and over again, little finger pointing at whoever had hurt him as he shouted 'bad! Bad! Bad!' At them over and over again.

Lina encouraging her baby to scold the asshole with a proud look upon her face, easily ignoring the shocked or horrified looks that she received from around her. Only caring about Quinn .

She was protective of him, now her mother was too and he hadn't even met her face to face yet. It was...nice. To know that they cared so much about him but it still didn't manage to ease up his nerves about meeting them whatsoever.

"You're going to be okay amor. I promise. My mama already loves you. She sent you a first aid kid after watching your game on tv didn't she?" Lina remained him with a amused smile as she pulled him over to her, pushing him down on his shoulders so that he would sit on the closed toilet seat in front of her.

Grabbing some cleanser , she gently rubbed it over his face in soft circles , Quinn just letting her as he let out a soft sigh. Fingers fidgeting with the ends of her cotton shorts.

"She did. But your dad didn't. I haven't spoken to him at all. Except for that...email." He muttered , a little amused but mostly wary of the strangely business like email he had randomly received from her father one night after finishing a away game.

'That kid almost broke your jaw with that stick, very good swinging. Even when it hit you , he did not drop it. Perhaps I should take up hockey , would be a good anger reliever. No?' It had read. Signed off neatly with his name and nothing else.

Quinn had panicked, not sure if it was just a mere observation or a threat from her father.

Lina had just giggled like crazy when he had rushed into their room to show her his phone, telling him that he didn't have to worry. That was just her fathers sense of humour.

But Quinn wasn't so sure. Because at the end of the day he was going to be the first man that she had brought home in a long time , the first man that she had firmly declared to them that he was her forever. That it was serious this time.

That he was the one.

And well, Lina had never had much luck with man in the past. Mostly due to her bad taste and hormonal need to get herself a bad boy to cure her boredom .

So naturally, her parents were a little concerned with her sudden lovesick smiles and dreamy sighs whenever she rambled to them about Quinn.

"He likes you! He told me that he can't wait to meet you , he's never said that about any other guy before. He used to refuse to let them in the house. I had to sneak them all in through my bedroom window-" she told him absentmindedly as she picked up some toner and gently wiped some across his face too.

He just sighed , raising a brow at her "all of them? How many were there? I thought you only had two boyfriends in the past." He questioned her, confused.

Lina laughed "yeah. I did. But they weren't boyfriends, they were sex friends. Or- what did Jack call them?" She paused to look down at him curiously , not remembering the term that they all used.

Quinn pursed his lips together firmly "fuckbuddies." He mumbled . Stomach turning at the reminder of just how popular she was with the guys. It was nothing new to him.

He had adored her for a long time , had seen all the photos of her with different guys each week in magazines . He knew that she had a reputation but sometimes he just…forgot.

Because here, now, it was just them. Nobody else. Whenever they were in a crowded room her eyes only ever looked for him. It didn't matter if fucking Michael Jordan was in front of her, she was too busy trying to make him laugh at her stupid , sometimes mean, jokes. Too busy whispering to each other like lovesick teenagers, too busy pointing out things that they saw that the other person would like.

Nobody else existed to them when they were together. Her past didn't matter because it was her, Juan and Quinn now. Her slutty days were over.

She had Quinn to blame for that. She was sucking only one dick for the rest of her life now.

Nineteen years old Lina would have laughed hysterically at the thought of being tied down to one man . But now, now she was just happy.

As simple as that.

"You look beautiful mi amor. Tan bueno (so good)" she whispered to him as she gently applied her moisturiser over his face next, rubbing it in softly in soothing circles until she felt his breathing start to Calm down again.

He gently kissed her shoulder just before she could fully pull away, blushing darkly and smiling shyly as he bit down on his bottom lip sheepishly . Glancing down at the white waffle material shirt she had gotten him , oversized with some tan pants and brand new jordans. A little gold chain with L+J hanging delicately from it on his chest.

For Lina and Juana . He never took it off now.

"I don't look stupid? I look a bit...rich. But like-pretentiously maybe?" He mumbled unsurely as he picked at the thousands of dollars shirt that she had gotten him. Loving how soft it was but not used to dressing in anything luxurious like this. A sweatshirt and jeans , or sweatpants usually did him good.

But he couldn’t deny the way his chest and face filled with warmth as he saw Lina take in a deep breath, stepping away from him as she eyed him up and down, biting down on her lip as she gazed at him , eyes turning dark as she shamelessly checked him out.

Quinn fidgeted on his feet , letting out a nervous laugh the longer she was silent .

His laugh seemingly snapping her out of her dirty thoughts as she flushed, making eye contact with him as she Whistled long and hard.

"You look so sexy. Quiero hacerte cosas sucias. Mierda..(I want to do dirty things to you. Fuck..)" she breathed out. Smoothing her hands down the soft half buttoned shirt , in awe of how good he looked right then.

He chuckled lowly , cupping the back of her head as he bent down a little so that he could kiss the side of her face gently. Pressing another two kisses above her brow for good luck. Then another on her glossy lips just because he could .

"Was that a compliment?" It sounded like one , he felt his breath hitch as he watched her smirk up at him . Lashes fluttering as she squeezed his biceps firmly , reaching up to kiss his jaw.

"It was." She soothed his worries, kissing him again before pulling away when she heard a familiar loud voice coming in. "te amo." She let him know softly.

Quinn just laughed shyly, stroking her hair once last time before pulling away. Bending down just in time to catch Juan stumbling into the bathroom, holding a Batman toy in his hand.

"Te amo. I love you." He told her in both Spanish and English. Wishing he could tell her in every language. Simply saying it didn't feel enough.

There was no words to describe how he felt for her, just feelings. Never ending ones. The kind of love that made him dizzy and his knees go weak each time she smiled at him like that.

"Quinny! Looookkkk!" Juan shouted , laughing loudly as he picked him up. Proudly showing him his toy "I'm Batman!" He tried to do the voice. Looking at him impatiently as he waited for him to laugh.

Quinn did, running his fingers through the two years old hair gently to detangle the knots. Juan having decided to go on a hairdresser ban just like Quinn had, now Lina had two of them looking like scruffy rockstars with their outgrown hair and messy style.

They were lucky she loved them. She shook her head in amusement as she looked at what Juan was wearing , Quinn having been the one to get him ready that morning while she finished packing their bags.

"Really Quinn? Another one? It's all he wears now!" She laughed as she looked at juans Canucks jersey with Quinn's number and name all over it, with black basketball shorts underneath . A cap placed backwards on his head just like Quinn's .

She almost had a stroke. Glaring at her giggling boyfriend in exasperation. He just couldn't help himself could he?

He just shrugged proudly , straightening out said jersey on the two year old contently. "So? He looks cool. He's repping the best player out there. Aren't you buddy?" He tickled Juan's tummy , grinning proudly when he nodded his head happily. Squealing as he tried to wiggle away.

"Si! Si! I'm going to play too!" He happily announced to his mother , making Quinn freeze with a guilty wince.

She gasped loudly , horrified "you are not! You have a beautiful nose ..and face ! And your teeth mi amor! No!" She felt faint as she clutched her chest dramatically . Narrowing her eyes over at Quinn dangerously , knowing exactly who had been putting this idea in his head.

He chuckled nervously , patting little mans back to get Him to shut up as he grinned innocently at Lina "no. He's just- he's kidding aren't you bud?" He rose a brow down at Juan pointedly , Juan just blinked up at him in confusion .

“He's kidding."

He was not.

Little guy already loved watching hockey and Quinn couldn't wait to get him into skates . To be able to teach him everything he knew, it was going to be amazing . His little mini him. And even though Juan wasn't his biologically , that didn't mean Jack shit to him.

Because for the past year the two of them had bonded , had spent almost everyday together , Lina And Juan travelled with him to as many away games as they could , and the two year old loved it. Loved him.

Quinn don't care what anybody else thought , he knew that he loved Lina and Juan unconditionally, and that wasn't going to fade anytime soon. They were his future now. Everybody else could suck it.

Even if he lost on the ice, he was winning of it so..it made the sting fade pretty damn quick when he was greeted with their warm embrace and uplifting words to him after each game.

They were his family now .

"Don't worry. You're gonna be just as good as me. Juan the star. Like your mama." He mumbled down to the two year in his arms as he wandered out of the bathroom with him , to put on his shoes and sunscreen before Lina tried to kill him again for letting little man out of the house without it.

A plane ride later and Quinn was back to panicking as they parked up outside of a large bungalow style home in what looked to the be there middle of no where , feeling his heart racing in his chest as he lingered by the car while Lina got a sleeping Juan out of his seat.

"I'm going to be sick." He muttered dreadfully , wiping the sweat gathering on his hairline with a shaky hand. Wafting his now stifling shirt with the other . 

He was scared shitless. In Madrid. Oh god.

Lina just giggled as she pushed his sweaty hair away from his forhead , handing him a candy bar with the other. "It's the heat. You can take off your shirt if you want to cool down more." She suggested , more for herself than anything.

Quinn wasn't as amused, shooting her a Look of disbelief as he clutched at the candy bar in his hand.

"You want me to be shirtless as I meet your Parents? Are you trying to get me killed? Lina!" He hissed after her as she casually walked down the long driveway to the door, Quinn quickly scuttling after her.

Reaching over to snatch up her free hand to hold, clinging onto her fingers tightly as he tried to remember how to breath . The anxiety about what was going to happen about to kill him.

Lina just gently kissed his shoulders, face softening sympathetically "Quinn. Stop it. Everything is going to be okay. Just don't mention football-" before she could finish her warning , the front door swung open.

Quinn freezing in his spot as a short , dark haired woman looked up at him with wide eyes, gasping loudly as she clutched a tea towel to her chest.

"A vampire!" She almost screeched in fright. Looking like she had seen a ghost, or someone as pale as one.

She looked horrified as she looked at poor Quinn who looked helplessly to his girlfriend , Lina just giggling hysterically as she nudged past her mother to get inside their home to put Juan down now that he was sleep.

"Oh no! Come on! Come on! What happened? You allergic to the sun?" She ushered him in , clutching onto Quinn's arm as she dragged him through the house and towards the back patio doors.

Lina just waving at him with a amused giggle, having already expected this reaction from her mother for bringing home a very pale American boy.

He flushed pink , letting her drag him out to the garden , trying not to laugh at the genuine worry on the older woman's face .

“No. No- just don't get out as much I guess." He didn't know what to say. Instead letting her mother just Mother him instead.

Maria huffed as she pushed him down onto a chair , shaking her head at him. "Not good at all! You sit here, you get some colour! You can't go scaring people like that! What will the neighbours think?" She pulled out some sunscreen from her apron and clutched his face tightly on one hand, roughly applying it all over his face while Quinn spluttered.

Squeezing his eyes shut to stop it getting in his eyes as she roughly patted it all over his face , tutting at him as she did so.

“I don't get tan. I just burn. I'll go red." He tried to warn her, more than amused now as she lifted up his arms to apply sunscreen there too.

He peered over Maria's shoulders to see Lina by the back door, leaning against it with a amused smirk on her face while holding up her phone as she videoed him getting scolded and smothered by her mother , no doubt going to send it to his brothers and their friends back home.

Maria just patted his head, "yes you will. You're not leaving until I see health! Lina pass me the sun oil! And a bandana too!" She shouted over to her giggling  daughter who immediately did as she was told, passing her the magic oil with a grin.

Her mother narrowed her eyes at her "you let this happen? He looks -paper! I could write a letter on his face!" She scolded her accusingly .

Lina just laughed "mama! I like him as he is! He's my Casper! So cute!" She cooed at him. Enjoying the offended look on her poor boyfriends face as her mother manhandled him .

"Lina.." Quinn exclaimed , offended "Casper the ghost? Seriously?!"

She snorted "I love Casper and I love you so shut up and get tanning mi amor. You whine too much." She bantered back at him. Used to their bickering and back and forth back home.

Her mother was not. Maria gasped loudly "be kind! He is your partner , not your secret lover! I remember how you used to treat those boys when you were younger Lina! So mean!" She scolded her. Making Quinn laugh loudly .

"Yeah Lina. Be nice to me." He smirked over at her, one eye closed as her mother slapped oil all over his face as well. He felt like a Christmas Turkey about to be cooked. But he wasn't going to say anything.

Inhaling deeply , she rolled her eyes at him before turning around just As her father came to the door, pausing by the doorframe as his eyes wandered from his daughter and then over to the supposed 'love of her life' that she had not stopped gushing about to them.

He frowned , titling his head a little as he watched his wife wrap a bandana around the poor Quinn's head, making him grimace as she tightened it too much.

He looked worried as he looked at his only daughter with concern written all over his face "my love..Is he sick? It's not a good idea to travel when sick, I don't want to get sick." He worried "is he contagious?"

Used to her parents dramatics, Lina just laughed as she hugged her father tightly . Carlos kissing the top of her head fondly as he embraced her with a happy sigh , having missed her while she was gone.

"No papa. He is well. Very well in fact.." she sighed dreamily as she gazed over at her boyfriend now being forcefully fed by her overbearing mother who had now moved onto complaining about him not eating enough , despite this being the first time she had even met him .

Thankfully , Quinn had somewhat expected something like this to happen, the constant texts and inpatient phone calls with Maria demanding to know if they were both eating well and keeping hydrated letting him know that she took her motherly duties very seriously. Even if she was in a completely different country.

"Thank you for sending me those recipes by the way.." Quinn spoke up shyly after a few moments of Maria plating up some food for him , fidgeting with the evil eye bracelet on his wrist that Lina had made them all wear , even his own brothers had to as well.

Maria smiled at him , pleased with his politeness as she took a seat opposite him, ready to get to know her daughters new forever better. She had never seen Her baby so in love before, so she wanted to see for herself just why Lina had chosen Quinn out of all the men she could have had . The pale American boy had been the one she looked twice at and never turned away from since.

Her mother had been surprised , a little catious and more than confused at first , but now as she watched Quinn take small glances over at her daughter with a small smile playing on his lips each time he heard her laugh and seen her smile , Maria began to realise that perhaps Lina was right.

This might be it for her. For him.

He might be the one that mothers like Maria had wished for and prayed for their daughters to find their whole lives.

"You tried making them?" She inquired , proud to know that she had been of help.

Lina had offhandedly mentioned one time on the phone that Quinn had been trying to learn how to cook more Spanish dishes for her but was struggling.

Maria's instincts had kicked in and after a hour long phone call with a startled Quinn , she had sent him more than enough family recipes to last a lifetime. Telling him to call her if he got lost in them, helping him whenever he had a question , their odd and sparse texts with Quinn sheepishly asking her if he had gotten the right onion or the right type of flour for the recipe , had endeared him even more to her .

He had been passing the mothers tests with flying colours , Maria could already hear the wedding bells in the distance . She hid her smile behind her fingers , watching as Quinn fiddled with his fork like a nervous kid , smiling up at her briefly before looking away.

"Yeah I did." He nodded his head in confirmation "we have date night every Friday and Saturday. We take turns . And Lina seems happy each time she ate what I cooked so.." he let out a small chuckle "I think it's been going okay. She hasn't thrown up yet so that's a good sign." He tried to joke , squinting from the hot sun blaring down on his oiled up skin.

Maria hummed proudly "very good. You know..my husband has bought me flowers every week since we were eighteen years old." She spoke fondly of Carlos, both of them peering over at her father who was still standing by the door with Lina , talking with smiles on their faces as they embraced .

Quinn smiled fondly , struggling to take his eyes of Lina as he watched the sun shine down on her , highlighting the short , flowy white dress she was wearing, her curls long down her back as she gently ran her fingers through the ends , seeing the golden locket that he had gotten her resting against her chest , shining beautifully , he let out a happy sigh. Unable to believe that this was his life now.

For so long he had posters on his wall of Lina, now their apartment had a wall full of photographs of them together.

He felt like he was in a dream , one that he never wanted to wake up from.

"Lina loves flowers too. I think that we'll end up having a garden full of flowers in the future. She really loves them all. I got her marigolds last week and she's been pressing them to keep them forever. It's nice.." he mumbled a little shyly , perking up when he heard a familiar screech of his name.

Head snapping over to the backdoor to see that Juan had woken up, the two year old stumbling as fast as he could over to him. Quinn laughing a little as he reached down to pick him up, placing him onto his knee as Juan shoved a Batman figure into his face excitedly.

"Oh wow!" He gasped playing along as he gently ruffled his hair "it's Batman! Is he being a hero again?"

Juan grinned up at him happily "si! We can play at home. You Spider-Man." He practically demanded.

The two of them having spent hours playing every game imaginable. Lately Juan had gotten into avengers after sitting with Quinn on the couch while he watched it. Anything that he liked, Juan did too. It made his chest warm as he smiled down at the little boy on his lap, pressing a kisss to the side of his head affectionately.

"Deal." As he continued to converse and play with Juan, he missed the look of softness and approval he got from Maria as she watched her grandson and future son in law get lost in their own world together. Quinn not hesitating to let himself be dragged away to play with the excited two year old, the happiness clear on both of their faces as they played.

Maria beamed happily and looked up to the sky "whoever did this. I will owe you a lifetime! You did well!"

"Quintin , you play?" Carlos, her father , finally approached him after not so subtly watching the hockey player play with his two year old grandson outside on the sandpit. Trying to find a moment to catch him off guard and find out who he really was and what his intentions with his daughter were.

Lina was his only daughter, his star , his life. He would only accept the best for her, nothing less. Carlos had spent years accepting the fact that Lina would probably end up with some European guy, a footballer or a some Spanish male model.

His daughter had a type . Tall, tanned and built like Greek gods , loud and confident . A real smooth talker with the charm of a rich man who knew just what he wanted . And usually what they wanted was his daughter.

Carlos had always thought that the day Lina brought home a boyfriend , it would be somebody that the family already knew. Or somebody that their country did.

But apparently he had been wrong because Carlos was now staring down at a startled , pale , awkward American man sitting in his sandbox with little Juan in his lap, avengers figures all around them.

He just sighed long and hard, pursed his lips and repeated himself again "you play?" Impatiently raising a brow at him.

Quinn blinked and then Rapidly nodded his head, heart racing in his chest as he looked up at her intimidating father towering over him. Looking less than impressed.

Clearing his throat a little , he hugged the two year old a little closer to his chest nervously .

“Yeah. I play hockey-" he tried to smile at him, hoping to show that he wasn't a absolute dickhead like lina's long list of lovers in the past were .

But Carlos quickly cut him off, testing him "no. You play hearts? Girls? You like breaking their seeet hearts and making them cry?" His voice was tense, as though expecting him to agree and give him a casual ‘yeah. Love it!'

Quinn felt like he was going to have a heart tack as he let out a nervous laugh , quickly shaking his head no.

"No! No. Not me. I don't -no. That's more my brothers thing-" he tried to joke, tried to break the sudden tension that had fallen upon them.

Juan hitting his shoulder with an iron man figure, he briefly looked down to give him a smile, taking the Batman figure from his other hand that he wanted him to hold. "One minute little man." He mumbled to him , rubbing his arm gently to soothe him.

Seeing this, Carlos softened a little . But not much. Still on edge and more than confused at his daughter bringing home a guy that was the complete opposite of all the others before.

"You're very strange. My wife seems to think that you're good though. A little quite but ..." he shrugged loosely as he recalled his wife's praises of Quinn as she warned him to play nice with their daughters new partner.

Quinn didn't know how to take that, so he just offered an unsure smile up at him "that's-nice? I think." He muttered while slowly standing to his feet so he didn't have to keep looking up at her father like a little kid getting a scolding at school.

Hoisting juan up into his arms , the two year old giggling as he continued to play with his figure on Quinn's shoulder. Completely unbothered by how tense Quinn had gone.

Her father sighed again "yes. Very nice. Do you plan on coming home with her more often ? To Madrid I mean." He asked him curiously .

Wanting Lina to have someone that would make sure that she was happy too. That would put in the effort to make things work even from a whole different country away. That would make her his priority.

Quinn nodded slowly "yeah. I mean, we haven't talked about it but we'll kind of just be going back and forth. I like it here- a lot different than back home but its nice. “ he shrugged a little shyly , barely able to look her father in the eye. Scared he'd say something wrong and ruin the whole thing for them.

He wanted lina's parents to like him, with her mom it had been pretty easy. The woman had already been calling and texting him for months pestering him about his health , and making sure they were eating food and getting enough sleep.

Her father though ...Quinn didn't know what to say or do around him .  The man had the aura of someone that wasn't afraid to simply make you disappear if you did him or his family wrong in any way.

It was safe to say that Quinn's stomach was turning into a sickly bay of nerves and anxiety . Just wanting everything to go smoothly.

Lina was his forever and if he wanted to marry her someday soon, wanted to have their own family and be each other's future. He needed her family to like him , otherwise it was going to make for awkward weddings , tense dinners and thanksgivings .

Lina would kill him.

Carlos nodded , pleased. "Yes it is. This is serious for you? You can't mess around like this. Not when there is a beautiful child involved too." He got firm with his words as he gently brushed Juan's hair from his face. Adoring his grandson.

"I know what you American boys are like! I've seen the shows!" Her father scowled , protective of his family.

Quinn's eyes widened In panic "I am serious! I can promise you sir. The minute I saw Lina.." he hesitated to say , overcome by the emotional ball rising up his throat .

He adjusted Juan in his arms and let out a small sigh , gathering what confidence and courage he had to make sure that Carlos knew that his daughter was the light of his world now , that he would never hurt her. Never break her heart.

"Tell me." Carlos encouraged as he led him over to one of the garden benches , patting his shoulder encouragingly once he noticed him struggling for words. Realising that he may have come on a little strong and scared the poor guy, he smiled a little at him with humour "there's nothing more a father loves than hearing the love his daughter has gained." He told him sincerely , warning to hear it from his mouth that it was true. That this wasn't just some phase they were going through.

Quinn let out a shaky breath and started quietly "I knew ya know? I've admired her for what felt like all my life...and then she was there. In front of me, smiling and I just -" he let out a sheepish chuckle , shaking his head in amazement to himself as he glanced over the end of the garden to see Lina smiling with her mother as they shared some wine.

"I felt like I was dying. Like I couldn't breathe." He admitted to her father shyly , averting his eyes down to little Juan snuggled up in his arms .

He softly ran his fingers through his curly hair , the two year old humming happily as he clung onto him a little tighter. Snuggling into him with ease. Trusting Quinn completely.

"Nobody tells you that falling in love can feel like you’re having a heartattack." He muttered as colour filled his cheeks , not used to talking about his feelings out loud like this to anyone other than Lina.

Carlos laughed knowingly , smirking a little at him "oh I know that one! It was the same with my wife. I couldn’t even speak to her at first unless I had a drink or two!" He let him know , amusement colouring his voice as he watched Quinn sheepishly look up from his lap and up to him again.

Reminding him of a nervous teenager about to ask his crush to the dance , Carlos smiled . Slowly begging to relax as he realised that maybe Quinn really was just simply a good guy.

Quinn chuckled a little "she's always made me so incredibly happy. Even before I knew her. It's embarrassing. All the guys chirp me for it back home.." he muttered , adjusting the now napping two year old more comfortably on his chest. Placing his little head In the crook of his neck so it wouldn't ache at a weird angle while sleeping .

Carlos just scoffed a little "never be embarrassed for feeling love. You see so many guys that are too involved with their own pride, too afraid to seem weak to other guys around them, feel like they're too tough to show affection and to be soft.  But to be emotionally available and soft for the one that you love, that is something only a truly man can do. One that is needed to be in love and loved in return. Do you understand?" He placed a firm hand on Quinn's free shoulder, smiling at him softly .

His earlier worries being washed away just like that, he had a good feeling about this one.

Quinn nodded his head slowly as he let his wise words of encouragement sink in, feeling a small weight being lifted off from his shoulders as he looked up at lina's father and saw nothing but approval now.

"I do. I get it. I've just - I’ve never felt like this before so it's a little overwhelming. But I do, I love her. And I love Juan too. He's a cool little dude. Loves watching hockey with me so that's nice.." he rambled to him with a small laugh , affection filling him at the thought of the little Home made family he had now.

Her father grinned at him , pleased. Deciding that he wouldn’t go feeding Quinn to the sharks anytime soon.

"you hold her hand in public?" He wanted to know. Another little test.

Quinn didn't hesitate to nod his head "yeah, I do." He then let out a shy laugh "although I think it's more for my benefit than hers. She makes me feel calm. It's hard to feel down when she's holding my hand." He mumbled shyly , eyes back down to his feet.

"You rub her feet when they ache?"

"I do." He nodded. Biting back a smile.

Carlos hummed "You gave her your jacket when she's cold? You keep her warm even if it means you're not?" He asked him seriously .

Quinn chuckled "I do. But Honeslty usually it's me stealing her sweathisrts and jackets. We practically share them now. She's got good taste." He admitted, unashamed to admit that Lina was the fashionista of the two of them.

She had upgraded his wardrobe that now consisted of cool sweathisrts , designer hoodies and linen sets , all of the finest cotton. Lina liked to take care of him like that . It was nice.

Carlos's smile grew even softer , nodding his head along in satisfaction . "You hold her tight even in front of your friends? You laugh even when a joke she tells you isn’t so funny?"

Quinn smiled down at his hand resting on Juan's little head , laughing lightly as he recalled all the times that he had laughed at lina's stupid jokes, not because they were funny but because she found them to be .

She would always start giggling before she could even finish saying her joke and that was what made Quinn laugh along with her each time.

If She was happy then so was he. It really was as simple as that.

"I do." He breathed out , grinning "she try's her best. We watch a show together and even though I watched it with her , she will still repeat all of the jokes they said on tv to me." He told her father fondly , shaking his head in amusement at his girlfriends ways .

Her father just smiled and placed a hand on top of Quinn's head , ruffling his hair before he could even blink .  Letting out a loud laugh as he saw Quinn's startled reaction, his eyes snapping over to him in slight shock . Having not expected the fatherly touch like that, Carlos patted his shoulder once more before finally pulling away.

"Then you have my approval." Carlos told him simply , more than pleased with what he had learned. Feeling a weight lift off of his shoulders now that he knew that his daughter and grandson really were in good hands .

Quinn began to smile widely , letting out a loud sigh of relief "yeah? Thank god..otherwise this would have made birthdays and Christmases really awkward." He said without thinking , more tan relieved.

Carlos just chuckled "mhmm. But I gotta warn you Quinn..." he let out a dramatic breath as he gestured around the large stretch of empty land around his home .

"-one line overstepped, one tear of hurt or pain ,  or a broken heart... " he stared the poor American hockey player down seriously "you see all of this land of mine? It’s Endless.."

Quinn nodded warily , a little scared now "yeah?" Eyes growing wide as he began to realise Just where her father was going with his little speech.

He recalled lina’s reassuring laugh as she told him in a giggle that 'her father wouldn't even hurt a fly!'

Quinn swallowed audibly and realised then that perhaps Lina hadn't seen him around her other ex boyfriends before. She definitely hadn't Been around for the 'man to man' chats or the 'I'm just going to show him my collection of handmade nail studded bats'.

And maybe she was right . Carlos wouldn't hurt a fly but he would hurt anyone who dared to lay a painful hand on his daughter physically or emotionally.

She was his baby. Anyone that hurt her would simple become a ghost. As simple as that.

Carlos looked at him square on "if you break my daughters or my grandsons heart.." he inhaled sharply just at the thought of his family getting hurt "you will become dust on my land. I will plant flowers with you. Si?" He casually said to him, tone calm as though he was talking about the weather to him.

Quinn rapidly  nodded  his head , shocked at the sudden threat of his life.

“Si. Si. Yeah. Loud and clear." He stumbled out , laughing nervously as he looked around in hopes of spotting Lina nearby. Preferably to find her before her father told him all the ways he Could make him disappear.

Carlos just laughed at the scared look on his face , then he reached over to smack the back of his head before standing to his feet again . Amused.

"I like you." He grinned contently while pointing a finger at him, nodding along to what he was saying .

"You should come here More often. We can play golf together. In case hockey doesn't work out. You need backups." He told him happily , the intimidating and cold demeanour falling right back off him now that he had gotten his little tests on Quinn out of the way.

Quinn could only blink up at him in surprise , still thrown off from the whole 'I will kill you' talk. But he nodded nonetheless .

“Sure sir. Sounds fun." He said nervously.

Yet he couldn't help but smile a little at Carlos saying that he liked him. That was all that he had wanted out of this trip. For her parents to like him. He had gotten 2/2. So he was feeling pretty pleased with himself then.

Her father just laughed "don't call me sir! It's Carlos. You're family now! My daughter loves you so I will learn to love you too!" He told him grinning , hands on his hips as he let out a long dramatic sigh.

"This was good." He declared then , speaking his mind. "I was worried but now I am not." He simply said "you're a good American boy. I didn't realise you existed . A little pale but ..more summers here will fix that." He rambled to him "welcome to the family kid."

Quinn grinned.

Later that night when everybody was asleep, Quinn was keeping Lina awake with his excited whispers in the dark as he relaid his whole day with her. Lina moaning sleepily as she snuggled into his neck, legs intertwined as she listened to him, half asleep already.

Quinn played with her hair as he mumbled "I think that we should get a place here. We could come here , like , swap the weeks between ours and here. Your father said that there was some nice beach houses not too far away from here." He suggested quietly , running his free hand down her bare back gently . Lightly scratching her shoulders with his nails just the way she liked it.

Lina lifted her head a little to look at him in surprise , letting out a shocked laugh. That having been the last thing she had expected him to say to her that night.

"You really like it that much here?" She couldn't believe it, happiness filling her chest at the thought of being able to have a place with Quinn in the same place she had grown up in. Her home. Just like Quinn was.

He just nodded shyly , eyes darting across her face quickly to check her reaction . He only relaxed a little once he saw her growing smile .

He smiled too "yeah. I do. But also -" he tucked himself underneath her chin , being the one to snuggle her this time. Wrapping his arms around her waist so she could hold him close .

“I think it would be good for Juan to see his grandparents more." He whispered before hesitating briefly "and-"

He cleared his throat a little sheepishly "and your dad wants to take me golfing. Apparently there's a family tournament this summer that he wants me to be in with him so.. he really wants to be the neighbours . So I'll need the practice." He shyly mumbled to her . Cheeks colouring red as he felt her chest vibrate beneath him with a amused giggle.

She ran her fingers through his hair gently , kissing the top of his head over and over again as pride filled her. Recalling how scared Quinn had been to even talk to her father , convinced that Carlos wouldn't like him.

And now look at him, one day with her father and they were already planning going golfing together. She couldn't have felt any happier if she tried.

"New best friend?" She teased him affectionately, lifting his head up by his hair gently so that she could see his face that he was hiding from her.

With blushed cheeks and glossy eyes , he giggled shyly "yeah. Maybe." He sounded excited too , having spent the rest of the day after their 'talk' hanging out with her father .

He was a really cool guy and Quinn honestly felt like he had a second father figure for him to talk to , he loved Carlos. And Carlos loved him now.

He was so fucking happy he could cry. For once in his life everything was working out the way it should.

All the stars were aligning and he knew that he only had the love of his life to thank for it. His happiness really was secured with her.

"I also said that I'd take him to some of my hockey games as well." He told her with a pleased smile on his face , biting down on his lip as he peered up at his girlfriend through his lashes bashfully , his chin caught between her fingers firmly to keep his eyes on her.

"Yeah?" She smiled, pecking his nose . Heart bursting with love for the man she had given her whole heart to.

He nodded "yeah. He said he'll come as long as good food and wine is provided." He told her in amusement , having spent a good few hours explaining the rules of hockey to her confused father who didn't have a clue to what he did on the ice at all. But Quinn was certain that he could make Carlos a fan, hopefully of him and his team, but a fan nonetheless.

Lina just giggled in amusement "sounds like him." She muttered fondly before letting out a long sigh as she smiled down at him in adoration .

"I love you . You know that?" She whispered to him, brushing her lips against his own parted ones gently ,

He let out a shaky breath against her lips, swallowing audibly as he looked down at her pouty mouth that only he got to kiss now.

"I know. I can feel it." It was true.

She didn't need to tell him that she loved him for him to know, her love was in everything she did for him. Everything she said. Love was just her choosing him, over and over again.

“You're my whole fucking universe and all the stars in the sky." He felt himself begin to get emotional , so overcome with love for her that welled ip his eyes and made his lip tremble for her.

"I love you." He whispered against her lips, smiling

"I always will." He promised and he meant it.

And so did the diamond ring in his suitcase just waiting to be opened .

Something that would be much more easier to do now that he had her fathers approval and blessing to love Lina for the rest of his damn life.

[atiny-piratequeen]

Against the Tide: Seventeenth Dal Segno (Ch.17)

Pairing: Poly OT8

•❥ Rating: Explicit (18+)

•❥ Genres: Heavy Angst, Action, Romance, Fluff, Smut, Fantasy

•❥ Series AU Tags: Demon Pirates, Supernatural, Poly Relationship (mxm), Past and Modern Day AU, Mythology Au, Slow Burn, Slice of Life, College Au, Rock Band Au, Happy Ending Endgame

•❥ Chapter Tws: Guilt, Mentions of Past Main Character Death, Reincarnation, Attempted Murder Mention, Exhaustion from Overworking, Blood, Injury, Panic Attack, PTSD

•❥ Chapter Sws: Intercurial Sex, Size Kink, Praise Kink, Pet Names, (Accidental) Flashing, Teasing, Dirty Talk, Many, Many Consent Checks, Mutual Masturbation, Consensual Penetrative Vine Sex, Consensual Aphrodisiac Nectar Use, BDSM Undertones, Protected Sex, Ruined Orgasms, Virginity Loss, Hints of Sub Space

•❥ WC: 12.7k+

•❥ A/N: I didn't intend for this to take a motherfucking YEAR to get out, but here we are. After several episodes(tm) and struggles later, we're here. Thank you for everyone who waited patiently or kept the excitement brewing through asks and the like. It means the world to me and I appreciate you all. Bonus points to anyone who reblogged and shared my work, yall are the realest mwah xoxo. Also, if you haven't yet, maybe check out my new universe Ataraxia while you wait for the next chapter?

•❥ Taglist moved to the bottom of the work. if you’d like to be added to the taglist for this or my other works, feel free to fill out the form here after reading the full post.

•❥AO3

•❥ ©atiny-piratequeen 2023. do not repost, translate, or use my works.

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-Sunday, March 24th, 8am-

-228 Days Remain-

Hongjoong’s life was quickly becoming full of firsts. 

Of all of them, he found waking up pressed against Yunho was definitely at the top of that list of new developments.

Though…he supposed this wasn't the first time. 

This memory thing was going to be…complicated, he could tell.

With a frown, Hongjoong looked up, reaching to cup Yunho’s face gently. His breath came out in small, halted puffs, careful any given exhale would wake the taller man. 

Yunho’s face twitched for a brief moment before he pressed into Hongjoong’s small hands, humming quietly.

Hongjoong worried his lip between his teeth, gently rubbing Yunho’s cheeks. The events of last night rolled through his mind, his cheeks darkening as he remembered his state of undress.

His thoughts caught up to him, reminding him of how his bath had gone.

🧼

"It's okay if you fall asleep, I'll be watching over you."

Hongjoong tiredly looked up, curled up in a towel Yunho had fetched for him, taking in the handsome man's features for the umpteenth time that evening. 

Somewhere in the back of his mind, there was a passing thought. One of the other men in the house could see him like this as Yunho walked down the hall. There wasn't any sense of urgency in the taller man's strides, and Hongjoong could imagine any moment one of the doors they were walking by would open and he'd have another pair of eyes on him. 

….

His brain was too tired to process the way that thought alone made his heart flutter and hiccup in his chest.

Yunho finally got to the bathroom, setting him on the toilet seat and pressing a kiss to his head before moving to run the bath water. Hongjoong watched his backside, hugging the towel around himself as a small draft made goosebumps rise on his skin.

"Oh, darling you're shivering. Hold on-" Yunho, who must have turned to address him at some point and noticed his shivering, rushed over to the door once more. 

"Yeosangie!"

Hongjoong’s eyes widened, his head snapping towards him as he heard the sound of rushing footsteps.

"Hm? Yu? What's wrong?" Yeosang’s gentle voice chimed in as he stood in front of the door. Yunho blocked the view of Hongjoong casually with his body as he smiled in greeting.

Yes, they had seen him naked countless times before, but this Hongjoong still had no clue about that and Yunho wanted to respect him as much as possible. 

"Hi baby, I know it's late, but do you mind turning the heat up in the house? It's cold." 

Yeosang smiled and nodded, cupping his cheeks and pulling him down for a chaste kiss. 

"Anything else you need, puppy?"

Yunho glanced behind him, locking eyes with Hongjoong. He nearly snorted at the deer-in-headlights expression on his face before he looked back towards a patiently waiting Yeosang. 

"Just some warm towels, if that's alright?"

Yeosang stole another kiss and nodded. 

"It'll be there when you get out. Call me if you need anything else. Have a good night’s sleep, my love." Yeosang looked towards Yunho’s shoulder for a moment, where he knew Hongjoong was just beyond view. A selfish part of him wanted to see him. See the flustered mess Yunho had left him in.

 The brunette doctor knew all of their bodies better than even they knew themselves. 

It had been…entirely too long since he’d been able to think about any of those types of expressions on Hongjoong’s face after they'd lost him. Yeosang had promised to never use his foxfire to create a double of any being they'd lost, and he took that very seriously. 

Though, he'd be lying if he said he wasn't tempted to split himself and make a Hongjoong copy on the particularly rough nights. 

His resolve remained strong, however. 

Hongjoong made him promise to never use his fire to "replace" the dead anymore and he'd be damned if he disrespected him and his memory like that by disobeying.

Guilt would swallow him whole if he did. Yeosang was sure of it.

He must have been clearly lost in his thoughts longer than expected, as a gentle kiss to his lips brought his focus back in front of him. 

The ex prince looked up and flushed slightly. 

"Sorry…zoned out. I'll get right on those things now." He once again glanced at Yunho’s shoulder before meeting his eyes.

"Give…give Cap a kiss for me please?" He whispered. Yunho nodded and smiled brightly. 

"I'll give him kisses for all of us. Soon you can give him kisses yourself." He responded softly before backing into the bathroom. 

Hongjoong looked up at him, flustered. 

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to wake anyone…"

"I called him. If anyone should be sorry, it's me. C’mon let's get you cleaned up." 

Hongjoong quietly watched Yunho strip down, frowning when he noticed the brunette man was still half hard. A small sense of guilt overcame him as he stared. 

"Joongie?"

"I'm sorry..you never..um..finished…" Hongjoong wished the floor could swallow him sooner than later at the surprised look Yunho gave him. 

"Oh? Please don't worry. I'm not bothered by it."

Somehow that made the pianist feel worse, his frown settling in his features. If only he hadn't gotten tired they could have-

"Hongjoong."

Apprehensive eyes met kind ones as the two stared at each other.

"If it bothers you that much, we can fix it."

That's how, ten minutes later, Hongjoong ended up bent over the tub, gripping the edge as Yunho thrust between his thighs, his cock sliding between them as Hongjoong squeezed them close together. 

Hongjoong’s head was spinning, once again finding himself really enjoying the size difference between the two of them. Yunho gripped his hips, balls slapping against his ass as he purred praises to Hongjoong 

"You have mmm..such a hold on me, even your thighs can make me cum~" 

Hongjoong’s thighs were probably red by now, his breath coming out in quick puffs as he held the tub. Yunho’s lips found their way to his neck again, kissing and nipping as he placed his palms over Hongjoong’s, holding his hands as his breathing began to come out irregularly.

Hongjoong looked behind him, catching and holding Yunho’s gaze as he rocked his hips back. Even while aroused, Yunho’s eyes held a warm and inviting gaze that made Hongjoong melt below him. 

“Will you cum for me, Yunho?” The words slipped from his lips before he could think twice, though he almost looked away in embarrassment. Yunho let out a noise that sounded like a cross between a groan and a whimper as he nodded his head, leaning closer and holding his hands a bit tighter. Hongjoong arched his back, his lips hovering below Yunho’s as he clenched his thighs tighter together. 

“Then cum for me, Puppy.” 

The oreo-haired pianist was grateful for Yunho’s firm hold on him. Had he not have had it, Hongjoong undoubtedly would have fallen over as Yunho’s hips worked faster, chasing the orgasm he’d gotten permission to have. 

Hongjoong’s cheeks ignited as Yunho finally came between his legs, making a mess of his thighs as he rocked his hips, milking his own cock with Hongjoong’s thighs. Once he was finished, he pressed kisses onto Hongjoong’s shoulder, hugging him close and keeping him upright as he took in a long, steadying breath. 

Hongjoong smiled and put his hands over Yunho’s, pride blooming in his chest that he could at least do this, since he’d ruined their previous endeavor in his mind. 

As if sensing Hongjoong’s mind wandering, Yunho picked him up, kissing his head as he lowered his voice to a familiar tone that made him melt. 

“C’mon. I promised you a bath. Let me give you one and we can get to bed.” 

Hongjoong smiled and nodded, turning to steal a kiss as Yunho guided him into the tub. 

🛁

While he was daydreaming, Hongjoong missed the signs of Yunho stirring. It made him startle when he finally focused back on the present and found Yunho’s tired eyes staring back at him. 

“Good morning.”

Hongjoong flushed at the tone of voice before blinking at the cadence. It was slightly off, an accent that didn't match up to Yunho’s usual one. It also tumbled deeper, and Hongjoong realized it wasn’t Yunho at all. 

“G..Geb?”

Icy eyes stared back at him as a kind smile stretched over the taller man’s face. 

“You remembered me, as well? I’m very flattered. Good morning, Hongjoong.” 

Hongjoong blushed, his fingers twitching on Geb’s cheek. He wondered if he should let go for a moment, before biting his lip. 

He still had so many questions

“You look like you have something on your mind.” 

“I…this is just a lot to take in.”  

“I can imagine. Is there anything I can do to ease your worries?”

Hongjoong wanted to ask questions. Get clarity. But part of him remembered the brain splitting headache he'd gotten last night. 

Just wait. Yunho said he'd help.

“Hongjoong.” 

His head snapped upwards and he looked into warm brown eyes, finding Yunho staring back at him in concern. 

Yunho was in control now, reaching to caress him gently. Hongjoong found himself pressing more into his touch, eyes closing. The ex doctor gently ran his thumb over the apple of his cheek. 

“How did you sleep?” 

Yunho hummed, eyes drifting up as if pondering it seriously. Hongjoong poked his cheek, arching a brow at him as Yunho began to laugh. 

“Yah, don’t make me anxious like that.” 

Yunho laughed and turned to kiss the tip of his finger. 

“I haven’t slept that well in a very long time. You could say I slept like a rock.” He beamed, mentally high 5ing the earthen god inside of him as Hongjoong stared at him, eyes squinted for a moment. 

“Did…did you just make a rock pun?”

The sound of Yunho’s joyous laughter and Hongjoong’s half-hearted complaints carried down the hall as Cheese slowly lifted his head, shaking himself out as he moved to sit by the back door. 

He didn't want to scare the new friend.

Outside, Mingi sat with his back to the home, fiddling with a leaf between his fingers. His mind swirled slightly, complex emotions mingling and tangling in his head, though outside, his face remained blank and neutral, counting the veins at the back of the leaf. 

A hand appeared before him, holding a cup of coffee. He looked up, his thoughts quieting for a brief moment as his eyes met steel grey. He looked at the coffee, lips pursed. 

“....”

“It’s cold out here and you’re up early. I made an extra cup for you.” 

“....”

Seonghwa’s eyes looked towards the pavement below both of them for a moment before he knelt down and set the coffee cup on a wooden box Mingi was using for his gardening equipment. 

Mingi’s eyes didn’t follow him. 

“....I’ll be out today. I let the others know. If you need me, please contact me.”

Mingi turned to look at him out of the corner of his eyes as Seonghwa stood once more, hesitating for the briefest of moments before he turned on his heel and walked away. 

Once the door was closed and Seonghwa’s form had disappeared from view, Mingi let his head thump back on the side of their home, looking up towards the sky. 

‘If you need me.’

There were many clouds in the sky today. 

-9am-

Hongjoong shuffled slightly as he sat at the kitchen table. Yunho had lent him one of his shirts, but he didn’t realize they would be eating out at the table with the other gentlemen of the house. 

He…he would’ve put pants on.

Instead, he was acutely aware of the fact he was in a pastel pink sweater that left all of his collar out and exposed, bite marks still bright red and dotting his skin.

And he was completely cock and ass out underneath this damn thing. 

At a time like this, Hongjoong was glad for his stature and that the size difference between him and Yunho had come in handy for something else other than his incredibly feral mind. 

“Here you go, Hyung!” 

Hongjoong looked up as Yeosang swooped into view, setting a plate in front of him. He looked down, eyes widening and his mouth watering as he noted the fluffy pancakes, scrambled eggs, and both bacon and sausage taking up the plate. Yeosang smiled at him, seemingly to the moon at the way Hongjoong’s face lit up when he took his first bite. 

“This is amazing!” 

A twinge of pink came to Yeosang’s cheeks as he bowed slightly, hiding his gaze with his bangs before he set the second plate beside Yunho. The tallest of the trio smiled as well, reaching to lace his fingers through Yeosang’s silky-looking brunette hair. He pulled him in, kissing him slowly. The ex-prince made a muffled surprised noise before melting into the kiss, holding the small platter he used to bring their plates over close to his chest. 

Hongjoong watched them out of the corner of his eyes, cheeks slightly bulging. 

He’d wondered between all of the heated touches yesterday with Yunho, if there would come a time when he felt jealous of the other men his new boyfriend was in a relationship with. He’d acknowledged how ridiculously selfish that came off as, him being the new person to suddenly start dating their boyfriend, and to get jealous over his time spent with them…

But something deep within him made him feel that wouldn’t be a problem. 

Instead, he felt a sense of relief wash over him. 

Aside from Wooyoung and San, he admittedly, hadn’t seen any of the eight men being overly affectionate with one another, at least not in front of him. While he was well aware some people just preferred to keep those things private-his sister with Chan or Changkyun with Jooheon, for example-something about the demeanor of the men seemed…strained and it made him quite sad. 

But now, for this kiss Hongjoong was realizing he had been staring at for way too long, the pianist felt happiness bloom. A small voice in his mind sighed in relief. 

‘They’re okay…’

Hongjoong blinked and sat up straighter, looking away with a deep blush. Regardless, he should stop staring. He’d hate to have to explain why he’s looking so hard at the two kissing beside him. Or, worse yet, come off as jealous when he’s just gotten into this relationship of his. 

He turned his gaze back up front and immediately choked. 

Ass. 

A very fine and very toned ass, he might add. 

God, is this it? Is this the day Hongjoong fucking dies?

He pounded on his chest, coughing as he realized it was Jongho. The pair of briefs he had on clung to his ass for dear life while he half turned to look in Hongjoong’s direction, arching a single brow. 

“You okay, Ca-Hyung?” He corrected himself, watching as Hongjoong wheezed, covering his mouth. Yunho immediately broke away from Yeosang, eyes wide as he flew over to get behind Hongjoong. 

Suddenly, his chair was pulled out and he felt himself get lifted as Yunho’s arms came around to pick him up. 

“Hold on, I got you!” 

Now, Hongjoong had been trained for a significant portion of his life on how to fight and defend himself. He had certain instincts that were in him. Including when being suddenly grabbed from behind. 

One of the said instincts is to immediately try and break free of said grab. 

The moment Yunho slightly lifted his bare feet from the ground, Hongjoong’s lower body immediately jolted, his hands flying up to grab onto Yunho’s hands. 

He instantly regretted the decision when he felt the ends of his shirt go up, completely flashing everyone in the room.

Of course, as soon as he had flashed everyone, Mingi stepped inside. 

Yunho paused, eyes wide as Hongjoong's feet dangled an inch above the floor. 

"U..uh…did I get it?" Yunho quietly inquired as Hongjoong went red to the tips of his ears. 

"YUNHO PUT ME DOWN."

Yunho set him down immediately, clearing his throat as Hongjoong plopped down in the chair, covering his face. 

Jongho tilted his head to the side before looking down at his state of undress, tā moko and scars adorning his muscular frame. 

Ah, was the Captain embarrassed by his nudity?

'If that's his reaction right now, maybe we should be naked next time and really give him something to look at.'

'SHUT UP.'

While Jongho didn't blush at the initial incident, his face darkened at the notion ever so slightly, thrown off at the idea.

'Are you fucking BLUSHING? Right in front of me? We're CONSTANTLY naked in front of our lovers.'

'I should have killed you holy shit shut up shut up-'

'.....'

The silence in Jongho’s mind immediately made him on edge and once he felt the fractured god inside of him smirk, he knew he was in for some bullshit. 

'Ah. I know what it is. How long has it been since the baby bear has felt the intimate touch of his lovers, hm? Does it make you flustered to think of their eyes on you? Wanting and needing your touch? I'm inside of you, Jongho. I know exactly how pent up you are. And the little Captain is just as loud as we always remember, maybe we should-’

“Oh my gods-”Jongho’s minor outburst startled Hongjoong before he excused himself, storming down the hall, cheeks darkened as he cursed Whiro out in Maori. 

Hongjoong peeked through his fingers, watching the youngest leave before deflating slightly, feeling like he was the cause. Mingi grabbed a plate quietly and thanked Yeosang before leaving, as well. He passed San without a word as he headed up to his room. 

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry-” Hongjoong mumbled into his palms, his face once again ignited. Yunho rubbed the back of his own neck, putting an arm over Hongjoong. 

“S-sorry I misunderstood and thought you were choking-”

Yeosang looked the two men over and laughed behind his hand. They still had a ways to go, but the chaos of the morning had reminded him of days since past. 

“Don’t worry, we’re a house full of men, it’s not like it's something we haven’t seen before.” He smiled as Hongjoong turned his gaze to him and from the stove, San turned and rose a brow. 

“Wh…what? What just happened?”

-12pm- 

Hongjoong fidgeted as he sat in the passenger’s side seat, Yunho had driven him home, but for the first time in his life, Hongjoong hesitated to go to his own home. 

He wanted to stay with Yunho longer. 

As if he’d picked up Hongjoong’s silent conflict, Yunho leaned down to lightly kiss his temple. 

“Do you want me to come inside? It's Sunday, so I don’t have to rush home. If you’d like me to stick around a bit.” 

Hongjoong shook his head, worrying his lip between his teeth. 

“N-no it's okay, I should probably let you go so you can spend time with the others…I’m still so sorry about this morning I didn’t mean to-”

Yunho looked into his eyes for a while before he chuckled and ruffled his hair. 

“I know it was a bit chaotic, but I doubt any of them actually mind. I’ll go for tonight but Hyung,” He lifted Hongjoong’s chin, kissing him slowly and slightly crowding him against the door. When they separated, Hongjoong’s face had once again turned a brilliant shade of pink. 

“I look forward to the next time I get to fall asleep with you in my arms.” He sent him a wink, followed by a smile that lit his face up, laughing as Hongjoong lightly swatted at his chest. 

“F-flirt!” He grabbed his bag and quickly exited the car, hugging the coat Yunho had lent him close to his chest. He looked up his driveway, slowly blinking when he found the front blinds pulled up and several pairs of eyes staring at them. He coughed and made his way up the driveway, barely able to reach the front door before it swung open and he was yanked inside by his friends. 

"AH FUCK-" he let out quite an undignified scream as his friends began to chatter around him.

“Okay spill.”

“Holy shit, who’s clothes are those?”

“Goodness he bit you the fuck up, didn’t he, I didn’t take him for that much of a biter-”

Hongjoong’s head spun as all of his friends began to chatter all at once. Eventually he raised his voice over the confusing babbel, making them all quiet down instantly. 

“Okay! Holy shit, one question at a time.” 

The group paused for a moment before Yeonjun cleared their throat. 

“When the hell did you start liking the puppy dude?” 

Hongjoong scratched the back of his neck. It wasn’t a complicated question. It had to have been in the last month or so.

But still…from those images…those…memories? It would make sense to say he’d liked him all along. 

Liked? Loved. He loved him. A lifetime’s worth of love.

Though Hongjoong was sure if he dropped suddenly he'd been in love with someone who, in the eyes of his best friends, he'd only met a month ago, he'd have a lot more chaos erupt in this foyer.

He still had to get to the bottom of what was happening.

The more he tried to rationalize those thoughts and fit them neatly in his mind under a certain label, the more he felt painful radio static crackle and pierce into his head. 

‘Not now. There’s too much missing.’

“I..um…I guess this past month or so? He’s really cool and I vibe with him well.” Hongjoong muttered, satisfied when the crackle in his mind subsided. It really did seem like he needed to wait before he could unravel more of…whatever this is. 

How frustrating. 

Chungha handed him a cup of white peach tea, gently nodding toward the living room. 

“Guys, you all like, swarmed him as soon as he opened the door, let him get inside and sit down before you start grilling him.” She lightly scolded them. Yeonjun, Felix, and Chan pouted ever so slightly while Changkyun gently put his hand on Hongjoong’s shoulder. 

“C’mon, you must be tired.” 

Hongjoong smiled and made his way into the living room, sitting down and taking a sip. A smile lit up his face and Chan looked at the marks all over his neck. 

“You didn’t get hurt, right? Everything was consensual?” His voice was even, though Hongjoong could tell by his body language he was in his ‘protective big brother’ mode. It brought a smile to his face as he nodded. 

“...Yeah. A little bit surprising but everything that happened was with consent. He was very sweet and careful about that.” 

Chan’s demeanor relaxed considerably and Felix let out an audible sigh from beside him. 

“Oh good, he’s not some tall ass, sex-hungry creep.” 

Hongjoong sent him an incredulous look as Chungha elbowed him. Yeonjun and Changkyun laughed at either side of him before the former stopped abruptly, grabbing Hongjoong’s hands and looking into his eyes. 

“Okay so. How was it?” 

Hongjoong stared.

“How…was…what?? Exactly?”

Yeonjun arched a brow. 

“His stroke game, Hongjoong.”

Hongjoong’s face ignited and he immediately swiped at Yeonjun’s head, letting out an indignant noise. 

“YOU CAN’T JUST ASK THAT.”

“I mean, I just did. Whether or not you feel comfortable disclosing is a different conversation.” They responded, yipping and rubbing their head when Chungha smacked them with the top of her house slipper. 

“Again, he just got in the house, stop interrogating him!” She scolded them before she looked at Hongjoong. 

“I’m just glad you’re okay. It came as a surprise, but you’re safe and happy and that’s all I could ever ask for. I meant what I said, though. If he hurts you, I’m going to break his dick. In half.” She smiled sweetly at the cold threat, all the others in the room shuddering visibly at the phantom pain of the threat. 

“It’s okay I’m actually…I need some…advice?” 

They all looked at him and he moved his gaze to the floor, fidgeting with his bracelet. He blinked, noticing his birthmark had gotten a bit darker. 

Huh. Had he gotten a bruise somewhere?

Anyway-

“I uh…we almost?? Had sex but I kind of..chickened out. Um..help?” Hongjoong liked to think he was pretty good at sorting his thoughts out, but he’d be lying if he said this entire situation hadn’t thrown him ass over head and left his thoughts in a spiral. 

All of his friends blinked owlishly at him before Chan stood. 

“This is weird, I’m gonna grab a water and I’ll be back.” He spoke quickly, ejecting himself from the conversation completely as Felix snorted beside him. Hongjoong’s cheeks, for the nth time that day, once again darkened in color. 

A fair response from Chan, to be honest. The older performer was basically his brother and he could imagine how weird and off-guard the question had taken him by. 

Changkyun rolled his eyes half-heartedly and hip checked Yeonjun out of the way from their position in front of Hongjoong on the floor. He sat with his legs pretzel style and sent him a kind, mature smile. 

“What exactly are you asking for help with? Initiation? Prep? Foreplay?” 

Hongjoong coughed and dodged the pillow Chungha had hurled over his head to hit Felix. 

“Stop laughing! He’s already flustered!” 

Hongjoong silently wished a hole would open up in the ground and swallow him. He’d had many conversations with his close friends and even his siblings that were downright embarrassing, but he’d never been the focus of any of them. 

Now that he thought about it…Hongjoong couldn’t recall a single time he had been romantically or sexually interested in anyone until now.

The revelation hit him like a sack of bricks, and his lips parted ever so slightly. 

“Holy shit.” 

Changkyun blinked before gently nudging his knee to bring him back down to earth. Hongjoong jolted ever so slightly before clearing his throat. 

“Sorry, erm….all of it? We came close last night but…he took the lead and guided me through all of it. I feel…a bit bad because I stopped right before we’d gone all the way and even though he was super nice and patient with me I-”

The laughter around him died and he felt a gentle hand comb through his mismatched hair. Yeonjun moved to sit beside him and continued petting him slowly, the teasing glint in their eyes completely gone. 

“Honey, do you want advice because you want to have sex with him or are you trying just because you feel bad it didn’t happen?” They inquired, searching Hongjoong’s eyes as he turned his head. 

While he did feel bad that he hadn’t done nearly as much for Yunho as he’d felt the taller man had done for him, Hongjoong couldn’t help but to roll those images through his head. 

Of a time before this. A time when they had laid together, entangled in each other, body and soul. Melded together so close it was hard to tell where one began and the other ended.

He didn’t want that feeling to stay in his dreams.

“I want it. I just don’t know what the hell I’m doing.” He admitted. Seemingly, his friends breathed a collective sigh of relief before Changkyun grabbed his attention. 

“Okay, so I’m gonna explain some things, it’s going to be traumatizing for all of us, and we’re gonna come out of this with some confidence.” 

A smile came to his face as his comment ripped a laugh from Hongjoong’s throat. The others soon followed suit as he rolled out of his position on the floor and stomped into the kitchen. 

“Christopher Bang Chan you get in here and help us with the communal suffering or so help me-”

The peels of laughter increased in volume at the faux shriek Chan let out when Changkyun came for him. Slowly, Hongjoong’s anxiety ebbed away. 

He wished Siyeon was here to help him with the rest of his close friends, but for now, he’d take the help wherever he could get it. 

-1pm-

-Namsan Mountain Park-

“Thank you for meeting with me. I hope I didn’t inconvenience you.” 

The sound of a can opening fills the small break in conversation before a small laugh followed it. 

“Hardly. It was only a matter of time before one of you asked me to talk to you. I’m sure you have a lot of questions.” 

Seonghwa looked at the tattooed hand that had stretched out to him before taking the melon-flavored carbonated drink offered to him. Across from him, sat the Ishihara patriarch himself, not at all uncomfortable by the sudden summon from the ex prince. 

That probably made things a lot easier. 

“Excuse my bluntness, but I want as many answers as possible.” Seonghwa continued, taking a small sip of the drink. His brows went up for a moment before he took a bigger one, drawing a laugh from the man across from him. 

“I’ll answer what I can. Do understand I won’t be able to answer some of them just yet.” 

Seonghwa’s lips pursed in disapproval for a moment before he sighed and looked him in the eyes. 

“Who are you?” 

“Apollo, god of the sun, amongst other things.” Miyavi shrugged a shoulder, as if that had been the simplest thing in the world. 

Seonghwa slow blinked, staring at him for a beat of silence before he took another thoughtful sip of his drink. 

“Please don’t think I don’t appreciate it, but how is it that the God of the Sun came to be the adoptive father of our Captain?” 

Miyavi tapped his chin ever so slightly before he smiled. 

“Your little pirate captain approached me centuries ago in Delphi. Something about him moved me, and I felt the urge to make his time there enjoyable. I wonder, do you all remember the hidden orchid you found? The wolf that led you deeper? That was me. I’m glad you enjoyed your time, by the way, I don’t let just anyone in there, you know.” he adjusted some of the rings on his fingers, letting the words sink and click into place in Seonghwa’s mind. Thankfully, it didn’t take long before he was continuing, his eyes never leaving the god’s face. 

“That’s not all of it, surely.” 

“Not at all. I suppose you can call her my…cousin? Of sorts? The daughters of Poseidon, Charybdis and Scylla were disturbed by you all, it seems. Something about a stolen object. I did my best that night, I truly did, but was stopped up in Olympus from intervening. An offense had taken place and the girls had, technically, every right to be enraged. Especially after the slaying of Charybdis.” 

Seonghwa’s expression soured. 

“Are you saying we’re at fault?” 

“The one who took the rod, mostly. But still. That’s beside the point now. I spent time trying to locate his soul, and it wasn’t easy. Siyeon had ended up being the catalyst piece here. She’s a witch and began worshiping the Sun. I heard her. Well, so did some others. Had to call in a few favors and almost got stabbed by Amaterasu, but I attuned myself to her worship because I saw her in an old prophecy. She led me right to Hongjoong, but unfortunately, time had already run out before I could make any significant moves into figuring out how to reverse the curse. I made a deal with my…step mother, I suppose I can call her, and was able to pin down where this latest Hongjoong had been reborn and Melody and I decided the best thing to do was to insert ourselves into his life to guide and protect him as best we can. This is…the only chance I have to assist you.” he looked away, and Seonghwa knew there was something else. 

Across from them, a bird faltered as it took flight.

“,,,,Your step mother…I assume you mean Hera?” he inquired.

Miyavi nodded, downing the rest of his own drink before he tossed the can into a bin a good distance from where they sat. 

“....doesn’t she hate you?”

“With a burning passion. Tried to kill me and my sister Artemis as soon as we were born.” 

Seonghwa had an ever growing pit in his stomach. Part of him wanted to stop asking questions, just leave it be, there’s no need or reason to probe any deeper, just leave it. Focus on Hongjoong focus on the pace they're working at, it's chaotic enough just LEAVE it-

“It’s not as easy as it should be anymore, is it?” 

Miyavi chuckled and looked at him out of the corner of his eye, a small glint in his eye confirming more than any words ever could. Seonghwa’s brows furrowed and he let his shoulders drop. 

“Don’t do that. No matter how bad it gets, don’t ever let yourself feel defeated before you’ve fought. You’ve searched high and low for him and now he’s in front of you. You have a literal god helping you. Well, several, if you count the Egyptian and Māori ones tagging along with your group. I would say the odds are in your favor. I’ll continue to help as much as I can.” Miyavi offered kindly, looking at Seonghwa like he did his own children. Seonghwa’s brows remained furrowed. 

“What am I supposed to do? This is far beyond what I can handle.”

“You used to be a tactician, right? You’re now the captain of the crew while Hongjoong remains unawake. You can think of something. Besides, you’re not alone. From what Siyeon reported, you all have learned and attempted Mnemosyne’s trials.” 

Seonghwa nodded, tapping his bottom lip before he blinked. 

Right. 

The Trials. 

“Siyeon told us your children have come close to completing the Trials before. How?” 

Miyavi hummed and leaned back in his seat, laughing. 

“Those three are probably just as determined as you all are to help their brother. I feel…a bit like a bad father for having my children grow up learning such violent things, but it’s for the best that they know how to fight and defend themselves if things go south.” 

“...so they’re not human.” 

“No, not at all. No one in the family is. Is that really much of a surprise?” 

Seonghwa thought back to the first time he’d encountered Yuta and the overwhelming killing intent behind his movements. 

How he nearly missed the knife against his throat and hadn’t seen or felt the man come in the room at all. 

Miyavi watched the look on his face before standing, putting his hands in his pockets. 

“We’re approaching territory that I cannot go into now. Ideally, I’d like you not to look at my children maliciously. They’re all doing their best too, seeing as mommy dearest upstairs drug them into this mess as a condition against me.” he began walking down a grassy path, not looking back. 

The rustle of clothes behind him assured him Seonghwa was following anyway. 

“....against you. That doesn’t sound like allies.”

Miyavi sent him a look. 

“They’re my children, First Mate Seonghwa.” 

“I’m just reading into what you said, Apollo, God of the Sun.” 

Miyavi ran a hand through his hair, shattered pieces of a prophecy not fully foretold flashing through his mind. 

Scales, broken chains, a full moon, bloodied feathers. 

“Let’s put it this way. Should you fail, a bit more is at stake than just Hongjoong’s reincarnation.” 

He heard Seonghwa’s footsteps slow behind him before they hastened once more, the tall ex pirate appearing right beside him. 

".....do I want to know what that means?"

Miyavi hummed, watching the clouds above them. 

"The end of the world. Probably."

".....I'm sorry, what?"

-🐺-

"Achoo."

"Ah, bless you, Sis."

Suzuka quietly thanked Hongjoong as she walked over, touching his forehead. 

"....feeling better?"

Hongjoong laughed and scratched his head. When his siblings had returned, they were met with the sound of flustered squabbling and banter. 

The eldest Ishihara sibling watched her youngest brother sit with his face in his hands, cheeks bright red as his shoulders shook with laughter as Yeonjun and Chan yelled above his head.

"I'M SAYING HE NEEDS A POLE, CHRIS."

"HE'S LOSING HIS VIRGINITY, NOT LEARNING TO BE A POLE DANCER, YEONJUN. HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW HOW TO POLE DANCE"

"WE CAN TAKE LESSONS."

"We? Are you suddenly French?! Who is we?!"

Changkyun held his sides, wiping away a tear as he looked at the two. 

"I'm not driving anyone to the hospital, by the way." He added playfully as the two continued their outlandish discourse. 

"HE NEEDS TO KNOW HOW TO THROW HIS ASS BACK, CHRIS. HE DOESN'T HAVE MUCH TO WORK WITH."

"I DON'T NEED THESE VISUALS, YEONJUN. I REALLY DON'T NEED THE VISUALS OF ANY OF YOU ON A POLE!"

".....Just for that, I'm buying a pole and I'm gonna learn a routine for your birthday and you have to support me unless you suck eggs."

"I hope you bust your ass, I truly do."

Yeonjun let out a scandalized gasp. 

"Excuuuuuse you?!"

Yuta slow blinked at them, hands in his pockets while Moa shrugged and set down the bags of takeout food they'd brought home with them. 

The scent of food made the bickering come to an abrupt and comical end, both Chan and Yeonjun stopped mid-playful shouting match once the aroma wafted past them. 

Suzuka’s lips quirked up as they promptly gravitated towards the table, peeking into the boxes while Chungha grabbed plates. 

"Oh good, you got something to shut these two loveable idiots up." She let out an exaggerated sigh of relief. Both of them huffed indignantly while Felix made his way into the kitchen first, grateful for the break in the bickering around him. 

Hongjoong joined him, looking out of the window and smiling as he noticed a few snowflakes falling from the sky. Felix looked at him out of the corner of his eye, gently touching his shoulder. 

"I'm not really good at this compared to them, but whatever you do, make sure you do it safely. Above all else, you come first. Uh. Emotionally. You're coming emotionally. First. Um. That was phrased really weirdly, ew-" he shuddered and Hongjoong snorted, covering his mouth to stifle the rest of his laughter as he looked at Felix with an understanding twinkle in his eyes.

"I got you. I feel a bit better after talking to everyone, don't worry." He smiled. Felix relaxed and moved to go to sit at the table. 

Hongjoong looked out of the window, noticing a lone blue bird fly by before he turned to get dinner.

-❄️-

"You look pale, Hwa."

Seonghwa’s head snapped up, the ink from his pen bleeding as he held it in place on the paper in front of him. He looked at the ruined formation he had been drawing out before sighing, lifting his gaze up to meet Wooyoung’s. 

"A-are you okay? You look really intense." He muttered. Seonghwa ran his hand through his hair, the words escaping him. 

It took him much longer than Wooyoung had ever seen him take to finally find the words, a frustrated sigh leaving his lips first. 

"I just…I want everyone to be okay." It wasn't the most elegant statement, but the tired tone in his voice made Wooyoung’s heart sink into his shoes. 

"I'm sorry." He muttered softly. 

Seonghwa shook his head, putting the pen down as he stood. 

"It's my fault. I'll figure something out. I have to." He moved past Wooyoung, kissing the top of his head and sending him a small smile. 

"I love you."

Wooyoung stared back, worried.

"I love you too…" 

Seonghwa kissed him once before he turned and left him alone in the room to make tea. 

Wooyoung looked down at the crumpled pieces of paper littering the floor for a while, turning and leaving quietly.

-🐉-

Drip…drip….drip…

Joong stared as the dragon before him rumbled, blood dribbling from his massive head. 

He'd done it. It was small, nearly inconsequential, but he had finally done it. 

There was a crack.

The beast's chest rose and fell harshly as he rested. The blood was from a spot on the center of his forehead where he'd begun bashing it against the crystal in a frenzy out of nowhere. 

Joong had been through a lot of shit in his life. He'd had motorcyclists hold him up, felt the chill of blades against his throat and been followed home by unhappy riders with big egos who didn't appreciate his brand of snark.

Never once in his life did he feel as terrified as he did right now. 

He wanted to run. Something told him he didn't want to know where this was going. He didn't know when this began and wanted to be nowhere near it when it ended. 

But on another hand, he was frozen in place. 

It was him. Inside that crystal was undoubtedly him. He wasn't sure if this was some kind of hell he was in. Every depiction he'd heard about purgatory was vastly different than this. Joong couldn't even tell if he was in hell.

Drip…drip…

The dragon shifted, opening its eyes once more. His lip curled up as he looked at the crystal. 

"You can't keep me out forever. This is all YOUR fault. All you had to do was be a good little pawn and obey me. But no. Instead, you defy me and get BOTH of us trapped in this hell. When I free myself, there will be hell to pay."

He shook his head, droplets of shimmering blood landing on the crystal as he curled up, seemingly tired out. Joong kept deathly still, heart thundering in his chest as he felt his bangs shift with every exhale of the resting dragon. 

Idly, he wondered where the other beast had slinked off to and what the full story behind the three of them was. 

He looked up once more, waiting until the dragon was asleep-or at least he hoped to whatever higher power would listen that he was-before he slowly crawled out of the silk of his tail for the first time. He kept his steps quiet as he stood in front of the crystal, gently extending a hand and placing it over the outside. 

He definitely was some kind of sailor, given his tattered attire. Joong scanned as much as he could, not liking the idea of him being out in the open in front of the mad dragon behind him for too long. 

His eyes wandered downwards and he cringed at the wounds littered all over the man's arms, torso, and legs. 

They were deep, like the fangs of a rabid beast. 

All at once, he felt like something had slammed into his temple, images flooding his mind.

"Protect our crew….find me later."

Joong held his head, nearly screaming at the splitting feeling that coursed through him 

"I love you all….so much."

He snapped his head up, looking up at the face of his double in the crystal. 

Had his eyes always been cracked open like that?

Joong panted, staring at the motionless man, more questions emerging in his head. Behind him, the dragon shifted and he quickly made his way back into his hiding place, heart thundering once more. 

From within the crystal, The Captain watched him rush out of his line of sight.

'I'm…so tired of being alone.'

-Monday, March 25th, 11am-

-227 Days Remain-

"Are your friends…okay today?" Yunho inquired, looking down at Hongjoong in amusement. The pianist looked around his frame, brow twitching slightly at the sight of his friends not so subtly playing hooky in lieu of watching over them.

"What the hell do they expect us to do? Fuck in an elevator or something?" Hongjoong hissed, tapping his foot. Yunho blinked owlishly before tapping his cheek.

"I feel like that's a really familiar concept…I'm keeping condoms on me so we can try it if you want." 

Hongjoong nearly tripped as he whirled his head around to look at him.

"Yunho?!"

"What? I'll happily receive, if you're nervous." 

Hongjoong did a double take, staring at the unbothered doctor as he walked beside him. He lowered his voice to a whisper. 

"You're not…at all flustered by any of this?"

Yunho hummed, pausing and rubbing his chin for a moment. 

"Mm…no, not really. I never have been. But that's just me." Yunho placed a hand over Hongjoong’s head, smiling softly. 

"Really, it's fine if you're nervous or unsure. We don't have to do anything. I'm just happy you're here and you remember Geb and I." He spoke honestly, placing a hand in front of Hongjoong’s chest and summoning a rose so the others couldn't see. It had no thorns and Yunho carefully tucked it behind his ear. 

Hongjoong smiled and smiled as they ducked into the library. 

Maybe with the continued reassurance, he could finally calm his chaotic thoughts and focus on preparing himself. 

Except. That isn't at all what happened. 

In fact, a different chain of thoughts weasel their way into his brain as he reads the same paragraph over and over again for the third time.

Yunho, lips curled up in that kind way, rose pink dusting his cheeks as his thighs fell open like a flower blooming. 

The arch of his back, the strain of the sheets below his palm as he tugged at them, the groans and breathless keens of Hongjoong’s name. 

"Right there, you know how we like it, don't you~? Keep moving your hips just-ngh!-just like that. Hongjoong~ Hongjoong!"

"Hongjoong?"

The musician startled, looking up at Yunho with wide eyes. The doctor blinked at him before his eyes travel down. 

The evidence of Hongjoong’s wandering thoughts is obvious. 

Hongjoong feels shame and embarrassment wash over him, but Yunho only let out a gentle exhale, a soft fruit-scented sigh as he leaned over and pressed his lips to Hongjoong’s. 

It wasn't demanding or frantic, just a slow connection that somehow made him feel grounded once again. Yunho didn't escalate it further, cautious of their setting as he peppered Hongjoong’s lips in kisses. 

"I can't properly articulate how damn good it feels to know you can't get us out of your mind."

Hongjoong flushed. 

Us.

His brain was especially traitorous today. Imagining rough calloused hands running down his spine, pressing down, the pop and crack of his back nearly making him moan more than the cock nestled deep inside of him, a voice speaking in his ear in a language he didn't know but it sent goosebumps down his spine, nonetheless. 

"Geb," Hongjoong muttered under his breath. Another chuckle slipped from Yunho’s lips, though it was different, deeper. 

Hongjoong shuddered.

"Do not strain yourself. We're not going anywhere."

Hongjoong cleared his throat, beet red, and looked at Geb’s ice blue eye, the other one remaining Yunho’s usual kind brown color. 

That's right. They shared. They were exceptional at it. 

Compared to…? 

Were there any others Hongjoong knew about that had…well, a whole separate entity living inside of them?

Warm hands cupped his cheek and drew his focus in once more. 

"How about you come home with us again? Let's try something a bit different tonight." Yunho hummed, smiling softly as he leaned in for a kiss. Hongjoong’s eyes nearly closed fully before Yunho’s lips brushed past his cheek as he leaned into his ear.

"I'll be using my powers a bit tonight. I hope that's alright." He whispered before pulling away. Hongjoong nearly chased after his lips before he caught himself, clearing his throat. 

Yunho smiled, satisfied, and leaned away from him, going back to the book in front of him. 

Neither of them were really reading a damn thing on those pages. 

🎕┈┈┈┈

When Hongjoong stepped into Yunho’s home after they’d gotten finished studying, he was met with the smell of simmering meat. 

He instinctively turned towards the kitchen, hearing sizzling. 

It was…so familiar, this scent. 

Yunho put his hand at the small of his back and smiled down at him. 

“Do you want to go see what Mingi and Yeosang are cooking, or do you want to go straight upstairs?” He inquired. Hongjoong glanced again before he rubbed his neck. 

“Is it okay? I don’t want to intrude.” He admitted. Yunho nearly told him ‘of course you can’ without hesitation, but he caught himself. He’d seen the occasional concerned glances. 

Hongjoong definitely knew Mingi was cautious around him. 

Respecting that, Yunho told him to wait, striding into the kitchen and beaming at the ex prince and boatswain that darted around each other. Yeosang’s tails were out on full display, occasionally brushing along the exposed skin of Mingi’s abdomen or back as the shirtless man measured spices. 

That being said, the kitsune currently had a one-track-mind, as evidenced by the shriek that he let out when he turned and saw Yunho looming just a few feet from him. 

Mingi tensed in an instant, a white knuckled grip on a knife and his eyes flashing purple before he paused, blinking at Yunho in realization as Yeosang held his chest. 

“Oh my god, Yunho what the fu-”

“Are you okay?!” Hongjoong rushed in after the scream, blinking in surprise when his eyes landed on Yeosang. 

All four men stared at each other like deer in headlights. Yeosang stood slowly, unable to hide the fact his massive, silken tails had been visible to the pianist. 

He still dispelled them, though.

“Uh…hi?” He sheepishly greeted, hoping Hongjoong wouldn’t have another painful headache because of him.  

Hongjoong slow blinked, looking from him, to Mingi, and finally, Yunho. 

“....is everyone alright?” He questioned slowly. Yeosang nodded, wondering if he was going to ask. Hongjoong’s shoulders relaxed, and he looked towards Yeosang once more. 

“....they were really pretty.” He complimented. Yeosang blushed and opened his mouth to ask him if he remembered anything, but he stopped short, watching as Hongjoong went rigid. 

“Cheese smells food! Cheese would like to taste test the food now!”

Anything Yeosang had to say was gone the moment Cheese came bounding into the room, barking excitedly. Hongjoong’s eyes went wide as Cheese jumped up, putting his paws on Mingi’s chest. 

“Cheese has been a very good Cheese! Cheese would now like some of your quality spiced meats now!” 

To Hongjoong, all he could hear was barking. 

Barking and the ocean. 

-It’s so loud. The splashing. 

He can almost feel it, fangs biting into him. 

When he inhales water fills his lungs-

Yunho took his hand and sent an apologetic look to Yeosang and Mingi, tugging Hongjoong away before he could have a panic attack. He could feel the pianist’s hand getting clammy in his own. 

“Hongjoong, look at me, hey.” 

Yunho turned, gently cupping his forearms. Hongjoong looked up at him, mouth opening, but nothing came out. It broke the doctor’s heart, but he didn’t show it, instead pressing a kiss to his forehead. 

“Breathe with me. Take your time.” 

He instructed him gently, and once Hongjoong had gathered his bearings, he realized he was seated in Yunho’s room, his head nestled in the crook of the doctor’s neck. 

“I…I’m okay. Sorry.” He muttered. Yunho kissed his head and pulled back, smiling softly at him. 

“It’s alright. How about we take it easy tonight? I’ll check up on dinner in a bit and maybe we watch a movie?”

Hongjoong frowned. It was clearly obvious Yunho intended to try initiating something intimate when he invited him over after the library and Hongjoong felt like once again, he’d let the taller man down. 

“I-..we can still…”He hated how clammy he felt, frustrated with himself over his phobia and ‘ruining’ his and Yunho’s moment for the second time. Yunho looked at his expression and shook his head. 

“I’m not here to force or pressure you, Hongjoong. Ever. I know you’re afraid of dogs and I should have checked to see where Cheese was before we came in.” Yunho quietly took responsibility, but Hongjoong’s brow only furrowed deeper. 

“He shouldn’t be locked up in a room in his own house because I’m over.” He muttered, eyes fixed on his own hands. 

He felt the beginnings of a headache coming on, a split-like feeling right in the center of his forehead, but he grit his teeth, anger spiking. 

He was…unreasonably angry, and spot on his chest, out of sight, shimmered for a moment.

What the hell does he have to be so afraid of?

Yunho startled when Hongjoong stood abruptly, jaw set. He cast him a worried look and Hongjoong marched out of the room, heading back downstairs with Yunho hot on his heels. 

“Hongjoong? Cap-Uh-wait!” Yunho stumbled, missing a step as Hongjoong stormed back into the kitchen, Mingi looked up, a spoon in hand and a curious look on his face as Hongjoong looked about. 

“....you good?” He inquired, arching a brow. Hongjoong glanced around the room once more before pursing his lips. His gaze drifted over to the canine on the floor and Cheese perked. 

“Oh, Cheese did not know Captain would come back, Cheese will leave-oh there is a hand in Cheese’s face.” 

Cheese blinked and sniffed as Hongjoong put a shaky hand before Cheese’s nose. Yunho finally caught up, blinking in surprise before he put his hand at the small of Hongjong’s back. 

“Cheese, wanna make a friend? Can you be nice and give kisses?” Yunho inquired. Cheese perked and sat up on his haunches, sniffing Hongjoong’s hand more. 

“Of course Cheese can be nice! Cheese is a valuable member of the crew-oh. Oh! The Captain smells of many souls. This confuses Cheese.” Cheese gently licked his hand, pressing his head into Hongjoong’s palm shortly after. Mingi and Yunho’s eyebrows rose as Hongjoong shakily cooed to the dog. 

“G-good boy…such a handsome boy…” Hongjoong stuttered, slowly relaxing thanks to Cheese’s surprising calmness. 

Yeosang came back into the kitchen, blinking in surprise at the return of the pianist. He looked at Yunho and Mingi, tilting his head at them both and the perplexed looks on their faces. 

“Definately….He smells of blood…lotus…some kind of leather…fire…? And the ocean. He smells a lot like the ocean. Oh, and amber. Its an interesting combination for Cheese. Cheese smells at least three…nnn..no, four souls.” 

All of them stared at the Jindo in shock as he gruffawed and keened, lifting his head to accept scratches from Hongjoong. The young man had slowly relaxed, smiling and pressing his head together with the dog’s once Cheese gave him a lick to the cheek. 

“Thank you…sorry, I just…I hate feeling so afraid. There’s no need to be. Not of this little guy, right Cheese?” Hongjoong beamed, smiling as Cheese let out a small, mini howl in delight and wagged his tail. 

“No problem…are you feeling alright?” Yeosang inquired, looking down at Hongjoong. He hadn’t the slightest clue on where to begin when it came to unpacking what the dog had told them, but he’d save that brain crunch for later, instead wanting to focus on the matter at hand. 

“I feel…a lot better than I did before. I really appreciate you all being so patient with me in these moments of weakness.” 

The three of them stared at him. Such a simple phrase, but they’d heard it before, knew it well. 

When their Captain thrashed in his sleep, when he reached blindly and cried for his fallen mother. When the hooks of nightmarish slumber pushed down on his lungs and made it hard to breathe, they’d be there. He always said the same thing, wiping away his tears in frustration. 

“Ah…what kind of Capt’n am I? Making my crew worry about me like that. I’m sorry, it was a moment of weakness. Thank you for pullin’ me out of it.” 

Mingi looked away, his fingers tapping against the counter in front of him while Yunho gently put his arm around him, pulling Hongjoong close to him and kissing his head. Yeosang gently came closer and reached, taking Hongjoong’s hands. He brought them to his lips, kissing his knuckles softly. 

“You can lean on us, Hongjoong. We all could use an attitude adjustment, but I promise, we’re a lot more reliable than we look.” Yeosang spoke against the skin of his hands. Slowly, he lifted his gaze up to Hongjoong’s, taking in the flustered flush that crept up the man’s neck. He stared at him, lips parted in surprise. 

“I- Oh, Thank you, Yeosang.”

Yeosang let his hands go and smiled, motioning for the two to leave the kitchen. 

“Now shoo. Dinner won’t be done for a while. Find something more interesting to occupy your time with.” He urged. 

Yunho mouthed a ‘thank you’ over Hongjoong’s head, leaning to kiss Mingi’s cheek and Yeosang’s birthmark before he picked the pianist up. 

“C’mon, you nearly gave me a heart attack running out so suddenly.” He lightly scolded, taking Hongjoong back upstairs. 

Hongjoong flushed, rubbing his neck in embarrassment, but Yunho simply pulled him in for a kiss, pressing their heads together. 

“Do you want to continue?” 

“Yes.” 

“Do you want to continue because you want to?”

“Yes.”

Hongjoong was frustrated with everyone treating him like he’d break, but he understood well the position he was in. As much as he got flustered and even embarrassed by the coddling, at least he knew both his friends and his boyfriend cared about his comfort. 

Yunho smiled and stole another kiss, cupping both of Hongjoong’s cheeks and teasing his piercing with his own tongue, lightly tugging at the ball. Hongjoong whimpered into his lips, pressing himself against him, his hips twitching as he felt himself grow harder in his loose-fitting pants. 

When Yunho broke the kiss, there was a completely different look in his eyes, one that made Hongjoong shudder in need as the taller man took a step back, pulling his shirt over his head. He tossed it aside and worked on the button of his jeans, smiling at Hongjoong as he followed his every move with his eyes. 

“Have a seat there,” He pointed to the rolling chair he had near a desk adorned with plants and notes. Hongjoong sat himself down, his eyes locking onto the scar on Yunho’s abdomen before he bit his lip lightly, noticing Yunho tugging the waistband of his pants down, his cock springing out moments later. 

Hongjoong was proud of himself for not letting out any of the noises of want that so desperately wanted to slip free from his mouth. 

He was not, however, able to keep back the gasp of surprise when Yunho wrapped a vine around the chair and pulled him in closer, until he was at the end of the bed staring doe eyed as the doctor situated himself in the middle. 

“What…what exactly are we doing, aga-...”Hongjoong trailed off, eyes drifting between Yunho’s legs as the doctor spread them apart, fully on display in front of him. Everything he had in mind died in his throat as he eyed Yunho with a want that made his fingers twitch. 

“I want you to watch me, watch us, if that’s alright?” He instructed, running a hand down his torso before wrapping it around his cock. Hongjoong didn’t brave trying to speak again, worried he’d sound like a fool as he followed every stroke and upward curve of Yunho’s hand. 

“Geb, it’s okay. I don’t think he minds.” Yunho moaned, smiling as he felt the fractured god take over part of his body, smooth vines wrapping around his legs, pulling them wider apart so he couldn’t close them and hide anything from the view of their Captain. 

“Hongjoong, I think you’ll delight in knowing we’ve gotten quite sensitive. Look here,” Geb rumbled, thin vines curling around and rolling Yunho’s nipples until they hardened into buds. Yunho shuddered and moaned, bucking into his own hand. 

“I wonder if you recall how needy we can get when it comes to this. It’s been many moons and we’ve even perfected the right mix for our nectar. Isn’t that right, Yunho? Should we show him?” 

Yunho whimpered, nearly closing his eyes in pleasure. Both of them turned ice blue and Geb tutted as he opened them back fully. 

“Come, now, Yunho. Don’t look away from him.” Geb scolded.  Yunho groaned and lifted his hips, clenching on nothing at the mere thought of what was to come. 

Hongjoong pushed his own pants down past his thigh, laughing in disbelief as he watched a vine thicker and smoother than the one teasing Yunho’s nipples appeared, dribbling something translucent and sweet-smelling over Yunho’s asshole. 

“How often do you play with yourself like this, Yunho? If you two have perfected it, how many nights did it take?” He asked without thinking, smiling at the way Yunho’s hips twitched. 

“I-nn-I’ve lost count…I just let Geb guide and feel around for what’s best-ah!” He choked on his own voice as he bucked, feeling his own vine push into him, coated in the aphrodisiac-like nectar. 

Hongjoong bit his lip, grabbing his own cock and pumping in time with Yunho’s as Geb chuckled and growled into the room. 

“My, it’s been too long. We’ve been neglecting ourselves. He’s tight, Hongjoong. Practically sucking in our vines and it’s still not enough, is it?” He let out a faux sympathetic sigh, more vines wrapping around Yunho’s thick thighs, kneading and gripping them as he fucked himself. The god wasn’t sure if the doctor even knew he’d given up control of their vines a few minutes ago, letting him control his (well, technically their) pleasure. 

Hongjoong kicked his pants off and away from himself, moaning as he watched Yunho arch and stroke himself faster, softly moaning Hongjoong’s name. 

The bed dipped, and the two-toned man joined him, crawling up on his hands and knees and licking up Yunho’s balls, past the length of his cock, over his fingers, before kissing the head of his weeping cock. 

“H-Hongjoong-”

“Don’t stop. You wanted to show me, right?” He whispered, putting his head on Yunho’s thigh, his breath fanning over Yunho’s cock and his stuffed hole. 

Yunho sucked his lip in and trembled, making the vine thicker inside of himself, mirroring the size he knew his smaller lover was. He moaned and arched his back, eyes nearly rolling back as he felt thick, warm nectar electrify his very being. 

“That’s it, pretty boy. I’m here. Show me up close how beautiful you look when you cum.” Hongjoong sighed lovingly, reaching to rub around Yunho’s stuffed rim, smiling when he jolted upwards. 

“Fuck! Ngh-!”

Hongjoong was honestly curious, and clearly was thinking with the head between his legs instead of the one between his shoulders as he leaned down and ran his tongue over both the vine as it pulled out, and the rim of Yunho’s hole, catching some of the nectar on his tongue. 

Yunho’s thighs flexed, and had it not have been for the vines and Geb’s quiet monitoring of their play, he might have snapped them shut. His body trembled, a mixture of several languages spilling from his lips as he chased his orgasm, eyes blown wide with lust as he watched Hongjoong. 

He found his mouth running far faster than his brain could catch up with. 

“Hongjoong, please-” He whimpered, eyes rolling as he felt his own vine push against his prostate. Hongjoong looked up at his face, tilting his head. 

“What is it, baby? What’s wrong?” 

Yunho didn’t have an ounce of embarrassment in his body, looking at him with his lips swollen from self biting, panting like he’d ran a marathon, reaching to run a hand through Hongjoong’s hair. 

“I want…mmmnn…I want you…please? I’ll even wait for you I just- please-” He groaned, his hand speeding up on his cock before he stopped abruptly, stilling the vine in his ass and ruining his orgasm. Hongjoong bit his lip and sat up, watching as veins throbbed on Yunho’s cock, thighs, hands, neck, and temple, straining as he tried to force himself down from his ruined ecstasy. 

“Where’s the condoms you bought?” Hongjoong whispered. Excitement and a flicker of anxiety ran through him, but he found the former beating out the latter as Yunho shakily sent a vine to grab one of the two boxes he’d bought yesterday. Hongjoong took it, tearing the package and rolling it down his cock. 

He crawled up until they could press their foreheads together, his palms splayed out on the bed sheets at either side of Yunho’s ribs. They held each other’s gaze, and Yunho simply smiled, guiding Hongjoong’s cock down to his hole after sliding the messy vine out of himself. 

Hongjoong looked down between them, slowly pressing his hips down and gasping softly as he felt Yunho’s tight and slick walls grip him. 

Both men groaned into the plant-filled room. Yunho gripped his cock tight, forcing down another orgasm as he looked at where they were joined, a dazed and joyful curl of his lips making Hongjoong growl above him. 

“Y-Yunho, don’t clench so tight, baby. I can b-barely move-” Hongjoong moaned, pressing biting kisses down Yunho’s neck. The doctor groaned and let his head roll to the side, his cock making a mess of his abs. 

“I…mmm I can’t help it, you don’t have to go slow.” He urged, trying to rock his hips. Hongjoong opened his mouth to tell him he didn’t want to hurt him, but Yunho leaned into his ear, running his hand through his hair. 

“I like the stretch. Go faster.” He purred, moaning in delight when Hongjoong kissed him with fervor, working up a steady pace. Yunho sucked on his tongue and moaned in approval, stroking himself at an off-beat tempo.

Hongjoong was hyperaware of every sound once more.

Every slap of their hips together, every slick sound of Yunho’s cock in his hand, every filthy smack of their lips in their kiss, all of it made Hongjoong’s body feel like sparks were trailing through his veins. 

“That’s it~ Mmn, you’re so eager, I think you remember our body well, Hongjoong. You’re making such a…mmm…delightful expression, does it feel that good?” Geb moaned, the triangle covering Yunho’s eye once more as they both looked up at Hongjoong. 

The pianist sucked in a breath and rolled his hips down and to the left, smiling as his memory served right, listening as both of them let out a swear of surprise. His lips quirked as he slowed his hips down immediately afterwards. Yunho looked at him in surprise, opening his mouth, but Hongjoong cut him off.

“I want to try the vine, too. At the same time.”  

Even the god was caught off guard, but they recovered quickly, with a vine dribbling sweet nectar between the musician’s cheeks. 

Yunho smiled and reached around his frame, holding his cheeks open as Hongjoong resumed his thrusts. Hongjoong sighed against Yunho’s skin as he felt the tip of it press into his hole. 

“Nice and slow, Joongie.” 

Hongjoong’s hips stuttered for only a moment as the slick tip pushed into him, a groan of surprise spilling from his lips. It certainly was bigger than Yunho’s fingers, but not enough to knock the wind out of him, and soon he found his rhythm again, grinding into Yunho at a deep, slow pace. 

“Right there, right there yes nngh!” Yunho arched, nearly covering his mouth at the shaky gasp that spilled from his lips, catching himself off guard. Hongjoong noticed and grit his teeth, sweat rolling down his brow as he took his hand and pulled it away, lacing their fingers together and staring down into his eyes. 

Yunho looked up, holding his gaze as he gradually thickened and curved the vine inside of Hongjoong, smiling as Hongjoong let out his own cry of delight, feeling it rub right against his prostate. 

Hongjoong looked down, and like before, felt that phantom feeling of rocking on a boat as he rolled his hips downwards, his bangs sticking to his forehead. 

Yunho…felt as good as he’d always did. 

He always stared at him with those big brown eyes, deep with love and eager for more. 

Always…

“I love you.” Hongjoong panted, grabbing handfuls of the sheets as he looked down at Yunho. The doctor’s lips parted in surprise and he opened his mouth to respond, but Hongjoong kissed him feverishly, swallowing his moans as he sped up, reaching between them to stroke Yunho. The doctor’s hand had halted in surprise, but now it wrapped around the bars of the bed above his head as he arched his back, pretty notes falling past his lips as he looked up at Hongjoong. 

“C’mon, cum with me baby, I’m so close, please I need it I was good, I was good, please-” He slipped up, his mind melting as he sped up the vine in Hongjoong, wanting him to join him in the climbing ecstasy. 

Hongjoong’s eyes widened before he smiled, leaning into his ear. 

“You’re so good, Yunho. You’re so good for me, for us.” He cooed, biting the shell of his ear when he heard Yunho’s breath hitch. He stroked him faster, surprised at himself and the strong need to make the doctor fall apart first. 

“You and Geb are so good. Is this what I missed? Hm? You look beautiful like this. I-I don’t think I can hold back, baby. Hold me, go faster, we’re gonna cum together.” He groaned, feeling his hips ache in a way he was familiar with from performing, but with a blanket of pleasure running up and down his spine as the nectar ran down his rim and his balls. 

“Thank you, thank you, I love you, right there-AH!”

Yunho arched his back and forced himself to keep his eyes open, biting his lip as Hongjoong’s expression matched his. Stars dotted his vision and he clenched tight, his body taught as he finally came with a loud cry, thick splurts making a mess of his and Hongjoong’s abs. Hongjoong smiled and kissed him, rocking back and forth desperately. 

Between the tightness of Yunho’s trembling body and the dizzying pleasure of the vine in his ass, Hongjoong didn’t stand a chance, hugging Yunho and moaning into the heated skin of his neck as he came inside of the condom. 

“Y-Yunho-”

He shuddered, staying in his arms and holding him as both of them tried to force air back into their lungs. The vine retreated, and Hongjoong flushed, feeling thick pearls of nectar roll out. Did he need that much lubrication? Probably not, but it gave him a hungry feeling for the real thing that made his heart skip. 

Good thing both of them were already blushing from head to toe. 

Yunho groaned, muscles sore as he wrapped his arms around Hongjoong, sending him a thousand watt smile. 

“You did…phenomenally. I hope I feel it for days.” He mused, closing his eyes and letting his head thump against the pillow, a blissed smile on his face. Hongjoong blushed and looked down between them. 

“Yunho, we should clean up. We’re covered in sweat, cum, and nectar.”

“Mmm. Gimme a moment. I’m basking.”

Hongjoong sent him a flat look before he playfully rolled his eyes, putting his head on Yunho’s chest. 

He supposed it wasn’t too bad to rest for a bit more.

Just a little.

̶̶̶̶  «̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ «̶ ̶̶̶ 　Meanwhile, Downstairs　 ̶ ̶ ̶��̶ ̶̶̶ ̶ »̶ ̶̶̶  

Once they were out of earshot, Yeosang sighed softly, shoulders slumping. Mingi looked at him out of the corner of his eye before looking down at Cheese. 

“You said you smelled four souls inside of him?” 

Cheese looked up and nodded, letting out a big yawn before sprawling onto the cool tile of the kitchen floor. 

“One is his. The scents Cheese told you about are the ones Cheese smelled in them. Amber-Cheese thinks that is his soul, it is the strongest smelling. Then bloody lotus, fire and leather, and the ocean. The ocean scent is the faintest. Like it’s fading.” 

Both of their eyes widened and Mingi clenched his fists so hard, he had crescents in his palms. 

“Captain…are you…are you still in there?” He whispered without thinking. Yeosang tapped his lip and paced the room, eyes fixed on the tiles as he tried to process the gravity of their findings. 

He shook his head, ruffling his hair, and turned to Mingi instead, walking over to gently tuck himself in the taller immortal's arms.

"Are you okay, Mingi?"

Mingi wrapped his arms around him, conflict swirling in his mind. 

"I…I don't know."

Yeosang gave him a squeeze and looked into his eyes. 

"It's okay not to know right now. We can navigate through this together. It's confusing as all hell. But, what matters to me right now," he gently kissed Mingi and leaned back so he could stare into his eyes. 

"Is that all of my loves are full and taken care of. Do you want dessert made? I can start." He offered, rubbing Mingi’s cheeks. Mingi looked at him for a long time before putting his hands over Yeosang’s. 

"Would…would you still love me if I wasn't the same me you've always known?"

Yeosang pressed his lips together before he exhaled softly.

"I would."

"How do you know?"

"The you in front of me isn't the you from centuries ago. The me in front of you isn't the me from centuries ago. None of us have escaped the touch of pain and time. Just because we do not deteriorate or change physically doesn't mean we haven't changed emotionally and mentally." Yeosang closed his eyes and hummed. 

"It's…been hard and there's an awful rift between us that hurts so much…but I still love you. I still love everyone. Mingi," he pulled the taller man into a hug.

"If…if you don't still love me…or us…that's within your right. I'm not going to force you. I just…I'll do everything in my power to help you and everyone smile again. I can do that."

Mingi felt his heart clench in pain, hugging him tight. 

"I do love you!” He spoke hurriedly, worried he’d offended the ex prince by his venting. Yeosang didn’t say a word, gently petting his hair and smiling softly, waiting for him to continue after he gave him a small, encouraging nod. Mingi worried his lip between his teeth. 

“I…I want things to go back to before. I want everyone back. I'm so tired." He whispered, his eyes cast at the ground. 

Yeosang rubbed his back, gently kissing his cheek. He felt his heart squeeze. 

He was also to blame for this, he knew inaction and fear spoke just as loud as action and hostility. 

His upbringing taught him better than to be a bystander, and still he let the others and Mingi down. 

"I'm…sorry I haven't done enough to protect you. Is…is there anything I can do? Or…is it too late? It's just us, you can be honest with me." Yeosang felt his own tears well up as he looked at Mingi. The taller man sucked in a breath and looked at him for a long time. 

"I…I have a lot I need to get off my chest…right now, I need someone to talk to. If…if it's alright?" He whispered. Yeosang smiled and kissed his knuckles. 

"I'll turn the fire off and we can take a walk so no one interrupts. Is that alright? We can bring Cheese." He offered. Mingi looked at him and then the dog and nodded once. 

"Thank you, Yeosang. I'm sorry."

"No need to be sorry, Mingi. Here, I'll grab your coat."

Mingi cast a look at the kitchen before he took a breath and looked down at Cheese, smiling as the dog nudged his thigh. 

“Cheese does not know what happened, but Cheese loves his family and will provide excellent emotional support!” 

Mingi exhaled, laughing wetly before he heard Yeosang approach with his coat, handing it to him with a worried look settled in his brow. 

“Shall we go, Mingi?” He inquired. Mingi nodded, grabbing Cheese’s leash and grabbing Yeosang’s hand within his own shaking one. 

“I’m coming. I’ll lead the way.”

┍━☽【❖】☾━┑

T a g l i s t

┕━☽【❖】☾━┙

@jacksons-goddess-gaia @kimnamshiks @atiny-dazzlinglight @angel0taiyo @gettin-a-lil-hanse @aeyla @eversionic @itsatinyworld @unatempesta-dipensieri @lonely10vely @yunhosblackgf @not-majestic-bluenicorn @moonmin-miya @snowstaytiny @delphinium3000 @just-a-starfruit @skmoonchild @allthestarsrcloser @sneaky-ash @im-what-iam @stayatinyfics @smallfrye @atinyteez @bangteezbaby @seomisaho @kirisimpma @chaos-ground-writing @daniblogs164 @daisyhwa @yunhofingers @stormiestories @billboard-singer @asyamonet22 @perfectlysane24 @drunk-on-hwa @shingisimp @xuxibelle @twistedsiren @heesuncore @dreamyinception-world @justatiredhuman @serialee @babyhailey819 @eribear23 @spooo00oky @shymexican @stardragongalaxy @horizonmoonfics

[xoxo-sarah]

Scared

↝a/n: gif by @fanficmeat. I don't like this fic as much as I thought I would when I first starting writing it.

↝pairing: Robin Buckley x fem!reader

↝ Warning: reader hasn't came out to her parents yet, robin says something mean, angst, not proofread.

↝⎙ 11.28.22

Robin stomped down the stairs, making a beeline for the front door. "Robin, wait!" She didn't stop until you took hold of her hand, her pinky slipping from your grip, as she turned around. "What?"

You knew she was mad. You would be too. She had every right to be mad at you and take her anger out on you. Anything if she just stayed.

"Please just-"

"I wish I never met you."

Your eyes shot up from her shoes to her eyes, where all the pretty green-blue particles were dancing around. Except now, the particles were dancing as if they were sad. The life that is usually behind her eyes, was dull. Something that tugged at your heart strings.

"You don't mean that." Your voice slightly quivered, hope and hurt intertwined with your words. She didn't say anything, didn't even look up from the ground.

"Robin, you have to believe me when I say I'm not embarrassed by you. You're the best thing to ever happen to me." Reaching out, your palm make contact with her jaw, gently moving it up to connect your eyes. "I'm just scared."

Robin felt as if her heart fell out of her ass. The last of your whispered words causing her eyebrows to furrow. "Why?"

"Rob, you know how people are around here; they can be cruel."

Although Robin understood, she was still hurt. You said she was 'just a friend'. Yeah, that might not seem like something that should hurt as much as it does, but Robin just thought that you two were over that part in the relationship. It had been almost 7 months. She was just now getting to show PDA Infront of Steve. STEVE of all people. She knew you weren't embarrassed of who you are, or of her, she was just tired.

"You're not just a friend, you know that. You're my world, as cheesy as that sounds. I am forever grateful for you."

Sighing, she found the paint-chipped walls oddly entertaining. "I don't want to rush you, you can come out to your parents on your own time. I'm just very tired of having to hide us. I don't want to just be 'one of your friends'. I'm your girlfriend and I want to be able to act like one."

"You can. I promise you, I'll tell them. I'll tell them and I won't even care how they respond. We'll be able to do whatever the hell we want. Okay?"

She slowly nodded, looking away from the wall. "I'll be here with you the whole way."

You brought your hand up, caressing her face, before bringing it closer. "I know. I don't deserve you."

Smiling against your lips, she said "I know."

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

•2021-2024 by xoxo-sarah on Tumblr•

•My work is not to be translated, copied, modified, and/or reposted on any other site without my permission. [!I don't give permission!]

[wroteitbutneverwatchedit]

id love to request a michael langdon x reader full of angst, maybe reader really doesn't agree with this whole destroy the world thing and tries to talk him out of it and it leads to a huge argument! good or bad ending :) thank you for the chance xoxo

Hope you like this! Tell me if you want me to continue it!

Micheal Langdon x f!reader

Word count: 924

⚝──⭒─⭑─⭒──⚝

From the moment I met Micheal, I knew that I would always love him, but as time passes and his fulfillment of the end of the world nears I find my heart wavering. All his time has been consumed with fulfilling this mission, I told him that I wanted to start a family and watch our kids grow up. But I won’t be able to do any of that with him, he is more concerned with making his father happy. Though he doesn’t know what else to do with his power, I want to talk to him more and try to get through to him. But he is always at the cooperative having meetings and “handling business “. He has missed our last two date nights it’s starting to get on my nerve. I can only take so much distance and lack effort before I explode. So now as I walk through the cooperative building to Michael’s office, I’m at my limit. The only sound heard through the crowded halls was my boots clicking against the floor as everyone watch me walk. As I approach Michael’s office door it opens before me, exiting the office are two males who appear to be high. They look me up and down before they start attempting to hit on me, I roll my eyes and walk into my husband’s office. I am not met with a smile, a hello, or even a wave, instead, I am met with the mastered voice of intimidation.

“What are you doing here?” He questioned me, I scoffed and walk up to his desk.

“You and I need to talk” I state, he finally looks up at me. I place my purse on his desk and take a seat on the chair opposite of him

“What could be so important that you couldn’t wait until I come home?” He asked me in a condescending tone.

“When was the last time you were home?” I corrected, he simply raised his eyebrows in annoyance.

“If you’ve come to start an argument with me about my work in my office. Then you can go home now because it won’t happen” he dismissed me, and I chuckled and rolled my eyes.

“Darling, I came to have a simple conversation with you because you can’t seem to find the time anymore to sit down and talk to your wife. You are too busy fulfilling everyone’s needs but mine, you used to be the best partner a woman could ever dream of now you’ve just turned to shit.” I hissed at him, he didn’t say anything but he stood up and walked over to my chair. Once he was directly in front of me he bent down close to my ear.

“We can talk about this at home, go home before my temper gets the better of me” he reprimanded, I sighed and leaned back.

“Michael, I’m not your little fucking follower. I don’t have to listen to you, you don’t own me. So I’m staying right here so we can have this conversation as husband and wife. Not man and his whore.” I scoffed, he stood up and leaned back against his desk before making eye contact with me again.

“Okay, darling what is so important that you had to come and cause a big scene at my place of work?” He pressed

“Michael, why are you rushing to bring the end of the world to fruition? Why can’t you take your time? I have told you countless times that I want to have a family with you and be able to watch them-“

“So you came to my office to whine about me fulfilling my purpose? Here I thought you would support me in my dreams, but you came here to try and convince me not to do what I was put on this earth to do. If that is all you came for, you can leave now” he cut me off, I was upset but moreover, I was disappointed.

“Michael, I hope you find all the joy that you are hoping for in your dreams. I hope that you find someone to share that joy with too. I can’t and won’t be that person, I’m going back to my true home. You should be happy, you won’t ever have to hear me whine about your purpose.” I said standing up to gather my things. He grabbed my hand and pulled me to him.

“Darling don’t be silly, you were made for me. My joy is your joy, you are to stay on this earth until we are both ready to go” he demanded

“Honey, I was never made for you. I am an angel, you are an Antichrist. If you won’t even hear my comments and complaints out to their entirety then don’t complain when I chose to leave you here. You want to crush my dreams so bad that I don’t even want to share my dreams with you anymore. I have loved you for years and I will continue to love you for many millennia but I can’t stay with you if you are interested in crushing what I want” I berated, I pulled my hand from his grasp and picked up my purse.

“We can talk about this Angel, how about we go out to a nice restaurant somewhere secluded? We can talk over everything, tonight” he pleaded, his demeanor had changed now. Standing before me was now the scared, empathetic Michael Langdon that I fell in love with.

[cinnapuppymilk]

Rose Thorn in His Side

A/N: Hi!!! if you think you are seeing this post AGAIN, yes, yes you are! I had to switch accounts so I'm reposting this here and all following chapters will be posted to this account. I pinky promise to write extra spicy scenes to make up for it! Mwah!! xoxo

Original A/N Hey! This is gonna be my first fanfic ever, and kind of long so bare with me as I world-build. I get nervous thinking about posting this but my maladaptive daydreams just come up with the best material I have to type it out. This is gonna have some key points that I've entirely made up and doesn't exist in the TLW universe but hey, anything to make the story flow yeah? Lastly, this is Fem!Rabbit (medium-sized)(Y/N Ramirez)x Death(Lobo)

conejita = bunny (fem)

if there are spelling errors feel free to alert me! enjoy ☆

Chapter One: Table 7a.

'I am definitely a morning person.'

You thought to yourself as the sunlight from your bedroom window basically blinded you. You sighed, it must be 10am. You always woke up at 10am. No alarm needed, somehow your body knew what awaited it and got itself up without much help.

'I am absolutely a morning person.'

You tried to convince yourself as you stretched and felt all of the stiffness from sleep crackled and popped itself away. You finally summoned the energy to stand and immediately a shiver shot up from your feet to your head. The floor was ice cold, making you want to jump back into the sunny warmth of your bed. But instead, with a heavy sigh you treaded forward into your bathroom. You splashed warm water on your face and when you did you realized your face was cold as well, and the water felt nice. You let the water form a shallow pool in your hands and gently placed your face there.

'Maybe you really are a morning person.'

The thought crossed your mind only to be quickly interrupted by the sound of loud knocking on your front door.

You hastily patted your face dry and rushed to the door to see your long-time friend, Mateo standing there, looking more guilty than a murderer in Church.

"Don't be mad-" he started before you cut him off with a whiny retort.

"Noo Mateo don't do this to me pleasee." You begged, trying to avoid the inevitable B.S you knew was gonna come out of Mateo's mouth.

"I'm sorry Y/N, but Diego got hammered last night and he's really sick this morning, I even went over to check, just to make sure he wasn't lying and the poor kid is throwing up chunks. There's no way he can work, can you pleaaase work a double, por favorrr."

You sighed, knowing that you were definitely going to cover for him, but you were absolutely going to complain to yourself about it all morning.

"I am NOT a morning person, Mateo...but fine. I will come in, give me an hour and I'll be there and before you ask, sí, you do owe me, as well as Diego."

"Wait what, I'm just the messeng-" Mateo blurted before being interrupted with a playful "Adíos" and the door being shut in his face.

While getting ready to start your work day hours earlier than usual you cursed everything under the sun.

Curse your anxiety for making it so you would work at the same bar for 6 years, too afraid of new settings and people to ever try and get another job.

Curse Deigo for not knowing his drinking limits, forcing you to come in early instead of following your usual morning routine that you clung to so tightly.

Curse your need for control over your life, making you feel so overwhelmed and anxious when simple things like covering for a coworker occurs unexpectantly.

Curse life for being so difficult all the time.

Curse death too because if you were immortal you wouldn't have to worry about any of this at all.

You chuckled at your mini rant in your head before heading off to work at the bar that's been somewhat of a second home to you.

When you arrived at the bar, you took your usual position behind the counter, setting up your work area with clean glasses and making sure your kegs were ready. Your boss, Maria, placed a hand on your shoulder making you jump.

"Hola Y/N! Sorry to call you in like this, I know you already were gonna work the night shift but idiot one, Mateo, spent the after hours taking shots with idiot two, Diego, knowing he's a lightweight so, here we are, your lunch is on me today okay?" She gave you a reassuring smile before zipping away to take care of her duties.

You caught Mateo cleaning a table across the room and you shot him the coldest dirty look you could muster. No wonder he looked so nervous this morning, he was the main culprit. Mateo mouthed a pitiful "Sorry...love you!" while making a heart shape with his hands before running away out of your view into a backroom.

You sighed, and decided that you were going to try and make today a good day. At least at work you can escape your head. No room to overthink when you have to think about orders and drink making and cleaning tables.

Looking at a wall clock that read 11:34am, you decided to get lost in your work.

To your appreciation, the earlier work day went by fast. You saw the usual customers with their usual tales and problems and met a few newcomers who were just happy to see the bottom of a glass.

Checking the time again, it read 1:39am.

'Last call is at 2am, if I go fast I can be outta here by 3am.' You thought to yourself while drying some shot glasses.

Most of your coworkers bid you goodnight a while ago, they were lucky enough to only have one shift. You were left with Gabriella, a nice girl with good street smarts, and Maria, your ever so loving boss.

Gabriella bumped her hip into yours with a tired but happy smile on her face. She was always a bit of a space invader but she also was the first person to check in on you most times as well as defending you from customers who got a bit belligerent after too many drinks. So, you didn't mind her touchiness.

"Hanging in there Y/N? We're almost done! I'm ready for a nice hot bath tonight." she said while she picked up a few glasses, helping you get them clean.

"I'm definitely tired. When I see Mateo and Diego again they're never gonna hear the end of it....like...ever. I will haunt them in the afterlife, just watch Gabi, just watch."

Gabriella laughed before greeting Maria who then came behind the counter and got very close to you and Gabriella.

"Alright ladies, mira mira, table 7a.-"

You glanced up at the table that sat in the back corner of the bar, there sat a hooded figure, so tall they looked like they would tower over you even while sitting. You couldn't make out much of the figures face, except for a nose and mouth that definitely belongs to a wolf.

You were a little unsettled by them, afterall, if they wanted a late night drink, shouldn't they have approached the bar? Why sit in the dark, and why not speak to the bartender..? Are they looking for trouble?

Your thoughts were interrupted with the rest of Maria's sentence.

"He called me over, said he wants a Black Russian, I've got to count the drawers for the night so you two handle that..and be extra kind to him..seems like he's in a bad mood..."

Maria looks up at you both with a hint of concern in her eyes.

"If he causes trouble..call the coppers first...then me..kay'?"

Both you and Gabriella were a bit taken aback by Maria's request.

'Did he really give her that bad of a vibe?' you thought before returning your glance to the hooded figure. He now was looking up, and straight at all three of you. He had piercing red eyes that seemed illuminated no matter the lighting. You could swear you saw a small sinister grin on his face as he stared intently. You suddenly felt so uneasy, and unsafe. Your heart quickened its pace so you forced yourself to look away. Maria had apparently already left and you turned your head to see Gabriella caught in the same petrified state you were in.

"Gabi-" you started only to be cut off by her somewhat shaky voice. She snapped her head to look you in the eyes.

"Y/N, I'll wash the dishes, wipe the tables, sweep the floors and even prepare the kegs for tomorrow. But I'm not serving him."

"Gabi, you don't have to do all tha-"

Gabriella took another glance at the hooded figure and whatever she saw made her have visible goosebumps.

"I'll start now." She chirped quickly before dashing into the backroom.

You looked back at table 7a, and now there was no mistaking it. He was smiling. A bit wider than he was before as well. He found something funny, and for some reason, that gave you the same goosebumps Gabriella had.

You didn't want to trigger an anxiety attack, which were at times unfortunately frequent for you, so you figured you would just make his drink, the quicker you can get this stranger out of here, the better.

His drink...

.......

His drink....

'What the hell did he order again???'

You cursed yourself for forgetting what Maria said he wanted. You cursed this strangers intense gaze for erasing all of the thoughts from your head. Maria kept her office locked while counting money, and there was no way Gabriella remembered since she never had the intention of serving him anyway.

You were gonna have to ask him.

'Shit.'

You grabbed your little notebook and pen from behind the counter before hesitantly making your way to table 7a.

You tried to keep your eyes down at the floor but you did glance up while making your way over and confirmed your suspicion that this wolf was staring you down all the way to his table. It left this ball of uneasiness in the pit of your stomach. You took a big but quiet breath in as you approached his table.

"Hola señor, I'll be serving you tonight, could you please remind me what your order was again?" You prayed your unease didn't show in your tone as you put on your best customer serving voice.

The wolf said nothing for a few seconds, staring at you with a smile that maybe would seem friendly on anyone else but him. Those seconds felt like an eternity as you took the time to see his face up close. His fur was white, with a dark mask like pattering over his eyes leading all the way down his snout. Despite the ghastly hood that might have suggested otherwise, his fur looked soft. You admittedly thought about what it would feel like to touch it. You concluded that on closer inspection, he was a bit handsome.

"A Black Russian." His voice interrupted your shameless thoughts. His voice was deep, smooth and cold and had the inflection like he thought something was just a bit comical.

"Of course, coming right up." You quickly spun yourself around and sped walked away back to the safety of the counter.

In practically no time, the Black Russian was made. This time while walking back to the table you made sure to keep your eyes down. You wondered when the last time someone even ordered a Black Russian was.

When you reached his table, you desperately didn't want to meet his eyes again, they made you feel like you were frozen in place, staring hopelessly at something that looked like it kinda wanted to eat you. So instead you focused your sight on your hand placing the drink on the table, trying again to hide your uneasiness.

All the while, Death, unbeknownst to you, was having a bit of a fun time watching you. The way you had tapped your pen nervously on your notepad, the way you bounced from one foot to the other, biting your lower lip and desperately trying to avoid eye contact. And he especially took notice of the way your tail twitched now and again. He knew he made you unbelievably unnerved and you wanted nothing more than to escape the situation. And yet there you were, taking his order with the shakiest smile ever. You could've cowardly escaped to the backroom like your friend but you didn't. You endured his unsettling gaze and he admittedly loved every moment of it.

"Will that be all..it's the last call so.." Your voice finally gave in and you couldn't hide your uncomfortability towards the end of your sentence.

He decided he was having more fun than he planned to, and he wasn't finished torturing you yet. He licked his lips, and you took a shameful amount of interest in the size of his teeth and the way his tongue rolled over them.

"Actually, I meant to order a White Russian. Would you mind.." He looked up at you, giving a smirk that didn't hide his devious amusement.

It took you a second to find your train of thought.

"Right, a White Russian..so cream then, I'll be right back." you chirped before retreating once again to your counter.

While fetching the cream needed for his drink, Maria finally left the safety of the office, she had her coat on, so you guessed she was ready to leave. She glanced over to the wolf, before turning her gaze back onto you.

"Any trouble out of that one?"

Truthfully, despite feeling as though you wanted to run for the hills during your entire interaction with him, and having a hunch that you will never forget those daggers he has for eyes. He wasn't actually guilty of anything other than looking like serial killer. You couldn't truthfully claim he did anything worth being labeled trouble.

"No, he um, just wanted a White Russian instead." you stated while motioning with the small pitcher of cream in your hand. Maria breathed a sigh of relief.

"That's good, well Gabi seemed a little sick when I saw her last in the back so I sent her home, she didn't get to wipe the tables so that and locking up are your final tasks for the night. It's raining pretty hard so try and find a spare umbrella in the back. Night Y/N." Maria then made her way out of the back exit. Leaving you and the wolf in the bar alone.

. . .

Oh right, his White Russian.

You spun around to see him tapping his claw on the table. Guess you took too long, he no longer seemed as amused.

You zipped to his table, while simultaneously trying not to spill any cream. When you approached him he immediately startled you with his voice.

"Any longer and the ice would've melted..and I thought rabbits were meant to be fast." He gave a deep half chuckle.

You were almost offended at his comment, there wasn't a need for stereotypes, after all you could say a lot about him being a big scary wolf. Suddenly, you had newly sprung courage bubble up in you. You poured the cream carefully and decided to speak up.

"If you had ordered the right drink the first go around you wouldn't have to wait Señor Lobo. We all can't be perfect."

As soon as the words left your mouth, you desperately wanted to swallow them back up. Hesitantly, you peeked up at the wolf. For a second you thought you might've saw a surprised expression on his face before quickly being replaced by one of devious amusement once again. He gave a deep hearty laugh before downing his drink and licking his lips. You cursed yourself for focusing on his mouth so much.

He then abruptly stuck out his paw with a grin.

You hesitantly placed your hand in his and gave a small shake.

"Death." he spoke as he tilted his head slightly, not letting go of your hand.

"What? Wait like, that's your name or..are you wishing it on me?" You asked giving a fake chuckle, hoping that he wasn't actually wishing death on you.

"That's my name. And yours is?" He still held your hand, it was strangely cold for someone who was covered in so much fur.

"Y/N..Ramirez." You gave a small smile before gently trying to pull your hand back only for him to hold it tighter for a second longer before letting go.

You hadn't really thought too deeply into his name, you've met a lot of folks with all sorts of unique names, some they were given, others they came up with themselves. If anything, his name suited him well. You couldn't imagine if he had a name like..José or Luis.

"Well, Death..the bar is now closed and I've just got these tables to clean before locking up. It was..nice meeting you and I hope you come again." You gave him the same spiel you gave every new customer.

"Of course, enjoy the rest of your evening, Y/N," He said smoothly. You nodded and reached into your servers belt to fish out his receipt.

However, when you looked up to give it to him, he was gone, and on the table was a pile of gold coins that were worth more than what one lousy White Russian would cost.

You looked around in confusion as you didn't comprehend how he could've gotten past you without making a sound. Or how he could've left through the front doors without ringing the bells at the top. You shook your head as you realized how tired you were. You scooped up the coins and left them on Maria's desk for tomorrow, after that you wiped the tables down and let your mind wander as you locked all the doors and windows of the bar.

You initially thought that Death's encounter with you would leave you with nightmarish memories of his red eyes and chilling demeanor. Instead, however, you kept thinking about all the wrong things.

You thought about how you liked his fur, and how soft it looked.

You like his scent, it reminded you of how it smells right after it rains.

You liked the way he talked, deep, smooth, and confident.

You liked the way his tongue glossed over his large teeth..and the way your hand felt in his..

You forcefully ejected yourself from your embarrassing thoughts as you locked the front door and stepped into the hard rain.

'Right. Maria did say it was raining and I did not grab an umbrella. What a damn idiot am I.'

You sighed deeply, preparing yourself for the 15 minute soaking wet walk you were gonna have to take home. You only got a couple paces in the direction of your home before you stopped in your tracks.

'Ah, I was right. I didn't forget those eyes.'

You thought to yourself as you immediately recognized Death's illuminated red eyes in the shadow of a tree not too far from where you stood. Hesitantly, you called out to him.

"...Death?"

Instantly, he emerged from the shadows, chuckling to himself as he approached you.

"Bien, conejita, muy bien. You have good awareness."

For some reason, you made a mental note to remember his compliment to you.

"Were you out here waiting for me?" you asked as he finally got within a few feet of you. It was then you truly realized how big he was. You weren't as small as other rabbits in your family, in fact you kinda considered yourself tall for a rabbit and yet, your head only came up to his chest, forcing you to lift your head up to look at him.

"Sí, it's raining hard and you have no umbrella. So I'll be a gentleman and lend you this."

Suddenly the hard pellets of rain no longer battered down on you, you blinked and realized, Death no longer had on his poncho, instead, it was on you.

You felt your cheeks and ears burn red with embarrassment.

"Ah, gracías.." You focused your sight on the ground as you found it too hard to face him in that moment.

"No problem, though of course you can't keep it..we are strangers after all, sí?"

'Oh right. Well then he'll have to take it back...after I get home.....Oh.'

You then realized what he was implying. He was gonna walk you home, you felt your cheeks and ears burn even hotter, and for a second you wanted to feel the rain on your face to cool you down.

"Right, well just this way then.." you trailed off as you began picking your pace back up in the correct direction.

While you focused your gaze on the ground out of shyness, Death focused his gaze on you.

He admittedly wasn't entirely sure why he was out here, walking some bunny to her home in the rain. He only meant to stop in for a quick drink after a long day. He mentally flipped through reasons that led him to be here, chauffeuring a little rabbit home.

He found you interesting, he liked the effect he had on you, specifically.

He had a strong effect on practically everyone. The running, screaming, pleading, fighting back kind of effect.

But on you, there was a push and pull. He noticed the way you couldn't be still under his gaze, how when given the chance you practically scattered to the comfort of the counter away from his table...but he also noticed the way you had unconsciously grazed your thumb over his paw when you shook hands... and the way your breath hitched when he leaned in too close. He chalked up his interest to wanting answers for this strange behavior and figured a quick chat on the way to your home would be all he needed to satisfy his curiosity.

....Plus, he enjoyed the way you had to keep pulling up his poncho because it was much too big for you. He couldn't help but chuckle at the sight.

"It's just past this uphill, not too far." You interrupted his thoughts. Your voice shaky, but this time not from uneasiness, instead, you found yourself very, very cold. Despite his poncho covering most of your body, it wasn't thick enough to not be eventually soaked in the relentless rain.

The shivering as well as the now slippery uphill walk slowed your pace greatly. Death, who was already making an effort to not speed past you with his naturally longer strides now had to come almost to a complete stop. He watched you helplessly attempt to conquer a small hill.

He didn't want to spend this much time on this little side quest of his. Shaking his head, he decided there was no other option.

He swiftly got close behind you and scooped you up bridal style into his arms. You screamed out in surprise as you found yourself suddenly looking up at Death, and the cloudy night sky, with rain more gently now, hitting your face. Death looked annoyed as he moved his mouth dangerously close to your ear.

"Hush now, conejita, you're starting to become more of a burden than you're worth." he whispered in your ear.

Offended, you scowled and looked away from him.

'It wasn't like I asked you to walk me home.' You thought to yourself as you begrudgingly let Death carry you in his arms, wishing you were home already in your warm bed.

Death looked down at you, seeing your hurt expression made him upset. He truthfully didn't mean to come across as rude as he did. The whole reason he's even here right now was to talk to you. Strangely for him, he regretted his comment and tried to change the subject.

"How long have you worked at the bar?" He asked plainly.

"Six and a half years, 17 days and 14 hours but hey who's counting." You grinned at your joke. You honestly did love working at the bar, despite all of the challenges it can present you.

Death nodded before carrying on.

"So then, you've seen many different kinds of people. What do you think of them?"

You gave your answer thought before speaking, humming while you did so.

"Ahh, most people are fun. They just want to let loose and chat everyone's head off. That, or they are looking for some comfort in drinking. Either way, I've had no real problems with most of the customers. I just do my best to give them what they need."

The rain has now come to a light sprinkle, the cold air pushed against you, making you want to retreat into the fur of this large wolf, but you refrained, not wanting to cross a line.

Death hummed in response and then there was a silence. You closed your eyes and focused on the crunch of the leaves under Death's feet as he carried you to home.

You could faintly hear his breathing, calm and steady despite just overcoming the uphill in the rain. The rhythmic rise and fall of his chest combined with the sway of the walk was just the break you needed after such a long day.

Death's voice broke the silence.

"And what do you make of me."

Although it was a question, Death said it like he it was more of a thought to himself, as if he already knew the answer and was just thinking out loud.

You took even longer to answer this time.

"I think you must have it hard, with your appearance being so...unnerving. But you're a good guy I think. Plus, when you get a good look, you look kinda handsome. So cheer up, and don't be so down, you don't have to be the big bad wolf, you can be whatever you want."

You decided to answer honestly as you saw your cottage not too far away. And it's not like you'll ever see this guy again, so who cares if you say something just a bit embarrassing.

Suddenly, Death placed you gently onto your feet and removed his poncho from you.

You turned to look at him, hoping your honesty didn't tick him off. Death stared off at something else. This time he was the one avoiding eye contact.

"You're home, rabbit." He said as he put his poncho back on himself, seemingly unbothered by how cold and wet it was.

You turned to see your cottage just a few paces ahead of you.

"Ah thank you, be safe on your travels."

He paused, still glaring into the void.

"You too conejita, I don't want to see you too soon."

Before you could ask him what that last part meant, you blinked and he vanished. And somehow, with his departure, the air felt warmer.

That night, after a much needed shower and dinner, you laid in your bed with your head full of nothing but the wolf from the bar.

You wished on every star you could see from your window that he wasn't just a passersby.

That you might get to see Death again.

You drifted off to sleep, with dreams of Death filling your head.

.....

Not far from your home, Death sat against a tree. Your words replaying in his mind. He ruffled the fur on the top of his head with a heavy sigh.

He knew he couldn't leave you alone after that.

End of chapter one.

Chapter Two 🔽

[sunnylands-world]

Run away mommy - Draco x reader 

Summary: reader gets pregnant 

It had been two weeks of waking up and vomiting and throwing up but you pushed it aside assuming it was a stomach bug but then it was a new month and your schedule said it was time for your monthly friend and when she didn't come you realized something was up so you looked into it rushing to a muggle store for a test. you waited for time to be up and once it was you saw it was positive your face went pale as you forgot the pill on your desk. you were a wreck. how would Draco react and as you sat the more you realized you didn't want to find out. So you called your friend telling her you need to stay at her place but before you left you wrote Draco a note to find after work.

Dear Draco, I'm starting by saying sorry I'm not home. i left because…well i'm pregnant and my terrible memory didn't remind me to take my pill before we had sex last time. i'm so sorry i left by draco xoxo love y/n

Draco came home excited to see the love of his life only to find she was gone. in a panic he rushed around calling for you but you didn't answer. He ran to your room to see if you were there finding the small paper instead. his heart tightened as he feared that maybe someone else had caught your eye or worst his nightmare became reality and the dark lord came back and took you. he breathed in preparing himself before he grabbed the paper eyes scanning for a reason for your absence soon he finished tears filled his eyes As he felt relief fill him.

you weren't really gone but as quickly as he felt peace he also remembered he was a soon to be dad but his girl had left and was gone in a world of people. Draco wanted to be a dad and the days he wasn't waking in a cold sweat he was dreaming of a place with you. baby in your arms looking tired but beautiful as always and he saved it to his happy place and in another he was teaching his little boy or girl to ride his or her first broom for Quidditch getting upset that they couldn't stay on but you would be there to kiss and comfort them back into trying and he would sit out all day till his kid learned and felt like the best. The list went on about these fantasies but now he had to find you. so he thought hard.

called your parents, siblings, friends till he remembered weeks later after feeling hopeless that Luna had been who you went to when you guys had fights. He rushed there Banging on the door anxious to find his last bit of hope to be correct and when you opened the door he cried and pulled you close. "don't ever leave me again. please your all i have y/n please. promise me will talk before you do that please." he begged both of you on your knees as he cried into your neck. you hugged him back. "I was afraid draco. I was scared you didn't want this" you told him.

"y/n don't ever fear that i would leave you because you're giving me a gift and another person to have around to love. i want to be a dad and i hope my son or daughter won't run like their mother" he said and you laughed. "but if they do their dad will be there to chase them like i chase you my love.

Request open 💙

[prolix-yuy]

This list of themes is incredible!! They’re all so good. I’m going to combine two:

Reunion AND The power of words

Preference for fluffy, but I won’t say not to a smidge of angst.

Featuring this man

😌😍

I love you!!

xoxo

Skyeeeee my beloved! You deserve this ask after all the times I groaned into our DMs about being nervous about writing Javi. Well now we're getting somewhere after @beecastle's lovely intro story, and I hope you enjoy where I took it! I definitely took some inspiration from Lie to Me because, duh, how couldn't I, it's immaculate and i adore every new chapter. Love you to pieces!

The Road Ahead

Pairing: Javier Peña x F!Reader

Summary: And there are many paths to tread.

Word Count: 2.8k

Warnings: M, angst, allusions to violence, smoking, lots of Javi introspection, some pining, a bittersweet ending. While this story is not explicit, my blog and the content shared on it is 18+ MINORS DNI.

Notes: Here is part 2 of our Javi thought piece! This is entirely indulgent and I had a super fun time writing Javi against another person compared to him all by his lonesome. Enjoy my lovelies!

“Would you like one?” she says when Javi doesn’t answer right away, waving the pack of Marlboro Lights in her other hand. Her smile deepens from curious to knowing, clocking Javi’s eyes lighting on the end of her cigarette.

Javi can’t remember the last time he was tongue-tied in a woman’s gaze. Chalking it up to his addictive brain, he sidles up to her with a shake of his head, one palm curling around the handrail. He notices, with quiet triumph, that she sees how easily his fingers circle the painted wood. He knows they’re big, that they’re good at splaying over skin and grabbing and pleasuring, but it never hurts to be reminded. 

“Trying to quit. Doing the Nicorette thing.” Javi leans on both hands now, looking over the darkening horizon that stains the sky in purples. “But, you know, old habits,” he finishes, trying to catch a casual glimpse of her in the corner of his eye.

“Oh, sorry,” she says, and stubs out her barely smoked cigarette in a paper plate of half eaten cake. 

“Oh, no ma’am, I didn’t mean…” Javi tries to protest, and without thinking he brushes his fingers along the back of her arm. The rush is better than the nicotine, unexpected and thrilling. She chuckles, leaning on her elbows as the last vestiges of smoke wisp away.

“It’s okay, I find the company preferrable,” she says, cocking her head at him as he fights the blush tingling around the tips of his ears. There’s a smoothness to her that puts Javi off balance. He’s always good to the women in his life, but he’s not always good at getting them into his life. His flirting is seen as charming, endearing even, but mostly ineffective. But she has a way about her that lets words hit harder than they should. It makes Javi chuckle and come down to his elbows on the railing, pert bottom sticking out next to her luscious one (he checked).

“So then you’re enjoying the wedding?” he asks, lacing his fingers so they have something to do. She rolls her shoulders with a sigh.

“Well, not all company. It’s a little stifling in there,” she muses, shifting the weight on her feet. Javi peeks down to her heels, obviously uncomfortable, but necessary for the occasion. He briefly considers asking if she’d like to take them off, take a seat. He toys with the idea of taking them into his lap and putting his restless hands to work.

“Ain’t that the truth,” he finally agrees, voice dropping into a quieter rasp. He’s suddenly drained, the weight of the world he’s taken on his shoulders screaming down his spine. It would be so easy to put it down, but would he float away if it wasn’t there to hold him to the earth?

“Does it help?” she says, and Javi’s so caught up in his metaphor he has no idea what she’s asking. He stares blankly at her, eyebrows pulling into a confused furrow before she taps her cheek. “The gum. Does it help with quitting?” 

Javi’s face breaks into a sheepish smile, huffing out a laugh. He misses the glance she gives to his full lips, the way his tongue darts out to wet them, parted and supple. 

“It takes the edge off, but I’d rather have one of those,” he says, nodding to her pack. She shrugs and smiles knowingly, letting some silence stretch as her outline begins to blur into the night. Sharp edges of light from the dance hall carve out the high points of her face, the texture of her hair, the wrinkles in her shawl. Javi considers leaving for a moment, but her face is back to that quiet expression she wore before he walked up. The one he only ever sees when people don’t know they’re being watched. It intrigues him too much to part yet.

“How do you know the couple?” he asks, cringing at the small talk. She sways, shifting weight to her other foot. Javi again considers urging her to sit. He again dashes away the idea of her moaning while he presses his fingers into her arch.

“The bride. She and I knew each other growing up, fell out of touch when I moved. But I’m back in town for a few weeks helping my mom, and this is apparently the social event of the month,” she says, smiling over her shoulder at the dancing inside. Music thrumming in Javi’s chest, he chews his words as you face him again.

“So you grew up here,” he says, the ending open. She nods, wrapping her shawl tighter around her shoulders even though the night air is still desert warm.

“Yep, been a while but there’s still lots of familiar faces,” she mulls, not meeting Javi’s eyes. His stomach sinks, slow and thick like a spoon into molasses. 

“Yeah, everyone knows everyone here,” he mumbles, and that need to run, to get out, to get on a plane and away from Laredo and all the memories it holds claws at Javi’s chest. For a moment he’d forgotten. She’d made him forget.

“I remember seeing you around town. You were handsome then, too,” she says, light flickering too softly for Javi to get a good read on her expression. Was it that same uncomfortable reverence he’s had to accept all night?

“You’ll have to forgive me if I don’t remember you,” he apologizes, fingers tapping at the handrail. She shrugs nonchalantly, and Javi thinks she might be a little closer than before.

“You wouldn’t have. I wasn’t much of a looker, or a talker, or an anything back then,” she says with a flippancy that makes Javi regret his words. 

“Doesn’t mean I couldn’t have noticed you,” he replies, and she rolls her eyes. God, will he ever be able to flirt like a normal person? Every attempt feels like a monumental effort met with a patronizing smile. 

“That was cute, but you don’t have to. You only had eyes for one thing.” To his surprise Javi watches her scoot closer to him, arm close to brushing his flannel-covered his bicep. 

“I suppose most people remember that too,” Javi muses, Lorraine’s sparkling eyes back in the forefront of his mind. 

“Not all that,” she counters, raising Javi’s eyebrow. When he turns to look at her he can see the fan of her eyelashes, the soft sheen of her lipstick. 

“No, you only had eyes for the road out of town,” she says, the cool honestly of it holding him as much as the candor in her gaze. She searches his face - for what Javi can’t guess - before continuing. 

“Anyone who wanted to settle down knew not to get tangled up with Javier Peña. And anyone who wanted a ticket out of town knew not to try and cash it with you.” The words pull Javi’s brows together, a familiar scowl fighting to return to his face.

“Why’s that?” he asks, though the answer matters less than the mounting desire to know how this woman could find each soft spot in his armor.

“Because these broad shoulders of yours were ready to hold the weight of the world on them, but only alone,” she says, and air leaves Javi’s lungs. Fuck. Fuck. The wave of emotions riding those words batter against Javi’s ribs. He wants to tell her she’s wrong, that he’s not so noble as all that. He wants to tell her she’s right, that he’s never been able to see himself with someone by his side. He wants to tell her to fuck off with her psychoanalysis bullshit. He wants to let her touch him with a softness reserved for skittish puppies and men long damned for their decisions. 

Her eyebrows suddenly shoot up, and Javi can almost feel the spike in her heart rate.

“I’m sorry, that was…wow, I’ve had enough to drink tonight,” she laughs nervously, pushing off the railing. With the quick reflexes of his work Javi circles her wrist, a gentle grip urging her to still. 

“No, you’re…” He struggles with the words he needs to make her stay. “...Perceptive,” is what he settles on with a sheepish tilt of his head. She covers her face with her other hand, peeking at Javi over her fingers.

“You can just say rude, I deserve that one,” she shoots back, and Javi lets out a restorative laugh, like the first pull of a cigarette without the burn on his tongue.

“No, if you want to know rude, I have plenty of stories about that,” he says, preening under her knowing gaze.

“Do tell, I’ll be the envy of the town with a few tales of our hometown DEA agent to spread around,” she shoots back, sparkle in her eyes bright enough to battle the stars. Her words pour cold water down his nape, a brief wave of nausea urging him to drop his grip, no matter how soft her skin is beneath his rougher palms. 

What could he tell of his life that wasn’t ripped through with blood and terror and questionable choices made in the dark?

“Hey.”

A soft voice winds its way up to his ears, a gentle hand resting on his arm. When he meets her eyes the glow is like candlelight in a window welcoming him home.

“You don’t have to tell me anything. I hear enough of the hero talk in salons and bars. What you did in Colombia…I don’t think any of us can understand it. So they thank you and call you a hero but…it couldn’t have been easy. I hope you didn’t have to go through it alone.”

He didn’t, there were men and women who stood with him, and who fell as a consequence. And there were times when he felt more alone in a room of allies than in his apartment trying to drink himself to sleep. But he was rarely alone.

“Thank you,” is the best he can manage with her scent and her heat curling between them. She’s close enough to embrace, to bury his nose behind the hinge of her jaw and press her deep deep deep into his body, until their bodies could meld into one like so many women before her.

“There are some good stories too,” he murmurs, shoulders lifting as she smiles and backs up from him.  

“I’d like to hear them,” she says, hopping up to sit on the railing with an expectant look. Feet swinging in those high heels, Javi succumbs to his secret desire and slips them off her feet, hand curling around her ankle as his cheek comes close to brushing her knees. When he flashes her a cheeky smile showcasing his dimple he thinks he sees a flash of desire in her eyes, but it’s gone when he straightens up.

“I’ll censor some of the more colorful language.”

“You better not, Javi.”

They talk as the evening deepens, the party winding down to a few stragglers giving well wishes. Javi thinks he sees Chucho a few times, but he doesn’t come out to the back porch. 

Javi tells her about Colombia. Not everything, not the gore and gristle that would turn anyone’s stomach. Instead he tells her about the rolling hills, how green the trees look when mist surrounds them. How fresh the fruit tastes when you split it open with your thumbs. The way the air smells when the humidity is high and lovers dance in the streets. It’s the Colombia he always wanted. It’s the Colombia he barely knew. But it was the world he was willing to share with a woman who looked at him with kind eyes.

When the only sounds he can discern are the clatter of tables being cleared, Javi sighs and rests his palm on her knee, letting the heat of his hand warm her through the fabric of her dress. 

“The night seems to be ending,” he says, voice dropping into a huskier register. He’s standing close, her thigh pressed into his hip as he looks into the glint of her eyes. In the dark she is shadow and golden highlights, just enough to know she’s smiling at him. It emboldens him to slide his palm up her thigh, spreading it to cover but not squeeze. 

“Thank you for indulging me,” she says, cool fingers on the line of his jaw as he turns his head up to her. She slides them through the thick locks just above his ear, raising goosebumps along his nape. His eyes dart to her lips and back, parting his own. He’ll ask her before he leans forward. Ask her if he can kiss her before pressing his mouth to hers. He’ll savor it like this conversation, hold it on his tongue like good whiskey, come back for more if she’ll let him.

Before he can, she presses two fingers under his chin. Her expression is soft, but edged in resignation and regret.

“Are your eyes still on the road, Javi?”

The haze around the edge of his vision sharpens. 

Yes.

Laredo was never meant to be forever. Javi didn’t know if any place would be forever for him. 

Maybe a person, one day, would be forever. But not a place. 

She sees the answer, and thankfully doesn’t make him say it.

“Then this can only be a goodbye kiss,” she whispers, and when her lips come to his he accepts with the gratitude he saves for the handful of good things the world gives him. It’s sweet, sugar and smoke and chaster than he’s kissed a woman in a long time but no less dizzying. When she pulls back he fights against the desire to chase her lips, instead easing away from her and trying to hide his regret. 

It would be easier if she wasn’t right. 

“Thank you for making my night a little brighter, Javi,” she says, swiping a thumb over his lower lip to remove a trace of lipstick. He presses a kiss to it, earning another indulgent stroke in return, before she hops off the railing and gathers her shoes.

He wants to ask her name if he can have nothing else, but her smile widens over his shoulder. 

“Don Chucho!” she calls, walking over to hug the night’s worst interruption. A few words pass between them - compliments, pleasantries that rolled right past her and Javi in their conversations in the dark - before she steps away.

“My mother will be expecting me, I should be going,” she says, and with a warm smile and a squeeze to his bicep, she turns to Javi once more.

Ask her.

What could he offer her?

Ask her anyway.

Her face is content. She doesn’t offer, doesn’t assume. 

She could be what’s next.

No, she couldn’t. He knows what he has to do.

“Take care, Javi.”

“You too.”

And then she leaves.

In the dark of Chucho’s car, Javi admits to his plans. His work isn’t done, not yet. There are more wrongs to be righted, more weight to fall on Javi’s shoulders. He’ll take it. He always does.

He is not a hero, but he can do the work of one for a while longer.

The drive home with her mother is quiet, both tired from the dancing and the drinks and the long conversations held in very different locales. 

“I saw you talking to the Peña boy,” her mother says with curiosity. She scoffs, wiggling her sore toes against the rubber floor mat.

“Two ships passing in the night, mama,” she answers. Her mother shrugs, eyes on the road as they head home. A welcome distraction, a few titillating moments. A kiss that birthed butterflies. But that’s all it would be for them. Javi’s reputation follows him like a shadow, and not just the history he left behind in Laredo. An idiot could see how much Escobar took out of him. He deserves a new path that could be kinder to him. 

Besides, her eyes are on the road as well. A new job in Bogotá, one she was reluctant to take, but after the words Javi wove into the night it felt right. Despite her mama’s worries and her own reservations, it took someone who must have seen hell there to finally convince her. 

The days to her departure were shortening, no time for a fling with a beautiful but troubled man. But for a night it was thrilling to pretend they could be each other’s comfort. 

“Help me finish the painting tomorrow?”

“Of course mama.”

A few more days home.

Then a new chapter in a place where the trees blink like emeralds in the distance, the citrus bursts when you bite into it, and the sticky heat of the night makes her think of him and wonder what battles he may be fighting now.

END || PREVIOUS

[artificialqueens]

🏳️‍🌈 The Miracle of Living Pt.2 - Lita

In this world we're just beginning To understand the miracle of living

Lmao I had you in the first half, this is not just a cutesy slice of life family AU and actually gets fucking awful and tragic from here on out, you have been warned. This was originally meant to be a single story but I decided to chunk it into two halves just so it's not unreadably long, which means ALL the suffering gets to be consigned into whatever this is. Anyway, see other part for author notes and shit, apologies in advance xo

Summary: Adore is an adult now, and life is simpler for Bianca. Until an unexpected tragedy shatters her world, and her relationship with her daughter. 

TW: Major character deaths, parental loss, accidental overdose, suicidal thoughts

[1] NEW MESSAGE Ben Putnam ✨🏳️‍🌈 12/9/46 19:08  jinkx is about to call you freaking tf out - don’t listen to them, im basically fine. got into an accident driving home, i look kinda banged up and i think my shoulders dislocated but nothing serious. pls call adore and tell her - if she says shes gonna ditch her concert or anything like that dont let her, she doesnt need to worry. if ur not busy and feel like coming to see me id like that (and i think jinkx could use some moral support lol, theyre taking this harder than i am) but don’t let j convince u that im on my deathbed. love ya, bitch! b xoxo

*****

November 12th, 2046

“Bea…”

Jinkx stands up as Bianca enters the waiting room. Their voice is cloying - too sickly. Too sympathetic.  

Of all of Ben’s various partners since the divorce, Jinkx was definitely Bianca’s favorite. Bianca had been Ben’s maid of honor (or ‘cunt of dishonor’ as he’d affectionately christened her) at their wedding last spring. Jinkx is kind, sensitive - their eccentricities line up perfectly with Ben’s, they’re a good step-parent to Adore, as resistant as she’d been to having a step-parent. However, Jinkx under pressure is prone to amateur dramatics - Ben’s text prediction regarding the nature of their impending phone call had been totally spot-on. 

So Bianca is surprised to see that they look drained - not sad. Not scared. Just tired - their shock of red hair disheveled, eyes puffy and face moist with half-dried tears. Bianca grips the strap of her purse a little tighter. She hadn’t expected this. They had been all catastrophe and hysterics on the phone - sobbing like their life depended on it. Why are they so calm? 

Per Ben’s instructions, Bianca hadn’t dropped everything to go to him. She’d been working late, supervising a bunch of bored, annoyed teenagers doing stocktake - she hadn’t exactly bided her time, heading straight for the hospital as soon as she’d clocked out, but she also hadn’t exactly rushed. 

Two lanes of the freeway were closed because of a car wreck. She figured it wouldn’t be the same one - it couldn’t have been that bad if Ben was awake, coherent, and texting her. As the backed-up traffic crawled past the remains of the scene at five miles an hour, she’d tried not to look. She knew she shouldn’t have looked. But she looked anyway - she’d caught sight of the remnants of Ben’s car at the front of a pile-up, crushed from behind by a smoldering pickup truck, and felt the sting of vomit rising up at the back of her throat. The driver’s side door looked intact. That was something. Ben was fine. Ben had told her himself that he was fine. So Ben was fucking fine. 

On the drive to the ER, Bianca called Adore - anxiety twisting below her ribcage, visions of shattering glass and crumpling metal scorching into her eyelids every time she blinked, desperate for a distraction. The phone had been picked up by her weirdo manager, Winona or Wilma or whatever her name was, who’d decided that a call from her mom, regardless of the matter at hand, wasn’t important enough to bother Adore with before a gig, and had hung up. 

And now she’s been taken into a side room that feels like a fucking morgue, and Jinkx is acting so calm and kind that it’s nauseating. This feels weird. There’s a bible on the table in the middle of the room. What the fuck is happening? 

Jinkx reaches out, and pulls Bianca into an oppressively tight hug. Bianca squirms, determined to extricate herself from the stifling embrace and start asking questions. She’s never known Jinkx to act anything but weird, but this was bizarre even by their standards. When they break away, Jinkx takes Bianca’s hand. It sets her teeth on edge. 

“Jinkx, what’s going on?” Bianca’s voice comes out sterner than she would have liked. 

“Did you call Adore?”

What kind of fucking response is that?

“I tried. Her manager picked up - she’s at a gig, I’ll talk to her tomorrow.” 

“I really think you should try and talk to her now.” 

Bianca really doesn’t like Jinkx’s tone. She also doesn’t know what to do with herself. She figured she was here as emotional support for Jinkx, who seems fine if a bit off-kilter and cryptic - or as a proxy for Adore, who was performing and/or wasted in Austin, enjoying the sudden and somewhat random success of her previously struggling music career. 

“Jinkx, where’s Ben? What happened?”

Jinkx grimaces. They try to convince her to sit down - urging her towards a ugly upholstered chair with their lips pursed. Bianca doesn’t move. 

“Jinkx.” Bianca repeats herself more insistently, folding her arms. Jinkx sits down, clenching their jaw and breathing shakily. “Where the fuck is Ben? I need to see him." 

“…he died, Bea.”

Bianca’s blood turns to ice in her veins. She takes a sharp breath in. 

“What do you mean he died?” Bianca’s voice is thin. Jinkx doesn’t say anything. “He texted me - he was fine like, an hour ago.” Jinkx stays silent. Bianca feels like she’s going to throw up. Why won’t they say anything?  “He’s- Jinkx, what do you mean he fucking died?”

“They thought he was fine,” Jinkx sniffs. “There were other people from the wreck who were hurt worse than he was - he kept saying he was okay so the doctors would focus on them, and then he coded out of nowhere. I think they said he was bleeding in his abdomen or something - nobody realized until it was too late. He was sitting up and talking to me, then he…” Jinkx stops, swallowing hard. Their eyes have welled up. 

“Why didn’t you call me? I would have tried to get here faster.” Bianca’s knees are shaking. She can’t move - can’t admit to the failure of her emotions. Frightening and all-consuming as they are. She’s still wearing her work lanyard, and it feels utterly stupid. Why hadn’t she just fucking left? Why had locking up a goddamn store she could burn to the ground without losing sleep been more important than this? Than Ben? 

“I didn’t know how to.” Jinkx won't make eye contact with her. “I couldn’t tell you over the phone - it didn’t feel right.” 

Bianca sits down before she collapses. Her hands are shaking. Her throat hurts like she needs to cry, but there are no tears. She isn’t crying, and she won’t - not until it’s essential. 

“But you were- you shouldn’t have waited all this time on your own. I would have been here sooner.” Bianca is barely able to talk. “I’m sorry.”

She doesn’t even know what she’s talking for - trying to fill the awful, empty air with some sort of noise, even if it is wilted platitudes. She’s horribly aware of her own breathing; how hard it is, how much effort it’s taking, how it feels like she’s choking. It’s like she’s drowning in the air and the silence - like a goldfish dropped out of the bowl. 

Jinkx puts an arm around her shoulders. There are tears rolling down their cheeks. 

“I really think you should call Adore again.” 

Adore. Adore didn’t get to say goodbye - Adore didn’t fucking know. That was her fucking dad, and she loved him, and she’d never-

Bianca stops. Something in her brain ticks. A somber conversation at the kitchen table. 

“His, uh- his advanced directive. San Juni-whatever -  Cookie heaven-“ Bianca blurts out, ejecting the words as soon as they appear in her head. The comfort feels cold, but it’s comfort nevertheless. 

She looks at Jinkx. Their face has crumpled. They’re shaking their head. No. 

“They tried - it all happened too quickly, it didn’t work. He was gone before they could…” Jinkx bites their lip. “I’m sorry - I know how much it means- meant to him, I know he wanted…”  

Bianca shakes her head, trying to get Jinkx to stop talking. It isn’t fair - they’ve just lost their husband, and yet it’s them trying to comfort her?  

“It’s okay.” 

It’s not. But Jinkx rests their head on Bianca’s shoulder anyway, and Bianca takes their hand, even though she feels like she’s only making everything worse. What warmth is she capable of? Her presence isn’t doing anything besides forcing Jinkx to stir up their own raw emotions, and reminding them both of the cavernous space between them that Ben’s daughter should be filling. 

Bianca fumbles her phone out of her purse with her shaking hands as Jinkx cries a wet patch into her collar. She needs to call Adore.  

*****

November 24th, 2046

The silence in the kitchen is uncomfortable. Neither Adore nor Bianca knows how to fill it. Ben’s funeral was yesterday morning. Bianca doesn’t know if Adore is okay, but she doesn’t know what to say to her either. She hasn’t seen her cry yet. 

She’s exhausted. The last couple of weeks have been a terrible, sleepless headfuck. All of the funeral planning and formality had fallen into Bianca’s lap - Jinkx had been too distraught to try and think about it, and she couldn’t ask Adore. It was the only real help she’d been able to offer; if there’s one thing that Bianca knows for a fucking fact, it’s that she’s awful at providing comfort. But as usual, she’d taken too much on, and she hadn’t had time to process what had happened - time to grieve, or even just to fucking take a breath and figure out where her own head was at. 

Bianca feels hollow. And Adore won’t speak to her. She’s sitting at the dinner table, with her bright blue hair piled on top of her head in a sloppy ponytail, wearing some tattered band shirt that doesn’t really fit her, and she seems…fine. She’s been home since Ben died, but they’ve been floating around the empty house on two completely different planets; barely making eye contact with each other, let alone talking. There’s a mug of coffee turning cold in Bianca’s hand, and her daughter won’t meet her gaze. 

Adore fidgets with the hair-tie around her wrist. She looks nervous. 

“Listen, Mom-”

“Are you okay?” Bianca blurts out, and then cringes - Adore looks at her with frustration in her glazed-over eyes. 

“I need to tell you something.”

“What’s up?” Bianca tries to inject some warmth into her voice. 

“I know I said I’d stay for a little longer, but I’m…”

Oh god. Bianca already doesn’t like where this is going. She clenches her teeth, trying to contain the stupid, defeated little whimper she can feel rising into the back of her throat.

“I got a call from my manager this morning. My new single drops in a week, and there’s- this big-deal band wants me to open for them on their tour. It’s two months on the road, and I know that I shouldn’t- I mean, it’s a huge opportunity, and the money is really fucking good, and I’m…” Adore’s words are stilted and awkward. 

Bianca takes a second to compose herself. 

“When would you be leaving?” Bianca eventually says. It’s the most neutral question she can think of, and her words come out flat and unbothered. She can’t say what she really wants to - can’t beg her to stay, can’t argue back. Can’t take this from her. 

“Day after tomorrow,” Adore says to the floor, still wringing her hands awkwardly. 

“And why do you sound like you’re asking for permission to go?" 

“Because- I don’t know.” Adore says, equally lacking in emotion. It’s felt for the last couple of weeks like she and Bianca have just been going through the motions of their relationship without any feeling. “I mean- fuck, you’re my mom. And everything is just- I can’t leave you right now. If you said no, then I can’t...” 

“Why do I have to say no?” Bianca tilts her head. Her neck is stiff from the sleepless nights. 

“Because I don’t want to.”

That answer frustrates Bianca, and she can tell from Adore’s body language that she knows it. Adore picks at a loose thread on her shirt - she’s never been able to sit still. Bianca pinches the bridge of her nose.

“I’m not gonna be the bad guy, Dorey - even if you want me to. We’re talking about your career here - not doing it would be fucking stupid,” Bianca says, toneless and insincere again. She pauses. “Do they know that your dad just died?” 

“…No,” Adore grimaces. The first small twinge of emotion flashes across her face for a second, and then it’s gone. “They might give it to someone else. They’ll think I’m gonna be unstable or unreliable or something.”  

“Are you?”

“Maybe,” Adore purses her lips. “It’s kinda still not real. Maybe it’ll stay like that if I’m distracted.”

“And maybe it’ll get real when you’re on the road - you need to think about yourself.”

Adore murmurs something unintelligible by way of response, shakily trying to affirm that she can do it. Bianca stares into her coffee cup. They seem to have reached some level of nonverbal understanding that they’re not gonna talk about this any more. Adore is leaving tomorrow, and Bianca better make peace with that. 

“You’re not mad about me leaving you by yourself, are you?” Adore’s meek voice cuts through the icy reticence. 

“What? No - I’m a big girl, I’ll survive,” Bianca shrugs her shoulders. Why does Adore default to the assumption that she’s always mad? Why does she have to be the villain all the goddamn time? Can’t she just be upset? 

“But like…do you have friends?" 

“Yes, I have fucking friends, Adore.”

And then she thinks about it. Her family doesn’t give a shit, and Raja had broken things off with her a couple of weeks before Ben dropped dead out of fucking nowhere - and yeah, maybe she’s close enough with a couple of people from work that she’d be able to talk to them, but the thought makes her squirm.

She’d not so much asked Adore to stick around for a couple of weeks after the funeral as she had begged her to. The loneliness is choking her, and her daughter is the only person she can face - because they never really talked about their feelings, and even this wasn’t enough to make them start. She just needed someone to be quietly sad alongside. The more that she thinks about it, the more she realizes that the only person she wants to talk to about the pain inflicted by Ben’s death is Ben himself. 

Which she should be able to do. She’s grown more attached to the San Junipero concept than she ever wanted to be. Somewhere, in the back of her mind, she’d gotten comfortable with the two of them never having to live without each other. Except that didn't work, and now he’s gone. Forever. 

Bianca had friends. A friend. She’d never needed anyone else, and so she’d never bothered trying to find them. She hadn’t planned for an eventuality in which he’d be dead by forty-six. 

Bianca is crying. Horrible, huge, ugly floods of tears. Adore looks nervous - like she doesn’t know what to do with herself. This isn’t fair. She can’t make Adore deal with her like this. But she can’t stop. Twelve days of awful emotional blockage are clearing themselves all at once, and Bianca’s face is soaking wet and there’s snot running down her chin, and she feels about as disgusting as she probably looks. Adore’s chair scrapes the tiled floor, and she’s standing behind Bianca - wrapping her arms around her, resting her sharp chin on Bianca’s shoulder. 

Adore’s body is starting to heave against hers, and as Bianca tries to blink through some of the blur to her vision and catch her trembling breath, she realizes Adore is crying too. Is this progress? 

“You don’t have to go if you don’t want to, baby.” Bianca takes one of Adore’s hands in hers, running a thumb across her tattooed knuckles. “It’s okay - it’s okay to be sad.”

“I’m not sad.” Adore’s voice is thin. “And I have to go. I don’t want to be here. I can’t be here without him.”

Adore mutters the admission like it’s blasphemy, and Bianca doesn’t like it, but she knows. Ben’s ghost lingers in every brick and board and fiber of this house. It hurts - that she isn’t capable of being what Adore needs right now. But she understands. 

*****

June 7th, 2047

“Don’t fucking put that on me - don’t screw up my childhood and then keep making me miserable as a fucking adult, it’s not fair-" 

“Ob, cry me a fucking river - you had a great childhood!”

“Did I? Getting dragged up by some fucking idiot who didn’t know what she was doing-" 

“I was a fucking kid, Adore - I was trying my fucking best-” 

It’s dark outside. Bianca feels like shit. She wishes Adore hadn’t left. 

She hasn’t been able to sleep without sedatives since Ben died, and she hates it. She also doesn’t know why - she wasn’t there. It didn’t happen to her. It’s not her tragedy. She fishes the blister pack of xanax out of her purse and swallows one with the tail end of her glass of wine. Sleep. She needs sleep. She needs this shitty, awful, horrible day to be over. Maybe when she wakes up, Adore will be over her tantrum. 

She drops the pills on the kitchen counter. The last dregs of the wine are eyeing her up through the bottle. Bianca hesitates for a moment, refills her glass, and swiftly empties it down her throat. 

She walks through the empty living room, put off by the silence. It’s too quiet in this house. She wishes she hadn’t kept it. Ben deserved it more - he had a partner, and a good life, and hope for the future. Not the pathetic remains of half a dozen short-lived, shitty relationships, and a dead-end job. Adore loved him - she clearly can’t fucking stand Bianca. There would still be life in these walls if he’d taken it, and Bianca had hiked all her stupid clothes and coffee table books and vanity and venom to a crappy bachelor apartment.

It was Ben’s fucking house - it was his career that had paid for it. Bianca felt sick enough with guilt and frustration that he’d insisted she stayed and he left, and then kept ‘forgetting’ to cancel the mortgage auto-payments when he was still alive - just like he kept ‘forgetting’ to stop making her car payments, or kept sending her cheques from some ‘investment account’ they’d apparently set up years ago that she had no memory of. She’d stolen a better quality of life than she was owed from a guy that she was tethered to based on one night of bad decisions when they were in their twenties. It would have been easier on her conscience if Ben had resented her for it. But he didn’t. He’d looked out for her and loved her right up until the ugly end and she didn’t deserve any of it. 

If Ben had stayed here, he would have had to drive a different route to work. That’s why they bought the house - it was close to his job. Maybe he’d still be alive. Maybe it would have been her that died after a rush hour car wreck, of an internal hemorrhage that every medical professional in the vicinity was too busy and too stupid to notice. Maybe things would be better that way. 

The house is too quiet, and there’s too much space - Bianca traipses up the stairs, her fingers brushing over the lingering texture of Adore’s childhood crayon-on-wall scribbles, long since painted over. 

The wine is making her feel worse. She’s angry - hurt, frustrated, upset. But not with Adore. With herself for making her this way. 

Ben was warm, Ben was supportive. Ben could never see a single fault in her - not like Bianca. Bianca was the Bad Cop; the enforcer, the prison warden. Bianca nagged Adore about her homework and her curfew and her room being a mess - Bianca questioned her judgment, Bianca shat on her fashion choices. Bianca tried her best to make sure the kid didn’t turn out like she had. And she’d done it - Adore was successful, she was living a life she could look back on and be proud of. So, no fucking wonder Adore’s ideal future was one that didn’t have Bianca in it.  

“Bull-fucking-shit. You weren’t a kid, you were in your twenties-“ 

“I was two years younger than you are, you think you’d be great at raising a child now? Forget about finding out you’re pregnant when you were twenty-one and having to give up everything you’ve ever wanted in life for-“

“Nobody asked you to do that.”  

“No, they didn’t - but I had to do what was fucking best for you. Fuck my dreams, fuck what I wanted. You think anybody is working in a goddamn Urban Outfitters age forty-fucking-seven because they want to be?”

“I’ve been out of your house for five years, you’ve had time. Go live your dreams, since I’m not a fucking burden on you any more-“

“You’re not fucking getting it - the ‘living my dreams’ ship has sailed, since I had to drop out of fucking college for you. I had to put my life on hold indefinitely for you, and so did your father, so stop being such an ungrateful little shit-“

Bianca keeps replaying the fight in her head. Tonight had started well. Adore was back in town between tour dates and album sessions - not for Bianca. To see friends, and to meet with some record execs that Bianca was too uncool to know the names of. But when Bianca had asked if she had a free night, Adore had humored her. They’d ordered pizza, bought a couple bottles of wine, and for a moment, things felt the way they used to. Bianca was happy, for a fleeting second. 

Adore had been her best friend until she was thirteen. Then some awful melting pot of Adore’s pubescent bitch tendencies and Bianca’s stubbornness and short fuse had kicked off a bizarre ongoing war between the two of them that only seemed to mellow out once Adore left home and they weren’t constantly in each other’s way. It was normal teenager shit - Bianca remembered things being the same way between herself and her mother when she was in junior high. Her mother that she doesn’t fucking speak to any more. 

Bianca loves Adore so much that it’s physically painful, and she felt like a monster the entire time they were at odds. But she didn’t know how to stop it - she didn’t know how to be whatever Adore seemed to need from her. 

Not that there hadn’t been good moments. Adore’s first concert. The family vacation to Cancun. The weekend shopping sprees. Every so often, Bianca caught a glimpse of the fully-formed human being that Adore was starting to become, and she…well, adored her. But sooner or later, the shit would start again; Bianca could feel herself failing her daughter in real time. 

Just like when Adore was a teenager, things had fallen apart tonight just as Bianca was starting to enjoy the good.  

It was her fault. Like usual. Bianca had too much to drink too quickly, and she got emotional. She’d phrased some stuff poorly. She’d upset Adore. It was always her fault - it was always her that made the first wrong step. Adore just reacted to her shitty parenting.  

She’d made an off-handed comment about Adore ‘abandoning’ her. Which, in her crappier moments, she often felt but resolved never to say to her. Adore was an adult with her own life and her own burgeoning fame to deal with, and she’d lost her dad less than a year ago. Bianca’s feelings didn’t matter; she should be seeking her emotional support from someone her own age. So fucking what if Adore had better things to deal with than her mom’s grief and loneliness? 

But she’d said it anyway, and then she’d doubled down. Just like she always did. Adore started crying. Bianca got frustrated. God, she misses Ben. He wouldn’t have let this happen. 

“Leave Daddy the fuck out of this, he’s the only person I never doubted cared about me and I-" 

“Yeah, he did. He really, really fucking cared about you - enough to spend nearly his entire adult life closeted because he wanted to give you some semblance of a normal childhood, enough that the night he fucking died he didn’t want me to call you because he didn’t want to worry you-“

“That’s not a good thing! I wish I’d been there! I wish I knew, instead of coming offstage to find out that my dad had fucking died and my stupid, selfish, uptight bitch of a mother didn’t think it was worth her time to tell me that he was in that accident-“ 

“I told Willam - she said it wasn’t important enough to get you on the goddamn phone! Blame her!”

“You should have tried harder!”

“I didn’t think I had to. Your dad didn’t know how bad it was, he didn’t know what was going to happen - none of us knew, obviously if we did I would have put you on a flight as soon as I-“

Bianca has been trying to write that stupid fucking San Junipero bullshit out of her will for months now. If Ben wanted it and didn’t get it, she’s sure as shit not doing it now. However, the process is a fucking nightmare - eight hundred stupid phone calls to eight hundred useless morons who need to refer her to the next person, to try and sell her on an upgrade or ask her if this is because she wants the payout for the unused credit on her plan. It’s demoralizing and exhausting - the evil spiritual stepsister of canceling fucking cable, but a hundred times harder and with constant reminders of her fucking dead ex-husband and the last request he never got. 

Everything is depressing and shit, and she’s tired. She wants it to end - she wants to return to a normal that she can never get back. 

Bianca lingers at the open door of Adore’s teenage bedroom. It’s a shitshow. She hadn’t tidied up after herself when she left after Ben’s funeral - if anything she’d made more mess, rummaging around in her things and packing and unpacking for that fucking tour she had to go on. Which had done good things for her. In the last six months, her opening spots had turned into festival headliners and talk show appearances; she had an album in the works, and was watching her teenage dream blossom in real time to heights she’d never imagined it would reach. Bianca is glad that she went. Even if she hates her for it a little bit.

Bianca doesn’t want to touch anything. She treads carefully across the messy floor, trying not to disrupt anything; trying to preserve her daughter’s chaos, learn to live in it and love it as she did. Adore’s bed is unmade. The sheets smell like her. 

There’s a framed picture by her bed - a print of a blurry selfie taken at Ben’s niece’s bat mitzvah. She remembers that night. Adore had just turned twenty-one and her hair was purple. They’d gotten irresponsibly drunk on kosher wine, and Adore had climbed into Bianca’s lap to take the picture, pressing her gloss-sticky lips to Bianca’s cheek and telling her she loved her. They’re both smiling like maniacs. 

Adore had just turned twenty-one. That picture hadn’t been there when Adore last occupied that room - she’d moved into her college dorm a few days before her nineteenth birthday. She’d brought that here. And left it here. Bianca feels queasy. She picks it up gently, like it’s a precious artifact. The frame is bright red hard plastic, shaped like a heart - painted on one side, in Adore’s endearingly shitty handwriting: LOVE YOU MOMMY XO

Bianca’s eyes well up. It was a fucking gift that Adore never gave to her. Probably because she’d ruined Adore’s last visit home. Just like she ruined tonight. Just like she ruined her. Bianca drops the frame like it burns to touch, and she hears the glass shatter against the hardwood floor.  

She closes the door as she leaves, hearing it slam and her own breath becoming frantic. She feels that familiar ache, a sob building up in the depths of her chest.  

She’s pressed against Adore’s wall and staring directly into Ben’s old room. She’d transformed it into a pitiful sewing workspace that she’d barely used when he moved out - a weird attempt to kick some sense of purpose back into her life when Adore had flown the nest and Ben was out living his own life, picking up an old hobby that had dominated her teens and fuelled her plans for the future. Plans that had died a death in the bathroom of her old apartment downtown. The mannequin torso sits gathering dust, half-finished sketches litter the table. A waste - like everything else. 

She can’t do this. She doesn’t want to be here. She wants Adore back. Wants to hold her in her arms, breathe in her scent and her warmth, and tell her she forgives her for every horrible thing that had come out of her mouth tonight. 

No, she wants to tell her that she’s sorry. For everything. 

Sleep. She needs to sleep. 

“You just don’t want to admit that you screwed me out of a chance to say goodbye! You feel like I’ve abandoned you? Fuck you! You didn’t love him!” 

“I did-" 

“He was your friend - he was my fucking dad. Don’t try and pretend that what you’re feeling right now is anything like what I’m feeling, because it’s not.”

“It doesn’t have to be - Dorey, we can deal with this together. I want to be there for you. I want to help you. And I miss you, is that such a fucking crime?”

“You miss being a bitch to me - you miss telling me that I’ve wasted my life. You miss having someone else to boss around, because that’s all you wanna do.”

“Adore, I tried my fucking best for you. I didn’t have it in me to be a perfect mother - I didn’t have one, I wasn’t set up to be good at this. I tried my best, and if you feel like I’ve failed then I’m really fucking sorry. But I love you, and-“

Why the fuck are her pills on the kitchen counter? Bianca pops one out and swallows it dry, desperate for her mind to shut the fuck up. She’s drunk and confused and alone and fucking sad, and she wants to sleep.

Should she call Adore? No, that feels desperate. She needs to leave her alone; let her get over this at her own pace, let her come back on her own. If she wants to come back. She’ll come back. 

Bianca didn’t come back. Bianca didn’t forgive her mom for the sin of setting her expectations too high, so why the hell would Adore do the same? Maybe her mom feels the same way about her - maybe she feels deprived of a presence in the life she created, and maybe she loses sleep and paces around the house at night like a madwoman and cries over her too. That feels vindicating - so why does it hurt so much that Adore is probably gonna commit her to the same fate? 

Bianca collapses into the couch. Her body feels heavy. The clock on the wall says it’s just after midnight. There’s an empty pizza box on the coffee table. Adore’s lipstick is stained onto the rim of her glass. 

“God, can you not go five minutes without trying to make me feel like shit? I know. I know you tried, I’m sorry I didn’t turn out the way you wanted me to-“

“Do you think this is what your dad would have fucking wanted?”

“Don’t talk about what he would have wanted - what he would have wanted doesn’t matter. He’s dead, mom. He’s fucking gone. He’s gone, and I’m never gonna get him back, and now I’m stuck with you.”  

“The fuck do you mean ‘stuck with’ me?”

“You know exactly what I fucking mean.”

“What, you wish it was me? You wish I was the one that had fucking died? If that’s what you mean, say it.” 

“If I have to choose one of you then yeah. Yeah, I wish it was him that was still here.”

The couch is soft and warm and Bianca is falling asleep. She’s comfortable - but she feels wrong. Her head is swimming. 

It’s getting dark outside. Bianca watches for headlights in the driveway. Maybe Adore will come home and forgive her. Bianca is tired, and her head is heavy, and she wants to go to sleep. Sleep and forget. Maybe Adore will love her again when she wakes up. 

*****

[1] MISSED CALL  Adore DR 💕😻👩‍👧 00:21

[3] NEW MESSAGES  Adore DR 💕😻👩‍👧 00:23 mom im rlly sorry. i love you. can we talk <33 mom are you okay? talk to me 

[3] MISSED CALLS Adore DR 💕😻👩‍👧 00:29

[4] NEW MESSAGES Adore DR  00:34 mom PLEASE answer ur phone  im sorry  talk to me please im coming over

[5] MISSED CALLS Adore DR 💕😻👩‍👧 00:58

[3] NEW MESSAGES Adore DR 💕😻👩‍👧 01:01 im outside answer the door  mommy i know ur mad at me but i want to talk to u, im rlly sorry i love u so much pls answer the door mom MOM

[8] MISSED CALLS Adore DR 💕😻👩‍👧 01:07

[2] NEW MESSAGES Adore DR 💕😻👩‍👧 01:11 mommy please  im sorry. i love you. 

****

Pride Challenge Points: 6662

[alessiasblood]

BITE TROUGH ME (1) -Paige Bueckers.

Warnings: Explicit suggestive language.

A/N: yall im back wtf???(and obsessed with paige)and ive been waiting to post this for a while, i hope you like it!!Thank you for all the likes on my previous post it means a lot to me i promise and this one is gonna hit very hard this is the first part!enjoy xoxo!!! 💗

You studied very much for this exam and and you were trying to give the best out of you today. You were aware that if you didnt pass, you'd repeat the year and it was unpleasant.

You pulled back the glasses on your nose and you started desperately chewing on your pencil. Minutes went by more faster, but you blocked on the last exercise, being the most important. You took a quick glance towards one of your friends, Michael, who almost solved the entire test and Maeve, who was in the same situation as you.

"y/n! Are you trying to cheat?I think you really dont want to graduate!"

You hated your biology teacher more than anything in this world. She was standing in your way of going to a summer vacation instead of returning to rise up your grades. She rushed towards you, picking up your paper and inspecting it for a brief moment.

"You failed. You're free to leave"

You were furious, you studied extremely hard for this exam and took you multiple stay at home weekends with your textbooks open and she had the guts to do such thing. You qucikly picked up your bag and went outside. You went to sit on a bench near the freshly cut grass, trying to calm down. The school yard was full, people were on the basketball field inside, you could see it trough the windows, and the ball hitting the ground multiple times.

"Hey Y/n!What are you doing here?" A voice behind me says. As i turn around my roomate Maeve, sat down next to me on the bench. Despite being best friends, you and Maeve were very different. In all aspects. Her bright crimson hair was shining in the sunlight as it was only noon. You didnt necesarilly follow all her negative influences, plus, she was nice and friendly, to you and to everyone, but her friend group wasan't exactly the best. You didnt like partying, Maeve was more care free, you admired her pretty much.

"She failed me. I cant get into the final exam now, i wont do anything!" You whined.

"Dont say that girl, im here for you" She rubbed your back gently, smiling, you took notice of her nose piercing.

"I think that you should totally go with us tonight, you know, Micahel and I, its friday, you have the entire weekend to overthink this." She chuckles, and you cant help but chuckle too. You always refused her invitations, she would always go to that damned frat house, it was full of smoke, drunk people and creeps, too loud and it made you uncomfortable ever since the first time you had been dragged there, you wouodnt have looked forward to it again, not unless Maeve was begging you to come along with them, Michael, her boyfriend was okay, but the rest of her friends usually were full of themselvs and you were a target.

As soon as you reach your dorm you jumped on the bed hesistating to ever leave it again. But Maeve informed you Michael was going to be here to pick her up, well in this case, the both of you. Your mind quickly filled with thoughts, about how you wont graduate like other of your friends and even Maeve who barely goes to any classes still managed to get good grades. Your thoughts dissapeared as a puf of smoke when Maeve voices rises

"Did you hear me?" She smiles

"Sorry....what?" You had not realized your mind wandered

"I said help me pick an outfit" Her wardrobe was majority black, and innapropiate, she pulls out a black dress, at least the bottom is solid but you get the feeling that she would have wore it even if it wasan't.

"You know you cant wear that!" She points out at your white pleaded skirt and pink cardigan

"Whats wrong with it?" You defend your outfit. She was kinda judging you because you wore light colors and soft clothes but you still listened to rock.

"Its just more for....a garden party with unicorns and cotton candy." She laughs "Can i help you?" She pulls out a tight black top that had cape sleeves and it wasant actually your style, but you thought it would look decent with some jeans or a skirt.

"Oh and it definitely goes with this" She shows me a black pleated skirt and you instantly smile "Well i can always go with pleated skirts" You laugh.

After what feels like ages, you finally pull up to the same huge two story house, even to this day, you still didnt know who owned this house.

"How many people will be here?" You ask, but still knowing in the back of your head thaf is going to be the same as it always it and you got used to it.

"A full house, hurry up" Michael answers getting out of the car and being the first to walk in.

The smome fills your lungs as you try to make your way trough the crowd, where Maeve greets a group of girls, you awkardly stand behind her, waiting for her to finish being popular.

"Y/n, you heard of huskies right?" She turns to you, smiling still. You quickly nod.God you hated introductions, but you knew very well the only team of basketball. A blond girl leaned against the kitchen counter, talking to another girl, she takes a qucik glance at you untill she places the red cup down and walks towards you.

"Paige" she shakes her hand with you. You notice her checking you out but she doesnt sketch any expression on her face.

"What are you studying?" She continued, looking down at you, she made you feel small.

"I am an English major" You quietly answer, even tough it was not loud enough over the loud music. You made out what you could call a sligth smile on her face untill she turns away.

"My friend y/n here just failed biology" Maeve says, faking out to be sad.

"Not good at biology" Azzi backs up

"I think Paige knows the bones and all?" Maeve laughs, she made Paige laugh too, you found the entire situation strange. You didnt want anyones help

"i could always help one of my friend's friend" The way she said friend's friend stuck up to you a bit. You looked away trying to act all cool.

"Oh im good" You try to smile friendly.

You quickly glance around the room, full of people, untill you spot a familiar face, which you rapid recognized, Bryce. You wave to him smiling, gesturing to approach you. You earned some weird gazed from the girls, they somehow knew your friend. Bryce was one of them, he greets Micahel on his way untill he reaches up to you.

"Y/n!And...hello ladies" He smirks, Paige looks away trying to contain her laugh.

He drags you aside out of the situation and you're thankful .

"Whats up with you and Alex?" You ask him

"I broke up with him. You think im staying after his ass?No, no, no."

"I think you're gonna drag us again with your dad's truck to that damned gay club?" You say laughing louder than usual, you catch a glimpse of Paige you couldnt make out what was she feeling but she did hear you.

You refused to drink anything all night, despite Maeve drunken voice begging you to shove something down your throat, you only took two shots, even tho your broked your promise. The same Paige finds your familiar face

"You still need help with biology?" She says, but not even a sligthly emotion breaks trough her face. You were a bit skeptic of this Paige, but you were trying to focus only on the good parts of what her help could have offered you.

"If that doesnt bother you" You gained your composure.

"Oh its not bothering me" She mutters, with the same serious expression for a moment, untill you earned a qucik smile.

"And....how do you suggest we do this?" You ask softly looking ahead

"Anywhere you want, no payback, whenever im free i'll tell you" She says, then grabs a piece of paper and a pen and writes down a number "For you" She hands it out to you, for a quick moment thoughts filled your mind, analyzing if this is actually her being nice or its someting else, but you did take it.

#paigebucekers #uconn