#this was directly inspired by grinding gear's stream | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

dizzydancingdreamer · 3 years

Text

I Need You | The Mikaelson Boys

Hey lovelies! Here’s another Mikaelson Brother’s fic. This time it’s a firefighter AU. I don’t know why I was so inspired but oh well, here it is anyway. Please do ignore the blatant plot holes and dropped plot points. I wrote this purely for the fluff so the rest doesn’t matter too much! I hope you all enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it! Until next time, all my love!

Description: The brothers are firefighters and they come back to the station after a long day only to find an unconscious woman in their fire station. It turns out she’s their mate and she's seconds from death. From there it’s pure fluff/smut. Honestly the plot of this is weak, I just wanted something majorly fluffy.

Pairing: Female!Reader x The Mikaelson Boys

Warnings: THIS IS AN 18+ ONLY FIC!!! It’s not a full blown smut but it does get heated. It’s hella light smut. Honestly the warning should read something more like “inappropriate actions for on duty firefighters towards a civilian at the workplace”. Take into mind that I do not condone this behaviour outside of my fics but that they are soulmates and it’s all consensual! The other warning is angst. This is super graphic at the beginning but after that it gets better.

Word count: 7.3k

Tags: Angst, smut, fluff

P.S. This is only in the boys’ perspectives for like five nanoseconds, after that it’s completely in the reader’s

Tag list: @activist-af @corishirogane3

(Pictures not mine, mood board is!)

“Remind me, Elijah,” Klaus runs a hand through his hair, shaking some of the soot from his blonde hair, “why we decided to do this again?”

Elijah huffs indignantly, also shaking out his hair and shrugging the heavy coat off his shoulders. His hoodie underneath is soaked through with sweat and it follows the same path. Klaus already stands in just a t-shirt, the navy material glued to his skin.

“Don’t you remember, brother?” Kol hops out of the truck from behind the wheel, his bare chest exposed, spare the straps keeping the bottom half of his turnout gear on, a cheerful grin on his lips, “He wanted us to give back to the community. I believe his exact words were firefighters or soldiers.”

It’s true, Elijah had wanted them to do something meaningful with their lives. Well, with a fraction of their lives. He wanted them to be a family again and what better way to do that than to take on a career built on teamwork. Honestly, he had expected them to last maybe six months before quitting but now they were three years deep and he couldn’t see them going anywhere for a while. Somehow station 32 in small town Virginia had become a home base for them.

Elijah leans against the brick of the old fire station, closing his eyes for a moment, “just be happy I didn’t suggest doing both.”

“What makes you think I would follow you to war,” Klaus laughs but it’s hollow, the strain of the day settling over his bones.

They haven’t had a day this strenuous in months, sixteen calls in one day and it’s only eight. Human or not, that’s a lot of heavy lifting. Klaus would do anything for some sleep. He sags against the wall next to his brother. Despite the sleep tugging at his body he can’t seem to relax. Something is keeping his spine rigid, something he can’t quite place his mind on. Oh well.

Elijah chuckles, his eyes still shut, “you followed me here didn’t you? Face it, you needed this as much as I did.”

Klaus doesn’t speak, he just hums his agreement, something entirely unlike him but brought on from the exhaustion. His shoulders remain tight, his muscles stiff. The air feels like it's buzzing lightly, charged with something he doesn’t have enough energy to think about.

Kol laughs through his own fatigue, stretching his arms behind him, ignoring the way his bones click slightly, “I, for one, need a shower. I smell like flames and I hate it. I suggest you two do the same,” he turns from his slumped brothers, “I can smell you from here.”

Elijah pulls himself from the wall, rolling his shoulders and peeling his eyes open, “come on, Niklaus, you can take a nap for a few hours. I doubt the rest of the night will be eventful, half the town should be asleep by now.”

“I hope you’re right.”

The two brothers catch up with Kol easily, grabbing their discarded gear on the way and heading towards the locker room. Kol is the first to step through the door, adamant on jumping in the shower before his brothers take all the hot water like they usually do, when he stops suddenly, all of his senses on high alert. Something is wrong, terribly so. He closes his eyes and takes a deep breath, catching the faintest hint of sweetness, like vanilla and oranges, mingled with something sharper. Something too familiar.

“Kol, what are you-” Elijah doesn’t get to finish his thought.

“Blood,” Klaus pushes past both of them, his eyebrows furrowed, “I smell blood. Someone’s here.”

Kol nods and steps further into the room, directly followed by Klaus and Elijah. As they push forward, towards the showers, the scent of fresh blood intensifies. So does the vanilla citrus perfume, magnifying and tangling around each brother. The room is electrified because of it, drawing them quicker to the heart of the locker room. The distinct sound of three heartbeats fills the room, each one louder than the last. Thump, thump, thump.

When they turn the corner they freeze, each heart skipping a beat in the same moment. There, in the middle of the showers, is an unconscious woman. A naked, unconscious woman slumped over in a pool of her own blood. Her body is battered, more blue and black than any other color. Who knew a vampire's blood could turn as cold as theirs is right now?

“Fuck,” Kol’s voice is the first to break the tension, dropping to his knees with a dull thud, his heart strings snapping violently in his chest, “fuck!”

Klaus is in front of her in a flash, his teeth ripping into his wrist without a second thought. Kol turns his head away, squeezing his eyes shut. There’s no way he can watch this. The sweet smell wraps around him, taunting him almost. The overwhelming sense of loss wraps around him like a noose, his throat closing harshly. Why now, why like this?

“Is that,” Elijah, too, sinks to the ground, his hands splayed against the concrete, his eyes glued to the horrific sight in front of him, “is that who I think it is?”

His muscles tighten, an indescribable pain rippling through his entire body. He feels like he’s drowning. No, like he’s burning alive. Fuck, it feels like both at the same time. He wants to scream but no sounds are surfacing. This can’t be happening!

Kol’s voice is sharp and cracked, too many emotions to decipher leaking into his words, “yeah, it’s her. It’s our mate.”

Klaus presses his bleeding wrist to her mouth hard, tears streaming freely down his face. He couldn’t care less about how he looks, not right now. Not when it feels like someone is ripping his heart straight from his chest.

“Come on, love. Wake up. I need you! Wake up!”

* * * * * *

“Wake up. I need you! Wake up!”

You tear your eyes open suddenly, bright lights flooding your senses. You gasp as you regain consciousness, something that you realize too late is a mistake. Your mouth is filled with a thick, hot substance, one much too metallic and familiar for your liking, that you inhale by accident. It fills your lungs quickly, your chest burning, and you roll over, hacking up mouthfuls of the disgusting fluid. It feels like your entire body is engulfed in flames. Like you’re dying twice.

The concrete is freezing against your fiery arms and, when it finally blurs into focus, you realize it’s also covered in a deep red liquid. You run your tongue over your mouth, the tang making your eyes widen. Your heart stutters as you finally come to an understanding. Blood. The floor is covered in blood. Your blood. This time you vomit, and almost scream when you see it matches the liquid around you.

“Shit,” a voice sounds from behind you as a pair of hands slides over your back, startling you further into the sticky redness, “holy shit you’re awake. Oh thank god!”

You flinch away from the hands, turning too quickly to face whoever it is behind you. Mistake number two. The walls start spinning around you and you have to grasp the wet stone beneath you and close your eyes for a moment. When you finally open them again you’re met with a pair of warm, brown eyes. Your heart stutters again, but you don’t have time to wonder why you don’t feel as afraid this time.

“Who are you? What the hell is going on?” you run your eyes over him, wiping your mouth with the back of your hand, “I don’t- where am I?”

Each of your senses are on high alert, your heart beating so loud you’re afraid it’s going to jump out of your chest, as you allow yourself to finally take in your surroundings. You're in a shower room of sorts, with rows of lockers on your one side and the tiled rows of shower stalls on the other. The smell of fresh blood hits you full force and you almost vomit again. You suck in a deep breath, ignoring the burning in your lungs as you try to force the feeling away. Your eyes catch some writing on the wall; Station 32. You look back to the man in front of you, zeroing in on his navy t-shirt with the same logo.

What the hell are you doing at a fire station?

He shifts closer to you and you stiffen. A pained expression laces across his face and your chest stings, worse than it did when you were coughing up the blood. He closes his eyes for a moment and when he opens them again there’s a sheen of tears. You swallow thickly, your own tears forming at the sight of his. What on earth is happening?

He sits back on his knees and runs a red hand through his blonde hair, maring the light strands with blood. You tense further at the sight. For some reason you want to stop him from spreading more of the blood over him. He’s already kneeling in a puddle of it, and his arms are soaked, painted in a cruel crimson. Even his t-shirt is drenched. You grind your teeth together, your jaw clenching harshly. He places both his hands on the floor and takes another few inches towards you.

His movements are slow as if not to startle you, “hey, it’s alright. You’re safe now. I’m Klaus, I’m a firefighter here. You’re at station 32, Lexington, Virginia.”

His voice is heavy with emotion, making what you can only assume is a strong british accent even stronger. Your heart tugs harshly when he speaks, begging you to move closer to him. You wrap your arms around yourself, ignoring the increasingly sticky feeling over your entire body. You can’t stop a few tears from slipping down your cheeks.

“How did I get here?”

A new voice, one just as accented and gravelly, pulls your attention from Klaus, “we aren’t sure, darling. We just got back ourselves. Gave us quite a shock, actually. How much do you remember?”

Your eyes wander around the blonde and land on two more men, two brunettes. You lock eyes with each of them, your heat racing once more. You suck in a breath at the wave of emotions that hit you. Sadness, confusion, longing, comfort. Love. It all hits you at once and you have to close your eyes before the room starts spinning again. When you open them again, they’re closer. Far enough to keep you from tensing, settled next to Klaus.

You tuck your knees to your chest, wrapping your arms around yourself, suddenly feeling very exposed. One of the men, the one with dark brown hair cut close to his head and concerned brown eyes, notices and wastes no time pulling the t-shirt from his chest and settling it on your knees. It’s warm and a touch damp but you don’t mind, gratefully shuffling it over your head and passing him a grateful nod. It lands mid thigh, circling you in a heady wood scent. Your cheeks flame as you try not to lean down and smell it directly. When you look back at him his eyes are glinting.

“I’m not sure,” you press your palms against your eyes and immediately regret it, the stickiness now smeared on your cheeks and eyelids, “I don’t remember much. Only bits and pieces from this morning but nothing after that. Wait, is that normal? God, why can’t I remember anything!”

All of a sudden you’re panicking and the room begins shrinking, at least it feels like it is. You can’t breathe, your lungs constricting painfully. There isn’t enough oxygen in the room. Was there ever enough? You’re racking your mind for any little thing that you can remember but it’s pointless, you’re going too fast and your mind can’t make sense of anything you’re seeing. You see a sink, one covered in blood. You see teeth. No, you see fangs. You smell the forest, one heavy with pine trees. None of it makes sense!

You claw maniacally at your chest, trying to suck in enough air to clear the fog in your head. Nothing is helping, your body is on fire and sticky and you just want to scream until it all makes sense. The shirt feels three sizes too small and you want to tear it over your head. Just before you can, though, you’re pulled onto someone's lap, someone who smells like pure water, and you can finally suck in a proper breath. The flames that were lapping your skin slowly start to fade, giving over to a cool sensation that soothes your achy bones.

“Deep breaths, love,” Klaus’ voice washes over you like a lullaby, his hands rubbing down your back, “that’s good, just like that. We’re going to figure this out but for now you just have to breathe. You’re safe now, I promise you that. We can start with an easy one, what’s your name?”

You sink into his chest more easily than you would like to admit. His arms circle you tighter, his head resting on yours in an entirely unprofessional way but you don’t care. You’ve never felt this kind of need before. You’re afraid that if you leave his arms now then the flames will come back.

“Y/n,” you murmur into his shoulder, “my name is y/n.”

A pair of hands rub over your shoulders, drawing you into them slightly on instinct, “darling, I know you’re scared but we need to see if you’re seriously hurt. We found you in a lot of blood,” whoever is speaking his voice is rough and he has to stop to clear his throat, muttering a curse under his breath, “do you think you can let us check you over?”

When he brings up the blood, it’s all you can smell again, and you scramble from Klaus’ arms, narrowly making it before you’re vomiting again. This time you don’t puke up any blood, thank god. Just bile, which isn’t much better. The metallic scent is all around you and it’s all you can do to hang your head and suck in as much air as possible. You feel so dizzy it physically hurts.

“Shit, Elijah we gotta get this cleaned up. It’s only making it worse. C’mere love,” you’re pulled into the warm chest of a man you’ve yet to interact with.

You lock eyes with the last man, losing your breath at his honey brown eyes. He smiles softly and you feel your cheeks go hot. You bring your hands to your lips quickly, all too aware of how close you are to this man and the fact that you were just throwing up and are soaked through with blood. You blink back a few tears, embarrassment streaming through you. You glance down at his chest which is now covered in your blood. The man furrows his brows, shaking his head lightly. You can almost hear his thoughts; don’t worry.

Elijah, the man who gave you his shirt, nods at Klaus, standing quickly, “you two take her to the captain’s bathroom, it’s nicer anyway and more private. I’m not expecting anyone else tonight but I’d rather them not see her like this,” he turns, locking eyes with you, his rough tone softening drastically, “baby, are you okay if they help you clean this blood off? They’re not going to hurt you, we just need to get you cleaned up and warm to make sure you don’t go back into shock.”

The word baby rings through your head, hitting you directly in the chest. Tendrils of warmth unfurl through your body and you find yourself nodding to everything he says. Elijah sags, relief taking over his body. It doesn’t last long though, the tension filling his frame as he looks back around the room.

“Kol,” the man under you tenses, “take her upstairs now. Niklaus, do you mind helping me with this? It’s-” Elijah looks at you again for a moment before he has to look away, “It’s going to take two people.”

Klaus stares at you longingly, the pained look back in his eyes. It makes you want to pull him into your arms, blood or no blood, and hold him. You tense at the thought. Where did that come from?

He looks at you a moment longer before crawling over to and running one of his stained hands over your cheek. He leans down and kisses the top of your head, rubbing his cheek against your matted hair. Sparks dance down your spine at the simple touch, lighting your body like a christmas tree. Too many emotions surface again, confusion and longing being the top contenders.

“I’ll be with you as soon as I can, love,” he whispers to you before standing himself and addressing Elijah, “yeah, let’s get this over with.”

Elijah nods at Klaus, his shoulders sagging slightly, probably out of relief again. Looking around one last time it’s obvious the job is going to take some major man-power. Thankfully the blood is contained mostly to the showers, but even so it’s coating almost every surface from there on. Looking at it makes you chest heavy again but before you can lose it Kol stands, pulling you up with him.

He holds you easily, bringing you level with Klaus and Elijah. Elijah strides over to you, taking your face in his hands. Your heart pounds mercilessly at his touch. It takes all your willpower not to jump into his arms and curl around his bare chest. You try not to stare at his taut muscles. Now is definitely not the time to let lust join the myriad of emotions running through you. Even as you force your eyes away, though, your body ignites and you have to stop yourself from clenching your thighs around Kol. Fucking hell, what is going on?

Kol’s arms tense suddenly and when you peak back at him, his eyes are shades darker. You swallow thickly, trying not to think too much about the heated look in his eyes. Or how much you don’t want him to stop looking at you like that. You peer back at Elijah, who holds a similar expression. You have to suck in a breath, the room temperature instantly raising ten degrees.

Elijah leans his forehead against yours, his thumbs grazing your cheekbones gently, “Kol’s going to take you upstairs now, okay baby? He’ll take care of you, help you wash some of this off. You’re in control here, alright? No one else is going to hurt you.”

You nod lightly, your forehead rubbing against his, “okay, Eli.”

He sucks in a sharp breath and presses a hard kiss to your head before releasing you. Kol shuffles you further up his body, drawing your attention to him. He grins at you but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. Before you can process what you’re doing, you’re cupping his cheek in your hand. His skin is soft and so warm. He sighs quietly, sinking his cheek into your touch, his eyes losing some of the tension.

“Let’s go get cleaned up, darling.”

You lower your hand, choosing now to wrap your arms around his shoulders instead. His muscles under your fingertips are glorious, warm and firm. When you rest your face against his shoulder, you breathe in the faintest hints of nutmeg and flames. It’s absolutely intoxicating. His shoulder is hot against your cheek and you finally give into your cravings to curl your body around his, wrapping your legs tightly around his torso and clinging to him for dear life. He holds you against him with everything he has, taking the steps two at a time.

You can’t bring yourself to open your eyes until you feel him enter a separate room, one much smaller than the locker room you were previously in. You’re greeted with a spectacular sight; a spacious bathroom with a wall of showerheads and the biggest clawfoot tub you’ve ever seen. You almost jump from his arms at how badly you want to get in it.

He sets you down on a vast countertop, the cool marble biting into your bottom. You shiver lightly, a warm blush spreading down your neck and chest. He places his arms on either side of you, staring at you with a mixture of tenderness and caution. You have to will yourself to keep looking into his eyes and not at the way his arms flex from how he’s leaning. God, where did all these wanton feelings come from?

“Okay, darling, where are we going from here? What do you need me to do?” his accent is fuller due to the acoustics in the bathroom and you nearly keel over from how hard it slams through your body, tugging at every nerve south of your belly button.

“Um,” you clear your throat lightly, swallowing the sudden scratchiness, “do you think there’s a toothbrush anywhere around here?”

Kol grins knowingly, leaning down and opening a drawer next to your thigh. The heat rolling off his body rushes into your legs and when he resurfaces with a new toothbrush and a cheeky smile you’re practically panting.

“Thanks.”

You brush your teeth quickly, making sure to scrub the remnants of the past thirty minutes or so from your mouth. It instantly makes you feel a little better, knowing you can speak to Kol without your breath being a biohazard. You set the toothbrush down, looking back to him appreciatively.

Kol cups your chin gently, spreading heat like butter through your bones,“Do you think you can stand? If you can, I can wait outside while you get cleaned up. You can take as much time as you need, darling. I’ll be right outside the door.”

Your heart pounds quickly at his suggestion, your throat closing painfully. You don’t want him to leave you alone, even if he is just outside the door. You don’t know how to ask him to stay, though, and you don’t want to cross any boundaries. You’re so damn conflicted that your chest aches.

“Okay.”

He nods, his eyes a touch less bright than they were a few moments ago, and he backs away hesitantly. You use all your energy to push yourself off the counter, using it to keep yourself upright when your feet touch the floor. Your legs feel like jelly and you wonder for a moment if you have any bones. You shake your head lightly, scolding yourself. Don’t be stupid, y/n, of course you have bones. However, when you go to take a step towards the bathtub you almost revoke the sentiment. Your legs crumple around you, bringing you to a pile on the floor.

“Fuck,” Kol is next to you in no time at all, his hands rushing over your legs, most likely checking for damage, “I knew that was going to happen I don’t know why I let you do that, darling. I was trying to give you space. Are you okay? Elijah and Klaus are going to kill me.”

He mutters the last part under his breath but you still catch it, “it’s not your fault, I was trying not to bother you. I thought I could make it to the tub, at least, and then figure the rest out from there. I, uh,” you scrub your hands over your face, covering your eyes with your palms, “I didn’t want to be a burden, more than I already am I mean.”

A few more tears slip past your guard, tracking lines through the dried blood on your cheeks. You swallow a sob before it can make any noise, your shoulders shaking slightly from the cold tiles underneath you. You’re utterly exhausted. You wish you could just click your heels and go home. The only problem is that something tells you that you’d only end up here again if you could do that.

“No,” Kol’s voice is low and strained, “no, darling, don’t say that. This isn’t your fault,” he wraps his arms around you, pulling you into his hot, nutmeg chest, “you’re not a burden to me. Or Elijah or Klaus. You’re a surprise and not an unwelcome one. If you need me to stay, hell, if you want me to stay I will. I’ll do whatever you tell me to do, okay?”

You peer up at him, clinging to his toned chest like you’re afraid it’ll vanish from underneath you, “please get this blood off of me, Kol. I can’t do it, I can’t even hold myself up. I need you.”

His eyes darken again, the honeyed brown turning a darker chocolate color, “you have me, darling, I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere,” he leans down and brushes his nose against yours, “never ever.”

A tiny giggle bubbles in your chest and it feels like freedom. It feels like falling asleep on the beach and hiking through the mountains and every good thing you’ve ever experienced. Kol’s eyes light up and he bites back a grin before doing it again, pulling a flood of giggles from you. Soon you're throwing your arms around him, laughing your head off for no reason at all, him joining you in the madness. You can’t stop and you don’t want to. You need this, you need him. It frightens you how intensely you feel connected to him already but you push the fear away for the time being.

“Okay, okay,” Kol scoops you against him and stands, “enough of that, love, time for a bath.”

That effectively puts an end to your giggling, your body igniting at the thought of taking a bath with this second coming of adonis. You swallow the lump in your throat, this time caused by the rippling of his taut muscles against you. The t-shirt you’re wearing feels see through suddenly, the thin layer between your core and his stomach doing little to quell the heat seeping from the crack between your thighs.

You dig your fingers into his shoulders a little harder than you mean to, pulling a soft grunt from him, one that you can feel in your own chest, “bath. Okay.”

Your cheeks flame at your idiotic response. Bath. Okay. What the hell was that?

He walks to the tub and sets you gently on the floor of it, the porcelain ice against your flesh. He turns, his back facing you as he pulls his suspenders off. You admire the fluid movement of his muscles as he steps out of his stained turnout gear, leaving him in a pair of grey sweatpants. His back is toned like a greek god’s and you would like nothing more in this moment than to know what it feels like to dig your nails into it. You squeeze your thighs together, trying to air the wanton out of your system. Don’t be a hussy, y/n. He turns back to you and your face flushes when he catches your lingering stare.

He hooks his fingers in his sweatpants and your breath catches in your throat. He lifts his eyebrow, silently asking if it’s okay for him to continue. Your mouth feels dry, your head is spinning. Slowly you nod, your eyes glued to his. He smirks lighty, an action so doused in sex that almost has you pulling Elijah’s t-shirt from your body and falling at his feet. You hold your breath as he pulls the sweatpants from his body and your heart almost falls out of your chest when they reveal a pair of grey plaid boxers. What were you expecting? Your subconscious taunts you mercilessly.

He steps into the bathtub behind you, kneeling and grabbing the showerhead on the way down. The heat rolling off of him seems to have increased, wrapping around you and daring you to melt into him. You want to, so badly you do, but you remain upright, your hands on the side of the tub, leaving rusty smudges on the crisp, white edges.

Kol leans forward, his mouth right next to your ear sending shivers straight to your core when he speaks, “darling, I’m going to need to take this off,” his fingers tease the tops of your thighs, curling around the hem of the t-shirt, “may I do that?”

He presses his face against your neck, laying a few soft kisses to the skin under your jaw. You roll your head back onto his shoulder, savouring his affection and warmth for a moment without overthinking it.

You nod against his skin, “yes, Kol.”

You can feel the breath he takes against your back and then, when he releases it, against your neck. He takes his time, his fingers gently skimming your sides as he gathers the fabric up and over your head. You raise your arms to make it easier for him, gasping gently as cool air rolls over your exposed breasts. He tosses Elijah’s t-shirt to the side, running his hands down your back and planting another kiss to your uncovered shoulder.

You know you should feel ashamed for being this naked with a man you just met but you physically can’t bring yourself to feel any of it. All you know is that you’re comfortable and that his hands on your skin feel like genuine magic.

“Okay, I’m going to turn the water on now,” he rubs his nose down the back of your neck, “let me know if it’s too hot or anything.”

Your eyes prickle at how sweet he is, how gentle he is with you. He definitely doesn’t look like the gentle type, all tall, dark, and broody, but the way he’s acting proves otherwise. You nod your head, leaning your chin on the edge of the tub. He starts the water, a plume of steam instantly clouding the bathroom. The first stream to hit you is heavenly and you can’t help but close your eyes.

“Is that okay, darling?”

You hum quietly, “it’s perfect.”

You let the water lull you into a daze, picturing the stream turning red as the water rolls off you and down the drain. It’s mesmerizing, the warmth of the water combined with Kol’s heady scent. When he touches you, though, it’s like a crescendo of feeling. His fingers run over your back, no doubt washing away the events of this evening, but all you can think about is how perfect his hands feel against your bare skin.

Everywhere he touches blazes to life. You feel like putty in his hands, willing to mold however he needs you to. When his fingers glide down your sides your body reacts without warning, your back arching against his chest. You can feel his chest rumble under your back more than you can hear it. His large hands span your back easily, spreading over your ribcage, his thumbs gently grazing your breasts. You suck in a harsh breath, clenching your teeth to keep his name in your mouth. It’s begging to be said though. Said, screamed, praised. Anything. Fuck it.

“Kol,” you breathe, reaching back to grasp at his forearms for stability, “more.”

The growl that rips from his chest is unexpected but it lights every fibre of your being alive. He pulls you hard against his solid chest, falling against the back of the tub and shifting you so you’re perfectly centered on his lap. A flare of pleasure flashes up your spine when you land on something hot and hard. You hiss at the thin layer of clothing between you and Kol.

His lips find your ear, taking the lobe between his teeth and sending even more heat pooling in your core, “as you wish, darling.”

Your hands fall away as his hands cover your breasts, his thumbs skillfully sliding over your hard nipples. This time you don’t whisper his name, you moan it. Loudly. Every time he rolls your nipples between his fingers, you see stars. You see the whole damn galaxy. His lips find your shoulder, biting down gently but hard enough to pull a string of incoherent praise from your lips.

His chest rumbles with every noise you make and the ball of heat between your legs grows brighter. You rock your hips against his, trying to build some much needed friction. The noise you pull from him is the epitome of heaven and it hits you right in the chest. It compels you to keep grinding your core against him harder, taking every sound he offers up and matching it with one of your own. You squeeze your eyes shut tightly, rolling your head onto his shoulder as the anticipation sings through your body.

Your senses are flooded, your hearing muffled by the running water and your blood pumping through your ears, which is probably why you don’t hear the door open and someone step into the bathroom. It’s only when a pair of lips attaches to the base of your neck do you peel your eyes open. You meet Klaus’ stare with a gasp, just as Kol pinches your nipples harder than all the times before.

Your orgasm hits you like a truck, tearing through your nerves without warning and rendering you to pieces. All the while Klaus takes your arm, placing tantalizing, open mouth kisses down your skin. When you finally come down from the climax, your muscles are layered with a sweet exhaustion. Kol nuzzles against your back, wrapping his arms around your waist.

“Fuck, darling,” he nips at your shoulder and your skin zings lightly, “you have no idea how much I needed that.”

Your eyes meet Klaus’ and your cheeks flame from the intensity of his stare, “I didn’t do anything, you did it all.”

You want to look away from Klaus, you want to feel some inkling of shame, but you can’t. All you want is to do is hook your arm around his neck and bring him closer to you. Your body craves his and it’s all you can do to not melt into his palm when he cups your cheek.

“That’s the point, love,” Klaus runs his thumb over your skin, “he just wanted to touch you.”

Kol hums his agreement into your flesh, his lips still glued to you.

“Do you want to touch me?” The words are out of your mouth before you can stop them, your eyes widening as soon as you register what you just said.

In less than a second, the brown eyes staring into your turn a dark coal color. The skin around Klaus’ eyes turns a deep purple. Your breath hitches at this side of him, a deep longing settling in your chest the longer you stare into his eyes. He's ethereal and entirely unhuman but you can’t even think about that. You want him so bad it stings. He has to shut his eyes for a few moments and when he opens them again his eyes are back to normal, if not a touch darker.

When he speaks his voice is gravelly, “I need to.”

You swallow hard, forcing the words out before you have time to lose your nerve, “come here then.”

Klaus’ eyes widen before he stands abruptly, shoving his own jogging pants down his legs before stepping into the other side of the tub. Kol lets you go as Klaus settles against the porcelain. As soon as he’s comfortable he wraps his hands around your hips, pulling you onto his lap and against his chest. Your legs end up on either side of him, much like how you were with Kol, your core pressed against the hardest part of him.

His crisp scent folds around you and sucks you deeper against him until your chest to chest, your breasts pressing into his firm chest. His arms settle around your back, his palms splayed over your spine. Your flesh buzzes from the contact, goosebumps rising when he traces lazy circles with his fingertips. You meet his eyes again and involuntarily clench your thighs around his hips. He’s looking at you like you’re the only girl he’s ever laid eyes on. Like he’s in the presence of a goddess and that he would gladly lay his life down for you.

Your eyes draw down to the tattoo on his chest, an image of birds in flight, and you run your fingers over it gently. He sucks in a breath when you touch him, closing his eyes and leaning back against the edge of the tub. Something about his reaction spurs you on. If that’s what your fingers can do, what can your mouth do? You lean down, gently attaching your lips to his collarbone and tugging his skin into your mouth.

He jolts up when you bite down lightly, jostling you further onto his lap and sending waves of heat rolling over your body, “fuck,” his hand wraps around the back of your neck, pushing you impossibly closer to him, “love, you have no idea how good that feels.”

You pull back slightly, your mouth still against his skin as your eyes bore into his, “show me.”

His chest rumbles under your lips before he pulls your head back gently and slams his lips against your throat. He sucks your skin into his mouth and, for the second time tonight, you see stars. You wrap your arms around his shoulders, lacing your fingers through his blonde hair. You tug him closer to you, crossing your ankles behind his back. You want every inch of his skin pressed against yours.

He bites down, his teeth scraping pleasure into every nerve, and you pull at his soft hair, praises falling mindlessly from your lips, “Klaus.”

A second pair of hands glides over your back, “darling, let me wash your hair. I can feel Elijah getting restless. Unless you want three men in this tub with you, I need to finish getting you cleaned up.”

Your heart pounds at the thought of Elijah in the bath with you, his large body pressed against yours. You can practically smell his pine scent in the air, clinging to your skin. You bite your lip. You want to moan his name and he isn’t even in the room. You shake the thought from your mind, leaning into Kol’s hands.

Klaus kisses up your neck, peppering your jaw and cheeks with pecks before pulling you to lay against his chest. You close your eyes, letting the exhaustion that’s been building flood your system. Kol soaks your hair, the warm water pouring down your shoulders as you press your face into Klaus’ neck. His hands draw lazily up and down your sides as Kol massages shampoo against your scalp. You mewl at his touch and cling to Klaus. You could stay in the moment forever, it’s absolutely blissful.

Just as Kol is rinsing the shampoo from your hair, the door to the bathroom opens revealing a shirtless Elijah. He’s clad in nothing but a pair of grey sweatpants. In his hand is a large towel. His eyes zero in on you from across the room and, though you can’t see them clearly, you can tell they’re dark. Your head goes fuzzy as your eyes draw down his sculpted chest, lingering on his rippled stomach. You meet his eyes again and give into your instincts, reaching your arms out for him.

“Eli,” you call out to him, “I need you.”

You stand on wobbly feet, bearing everything to him. You don’t care, you just want to be in his arms. You haven’t had a chance to touch him yet and your body is screaming at you to get as close to him as humanly possible. Even more than humanly possible. Elijah closes the space between the two of you in seconds, wrapping the towel around you before pulling you into his arms. Your legs wrap around his waist, your arms circling his neck.

He leans down, rubbing his nose against yours, “I need you too, baby.”

You slip your fingers into the hair at the nape of his neck, playing with the soft strands mindlessly. He leans into your touch and your heart soars. He hikes you further up your body, leaning his face against your shoulder. You run your hands over his shoulders, sighing when the tension leaves his muscles.

“I’m going to go sleep for a few hours,” Elijah mumbles into your shoulder but his words aren’t aimed at you, “do you think the two of you will be okay until then.”

Klaus waves his hand dismissively and Kol nods, still draped lazily over the edge of the tub, “yeah, yeah, go, we’ll be fine brother.”

Wait, what?

Did you hear that right? Brother. Your entire body sets on fire. They’re all related. Well, there’s the shame you were missing at least. You push against Elijah’s chest, forcing him to meet your eyes. When he sees your expression his brows pull together, his brown eyes filled with concern.

“Baby-”

“You’re all brothers?” you breathe, your face burning, “brothers? What on earth is going on?”

He stares into your eyes for a moment before laughing, turning with you in his arms and starting towards the door. You lock eyes with Klaus and Kol over Elijah’s shoulder. They, too, are laughing without a care. Kol tosses you a wink just as Elijah carries you into the hallway.

You circle your arms around his shoulders again, “Lijah this is crazy. Explain. Please.”

He pulls you through another door, exposing you to a comfortable looking bed. Just looking at it sends sleep pooling in your limbs. He sets you in the middle of it before climbing on after you. He pushes you backwards and you fall into a pile of pillows, the towel long forgotten as he crawls on top of you. Your body flares with something hot as he holds himself on his forearms, his hot chest grazing yours with every breath he takes. You wrap your legs around his hips, pulling him closer to you despite your still unanswered questions.

“Lijah,” you whine as his lips find your neck, arching into his touch like two magnets connecting, “I need answers.”

Elijah’s teeth scrape at your neck, pulling soft moans from your lips. You’re so tired but the want that swirls in your core demands anything but sleep. You grip his shoulders, digging your fingers into his firm muscles. You pull his hips closer to yours, rolling against him desperately. You press your head into the pillows, exposing as much of your neck as you can to him.

He pulls away and you have to swallow your protests. When you finally open your eyes, you’re met with the same dark eyes you saw from Klaus, only now they’re accented by a pair of sharp looking fangs. You suck in a deep breath, reaching up to cup Elijah’s jaw.

“I know, baby,” he rubs his face into your hand, “I’ll give you all the answers you need and more but first I need you. I have waited a thousand years for you and now that I have you I don’t think I’ll be able to let you go yet. Please, baby, let me have you.”

His words wrap around you, every part of your being, and sink into your core. A wave of longing hits you again, and something else that you’re not ready to explore. It makes your heart warm and your body crave every inch of his. You already knew your answer before he asked. You’ve known since you woke up to the three of them.

Maybe you even knew before that.

You pull his face to yours, capturing his lips with your own, “you already have me. I’m yours.”

959 notes · View notes

lianordin · 5 years

Text

The audio gear we recommend to students

Arturia KeyStep

Lugging music gear back and forth gets tiresome when you already have dirty laundry and about 80 pounds of books you have to carry when you go home for breaks. The $119 Arturia KeyStep MIDI controller can greatly reduce your load with a light, easy-to-use keyboard that also happens to have a powerful sequencer feature. The 32-note keyboard supports MIDI in and out, plus CV output and clock sync for connecting to gear. For controlling your favorite DAW (digital audio workstation), it has the requisite USB port. It’s a portable music creation station that’s light and works with all of your gear. So no matter where you are, you can still create without adding too much more weight to your sack of laundry. — Roberto Baldwin, Senior Editor

Buy KeyStep on Amazon – $119

Audio-Technica ATH-M50xBT

These aren’t noise-cancelling wireless headphones, but they are the best-sounding wireless headphones we’ve tested in 2019. Audio-Technica has made a wireless version of its popular M50 model while retaining that signature sound. There’s stellar sound clarity with a wide stage that keeps things from feeling compressed. The M50xBT also handles most genres well, with the appropriate emphasis on lows, mids and highs that doesn’t allow one to overpower the others.

Touch controls are all the rage on headphones in 2019, but they can be frustrating to use. The M50xBT has physical controls that are consistently reliable, because you have much bigger things to worry about than making sure your headphones pause the music when you need them to. Yes, you give up ANC, but the sound quality you get for $199 is worth the savings. These will make sure your Release Radar and Discover Weekly playlists on Spotify sound stellar, even during a long study session. — Billy Steele, Senior Editor

Buy ATH-M50xBT on Amazon – $180

Audioengine A2+ Wireless

When it comes to compact shelf or desktop speakers that sound good, Audioengine has quite the reputation for quality audio gear. It doesn’t look flashy, but the A2+ Wireless has everything you need for a modest yet powerful setup. These offer wireless connectivity via Bluetooth aptX, so you don’t have to worry about your dorm’s unreliable WiFi to stream music without a tether. There’s also USB and stereo inputs so you can connect directly to your computer or analog devices like a turntable.

None of that means anything if the speakers don’t sound good, and that’s not a concern here. Audioengine’s trademark clarity is on display, and despite the smaller size, the A2+ Wireless is plenty loud. It’ll be enough to provide tunes for impromptu dance parties, a weekend get-together and low-key study sessions. — B.S.

Buy A2+ Wireless on Amazon – $215

Bose QuietControl 30

School is louder than you expected. People are excited to be away from their parents for the first time, and the result is a rambunctious dorm and talking in the library. Having fun is great, but you’re paying a lot of money to get an education and sometimes you need to block those distractions out. The noise-cancelling Bose QuietControl 30 earbuds do a great job of digitally quieting other students while you’re studying or when you just need to keep your sanity in a loud new world.

With a $300 asking price, they’re not cheap. But they do sport some of the best noise-cancelling tech out there. Plus, because they’re earbuds and not headphones, you can use them with a pillow to remove distractions while you sleep. That’s probably one of the more important things to do in college, unless there’s a really cool party going on. — R.B.

Buy QuietControl 30 on Amazon – $299

Jabra Elite 65t

Why follow the Q-tipped Airpod hordes into classes when Jabra’s Elite 65t true wireless earbuds are a great alternative? For $10 more than Apple’s earbuds, they’re a heck of a lot more discreet and deliver great sound quality across a wide range of music, from hip-hop to bluegrass to jazz. They’re also extremely comfortable, easy to pair, dust- and sweatproof, and come with a convenient charging case. They are a bit costly at $170, but good-quality earbuds are a pretty crucial part of college life. — Steve Dent, Contributing Editor

Buy Jabra Elite 65t on Amazon – $150

Jaybird Tarah

Truly wireless earbuds are great until one falls out of your ear or escapes out of your pocket into the great unknown. If you’re someone who wouldn’t do well with a fully untethered headset, something like the Jaybird Tarah is an excellent option. The sport headset is wireless, but the kind you’d call wireless before the AirPods and its rivals became big. Tarah’s earbuds are tethered to each other, so you don’t have to worry about one or the other getting lost while you’re out for a run or at the gym.

Tarah is sweatproof, waterproof and promises six-hour battery life. Jaybird’s app also allows you to create personal sound profiles for your headset and can locate your device if you ever lose it. At $100, it is definitely more expensive than off-brand options, but it still costs less than other models of a similar caliber, including the company’s own X4. — Mariella Moon, Contributing Editor

Buy Jaybird Tarah on Amazon – $79

Korg Volca Nubass

Look, anyone can roll into a dorm room jam session with an acoustic guitar. But if you want to stand out from the crowd, show up with a pocket-size synth powered by a miniaturized vacuum tube. The Nubass is the latest entry in Korg’s venerable Volca line. It is, as the name implies, focused on making bass sounds, and at that it excels. The sound is thick and warm, capable of delivering both punchy LCD Soundsystem-esque thumps and nasty acid glides. (You know, in case your dorm room jams are more dance party than “Kumbaya.”) But the Nubass is capable of some pretty killer leads too. It’s just about learning how to use it.

Like the rest of the Volca line (with the exception of the Mix), the Nubass is battery powered, which makes it perfect for carrying around campus and knocking out a quick melody if inspiration strikes. Plus, the MIDI in port and 1/8-inch sync jacks make it easy to integrate into a larger, more stationary studio setup once you’re back in your room. — Terrence O’Brien, Managing Editor

Buy Volca Nubass on Sweetwater – $200

Pocket Casts

There are free options for organizing and playing podcasts, but Pocket Casts goes a lot further for a small, onetime investment. For starters, the app is well-designed, and it offers features the free options lack. Episode search will save you a lot of time hunting for something specific, especially if it’s an older installment or one you’ve already archived. You can also play a podcast without having to subscribe to it first. It sounds like common sense, but it’s not always the case in some apps.

Pocket Casts also works well with Google Cast, AirPlay 2 and Sonos, so you can beam your podcasts to a smart or wireless speaker in your dorm or apartment. The app is also compatible with Android Auto and CarPlay, making it an ideal road trip companion for the trek home. You have to pay for both the mobile and desktop apps separately, but you can probably get by with just the version for your phone and save $9. — B.S.

Sonos One

Two years on, the Sonos One remains a great pick if you want an affordable yet powerful smart speaker for the dorm. It provides richer, more-balanced audio than rival speakers in its class, and it’s considerably more flexible to boot. You can control it using Alexa, AirPlay or Google Assistant, and Sonos’ apps offer access to seemingly every audio service under the sun. You can wake up every day to your favorite internet radio station or cue up a study playlist when you need to prepare for exams. It’s not the most bass-heavy speaker on the market (much to the delight of dorm neighbors), but it’s compact enough that it won’t eat up too much of your desk space. — Jon Fingas, Contributing Editor

Buy Sonos One on Amazon – $199

Spotify Premium

You can’t properly soundtrack the most important years of your life if you don’t have access to all the music. From those moments of melancholia in your dorm room to parties on the quad and everything in between, you need good music. Our pick is Spotify Premium, especially since it’s just $4.99 for students, and you get Hulu and Showtime thrown in for the money. You don’t get any TV with the free, ad-supported version of Spotify, plus plenty of limits.

Why Spotify over Apple Music (or YouTube and the rest)? Price is one factor, but there are reasons too. Spotify works on more platforms, and more speakers, so you’re not limited to using Homepod in your dorm. Plus, Spotify’s AI-grinding will help point you to new music you’ll quickly fall in love with, something Apple’s curated playlists rarely do. — Daniel Cooper, Senior Editor

Subscribe to Spotify – $10 month

UE Boom 3 / Megaboom 3

Bluetooth speakers are almost a requirement now in any home, dorm or park. Ultimate Ears, a brand known for strong specs and reliable build quality, has continued that tradition with its latest Boom 3 and Megaboom 3 speakers. The exterior has a pleasing new design, robust battery and IP67 waterproofing, making them safe for full shower and pool use. The micro-USB port, meanwhile, is now conveniently located on the side, thereby cutting down on cable mess.

If you’d prefer wireless charging to plugging in, you can also get the Power Up dock so your speaker is always ready to grab and go. Unlike their Alexa-powered siblings, the Boom/Megaboom 3 retain stereo pairing as well as the ever-useful PartyUp mode. This allows one mobile device to connect to more than 150 Boom-series UE speakers at one time for an expansive, crowdsourced sound. On top of that, up to eight Bluetooth devices can be paired to one speaker at the same time for quick takeovers. And if you’re strapped for cash, the reliable lineage of UE means an OG Megaboom is still seriously capable and often found at steep discounts. — Jon Turi, Homepage Editor

In this article: arturia, ath-m50xbt, aturia keystep, audio-technica, audioengine, av, boom 3, bose, bts2019, elite65t, gadgetry, gadgets, gear, jabra, jaybird, jaybird tarah, korg, megaboom 3, pocket casts, quietcontrol30, sonos, sonos one, spotify, spotify premium, thebuyersguide, UE, volca nubass

All products recommended by Engadget are selected by our editorial team, independent of our parent company. Some of our stories include affiliate links. If you buy something through one of these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Comments

149 Shares

The post The audio gear we recommend to students appeared first on thedigichick.

from https://www.thedigichick.com/software/the-audio-gear-we-recommend-to-students/ from https://thedigichick.tumblr.com/post/187362167364

0 notes

ezra-blue · 7 years

Text

You’ve Got Something - 38

For @baronvonriktenstein‘s Messy!AU

38: Bad Karma

The consequences of some bad decisions have come home to roost.

Thanks to opalmatrix for a little bit of unintentional inspiration I got from one of her comments!

Word Count: ~6100

38: Bad Karma

It should have been a Wednesday morning like any other. Really, for the most part, it was. The dim morning light filtering through the garage's skylight illuminated a typical tableau, the white light casting faint shadows on the concrete as Gojyo, Goku, and Gat moved around and through to attend to their usual tasks. There was plenty to do, and plenty doing: cars rolling in, customers with questions, phone calls, stock checks, the grind of gears, the whir of the drill, the clatter and clang of tools. However, something was missing. Gat found himself looking at the other two over the hood of the car open in front of him to study his boss and their apprentice. Goku was, notably, wearing the same shirt as the day before and, from the grease in his hair, didn't seem to have bathed, and he seemed to be sore, stopping every once in a while to stretch, twisting left and right at the waist, then looking around as if to make sure nobody had seen him. Gojyo's hair was tangled at the bottom, his ponytail sloppy, and he had deep bags under his eyes. He smelled like soap, but also like alcohol sweat. Neither of them looked like they'd slept.

However, that wasn't the real thing that had caught Gat's attention. It was what wasn't there.

He looked up over the engine again, from Goku working at a tire with his lips sealed tight, and Gojyo morosely putting up his tools. Not even looking at each other. Gat had to remark: “Awful quiet in here today.”

Both Gojyo and Goku merely sighed in response, and Goku glanced back towards Gojyo, as somber as a mourner, just as Gojyo turned around to face him. Gojyo knit his brow up as he studied Goku, then approached and asked under his breath: “You look like you could use some bro time. You think we can do some lunch together?”

Goku cracked a smile, his first that day. “Yeah, sure.” Gat continued to observe a moment longer, then returned to his work without a word.

Their days were becoming significantly less typical.

“So, the jackass dumped you.” Gojyo fell just short of kicking the soda machine as Goku finished explaining.

“Don't call him that!” Goku's cheeks went bright red, and he gripped his sandwich basket tighter as Gojyo scowled at the stream of soda filling his cup as if it was the drink's fault. “But, yeah.”

“Pfft.” Gojyo was rough setting the cup down to put a lid on it, then motioned at Goku. “He dumped you for no good reason, I'll say what I want. You need me to kick his ass?” Goku shook his head 'no' as hard as he could, and Gojyo scoffed, lip curling, then gestured to the room. “Whatever you say. Pick a seat, kiddo.”

Goku sniffed, but shuffled into the dining area of the sandwich shop to pick a table. He and Gojyo had come here before; Gojyo loved the avocado BLT, and Goku loved their french fries, and they'd spent a few happy lunch breaks joking and laughing and having mock swordfights with their pickle spears. Goku had a feeling today would be more of a talking day, especially because he didn't feel like talking, so he knew he had to. Goku picked at his fries as Gojyo got settled and took a long swig of his drink. When he was sure Gojyo was listening, Goku ventured a little further: “I think he had a reason.” Goku chewed his lower lip as Gojyo raised an eyebrow at him. “He's real logical, and all. He doesn't do stuff for no reason. I think, when I told him, y'know, how I feel, he got scared.” He let his chin fall a little. “Especially after he heard what happened between you and Hakkai.”

“He already knows? Fuck, you know?” Gojyo leaned forward, wide-eyed, and Goku cringed but bobbed his chin.

“He told me.”

“Fuck.” The word came out like Gojyo had been punched in the gut, and he sunk back just the same for a second, dumbfounded. Then, he leaned forward, elbows on the table, and scrubbed his hands down his face. “Did Hakkai tell him? How much did he tell him?”

“I dunno how he found out.” Goku scrunched his face and picked at a few more of his fries, as Gojyo moaned softly into his palms. “But I guess after hearing about it, me saying that, when you two were such a good couple and Hakkai did that to you...” He paused, swallowing, then tried to look into Gojyo's eyes. “I'm real sorry about that.”

“It's fine,” Gojyo muttered back automatically.

“No, really.” Goku fidgeted, thinking of picking up another fry, then nudging it back as Gojyo kept his palms pressed into his eyeballs. “You and Hakkai were a good couple. I thought it was a love story--”

“Mm.”

“Seriously, it was fairytale! Like, you meet by chance, you help him out of a pinch, and then you start talking, and--”

“Hey, don't go making a big deal out of it.” Gojyo flipped his hand around and dragged his elbows back across the table top. “Sometimes, stuff just don't work.” He swatted flippantly, his eyes dropping to his feet. “Bad luck, or maybe just bad karma. That's all she wrote.”

Goku's heart hit his stomach, and he lost his appetite a little. “Don't talk like that! Jeez, you sound like you don't care!”

“Nah, it's not that.” Gojyo sprawled a little in the seat, disaffected but avoiding looking at Goku directly. “The fact is, when it's over, it's over. He saw something better and left me behind, and there's nothing I can do about it. I just gotta get over it.”

“But you're not even sad!” Goku slapped the table. “Are you sad?”

This gave Gojyo pause, but after a moment, he shrugged. “Something like that, yeah. I mean, don't get me wrong, it sucks that it's over, but...” He paused again, hesitating, then muttered, “I never deserved him in the first place. This's for the best.”

“No!” Goku jumped up, palms planted on the table and shoulders hunched to his ear. “He's the jerk that cheated on you!”

“Hey. Shut up.” Gojyo grounded himself in the chair, back hunched, casting his glare sideways. “He did what he thought was right--”

“There’s nothing right about it, especially when it hurt you!”

“So what?” Gojyo patted his bicep. “I got thick skin.”

“Yeah, but if it hurt you, you can say it! You should be mad at him!”

“I'm not.” Gojyo shrugged, and Goku's face went as scarlet as Gojyo's hair. “I messed up, and it's over, and I'm gonna get over it.”

Gojyo slammed his hands on the table again. “How did you mess up?” Gojyo sealed his lips, sucking his lower lip in and chewing on it, then slid his palm up his cheek again. Goku leaned close to his face. “C'mon, you can talk about it. You'll feel better if you do.”

Gojyo spared Goku a glance between his fingers, then shook his head and pushed Goku back to his seat. “I'm fine, kid. Let's eat before we run out of time, I feel bad leaving Gat by his lonesome.”

Goku stuck his lower lip out, but backed into his seat. Gojyo didn't quite turn around in his chair, but slid his hand down his cheek to prop his chin up as Goku ate his sandwich without another word. He barely even tasted it. Even the french fries had been lackluster, and letting them get cold hadn't helped. He couldn't even muster the appetite to eat the cheese that had fallen out, but when he glanced up to Gojyo, he noticed that Gojyo had barely taken a few nibbles. His heart sank. “Hey, you need to eat, too.”

“Huh?” Gojyo snapped to attention, then glanced to the red plastic basket, not quite looking at the food. “Oh. Yeah, guess so.” Goku knit his brow up as Gojyo took half the sandwich up and took a bite. He remembered Christmas too well, his chest aching at the thought of Gojyo starving himself again. It was a small relief when he managed to eat half the sandwich before wrapping what was left in the paper. “I ain't that hungry, but I'll get a box. Maybe snack on it later.”

It was something, Goku thought. It didn't matter how much he was hurting, Gojyo had still never been anything but kind to him, even when he really, really hadn't deserved it. Like, the first week after they'd met.

Goku arrived at the front door and stared up at the sign. He could see a few chips in the wall where part of the lighting on the name had been peeled off, but maybe that was just from the last business that had been here. All he knew was that G's Auto Repair had agreed to take him on as an apprentice, and the instructions from the boss were “Come in and announce yourself, the receptionist doesn't get here until 10.”

So in he marched, to the distinct crunch of a wrench working at a bolt. He tried to peer in through the gap between the front and the garage proper, and saw a pair of legs sticking out from under a car. Long, skinny legs, clad in a baggy jumpsuit. Goku cleared his throat, making sure his voice came out at the bottom of his register, and called out: “Hello? Mr. G? Uh, I'm here about the apprenticeship?”

“'Zat so?” The rich, warm voice that reverberated back actually made Goku's heart skip a beat, and as the mechanic rolled out from under the car and jumped up to his feet, lean and long, pulling his jumpsuit off of his arms and shoulders, striding towards the garage. Goku gaped at him: the muscles! The broad shoulders! The long hair in that perfectly sloppy ponytail! That sexy smirk so casual it was like he didn't even know how sexy he was! Goku knew his mouth was open as the mechanic came close, and extended a long-fingered hand. “Well, first things first, none of that Mister stuff. Name's Gojyo.” He winked, and Goku realized he was meant to shake, and enthusiastically grabbed on and shook it hard, pumping it up and down.

“It's really nice to meet you!” He bounced on his heels. “Thanks for taking me on! I promise I'll work hard!”

“I believe you, kid, and you're gonna have to. It's just you and me here, y'know?” Gojyo chuckled a little, then yanked his hand from Goku's grip (oh no, had he been holding on that tight? At least Gojyo wasn't teasing him!). "I got a jumpsuit for ya hangin' in the hall, go ahead and pull it on, we got plenty to do. I'll give you the rundown of how things go around here as we work, but we're not what you'd call real formal." He chuckled, and Goku felt his knees wobble at that self-deprecating, charming grin. "Though, I say 'we' like it's anyone but me. Still. Royal 'we' since I'm King in this garage, right?" He winked at Goku. "Enough of me talking, especially since you're not answering and kinda staring at me with your tongue hanging out of your mouth. Let's go, yeah?" He motioned for Goku to follow as he pivoted around, stopping only to let Goku pull his jumpsuit on. Then, he strolled on into the garage, casual as you please, and settled back down on his roller board. "Give me a second to finish up this fuel line, and then I wanna see what you know."

"Sure!" Goku stood back, admiring behind sealed lips and a forced nonchalant expression as Gojyo stretched back out.

"So tell me, kiddo, how much experience do you have fixing cars?"

"Oh, y'know, the basics." Goku propped himself against the workbench, keeping a little distance as Gojyo rolled under the truck he'd been working on. "My foster mom taught me how to change oil and tires, and she let me use her car to learn some of the parts, but that's about it." He grinned nervously, as Gojyo hummed and kicked one long leg out, and Goku traced the line of his toned leg and thigh where it showed through the canvas with his gaze, and swallowed hard. Gojyo didn’t seem to notice how casually attractive he was.

"That's about what I expected."

"Oh, but we've gone over stuff in class, and--!"

"Monkeywrench."

Goku's jaw fell slack, a blush tinging his cheeks. "Um... do you mean... me?"

This got Gojyo to roll out and sit up, grinning. "No, no. Next to your head." Gojyo motioned, and Goku spun around to find the tool Gojyo was asking for hung on a pegboard behind him. Goku squeaked and grabbed it, then scuttled over to him with it . "Should I have said, 'Gimme the monkeywrench?' Or should I just start callin' you that?" He patted Goku's hand as he took the wrench, and the blush that had been threatening Goku completely overtook him.

Crap, Gojyo wasn't just hot, he was cute.

He had to be careful, he knew. So he tried to keep it light, casual, as Gojyo reviewed the basics with him. As Goku showed Gojyo he knew how to change oil with Gojyo right at his back, so close the skin on Goku's back got a little shivery at the thought of Gojyo's chest being that close, he started with, "Hey, can I ask about you a little?"

"Only a little," Gojyo chuckled over his shoulder.

"Do you have a girlfriend?"

Gojyo actually laughed. "Nah. Got a couple girls who know my name at the bar and the sandwich shop, but I'm not seein' anybody."

"Ohh, 'anybody,' huh? Do you date guys?" Goku winked at Gojyo, and Gojyo laughed again.

"Well, not formally, but I wouldn't say no. Is that a problem?"

"Nope. I date everyone! Or I would. You know." Goku grinned to himself, encouraged, but Gojyo planted his big hand on Goku's head.

"That's fine with me, but let's keep the love drama out of the workplace, yeah? I had a thing going with someone I worked with before, which made it all the messier when we started to disagree."

Maybe Goku could have taken the hint then, but he didn't.

Later, as Gojyo demonstrated how he tested for why an engine wasn't starting, in a lull between testing a spark plug and Gojyo digging out his jumper cables, Goku sidled alongside him. "So, hey, did you have dinner plans yet?"

"I got half of a can of Manwich with my name on it." Gojyo chuckled without looking at Goku, then swung his elbow wide as he yanked the cable off the wall, forcing Goku to take a step back. "I'm not much of a cook, but I get by."

“Well, y'know, I know this place in town--”

Gojyo planted a big hand on Goku's shoulder and bent over to get eye-level with him. “Wait, are you actually doing this?” He grinned wide and bright, obviously amused. “You're seriously trying to pick me up. You. Picking me up.” Goku felt his face nearly melt off of his skull, but he nodded furiously. Gojyo laughed again, his voice rich and sweet, but it reeked of condescension like someone leaning out of the window of a Cadillac. “Oh, oh man. That's cute.” He held Goku's shoulder a little tighter, and Goku flushed when he realized that for Gojyo, ‘cute’ wasn’t a good thing. “Listen, it's really cute, and I appreciate that you think I'm good-looking – let's face it, it's all I got going for me sometimes – but I'm your boss, and even if I wasn't your boss, I don't date kids.”

The 'kid' crack stung, and Goku stuck his lower lip out. “I'm not a kid! I'll be nineteen in April!”

“Yeah, sure.” Gojyo let go of Goku and set his hands on his hips, drawing himself up, his broad shoulders and dense chest stark through his jumpsuit (and God why did he have to still be hot when he was telling him off?!), and cocked his chin out. “Look, maybe when you can drink, but until then, you're a kid, and I'm still your boss. So, cool it, okay?”

Goku snorted and crossed his arms, and Gojyo turned on his heel and strode back towards the garage. Goku sucked in a breath and gave chase, but though Gojyo was talking about a loose muffler, Gojyo was watching the curve of his butt through his jumpsuit, keeping his admiration mute, and trying to dream up another approach.

The next day, while they were sharing lunch behind the counter, Gojyo flipping through the inventory on the computer while he ate, Goku leaned over Gojyo's shoulder watching. He took the chance to lean a little closer. “You sure you wouldn't want me to take you somewhere nicer to eat?”

“There's a sandwich shop nearby. But if you're trying to ask me out again, the answer's still no.” Gojyo didn't seem bothered, tone as level as concrete, but he chewed with his mouth open a little wider on the next bite as if hoping to gross Goku out.

It didn’t change Goku’s mind.

Gojyo was combing his hair out in the bathroom mirror after yanking the jumpsuit off later that day, and Goku peered in as he checked himself in the mirror. “So, uh,” and Goku paused to check the article on his phone. “Are you... sure that we didn't meet before I came here?” Gojyo made a noncommittal, inquiring noise, and Goku winked at his reflection. “Well, I just know I wouldn't forget a face as pretty as yours.”

“Sorry, what was that?” Gojyo dug his pinky into his ear. “I thought I heard a kid trying to flirt with me. And not doing a very good job, either.” Goku blushed fresh-paint red as Gojyo sauntered past him as if Goku hadn't said anything,

Fine! One last resort!

While reviewing the inventory notes on the computer, Gojyo heard something rattling in the garage – Goku knew he hadn't been subtle – and came to investigate, and found Goku with his jumpsuit pulled back, revealing his tee-shirt, sorting out the spare bolts while splayed out seductively on the workbench. Gojyo groaned under his breath as Goku turned towards him, presenting himself in a display. “Oh. Hey.” Goku winked, pretending he hadn't been waiting for Gojyo to walk in for twenty minutes. He wiggled an eyebrow. “I was just keeping my hands busy. You know, putting like with like. Just something I like to do.” He had briefly entertained putting a wrench between his teeth like a rose, but, for one, ow, and for two, he was still trying to talk Gojyo into giving him a chance. “You know, you could probably keep me busy, 'cause if you gimme a chance, I'll give ya lots of attention--”

“Goku.” Gojyo crossed his arm over his chest and pinched his brow, and Goku's confidence collapsed. “I told ya no once. I told ya no twice.” He heaved a sigh, and Goku slowly rolled up, shoulders and chest aching a little at the plain disappointment on Gojyo's face. “I ain't being coy with you, and I ain't looking for you to convince me. I don't date younger guys. Period. And, again, you work for me.”

"Well, yeah, but--"

"I need your help." Gojyo shook his head again. "You already know enough to handle some of the small stuff on your own, and I'm alone in this garage without you. I'm damn lucky to have you, you know? I can't risk your school snatching you back if they think I'm taking advantage, and I don't wanna take advantage of you in the first place." He sighed and held one hand out. "No more flirting, no more pick-ups. We can be bros, but that's it. You wanna be my bro?"

There was something a little desperate in Gojyo's shaky smile, something a little sad, and it hit Goku that maybe Gojyo really meant this. "You mean it? Like, friends?"

"I like you, kid. You're funny." Gojyo turned his offered handshake into a generous ruffle of Goku's hair. "Now hop on off there and let's get back to it, yeah?" He held his hand out again, and this time, Goku took it.

Back then, Goku had just wanted Gojyo to like him. Preferably, to like him a lot. It was after this conversation that Gojyo actually began to treat him like an equal, as both a student and friend, as a mentor to him, as an ally. Sometimes, Goku wished he had the guts to come out to him, but he only ever did that if he absolutely had to. No matter. Gojyo had wanted to trust him then. He should trust him now.

As Gojyo led the way out, Goku chased him close and tucked his head and shoulders up under his arm. "Hey, Gojyo? Just so you know, no matter what happens, I'm still gonna be your friend."

Gojyo cocked an eyebrow at him, but he didn't pull his arm off of Goku's back, instead letting it sling there. "I didn't think you wouldn't be."

"Just making sure." Goku huddled a little closer to his chest. He didn't love Gojyo, not like he did Sanzo, and he knew Gojyo would never love him like Gojyo loved Hakkai, but this was enough. "And you can talk to me anytime, okay?"

Gojyo hummed again, smiling but not looking at anything but the path ahead of them, and Goku sighed but let himself sag against him. He knew what that meant. He'd learned all of Sanzo's little noises, too.

Gojyo and Goku walked back all the way like that, but as they reached the door, Gojyo's phone rang in his pocket. Gojyo snatched it out, hope flashing over his features for a split second before sinking into puzzlement. “Go ahead, I'll catch up.” Gojyo motioned and turned away before watching to see if Goku left, and hurried around the corner to answer. “Yo, Jien, is somethin'--”

“Gojyo.” Jien's voice was stark and harsh down the line, and something about it froze his feet in place. He heard Jien take a deep breath, then growl, “What the hell is this?”

Gojyo shivered, glancing over his shoulders before answering. “What're you talking about?”

“I'm talking about this flash drive.” Gojyo flinched when he heard something rattle, and the clatter of a keyboard. “What is this? What are these pictures? What are these – videos?! What the hell, Gojyo?!”

Gojyo sucked in a breath, then exhaled. “It's exactly what it looks like.”

“No, no no, I want a goddamn explanation!” There was a smash on the other end, and Gojyo clearly heard Yaone gasp in the background. He winced, because now he could hear Kougaiji, too, and nausea threatened what little was inside of him. “When did you do this? How old were you? Why--”

“Why else would I have done it?” The words seethed hot in his throat, sour on his tongue, but he didn't bother to temper them. “I wanted money. I didn't think it’d matter. It seemed like a good idea--”

“This--” Jien snapped back, biting Gojyo's next words off, “This was clearly after you came back to me. I was taking care of you – I knew you and Banri were up to some shady stuff, but this, Gojyo?! Now answer me! How. Old. Were. You.”

Gojyo steeled himself. “Why does that m--”

“You know why it matters!” Gojyo had been ready for him to yell, but he had no idea how raw it would feel on his aching heart. “You didn't have to do this, and you sure as hell didn't have to do it when I was taking care of you! This is a crime, and the fact that nobody's in jail for it, it--” Jien choked on his words. “It sickens me. Look, we need to--”

“We don't need to do anything! It's ancient history, and the fact that you didn't know about it until now doesn't change anything!” Gojyo clenched his fist tight around his phone, feeling the plastic strain under his hand. “I'm still the fucking family embarrassment! So what?! What the fuck is new?! Sorry I didn't come out of my shitty childhood a fucking saint like you did! Fuck, you know your hands ain't clean but you still fucking lecture me every time I slip!” He could hear Jien winding up on the other end, but he wasn't listening. “Fuck you, I don't owe you a damn thing! Think whatever you want about me! I did it because we needed money and I didn't care what I had to do to get it, and fuck it, it ain't like I'm good for anything else, right? Fuck off!” He pitched his phone at the wall as hard as he could, and the plastic and glass shattered on impact, scattering in little glittering pieces at his feet. Gojyo caught his breath, shoulders and chest heaving, and took in the tableau of what used to be his phone scattered on the ground. He tried to kick most of it off the sidewalk into the gutter, but gave up and stormed off, deciding it wasn't worth the energy.

If Gat and Goku noticed that he stewed in silence the rest of the afternoon, they didn't dare say anything about it.

Gojyo worked until the shadows grew long, losing himself in the grind, even starting up on getting into a misfiring piston as the skylight went from pink to gold, until Gat cleared his throat near Gojyo's elbow. He paused in the middle of the turn of his wrench, not trusting himself to look back. “Boss, it's six. I locked the front door.”

“Oh, yeah?” Gojyo glanced back to the big clock on the wall, then dared meet Gat's heavy gaze. Gat was focused on him, his jacket slung over his shoulder, “Well, I got it from here.” He motioned vaguely to the engine. “Kind of in the middle of this, so I'll be here a little longer.”

“You should go home and rest.” Gat was surveying him, and Gojyo was suddenly keenly aware that Gat was looking down from above and not liking what he saw. He turned and got back to working the bolt loose.

“I'm good. Just wanna finish this.” Gojyo kept working at it, as Gat continued to watch him with obvious expectation. “It's fine,” he muttered into the engine. “I haven't got anywhere else to be.”

Gat hummed, then set his jacket down on the bench. “I don't have a shift tonight. Can I lend a hand?”

Gojyo knit his eyebrows up, then looked back and studied Gat again. He was still clearly watching Gojyo, but his expression was benign. His presence didn't hurt, anyway, but Gojyo did remember something. “You sure you wouldn't rather go home and enjoy your night off?”

The strange rumble Gat let out was either a soft laugh or a weary groan, but he dropped his jacket and rolled his sleeves. “I have nowhere else to be, either.”

For a faint moment, Gojyo felt a kinship with Gat as more than a coworker, or maybe he just really wanted to. Either way, he shrugged. “Sure. Throw your coveralls back on and bring me the oil can, willya?”

Gat cracked a smile, and the two settled into the quiet peace of a late night spent at work.

Hazel's apartment was vacant but for the bright sunlight that flooded the floor from the big window in the back of the room, and he scowled at it and hurried to close the curtains so he wouldn't be blinded in his own home. The comfortable shadow soothed his aching eyes, but even with that small comfort, the room was empty. No big lump sprawled on the sofa, dishes left in the sink in their minikitchen, not even the scent of his preferred deodorant. Hazel peered back towards the bedroom on the off chance Gat had fallen asleep after work, but their bed was empty, Gat's side made up, untouched for days now. Hazel wasn't even sure if Gat had been home. He snatched his phone out, still muted from class, and saw no messages from Gat, but a few voicemails. He swiftly dialed Gat's number. It rang four times, then went to the machine, just like it had every time up until now. Hazel groaned his frustration at Gat's curt voicemail message, hardly even listening to his words anymore (he'd heard them so many times now in the past days), before letting loose:

“Are ya really this mad at me? Leavin' without a word?!” Hazel stormed into the bedroom and checked Gat's drawers. His clothes were all still there, but even that didn't assuage Hazel. “I thought we were in this together. Movin' out here, startin' over.” He shuffled back towards the main room, their shared sofa. They'd spent so many nights together there, settled against one another, Hazel reading or doing his homework and chattering away, Gat relaxing and encouraging Hazel to keep talking in his gentle, taciturn way. “I miss you.” He grunted his irritation. “We at least need to talk. I know you don't like what I'm doin', but I'm done with it now!” He flopped onto the sofa. “Just... come home. Text me back, call me, somethin'. I don't want to go on like this.” He hung up, heaving a sigh and letting his head fall back onto the back of the sofa. He could see glimmers of the sunset dancing across the ceiling, but the brightness still stung his eyes.

“I'd thought it was the right thing to do, damn it.” He thunked his head against the back of the sofa. “Why ain't things fallin' into place?”

His voicemail message flashed insistently, and Hazel dialed it, put it on speaker, and dropped the phone on the table.

“Good afternoon, Hazel.” Oh, the Prof. Hazel raised an eyebrow. What did he want now? “I just wanted to follow up on our arrangement. I'm glad to say your services were most helpful to me. I got the information I needed to help my brother and my unfortunate former flame.”

“Well, good.” Hazel sniffed, glad the Professor couldn't hear him.

“... Although, you'll find it rewarding in life not to get too far ahead of yourself. All that extra information you gave me, not helpful, most distracting. It's a lesson you'll have to learn as you go.”

Hazel 'hmph'ed, and thought back to their last conversation.

Hazel texted Professor Ukoku the photographs he'd taken of Gojyo and that rotten blond fellow, and the Professor smirked as he looked them over. “Good information.”

“The pictures from the outside don't tell the whole story.” Hazel tucked his phone away. “I was questioning on that Gojyo fella too – you've got it right that he's from the wrong side of the tracks, he's not too well-learned or too well-spoken, but he tries hard and it's clear he's doin' his best to keep on the up-and-up. That conversation there? Seems like the blond fella was tryin' to convince him into a bad situation, but Gojyo there was tellin' him off. Sure, he was goin' for his throat, but he had a damn good reason. Your ex found himself a decent guy.”

Professor Ukoku raised an eyebrow. “Is that your honest opinion?”

“It is, sir.” Hazel crossed his arms. “Same goes for your little brother's guy. You tell me the same thing, he's another broke kid with no family and no prospects, but he's a good guy who's tryin' to make somethin' of himself. He's as honest as the day is long. Your brother was looking at buying a house for the pair of them to share, it's obvious he's happy.” He pursed his lips, well aware that Ukoku was studying him, listening. Hazel had never quite liked the Professor, but he had agreed with him on one thing, to start: one couldn't be too careful, and there were people one just had to watch out for. Even so, Hazel knew at least one person who others might say the same about. “I'm sorry to disagree with ya, sir, but just 'cause they're at a disadvantage don't mean they're bad guys. They're tryin' to make somethin' of themselves.”

“I don't suppose you might have some bias, just because that gentleman you're living with might be viewed in a similar fashion.”

Damn, he was keen. Hazel merely shrugged. “It's somethin' I've come to realize, watchin' them live. Even if it might have to do with him, too, I'd say that's just proof of concept.”

Ukoku smirked again and pinched his cheek. “How cute. What a good student you are.” He let go, practically throwing Hazel back, and Hazel rubbed his cheek and sucked back his tongue and irritation. “But that'll be all. With this, I think our arrangement is...”

“... over, but there is one more thing to discuss.” Hazel frowned and sat forward at this. “It was our arrangement that you would help me with this observation, and I wouldn't disclose to your guardians that you're living in a one-bedroom apartment with an older man of unknown history.” Hazel blanched, as Ukoku clicked his tongue on the recording. “Well, as your advisor and professor, I reconsidered the situation. It just seems far too dangerous for a young, easily-influenced man like you. I had to call the Sisters listed as your legal guardians and disclose the unfortunate details of your situation.”

“You did what?!” Hazel squawked at the recording, as if Ukoku could hear, as if it would change anything he'd said. The recording kept talking, but Hazel wasn't hearing, his head spinning. How could he? How could he?! After everything he'd done for him!

“... I imagine they'll have a lot to discuss with you, but really, you may find your arguments more convincing with them than they were on me. I hope to see you in class Monday. Bye.” How could that sonofabitch be sing-song when he'd just destroyed Hazel's life?!

Sure enough, the next message was from one of the Sisters. “Hazel, we just received a phone call from one of your professors.” Hazel sat forward, his face dropping into his open palms. “He alerted us to the details of your... situation. Your... activism. This alleged relationship, Hazel, it's wholly inappropriate in appearance, and if it's true, then it's inexcusable. Bishop Filbert would have been dreadfully disappointed, I can assure you...”

“No, he wouldn't,” Hazel sobbed back, and when had he started crying? “Christ, he knew I was... he said God loved me, no matter who I loved!”

“... considering your apparent lifestyle choices, we must reconsider the current status of your conservatorship.” He could practically hear the sister pursing her lips. “We expect reform, and we are certain you can achieve repentance, but until we have a conversation with you and evidence that you have returned to God's light, we must restrict your access to your trust fund. It will, of course, be turned over to you upon your graduation from college, but until such time as you show yourself deserving...”

Hazel couldn't listen to the rest, his heart racing. That was his college money. That paid his apartment, that paid for his food, that was how he lived! Sure enough, the next message was from his bank, surely letting him know that his account had been emptied and every last cent to his name transferred out, but Hazel's head was spinning, he was too sick, too dizzy to listen, nothing could possibly make sense.

He killed the message and redialed Gat. It rang four times again, then clicked to the answering machine, but Hazel had no more bluster. He listened to the whole message, trying to gather his words, but he couldn't figure out what to say. He could hear the hiss of feedback as the message recorded his silence, before finally whispering, “You were right. I'm sorry. I... I thought I was doin' the right thing, and I... I was wrong! I don't know what to do. You've been there to help me every time stuff has been rough before, and I... I don't...” He trailed off, as the answering service stopped recording, as the feedback turned into silence, and he whispered to himself: “I don't know how to fix this.”

There was no answer.

#You've Got Something #my writing #fanfiction #be honest you feel a little bad for him don't you?

29 notes · View notes