#todays activity: tell me about your favorite mug

[so-very-small]

look at my mug boy

i genuinely haven’t used another mug since getting it. i love her. being able to hold a giant strawberry and feel smaller is doing wonders for my mental health

[lacedinweb22]

Miguel babies you when you’re sick ⁺‧₊˚ boyfriend headcanons Miguel O’Hara x fem!reader  

nsfw 18+ towards end

⊹ At the first sign of a cold, he’s on it, forcing you to stay on the couch, drink water, and take zinc supplements every three hours. You tell him to stay away, but he insists that his immune system will fight it off, which always proves true. He wraps you up in blankets and cuddles you. 

⊹ You’ll dig your face in his neck, groaning and complaining about the aches you feel all over, while he massages your neck dipping his fingertips up into your hair, massaging your neck, then tracing down to your back. His hands are so strong, he effortlessly gives you the best massages of your life. He whispers into your hair, “Sana sana colita de rana. Dame un besito para hoy y mañana” (Heal heal little frog's tail. Give me a little kiss for today and tomorrow).

⊹ He’ll make you soup, bringing it to you in a mug so you can sip on it as he wraps you up in his arms while you watch your favorite comedy together. He’ll give you endless kisses on your head as he holds you. 

⊹ As you’re curled up against his chest, kissing his neck gently, he’ll massage your thighs, which eventually progresses to his face in between your thighs as he wants so desperately to make you feel good when you feel so shitty. 

⊹ He’ll drink you up. He’ll place gentle kisses around your heat, before going straight to town, lapping at your core as you arch your back against the blankets under you, moaning and whining from the pleasure, the much-needed release of tension from your body. As he sucks gently on your sensitive bud, his hands explore your thighs then go up under your t-shirt and onto your belly, as he squeezes, and massages your warm flesh. His fingers massage your lower belly, making you more sensitive, bringing you your orgasm, the first of many. 

⊹ He runs you a hot shower and joins you, carefully lathering soap all over you, his big hands massaging your aching body. He sits down on the ledge, rubbing soap onto your thighs, hips, and stomach, then tracing his big hands up to your breasts, gently massaging as he looks up at you lovingly. He gets back up and urges you to turn around so he can rinse the soap from your hair. He gently combs his lengthy fingers through your locks then moves your hair, giving himself access to your neck, kissing and sucking gently on wet skin. “I’m sorry you’re sick, cariño,” he mutters into your neck. “Make me feel better,” you whisper back, pressing your ass against him. He does just that, turning you back around so he can kiss you, and press you up against the tile wall. He holds your thigh against his hip, opening you up, and thrusting up into you slowly, gently, providing endless kisses, endless words of encouragement, “Like that, baby. Does that feel good, princesa? Am I making you feel better?” he’ll whisper, brushing your wet hair from out of your face. Your nails dig into the back of his biceps, as you look up at him, head thrown back against the tile, moans and heavy breathing echoing through the steamy bathroom. His tip massages up into your g-spot, his slow strokes bringing the blissful ache in your stomach down to your thighs, as you begin to c*m around him, throbbing as he bottoms out into you, muttering cuss words as his lips brush against your forehead. 

⊹ After your shower, he'll massage vaporub onto your neck and chest, then help you put on your pajamas (one of his t-shirts and sweats), then he’ll give you some hardcore cold medicine, the kind that is quick to knock you out. He insists you get in bed, but you want to watch more of your show. So he’ll oblige and spoon you sideways on his big couch as you both watch TV, his hands running all over you, under your t-shirt, massaging you, feeling you, actively trying to find ways to make you feel better. He’s propped up on one elbow as you lay in front of him. He eventually sees you’ve succumbed to the medicine and so easily carries you to bed.

[dawnoftime22]

"be soft please, I love like the entire world is about to fall apart."

| W.M ( -> N.R )

Undeserving of a love like yours, Chapter 3

Chapter Warnings: tense/awkward conversations, slightly competitive r and wanda, but fluff in those parts, has it been proofread? I don't remember, but I'm hoping it is

Summary: Your mind starts to get louder with worries, and you can't tell if you're making it up. Wanda invites you along to some time together, hoping to relieve the odd built up energy between you.

Series Summary: When you're stuck in a complete hole of confusion and hurt with the one you thought you loved most, a certain redhead finds her way into your life.

Word Count: 3.7k

Category: Fluff, Hurt/Comfort...Angst if you squint?

A/N: really the first few chapters is just an excuse for me being able to write fluff for wanda for a bit (I'm kidding) but I'll be very busy in feb, so if I don't seem to be as active, that's why. but I'll try my best to keep posting the fics. okay love u all<3

| Started on 11/01/2024, 1:44 PM |

| Finished on 19/01/2024, 2:23 PM |

Masterlist | Series Masterlist | N.R Masterlist

<- Chapter 2 Chapter 4 ->

"but are your words true to your soul?"

|——————————— ᗢ ———————————|

-- - 5 days later...

You were sat at the reading space in your bedroom, holding a warm mug filled with tea. The window was open just slightly, letting air in. The sun was going down, and the sky was turning into a shade of blue, holding little of any orange.

You sigh and check your phone, the time showing 6:58 PM, but there were no new notifications.

You unlock your phone and go to your messages, looking at the texts you've sent Wanda. Not a single response yet. You brushed it off as her being busy, but now you were getting worried.

After a few seconds, the bubble of the dots come up. Although late, you now see a gray message than just your own blue one.

I stole one of your hoodies :)

it's one of your favorites, so I just thought

if you're searching for it, I have it

11:29 PM Today

do you want to bake some cookies

when you're free?

2:34 PM Today

Read Just Now

omw home now ❤️

6:59 PM Today

Read Just Now

Your eyebrows furrow as your eyes go over the words again, no other ones going along with it, and the dots had disappeared when the message sent. Had you annoyed her? You couldn't have. She was probably just driving and didn't have time to type more. Right?

You turn off your phone and look back at the window. The streetlights had turned on, illuminating the streets and trees nearby. Your eyes flicker down to your mug though, watching the drink make small riptides with the smallest movements you did.

You take another sip and finish off your tea, letting the warm liquid run down your throat before moving to stand up, the soft seat meeting your skin as you push off it.

The bedroom has a cozy atmosphere, the dim lights keeping the place dark, but still well lit. You don't stay for any longer though, with your path leading towards the kitchen.

You put your empty mug in the sink, but clean it with the dish soap and washing it off, to then putting it on the drying rack, having decided to keep the sink empty.

You rest your arms on the kitchen counter, a yawn escaping your mouth and your eyes water up, leading to the smallest tear leaving them. Your elbow replaces your sleeves on the counter instead, your hands moving to run themselves over your face and covering it. You move your fingers to wipe your stained cheeks.

After doing so, one palm of your hand held your jaw, the other one drifting down to rest on the counter once more. You stare at the dark kitchen wall, hoping time would pass by quicker.

A key was inserted in the front door. You heard it clearly echoing through the large room with the quiet silence. You turn to look, and it opens. A brunette walks through the entrance, but you don't move. You just watch.

She closes the door and turn the lock, then takes off her shoes and her jacket. She takes notice of your presence when she looks up, but not much of a smile went on her face. Bad day, perhaps.

"Hey. I came home on time." She says, her jacket hanging on her shoulder as she puts her hand in her pockets and walk closer to you.

"Hi." You say, your response short while you turned around completely and leaned back on the counter. She purses her lips and looks down, remembering she didn't get anything for you on the way, so all her hands were available to do was hide in her pockets, not knowing what to do with them.

You notice that, and you continue talking, not wanting an awkward silence to fall upon the two of you.

"I uh, didn't make anything for dinner. But we can order take-out or something if you'd like." You raise your eyebrows in question with your offer, and she looks back up at you.

"Oh, that's alright. I already ate on the way here," she says, with a gentle shake of her head. Your heart felt like it fell just a little, but something stopped it just inches before it hit the ground.

"Are you hungry though? We can order some either way," she asks, worrying your needs haven't been met yet while hers, has.

"No. No, it's fine, I had a sandwich earlier." You give her a small smile. Her attention drifts off to a blank space in the room, her head moving to nod, but her eyes not once going to yours, only focused on the wall behind you.

"I'm gonna go take a shower." She points to the bedroom with her thumb, her feet taking her away to clear herself from the living room.

You stand there for a second, shifting your body and contemplating a decision before pushing off the counter, the cold marble meeting the skin of your hands. You follow her once she's already in the bathroom, knowing the conversation was awkward enough.

You make your way across the room, going to the window to close it along with the blinds. Once that was done, you walk to the bed, the soft mattress dipping with your body as you sat on it.

The sounds of the shower could be heard even from outside the bathroom. You didn't mind it much and grabbed the tv remote, deciding to put something on.

You scroll through the lists of films and end up going with a rom-com Wanda loves. You got comfortable in bed, pulling up the blanket for warmth.

You didn't notice through the laughs in the show and talking, but the running water had stopped for a while, and the bathroom door opened with Wanda wearing her pajamas.

You look at her, and see her eyes focused on the tv screen, a smile raising on her lips before she saw you on the bed.

"You're playing my show," she said, as another funny scene plays and laughter erupts in the audience within the tv. You try your best not to smile too hard in making her face brighten up a bit.

"Yes, now get in bed and cuddle with me." You open up your arms, turning on your side and pouting. Wanda shakes her head with a smile and walks to the bed, sitting down next to you and shuffling closer until your bodies touch.

She pulls the covers up her body as you did earlier, and you help her, of course, not being a blanket hogger. You lean into her, your eyes focusing back on the tv screen.

She shifts until she's comfortable and then puts one of her arms around your back, the other one at your front, going around your waist. You look up, and she was focused on the show. Her heartbeat can be heard thumping against her chest with how close you were.

Your legs was tangled with hers, and she held you closely. Eventually, she looks down on you, her green eyes shining even within the dim lighting. She brushes her finger against your cheek, and you know you can't ever resist her.

Your gaze travels back up to her, and her eyes searched your eyes for something. What? You didn't know. But a certain sadness swirled in her pupils, you can see it.

"I'm sorry I've been so busy lately," she whispers, her hand dropping back down to rest on your waist. You snuggle closer to her, one side of your cheek against her shoulder.

"It's okay. I just wish work would take it easy on you." Your hand goes up, your fingers fidgeting with the fabric of her shirt. She keeps watch on you, her lips tucked in as she thinks of something in her mind.

"I have an idea." You pause your movement and curiously look at her, wondering what's to come. She takes a gentle breath before continuing.

"Do you wanna go to the beach tomorrow?" She offers you, and your eyes gleamed with happiness. Her lips raise up slightly face when she sees you brighten up.

"Yeah! I'd love to." You say, your voice filled with genuine excitement, having missed spending time with her. Her smile grows and she turns back to the tv.

The rest of the night, you spent in each other's embrace. You were the first to go to sleep peacefully, and Wanda had turned off the tv, following you along.

In the morning, both you and Wanda are sleeping soundly, the blanket and her arms still around you are keeping you warm.

The only movement was of the breathing of two bodies. That was, until you slowly stir, your mind awakening to the sun slowly brightening the skies. Your eyes slowly open, sleep invading your vision, blurring it.

You blink it away and move to rub your eye with a single finger just for a second before yawning, turning to the still sleeping brunette beside you.

It was the first time in a while she was there in bed with you while it was the morning, with her being so busy lately. You take the moment to indulge in being so close to her, in her arms, safe again.

Your fingers trace some meaningless patterns near her neckline, your head resting against her shoulder.

It didn't take long for her to soon wake up, just minutes later. You pause your movements, looking at how her eyelids slowly open, her eyes taking in the scene around her and registering that it was now morning.

She notices the touch of your finger on her skin along with your own pair of eyes, making her glance down.

"Morning, детка," she whispers, her morning voice only reaching your ears and not even the walls due to her saying it under her breath.

"Morning," you reply softly, continuing your hand's movement. Her lips raise up slightly and she closes her eyes, her arms releasing their hold on you to stretch for a moment before leaning her head closer to yours.

"You excited for today?" You ask, your eyes on hers. She goes to look at you for a second before replying.

"Of course I am." She said, her tongue going out slightly to rid of the dryness in her lips that her sleep caused.

"We're going to the beach. So, we can relax, splash water on each other, make sandcastles..." She trails off when she sees your eyes gleam at not just the first few words, but specifically her mentioning of building sandcastles.

"And I'm going to challenge you in a sandcastle contest." You say, and she tries her hardest not to break out into a big grin at how determined you were to do such a thing.

"Oh, really? Well I'm going to beat you in it!" she says, her voice slow and a quiet volume at first until her last few words, exclaiming as if she was trying to scare you, although with a soft voice.

"We'll see, we'll see." You say with your eyebrows raised, eager to win. At that, a laugh comes from her lips like a gentle melody.

The small laugh she did was short, but your heart still warmed just the same as the morning sunshine that peeked through the windows.

"Do you wanna go shower first, or should I?" You ask her, leaning back slightly to either get out of bed and go to the bathroom, or let her go.

"You can go shower first, sweetheart." She says with a soft smile. You nod, and her hands move to let you get out of bed.

You went to grab some clothes from the closet while Wanda unplugs her phone from the charger, checking the time. It was 8:24 AM. Certainly early, but not too early or late for the sun to be too sunny in the morning for your time at the beach.

You go into the bathroom and turn on the shower once you had your clothes off, making sure the temperature was just right. The shower gel was gentle on your skin, the aroma filling up the bathroom and making itself out to the bedroom, the familiar scent comforting the brunette outside the bathroom.

Soon enough you get done with showering and you step out with a towel. Wanda's eyes linger on you for a short while before returning to her phone. You blush as you made your way to your clothes on the bed.

She gets up and gets her own clothes and towel, to then shower herself. You put on your clothes when she closed the bathroom door. You plop on the bed, the soft mattress slightly going down with the change of weight.

You hear Wanda's phone make a notification sound, but you don't mind it much, and grab a hairbrush to fix up your hair a bit.

Wanda was quick with her shower, she came out and while you grabbed your phone and got ready with the other items, she wore her clothes, a loose thin jacket and a swimsuit underneath.

You turn to look at her softly, your eyes focused on hers. She was looking around the room, making sure you got everything.

"You ready to go?" You ask, and she hums her answer of a yes, grabbing her sunglasses on the bedside table and putting it on, now fully giving a beach look.

"Let's go, then." You walk out the bedroom with her behind you, going to the front door and opening it. The weather outside was perfect and clear.

Wanda locks the door with her house keys and goes to the car next to yours, which is of course, hers. You go to the passenger side, settling down into the seat as she turns on the engine.

She gets out the driveway and starts the journey to the beach, turning on the radio after a few minutes of quietness. Some Rihanna song is playing, setting a peaceful mood, but also making you want to move along to the beat.

The drive was short, seeing as your house wasn't too far away from the beach. The both of you were out the car when you had arrived, the crashes of the waves coming onto shore and visiting the sand could already be heard along with the strong wind.

You walk together to the beach, the sand hitting your sandals and feet as you go. Wanda's hands held beach towels so you could rest and lay down together.

When you find a perfect place where not many people were, that was when she set up the spot with the towels and sat down. You watch her, a smile growing on your face at the thought floating in your head.

"So...sandcastle competition time?" You ask her, and she shakes her head at your quick question, even right when she sat down. But a smile was present on her face.

"You're on!" She says, and goes to the side of the beach blanket, starting her little sandcastle, and you scramble to find your own place. She giggles, seeing you panic at her fast answer. You had sat right in front of her, working away with the sand.

After a few minutes, the two of you finish up, and both was perfect in every way. Although some parts were starting to fall apart. But it was still holding up good. Wanda looks at them, surprise over her face just as you were.

"Yours is...wow." She says, normally at first then to surprise with her eyebrows raised and a small laugh. Yours were big, but not all that much bigger than hers. You just had a tinge few little more details...and a small flag atop the castle. Where had you gotten it? She didn't know. You must've hidden it away in your pocket, she thought.

"If I'm going to be honest with you, yours look amazing. But mine is..." You stop when she cuts you off with a hum and a tilt of her head, her eyes narrowing their gaze on you as a warning.

"Hmm, well I think that we...have a tie!!" she gently pushes you on the beach blanket and tickles you, making shock fill your face, but laughs making sound from your chest.

"Wait, no!" You say between the giggling and laughing, her hands easily finding all the spots that you're ticklish at.

"Say it, or I won't stop!" She said, continuing on with no mercy. You were kicking your legs a little, but she was on your lap, so it did nothing.

"Okay! Okay, we have a tie!!" You surrender, the laughs getting tiring. She stops her attack on you, the both of you smiling brightly even though she had made you breathless.

She lays down beside you, catching her own breath even though she was the one who tickled you. But a giggle sounded out from her, having joy lingering from earlier.

A quietness went over the place other than the occasional seagulls in the sky and flapping their wings and on the sand, just near where the water kept coming in small waves.

Wanda moved closer to you, resting her head on your shoulder while you looked down on her. Your arms go to rest on the side of her waist, the warmth of your bodies keeping you in a decent temperature while the wind came and went by.

Your mind started to wander off, and your eyes travel way off over to the view of the ocean, the skies holding clouds melting within the blue. There was nothing in the distance but the ocean.

"Be honest," you start quietly, making Wanda curiously look up at you. Your hands had went to fiddle with hers, taking out one of her rings every now and then and playing with them, then putting it back into her fingers.

"...Are you starting to dislike me?" You mumble, trying to not make it too obvious that your thoughts were awfully loud. She notices you distracting yourself with her rings and fingers, making her look at you softly.

"What? No. I could never." Wanda's eyebrows furrow as her face fills with concern. She props herself up with her other hand that you weren't holding, looking into your eyes.

"What makes you say that?" She questions, as if oblivious to anything that's ever happened. You bit down on your lip and teared your eyes away from hers, looking at the sandcastles beside you.

"Okay. I know you've been busy, it's just...nevermind, it's stupid." Now her eyes sadden and she lets out a quiet sigh. She moves her hand to hold yours entirely, giving you an assuring squeeze.

"Hey...don't do that to yourself, малышка." She says softly, rubbing her thumb on the skin of your hand gently, hoping the motion will soothe you a little.

"I love you." She lets go of your hand and cups one side of your cheek, while going to place a soft kiss on the other side. She brushes her thumb on your lips now, making your teeth release it. It took everything in you to not break right then and there.

"I love you, too," you whisper, leaning into her touch. The sand moved with the wind just slightly, and even took a few layers off the sandcastles you had made.

"Don't ever blame yourself for anything between us." She shakes her head while saying it. Her voice was soft, and you look at her. You couldn't tell what the look in her eyes were, but you know you've seen it before.

You didn't give a reply. She didn't want one anyway. A silence washes over you like how the water washes the sand with it's gentle touch. She goes over her thoughts as she looked at your face.

"Do you wanna go to the water?" she asks, breaking the silence and looking at the ocean. Your eyes flicker to her before you look at the water, too.

"Yeah." You nod, and she smiles, pushing herself up to stand. You take her hand when she offered it, your legs moving to get you up.

Wanda takes off her thin jacket and kicks off her sandals, the sand meeting her feet as she walked closer to the water. You follow her, having gotten yours off too.

The water hits both of your feet, making a shiver run down your spine at the coldness of it. Wanda was already in to her waistline, but not going any farther than that. You continue on until you were close to her.

You feel the water with your skin and hands and the small waves that come and go, a feeling that had always calmed you. Your body starts getting used to the temperature, and it wasn't awfully freezing.

"How big of a splash can you make?" You ask casually, not really going in any direction with your small conversation, but she looks at you with her eyebrows raised.

"Is that a challenge?" She asks, watching you play around with the water and see the small waves that you make.

"Maybe." You tilt your head playfully, suggesting so, but only trying to feel the lovely beach air. The water keeps cascading against your bodies, while your hands go to rest on her shoulders, admiring her with the ocean in the background.

She smiles, and you could see the mischief in them. It made you curious, but then she splashed water lightly towards you, making you gasp. You splash back, initiating a battle of hitting water against each other, and each other's faces.

"Stop!" You shout, giggling along with her as you shielded yourself with your arms. She had done a big wave of a splash, making your hair soaked.

You wipe the rest of the water off your face, needing to breathe. You move your hand just slightly to do another small attack of water to her, but that was the end of it. You move away with a cheeky smile on your face and get out the water.

She laughed, knowing she won as you surrendered. The sun shone down on the both of you, although making you warm and the water glimmer with the light, the wind that breezed by made your bones tingle.

You walked back to the spot you picked out, sitting back down on it. She stays in the water for a while longer, taking in the refreshing feeling.

Soon after, she joins you, putting back on her thin jacket to defend herself against the wind. You welcome her into your arms, and she goes into your embrace just the same as the way the clouds enveloped the sun.

end of chapter 3. <3

Series Masterlist <- Chapter 2 Chapter 4 ->

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

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[tragedybunny]

Dance With Me Under the Diamonds, See Me Like Breath in the Cold Part 2- Astarion x F!Reader

Part 1 here

Hello lovelies! It's part two of the wedding fic I published some time back! I love these two and I'm excited to share the next steps on their journey.

Reader and Astarion have a conversation the morning after their wedding that lays bare some secrets of the past.

The unexpected scent of bacon wakes you, and you roll over to sit up. You cringe, feeling a bit of soreness, well everywhere, but especially between your legs from the activities between you and your new husband last night. 

Husband. That brings you back to bacon. Neither of you were all that competent in the kitchen, and you found your curiosity piqued. Your eyes spot a nightgown you'd left draped across a chair, as though you'd ever had any chance of wearing it last night. 

You're just slipping it over your head to go investigate when the bedroom door opens and your aforementioned husband enters, a tray of bacon, eggs, fruit, and warm tea in his hands, and warmth dancing in his crimson eyes.  

“So you can walk this morning,” he gives you a toothy grin, the tips of his fangs adorably peaking out from between his lips. 

“What a lewd way to greet your wife,” you feign irritation and settle back on the bed.

“My humblest apologies,” he delivers the tray to your waiting lap and makes himself comfortable at your side, “my love.”

“I suppose that's acceptable,” you turn and catch his lips in a quick kiss before setting your attention on the tray before you: perfectly crispy bacon, fried eggs with the yolk still slightly soft, buttered toast, your favorite red berries in a small bowl, and a warm mug of strong tea. It’s he perfect breakfast you'd order at any inn when the two of you traveled. “How did you manage all this?” You ask, bacon already halfway to your mouth. 

“What? Are my abilities in the kitchen in question?” He puffs and you stare him down, the playful rhythm you two know so well. “Fine. I have been listening when Gale goes on about cooking. And practicing when I get a chance here and there. The love of my life deserves the best.”

You take a sip of tea, the perfect amount of honey sweetens it. “I already have the best. I have you, Astarion. And I love you so very much.”

“I love you too, but do try not to make me cry again this morning, darling. I already did that enough in front of everyone last night.” 

Snuggled into your side, head resting on your shoulder, he doesn't make eating easy, but that hardly matters. Fingers idly trace your thighs, hip, and stomach, while you chat   about your wedding last night. You can tell there's a cloud hanging over you both now, though, and there are things that need to be brought out into the open. Finally, when you finish, you set the tray on the bedside table and let Astarion wrap himself around you, resting his head on your chest. “About what you were able to see last night,” no use delaying it. 

He makes a soft hum against your skin, a noise you know means he’s thinking about what exactly to say. Fingers stroke through his curls as you give him a moment, there’s no rush, Today is just for the two of you. “You know, Cazador used to pass us off as either servants or distant relatives, usually he’d wait a few years, then we would switch parts. It made it easy to spy on the other nobles. Of course, I usually got stuck playing servant as a punishment. He’d loan us out to other houses to assist with their large events. He sent me to spy on a girl, some noble's daughter, at her sister’s wedding. Lucky thing married the only cousin left of the Vanthampur’s. When the dear old Duke and her offspring met their end, she inherited everything, and her husband is more prisoner than spouse, they say.”

The night of your Samara’s wedding is burned into your mind, it was the night you first heard of your own nuptial fate, your sentence for the crime of being born into your family. You thought nearly every detail blazed with clarity, but the faces of the endless horde of temporary help elude you. A reply forms on your lips but Astarion continues on from where he lays, hand entwining with yours, lips idly brushing your neck. “She seemed ordinary, if a bit withdrawn. Pretty enough little thing, I might add.” 

That earns a weary laugh from you. “I didn’t expect to see her again, but I did, months later. The last party Cazador hosted before everything, she was there. By that time rumor had gone around that Cazador was going to take on some sort of consort as part of an alliance. I think Gortash’s rapid ascent was unsettling for some of the old families. The poor thing, she looked terrified, she knew something was wrong in that house. And…,” his voice breaks. Unconsciously, you pull him tighter, he’s not the only one reliving that night. 

Drowning in a dress of purple and black, you were hauled to Szarr manor on pain of death. Not that it mattered, nothing mattered with Ophelia gone. Your first love, the tiefling that tended the gardens of your home, the only place you were allowed to move around freely outside the house. She’d disappeared right after your sister’s wedding, your Mother’s work no doubt. At the time, you had no idea Cazador was a vampire, but the whole manor was full of an air of hungry malice, and fear sprouted in all the shadows. Even the servants had an unearthly quality to them. “...we laughed at her. Well, Petras, Violet, and I, the most. Because we knew what awaited her when she became the center of Cazador’s attention. And it would be a relief to have someone else around that he could torture. She was so scared, but we didn’t have any empathy left in us, so we mocked her future suffering. I’m so sorry, my love.” 

Since the first time he’d mentioned Cazador, you’d wanted to tell him, to empathize with him. But doing so would've broken your pact, taken away the shroud that hid you from your family. In your more introspective moments, you wondered if fate had somehow bound the two of you. You’d passed like ships in the night, you not even noticing him as a servant among the Szarr retinue, and reason would say you should have never met again. Yet he, of all the populace of Baldur’s Gate, was swept up by the Mindflayers, and lived to fall to that beach. You leave a comforting kiss on his forehead. “We left the past behind, remember, don’t worry yourself over it.” While it does sting to know there was a time he would’ve enjoyed your suffering, you know it will pass, inconsequential as the flower petals that used to litter the garden paths. 

Even if it wasn’t fate, your love had grown out of the most amazing circumstances and it had given you courage to keep traveling the new path you’d laid out for yourself, even when you’d nearly stumbled at the beginning. Astarion sits up and you find his eyes watery, but he cups your cheek and brushes a thumb over it tenderly. “If you say so. It’s not like anyone else was getting a better version of me at the time I suppose.” He studies you for a moment, thinking again, before speaking. “Can you tell me about yourself now? Is it safe?” 

Why Titania has granted you this reprieve, you’re not really sure, but you’re grateful that there’s no longer any forced secrets between you. “I believe so.” You try to gather your disparate thoughts, but a thousand little bits of darkness begin to tug at you, threatening to pull you down until ice water fills your lungs as you sink into a black ocean. “I…”

It’s not the pact that keeps you from talking, but years of entrenched dread. “You don’t have to, love, not if you’re not ready.” Astarion recognizes it too, hand now gently squeezing yours. 

Shaking your head, you dispel the ghosts of that dark house, your life is full of love and light now. “No, I want to try.” A thought strikes you, a fitting place to start. “Can I tell you about Ophelia? I-I loved her, and I haven’t been able to even say her name since.” 

Silence hangs between you and your breath is stilled, you hadn’t thought about how Astarion might feel, hearing about your first love. “I would be honored,” he presses his lips to yours. “And I can’t wait to learn everything else about my darling wife as well.” 

Tag List:

@micropoe10  @writingmysanity @mxxny-lupin @azu21

 @tallymonster  @dependsonthedream @sunfire-ancunin 

@bambamwolf87 @fayeriess @lumienyx @lisrelly

@elora-the-slutty-songstress @bhaalbaaby @spacebarbarianweird

@satanicspinosaurus @darlingxdragon

[gaycragula]

Self-indulgent request: Could I get a typical domestic morning while married to Soldier 76? Thank you ❤️

Mornings with Soldier 76

Pairing: Soldier 76 x GN!Reader Warning(s): Mentions of nudity but nothing descript Word Count: 994 Account Navigation

The bed creaked next to you before you felt the mattress shift. You groan as you push yourself up to see what the disturbance was. Lips pressed against your temple, a quiet ‘shhhh’ following. 

“Just me,” Soldier whispers, urging you to lay back down, which you happily did. 

“That time already?” You mumble, your words slurring together ever so slightly. You hear a quiet laugh before a hand was stroking your head, urging you back to sleep. 

“You’ve got time. It’s still dark outside. Go back to bed, honey.”

You grumble in response as you nestle back into bed, happy to get a couple more hours of sleep. 

By the time you woke back up, the sun was peeking through your blinds, casting a pretty yellowish orange light along your walls. You rub sleep from your eyes, yawning as you push yourself up and out of bed. The faint smell of coffee hung in the air as you walked into the living room. 

You smile as you enter the kitchen. He left enough for you to have a cup. You poor the rest into a #1 one husband mug Jack had gotten you when you first got married- he’d found it amusing- and add your cream and sugar. 

A sigh left you as you leaned against the kitchen counter. Jack wouldn’t be back for a little longer. His morning workout normally stretches for a few hours.It still amazes you how active he is at his age. But you suppose being a super soldier probably has something to do with it. 

You glance at the clock above the stove. 7:30 AM. You could probably start breakfast. He’ll probably be back around the time it’s done. 

You were right. As you were plating the last bits of breakfast, the door unlocked. You heard him let out a sigh as he walked in. Lips pressed against your temple as hands settled on your hips. “Good morning, Jack,” you greet, turning in his grasp so you could look at him. 

“Good morning, honey,” Jack greets, leaning into you to press a kiss against your lips. “Sorry about waking you up.”

You let out a quiet laugh, pushing your head under his chin as you hugged him. “Doesn’t bother me. And thank you for the coffee.”

Soldier huffed above you and you’re positive he rolled his eyes. You pulled back, nudging Jack towards the table. “Go sit down.”

You’d be lying if you said you were surprised Jack instead grabbed two plates and silverware before he went and sat down. You fought the urge to roll your eyes as you grabbed the food and joined him at the table. 

He enjoyed telling you about his run. The things he saw, the people he talked to. His favorite thing to bring up were deals he saw for stores the two of you frequented. It always amused you. 

Jack did the cleaning up, insisting you relax for a moment despite your rebuttals. You finally gave in when he promised he’d let you do it next time. You’re sure ‘next time’ will end the same way. 

You watch from the couch as Jack cleans up, setting the dishes in the dishwasher and starting it. It took less than 5 minutes and then he was joining you on the couch. 

“Did you shower before you left?” You ask, cozying up to him as you waited for an answer. It was a 50/50 with him. 

“Not today.”

“Good. You’re all sweaty. Come on.” You drag him off the couch. Soldier let you pull him into the bathroom without much fuss. The usual ‘I was just getting comfy’ was all the trouble he caused you. 

You turned the shower on to let it warm up before you started stripping, folding your clothes in a neat pile on the sink. Jack mirrored your actions. 

The water was warm as you stepped in. You offered your hand to Jack who took it with a quiet thank you. It was usual for the both of you to help each other wash. Jack had issues getting his back and parts of his legs. 

You were more than happy to help and he was more than willing to accept the help. Hands traced over Jack’s scars. It was one of your favorite things to do. He’d told you how he got most of them- long as he remembered them. He let out a series of quiet sighs, his muscles visibly relaxing under your hands.

Showers with Soldier always lasted maybe a little longer than they should, both of you getting out long after your fingers had pruned. Towels wrapped around your waists as you start your morning routine. 

The double sink was amazing. Neither of you crowded each other as you brushed your teeth and did the other steps of your morning routines. Jack waited for you to finish, pressing a short kiss to your lips, before you both returned to the bedroom.

You rummaged through your dresser to find an adequate outfit for the day. Jack does the same. You’d both gone with jeans and a simple t-shirt. He grabs a belt from the closet, looking it over for a couple seconds before handing it to you. 

You chuckle in response, taking it before doing the same. It had become an everyday thing. You’d both end up picking something out for the other to wear. Sometimes it was a shirt, sometimes something as small as a bracelet or necklace. Jack had admitted once it was his way of showing you were ‘bonded’ in his words. 

He helps you pull your belt through the loops of your pants, pressing chaste kisses against your lips. It has you letting out breathy laughs that he returns with low chuckles. While you do your belt, making sure it’s not too tight, Jack loops his into his own pants. 

“What’s the plan today, Soldier?” You hum, pulling him into another kiss. 

[lovelyyandereaddictionpoint]

Yandere EraserMic- primarily Aizawa coming to the conclusion that harsh orders and threats of punishment just makes you terrified of him and that he has to be gentle with his sweet sensitive little Kitten. Your feelings are just so easily hurt, he doesn’t even mean to be so harsh, honest! Meanwhile, Hizashi is such a natural at getting his princess to sing 🎶 he cant help feeling jealous

The teacher looked at the two of you from the doorway with crossed arms. You were sitting on the bed doodling while his husband happily went on about his day using gestures and poking you occasionally. All you did was briefly look at him before continuing your activity, not bothering to engage with the radio host as he continued on. 

Why wasn’t that him?

Out of worry of Hizashi not being too firm, he had played ‘bad cop’ setting the rules and reminding you of the punishments that would entail. Said-punishment was mostly just lecturing you when you got ahold of his computer. You had tried to notify ‘your friends’ who had laughed at how ‘silly’ you were for disappearing off the face of the Earth for two whole weeks and still eluding the police. He let you play out the rest of the interaction in front of him proving that your friends weren’t actually thinking of your best interest. Proving him right the conversation steered to you being an attention hog and them being more than thrilled about your disappearance before blocking you. He sccolded you, not for trying to escape but for even going to them in the first place. This was the reason they took you, why couldn’t you accept that?! You cried and denied him as you had begun to do everytime he asked anything of you. He was tired of it, especially when you seemed perfectly fine with Hizashi.

“Heya Songbird, have you spoken to Sho, today?”

The mention had you sending a prolonged glance to the curious gaze before rolling your eyes and continuing what you were doing. His smile fell before returning once more as he momentarily peaked at his significant other who finally left in a huff. 

“Y’know he likes you just as much as I do? He was just concerned that's all…”

“Concerned enough to just yell at me?”

He nearly reeled back in shock at the bite in your voice as you started drawing vigorously. He was happy you cared but it seemed that you misinterpreted his beloved’s concern. Internally he puffed his chest and gleamed: time to play cupid! With a boastful till in his voice he leaned in closer to you practically swooning as you let his cheek touch your uncovered shoulder. 

“Zawa is a teacher, after all it's usual that he slips into teacher-mode when he’s frustrated.”

You huffed and cutely pouted as you focused on your drawings again, unconsciously leaning into the massaging that Hizashi was giving you. Slotting himself behind you he had you sit in between his legs with his head right near your ear. 

“If he was a bit..softer would you maybe give him a chance?”

You paused your drawing as you looked up into the the canopycover that hung over your bed before humming in thought. You were completely oblivious to the joyful preening of the pro hero behind you who finally came back to reality when you spoke. 

“Maybe…but I’m still mad at the both of you for kidnapping me in the first place.”

“Okay, Songbird.”

“And don’t tell him that I said any of this, I don’t need him sucking up to me all of a sudden.”

“Hai, hai, my chops are sealed!” 

__________________________________________________________

Shota was trying to calm his nerves as he sat beside you on the couch. Occupied with his own task of grading papers, he casually left a piping hot mug of your favorite drink in front of you. Without looking away he could feel you perk up before wrapping your hands around the mug and drinking away. He fought the urge to proudly smile as he witnessed his plan take into effect; after some *hints from someone anonymous* he had found himself treating you like a misbehaving dog when in fact you were a soft little kitten who had gone through so much before they lovingly intervened. So he treats you like the hesitant foster kittens that he’s homed from time-to-time by first beginning to associate him with good things.

So for at least three weeks he will bring you something everytime you have these moments where Hizashi is out and he’s left to watch you while you lounge on the couch. It's a silent offering when he just casually passes things to you from snacks from places you used to frequent to full-on meals from restaurants you used to treat yourself to. This wouldn’t mean much if you hadn’t already witnessed Hizashi throwing your leftovers away as he mumbled about throwing away your ‘poison food’. It wasn’t planned that Shota would now be the ‘good cop’ but it still worked and slowly but surely you began opening up to him. 

And like most of his foster kittens eventually you move in closer to him. Physically brushing beside him to full on leaning on him when he sets himself beside you. From then on the pro-hero hesitates to ‘punish’ you if at all. More like light reprimands if anything.  And if he does have to its with Yamada on his side. 

[kaira-diaries]

The Colonel’s Sister:

Note: one shot is also available on Wattpad under my account Kairadiaries for those who prefer it.

Warning: smut / fluff / language / wounds / blood

Pairing: Javi x f!character

Summary: she's Carrillo's sister, and off limits, until Javier thinks otherwise.

••••

My brother's lesson consisted of standing in the blistering heat for hours with my hands rolled into fists, bruised from a punching bag. Throughout it, he silently critiqued my form and stood with his arms crossed in authority. One two, I counted to memorize his instructions on the combos he was reluctant to share with me.

I made the mistake of asking if he'd caught Escobar yet. The answer was no, as the anger erupted between his clenched teeth. My older brother scowled at me the way he would as the colonel of the DEA. I still remember the day he was promoted to the job. Mama had been crying and squeezing him in hugs tighter than he could handle. My fingers poked at his uniform as I laughed at how ridiculous he looked, but he always made it a point to educate me on what an honor it was to become a colonel. He wears that same uniform now with no detectable expressions on his face. I rolled my eyes and limped over to the nearest chair I could find.

"Tell me something, Horacio. You look like a knob just standing there." I snickered. Knob. I'd just learned that word yesterday at the embassy.

I lick the sweat from my upper lip and empty the rest of my water bottle. He exhaled through his nose and went to open his mouth, but his wristwatch chimed. 8:00. I had guessed. Hours at the embassy were flat-out exhausting. Though, I'm only a receptionist. Despite rising at such early hours for my brother's lessons, it still hasn't gotten any easier.

"We should go." He said and disappeared into the apartment.

***

I hadn't gotten many calls today, and it was exhilarating.

Flipping to the next page of my novel, I sip on some much-needed coffee. It burns my tongue, and I groan at the burning sensation.

"You still haven't learned, huh?" I turn my head to find Murphy. He holds an orange folder stuffed with papers.

With a lopsided grin, I say, "I guess not."

He trades with me. I now have the nightmare of a folder, and he sips from the coffee mug. "What's Peña up to?" I ask, and he raises a suspicious brow. Exhaling through his mouth, he said

"Oh, you know, out, gathering information." His scrunched mouth confirms the worse. "How does the colonel feel about that?" I pick up the nearest pen and tap it against the desk. A shrug was all he gave.

"I don't know, you tell me? He's your brother." Horacio knows damn well what Peña has been up to but doesn't care to act on it. I've even called him on it, seeing it unfit to allow an agent to sleep around for information. I shrugged back when the double doors flew open to reveal peña. It was an effort not to roll my eyes at his appearance. The chocolate brown hair on his head was ruffled to hell, along with the wrinkled mess that was his maroon shirt. I leaned back in my seat.

"Jesus, you can't keep it in your pants, can you?" Peña unveiled a devious smirk and threw it in my direction.

"If it gets us what we need and keeps me young." I swallowed in disgust, and Murphy patted him on the shoulder. My brows raised, and I scoffed, standing from the chair to file the folder Murphy had given me. Checking the clock on my desk, my heart excites at quitting time.

My brother had promised to bring back my favorite allergy free dessert from his business trip today. I could already taste the sweetness as I smiled and grabbed my purse.

Tuning in to the boy's conversation, Peña was in the middle of sharing his recent sexual activity with yet another woman. I mimicked a vomit sound and pushed my way between them. "You're a pig." I spat and strolled out the doors, thinking that was the end of it.

My heels hit the concrete of the sidewalk when he stepped beside me. I gasped, jumping back. "That was quite the insult." He intercepted me.

I pulled my purse closer to me. "You have no sense of self-control or respect." I grab my car keys and unlock the doors, circling him. "You're wrong." He disagrees.

"I have a lot more than you think I do." With that, his eyes darken, and his jaw clenches. I feel trapped between him and my car as a hand reaches up to stroke my glossed, pouty lips. Lucky for me, I break from the trance and shove him back.

"I'd suggest Lisa as your new subject for your kinky fuckery. I heard she likes to sleep around." I threw myself into my car and sped off, leaving him there and not looking back.

***

I laid in bed that night, stomach full of the yummy dessert my brother had gotten me, and thought of Peña. My lips still stung from the lingering kiss of his fingers, and I had wondered why he'd done it.

It's no secret that the man is handsome, with strength in his appearance and confidence in his tone. He was the golden boy of the embassy and sought after by women of all ages and wanted for jobs by other businesses, despite how..flawed his tactics were. I'd asked him why he never took the better offers, but he only shrugged the question off his shoulders. I stopped believing the dismissive answers when I saw his clenched fists and frigid breaths. There was a reason; he was just so reluctant to tell me or anyone.

Blowing a caramel strand of hair from my face, I sit up, having an idea.

An hour later, I sat in a nightclub. Drinks and laughter filled every corner with gleaming happiness as I smiled at the sight of the glowing strangers that'd find love on the dance floor. A tinge of jealousy stabbed at my chest, and I sipped down the rest of my drink.

I hadn't registered the movement of my legs that carried me onto the dance floor and into the arms of a tall and handsome stranger. The red dress I had chosen tightened as my breaths increased once we set the pace. The man's eyes were blue, his hair black and long. I crumbled into his arms as his hands seduced my body. It was like electricity that had brought my limbs to life once the song's climax started.

But once the song had ended, my happiness ended with it.

In a second, the man was violently shoved in the opposite direction...by Peña, who had a melody of rage and jealousy in his eyes. The stranger recovered, but the strength of Peña's shove was enough for him to get the message as he disappeared across the club. "What the fuck are you doing here!" I yelled.

"Yeah, in this situation, you're not allowed to ask that question." He yelled back. Before I could open my mouth to question him on what 'situation', he pulled me in to talk into my ear.

"Carrillo called me once he'd figured out you went on a field trip." I screeched and shoved him back. "Fuck off." I scolded and ran off.

I wrapped my jacket around myself and slid my arms over my chest to draw less attention as I walked home. "Get in the car." I halted to find Peña's car. I snap my chin in his direction.

"Don't you have some bitch to fuck?" I bite.

"Not until Tuesday." He smirks. I could almost read his mind as it said,

Play with me.

I'd do no such thing as I started walking once more.

He drives alongside me. "Are you going to walk five miles? Just get in the damn car; that's insane." I scoff.

"No, you're insane." I countered.

"I don't recall asking for your opinion, querida." I rolled my eyes at the name and kicked off my heels to carry them.

"Someone needs to keep you and your inflated ego in check." My feet begin to ache, and he chuckles.

"Then I'm glad it's a young twenty-four-year-old like you, now get in the car; I'm wasting gas." I considered it for a minute until I had no choice as a shard of glass punctured the arch of my foot. I cursed and hit the ground like a coward, making Javi stop the car and speed to my side. "Don't touch me." I cringed when a hand grazed my shoulder. "Fine. Stand on your own, but we need to remove the glass." He plainly said.

Planting my hands, I push up with my arms but accidentally put pressure on my foot.

A sharp pain runs through my foot as I cry and nearly hit the ground again until he's there to catch me. Peña reassures me that he's got me, but his calloused hands linger on my bicep. His raised brows make me chuckle through the pain. "What? Were you expecting skin and bone?"

***

We ended up at his apartment.

Something about it being closer than mine.

I sit on the toilet seat with my foot elevated on the edge of the tub.

Peña curses as he digs for the medical supplies underneath his sink. He eventually finds the kit hidden behind a new bottle of body wash. "Ah, here it is." He gleams and disappears into the kitchen and returns with a bottle of titos vodka. I squirm and pull the bottom of my dress down, afraid of showing too much.

"It's best if you don't tell your brother about this." He comments, pulling out a bandaid to cover the soon-to-be-open wound once the glass is removed. "Why? You're just dressing a wound?" I asked, genuinely confused, and he shrugged.

"Carrillo is the colonel, and if he hears of you and me at the club, I'll be sacked."

My brows pinched together, and his rose.

"But..you said he sent you?"

My lips part. If Horacio didn't send him, then why was he there?

Peña remains silent and pulls out a pair of tweezers, and I bite my lip. "Will it hurt?" Fear travels up my spine as he looks at me with softened eyes. "Only a little." I release a breath from my nose and nod for him to continue. I yelped at the intense pinch of the withdrawal of glass and the burn of the alcohol to clean the wound. My hand reaches to grab for something to hold until the pain passes, and that something was accidentally Peña's free hand.

He allows it and laces his fingers with mine. I'm in too much pain to bat him away and embrace the warm and rough feeling of his touch.

Groaning through the pain, I ask him.

"What were you doing at the club?" I hiss at the burn as he thoroughly cleans it. Once the blood is wiped clean, he covers the wound with a bandaid. "Keeping an eye on you." He responds.

"Why?" I asked, quicker than I had intended, and he took a deep breath. "Because that man wanted to fuck you." I folded my arms over my chest. "So? Maybe I wanted to fuck him?" He throws the kit back in the cabinet under the sink and takes a mouth full of vodka.

"Don't say shit like that." He groans in annoyance. I lean forward to get in his face.

"I'll fuck who I want, Peña; it's none of your business, nor is it your place to interfere." He stands from the edge of the tub, laughing.

"You're such a hypocrite, Carrillo. So I'm not allowed to fuck anybody, but you can spread your legs, and it's all kumbaya?"

I stand, relying on my left foot. "Are you serious?" I asked.

He raises the bottle for another drink. "Do I look serious?"

I shake my head. "No, you look like a fucking imbecile."

As soon as it left my mouth, I knew I was in trouble when he pinned me between his intimidating figure and the bathroom sink.

"Such a dirty mouth." He cooed and licked his lips before pressing them to mine for a peck. I froze from what he had done, and he leaned in again for a deepened kiss. My lips widened as his tongue dipped into my mouth. Fuck. I hadn't known I wanted this, and fuck did he know.

He grabs my waist to spin me around. Facing the mirror, his fingers diligently travel to undo my dress and take ownership of my panties. We both knew damn well what was going to happen, but what I hadn't known was what he was thinking, and for some reason, I wanted to.

Leaning back into his chest, I offer my neck as he leaves hungry bites that'd last for a week.

As if he read my mind, he says,

"I think that whenever I'm around you, I feel like I'm worth more."

The clink of his belt brings me to life as he continues,

"I think...I want to bend you over and brand you as mine." A soft moan drags from my lips. He's concrete against my backside when I'm bent over.

He gathers my hair in his fist, and I prepare for what's to come.

"I'm thinking..you've been wanting this for a long time." He whispered in my ear and, in one thrust, filled me until he leveled out. I'd never felt so complete as he tried to wiggle closer. I welcomed him, wanting his skin pressed tighter against mine. The pain in my foot stung, but I shoved it aside as the feeling electrified my body.

"Fuck." He barked, and I arched back into him until his other arm pinned down my body. The thrusts were slow as he was pacing himself, but I wanted more.

"Stop being withholding." I groaned, and he chuckled.

"What do you need?" He rasped. "Fuck, you want more?" I nodded in the mirror, but his movements stopped. "I need words, baby doll."

"Give me more." I cried against the cold granite top. My chest was freezing, and his thrusts were coming in faster than I could take them.

My hips were bruising from his impact as I crumbled beneath his fingertips. He groaned in satisfaction from above and collapsed into my back. Turning my head, we share our breaths and come down together.

"Don't tell my brother," I whispered, and together we breathlessly chuckled.

[messenger-of-stupidity]

Protocol Mug - Day Three

Welcome to day three! I actually enjoyed writing this. The dynamic between Asset and James is barely in existence, but the few videos they interact are some of my favorites. So enjoy.

Prompt: Hand-painted mugs

Characters: James and Asset

CW: Mentions of distrust, reverse of progress, worries about the future, a hint of mystery, fluff if you squint. And I mean if you squint like you’re half blind and are trying to see the details of a mosquito’s wings. Might as well get a fucking microscope at this point, minimal cursing 

Masterlist

Asset followed the security guard down the hall, the noise compressors installed into their body silencing the otherwise loud metallic footsteps they would have had against the linoleum. They stared straight ahead, line of sight bypassing the security guards shoulder.

The day had started out simply enough. They had powered on Marcus would have said they should use the term "woken up" because it made them more relatable to humans, which would improve their social standing, and picked out an outfit to wear today. Granted there was no variation. But they could pick out which white long sleeved shirt and light gray pants they wished to wear. Footwear was unnecessary and their installment team wanted to test the noise compression updates. They were partial to the socks commonly found within a human hospital that allowed for the wearer to find friction on the ground for movement. They liked the soft sound of it sticking. Plus when they were well and truly alone, as much as they could be, they could turn the sock around and use the fabric to slide this way and that.

They had been waiting for the first summons or appointment when the security guard had come to get them. That only ever meant one thing. They were going to meet with James.

She didn't acknowledge them as she knocked on the door to James' office. She only departed when the door was pulled open and Asset was greeted with his smiling face. Smiles can't be trusted. Don't start now.

"Good morning. How are you doing?" James asked them as they entered. The bionic eyes shifted in their sockets, documenting every new and little shift of their surroundings before they took their usual seat.

"I'm well. All my systems are functioning properly, and the new upgrades appear to be working as the installment team had hoped. As for my emotional health, nothing today has gone wrong to cause a dip within my... happiness." They answered, hands folding in their lap as they looked at James carefully. "How are you this morning?" James smiled at them, but it was soon replaced by a frown. Their emotional detection reasoning spun as they tried to orient and assign an emotion to the expression on his face.

"A bit troubled if I'm being honest. I'm worried about you. Do you want to tell me what's going on?" They seriously doubted that he needed anything from them. After all every activity they participated in, whether scheduled or not, was documented and reported to him and his own teams. So he would know everything. They looked away.

"I don't know what you are referring to. Please specify." They replied. It was a demand, but James knew they meant it as a question.

"Gladly. The newly appointed lead for your social protocol team reported you as uncooperative and disinterested." If they were human, they might have flinched. But they weren't, so they remained still with their expression carefully maintained. "And it's only with your social protocol. I can understand how it might unnerved you, but is there another reason why you want to avoid all interactions with the team?" He asked. They wished he hadn't been so thorough with his question. It had been purely analytical, so there was no room to dodge or leave information out. He certainly had a knack for getting to the heart and root of all of their problems.

They fidgeted with the stitched hem of their shirt. He knew it was on purpose though. Every action that seemed accidental was always done on purpose and thought through.

"I don't want to risk something like the code happening again." They muttered and James nodded with a sigh. They didn't like it, but they kept the opinion to themselves. They watched him lean against the edge of the desk and cross his arms over his chest.

"That's understandable. But these protocols are important to your connection to humanity. And you have to have that connection to have true and unshakeable motivation to save us. It's unknown what you'll encounter but we have to make sure you'll never waver." He said, sympathy coating his words. They nodded along with a frown. "Would it help if it was someone you could trust?" He asked. They stared at him before their shoulders moved in a shrug.

"I suppose if I already had a solid basis of trust and mutual understanding, it would make me less apprehensive to allow my social training to resume." They relented, unsure of where the conversation was going. They knew everyone that worked with them, but that didn’t necessarily mean they trusted them. The only person they could think of that they trusted was Anton, but he was on the team that focused on installing upgrades. That was what his contract was for. They watched as James nodded as if he had gotten some clarity. They still remained confused however.

“Alright. Do you trust me?” He asked, still staying where he was. They eyed him before copying his open stance. It wasn’t a perfect replication, but the flaws in it were also made on purpose.

“I suppose so. However, I don’t have a lot of data on you. While you have been very forthcoming with information in the past, you also held some information away. It brings into questioning what else you’re not releasing to me.” They responded. James’s smile didn’t go away, but his eyes remained guarded. They weren’t going to pull anything new from him, but that was expected. If they had been trying to get more information from him, they would have continued their line of questioning. Instead they leaned back in their seat and dipped their head a few calculated degrees towards him. James clapped his hands together, signaling a change in the conversation direction.

"Well then. Now that you've established you trust me, with some added tidbits, how would you feel if I took over your social protocol training? At least until you built a relationship with your new team lead and member, or until we found a suitable replacement. Whichever comes first I suppose." He asked. Asset paused at the offer, genuinely caught off guard. It didn't happen very often since they were usually able to predict outcomes. Then again, James had always managed to trick them. So they shouldn't be surprised. Although it was a very human thing to do - becoming surprised by the typical behavior of an individual.

"You have enough recreational time to set some aside in your schedule to take part in my training, James?" They asked skeptically. James didn't answer them, but the question was more rhetorical than it was literal. They nodded, as careful as usual. "I suppose that would be an acceptable temporary arrangement." They responded and James nodded, straightening up as he walked around his desk to the other side.

"Perfect. I figured that we would start now since you're already here. Is that okay with you?" There were a few possible reasons for the consistent check ins. It could be because James was that type of person, he wanted to keep their trust, or he was trying to get them to trust humanity as a whole once again. They guessed it was a mix of the latter two.

"I have no complaints with doing so." They responded, watching curiously as he pulled out a plastic shopping bag. They leaned forward slightly as their eyes grew wider. There was a soft mechanical whir as their pupils audibly zoomed in. James pulled out a couple art kits and he watched with amused interest at the way that Asset replicated the soft scrunch of their nose and the disinterested lip curl that was so present upon human expressions. "You want to do arts and crafts for my protocol training? I don't mean to bring doubt upon your methods, however... unprofessional they may seem, but I must question what painting clay pottery has to do with learning the social behaviors and patterns I'm meant to emulate of the human species." James laughed softly at their confusion as he opened one of the boxes to pull out the kiln-dried mug from its protective styrofoam casing.

"True true. But it's not the act that is the protocol training. It's the act of the bonding over such a project. I admit I also want to test your creative cylinders. But humans are social creatures, so we seek anyway of bonding. Plus I figured it would be a nice way to ease into this arrangement." He said, waving the mug harmlessly by the handle. Asset's eyes tracked the movement before their gaze shifted to lock eyes with James.

"Observations tell me that you have no inclination how my social team teaches and trains me." They deadpanned. His smile turned sheepish and he shrugged. His eyes never lost the guarded calculating look though.

"Guilty as charged. I can put the mugs away if you'd like." He offered. They stood up and walked over to grab the unopened box. They turned it over in their hand before meeting his eyes again.

"Negative. I'll take part in your scheduled activity. From my understanding, conversation is often present during such activities, often leading to mistakes being made which provokes frustration. I have multitasking program installed, so I shall not get frustrated. What would you like to converse about?"

When James had first met them, their speech had sounded slightly off. Just a nudge away from sounding genuinely human, bar any slang. But after the Marcus incident they had been distancing themselves further from more human speech patterns. It was what had provoked James to intervene in the first place. The concern that they would distance themselves as much as possible from humanity as a whole had been the more concerning factor. The sense of duty to save humanity had already been established, however they also wanted the Asset to desire to save humanity. It would make them try harder and cut no corners.

"It could be anything you'd like." James answered as he pulled out his radio to request a small table to be brought into the office for the two to work on. He watched as they sat down on the floor, carefully and methodically unboxing the mug. He wondered if they would purposefully cause bits of the styrofoam go splinter off like it would under a human's clumsy hands. But they managed it without much mess and collected little bits that came from it scraping against the flimsy cardboard of the box.

"I have nothing to say or contribute. Choosing topics are often in my clearance as well. The privilege was revoked since my topic of interest was always..." Their voice trailed off, body and expression stilling. The silent name was practically tangible. And for a moment they could almost feel his fingertips drifting along their sensors. They shuddered and refocused on the mug. They didn’t look up as the door clicked open and two people entered, carefully carrying a table as the third held the door open. James waited for the door to close before grabbing an edge of the table and scooting it to where he desired.

"I was serious when I said that whenever you changed your mind we could pursue legal action. It might be a bit difficult because of the memory modification, but we have legitimate proof of his crimes.” James offered gently. They looked at him, their head already moving in a shake.

“I would prefer to just try to let it become less detrimental within my memory hard-drive. It’s better to let it not get in the way of my progress.” They responded as they picked up the mug and painting accessories from the floor to bring it to the table. It was at average knee height so there was no need to drag a chair over. They moved towards it on their knees, holding the objects close to their chest. It was a very human behavior, although James didn’t bring it up. He carried his own project and sat down on the floor across from them. The cold temperature of the tile below the rug brushed along his thighs. He was sure that they were able to detect it. But it wouldn’t bother them.

“Alright. I just want you to know that the offer was still on the table.” He said as he leaned an elbow on the table, fist supporting the weight of his head, as he eyed the mug calmly. They stared at him, trying to analyze and sort his behavior. Giving credit where credit is due, he looked very relaxed and open. Too bad he couldn't mask the expression in his eyes. Unless he was leaving that open on purpose. Or was that a mask hiding different intentions itself? "You're trying to read me again, aren't you?" James asked, his attention now returned to them. There was no point in lying.

"I'll admit there was never a pause or lull in my analyzing. It's always active and directed to any organic lifeforms in my vicinity. Isn't that what some of my program updates' purpose was?" They answered. They grew confused at the appearance of a crease in their... what was he... owner? Boss? Manager?’s forehead. He didn't give them a chance to ask a question. He simply wet his brush before dipping it into the paint palette and began to carefully move it along the mug. They stared before mirroring the action. They hesitated before letting it touch the dried clay though, thinking. They let the brush touch briefly in intervals to let it place small green circles over the expanse.

"Have you decided what you want to talk about?" James asked. They glanced at him, but he was still carefully constructing a pattern out of their view.

"Yes, I have realized a conclusion to your inquiry. I would like our topic of discussion to be about you. It seems only fair considering how you already know everything about me. Especially since you been on this project since before the start of my operating. Don't you agree?" They asked. It was a little passive aggressive of them, but if it would get them what they wanted, it was a small price to pay. Silence filled the room as James considered his answer and they waited patiently. After a couple minutes he responded slowly. Carefully.

"What about me specifically?" He asked, looking up from his project to regard them. They washed the green away from their brush before putting yellow on one side and making small brushstrokes of the yellow to make repetitive small rectangles.

"Have you always resided within this nearby vicinity?" They asked. James shook his head without pausing to think. It meant that it was a safe question for him to answer. And that meant that some information was being held away from them due to the danger factor of it. How many threats were there?

"No. I travel around some for my job. This is just one of the longer stays." He answered. That didn't surprise them. They had scientists, programmers, doctors, ect. from all over the place brought in under NDA and contract to work on the project. Project being them of course. Of course there were those who didn't mind it as much and those who did. Like Brian. Although was that just because he had to leave his family?

"Do you have family, James?" They asked, the volume of their vocal compartment lowering. It was the most human they had sounded for a while if reports were to be believed. There was a pause this time and their grip tightened slightly on the shaft of the paintbrush, applying more pressure to their mug.

"Yeah, I do. My..." His voice trailed off as he paused to think again. He corrected himself soon after. "The person I care about is waiting for me to come back." He finished. They nodded, understanding the feeling, if a twisted form of it.

"I apologize for keeping you away from your loved one." They added a couple moments later, remorse filling their tone. James smiled.

"This is important. You are important. My partner understands this to some extent due to the confidentiality of this project. Besides, once you succeed, I plan on spending more time with them again. So don't feel sorry for existing. It will be thanks to you that I'll be able to see them again by the end of it." He said. They nodded, not offering a verbal response. The topic was moved away from James, as well as their end goal. A part of them wanted to ask what would become of them once if they completed the goal of saving humanity. Would they be repurposed? Held in some kind of mental frozen animation in case they were needed again? Scrapped?

“What happens at the end, James?” They asked suddenly as they used the water to help blend some blue and violet together so they could get the intended gradient effect on the handle of the mug.

“The end of the book? I haven’t finished it yet, so I don’t know.” James answered, misunderstanding the direction of their question.

“No, at the end of my mission. What happens to me?” They looked up to see James smiling and they frowned in return. What about their question brought him enjoyment? 

“That’s a really human thing to wonder. Improvement. But to answer you question, I don’t know. That would be outside my jurisdiction. I’m high up there, but I still answer to people. It would probably be the decision of the project originators. Which is a council of people when it comes to answering that. I hold no sway there.”

Out of all the information within their grasp, all the statistics they were able to run, variables to account for, educated and often correct assumptions to make, the answer of their future was always out of their reach.

A soft buzzer sounded and the door opened. They looked up to see the face of a security guard to act as their escort. “It’s time for their physical, sir.” The guard said. James sighed and nodded, standing as well.

“Alright then. Next time I suppose. Thank you for meeting with me today. I’ll see you again in a couple days, is that alright?” They stood, hesitantly leaving the partly finished mug on the table. 

“Yes, that’s fine.” There was only an illusion of another answer choice, but they appreciated the structure of a question instead of a demand nonetheless. They dipped their head to James before following the guard out. The door to his office closed behind them. 

James turned towards the table to look down at the paints, cups of water, and two mugs. He picked up the Asset’s to look at it. As soon as he did, he swallowed at the sight, a chill running down his spine and his jaw tightening. He stared at the design on top of the blended background. How the fuck did they know what a shade looked like?

[hippolotamus]

Snippet Sunday

I was tagged by @treluna4 @alysiswriting and @stereopticons 😘 This is something that’s been twirling in my brain. No guarantees it’ll go beyond this but here goes…

“‘Lexis!” Twyla bolts up in bed, orienting herself to the room lit only by a patch of moonlight. She reaches to the other half of the bed, grasping at air, and it takes her a moment to realize — to remember — she’s alone because Alexis is away. This always happens the first night, but she still isn’t used to it, even after three years of marriage.

Twyla’s breathing evens out and her heart stops pounding against her ribcage long enough to recall specific details. Alexis is traveling for Interflix until Thursday and her flight arrives at Gate B at 9:37 pm. Thursday morning, just before she opens the cafe, Twyla will text Alexis in a final attempt to let her pick Alexis up at the airport rather than take a rideshare. Alexis will immediately text back ‘Thanks, babe. I’ll be fine 😘’. Twyla will shake her head and roll her eyes in faux exasperation. Love you, too.

The clock tells her it’s 4 am – too late to fall back asleep and too early to get up for the day. She throws back the covers, sitting up and sliding her feet into the shearling-lined slippers David and Patrick gave her last Christmas.

She walks downstairs to the kitchen for tea, the wood flooring creaking a little with each step. They’ve talked about replacing it with something more modern, but Alexis always relents to Twyla’s insistence that silencing the floor will make the house lose its personality. (And because Twyla won’t be able to tell where the active spirits are.)

The kettle whistles, softly at first, building to a crescendo and spitting out steam until Twyla turns off the burner. She pours the boiling water into her favorite sunflower mug, adds a sachet of lavender tea and flips the tea timer. Is Alexis awake? I hope she’s getting enough rest. Did she remember to pack her sleep mask? Is Seattle nice? Maybe we can tour the northwest next summer. Or would New England in the Fall be better?

A text notification pulls Twyla from her thoughts. She smiles when she sees it’s Alexis, and giggles when she opens the message.

Soooo many meetings today I can’t even see straight. Already can’t wait to get home.

Another message comes through almost immediately. Wait, why are you awake? You’re supposed to be sprawling across our bed for another 40 minutes.

Who’s to say I’m not sprawling? Twyla sends back. Actually I only wish I was. I woke up for no reason and couldn’t go back. Having some tea.

Twyla’s phone immediately rings with a FaceTime request.

“Hey, Lex,” she says softly. “Shouldn’t you be going to bed?”

“I’d much rather talk to you. How was your day, babe?”

Twyla tells her about George almost spilling a pot full of soup all over the kitchen. How Kelsey is really getting the hang of waitressing and only got six orders mixed up.

“Oh, Roland and Jocelyn came in saying something about David’s bathroom being too small and getting thrown out of the Apothecary.”

Alexis grimaces. “Ew, ew, ewww. There’s not enough mind bleach in the world for that. Ugh, poor David.”

“Don’t worry. I slipped an extra chocolate muffin in with his lunch order. Tell me about Seattle.”

“I wish I could,” Alexis pouts. “I went straight from the airport to my hotel, had just enough time to get changed before I had to meet with the head of marketing at the office. Then it was basically non-stop until I texted you.”

“Alexis—”

“I know, I know. But I did have a smoothie and got a big salad for dinner.”

“You can take care of yourself, I know that. I just… worry.”

“And I love you all the more for it.” Alexis kisses the tip of her finger and presses it to the screen.

Twyla gives her a soft smile in return. She’s not ready to let her go yet, but Twyla also knows Morning Alexis will be irritable and grumpy if Night Alexis doesn’t get enough rest. “You should sleep, Lex.”

“I don’t want to, but I should. Talk tomorrow?”

“You mean later today?” Twyla teases.

“Mmmm,” Alexis sticks out her tongue. “Yeah, that. Goodnight, babe. Or good morning?” She laughs, covering her face with her hands. “Ugh, I’m so tired. Have a good day. I love you.”

“I love you, too. Sweet dreams.”

[early20sfailingplenty]

Yo, I woke up after one in the afternoon and had a glass of milk with a Nutty Buddy of all things for breakfast, accidentally giving myself a stomachache because I drank the milk too fast. Then I immediately started on doing the dishes as soon as I was done eating (which took about three hours) before I finally sat down in front of my computer only to discover that today was not -in fact- a writing day.

I can just picture Bo watching me go about my morning in utter amusement as I stuff my face with a sad excuse for breakfast before proceeding to complain about my stomachache while doing dishes. Then listening to me bitch with half and ear when I finally sit down to do my favorite activity only to discover that I have no motivation for it.

He would definitely think I'm a bit of a fruit loop. Lol.

(Why are you and me giving off the same vibes? I too drink milk too fast and end up giving myself a stomachache😂😂😂 I had to Google what a Nutty Buddy was because we don't have them here in the UK and I got two results – a wafer bar with peanut butter between each layer and covered in chocolate and an ice cream cone with peanut butter pieces on it, but whatever you ate, it sounds super goooood ~ and a good breakfast to have (any breakfast is a good breakfast)! Delicious!💖

You forever whip up super cute blurbs for me unprompted so here I am with one for you; personalised and a bit late, but for you! Don't ever hesitate if you want one! I have more free time atm so I can do them same day in most cases!)

You had woken up in the early afternoon; later in the day, in fact, than even Vincent, who usually woke up around eleven if he had gone to bed at three in the morning, or noon if he had gone to bed just as the birds woke up at four.

Bo was often up early, as early as Lester (you had asked once if the two brothers sent each other good morning texts because they woke up at the same time, but they had denied it vehemently. Vincent, however, had nodded his head twice; answering once each for his brothers. You trusted him – he wasn't afraid to speak the truth, no matter the consequences, and he was the Sinclair most aware of their reality). As such, he liked to sit down at the kitchen table in the late morning, watching his twin come downstairs seeking coffee. Bo always had it made ready for Vincent, simply holding out an old cracked mug full of the steamy goodness, and accepting a good morning grunt from Vincent. A thumbs up or down from Vincent would tell Bo if he had slept well or not, and then the longer haired twin would be on his way back down to the basement to get ready for a day's hard work.

The eldest Sinclair was still at the table when you came downstairs at one in the afternoon, halfway through a sandwich. He chuckled around a mouthful at the state of you (like he was much better) and you wrinkled your nose in distaste as he greeted you with his mouth full. Your breakfast was simple but delicious – a glass of milk and a Nutty Buddy. Lester had surprised you with a box of them last weekend and you were eating them slowly, savouring each one.

You were thirstier than you realised, and even knowing what the consequences would be, you gulped down the glass of milk while eating your breakfast just as quickly.

Bo shook his head in amusement at you. “Jus' bought yer'self a ticket to Stomachache City, darlin', drinkin' it like that.”

You shrugged, making Bo laugh again, dumping the glass on the side and chucking the wrapper in the bin. Your stomach was sated but you'd probably eat something again soon; your breakfasts were only ever enough to take the edge off. You dealt with bigger meals once you were awake a bit more. The dishes were piled high and the day was still young, so you figured you would do the dishes. Unfortunately for you, Bo's warning and your ignored instinct came to fruition, because your stomachache set in while you were doing the dishes.

“Oww,” you tried to keep quiet, not wanting Bo to pick up on your discomfort, but he already knew what was happening to you, and he scoffed.

“What did I fuckin' tell ya'?”

He continued to listen to you as you complained about your stomach, though you took very few breaks from the dishes. Bo half listened to you, nodding and making noises to let you know he was still There in the room with you, but he gave you no sympathy. You had been warned, even with you knowing what you were doing, and he had nothing gentle for you. What had you expected? A stomachache. What had you done anyway? Drunk the milk too fast; it was your own damn fault. All in all, it took you three hours to get everything done (Bo watched the whole damn time but didn't help you, except to dump his plate in the sink with a cheeky grin), and by the time you were done, you had lost all motivation to engage in one of your favourite hobbies.

“Today is not, in fact, a writing day,” You huffed, doom-scrolling and not doing the very thing you had gotten out of bed for.

“Ain't it?” Bo grinned at you, amused by how your day had turned out. He had meant to go back to the garage but watching you was infinitely more fun. “Well, Tibby, I'on what t'tell ya', other than th'fact y're a few sandwiches sort of a picnic, huh? Fuckin' fruit loop.”

“Take one to know one, Sinclair.”

Bo mockingly tipped his hat at you and you grinned at each other from across the room, reading each other like the well-loved books you were.

[ejzah]

A/N: Once again, thank you for all your kind responders to this story. First three parts of the story linked below.

***

The Other Shoe, Part 4

Telling his their moms had been…rough to say the least. He’d expected hysterics from his mom, but after freezing in apparent shock, she’d gathered herself and declared that they were going to get through this. Since then, she’d made it her mission to cook renal friendly foods on an almost daily basis.

Deeks appreciated it. He appreciated everything that his family and friends were doing to support him…sometimes it got to be a lot though. It took considerably energy to respond positively to the latest piece of advice or research. And he was exceedingly low on energy at the moment.

Sometimes he just wanted to have a few minutes of quiet without thinking about how sick he was, or treatment, or preventative measures. He just wanted a few minutes where he could forget that everything had changed.

Today was one of those days so he’d escaped to sit out on the back patio with a fresh cup of coffee. He closed his eyes and imagined he was on the beach, favorite board all ready to go, and the biggest swells he’d ever seen.

As much as Deeks had often wished for a simpler life, at heart he was a man of action. He was used to going into work; chasing people, working out with the team, starting his Saturday mornings with surfing. His inability to do most of those activities now either due to safety concerns or increasing exhaustion and weakness only added to his frustration and despair.

His daily walks down to the beach —which he was ashamed to admit left him winded sometimes—just weren’t cutting it.

“Hey, you trying to ditch me?” Kensi asked, breaking into his daydreams.

Deeks squinted through one eye as Kensi stood over him, head tilted as she eyes his shirtless stretched out form.

“Never. I just needed some vitamin D and fresh air,” Deeks told her with a reassuring grin. He might be irritated by the lack of space, but he wasn’t annoyed with Kensi. She’d been his rock since this all started. “When I was a kid, Mama claimed that was pretty much the cure to anything. Oh, and chicken soup.”

Kensi smiled, shaking her head. “I think chicken soup must be universal. Though dad swore up and down that jalapeños and garlic would cause off any germ.”

If only it were that simple.

“Hey, remember you’re not supposed to have too much cream or phosphorus,” she said, gesturing to the mug cradled next to his thigh.

“First cup today.” He smiled a little tightly, irritated by the reminder. “I’m pretty sure the low dairy, salt, minerals, protein, and elimination of approximately half of available foods has been drilled into my head by now.”

Her face fell at his bitter response and he instantly regretted it. Nice job, Deeks. “I’m sorry,” he sighed, reaching to lightly squeeze her fingers. “I know you’re just trying to look out for me.”

“I am, but I know it feels like I’m smothering you sometimes.” She squeezed back, apology accepted. “I’ll try to back off a little bit.”

“Hopefully not too far.” He patted his lounge chair, shifting a few inches to the side. Taking his invitation, Kensi carefully curled up against his side, hand finding a home in the center of his chest.

“This is nice,” she murmured with a little sigh. Her fingers smoothed over the hallow of his throat. He closed his eyes again, relishing her touch.

Even though they’d spend almost every moment together the last few months, intimacy had taken a hit. Yet another casualty of his illness, he thought wryly.

He settled his hand over her hip, tilting his head to rest against hers. Kensi slid her palms up the side of his neck, shifting so they were staring into one another’s eyes. He saw yearning in her gaze and acted on his own growing desire, tipping his chin down to kiss her. It was slow and gentle.

Kensi made a soft, desperate noise, deepening the kiss as she framed his face with her palms. Deeks pulled her closer, fingers skimming beneath her shirt as they tested the bounds of LA’s decency ordinance. Bracing her hands on his shoulders, Kensi straddled his hips and he stood, carrying her towards the house.

***

“How are you feeling? Really.” Kensi asked sometime later. Her head was pillowed on his chest and again she played with his collar bone. He’d missed this so much.

Lifting his free arm, Deeks studied the splotch of bruises decorating his forearm after his latest dialysis session.

“Like a pin cushion,” he answered glibly. Then more seriously, because Kensi deserved a genuine answer. “Still always tired. Though I feel a little better since I had dialysis yesterday.” He paused again, hesitant to say more. “Honestly, I’m kind of frustrated. When I’m not getting my blood drained out and pumped back in me for four hours and what feels like a thousand appointments, I’m just here.”

Kensi lifted her head, concern in her eyes. He smoothed the wrinkle between her eyebrows, knowing that she was just as tired as him.

“Sorry. I know it could be a lot worse.”

“No, it makes sense that you’re frustrated,” she disagreed. “I would be too.”

“Yeah, you’d have broken out of here a long time ago,” Deeks teased, and she lightly tapped his chest.

“Hey! Remember who has a history of leaving his hospital bed to come be a hero.” She poked him again for emphasis, then settled her chin on his sternum. It wasn’t exactly comfortable, but he didn’t mind enough to move. “Callen asked me to come help out today since they’re kind of short handed. Do you want to come with me?”

“I’m on leave, remember?”

“Yeah, but no ones going to say anything if you’re there. Maybe you can help with research. You know Fatima’s always running around like crazy in OPS on her own.”

“That’s true. Ok, I’ll come,” Deeks agreed. He wasn’t sure hanging out in the bullpen would be that much better, but at least it would break up the monotony a little. He craned his neck to kiss her again. “Thank you.”

***

A/N: I have mentioned this several times already, but just in case you wondered, I’m not a medical professional or versed in medical knowledge.

I do know that a real person in Deeks’ situation would likely be on dialysis and other treatments protocols and probably live a somewhat normal life once their condition was under control. Even with a deteriorating condition, from what I understand, organ transplants aren’t considered until you’re in the end stages of a disease. So, I’ve just progressed things quite a bit.

The Other Shoe Part 1

The Other Shoe Part 2

The Other Shoe Part 3

[sweetdreamsbuck]

You have officially turned me into a Lumby loving fiend. You know the 3 photos of Seb that you reblogged and said they were your favorites, tell me why my first thought was imagining you + Bucky at home, you’re sitting at the kitchen counter doing some random activity like reading a book. and you turn and notice Bucky standing on the other side staring at you like he’s looking in the last photo. and you’re like ‘do you need something?’ and he shakes his head and smiles and says some cheesy shit like ‘only need you bun’ and now i’m going to go sob because that won’t happen to me and i hate it.

gaze

beefy lumberjack!bucky x f!reader (beefy lumby and bunny au)

warnings: SOFT!! yes this is not a fic bc it is a garbage mess of thoughts and yes the wc is 2k+. i'm so glad you guys love my lumby baby as much as i do. he came to me in a dream and now i can't stop writing about him. but don't worry sweet nonnie... I am just as alone and far away from having my own lumby as I can get :(

𝐢 𝐝𝐨 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐠𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐲, 𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤. 𝟏𝟖+ 𝐨𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐫𝐬 𝐝𝐧𝐢

lumby has zero flaws– there is not one ounce of that man that wasn't painted from the finest of divine strokes. but your sweet boy– has a staring issue. a major problem, really. because the moment his eyes land on you, all sight of tasks he was meant to be doing spoil vibrant with vision of only you.

but there are exceptions to this issue of his; where his inability to see or think of anything but you and the beauty housed in each blink of your eye and flutter of that sweet giggle proved to be his saving grace– like today.

bucky had just gotten home from running to the store after an egregiously tiring shift; a few men from the lumberyard ran the office dry of all the coffee pot filters, leaving plenty of coffee grounds but no filter to sift them through. to add to the frustration of having no caffeine, the first two hard swings of his favorite ax shattered the blade. 

but even that wasn’t the worst of it– what really sealed his fate this morning was the alarm that failed to sound off. bucky never sleeps late, let alone needs an alarm, but today was an exception. running late this morning, by proxy, meant you were also behind. 

bucky wasn't afforded his sacred morning ritual of being revived from the sweet tickle of your yawning lips– from the stretching of limbs and teasing fingers scratching along his back and scalp as he nuzzled deeper against the span of your warm chest, basking contently in the song of your heartbeat. 

that also meant his routine mug of coffee from you– the one with a splash of cinnamon and the vision of your sleepy eyes, plump and sleep-wrinkled skin, slightly chapped lips with the warmth of a smile that greeted him in gentle yawns and soft whispers of "morning baby, i love you" as a kiss was pressed to his chin– was but a dream of the past. 

a morning where he didn’t get to stare at his bunny was not worthy of being deemed a morning at all.

so to say bucky had a rough day was an understatement.

the loud thud of his worn old truck's engine was still knocking as bucky rushed inside of the cabin. his mind ran rampant with thoughts of finally having a meal, a cup of coffee, and a warm shower; small promises of some form of relief from his day. shedding his clothes and hopping in the shower, he let his mind go soft; thinking only of watching you walk through the front door after your shift.

the way your strained eyes would awaken, gleaming with delight the second you saw him; the way your hands reached for him before your feet could carry you to him; the soft whine that left your throat as you molded your lips with his. 

he sighed, a gentle wave of peace finally washing over him in steady droplets and thoughts of you. 

in his own chaos, he completely forgot you had off today. how was he to remember you'd be home, waiting for him? he whizzed through the front door of the cabin so fast, you had no second to offer even a faint breath of your presence.

swaddled in a heavy duvet, you sat perched at the kitchen island, a book in one hand and a plum in the other. after not getting to greet bucky this morning, you were looking forward to being the first thing he saw when he got home.

but it didn't seem to matter all that much when he reeked of such frustration, his shoulders visibly stiff and the crease in between his brows cartoonishly bold. even in the brief second you saw him, it was apparent. your attention returned to your book upon hearing the shower head jump to life, knowing bucky needed a moment to collect himself and clean all trace of his sour day from him. besides, you were just getting to the good part of your novel.

you smile to yourself thinking of how bucky had once told you how lucky he was to get to watch you when you read. you’d get so invested, a face of unwavering concentration and adorable reactions dancing across your features without even realizing. he loved that about you, how you always seemed to tune out the outside world, only focusing on the characters and situations held in the palm of your hands. 

of course you didn’t hear the sound of bucky shutting off the shower and drying himself, or the ever so silent thud of his footsteps scurrying in the hall.

his voice mumbled out your name as he opened the bathroom door, realizing all the lights to his house have been on. running to your shared bedroom in hopes to find you wrapped in the mess of blankets just as he left you this morning, much to his disdain, he was met with silence and a neatly made bed– his least favorite sight when all he wanted to do was bury you with tender kisses into the large mattress. 

rounding the corner to the kitchen, his breath caught high in his throat. all the tension of his previously knotted face lifted–  that dark crease between his brows now a soft divot begging for your sweet kisses; his clenched jaw now loose in a rounded sigh falling from his lips. 

the cozy cocoon you had burrowed yourself in was the damn cutest sight he’d ever seen, but the disheveled work of art tauntingly tantalizing him inside of it wrapped itself wholly around his heart– around all of his senses, all of his nerves and up to the base of his tongue. such ease and giddy warmth rendering him speechless– captive to your presence, to your priceless radiance. his bunny. 

he’d never get tired of this. he could never grow tired of this– of staring at you in moments you never intended for anyone to see you in. in those moments where you sat there biting at a piece of fruit as soft tendrils of air filled your lungs– where nothing could ever appear more divine than watching you live in your quiet little world you decided to let him be a part of. 

the sight of you suddenly fixed all his problems, all of his frustrations. the grumble of his tummy and headache from lack of caffeine are but distant feelings– the tangible vision of you causes his breathing to stutter and his heart to thump like he was a damn teenager all over again.

he leans against the doorframe with a bevel in his leg, grounding himself so not to fall as his arm raises to catch his face against his hand. 

you let out a faint gasp as a sentence startles you, your eyes glistening with shock as you lean closer towards the words on your page. your eyes slowly relax when the main character gets back on his feet, a hum of relief washing over your features as a soft smile paints your lips. taking after the expertise of the sight in front of him, he leaned into it.

he let himself breathe for the first time that day. 

and you felt it. “mmm, bucky. you’re staring baby," you call without looking up from your book.

a soft huff of air leaves his nostrils and he lowers his head, flustered, even though you don't see it. he hums lowly.

"can practically feel my skin turning blue,” your smirk chides. he shuffles his weight on his feet as he leans himself firmer against the wall, arms tightening and twitching around the middle of his torso– not out of embarrassment. out of the flustered urge to control himself– his true desire, to lunge for you while wrapping you fervently in his embrace, feeling your warmth and melting at the fire of your touch– taking you out of the only bit of beauty he knew of today. 

he knew it was selfish to indulge in his desires, but it was just as selfish not to.

your bucky was greedy. he'd watch you until there was nothing left for him to do but pull you close and cling to every fiber of your being in hopes you'd let him stare, just a little longer.

his temple rested promptly against the door frame, his fingers tapping anxiously at his sides as a means to distract himself from the loud roar of his heart thumping throughout every vein and pulse of his body. you shuffle a bit on your stool when he stays voiceless, setting your book against the counter and sitting up straight. a hint of amusement shimmers along your features, a brow raised in expectancy of a smart retort from your man.

but all thoughts of playful teasing leave your mind when you look up and see his stare– the one that turns you to goo from the inside out, the one that sends such sparks of eagerly anxious heat coursing through your veins– that adoring and pointed stare knocking all the nerves and atoms that make up your body giddy with the excitement of being seen. “do you need something?” your voice barely squeaks out, the heat of his gaze too powerful for your banter. 

he softly nods his head, eyes swimming with vehement joy and relief for the first time all day. "just need you bun,” his low voice murmurs, so soft you almost wouldn’t have heard it unless accompanied by the sweet blush spreading across his cheeks. “but ya know...a kiss would be nice,” he pouts, “haven’t gotten a kiss all day. think I might die without one, bun. fix it? please bunny, need you to fix it.”

you break out into a fit of giggles as he drags his feet towards you with his adorable pout and those wide pleading eyes, his hands pushed out in front of him making grabby motions at you. raising your eyebrows at his display, you shut your eyes and sink yourself further into the large blanket surrounding you. “i don’t know lumby... i’m pretty comfy right now. wouldn’t want to–AH” you yelp, your voice getting cut off from the force of bucky throwing you over his shoulder.

he runs towards the couch as you squeal, the room starting to spin as he twirls you round and round before plopping himself down with you cradled in his arms. in his theatrics, the blanket managed to twirl itself tighter around you, blocking your face from view. that just won’t do.

you laugh yourself tired as the blanket moves around you, both sets of his and your hands struggling to get your face free. you giggle even harder through your struggle to breathe as he huffs and grunts under his breath at such an unnecessary frustration. your head finally pops through an opening and your lock eyes with a flustered and slightly annoyed bucky. “there’s my bunny,” he groans against your cheek, wasting no more time in grasping your face between his palms and pressing kisses all over you.

“i’m gonna take as many kisses as I want now. s’all your fault bun. not gonna accept an apology either,” his low voice rasps out between his attack.

trapping you firmly between his large arms and the thick fabric, he sighs and groans happily as he continues to "take" kisses. your lips bounce off of his every other kiss as he jumps around the curves of your face, keeping you immobile to his sweet torment. once your giggles and squeals turned a bit too breathless for his liking, he peppers his lips gingerly against your forehead, running his hands up and down your back to coax your breathing even. 

his large palms move up to your neck, one hand cradling your jaw and smoothly thumbing over your cheek. his eyes seem to grow more vibrant– more honest– silently flitting across your face as they take in every line, wrinkle, and mark that always cause his blood to rush and his heart to race.

“do you need something?” you repeat from earlier, only this time, a whisper, unworthy of the way his eyes reverently caress your face. even under a heavy blanket, his gaze leaves you feeling exposed and all too warm from just the simple sheen of his stare. your fingers itch to feel him, combing softly through his hair and down the sides of his face as he continues to stare in disbelief at the treasure housed prettily under his palms.

“only need you, bun. just need my sweet girl.” 

a gentle smirk tugged at his lips as your fingers trace over the stubble and scruff littered along his jaw. turning his head towards your palm, his lips meet each of your fingers with a purr of his lips. 

rough palms danced along the fabric encompassing you, working their way inside the folds of the very thing he wished was him, snug and woven around you. tugging the fabric loose his voice drops proudly, low and steady in a growl that always manages to change the temperature of any room, “now, you gonna let me under this? i need my bunny and i need those thighs."

[uinmyheart]

[♡] As someone who feels like he has seen everything in life and has experienced moments he once thought were impossible to experience; Jungkook recurs to let himself be surprised by the simple things. A bird flew by and decided to join him on his early breakfast by the balcony? The highlight of his week. A little girl approached him in the park asking for help to tie her shoelaces? He could not be prouder of helping her. And when it comes to having you in his life... It feels so right. Every single moment you both spend together makes his world go round. Partners come and go; but you’re the real deal. He knows he has very little chances to find someone like you; probably one in a million, that’s why you’re so special to him.

As soon as he wakes up, he checks the phone and instantly gets out of bed once he finds a text from you letting him know you're coming over to have some breakfast. Lazy Saturdays are the best. 

As he finds the kitchen spotless from last night; he somehow wishes it wasn't and he wishes there were still remains from a hypothetical cooking night between the both of you; one of his favorite activities that are so precious to him when it comes to you. Once you come through the door, you find him sitting in the kitchen, swinging his legs playfully, patiently waiting for you. He doesn't hesitate to come down from his spot and hug you once he sees you. He's excited to hold you and he shows you exactly that, leaving an excited groan once you're between his arms. He's so cute. “Did you miss me?" you look up at him and his heart skips a beat once he sees your smile; you're so pretty. every day, but especially today. even the earrings you were wearing (the ones he's especially proud of choosing as a birthday gift) were enhancing your face in the most beautiful of ways. You are so pretty. it tumbles out of his lips and it makes you squirm with joy, leaving a nice smooch on his lips afterwards. you don't stay in his arms too long though; the heavy plastic bags setting your hands on fire making you run to the nearest counter to settle them down.

He's left there entranced in the way you confidently stride across his kitchen; knowing where to place all of the things you bought and knowing where everything is after many hours spent together in this apartment, and definitely many nights of binge eating together. You're telling him about your morning and he swears he's listening to you intently, but at the same time he's trying to drink you in. from your silky hair, your perfect figure, noticeable even under all those layers of clothes thanks to the cold weather today. He smiles once he gets to process the fact that you're telling him you'd gotten out of your way to get those pastries he really loved on your first date together. And you're starting the coffee machine too. You make a killer coffee too. What did he ever do in his previous life to even deserve you? 

It's not common for him to not answer for a while so that's why you turn around to take a look at him, leaving the two mugs of coffee unattended. "Is everything okay?” he instantly nods but you stride towards him anyways, your hand coming up to caress his cheek. The coldness of your hand is refreshing and it makes him close his eyes for a second, almost entranced. "I love you" it tumbles out of his mouth and his arms find home on your waist. Maybe it's the fact that he's still very much asleep from waking up relatively early on vacation, and maybe that's why he's not too bothered by making such an important statement first thing in the morning and out of nowhere. but he doesn't care. He loves you. He brings you closer to him and it makes him giggle the way your mouth opens and closes without a word being said. you're caught off guard. but still say it back. and he already knows.

[ashdreams2023]

Could you possibly write science bros x reader?? I don’t mind what

Science bros yay!

Summary: you keep the science bros company on a late working hour

Science bros

Hummed checking your basket while the elevator went up from floor to floor.

The building was quiet, almost everyone was asleep at this hour, especially after a rough Aline Invasion.

Everyone except those two.

When your reached the wanted floor, Friday announced your arrival on the speakers.

Bruce turned around on his seat while tony was still hunched studying the sample they’ve got from the Aline a couple hours ago.

"You’re still up?" Said Bruce.

You nodded walking up to the two and stopping at a safe distance since they were wearing goggles, which meant it’s a dangerous Territory.

"Take a break and let’s have some food!" You brought up the basket up for Bruce to see, tony finally stopped what he’s doing when he smelled the sweet smell of bread.

"You were baking at 11pm?" Said Tony.

"You two know I like baking, plus I didn’t feel that hungry eating alone"

The two exchanged a look before pulling off their goggles.

"I guess a break wouldn’t hurt, I do need some coffee"

"I beat you to that one" you grinned pulling out a travel mug from the basket.

"My hero!" tony said patting his long lashes at you dramatically then cupping your face and kissing your cheek.

You giggled handing him the mug, then pulling out a muffin for Bruce.

The two moved to sit near the coffee table place on the side, you put your basket on it and pulled out everything inside.

"Aww isn’t that sweet brucie bear, somebody actually cares we’re alive"

"Tony stop, they’re just being nice"

"You two stop talking and more munching!"

"Sure sure, Bruce don’t hog all the cookies!"

You laughed at the two, a biting on a donut decorated with chocolate and tiny marshmallows.

"How’s the big guy Bruce?" You said.

Bruce blinked then rubbed his neck "he’s resting, today was pretty rough"

You nodded then turned your head towards tony "how about you?"

"I’m fine, a few scratches won’t do me any damage"

"You came back limping Tony" you raised a brow at the billionaire. Tony shrugged it off.

"I’ve had worse injuries…"

After finishing your donut you sighed, placing your hands on your lap.

"You shouldn’t overwork yourselves, I hate seeing you injured and more importantly….I don’t want to lose my two favorite people in the world"

Bruce stopped mid bite, a tiny smile taking over his lips, he knew you cared a lot but it was still nice knowing someone cared and he could tell Tony feels the same way, the billionaire had his eyes low but his ears were red.

Yeah affection did have a tool on him.

"Anyways! What were you guys working on?"

And just like that the two began telling you about the sample and how insanely active it was.

[dnvrsmedia]

Coming on here to request a fluffy Nat/Reader fic where Reader is struggling with their mental health and Nat takes care of them ^^

word count: 857

genre: fluff

warnings: mentions of mental health issues (does not go into detail).

an/ i really hope this did what you wanted justice bc i am not very confident in this lololol i really hope you like it!

masterlist / ask box / navigation

you do not have my permission to repost my material and claim it is yours. that is plagerism. likes and reblogs are always appreciated and welcomed.

Dreary Monday’s at the compound normally put a smile on your face. Rain is almost like mother nature's way of sending her love to the earth, cleansing it of all the harsh treatment done by those who take advantage of her kindness for moments at a time.The slow pace of a rainy day is like a breath of fresh air. Your love for the rain slowly became a shared love for you and your partner, Natasha Romanoff. Before she met you, she admittedly loathed the rain.

The damp and depressing mood of the sun going away just never was her favorite. Once the two of you got together, you dragged her along on your rainy day activities. Cuddling up with a nice book and reading it to Natasha while she lays in your lap was one of your favorite things to partake in. Today was one of those days, yet something was widely different. Natasha knew something was wrong the second she came back from her early morning training session. On days like these, she's normally met with you curled up on the couch with two mugs full of hot coco on the coffee table; awaiting her arrival.

The moment she opened the door to your shared room you were nowhere to be found. All lights were turned off while nothing seemed to move an inch since Natahsa left early that morning. Immediately Natasha went searching for you. The rational part of her brain wants to think that you’re okay, but with her life and lived experiences, she can’t help but think of the worse. She enters your shared bedroom to see you curled up in the bed. One of Steve’s oversized sweaters you stole from him is practically swallowing you. Tear stained cheeks and a runny nose is all that Nat can see of your face. Her heart breaks a little bit every time she sees you cry. Her tender voice is the first thing you hear. “Oh detka…” Nat drifts by your side and pulls the covers down. She wipes your tears with a kiss planted on both of your cheeks. You want to say something, anything, but the struggle of forming the words you want feels way too severe to do so. All you can do is to lean into her touch. You have been struggling for the past few days. Your mental health has been on a steady decline and today was your breaking point. “Baby, why didn’t you tell me?” Nat moves over to lie in bed with you. She moves your head so that you are in her lap. This position is one you have done many times for each other. It has become an unspoken gesture of love, stability, and trust. Many nights the two of you have stayed up like this. Anywhere from talking about your hopes and dreams to reassuring each other about nightmares. This position automatically gives you a sense of being secure. A few beats go by with just silence. Natasha never forces you to talk or explain. All she ever wants to do is to allow you to feel that you are not alone.

“I didn’t want to stress you…” If Nat didn’t have almost superhuman hearing, she would have missed it. The redhead lets out a steady breath. “Honey, you know that you’re the most important thing in my life. Not my job, not even Lhio…don’t tell her I said that.” You smack her arm playfully as she smirks. “Seriously though, your wellbeing is the only thing that matters to me. You are the only person that has ever made me feel this way.” She caresses your cheek as she looks into your eyes. The only thing you can see is pure love. “I’m yours and only yours, my love.” She smiles softly as she plants kisses all over your face. “Tasha!” You squeal as she flips herself over to be completely on top of you. Her hands connect with yours as she interlaces your fingers and pins your arms down. She continues to pepper your face with kisses as she announces all the things she loves about you. “You are the smartest, most talented, and absolutely the easiest person to get to love. I never want you to doubt that you are loved by so many people who have the pleasure of getting to know you. You are a light in this world. I will say this until my last breath, you understand me? I know that your brain doesn’t let you see that sometimes. I know that you may feel broken and unfixable, but you're not. You are the strongest person I know, baby. Never doubt that. I love you forever.” You’ve never seen her so passionate about her feelings so knowing that she got this passionate over loving you makes you tear up. Knowing that you have someone who loves you unconditionally makes your heart soar. The pair of you shared a few kisses and gentle touches. You spent the rest of your day in bed enjoying each other's company. You may not be okay now, but with her, you will be.

[purpleyoonn]

Hocus Pocus

From the Ethereal Universe:

Hocus Pocus

Summary: Once you found out the boys had never celebrated Halloween before, you decide to throw them your very own Halloween party, fit with spooky snacks and scary movies. You were determined to show them why Halloween was your favorite holiday.

Genre: fluff, dragon bts, soulmate au, poly bts, mafia bts

Word Count: 2k

Warnings: nothing really, mention of mafia activity, mentions of nightmares

Ethereal Masterlist

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

Jungkook had never thought that telling you about their lack of Halloween celebrations would ever lead to this.

You were currently ordering Jin to grab some kind of spider cookie out of the oven while Yoongi making “mummy dogs” with hot dogs and biscuit dough.

The second you had woken up this morning, you had run down to the living room, turning on your Halloween playlist and made hot chocolate for everyone. Mr. Choi had walked just walked in when you were trying to carry all the mugs by yourself.

“Ms. Y/N! Please be careful! If Master Taehyung saw you, he would not be very happy. Here, let me help.” Mr. Choi had rushed over to help you before you could kindly reject his offer. He pulled out one of the head maid’s rolling carts from beside the pantry before helping you load all the drinks onto the top.

“Thank you, Mr. Choi! Oh,” you hand him one of the mugs, “this one is for you.” He smiles, nodding to you as he takes the mug from your hands.

“Thank you miss!” You nod back before turning around to go back to the room.

“Oh! And Mr. Choi? Let everyone know they have the day off today. Including you.” You don’t even stay to see his reaction, content with pushing the small cart to the elevator. Mr. Choi watches you walk off into the elevator with a small smile on his face, your presence in the house making the atmosphere so much brighter and happier.

You had grown up celebrating Halloween with your parents, watching Halloween themed movies, and eating spooky treats in the days leading up to the holiday. The day of, you would dress in your costume before going to school, where the faculty would hold different Halloween parties for the students, sometimes even holding a little costume parade with all of the dressed up students participating.

Then after school, you would go around your small-town trick-or-treating, making sure to get as much candy as you could into your bag. When you were old enough, you would go with your friends, mainly Chaeyeon with her brother and his friends following behind you two as you went house-to-house. As you got older, and moved in with your grandparents, you began to be the ones handing out the candy, Chaeyeon helping you as you both stayed in and watched scary movies.

You couldn’t wait to start some Halloween traditions with the boys.

-*-*-

“Good morning boys! I brough hot chocolate with whip cream and marshmallows!” You shout, waking up the now awake men still laying in the bed as you walked through the door. Groans and moans filled the room, none of them wanting to wake up on their off day. You didn’t care. Halloween was your favorite holiday and you were going to celebrate the fall holiday no matter what.

“Noooooooo, baby.” Jimin whined, holding onto Namjoon’s waist as you tried to pull him off the bed.

“Jiminie pleaseeee! It’s Halloween!” After realizing he wasn’t going to move, you gave up yanking on his leg, moving onto Taehyung. He quickly moved away from you though, crawling onto Hobi. You tried to aim for another pair of legs but was tackled onto the bed by Jungkook, who fell off the floor when you shouted.

“What is so amazing about Halloween anyway? Like, what do you do to celebrate?” Jungkook asked you, a small pout on his lips at the thought of not knowing what got you so excited and happy.

“What do you mean? Do you guys not celebrate Halloween?” This really made you question everything.  You don’t know if you could have soulmates that don’t celebrate Halloween. Like they are dragon’s…how could they not celebrate the spooky holiday?

“Well… it wasn’t really around when we were kids…like it was celebrated amongst the humans, but it wasn’t really popular until the early 20th century when we were already “adults” in the eyes of the humans. And by then, the dragon community wasn’t involved with the human community.” Namjoon spoke, moving to the closet for a shirt. Well, you guess that makes sense.

“But you’ve been involved with the human community for decades now, why haven’t you participated?” You ask again, trying to understand.

“I don’t know, we just got used to not celebrating it, I guess.” Namjoon shrugged, not in view with a clean shirt on. Well, not on your watch. You move to push Jungkook off you, catching him off guard, falling to the floor again.

“Well, now we have to celebrate! Halloween is my favorite holiday, and I’m going to show you guys my favorite Halloween movies and make my spooky snacks I used to make with my grandparents! It’s going to be fun; I promise!” You run out of the bedroom again, this time moving to decorate the living room and get the kitchen ready to bake.

This leads you to where you are now, maneuvering yourself around Jin and Yoongi in the kitchen, listening to Jungkook, Taehyung, Jimin, and Hobi try to sing along to “This Is Halloween” from the Nightmare Before Christmas. Namjoon had snuck off to try and complete some paperwork while everyone was occupied, thinking no one would notice.

“Okay, so the snacks are almost done, the drinks are already on the cart, and…Oh! The movies!” You move to the living room, working your way through the many arms trying to get you to dance with them.

You make it to the pile of movies you had left on the tv stand yesterday. You had brought them from your apartment that you refused to move out of, despite the lack of sleep you get when you stay there.

You hold them up, trying to decide which movie to show they boys first when arms wrap themselves around your waist, bringing you into their chest.

“What are you doing baby?” You hear Jimin whisper into your ear, his chin on your shoulder as he looks at the movies in your hand.

“I’m trying to decide which movie I want you guys to watch first.” You hum, trying to make a pros and cons list in your head. Jimin begins to sway you back and forth to the music coming from the speaker when you finally decide to put on the Haunted Mansion.

You put the movie on while Jin and Yoongi finish the snacks and load them onto the snack and beverage cart, pushing it into the living room by the couch.  Everyone moves to their place on the couch while you turn off your playlist. You move to sit in between Yoongi and Taehyung when you realize that Namjoon still isn’t back yet.

“Will someone please go get Joonie?  I really don’t want him to work so much on Halloween and I want him to watch the movie with us.” You pout towards Jin, who is the closest to the stairs. He groans before getting up to go and get Namjoon. You turn to the tv, a smile on your face, glad that your pout still works.

“You are sneaky, baby mate.” Yoongi speaks, bringing you to lay your back on his chest.

“I don’t know what you are talking about.” You shrug, making him chuckle, his arms wrapping tighter around your middle.

-*-*-

You had just put in Hocus Pocus, leaning back onto Yoongi’s chest. The others had loved the Haunted Mansion, especially the singing head busts. That got some loud laughs, especially from Jungkook and Jimin, who continued to imitate the busts for the rest of the movie.

Hocus Pocus was not a movie you liked to watch only until a couple years ago. The movie used to scare you, meaning you stopped watching it completely. You remember having nightmares of the Sanderson Sisters taking you and taking your soul. You would wake up screaming and your mom would always come running into your room.

“I can’t believe our baby mate used to get scared of this movie.” Taehyung giggled, having just finished listening to you tell them about your nightmares and refusal to watch this movie.

“It’s not funny Tae! It used to scare me so bad.” You cross your arms, a pout on your face again at your mates teasing, Jungkook and Jimin now joining Taehyung.

“Hey! Leave her alone. It’s perfectly normal to fear witches stealing your souls to retain beauty.” Jin spoke, causing the boys to pause their laughter.

“Are you a witch then Jinnie? Is that how you stay so beautiful, you steal the souls of children?” Jimin spoke, using a compliment to cover the teasing tone. Jin didn’t seem to understand the backhanded comment, a smile on his face as he thanks Jimin.

“Aww thank you Jimi—Hey! I am not a witch!” Jin yells, now jumping from his spot to try and grab Jimin. Jimin his tackled to the ground mid laugh, Jin pushes him into the plush carpet. Jimin’s laughter ringing throughout the room as Jin tickles the man, trying to get him to take his words back.

“Boys! Can I push play now?” You ask, Jin and Jimin pausing from their place on the floor. You receive nods from everyone, now back in their seats and quiet as the movie begins.

As the movie begins, you start to tense up again, still not used to watching the movie. You squeeze your shirt in your fists, hoping you won’t get scared this time. Jungkook moves closer to you, moving you onto his lap once he notices your knuckles turning white.

“Don’t worry baby, we will protect you.” He whispers, not trying to gain the attention of the others who are already invested in the movie. Slowly, you relax into his arms, listening to the boys laugh and get excited at the movie.

Soon enough, the costume party in the town hall comes up, where Max and Danni try to convince their parents about the witches. “I’ll Put a Spell on You” starts, with Winifred singing, getting the boys even more excited.

Jimin and Taehyung get so into the song, that they move off the couch and start to dance around the room, their voices off key and more yelling as they try to sing the lyrics. Hobi soon follows suit, dragging Yoongi off the couch. Jin and Namjoon stay cuddled on the couch, along with you and Jungkook, content with watching the rest of your soulmates dance around the room, putting on a complete show.

You couldn’t seem to wipe the smile off your face, the sight of your mates slow dancing, or trying to slow dance, to Winifred’s singing was one of the funniest things you have seen so far. Jungkook’s Elmo laugh was loud as he dragged you off the couch to join the dancing, his hand on your waist and your hand on his shoulder as you danced, your feet on his because of how clumsy you were.  

Jin and Namjoon stayed on the couch, in each other’s embrace as they watched their mates, movie completely forgotten. It had been a long time since they saw their mates having this much fun that didn’t involve their business. And to know that you were the cause, made them fall even more in love with you.

They watched you as your eyes sparkled, your laughter almost louder than Jungkook’s at this point. You were holding onto Jungkook for dear life, his movement’s becoming large and dramatic as he competed with Taehyung. The movie was long over, the music from the end credits now serving as background music as you continued to dance and sing at the top of your lungs, filled with happiness and joy.

This was the best Halloween you had experienced, with Hocus Pocus now your favorite Halloween movie.