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barkkletshunt · 3 years

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Those Worth Fighting For Part eight

I feel like I’m really pushing out these parts right now lol It’s been so long since I’ve had a few days off to work on this. I hope you like it!

Part one Part two

Part three Part four

Part five Part six

Part seven Bonus scene 1

Part eight (You’re here)

Taglist:

@ladybug-182 @fruit-snacc-ace @miraculous-simmer7 @lavenderjunes @use-flamethrower @fan-written @all-mights-asscheeks @birdie-posts

Marinette looked over her pajamas, wondering why she thought having a pajama date as one of their first dates was a good idea. It was her idea and she wasn’t going to go back on it, but oh God why didn’t she own any cute pajamas?

“Marinette, I thought you wanted to have a laid back date? Why are you stressing out about your outfit?” Tikki knew Marinette better than anyone else, but even she had a hard time understanding her current holders mind sometimes. “Why not wear your comfiest pajamas?”

The blue haired girl looked over to the pajamas she had worn the night before, the comfiest pajamas she owned, and sized up the hot chocolate stains and the tear on the left leg from when she got it caught on the balcony bar. She meant to fix it, but with school and her other projects as MDC the PJ’s were put on the backburner. “Yeah, no, that’s not happening. I’m still trying to impress him.”

“Then what about the set your Grandfather bought you for christmas?” Tikki asked, floating above Marinette’s shoulder to look at the silk pin striped PJ’s. “Those are impressive!”

“But they’re too impressive. It won’t look natural and it will come across as I’m trying too hard.” The woman began biting at her lip, looking over the other pairs of pajamas she owned. “What if I wore the pair Chat Noir bought me? They are comfortable, kinda cute, and they come with slippers to match.”

“The Ladybug ones?” Tikki thought it over for a moment. “They are nice without being too nice, and comfortable without being overworn. I think they’re a good bet!”

Marinette changed into the pajamas her former hero partner had given her, and tucked her feet into the boot slippers that matched. Although they were too big for her as a teen they now fit her perfectly now that her body looked more like her body as a heroine. She was taller now, and from constant training with her mother and Kagami her muscles had grown strong and resilient. She still couldn’t leap from building to building as a civilian, but she could certainly hold her own when it came to freerunning and parkour.

“I wonder what he’s going to wear,” she said absentmindedly to her kwami as she changed, stripping off her school clothes and hopping into the pajama pants successfully without falling over. “Something flashy, I’m sure.”

“Maybe he has normal pajamas and is worried you’ll think he isn’t as fancy?

“Ha, I wish. He’s fancy through and through.” Marinette laughed, pulling the shirt over her head. “Maybe I can convince him to dress like a normal person like the rest of us mere mortals. He’d look really good in a turtleneck.”

She looked herself over in the mirror and sighed. She looked too much like Ladybug for her own comfort. While they were the perfect level of baggy, and the colour was slightly off from her actual suit, having red pants with black polka dots made her take a second look at herself.

The shirt was white, with a pun on it, with red sleeves that matched the pants, and even the booties matched the ladybug pattern to tie everything together. She either looked like someone who absolutely loved Ladybug, or Ladybug herself trying to throw off someone's scent by pretending to be a die hard fan. Either way, she needed to change.

Knock, knock, knock.

Or she would change if Felix wasn’t so damned punctual.

Marinette grabbed her coat and the baked goods she got from her parents earlier and headed towards the door. On the other side was Felix, looking as handsome as ever. She could see baggy track pants underneath his black trench coat, but none of that mattered the second he leaned forward and placed a delicate kiss on the top of her head.

“I brought you coffee.” His voice was soft, as if worried saying anything would stop the butterflies that began to flutter in her stomach. “Are you alright with pizza tonight? I was running errands all day and I didn’t have a chance to pick anything up to cook.”

Marinette wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tight, feeling him stiffen for just a moment before returning the affectionate gesture. It wasn’t the first time she had hugged him since reuniting with the blond, but it was the first hug she had given him that she allowed herself to savour.

She could feel his back muscles through his thin coat, and wondered briefly what he did to make them so defined. In his suits it was hard to tell how muscular he was, but from the hold he had on her she figured he was a lot stronger than he looked.

It was just a simple hug, but he held her like he was afraid to let her go. Maybe it was just her mind going haywire from how good the man before her smelt, like fresh soap and coffee. It was warm and clean and she loved it.

The hug was over too soon and both parties let go with mild embarrassment at how much they enjoyed it. They looked at the walls and the floors, anything not to meet each other's gaze until they finally did. Neither could help the laughter that bubbled from their lips at seeing how the other felt the same way. It was easy and light being with him, and she wondered if that was how the starting of love was supposed to be.

“So, Marinette Dupain-Cheng, are you ready to go back to my temporary Parisian home with my cousin and his fiancee and look over the seating placements?” Felix asked, trying to regain his air of formality but failing as his smile kept returning. He offered his arm to her, finally giving up on hiding his giddiness at their first official date. “And start preparing the invitations to what I assume is half of France itself?”

“Why, Felix!” She giggled, taking his arm and walking down the hallway of her apartment building with him. “I thought you’d never ask!”

Felix was a gentleman. This was an irrefutable fact. He took the bag of baked goods from her to carry it himself, he opened the car door for her and waited until she was in and buckled before closing the door and getting in on his side. He made sure to get out of the car first to hold her door open for her again, and did the same at the front door of the house. It didn’t even seem like he was trying to impress her, it was just his natural habits.

“Fel! Mari! Good timing!” Adrien’s voice called to them the second they were in the house, before Felix had a chance to take her coat and hang it up. “We’re in the living room.”

The two looked at each other, their confusion etched upon their faces.

“Well, better get this over with.” Felix sighed, slowly unbuttoning his coat and taking it off. Revealing the black t-shirt underneath with the design of a suit printed on the chest. She wanted to laugh. Of course, how did she not think of it? This way he could still wear a suit to bed! “Oh, it gets better. I have a matching pair of slippers to yours.”

As Felix reached into the closet to put his coat away, he pulled out a pair of familiar looking slippers. She hadn’t seen them before, but she had seen up close where the design came from. The slippers Felix put on resembled Chat Noir’s boots. Without planning it out ahead of time the two of them matched. No wonder they liked each other so much.

When they made their way to the living room, with a slight detour to the kitchen to set down the pizza and the baked goods, they saw Kagami and Adrien sitting on one of the sofa’s dressed like they came right out of a 90’s parent teacher conference. Kagami wore a blouse Marinette was sure she had never seen on her friend before, and Adrien wore a dress shirt with a sweater vest over it. They both had glasses on, and she knew for a fact neither of them needed glasses.

Adrien looked at Marinette and seemed to freeze for a moment before returning to his disappointed face.

“What’s going on?” She began to ask, but the two crossed their arms and nodded towards the couch across from them.

Marinette and Felix sat down, looking confused as ever.

“Marinette, darling, we need to talk.” Kagami started, her monotone voice not matching her words. “We were informed today about something that shocked us to our core.”

“We’re not mad that you didn’t tell us,” Adrien continued, nodding along. Marinette noticed the model was wearing a fake mustache. “Just disappointed.”

“And what, prey tell, was I supposed to tell you?” She wanted to laugh. She knew their game, she knew exactly what they were playing at. It didn’t make it any less hilarious to her.

“And Felix, I expected better from you than withholding secrets from me.” Adrien fake cried onto Kagami’s shoulder, who only patted his back in an attempt to soothe him.

“It’s okay dear, as her father I will handle this.” Kagami whispered.

“I thought I was the father, that’s why I’m wearing the mustache.” Adrien lifted his head.

“You’re the emotional mother who doesn’t know how to handle her daughter's secret life, and I’m the father who will be stern but also loves his wife despite the facial hair because you have a beautiful spirit.” Kagami stated.

“You’d be a great dad.”

“I already am.” Kagami adjusted herself. “Marinette, how could you not tell us you were dating Felix?”

Felix stared at his cousin and his fiancee. He couldn’t believe what he was seeing. Had Adrien always been this goofy? Had Kagami?

“Mom, Dad, I’m sorry, it’s still new. This is our first date.” Marinette leaned forward and grabbed Kagami’s hand. Felix groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. If he wasn’t already smitten with the blue haired woman, he was sure he’d fall for her again right then and there. His cousin and his soon to be wife, correction, his family loved Marinette so much that they had these silly little jokes and the woman had no problem playing along. She was every bit of the family already and if they were that protective of her then he knew he was falling for the right girl.

“First date so far, but thankfully you two have given us enough excuses to spend time together that we’re bound to have more dates in the future.” Felix nudged Marinette lightly with his elbow. “Maybe we’ll even, gasp, become a serious relationship and rival your fame.”

“You will if Alya has anything to say about it.” Kagami mumbled.

“What?” Marinette squinted at her friend, but Kagami shook her head and refused to answer.

“Well, do I need to grab my sword and threaten you not to hurt my daughter?” Kagami asked Felix, all joking leaving her.

“No worries, Ma’am, er, sir? I will treat Marinette with the utmost respect.” Felix gave a salute to the Japanese woman. “Now can we go and finish our mission of preparing the invitations to your wedding? While we may be dressed for night time, we aren’t planning on working all night.”

“Speaking of how you’re dressed,” Adrien’s voice wavered for a second. “Marinette, where did you get those pajamas?”

She looked down at herself. How was she supposed to say that the former black cat of Paris gave them to her alter ego self for Christmas? She wasn’t. “A friend got them for me, I’m not sure where he bought them from. Why? Are you jealous?”

Adrien laughed, but it almost sounded forced. “You got me. I wanted them, but oh well.”

Kagami looked at her fiance who just waved her off.

“Well, those pajamas look good on you, M’lady.” Adrien stood up and offered his hand to Kagami who took it and followed his lead. “We’re going to go spar for a bit. Let me know if you two want to join us!”

M’Lady? When had Adrien ever called her that?

“Well Miss. Bug, shall we be off?” Felix’s voice snapped her out of her train of thought, and then immediately threw her down another hole of questioning. Did he just call her Miss. Bug? The same way that Alley Cat did? Was it just her pajamas making the two blonds act this way, or was there more to the story? God, she was beginning to sound like Alya.

“Pizza first, invitations second, and third movie time! Sounds good?”

“Anything sounds good if you say it.”

Marinette’s cheeks burned. With all thoughts of Chat Noir and Alley Cat forgotten, the two of them left to the kitchen.

#Those worth fighting for #twff #felix x marinette #felinette #fanon felix #felix graham de vanily #marinette dupain cheng #Marinette #marinette dupen chang #miraculous ladybug #miraculous fanfic #Kagami Tsurugi #adrigami #adrien agreste

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charincharge · 4 years

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I Don’t Want To Wait, eight

rowaelin high school bff masterlist

Based on the prompts:

“Okay, I know I’m evil and all that jazz, but I have standards too.”

What are you smiling about?

“He’s late,” Rhoe grumbled, his eyes flashing in annoyance as they flicked to his watch. Aelin sighed from her spot on the couch and rotated her brace-covered wrist. It was a minor sprain, the most minor sprain; she wouldn’t even have been injured at all if she hadn’t reflexively held up her hand against the deploying air bags, but when Rhoe had received a call from Aelin that she was in the hospital, he’d gone a bit ballistic. And his former surrogate son was pretty much persona-non-grata in the Galathynius household at the moment.

“Dad,” Aelin warned.

“I’m allowed to be mad,” Rhoe repeated for the hundredth time that week. “When I let that boy—” Rowan had apparently lost his name privileges for being a minute late. “—drive you around, I expected you to be returned in a single piece.” He shook his head, repeating the same speech Aelin had heard every day for the last week. “I have one single treasure, Aelin. The most valuable treasure in the world, and when that treasure leaves the house, I expect it to come back to me in perfect condition.”

She wondered how long this would go on. How many days of penance Rowan would have to pay before Rhoe forgave him.

Aelin sat up straighter at the sound of three raps on their front door. While Rowan used to just swing the door open himself, he now knew better. Aelin threw him an apologetic smile from the couch, her eyes trailing over the tightly sewn stitches above his eyebrow. They somehow made him look even more handsome.

“You’re late,” Rhoe said, looking expectantly at the white paper bags in Rowan’s hands.

“Sorry, sir,” Rowan’s eyes were tired. It’d been a long week. “I had an extra delivery this morning and…”

“No excuses,” Rhoe snapped, causing Rowan to nod nervously as he laid out the food on the coffee table for Aelin. Her eyes lit up at the feast in front of her. As part of his punishment for his “reckless driving,” Maeve had him doing breakfast deliveries before school all week, which ended in something special for Aelin.

She felt somewhat guilty that she was benefiting so much from Rowan’s accident, since she was a hundred percent positive that it was her own comment that had caused Rowan to become distracted and not see the car stopped at the red light in front of him. But, as she smelled the chocolate stuffed french toast, she couldn’t resist smiling.

She also wasn’t complaining that in her dad’s overprotectiveness, he’d assigned Aelin-watching duties to Rowan for his late-night shifts.

“I don’t need a babysitter!” Aelin had scoffed, while her heart pounded with glee at the notion of extra time with Rowan.

“What if you need something from the top shelf and fall and sprain your other wrist?” Rhoe had argued.

Rowan was more than happy to agree to Rhoe’s terms, immediately clucking and fretting over the couch-bound Aelin like an overbearing mother hen. It should have annoyed her to no end, but she was secretly enjoying every single second of his fussing.

“I’m working a double,” Rhoe said with narrowed eyes at Rowan, who nodded succinctly. “I’ll be home just after midnight.

Rowan cleared his throat nervously, and Aelin paused, fork midway to her mouth to gape at her friend. “Sir?”

Rhoe’s eyes narrowed warily. “Yes?”

Rowan ran his hand through his hair, tugging at the ends slightly. “I, uh, just wanted to ask you if you wanted me to come here tomorrow?” Rhoe frowned, his lips turning down at the question. “It’s just that tomorrow is prom, and if you want me to come here, I totally will. But I should probably tell Lyria today.”

Aelin felt her stomach clench uncomfortably at the mention of the L-word. She’d been so busy enjoying the extra attention from Rowan all week that she’d forgotten about prom. About the circumstances that led to this whole ordeal. Maybe her dad would tell Rowan he couldn’t go. She felt guilty about even thinking it, but she couldn’t help but hope it. Even just the slightest bit.

Rhoe rolled his bright blue eyes. “Don’t be stupid, boy.” Rowan flinched slightly at the way Rhoe addressed him. Seemed he clocked losing name privileges too. “You’ll take that girl to prom. You made a commitment, and I would hate to think you’re the type of person who doesn’t follow through on promises.”

“Yes, sir.” Rowan’s eyes flicked to Aelin, who was still holding her breath in anticipation. “I can still bring breakfast in the morning, if you want…”

Rhoe clapped Rowan’s shoulder just a smidge too hard as he smiled. “Nope. I took tomorrow off. You have fun at prom.”

Aelin exhaled as her dad finally left and Rowan slumped down onto the couch next to Aelin as she poured the extra side of chocolate onto her French toast and dug in.

“Your dad is fucking terrifying,” he said with a shake of his head.

“He can carry over a hundred pounds up as many flights of stairs, Ro. You should be terrified of him,” Aelin laughed through her sweet chocolatey bite. “He can definitely take your scrawny ass.”

Rowan’s mouth popped open. “My ass is not scrawny!”

Aelin poked his thigh with her toe. “I’ll believe that when I see it. Stand up, so I can take a better look.” She winked as Rowan shoved her foot away from him.

“Aelin…” Rowan’s cheeks flushed pink as Aelin wiggled her eyebrows. He bit his lip, tugging at the skin there, looking annoyed.

“What?” she asked, wishing so badly that she could jump into his head and hear what he was thinking.

“I have to get up to get you a napkin,” he said, looking at the chocolate that had splattered onto the table, “ And I know as soon as I stand up you’re going to stare at my ass,” he grumbled, and Aelin let out a loud cackle.

“I would never,” she said through her laughter.

“You’re such a liar,” he said, poking her shin.

He was right. As soon as he pushed himself off the couch, Aelin’s head snapped in his direction, but he spun around to walk backwards so she couldn’t get a good look.

“Ha!” he said, a victorious smile appearing across his face.

Aelin rolled her eyes. “Come on, Ro,” she pouted. “I’m injured. The least you could do is let me get a good look.”

“I hate you,” he chuckled, his cheeks now a deep red as he continued to trail backwards into the kitchen.

“You know what they say whenever you walk by,” she said through her giggles. “There goes Orynth’s ass. Everyone gets a piece.”

He flicked her off as he grabbed a handful of napkins with his other hands. “Please,” he scoffed. “I know according to your dad I’m evil now, and all that jazz, but I have standards. This ass is for my eyes only.”

Aelin cackled. “I’m now just picturing you staring at your own ass in the mirror, being like… damn, that’s a good ass.”

“I don’t have a full-length mirror for nothing,” he said with a wink, leaning over the coffee table to clean up the chocolate splatter.

Aelin couldn’t resist leaning back and peering behind him, trying to get a better look. She sighed happily.

“Ace!” he yelped, standing up straight and spinning around again, covering his rear with his hands. Aelin was laughing so hard that her stomach was starting to hurt. “I’m telling your dad that you’re the evil one.” He tried to say seriously, but soon enough Rowan was joining in the laughter, tears rolling down both their cheeks.

As he smiled at her widely, helping her from the couch, that sudden pang of desire sprang up in Aelin again. She’d been able to control it for the most part, and neither of them had mentioned the conversation that had caused the crash in the first place. She wasn’t sure she could even imagine how the rest of that discussion would go. But she was glad to put it to the backburner for a tiny bit. At least until she felt more comfortable with it again. That hadn’t deterred Lysandra from texting constantly and asking when Aelin would like her first lesson. Luckily, Aelin was able to stave her off for a little while longer – at least until her wrist completely healed.

Rowan slung Aelin’s backpack over his shoulder, carrying her books as they walked to school, enjoying the balmy morning.

Once they arrived, Rowan led them to his locker instead of hers, and Aelin frowned. “Ro, I have to put my books in my locker.”

He shook his head. “We have world history first. I’ll just put them here, and we’ll come back together after.” He looked as his watch. “We walked too slow.”

“Sorry my leg span isn’t four thousand feet,” Aelin said, laughing at her best friend. He complained that she walked too slowly, but really he was just too tall for his own good. He didn’t realize how fast he got places simply by having longer legs.

Aelin clearly hadn’t looked at Rowan’s locker in some time, though, because she was shocked by the decorations on the inside of the door. It was dotted with photographs of their group of friends through the year – but, Aelin noted she made a prominent appearance in the center of the door, in a picture of just her and Rowan. It was from Yulemas break. Aelin’s favorite holiday; but she’d never seen this photo before. It must have been taken at the tail end of Maeve’s Yulemas party, when Aelin had fallen asleep after too many sweets and rum-laced eggnog. In the photo, Aelin’s head rested carefully on Rowan’s shoulder, her eyes closed and face relaxed in slumber as Rowan smiled softly at whoever was behind the camera.

“What are you smiling at?” he asked, and Aelin shook her head.

“I like your pictures.”

“Oh,” he said, returning her smile. “Yeah, Aunt Maeve printed a bunch out for me.”

“Mr. Whitethorn, Ms. Galathynius,” Principal Havilliard bellowed at the other end of the hallway. “You’re late. Again.” Aelin and Rowan sighed simultaneously. “Your second infraction this week,” he continued. “Don’t make it a third, or I’ll see you both in detention next week.”

Aelin wanted to tell Principal Havilliard off. It wasn’t her or Rowan’s fault for being late, exactly. They both had single working parents, and with Rowan’s car in the shop for the next few weeks, they had to walk over two miles to make it there. She was gearing up to say something snappy back, when Rowan dragged her down the hall, away from the offending school administrator.

“Not worth it, Ace,” he mumbled.

They managed to make it through the rest of the day with no other incidents, unless Aelin counted getting a C on her Ancient Languages oral exam an incident – which she didn’t.

“So, RoRo, you excited for prom?” Wes asked Rowan from the driver’s seat. Technically, Aelin wasn’t supposed to be driving with any of her friends for the rest of the year, but her dad was at work. And she couldn’t bring herself to walk another two miles home.

Lysandra’s eyes met Aelin’s in the backseat of the car, and Aelin purposefully looked out the window to avoid her face doing anything she couldn’t control.

“Uh, yeah?” Rowan asked. “I guess.”

“Dude,” Wesley laughed. “You’re going to prom with a cheerleader, who’s been all over you for months, and you guess you’re excited?” Next to her, Rowan shrugged silently. But Wesley was only spurred on by Rowan’s lack of enthusiasm. “Should we pick up some condoms for you on the way home, or do you have some?” Wesley asked, and Rowan inhaled so sharply he started coughing. “What?” Wesley asked, looking at his girlfriend, confused, and rubbing his elbow where Lysandra must have pinched him. “I’m just saying. I heard it’s tradition to get a hotel room after prom…”

“Rowan would never be so cliché,” Lysandra interjected, her bright eyes flashing to check on Aelin in the mirror, but Aelin refused to look anywhere but out at the trees passing by out the car window as she steadied her breath. “Right?”

“Right,” Rowan repeated quietly.

“Doesn’t hurt to have some on hand,” Wesley said. “OW, what the fuck, Lys?” he yelped.

“You’re such an idiot,” Lysandra mumbled, just barely audible over her exasperated sigh.

“I’m good,” Rowan spoke up, clipped.

Aelin couldn’t control herself as she looked over her shoulder and took in her best friend’s paled face, staring at the roof of Wesley’s old sedan.

“You are?” she asked, hoping her voice didn’t sound too high.

“Yup,” Rowan replied, still refusing to look down at her.

“Smart boy,” Wesley laughed.

Lysandra’s eyes flicked to Aelin again, filled with worry, and Aelin shook her head slightly.

But Wesley raised a fair point that Aelin hadn’t even thought about during her busy week. She’d been so worried about Rowan and Lyria being at a dance together, arms wrapped around each other intimately, that she hadn’t even considered the implications of what would happen after prom?

She couldn’t believe how stupid she’d been.

Despite looking forward to their late night “babysitting” all day, Aelin’s mood was completely soured by the conversation in the car.

She overcooked their pasta, couldn’t settle on anything to watch, and gave terse replies to every question Rowan asked.

“Do you want to watch a movie?” he finally asked, after finishing loading the dishwasher, and Aelin grunted a sure. He turned on Clueless, one of Aelin’s favorite movies and relaxed back into the couch.

To his credit, he made it all the way through the movie, which Aelin laughed about 500% less than usual at, until asking Aelin what was wrong. But Aelin wasn’t sure what to say. She couldn’t exactly tell him she was stressed about the prospect of him having sex with Lyria. She didn’t think he’d really do that. He’d said on multiple occasions that he barely knew her. And sex didn’t seem like a thing Rowan would just do with someone he barely knew. But, then, why did Aelin feel a pit of dread sitting deep in her stomach? Nothing about his answers had reassured her. And Rowan was changing. She never thought Rowan would abandon her at a party either, and he did that easily.

“I’m just tired,” she replied, yawning loudly and throwing all her acting skills into her performance. “It’s been a weird week. I think I’m going to head to bed. I’ll see you Sunday, right?”

Rowan crossed his arms as Aelin got up and started heading up the stairs, his bowed lips frowning and pinching his beautiful face.

“I thought we told each other everything,” Rowan said, annoyed. Aelin paused her feet on the stairs, looking over her shoulder at him. He was hunched over and still frowning, angrily glaring at the darkened TV.

Aelin cocked her head to the side, thinking of all the things she’d censored from Rowan in the last few months, and thinking that he’d probably started doing the same.

“I thought so, too.” She paused, looking at the way Rowan tensed at her words. She smiled sadly, and trudged upstairs to bed, not bothering to let him reply again.

~*~

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#rowaelin #high school au #i don't want to wait au #charincharge writes #throne of glass

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dlwritings · 4 years

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Moving Out (and On?) | Tom Holland

masterlist found here

pairing - Tom x reader (ft Niall Horan) word count - 3,618 warnings - language A/N - for the anon who requested x | this edit was fun to make | ya’ll love a secret dating gone wrong fic

summary - You’re sick of being Tom’s secret girlfriend, always coming in second to his career. But you didn’t want your relationship to end. When everything goes up in flames, you turn to your favorite Irishman to give you some support.

It was basically the most cliche issue you could have when secretly dating a celebrity. If the world doesn’t know you exist, interviewers are going to ask about other women. After almost two years of dating Tom Holland, you still weren’t quite used to it. For a while, it was always about Zendaya. Then, it just became any famous girl he was seen with. But Tom wasn’t with any of them. He was with you. And you were getting a little tired of hiding it.

You did your best dealing with it. You loved Tom, and you didn’t want to ruin what you had just because you wanted to go public and he didn’t.

Tom was away on press for The Devil All the Time, and you were missing him a lot. You talked on the phone every night, but it didn’t make you miss him any less. To make up for his absence, you were keeping up with the videos different news outlets were posting from his press tour. You were pumped to see that he had done another Wired autocomplete interview. His previous one had been with Zendaya and Jacob, so you were kind of excited to see him do one alone.

Tom introduced himself, and you couldn’t help but smile at his voice. Once he was handed a board, he was quick to begin. “What is Tom Holland’s,” Tom read, peeling off a strip, “phone number.” He laughed. “Uh, I won’t pick up my phone, but you can try calling my husband, Jake Gyllenhaal at (213) 406-6007.”

You laughed at his joke and continued watching. Some of the questions were interesting (What house is Tom Holland in? got him on a Harry Potter kick), but others just made you laugh some more (Is Tom Holland a dad? was a good one).

“Is Tom Holland,” he read after laughing over the previous question, “dating anyone?”

You took a deep breath and let it out through your nose as Tom was able to maintain his poker face. “Tom Holland is enjoying his 20s right now,” he answered, “and he is very focused on his work. So you could say he is dating his career.”

Your mood shifted significantly after that question, and even though you continued watching the video, you enjoyed it much less. If you were any normal couple, he would’ve been able to say yes. Give the real answer. But this was you and Tom, and apparently the public wasn’t ready for that yet.

Just as you finished the video, as if he knew, Tom called you. You answered and tried to sound cheery. “Hi,” you said. “How’re you doing, Tommy?”

“Tired,” he answered honestly. “S’been a long day.”

“I’m sorry, love,” you said. Tom was quiet for a moment.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“What?” you said. “Nothing. What’re you talking about?”

“You sound upset,” he said.

“I’m not,” you said.

“What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” you said again. “I’m just tired, too.”

“Why’re you tired?”

“Can’t I just be tired?”

“You’re not usually tired.”

“Well today I am.”

“You’re lying.”

“Why do you think I’m lying?”

“Because I know you.”

“It’s fine, Tom.”

“(Y/N), just talk to me. I hate knowing you’re upset-”

“I’m not upset!” you shouted. You took a deep breath and sighed. “I just miss you. That’s all.”

He sighed as well. “I miss you too.”

“I was watching some of your interviews,” you told him.

“Yeah?” he said, his tone lightening up a little. “Which ones?”

“I just finished your Wired autocomplete,” you said.

“That’s always a fun one,” he said. “That board though-” He made a sound like he shivered. “-like a nail on chalkboard to me.”

You laughed dryly. “I know.” Tom was quiet for a moment.

“Can you talk to me?” he asked. You could tell he was hesitant, like he didn’t want to upset you any more than he already had. “There’s something else going on. I can tell.” You didn’t want to fight with him, so you decided to tell him the truth.

“I don’t want to hide our relationship anymore,” you said. “I’m tired.”

“(Y/N),” he said with a sigh. “We’ve talked about this.”

“And you tell me the same thing over and over again,” you said. “That you’re just not ready and that you don’t think I can handle it. I can handle it, Tom.”

“We’re not having this talk again.”

“Yes we are!” you said.

“(Y/N)-”

“In the interview, you said you’re dating your career,” you told him. “And you know what? That’s what it feels like sometimes! I feel like I’m falling to the backburner, because if I’m a secret, I don’t affect your career, and if it’s not about your career, then it doesn’t matter. Not to you. Not right now. You feel like a different person right now, like you’re living and breathing your work.”

“What, so you want me to stop?”

“Of course not,” you said. “Don’t be stupid. I just want you to be proud that we’re in this relationship. To value me as much as you value work.”

“I can’t just put down what I’m working on to make you feel important,” he said.

“That’s not what I’m asking you to do!”

“I’m not going to keep having this conversation with you,” he said. “This isn’t the first time you’ve brought this up, that I don’t care about you or this relationship or whatever. Frankly, (Y/N), I can’t handle this right now. Every time you bring it up it just raises my stress level. I can’t afford to be stressed right now.”

“So what does that mean?”

“It means if you really feel this way, then I’m done.”

“You’re done,” you repeated.

“Yeah,” he said. “I can’t keep babying you so you can feel secure in this relationship. I’m done.”

“Tom-”

The dial tone on the other end cut you off, and you felt tears come to your eyes. This hadn’t been your intention. You just wanted to have a conversation, and hopefully come to a better conclusion than you had every other time you brought it up. Maybe it was your fault. Maybe you should’ve just let it all be. Maybe you shouldn’t have mentioned it over the phone when he was busy with press. Maybe you had just lost the love of your life because of one rash decision.

You were quite young still. 21 wasn’t old. You still had your whole life ahead of you. But you were certain you and Tom were going to live happily ever after. So what were you supposed to do now?

You did the only thing you could think to do: call Niall.

Tom had gone golfing with Niall Horan a couple of times, and he would invite the Irishman over for dinner afterwards. You had been hanging out at Tom’s flat the first time he brought Niall over, and you were shocked when he walked through the door. You had always been a big fan of One Direction, and you were obsessed with Niall’s solo work. Luckily, after dating Tom for so long, you were a lot better at talking to famous people. Plus, Niall was crazy nice, and the two of you clicked instantly. After that, you considered him a good friend. A best friend actually.

So you gave him a call.

“‘Ello!” he said cheerily. “How’s it going?”

“Hey, Ni,” you said, your voice cracking. “You got a minute?”

“Always got a minute for you,” he said. “What’s wrong?” You opened your mouth only to close it again once you could tell you were about to break down into sobs. You sniffed a few times and finally composed yourself.

“Tom broke up with me,” you whispered.

“Ah, shit,” he said. You could hear him moving around a bit on his end. “You want me to come over?”

“Do you mind?” you asked, looking over at the clock. It was already 10:30.

“Course not,” he said. “I’ll be over in a bit.”

“I’ll leave it unlocked,” you said.

Niall was over in a few minutes, ready to lend a shoulder to cry on and a listening ear. “What happened?” he asked as you cuddled up to him on the couch.

“I just-” You were sniffing, practically blubbering. “I told him I was sick of, of keeping our relationship a secret. And that I didn’t want to keep, keep living in the shadows. He got mad, and, and he told me that he didn’t want to do it anymore.”

“Do what?”

“Have the same conversation we’ve been having,” you explained. “I bring it up all the time. I just want him to, to-” You cut yourself with a sigh. “I don’t know, Niall. I just felt like I was second best to all the work he’s been doing. And I’m not trying to sound unsupportive, but-”

“You don’t sound unsupportive,” he said. “Sounds like you want to be in a relationship that makes you happy, and Tom wasn’t doing that.”

“Most of the time he was,” you said. “But you know how he gets when he’s got a new role. It, it’s like it consumes him.” Niall just nodded and massaged the top of your head with his fingers.

“Maybe it’ll all work out,” he tried to offer. “Maybe it was just a fight.”

“We don’t ever fight like that,” you told him. “I try to be optimistic, but this is just-” You swallowed back more tears and shook your head. “This felt final.” Niall sighed and placed a kiss to the top of your head.

“You know I’m here for you,” he said. “However and whenever you need me.”

“I know,” you told him, putting your arm around his stomach to hold him closer. “Thank you.”

You spent every day with Niall for the next two months. He helped you move out from the flat you shared with Tom and let you stay with him until you could get back on your feet. You didn’t hear from Tom once. Niall was the perfect friend. He did everything he could to boost your spirits, constantly getting you ice cream or takeaway, and forcing you everyday to get out of bed and take a shower. He knew you well. Knew you’d mope and stop taking care of yourself if he let you.

After two or so weeks went by, you forced yourself to put on a brave face. You didn’t want Niall to have to keep babying you. Tom wasn’t coming back, and there was nothing you could do about it. He hadn’t reached out to you once, and his Instagram stories were proof he was doing just fine. You were able to convince Niall you were okay with your fake laughs and pretty smiles.

Or so you thought.

Niall wasn’t dumb. Everyday, he saw you staring blankly at your black phone screen like you were waiting for it to light up with a call or text from Tom. He heard you crying in your room most nights, and he saw the redness rimming in your eyes every morning. He wasn’t sure you were even sleeping. But what was he supposed to do? He couldn’t reach out to Tom. He couldn’t help you if you didn’t want it. So he gave you space and let you recover however you needed to.

At the two month mark, Niall took you out for breakfast at your favorite cafe. You agreed eagerly, especially when he said he’d pay. In no world would you turn down a free breakfast.

Across town, Tom’s flight had just landed. He pulled out his phone and decided to scroll through some social media before Harrison picked him up. When he opened Instagram, he clicked through the stories of people he was following. He clicked through them absentmindedly, but his thumb froze when he saw a picture of you. You had your hands wrapped around a coffee cup and a huge smile on your face. Instantly, his heart dropped. Had you really moved on so soon? To Niall? He thought back to that day two months ago. The day he broke up with you. The worst day of his life.

“So what does that mean?” you asked him.

“It means if you really feel this way, then I’m done,” he said.

“You’re done,” you repeated.

“Yeah,” he said. “I can’t keep babying you so you can feel secure in this relationship. I’m done.”

“Tom-”

He hung up before you could finish your sentence and threw his phone against the wall. His case would protect it, he knew. He put his forehead in his hands and clenched his jaw. “Fuck!” he shouted. He meant what he said. He was sick of having the same conversation over and over again. He wasn’t ready to go public. End of story. Why did you keep having to push it? He just couldn’t handle it anymore. It was raising his stress level, and after filming his most recent movies, he couldn’t afford to be any more stressed than he already was.

Now, two months later, he was questioning everything. Had he overreacted? Deep down, he really thought you’d end up getting back together. That this was just a fight, and that you’d reach out to him. When months went by and you didn’t, he knew he had really fucked up. Maybe it was his place to reach out, but at this point, he felt like he didn’t have the right. You had already moved on. How could he just push his way into your life again?

But he had to. He had to talk to you. To say he was sorry. To get on his knees and beg to have you back, if it came to that. So, he made a snap decision. When Harrison brought him home, he asked if Tom wanted to hang out, but the ladder said no. He got in his car and headed off to Niall’s house.

You and Niall were sitting on the couch watching Harry Potter when there was a knock at the front door. You groaned and reached for the remote, but Niall just laughed. “Don’t pause it,” he said. “I’ll go check.”

“You’re going to miss Sirius’ death,” you said with a pout.

“Nothing I haven’t seen before,” he said back. You scoffed and nodded, adjusting the blanket you were using and turning back to the TV. You couldn’t hear who was at the door, but you could make out the muffled sounds of Niall speaking with someone.

When Niall opened the door, the last person he expected to see was Tom. Niall turned to look over his shoulder and make sure you hadn’t crept down the hall, and when he saw it was clear, he turned to his friend. “Hey,” he said awkwardly.

“Hey,” Tom said back, just as uncomfortable. “Is (Y/N) here?”

“Yeah,” Niall said. “She’s been staying with me since you two-” He cut himself off. Tom hung his head and ran a hand through his hair. “Listen, Tom, I don’t know if she’s ready to see you.”

“Come on, mate,” he said. “I’m begging you. Just let me talk to her.” Niall studied Tom. He could tell he was broken up, and he felt bad for his friend. But he felt bad for you too. He had been with you through all of this, and it hadn’t been a pretty picture. You still weren’t yourself, and he knew seeing Tom again would just bring you back to square one. But maybe you needed this closure. Who was he to stand in the way of that?

So he stepped to the side and let Tom in.

You heard footsteps approaching, so you turned to see who had stopped by. When you saw Tom, you sat up a little straighter. “What are you doing here?” you asked. Niall shoved his hands in his pockets and cleared his throat awkwardly. You shot him a glare.

“I’ll be in my room,” he said. Tom nodded, and Niall left you alone. You pulled the blanket a little closer to you like it could be a barrier between the two of you. Tom noticed and took a step closer to the couch so he could sit on the opposite end.

“What are you doing here?” you asked again.

“I just want to talk to you,” he said.

“About what?” you asked.

He hesitated. “You been living here long?”

“Since you broke up with me, yeah,” you said. “I needed a place to go.”

“So you moved on that quick?” he asked, his voice small. You raised your eyebrows.

“What does that mean?” you asked.

“I break up with you, and the next day you’re with Niall?”

“I’m not with Niall,” you snapped, realizing what he was implying. “I needed a home, Tom! You broke up with me! I had to move out! I couldn’t move back home, I couldn’t afford a place by myself! Niall was here for me!” Quickly, you added, “And even if I was with him, what right do you have to be upset about that? You broke up with me! At least Niall isn’t scared of posting pictures of me! Of people knowing who I am. You know how refreshing that is? I’ve been hidden for two years. Going out in public with Niall is like-” You let out a dry laugh. “It was like a breath of fresh air.”

“Well, then be with Niall!” Tom shouted. He was getting frustrated, but more with himself than with you. He deserved everything you were saying, and it just made him mad at himself.

“I don’t want to be with Niall!” you shouted back. “I don’t love Niall! I love you! But you didn’t want to make it work!”

“I never said that!” Tom said.

“You didn’t want to take the next step!” you said. “You, you keep hiding me, Tom! Why are you so ashamed of me?” Tom didn’t answer for a moment, too taken aback by your words.

“Is that what you think?” he said. “That I’m ashamed of you?”

“I don’t understand why else you would hide me like you had for two years,” you said.

He started stuttering through his response. “(Y/N), I’ve, I’m, it’s not that at all.” You didn’t say anything, and he sighed. “I’m scared of what could go wrong.” You furrowed your eyebrows and shook your head.

“I don’t understand,” you said.

“It’s easy right now, you know?” he said. “It’s easy, and it’s safe, and there’s no chance of someone hurting you or you getting, getting too overwhelmed by everything.” It still wasn’t clicking to you.

“I don’t understand,” you said. “So, so you-” You sighed and pressed your fingers to your temples. “Why didn’t you just talk to me about it? Instead of shutting me down every time I brought it up?”

“I don’t know,” he muttered. “I just wasn’t ready to talk about it.”

“Jesus, Tom,” you said, feeling a lump rise in your throat. “You’re ridiculous.”

“I’m sorry,” he said softly. “If I could take it all back, I would.” You looked at him just as he lifted his head to look at you. His eyes were brimmed with tears, and you knew yours were too.

“I won’t be in the shadows anymore,” you told him. “I won’t.”

“I know,” he said. “I swear, you won’t be anymore. I’ll tell everyone. I’ll shout it from the rooftops, whatever you want.” You couldn’t help but giggle a bit, which made Tom’s face light up. “Move back in with me?” he asked. Your smile dropped a fraction, and you looked down at your hands.

“Can I stay here a while longer?” you said. “If it’s okay with Niall? I just-” You sighed. “I just want to take this slow moving forward. I need time to, to get back to where we were. I still love you,” you added, “but I just-” You took a shaky breath. “I’m not there yet.” Tom nodded in understanding.

“Okay,” he said. “Whatever you need. Just-” He moved a little closer to you and stroked your cheek with the back of his hand. “-know that I love you so much, and however you want to go public, I’m game.” You nodded, and Tom smiled and leaned forward, hoping you’d meet him halfway for a kiss. You did. He smiled against your lips and put his hand on the back of your head, keeping you close to him.

You pulled away from each other when you heard a dramatic clearing of the throat. You turned your head and saw Niall leaning against the doorframe with his arms across his chest. “I see you lovebirds patched things up,” he said. You and Tom both chuckled, and Tom hung his head as the tips of his ears turned pink.

“Is it okay if I stay a little longer?” you asked Niall.

He nodded without hesitation. “Stay as long as you need.” He paused. “You guys wanna get some food?” Tom looked at you, and you bit your lip and hung your head.

“I think we might head back to my place for a while,” he said. “You know, catch up a little bit.”

“Ah, ah, ah,” he said, covering his ears. “I don’t need to hear anymore. I get the picture.”

You and Tom said goodbye to Niall, and as soon as the door shut, Niall put his hands on his hips and sighed. He thought for a moment and reached into his pocket for his phone, clicking on the first contact name that came to his mind.

“Tommo! You up for some Nandos?”

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

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myhockeyworld87 · 4 years

Text

Bubble Wrapped - Part 6

Word Count: 3,708

POV: Reader

Warnings: Same as always, Language, Smut, NSFW, Please see the note in the Masterlist

Teams: Bruins, Caps, Flyers, Lightning and Pens

Notes: So I decided to concentrate on this story a little more than my other ones, since we are now in the conference finals. So my two other stories will sit on the backburner for a bit. Don’t worry they will be back and I still work on them from time to time. But for now please enoy this one...haha As always feedback is welcome! Happy Reading!

It seemed like every time you saw one of the players in the lobby, you were trying to determine if they were the one that sent you the cryptic text message. Cross-referencing the information that you had on the players didn't help as you didn't have most of their phone numbers in the hotel computer system. Two days later and you were no closer to finding out who sent it then you were the day you got it. "I don't know Car, it's putting me on edge," you told your best friend over coffee out in the courtyard.

"Does it matter? It's not like you've had a horrible time with any of them. Or have you?" Carly's eyes got wide at just the thought.

"Of course, not."

"Well then no harm, no foul right?" She shrugged and took a sip of her drink. "You need to have some fun. You've been so wound tight over this, I doubt you've gotten off in the last forty-eight hours." You literally almost spit your iced coffee out of your mouth. "What? Have you? You haven't told me about anything since the Sid thing, and that was almost three days ago if you consider that was the night before."

"I don't tell you everything you know." You countered once you'd regained your composure.

"Look getting off by your own hand over the phone with Tyler, does not count. And don't try to tell me that didn't happen." Carly tapped the side of her cup waiting for you to answer but then decided to keep going. "I mean he did buy you those shoes, the man had to get something in return. Not to mention, you were flushed when you came back down to the lobby."

"Oh my god, shut up!" Well if she had just experienced what you did, she would've been hot and bothered as well. "And it wasn't my own hand," you hissed back.

"OH! Do tell?"

"What are we telling?" Brayden Point asked as he sat down beside Carly and now it was she who was blushing and not you.

"Just talking about the schedule," you said in hopes to cover.

"Please (Y/N), it's not like Brayden doesn't know about your little sexcapades." The fact that you were trying to think of several ways to murder your best friend with a cup of coffee, should've been evident with the look you gave her. "He was playing strip poker with us," Carly added by way of excuse. "I was just saying she's tense and that she needs to get some."

"Oh if that's all, there are about a dozen guys within earshot willing to help you out with that you know." He said looking around the courtyard to see who was there. "In fact…"

"Don't you dare." Your teeth were clenched as you sternly chided Point. "Just because you two are fucking like rabbits every spare moment doesn't mean that I need to."

"I'm just saying, pick one of these guys and they'll literally be putty in your hands. You don't know how many of them are sexually frustrated." This wasn't a revelation by any means out of Brayden's mouth. You'd seen the looks even from guys that shouldn't be giving them. Why you'd let the text message bother you so much you didn't know, but you needed to get out of this conversation that was for sure.

"Yeah, yeah, I know." You told them both. "You two enjoy your….break. I expect you'll be back working in say…an hour Car?"

Brayden checked his watch then quickly got up, grabbing Carly by the hand. "An hour…yep, I'll have her back by then." The two left and you just sat there chuckling to yourself as you sipped on your iced latte macchiato. Scrolling through your phone, you weren't surprised to get a text message from Tyler. He'd pretty much messaged you all the time and of course, you'd enjoyed another night of fun over FaceTime as well. Which Carly knew nothing about thankfully. You flicked over to messages to see what Tyler had to say today.

Tyler: Hey Babygirl! How's bubble life today?

(Y/N): Just enjoying some sunshine at the moment. How about you?

Tyler: Just missing you. When can we FaceTime again?

(Y/N): Are you missing me or just horny?

Tyler: Can't I just want to talk to you? I miss you.

Why did Tyler have to say things like that? He was a natural flirt but lately, he'd been taking your whole friends with benefits things and pushing it to the border. The only thing you could do is try and guard your heart for he wasn't the relationship type of guy.

(Y/N): You can, I just know you 😉

Tyler: Sometimes I wonder if you do…

(Y/N): What does that mean?

Tyler: ….

Tyler: Nothing…

Tyler: Can we talk soon though?

(Y/N): Yes, you have a game tonight, right?

Tyler: Yes

(Y/N): Well I'll be watching and cheering for you.

Tyler: ❤

(Y/N): I'll call you tomorrow

Tyler: Promise?

(Y/N): Yes ❤

Tyler: Good, miss you 😘

"Boo," you heard from behind you as someone jabbed your ribs. Quickly you closed your phone not knowing who just made you jump out of your seat.

"Tom, you scared the shit out me." Tom Wilson scooted in the seat beside you, even though there were empty ones where you wouldn't be on top of one another.

"I'd say I'm sorry, but um not. You're cute when you're flustered like this."

"I'm not flustered," you insisted even as your heart still wasn't beating properly.

"Mmmhmm, well you were certainly lost in thought. What's so interesting on that phone?" He tried to grab it away from you, but you were faster.

"Business, which you don't need to see."

"Oh, thought you might be reading over a certain text." He had a wicked gleam in his eye and suddenly you knew that he was the one who you'd been wondering about for the last two days.

"And what text would that be? I don't think I've gotten anything in important."

"Aww, come on (Y/N), don't play hard to get. You know I haven't forgotten that you still owe me that kiss?" Wilson nudged you and gave you a little wink.

"And what have you come to collect it now? Out here where everyone can see us? Because I clearly remember you saying something about not wanting to do it with a pair of eyes watching?" You weren't opposed to kissing Tom, in fact, quite the opposite. He was handsome and perfectly chiseled in all the right places. Though you wouldn't mind getting his shirt off of him and checking out his abs. Tyler had the perfect six-pack abs, but you had a feeling Wilson could give him a run for his money.

"I'm not collecting it now, just thought maybe I could set up a little date to collect later tonight?"

"You don't have a game or anything?" You knew he didn't, but you also didn't want to seem overly eager at him coming to your suite.

"Not until Monday, so my night is pretty free."

"I suppose we could work something out." You glanced down at the calendar on your phone, already knowing that you were free. "Anytime after eight should be good." You were actually free before that, but he didn't need to know that.

"Fine, then I'll see you at eight and be prepared for the night of your life."

"Someone's awful confident." You told him as he strolled away.

"With good reason," he mouthed back before heading back inside. God, he could be so cocky at times. You really needed to get back inside and make sure things were running smoothly, now that the bubble had been more open you had not only your teams there but the others as well, as they were allowed to use all the amenities the hotel had to offer which were quite a lot. Walking back inside the hotel, it was hard not to notice there were players everywhere. It occurred to you then, that you had a type, and that type just happened to be every man walking around in your building. Each day it got harder and harder to concentrate on actually working, but that's what you did the rest of the day, finally calling it a night around seven.

You headed up to your suite, grabbed something quick to eat, then waited for Tom to show up. Eight o'clock came and went and still the handsome winger didn't show up. You were beginning to think that Tom just liked to play games and you weren't in the mood for them tonight for, despite your protests, Carly was right; you were in the mood for a little fun. When ten o'clock rolled around you completely gave up on him coming and headed upstairs to get ready for bed. At least Tom's absence let you keep your word to Tyler as you were able to catch his game. Unfortunately, he didn't quite play as well as you knew that he wanted too.

You were just about asleep when you heard a loud knock at the door, so throwing on your robe, you padded down the stairs to answer it. The clock on your phone told you it was just past eleven. When you opened the door and Tom was standing there you weren't really surprised. "I'm sorry but the offer expired about three hours ago." You told him before going to shut the door.

"Babe, don't be like that," he said jamming his foot in the door so that you couldn't close it. "Sorry I'm late but it couldn't be helped."

With a roll of your eyes, you stepped aside to let him in, though you weren't entirely sure if you were letting him stay or not. "You have two minutes before I throw you out of my room."

"Don't be like that. I had to watch film and then the guys got to talking. I couldn't just get up and tell them I was coming up here." He made a move to run his hand down your silk-clad shoulder but you brushed him off. "If I would've done that, you'd have bigger problems then me being late as every freaking player would be at your door."

He had a point, as so far none of your escapades had gotten out, at least to your knowledge. "Do you want a drink?"

"Would love one." He followed you over to the fully stocked bar. Grabbing the bourbon off the shelf, you poured yourself a dram on the rocks, while cocking an eye at him for his choice. "Make it two, though I'd prefer it neat." Sliding the glass over to him, you took a small sip, letting the liquor warm you up, not only to the night air but also to the man in your room. "So, does this mean you aren't mad anymore?"

"I was never mad, Tom. I'm just not a person to be kept waiting. There are plenty of men in this hotel in case you haven't noticed."

"Look I get it, you didn't have to wait for me, but I'm glad you did." You let his hand grab your waist and pull you toward him. It drifted lower to the swell of your ass and suddenly the liquor wasn't the only thing making the room hot. "Do I still get that kissed I'm owed, or are you saving it for someone else?"

You pretended to mull it over in your mind. To say that you hadn't thought about it, since that first night would've been a complete lie. "What do you say we play for it?" This all started with a game of pool; it might as well end there.

"Ok so I win and I still get the kiss." He stated and you nodded your agreement.

"And if I win, I get to choose if you do or don't." If he could play nice then maybe you'd let him have a prize at the end, but if not, you could send him on his way.

The confidence in his gaze wasn't lost on you as he agreed to the terms. You racked up the balls then let him break. As a striped ball went in, he claimed those, leaving you with the solids to clear off the table. When it came time for your first shot, you took the opportunity to stick your ass out just a little more tempting him for making you wait for him. His hand went to caress the silk, yet you straightened. "Tsk, tsk, you haven't won yet," you chided him then bent back down to take your shot, which went in. You sunk the next two as well and you could see that he'd underestimated you.

"I see how it is," he remarked lining up for his next attempt. "You try to act all cute and innocent when this is really your game and you're making me pay." His ball traveled across the table, going down in the corner pocket. The two of you were pretty evenly matched in this game it would come down to the end to see who would be crowned the victor. Though until that time, you took a minute to appreciate his fine form. Long lean muscles that stretched across the fabric of his shirt made your mouth water. He bent over the table, just as you did, giving you a nice view of his firm bottom. All in all, Tom Wilson was a perfect specimen of the male form, that was for sure, and as the game went on you wondered if what was underneath his clothing was just as flawless.

When it was finally your turn, you didn't miss the opportunity to turn him on as much as he did you. Your robe, now draped seductively off your shoulder, giving him a chance to ogle over your breasts. As you looked across the table you couldn't help but notice the distinct bulge in his pants and you bit down on your lip as you took the shot. There were a few shots left on the table, as you made your way over to take a sip of your drink, letting your hand ghost along his thigh as you reached over for it. You heard his sharp intake of breath, then felt his hand skim over your hip. "What if I declared you the winner right now?" He asked, his hand now rubbing circles on your skin and you could feel yourself getting damp.

"Hmm," you hummed your response, your body already deciding to give in to him. His hand moved the tie of your belt where you felt him fiddling with the fabric there before he undid the knot. "How about we call it a tie?"

His eyebrows raised at your words and you could tell he was intrigued, but he didn't know if he should proceed or not. "If that means we both win, I'm all for that." You took that last step, so that you were fully between his spread legs on the barstool that he occupied, before leaning down and covering your mouth with his. He abandoned his drink so that his hand could sneak inside your robe and caress the silk chemise you wore. Your tongues tangled with each other as the kiss grew hot and heavy. Tom clearly knew how to kiss, as your brain started to get fuzzy and lose all train of thought. The cue stick landed on the marble floor with a thud and then you heard it roll away as it dropped out of your hands so that you could thread your hands threw his hair. Tom stood then, walking you both backward until you bumped against the pool table. His hands that had been on your hips moments ago, now trailed up your sides to your shoulders where he pushed the sleeves of the robe off and it fell to the ground. Breaking the kiss, his mouth traveled southward, down your neck to your collarbone, where he sucked tenderly at the skin there. Your head fell back giving him great access, as you moaned out in pleasure. This is exactly what you wanted and needed, to feel someone's lips against your skin. Why you'd denied yourself this pleasure over the last couple days you didn't know.

The strap of your left chemise fell off, exposing your breast yet still covering the nipple. Tom's hand came up to cup it then, his lips ghosting ever so softly, till he revealed the peak and then took it inside his mouth. He tweaked and nibbled there, then lifted you up on the table, scrunching your chemise up at the same time. He tugged you close to the edge, spreading your legs before dropping down to his knees. "No panties?" He questioned and you simply shrugged. It wasn't like you expected him to come knocking at your door or anyone for that matter. It was just a preference you had when you slept. He licked between your folds then, tasting your essence before slipping a finger inside you. You wanted more of his tongue for that one little lick just wasn't enough but he didn't give it to you. Instead, his finger worked in and out of you. It was nice but it would never be enough to get you off.

When he added a second you moaned your approval hoping for more, but still, it was lackluster. He kissed your inner thigh, your stomach, everywhere but your clit, which was seeking attention. "More," you urged and he took that as a cue to thrust his fingers in and out of you faster. It wasn't enough yet you could see the eagerness in his eyes. How could someone so skilled with kissing not use those lips to pleasure your pussy. Skating your hand down your body, you found your clit and started to rub, but he nudged your fingers aside. You whimpered and he took that as a good sign as his fingers started to slow. The man obviously wasn't used to taking cues from women for you felt his fingers slide out of you thinking you'd cum. Short of coming out and telling him to suck on your clit, which you were pretty close to doing, you were sure you weren't going to get off. You pushed yourself up to a sitting position, backing him off at the same time. Maybe he was better with his dick then he was his mouth.

You switched positions, him now leaning against the pool table and you kneeling in front of him. You reached up and yanked his bottoms down, setting his cock free. It was average in size and you brought it to your lips, where you dropped little kisses all around the head and shaft, before opening your mouth and sucking it inside. Tom's hands pulled your hair back so he could see you sucking on his cock. "So pretty," he murmured as you swallowed most of him in your mouth. As you took him out, you pressed your tongue along the underside of his dick. It was a move that drove him wild as the hand that was in your hair now urged you back onto his member. You hollowed out your cheeks sucking more and more of him inside, as his hips started to flex into you. He held your head still as he fucked your face. When he hit the back of your throat you gagged and coughed. This only spurred him on more as once again he was thrusting into your mouth. Your hands snuck down to squeeze his balls. It sent Tom over the edge, and you felt his hot cum hit the back of your throat. You swallowed the sticky substance down, though if given a choice you would've rather not. "That was so fuck hot," Tom said as he helped you to your feet. "Your mouth is amazing." You would've like to return the compliment but it wasn't possible. There was always hope that the sex would be better, well that was until, he said, "You wore me out, woman. I'm exhausted." Really? So, he gets to cum and you don't. Where was the fairness in that? He reached for his shorts and pulled them back on. So that was that then.

You grabbed your robe off the floor and put it on, then walked him to the door. No reason for him to stick around when you needed to head back upstairs and get yourself off. "Well…" you started and weren't really sure what else to say. "It's been…interesting." That was at least one way to put your evening with Tom.

"Yeah, we'll have to do it again sometime." He said then kissed you. All you could think of was, why couldn't he have used those techniques on your pussy.

Once the two of you broke apart, you bid him goodnight shutting the door behind. Was it bad to hope that the Capitals got knocked out in the first round? You supposed as long as you kept that thought to yourself it wasn't. By the time you dragged yourself upstairs you ended up just falling asleep, you already knew that tomorrow you were going to be having more fun with Tyler on the phone and well even though it was a vibrator, it was a lot more fun than anything you'd experienced with Tom that night.

Morning came and you went about your normal routine. Again, the hotel was crowded as it seemed more players from the other hotel were coming over. There was a ton of interaction between all the guys and for the most part it seemed friendly. You were just about to grab a quick bite for dinner when Logan came up and grabbed you. "There's a fight in the lobby. You've gotta come quick." With all of his false alarms recently, you were reluctant to believe him, but since you were only a room away you hurriedly followed him to the lobby. Unfortunately for you, Logan had been telling the truth as you saw fists start to fly.

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enchanted-lightning-aes · 3 years

Text

In the Afternoon Hour

[ID: Minimalist photo with autumn leaves above with the Lora orange text that reads “Enchant Presents: WIP #3 Tale” below /finish ID]

A/N: I kinda had to write this short to get to know my latest WIP and characters more. So, here’s a nice story with banter, hints of poly and light angst. If somehow people become interested in this, tell me you want to be on the tag-list or something. IDK where this story’s going except yeah. . .

Here’s the first two stories of this posted here, x, x.

Note: this WIP is in the backburner atm.

Word Count: 1642

TW: food

***

Butterflies flap their colorful wings as they glide across the flowerbeds, flying along the current of the brisk wind. The squirrels chirps, running down the trees in a race for more food. The bright light of the sun bursts through the large clouds, letting most of the land be covered in sunshine. A chestnut horse runs across the meadow on it's path towards the obstacles.

On the stables, a young woman, with dark brown skin and black hair, climbs up the grey horse. Another woman of the same age watches with a languid interest. She's picking the berries out of the bowl, removing the excessive stems.

"Are you sure, you want to do this?" Aasiya asks, her voice muffled by her chewing. "You could read another book again, you know? Horse riding's far too tedious to spend time in the morning."

"And let my older sister best me again? Ha, I think not," Zonja replies, reaching for the reins. "I'm not gallant rider, but I studied enough about horse riding to understand the process. All I have to do is let the horse take the lead while trying to guide it."

"No, you have to work with the horse." Aasiya tilts her head to the side.

Zonja raises her brows. "Oh, really? How would you know that?"

Aasiya scoffs, swallowing the berry.

"Please, I spent enough time watching your brother trying to ride horses."

"Then trust me, when I tell you I have this under my control."

"Alright. I'm not going to be very happy, if you don't make it back in one piece."

Zonja huffs out dry laughter.

"We'll see about that."

When Zonja orders the horse to ride, they set out to the glades of the grassy fields. Aasiya pulls her mouth down then resumes to her snack. They're racing down the path leading to the stacks of hay. Oh dear. Even the prince tried avoiding running into any of them. The horse gallops on the stack of hay ahead as Zonja yelps. Aasiya winces. The Princess is not usually fond of riding horses, unless she wanted to try something different.

And today's that day to try something different.

After a round of jumping and crying out, Zonja returned to the stables. She pants, dropping the reins of the horse then wipes the sweat from her forehead.

Aasiya sets down the basket of books on the marble railing, waiting for her arrival. It's a good morning for riding. The clear weather provides a magnificent view for those, who wish to travel throughout the nation.

Few strands of Zonja's wavy dark curls falls out of her tied bun. She removes the helmet than fixes her hair once more. Aasiya wishes she could reach for them with her fingers and test it's softness. Whenever Zonja's hair was loose and tumbling down her shoulders, she often swoons.

Perhaps, it's an unladylike reaction but she can't contain it. Not when Zonja's true beauty is reflected in her actions and words.

Zonja dismounts from her horse, getting on the ground with a swift landing on her feet. She carries a grace that Aasiya rarely sees in the royal guests visiting the kingdom.

Being a lady-in-waiting and kitchen girl did wonders for her. Aasiya gets the cupcakes from the basket and takes off the wrapper.

As Zonja walks over to her, she turns her head from side to side.

"Where did everyone else go? Are we only the people here?" Zonja asks, sounding puzzled.

Aasiya shrugs, licking the cream off the cupcake, raising her brows at the princess. Zonja huffs a chuckle, shaking her head. It picks up her heart rate, which she wishes she can ignore and pretend it's not there.

What good will it do if she keeps feeling like this? And around the princess, it's pure non-sense because she didn't have the opportunity to ask for her hand. Besides, the princess is arranged to get married with the prince of the neighboring kingdom. It's unwise to court her now or else she'll be damned in the process.

"Good afternoon, your Highness and fair lady."

The two of them turn around to the quiet voice behind them. A young man, one with light brown skin and long black hair reaching his shoulders, bows to them. He's in a pale green embroidered tunic with riding boots.

Aasiya's stomach lurches then she forces herself to remain still.

It's Prince Lerenzo, the brother of Zonja's suitor. To be honest, she didn't understand how she's not immune to his worldly charms. While he's a prince with a spotless reputation, she still needs to maintain caution around him.

"A great morning to you too, your Highness," Aasiya replies, curtseying to him. "Although, you look rather dashing a little too early for the day. Not that I have a problem with it, of course."

The prince tucks his dark locks behind his ear and makes a silvery chuckle.

Zonja pulls a face. "Very funny, Aasiya. Ignore her, she's only being silly."

"Apologies accepted, Princess Zonja," the prince replies with all grace. He quirks a brow at her before flicking his attention back to the princess. "I'm rather not used to receiving compliments after presenting myself to the public. I'd say the gown does wonders for you, Lady Aasiya."

"Aww, pleasure's all mine." Aasiya bestows her best smile. She catches Zonja staring at her mouth until she looks back at the prince once more.

Something's lingering in the air and she can't name it. Something stiff and quiet and close to being dreadful. She doesn't understand it, she doesn't want to try either.

Oh, to be in the company of two royals would make anyone seethe with envy. Aasiya definitely didn't want to be cause for their anger. Especially since she's a girl from the countryside of the nation.

Her attention returns to the prince as he clears his throat.

"Care to join me for a cup of tea?" The prince asks, raising his brows. "I would be honored to have your company, your Highness. As well as the Lady Aasiya."

"Of course, Prince Lerenzo!" Aasiya jumps to her feet. "I'd be delighted to share some food during a cup of tea with you!"

The prince's lips curves into an inviting smile.

Something in that smile makes her chest leap with joy. How can not just one but two smiles make her feel like that? Things similar to that remain foreign to her.

"I suppose, I shall take a break after the brisk exercise," Zonja murmurs, bowing her head.

Aasiya and Zonja follows the prince as he leads them to the pavilion, where a table's set with tea and plates of desserts. Aasiya presses her stomach at the presence of pie. Hmm, someone must have prepared this ahead of lunch. While she spends so much of her time in the castle kitchen, she doesn't get the chance to eat as much as she wanted to. Only in Zonja's company, she's offered to eat in the dinner and breakfast. Other than that, she eats after her duties of the day were over.

The prince pulls two chairs back, letting them take a seat. He pours tea on the empty teacups, the minty scent wafting in the air. He takes a seat, briefly eying Zonja.

She remembers the prince staring at Zonja during the ball, where they invited royals from all over the world. Before they were properly introduced, she didn't know he's the cousin of Prince Mauro. They're displayed differences that surprised her. Unlike Prince Mauro who preferred the company of the general, Prince Lerenzo opts to be around the other members of the royal family. Especially with Zonja. She didn't know why, however, it's none of her concern.

Zonja's more than capable of taking care of herself.

With her graceful fingers, Zonja reaches for the teacup and stirs it with a spoon.

The prince picks up a teacup. "I take it your riding exercise went well?"

"No, it did not," Zonja admits with a tight grimace. "The horse didn't maintain it's speed, almost hurtling me on the grass! Can you believe that? If I had known it wasn't going to be easy to ride a horse, the first time."

"Oh, that's awful."

"Tell me about it. And to think, I'd squash my sister's record."

With a snort, Aasiya takes a sip of her tea. Usually, she's not very quiet and does participate in a conversation. However, now that's not the case. She's too busy, distracted by the taste of the tea and the warmth of the air surrounding them.

"The next time, you try to ride

Zonja nods curtly, focusing on her tea. The beam of sunlight shining on her dark eyes.

Now this is perfect, Aasiya thinks. The sky is golden like the ocean in the afternoon light and they were sharing a decent cup of tea. She revels in the domesticity of it all, wondering how she got to be here with the most delightful people she knows.

Aasiya's stomach sinks as a realization hits her. No, this can't happen at all. For her status prevents a future to happen between her, Zonja, and Lerenzo. A mere kitchen girl getting involved with not only one but two royals? It will cause a tizzy in the kingdom for sure. She can't do this to them. For she cares for them deeply in ways they can't know.

Despite that, she'll still steal chances to be with them with each one she gets. After all, she can't let the nation's rules stop her.

While the tea brews in the air, she stays seated with her companions. The glow of the afternoon shines on the other two people on table, smiling as they share an amiable chat about the day. Aasiya's certain to enjoy this moment after storing it in her mind's memories.

***

#writeblr #creative writing #fantasy #original writing #writeblr wip #my writing #my wips #am writing #writing

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tensonline · 4 years

Text

Chapter 2

WE ARE THE LOVESICK GIIIIIIIIIiiiiiIiiiiiiIIIIIIRLSSSSS

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“Wait, so let me get this straight. Do you want to date this guy? Or do you just wanna fuck him?”

“_____, please stop fucking athletes. You have a type and it’s shitty men who have two brain cells.”

“OKAY,” you yelled. “I get it! I like my men that know how to juggle balls and can juggle me! IS THAT CRIME?!”

“No! But what about some cute English major? Or a sociology one? You like sociology!” Jisoo insisted.

“First of all bitch, English majors are pretentious so how dare you,” you snapped, “Have you not seen You? Everyone knows to stay away from them. And sociology majors are only good for arguing on Twitter. They suck at sex.”

“Um fuck you? I’m a sociology major and I--” Jennie started

You interrupted her, “I do not need to know about you and Jisoo’s sex life. Please. Not all of us like romantic candlelit sex. I want someone to choke me and degrade me! I love being degraded! Have either of you been thrown around? Or tried orgasm denial?”

Jisoo scowled. “No, you freak. Some of us don’t like being rough.”

“Yeah,” Jennie sniffed. “There’s nothing wrong with vanilla sex. So what if I like to have my room smell like A Thousand Wishes and have Alina Baraz playing while I’m fucking? Also, who wants to have their orgasm be denied? Isn’t that, like, the opposite of what someone would want in sex?”

You gaped at her, “Oh my god. I’m going to ignore that last question and focus on what’s more disturbing. Are you serious, bitch? A Thousand Wishes is the scent you pick from Bath and Body Works? There are better ones.”

“Ooo, really? Which ones do you recommend?” Jennie lights up as she asks.

“Okay, you need to try---”

“Oh my god, can we focus?!” Jisoo hisses. She looks between you and her girlfriend and sighs when you both turn to her with incredulous faces.

Of course both of you thought she was crazy for interrupting the conversation.

“Look, _____” Jisoo sighs, “You don’t think this is a bad idea? You work with this guy. What if it makes things awkward?”

“It won’t,” you dismiss while waving a hand around, “He’s chill. I’m chill. We’re both grown and can handle sleeping together while staying… colleagues. Acquaintances. Whatever the hell we are.”

Jisoo and Jennie shared a look. They both knew that once you set your sights on someone, it was only a matter of time until you sunk your claws into them. Their warnings were only going to fly right over your head. Usually, your friends would admire how determined you are when you want to achieve something and wouldn’t let anyone deter you. Any other day they would admire your perseverance.

Today wasn’t that day.

You saw the look that the couple in front of you shared and immediately tensed up.

“Look, I know what you two are thinking,” you say with your brows furrowing, “He seems like just my type. But I’ll be careful. If I feel myself getting too…. too close or feeling like it’s too much I’ll stop.”

Jisoo immediately softened her face and spoke gently. “_____, I’m not trying to control you. Neither is Jennie. We both love you, you know that. You’re like our sister and daughter all in one. We just know of Xuxi’s reputation and want you to tread carefully, okay?”

You looked at her with wide eyes, “What do you mean?”

It wasn’t that they were upset over you sleeping around, far from it actually. You were a big girl who could do whatever and whoever you wanted. Hell, they often played wing woman and set you up with guys they knew you would like.

They were just worried about you. You were the baby of the group with a personality that someone could easily take advantage of. It’s not like you were the type to run at the first sign of romance, in fact, you enjoyed it.

You, whether you admitted it or not, were secretly a hopeless romantic. You were okay with having casual sex, but if it went anything farther then that..

Well.

You fall hard. You loved the idea of love no matter how much of a realist you forced yourself to be. You liked making connections and building relationships with people that made you laugh, it was a part of your charm. You gave away your heart too easily when it came to relationships, and they had been there to pick up the pieces quite a few times. You gave your all to someone and it hurt them seeing someone do wrong by you.

Your friends were only worried about you because they both knew of Huang Xuxi.

And they both knew he was exactly the type of guy who could charm you and would fall for immediately.

Jennie moved to sit by you and cuddled closer, “Look, yeah he’s a nice guy. Everyone knows that. But… he’s just a player. Sure he’s transparent with every girl he sleeps with, but that doesn’t mean he treats girls nicely. And you deserve to be treated nicely. Or I’ll kick his fucking ass and set his car on fire.”

Jennie beamed at you when she finished speaking. You felt your heart warm at the threat. She absolutely would follow through with it and knowing you had a friend who would go that far for you made you feel safe and secure.

“Me too, Jennifer. If I didn’t know you and Jisoo are practically soulmates I would say the same thing. But since you two are basically the last piece of evidence that proves love exists, I’ll settle for something else. So if any one of those girls on the cheer team give you the slightest bit of attitude I’ll slap them.”

Jisoo smiled seeing the exchange. For right now, they’ll put Huang Xuxi onto the backburner.

“Anyways, let’s go back to what we all came here for. The semester starts next week and the Theta Chi house is working with the Sigma Kappa girls to throw the first party. So obviously we need to look sexy as fuck. Especially _____ and Lisa. You both have cobwebs and dust collecting on your vaginas that I can see.”

“What the fuck” you gasped, “Ten told me the same thing! It’s literally been a month. Cmon, that’s not even that long.”

“Yeah well, for a university student it is. Especially for someone hot like you. Even more so when we take your track record into consideration. Your virginity is basically putting itself together again like the ashes of the ones that died in Infinity War,” Rosie said as she walked into the apartment with Lisa towing in right behind her.

You jumped at their entrance then scowled after her comment sunk in, “Leave me alone, Roseanne,”

Rosie glared at you for the use of her full first name as she sat down across from you.

“When was the last time you got laid?” you taunted, “We haven’t heard any hoe stories from you either!”

Rosie perked up, “Last night, actually. I went on a date with Jungkook and went back to his apartment. Mingyu says hi, by the way. Did you know they were roommates?”

“UGH,” you groaned. “Of course you get laid by one of the hottest dudes there is. And he’s nice! What the fuck! Save some for us bitch!”

Rosie laughed and looked down, her cheeks flushing a pretty pink.

Immediately everyone got quiet and stared at her.

“Rosé,” Lisa drawls out slowly, “Do you actually like this guy?”

Rosie sobered up quickly and looked around at each of you.

“Okay, look,” she says slowly, “I’m gonna be honest with you guys. I--”

“Oh my god,” you interject with a groan. You throw yourself onto the couch and cover your eyes with your arm, “Everyone is falling in love except me! I haven’t even had sex in so long! Not even oral!”

“I didn’t even finish yet!” Rosie says exasperated.

“Yes, but you’re Rosé, everyone falls in love with you on the first date. And if this guy didn’t then I’ll kill him. Because you’re pretty and perfect and deserve the world. Why wouldn’t he fall in love right away? The fuck.”

Rosie flushes but sends you a shy smile either way.

“As I was saying, I actually have been going on dates with Jungkook but didn’t say anything because I actually like this guy. I was worried he just wanted to hit it and quit it, that’s why I never mentioned it. I would’ve been so embarrassed if that happened and I gushed about how much I like him but… I think it’s going well. I hope he asks to be exclusive soon,” she finishes with a whisper. You suddenly sit up straight and smack the sofa. Your friends jump at the sudden action when you open your mouth and say “I’ll shove my foot up his ass if he doesn’t ask you to be his girlfriend, Rosie. I don’t give a fuck how hot he is, you’re way hotter and have a line of people knocking at your door.”

Lisa blinks, “Okay, _____. You are at a ten right now and need to take it to a two. Not everything needs to turn into a wannabe WWE match, but I agree. Rosie, if he doesn't ask you to be exclusive within the next month, drop him.”

“Okay,” Rosie sighs while looking down and playing with the hem of her dress, “I just haven’t liked someone like this in a while and I’m just… yeah. But enough about me! There’s nothing to get sad about! We have more important issues to focus on. Like _____ and Lisa being the reborn virgins of the group. Ironic since you two are the biggest hoes I know.”

Lisa groans, “I know. I’ve just been so stressed with the dance team and summer school. I haven’t had time to even rest and now the semester is starting? Bitch..” she shakes her head without finishing.

Jennie gets up and claps her hands, “Well, what are we waiting for? The Theta Chi party is the perfect time and place for you two to get some. It’s coming up soon and we need to start pampering now. It doesn’t even need to be for hooking up, it can be a good luck present for the semester starting. Now c'mon, get your shit” she says grabbing yours and Lisa’s arms and yanking you two up, “if we leave right now we can make it to the salon as a walk-in. I’ll pay for everything.”

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The final days leading up to a new semester were tiring. You had a short timeframe in which you had to get your financial aid sorted out, make sure you sent out the emails that needed to be sent, talked to your manager about your schedule, and mentally prepare yourself. On top of all the stress you had going on outside of work, work itself had been incredibly busy. With the upcoming start of a new school year, the store had been filled to the brim with snot nosed kids, demanding parents, and hoards of teenagers all looking for the perfect shoe. You had asked for more hours to get some extra cash, but you were starting to regret it. With the back to back scheduling and long shifts, there was no time for you to sit down and breathe.

Fortunately today, you were scheduled to do sorting in the back for the majority of your shift. Which meant you had to take inventory for an hour and sit around on your phone for the rest of it.

As you were counting how many black high tops Converses there were left and cursing the middle schoolers who never failed to sell them out early every year, you failed to notice someone walking in.

“Hey, _____. You need some help?” Jaehyun asked.

You tensed up immediately after hearing the voice and mentally cursed yourself for not washing your hair last night or doing your full makeup routine.

At least you had the decency to put on your eyebrows.

“Oh hey, Jaehyun. I didn’t know you were scheduled for today. How was your vacation?” you asked while putting on a fake smile.

Jaehyun was one of your coworkers, and also your ex-boyfriend. The funny, sweet basketball player had been working at Foot Locker way longer than you and had been the one to train you. He was the one to take you under his wing and introduce you to everyone, offered to buy you something to eat whenever you forgot to bring lunch, and the type of guy to bring everyone who was scheduled with him a drink from Starbucks.

He was everyone’s work crush, including yours.

Until he cheated on you.

“It was good,” he grinned at you, “I missed my grandparents and the rest of my family, so it was nice to see them again. But the weather here is much better than back home.”

“I’m glad you got to see them!” you said with a tone that was obvious you felt anything but glad for him.

As you were thinking about how to somehow get out of this conversation while not getting scolded by your manager for abandoning your task, Jaehyun was busy looking you up and down. The summer had definitely done you good, even if you had spent most of it at work. It hadn’t been that long since he last saw you but your skin was glowing and sun-kissed, even more than usual. There was also definitely much more ass in your jeans than from what he remembers. You already had a nice one to begin with, something he took note of whenever you climbed up the ladder to get a box of shoes too high for you in the backroom.

He remembered when you first walked into Foot Locker for an interview. It was nearly impossible not to notice you. You walked into any room and instantly commanded the attention of everyone within your vicinity. With your sun-kissed glowing skin and a gleaming smile, you had everyone watching you all the time.

The funny part was that you barely even noticed it.

Jaehyun knew of you before you had even submitted an application. Of course he knew of the pretty psychology student who nearly always got the top scores and didn’t have a stick up their ass for it. You were always willing to lend a helping hand and had the patience to explain theories and concepts for hours to someone who didn’t have a clue.

Don’t get him wrong, you were far from a pushover, and more often than not he would overhear you tell classmates the many ways you would shove a textbook up their ass if they tried to copy off you or didn’t at least try to put in an effort.

It was evident that you weren’t a pushover or afraid to ask for what you wanted. You just took a while to warm up to people and let them in close enough to see the bratty side of you.

He was lucky enough to be one of those you let in, but he had to go and fuck it all up.

Jaehyun tried again, “So, how was your summer?”

You didn’t have the time or energy for this shit. “Jaehyun,” you said sharply. “I’ve been incredibly stressed with trying to juggle my summer class, work, and social life if you’re that desperate to know. I don’t need--”

Jaehyun cut you off, “_____, I’m sorry. I just want to talk to you and explain, please.”

Conversation with Jaehyun once came as natural as breathing to you. There used to be a time where he could ask the world from you and you would do anything to give it to him. He was the person you looked forward to seeing the most, the one you wanted to see right when you woke up and before you fell asleep. And at one point he was.

You were never blind to how attractive he is. Jaehyun, with the sweet smile and tall, lean build was the kind of guy who could get people to stop and stare whenever he walked by. Hell, you had seen it happen nearly every time the both of you went walking to the food court.

After all, he was Jung Jaehyun, a university basketball player.

Which was just a kind way to say he was a fuckboy.

To make it even worse, he was a fucking frat boy. Which meant he had a reputation of sleeping his way through campus.

When he was the one to ask you out first, you had told yourself that it was just a way for him to get into your bed. After the second, third, and fourth date, you still mistook his advances as him trying to be kind to you before he hit it and quit. It was a month into the dates that he asked you to be his girlfriend. Even then, you were very cautious at the beginning of your relationship. You had dealt with your fair share of playboys like Jaehyun and weren’t afraid to bust their balls.

You actually enjoyed knocking men down a peg or two.

But Jaehyun was nothing if not persistent. He made an effort to spend as much time with you as possible and get to know you on an intimate level. The constant sleepovers at your place and late-night talks had both of you falling in love, fast and hard.

To this day, you still didn’t know why he cheated on you.

Jaehyun interrupted your thoughts, “_____?”

You shook your thoughts away, “Yeah?”

“I asked if you had any plans for the last week of summer?”

You sighed, “Look, Jaehun. I’m just exhausted thinking about the semester starting. But I’m trying to distract myself from thinking about school and worry about my social life instead. So yes, I do have plans to go out and yes, it is to the same party your frat is hosting. But I’m not going for you, so do not approach me or talk to me. Don’t even look at me. I have bigger things to worry about and I do not want to deal with the stupid questions from your stupid friends.

“Like what?”

“Like what, what?”

Jaehyun scrunched his face in confusion, “You said you had bigger things to worry about. Is everything okay? Are your brothers good?”

As much as you hated to admit it, your heart fluttered. Jaehyun knew how much you cared about your younger brothers. He loved them just as much as you and liked going with you whenever you visited home, “Well yes but---”

“That’s good,” Jaehyun lets out a breath. “Look _____, I know you don’t owe me anything. I know I fucked up real bad, but please let me just explain everything. I want you to know what happened. I valued our relationship above everything and it meant the world to me. I know it might not have looked like it but--”

You snorted. Good for him, he’s self-aware.

Jaehyun flushed at your laugh. He deserved it but tried again “_____, please---”

Every sad look he sent you was sending you over the edge. Who did he think you were? You weren’t the type to let people step all over you like regardless of what Jaehyun thought. As mildly insulted as you felt over how little he thought of you, you didn’t have the type to tear a new one into him. You had shit to do or else your manager would be pissed.

“Jaehyun, I can’t do this.”

“_____, what---”

“_____.” Jumping at the sudden mention of your name, you had failed to notice a tall figure standing only feet away from Jaehyun during the conversation between the two of you.

“Xuxi,” you breathed out.

Jaehyun frowned, “Xuxi?”

“Xuxi,” the man himself said. Xuxi was staring at you with something dark, something that made you tense up and on edge for what his next move would be. He had been sent to the back to clock in and help you out with inventory when he noticed that the door was left slightly open. Xuxi had stopped when he heard Jaehyun’s voice and the exasperated tone in your voice.

When Xuxi realized Jaehyun was the one in there with you, he felt that ugly jealous feeling crawl up his chest. He didn’t want to closely examine why it was there. You weren’t his. The two of you hadn’t been close enough for him to consider you as his, but he still didn’t like the idea of you being stuck in a room with Jaehyun.

Xuxi didn’t want to harbor any ill feelings towards Jaehyun; he was his frat brother and Xuxi never had an issue with him. He already owed Jaehyun one for getting him a job here but after finding out what went down between the two of you, he lost respect for Jaehyun.

Xuxi was self-aware that he wasn’t the most romantic guy on campus nor was he the type to go steady with someone, but he would never string a girl along or cheat on her. He respected them enough to be upfront from the beginning of what he wanted and wouldn’t harbor any ill feelings if they refused to sleep with him afterward. He tried to be gentle with everyone who ever tried to pursue something serious with him.

It wasn’t well known across campus that Jaehyun and you were a couple, which confused him at first. He didn’t know why both of you kept it under wraps. If he was dating you, he’d make sure to broadcast out to the entire city. You were one of the sweetest girls he’s ever met. You weren’t stuck up or mean to anyone. He didn’t think you were aware of it, but you and he were in the same department. While you were in the Child Studies department only for a minor, he had it for his major so he spent quite a bit of time in the building. Xuxi would often see you helping out underclassmen who were very clearly overwhelmed, sharing your notes to classmates, and talking to the professors as if they were your friends. He liked seeing you brighten up the department every time you walked in.

To add the cherry on top, you were stunning. Immediately a heat curled up in his stomach when he thought about how good you looked. God, he would’ve been blind to not see how utterly gorgeous you were. Those long, toned legs and pouty lips had him captivated since day one. As well as those big, wide doe eyes of yours that gave you an innocent look when he knew you were the complete opposite.

“Hey man, how were the new soccer recruits? I swear the only times I’ve seen you in the house were when you came back tired and hungry,” Jaehyun laughed, oblivious to the growing tension in the room.

The two of you broke eye contact as Jaehyun went to give Xuxi that stupid one-armed hug boys do. You felt your entire face flush and looked at the floor while you wallowed in the embarrassment of knowing Xuxi knew you and Jaehyun had a messy breakup.

You went back to counting shoes or at least pretending to. Frankly, you had no idea what the hell it was that you were doing before Jaehyun walked in, but you were damned sure that was the last time you opened your fat mouth like that ever again at work.

“_____, you miss me?” Xuxi said.

What.

The hell is he saying, you thought.

Bracing yourself, you turned around to face him. They had moved closer to the wall with Xuxi leaning against it like he owned the damn place.

“Um. Yes,” you blinked.

Xuxi smirked at you and walked up to you. You tensed up and subconsciously held your breath for whatever his next move would be.

“C'mon don’t be like that, baby, “Xuxi said. He walked up to you and put an arm around your shoulders, “I missed you. Thought about you every time Coach let me take a break.”

You flushed at the endearment but made no move to refuse his arm. Or correct him. You had no clue what he was playing at but a guy as hot as Xuxi was calling you baby, so you didn’t have an issue with it.

You scowled up at him, “Shut up, lying ass. I heard your Coach rarely ever gives you guys breaks. Last time I heard the admin ladies talking about how some kid’s mom was threatening to sue.”

“Well that story is true,” he said grinning down at you, “but I’d never lie to you. Not to my favorite girl.”

You felt yourself blushing again at him calling you baby and for the way he was looking down at you. With him that close to you and looking down with that smile of his, you’ve never been more aware of how handsome Xuxi is.

“Oh, and Jaehyun? I heard Manager was looking for you out on the floor. Apparently, you’ve been gone for too long,” Xuxi said, giving him a smile that Jaehyun knew was strained.

Jaehyun clenched his jaw. He didn’t like the way you got all shy around Xuxi or the way your entire demeanor caused him to do a double-take. He’s seen you like this before.

It was the way you were when you used to be in love with him.

“You should get going, Jaehyun. The manager isn’t in a really good mood today. She gave me an attitude for not having the size some kid wanted. Does she not know by now that we always sell the Converses early?” you said. You rolled your eyes and continued ranting, blissfully unaware of the tension growing between the two boys.

Jaehyun saw Xuxi’s hand almost brushing your breast and could tell you either had no clue, or used to it by now.

“Yeah Jaehyun, better hurry,” Xuxi said innocently.

“Fine. But, _____,” Jaehyun walked up to you with a determined look on his face. He grabbed your wrist and gently yanked you out from under Xuxi. “I just want to talk to you. Give me just one opportunity and you’ll never see me again, okay? You already know about the party at Theta Chi. Promise me you’ll go?”

You nod. You were staring at him with a flustered look that made his heart ache.

Jaehyun leaned down to whisper, “Go look for me there, okay? Just one last time, please.”

His lips brushed against your ear before he quickly walked away. You were left stumbling for the words to reply with when he just left.

What the hell was that?

Clearing your throat, you turned around to face Xuxi who was leaning against the wall, again. This time though he had his arms crossed and was staring at the door Jaehyun exited out of. When he heard you, he directed his blank gaze to you.

There was a brief silence that felt oddly tense to you.

What the fuck was this kid’s problem, you thought.

You raised an eyebrow at him when it was clear he was just going to stare at you with a bitchy face and that made you on edge. Especially since you didn’t put in an effort to look good today

“What?,” you snapped, “Do I have something on my face?”

He didn’t reply to you right away. He searched your face for a bit until he pushed himself off the wall and walked up to you.

One of his hands comes up to your chin and grabs it gently, forcing you to look up at him. Your breath immediately stilled at his touch. His hands were so warm and so big that you were willing to bet they were bigger than your face. You tried to distract yourself with that thought so you wouldn’t focus on how insanely gorgeous he was up close, but that didn’t settle well with him.

He squeezed you so gently that you almost didn’t feel it, but you did.

When you met his gaze, he finally spoke.

“You good?” he asked. You could feel his breath tickle your lips. You were so captivated by his own lips being that close to yours that you didn’t answer until he squeezed you again. You nodded as a reply, too dazed to actually talk.

He gave you a grin and continued, “Don’t look for Jaehyun, okay? I got you. Whatever it is you need or want, I got you for it. Not him.”

You stared up at him with a surprised and innocent look on his face that only served to make him want to wreck you.

Xuxi still had a grip on you, “Good girl. I’ll come looking for you. You don’t need to go after anyone. I’ll do it. You understand me, right? You get what I’m saying?”

You avert your gaze as the words he said made you feel things that far too inappropriate for the workplace.

It had been so long for you, evident in the sudden dampness you felt between your legs that came right after he called you a good girl.

“That’s good. Of course my girl understands, you always do so good in everything. Now I’m gonna go back out there and do my job. Remember what I said, okay?”

Xuxi lets you go but of course he doesn’t do it simply. Of course he doesn’t. Simple isn’t in this man’s vocabulary. This man just had to call you a good girl and his girl in the fucking storage room at work. He just had to drag his hand down and let it trace the hollows of your throat first before stepping back and walking away from you.

You let all the tensions you didn’t know you had out of your body as you sink into the only chair there is. You don’t think about what could happen at work that much, or at all really, but you for sure never saw Huang Xuxi making you wet while on the job.

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btw the xuxi in this is xuxi during the beginning of super m promos... u know... with the nice glowing brown skin and light brown hair.... whew...

#lucas x reader #wayv x reader #wayv x you

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nazariolahela · 4 years

Text

Best Beloved: Chapter 4

A/N: Hey y'all! This is a PM AU I’ve been working on. It’s a bit different than my previous fic series and I’m really excited to try something new. I hope y’all enjoy it. This story is told in dual first-person narrative, from Kaia (F!MC) and Damien’s POV. The first half of this story takes place during Kaia’s freshman year and Damien’s senior year of college. The second half is two years after Kaia graduates. There will be sprinklings of canon in this fic, but we’ll try to step out of the box for the most part. Thanks for reading, and please leave feedback, and/or if you would like to be tagged.

Catch up here

Series Tags: @burnsoslow @lady-calypso @irishwhiskys-blog

Synopsis: What happens when you find yourself crushing on your best friend? For years, Damien and Kaia have been best friends, while secretly harboring feelings for one another. Everything changes one night after a little too much alcohol and years of pent up feelings. Can they control their emotions and salvage their friendship, or will the feelings they hold for one another destroy everything they have?

All characters are the property of Pixelberry Studios. Thanks for allowing me to borrow them.

Chapter Summary: Damien struggles with the state of his relationship and Kaia meets Hayden.

Damien

I sat at my cubicle on a Thursday afternoon, putting the finishing touches on the report I needed to write up for my internship. I had landed a Securities and Intelligence Analysis Internship with a local security agency. My duties included collecting, processing, and analyzing, intelligence, and providing assistance to the senior analysts within the agency. If everything went well, they mentioned offering me the opportunity to join the agency full-time. To be honest, though, I had bigger dreams.

I was proofreading my report when my phone went off. I looked at the screen and saw Alana’s name flash across it. I sighed and dragged my hand down my face. She had been blowing up my phone all day with text messages. After the frat party last weekend, we got into an argument about how I “disappeared on her” after our makeout session in the bathroom. I didn’t intend to, but when she stormed off and I lost her in the crowd, I didn’t make much of an effort to go look for her.

I felt like our relationship was going in a different direction than I was hoping. You could blame it on our busy schedules, and her turning down my proposal left a sour taste in my mouth. But as much as I wanted to deny it, I felt like Kaia coming back into my life had a lot to do with it. Feelings I didn’t know I had crept up on me every time she was around. Her touch, the sound of her laugh, and the sweet smell of her shampoo stirred up all these emotions in me. I needed to get them in check before I did something I’d regret.

My phone buzzed again and I groaned and dropped my head to my desk. I should have called her back and smooth things over, but I had to get this report done before I left today. I picked up the phone, and stared at it for a moment, then clicked the lock button and slipped in in my pocket.

A moment later, the research analyst I was paired up with rounded the corner of the cube farm and called out as he approached me. “Nazario. Do you have that research portfolio on current conflicts and security threats?”

I reached into my desk drawer and pulled out the manila envelope, handing it to him. He took the files and peered over my shoulder at my laptop.

“Thanks, man. Looks good so far. When you’re done with this, can you compile the materials from the counterterrorism report?”

“Sure thing, Agent McDaniels. I’ll have that to you shortly.”

He nodded and clapped me on the shoulder before walking off. I signed off on my report and hit “send” then leaned back in my chair with a smile on my face. This internship was easier than I thought it would be.

My phone buzzed in my pocket again. I groaned and pulled it out to see another missed call from Alana. I locked my computer and got up from my desk then made my way into the break room. Tapping my phone against my palm, I took a deep breath and dialed her number. She answered on the first ring.

“What?” she snapped.

“Baby, come on-”

“Don’t ‘baby, come on’ me, Damien. I’ve been trying to reach you all day! I’m sick of you always bailing on me all the damn time. First, you ditch me to go meet with your advisor. Then, you disappear during the frat party last week. And yesterday you fucking bailed on our date to go visit your mom. I know you have shit going on, but so do I. And I don’t think it’s too much to ask for a little reliability from my boyfriend.”

I groaned. We had planned to spend the afternoon together after classes, but Mom called yesterday morning, asking if I was able to come home and help her with something. And like the good son I am, I emailed my professors that I’d be absent, hopped in my car, and made the hour drive home. Now, I had to face the consequences. As much as I hated to admit it, I’d been kind of a lousy boyfriend lately. I wasn’t doing it on purpose, but with everything going on this year, I had to prioritize. “I know, Alana. I’m sorry.”

“Are you fucking someone else?” she accused.

“What?”

“You heard me. What about that freshman you’ve been hanging around the last few weeks?” she spit out, the venom in her voice leaking through the phone.

Was she serious? I never told her about me and Kaia, so I don’t know where she even got the idea from. Just because Kaia and I had history, didn’t mean that I wanted to sleep with her. Okay, maybe I did, but I sure as shit didn’t act like it around my girlfriend. I dragged my hand down my face, sighing deeply. “Who? Kaia? She’s an old friend from home. I don’t even like her like that.” Lie. “Why would you think that?”

“It would make sense. Look, I know our relationship isn’t perfect, but if you have feelings for someone else, the least you could do is let me know so I’m not wasting my time.”

I yanked the phone away from my ear and mouthed several curse words. After all that we had been through, she had the audacity to say that to me? I pressed the phone back to my ear. “Excuse me? Did you forget that I fucking PROPOSED to you? And you have the nerve to say I’m wasting your time! What the fuck, Alana?” I growled.

She went quiet on the other end and I had to check to see if she had hung up on me. After several beats, she spoke up. “It’s just...fuck, Damien. I feel like you never want to be around me anymore. Especially since you started hanging around with that Kaia girl. Plus, we're both always so busy, it’s like our relationship got put on the backburner.”

“Alana. If I didn’t want to be with you anymore, I wouldn’t be with you. I get why you’re upset. I do, but you have to understand that I have a life outside of this relationship. This internship is important to me. And my mom’s been having a hard time since my dad passed. I’m sorry for bailing on you, but you can’t go around accusing me of cheating on you every time. This relationship is never going to work if you do.”

“Well, what do you expect me to think, Damien? This new girl pops up out of nowhere, and all of a sudden you’re spending all this time with her,” she huffed.

“We have one class together, Alana. That’s it. We don’t go out to eat or spend time together on the weekends. Other than the frat party, the only time I’ve hung out with her was during our study groups. I’ve had female friends for almost our entire relationship and you’ve never batted an eye over it. Why is this one any different just because I’ve known her since we were kids?”

She sighed. “I really don’t want to talk about this over the phone.”

“I’m at work right now, but I can come over later if you want me to,” I said, tugging at the knot of my tie.

“No, I don’t think that’s a good idea, Damien. I just need time to myself right now. I feel like you’ve been smothering me lately, and I can’t deal with this.”

Jesus, this woman was making my head spin. “I don’t understand. First, you say I’m neglecting you, and now you say I’m smothering you. Which is it?”

“It’s...it’s complicated, Damien. I just don’t know if this relationship is worth it anymore.”

“Babe, what are you saying? Are you saying you want to take a break from us?” My chest tightened as I struggled to say the words.

She paused for what felt like an eternity before answering. “I don’t know, Damien. I’ll call you in a few days,” she said, before hanging up the phone.

I stared at the screen, anger coursing through my veins. I fell back against the refrigerator, digging the heels of my hands into my eyes. My department supervisor entered the break room and saw me leaning against the fridge.

“Hey! Everything alright in here?” she asked, pouring herself a cup of coffee.

“Yeah, just dealing with some personal stuff. It’s taken care of though,” I replied. I slipped the phone in my pocket and made my way back to my desk. I sat down in my chair, powered up my laptop and opened my school email. I noticed two new emails: one from my advisor and another from Kaia. Jesus, talk about shit timing.

I sighed and opened the one from my professor. It was an outline of the things I needed to do to complete the first half of my internship. I skimmed through it, taking note of all the important parts, then replied that I would have it to her by midterms.

I closed out the email from my professor and hovered the mouse over the one from Kaia. I wasn’t sure if opening it was such a good idea, but a voice told me to do it anyway. I opened up the email and started reading.

Hey Dames!

Here are the notes from yesterday’s lecture. I highlighted everything Prof. Ross said would be on the test. Let me know if you need anything else. :)

- K.

P.S. Hope your mom is doing okay. Tell her hi for me next time you talk to her!

Of course. I had texted her on the way to Mom’s asking her to take notes for me in class. Sure, I could have asked anyone else in that class, but let’s be real. I wasn’t going to. Any excuse to talk to her, I snatched it up like a dog with a bone. Her email was innocent enough, but just seeing her name pop up on the screen made my heart beat faster. I swallowed the lump in my throat and closed out the email. That must be why Alana was so upset. I sighed deeply and got to work on my next task. After about thirty minutes of struggling to stay focused, I powered down my laptop and walked over to my supervisor’s office.

“Hey! I have an assignment due tomorrow that I need to finish up. Do you mind if I take off?”

She looked up from her computer and nodded. “Sure thing. Just let me sign off on your timesheet and you can be on your way.” I handed her the sheet required for my internship credit hours and she initialed the document, then handed it back to me. “We’ll see you next week,” she replied, then went back to her computer.

I walked back to my desk, packed up my things and headed out. When I got to my car, I dumped my bag in the backseat, then climbed in the driver’s side. Pulling out my phone, I contemplated texting Alana. But after the conversation we had earlier, I decided to let her have her space. She would reach out to me when she was ready to talk. Until then, I had to be patient. Against my better judgment, I texted Kaia.

My breath caught in my throat. Yep, she was definitely flirting with me. Good lords, this girl was going to be the death of me. I’d been fighting feelings for her since my sophomore year of high school. It was easier back then because she was so young, but now that she was older, I was having a hard time keeping my emotions and my dick in check. If I didn’t get this sorted out soon, I was going to completely fuck up both of my relationships. I shook my head, put the car in drive, and headed back to the dorms.

***

Kaia

Sloane, Nadia and I sat in the library Monday afternoon, studying for our Comp class exam. Even though we were only a couple of weeks into the semester, our professor decided this morning that we needed to have a pop quiz on Wednesday and told us to be prepared.

“Ugh, this stuff is so confusing and not at all pertinent to my degree. What is an independent clause anyway?” Nadia whined, holding her phone in one hand.

Sloane leaned over and tapped Nadia’s note sheet. “It’s a clause that has a subject and a verb and can stand alone. Didn’t you learn this stuff in high school?”

“Psh probably. What does that even mean?”

I sighed. “It’s a complete sentence. You’d know that if you were actually reviewing your notes and not texting Steve.”

Nadia rolled her eyes and went back to her phone. “I wish we all had this class together so I could just cheat off your papers.”

Sloane snorted and I rolled my eyes, throwing a ball of wadded up paper at her. “Shut up and study.”

Nadia laughed and grabbed her highlighter, highlighting some sentences on her study guide. “Prepositional phrases are going to be the death of me.”

Ugh, this was so reminiscent of high school. I love my cousin, but she can be a bit flighty. “I’m going to be the death of you if you don’t study your notes, Miss Art Major. Just because this class isn’t,” I held up my index and middle fingers, making air quotes “pertinent to your degree, doesn’t mean you can slack off and not study. What’s going to happen when Steve gets drafted to the NFL and he dumps you for someone smart?”

“Steve would never do that. I’m too cute,” she gasped. Sloane chuckled and went back to her notes.

Ten minutes later, Nadia looked up from her study guide. “So, you guys going to Homecoming?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” I sighed, not looking up as I turned a page in my book.

“I don’t know, it might be kind of fun,” Sloane said, looking up from her study guide.

A grin spread across Nadia’s face. “I agree, Sloane. Plus, there’s so much to do! There’s the parade, the game, the dance. And Delta Sigma Phi is having another party!”

“They have parties every weekend.”

“Not like this,” Nadia retorted. “This one is supposed to be huge.”

I shook my head and went back to studying my notes. The idea of homecoming made me cringe. I only had bad memories of going. Most recently, my junior year. The game was a total blowout (the other team kicked our asses 55-0) and my boyfriend ditched me at the dance for the Homecoming Queen. I didn’t even bother going my senior year because I knew it was going to be a suckfest.

An hour and several chapters into our composition textbooks, Nadia groaned and smacked her head on the table. “I’m hungry, you guys. I say we take a break. My brain hurts.”

I pressed my forefingers to my temple and sighed. Sloane dropped her pencil on the table and removed her glasses, rubbing her eyes. “For once, I agree with Nadia. We could use a coffee break. I’m kind of going cross-eyed over here from reading and re-reading these notes.”

“Fine. I’ll go grab coffee. Who wants what?”

“Ooh. Get me a Strawberry Passion Fruit Boba Tea, please!” Nadia said. “And a banana muffin.”

“I’ll take the caramel almond latte,” Sloane replied. I nodded and grabbed my purse, making my way to the campus coffee shop. Whoever designed this college to put a coffee shop in the library is a motherloving genius. When I arrived, there was only one person in line in front of me. I perused the menu, trying to decide which caffeinated beverage would give me the boost I needed to power through the last leg of our study session.

When it was my turn, I approached the counter and put in Sloane and Nadia’s orders. The barista asked me if that would be all, and I replied there would be one more drink, but that I was still deciding.

“You should try the Cinnamon Roll mocha. It’s indescribable,” a deep voice behind me suggested. I whipped around and came face-to-face with a tall man with warm brown eyes and jet black hair. His soft pink lips were curled into a friendly smile. It was crazy how suspiciously attractive he was. Was every guy at this school an undercover model or something? He looked familiar and I studied his face, trying to figure out where I knew him from.

“How do you know I’ll like it?” I asked him.

“You seem like the type of girl that likes sweet things,” he winked.

I blushed then turned back to the barista. “I’ll take that.” She nodded and got to work making my drinks. I turned back to the mysterious stranger. “If I don’t like this drink, you have to buy me a new one.”

“That won’t be necessary, because you’ll like it,” he laughed.

I moved over to wait for my drinks as he ordered his. I smirked when I heard him also order the Cinnamon Roll mocha. Okay, guy. I see what you’re up to. As we waited for our drinks, he moved over and grabbed a stirring straw, sticking one end in his mouth. My eyes were automatically drawn to the movement as his tongue swirled around the tip of the straw. He noticed me watching and winked.

I cleared my throat. “So...um. Don’t take this the wrong way, but you look really familiar.”

“I should. We’re in the same College Algebra class.”

I paused, cocking an eyebrow at him. “Oh?”

“Yeah, you sit in the second row. Let’s just say, I may have checked you out once or twice. No big deal. And since I helped you out with your drink order, you can help me out by telling me your name.”

I laughed. “It’s Kaia. I knew you looked familiar. And thanks for the suggestion, I guess. We’ll see how you did here in a minute.” He extended his hand and I took it, feeling his warm hand squeeze mine.

“Hi, Kaia. I’m Hayden. And trust me on this. You’re going to be so blown away by this drink, you’ll offer up your firstborn for another one.”

I rolled my eyes and grabbed a stack of napkins as the barista called my name and slid the tray with my drinks across the counter. I moved to collect them along with Nadia’s muffin. Hayden watched me intently as I picked up the cup marked “CR” and took a tentative sip. When the coffee hit my tongue, my tastebuds were transformed to a new world. He must have seen it by the look on my face because a huge grin spread across his.

“What did I tell you? You love it, don’t you?”

“Okay, okay. You were right on that one. Any more life-changing advice you want to give me?”

“You got something… right…” He reached over and wiped a dribble of the coffee from my chin with his thumb, then brought it to his mouth, sucking the liquid off. My breath caught in my throat at the contact. I quickly composed myself and grabbed my items. As I juggled the drink tray with shaking hands, Hayden swooped in and took it from me.

“Need a little help with that?” he asked.

“Thanks. We’re just sitting over here,” I replied, guiding him over to where Sloane and Nadia were chatting. Nadia’s eyes lit up when she saw us approaching.

“Ooh! Coffee and eye candy,” she squealed, leaping from her seat to take the tray from his hand. “Who is this tall drink of water, Kaia?”

“Don’t you have a boyfriend?” I eyed her incredulously.

She sat down and handed Slone her drink before taking a sip of her own. “Hey! You can look at the menu as long as you don’t order anything from it. I’m Nadia. And you are?”

I shot her a glare. “Nadia, this is Hayden. He's in my algebra class. Hayden, this is my cousin Nadia and my friend Sloane.” He leaned over the table and shook each of their hands.

“You’re in my American Government class. Do you want to sit with us?” Sloane asked, taking a sip from her coffee.

Hayden looked around the library, like he was waiting for someone, then back to me. “Oh, I don’t want to impose. Looks like you ladies have your own study group going on.”

“Nonsense. Come, have a seat next to my extremely beautiful and extremely single cousin,” Nadia insisted, motioning for Hayden to take the chair next to mine.

“Nadia!” I snapped.

He grinned and sat down, raking his eyes over my body. I blushed as I took the seat next to him. He tugged his backpack from his shoulders and dug around, pulling out a spiral notebook. He then leaned over to see what we were studying. “Well, I don’t have Comp homework, but I guess I can work on my algebra homework.”

I glanced at his notebook and nodded. “I can help you with that when we’re done here.”

He smiled, sending the butterflies in my stomach into overdrive. He had a nice smile. Sloane looked up from her notes and addressed Hayden. “So, what are you majoring in?”

He paused and took a sip of his coffee, eyeing the three of us, then swallowed. “I’m actually majoring in photography.”

“Wow! A fellow art major! How exciting,” Nadia said, extending her hand for a high-five. Hayden laughed and slapped his palm against hers.

“Photography, huh? That sounds exciting! How’d you get into that field?” I asked.

“I joined Yearbook my sophomore year of high school and took pictures for the club, and I just kind of fell in love with it. I started taking pictures for fun and ended placing second in my state’s high school photography competition.”

I placed my elbows on the table and rested my chin in my hands. Listening to him talk about his love for photography made me smile. I wish I was half as passionate about anything as he was about photography.

The four of us settled into a comfortable conversation, neglecting our studying. We talked about our favorite (and not so favorite) professors, which classes we were looking forward to taking the next four years, and which spot in the student union was best for people-watching. We learned that Nadia and Hayden also shared two classes and the same advisor. Another hour had passed when my stomach growled and I looked at my phone to see the time was 5:30 p.m.

“Holy shit, it’s dinner time. You guys wanna go grab a bite?”

“I can’t. Steve gets done with football practice soon, so we’re going out after,” Nadia said.

“I’d love to, but I have a ton of homework I need to get done for my Spanish comp class. Maybe another time.” Sloane said.

I debated texting Damien to ask if he was free, but he sounded really weird when I spoke to him a few days ago, so I let it go. I shrugged and started gathering up my books. Nadia left first, with Sloane taking off shortly after, leaving Hayden and me by ourselves. He shoved the last of his things in his backpack and slung it over his shoulder, then followed me out of the library. We walked through the courtyard toward the dorms, surveying the sun as it slowly set behind the horizon. He stopped walking then turned to me.

“I hope you don’t think I’m being too forward, but would you want to go get a bite to eat sometime?”

I stared down at my shoes, kicking a stray pebble on the pavement. He seemed nice enough. But why was I so hesitant to say yes? I shifted on my feet and looked up at him. “Oh...um...I don’t know.”

He frowned. “Hey, no big deal. I get it. Just thought I’d shoot my shot.”

“No. I didn’t mean it like that. I just meant that I’m not ready to date yet. I guess I’m still adjusting to the new school year. But if you’re ever up for another study group, let me know.”

He smiled, although it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Yeah, sure. Do you want me to walk you to your dorm?”

“Nah. I think I’m okay. I’ll see you in class.”

“You too,” he replied and winked as he made his way to the dorms. I watched him walk away as I stood in the middle of the courtyard. What was wrong with me? This extremely good-looking and nice guy just asked me out, and I shot him down. It’s not like I already had a boyfriend, so why was I acting like a scared little bitch? I briefly considered chasing him down and saying, ‘lol j/k let’s go out sometime,’ but something held me in place. I just couldn’t figure out what it was.

#best beloved #pm au #college au #friends to lovers #perfect match #choices fanfic #damien nazario #kaia park #damien x mc #nazariolahela fanfic

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microsoftedgy69 · 4 years

Text

11/11: Headstone

[this time last year]

“He doesn’t have a grave, does he?” your therapist says, head tilted as she consults the notes on the clipboard she keeps on her lap. That thing is the most disconcerting thing in the room, if anyone were to ask you, but you haven’t told her that. You’re still getting used to this whole idea. The idea of therapy. “What with the sea burial.”

“Yeah,” you say. “We just chucked him out there, not really the place for a headstone or whatever.”

“Do you think that would help?” she asks, and looks up at you again. “Having a headstone for Dirk?”

You act surprised. “How am I gonna do that? I can’t exactly get his decomposed ocean corpse back from a destroyed timeline to make a proper grave—”

“A symbolic one, Alan,” she says. She’s giving you that smile that says, I look right through you, but it’s okay. You’ve learned not to hate her for it. “I know you’ve read up on many modern human practices, have you looked into graveyards? After Dirk’s death, maybe?”

“Not really,” you admit. The “modern” human thing you were looking into the most after Dirk’s death was crime and punishment, obsessed with trying to figure out what punishment you would have gotten in a different century than the 25th. You don’t say that. She knows, anyway. You mentioned it during the first couple of sessions, when you were giving her a rough overview of your life so far (what a stomach-twisting, miserable three hours that was), and you both agreed to put it on the backburner.

She nods. “Of course one purpose of them is to give the deceased a place to rest. You did that, by reuniting Dirk with the sea. But they’re also places that we, the ones left behind, can come to, to grieve. I think it’s important to have a place that allows you to mourn outside of your home, so you can leave it there, you know? So you don’t have to carry this anniversary around with you everywhere. You get him a headstone, and it waits for you there, wherever you put it, and then you can do your grieving there, and your happy things at home.”

You have thought about this, in the past. You already played stupid when she asked, so you’re not going to admit that now, but you know that you have. You imagined putting a little place up for him, but you usually pictured it on the roof of the apartment you don’t have anymore. It’s not like there were any other places around, for the longest time.

“I don’t know,” you say slowly, looking at the floor, rubbing your left thumb over your right, “where. The fort would be big enough to get him a little niche somewhere, but you said it should be out of my home, and that makes sense to me, I think. Sometimes I see, like, crosses or wreaths at the side of the road where people had accidents, but I can’t put it where he died either, because that,” you swallow, pointlessly, around air, “whole place doesn’t exist anymore. And I could con my way into getting him an empty grave on an actual graveyard, but that feels — really inappropriate somehow. As if I’m making fun of him, both of us.”

Your therapist puts her pen down on her clipboard, then puts her clipboard onto the little table that’s next to her chair, along with a clock and a mug of tea she always forgets about until it’s cold. “Alan, I’m going to ask you something only you could possibly know the answer to,” she says and folds her hands. “Where would he want it to be?”

On top of the White House, was your first thought. Where Dave and Rose fought. Or in the Hollywood hills. Dave again. He would have understood, though, that neither are possible in this century. And if nothing else works, you thought, if it had to be something real, and feasible, then Dirk would have wanted — you would have wanted to rest at home.

When Sawtooth threw his body out of the window and into the ocean so many years ago, it was mainly because that was the only way to get rid of a corpse back then. That, or a very gorey Sendificator alternative you didn’t want to consider. Several months had passed in which he had just been lying dead on the floor of the apartment that you’d been keeping as cold as possible. Corpsefridge, as Squarewave coined it, back then. So you just had to finally let go of him, to allow yourself to try to move on.

But even back then, you thought that it felt right, returning him to the sea. You have loved the ocean as much as you have hated it, and maybe that’s what childhood homes are all about.

You live in a different timeline these days, after launching Sburb in your home timeline and thus destroying it for the greater good of getting to kill the Condesce. You live in the one your boyfriend lives in. You don’t live with him, but it seemed like a good first baby step towards something like that. In this timeline, you travel to Houston, Texas. You find the exact coordinates where your apartment would have been, and then you take the fastest route to the ocean from there. You go into the water, and you keep going, as deep as you can.

Your body can withstand a lot more pressure than a human body can, down here, and today it’s important. You don’t want anyone else to find this. You don’t want anyone to dig it up, take it home as a cool token they found on their dive. This is for you, to grieve.

It took you a bit to figure out what to even put here. You’re at a good spot, you’ve saved the coordinates so you can visit when you feel like you need to, but it was hard to pick something to actually do, here. You don’t have any old clothes or other belongings of his; you didn’t feel like they were yours, back then, so you left them in the apartment that’s gone now. For a while, you toyed with the idea of leaving another pair of shades here, but you’re growing a little tired of that, and you’d feel kind of bad for leaving plastic in the ocean, anyway.

But your therapist kept talking about headstones. So, you got one of those.

To you, personally, it looks more like a plaque, but you’re new to this. Apparently some graves have these, flat in the ground instead of the classical gravestone. You engraved one, did your best to seal it to withstand at least some years down here, and now you’ve pushed it securely into the deep sea ground.

You stand in the perfect silence of the ocean, alone for miles, and look down at it. You were telling him a lot, last year. There was a lot to say. There are plenty of updates you could give about your life these days, but you don’t feel like it, today. In movies, people return to graves all the time, lay down flowers and say things. You can’t quite recall what they say. You’re not sure. But you suppose you’ll figure it out, in time. Now that it’s here, you can come back however often you like.

Today, you stay a bit longer. You watch the water wash over the stone and think back about what happened six years ago, and it is not and will never be a good memory, but it’s more bearable, these days. You’re doing your best. You are doing your best. You’re working very hard, and you’re figuring things out.

Once the idea of getting your wifi back and talking to your friends starts sounding nicer than hanging out down here, you let yourself float towards the surface again. This was good, you think. You took care of yourself. You got help, and you reached out, and you’re meeting up with Jake later, and you did something nice. For you, and nobody else. You like this headstone. You’re proud of it.

Dirk Strider December 3, 2409 — November 11, 2423 I am not here. I did not die.

#posted ooc #action post #happy tertiary homestuck day everyone :-)#no warnings other than death and grief talk

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tybalt-tisk · 6 years

Text

The Model and the Photographer

@sluttybeka Ask and you shall receive.

Shallura Prompt that I got really carried away with. Rated T, for language. Also on Ao3

“Man, Shiro!” Matt started, plopping himself onto the sofa next to his best friend while he brought his legs up to rest his feet on the coffee table with a hard thud. “I still can’t believe that you get to photograph Allura Altea!”

Shiro shrugged while he cleaned a few of his camera lenses. “I don’t think it’s a big deal.” He inspected one of the lenses carefully, making sure it was spotless before he moved on to clean the next one. “She’s just another model to me. And I am a photographer. So it’s kind of my job, ya know.”

Matt’s head snapped to him with wide eyes and his jaw slack. “Just another model?” he repeated with harsh syllables that made Shiro roll his eyes. “You’re kidding me, right? You must be kidding me because Allura Altea is probably - no, she is hands down the hottest model I have ever seen. In the history of ever.”

Shiro blew a gentle breeze to blow away the fine fibers that attached to his camera caused by his cloth. He’d need to get a new one soon. “Even hotter than 90s Cindy Crawford?”

Matt opened his mouth, then closed it. Soon, he let out a hard breath through his nose. “Yes.” He looked off towards the distance for dramatic effect. “Even hotter than 90s Cindy Crawford.”

“You hesitated,” Shiro pointed out.

“Allura will do that to a man, Shiro.” He was still looking off into the distance. At what? Probably a bird or a plastic bag caught in an updraft. Shiro didn’t really care, after 10 years of friendship, he was used to his antics. “She will make you doubt everything you thought about everything.”

Shiro snorted. “You say that about every model that I photograph and it still makes no sense.”

“Okay, so maybe I do. But this time, Shiro, this time, I mean it.” He hitched up his hips so he could reach into his back pocket to pull out a folded piece a paper. He unfolded it to reveal one of Allura’s photos he ripped from a fashion magazine. Its edges were frayed probably from him frantically ripping it out when he found out Shiro was photographing the love in his life. He probably didn’t even notice that the photograph was missing the bottom left side corner.

Shiro raised a brow. “Do you always carry around photos of women in your back pocket?” He took a few test shots of his studio and frowned when he noticed the lightning was just a tad off.

Matt placed the photo over his heart. “Only when I love them, Shiro.” Matt then held out the photo to his unimpressed friend. “Look at her and I dare you to tell me that she isn’t the most beautiful person you have ever seen in your entire life?”

Shiro didn’t need to look at the photo to know what she looked like. He’s seen her plenty of times. She was everywhere from televised interviews, being stopped by TMZ, to being on the front cover of almost every fashion magazine he’d picked up within the last six months. She was the new, “It Girl”. With long white flowing hair, dark skin and crystal blue eyes, she definitely had a unique look that made her look almost alien.

Shiro had to admit, she certainly was a looker but he wasn’t about to let himself be fooled by only her looks. He was a professional photographer for about five years now, he’d seen many models that had the look of a supermodel and the heart but tainted their talent with a diva attitude. He’s seen the worst of the worst, from the most bratty to the most spoiled. Many of them came into his studio with ridiculous demands before they were even in front of his camera. He loved his job, he really did. It’s just the stuck up models that he hated. He thanked his parents and his military background for blessing him with his legendary patience because without it, he was sure that he wouldn’t be where he was now in his career.

Pushing the photo aside, Shiro laughed. “I don’t know, man,” he said in a teasing voice while he adjusted the lighting in the studio to allow more natural light to flood the area. “Have you seen my baby cousin, Miko? Now that’s a beautiful baby.”

Matt made a face, then nodded with a pulled frown. “Okay, yeah, you right, you right. Miko is the cutest fucking baby I have ever seen in the entire existence of my life. And that bowl cut! Are you serious? She’s serving looks for days! Should’ve named that baby Jolene because she could steal my man at any given moment.”

“Steal your man?” Shiro said. “You aren’t even gay.”

Matt followed Shiro around the studio while the taller man went through his mental checklist to make sure everything went smoothly for the day, the crumpled photo still in his hands. When Shiro stopped, Matt took the chance to prop up an elbow on his shoulder. He had to stand on the balls of his feet to be comfortable with Shiro’s height. “But you know what I am gay for, Shiro?”

Shiro sent him a smirk. He placed a hand on Matt’s shoulder before he began in a serious tone, “I’m sorry, buddy, but I only see you as a friend.” He quickly sidestepped and Matt lost in balance.

Matt regained his composure. “No, but listen Linda. Listen. Let me finish, rudeness.” He held out the wrinkled photo to Shiro. “I’m gay...for our friendship. And you know how friendship is a two-way street? Well, Daddy, ya boy needs a favor.”

Shiro made a face. “I never want to hear you call me that again. Who told you to call me that? Was it Keith?” he pressed.

“Sorry, Pops.” That was...better? “And yeah, it was Keith.” That asshole. ”But Papa Linda, you aren’t listening.” Shiro let out a sigh. He knew exactly where this was going but he wanted to let his best friend finish making a fool of himself. “I just need. I really want an autograph. From Allura.” Cue puppy dog eyes. “Please.”

Shiro folded his arms with a straight face, completely unaffected by Matt’s not-so-secret weapon.

“Oh come on, Shiro! “Matt yelled. “I never ask you for anything. When was the last time I asked you for a favor?”

“Last night when you needed $24.61 for pizza, breadsticks, and a lava cake from the shittiest pizzeria in town that doubles as the shittiest bakery in on the west coast.”

“First of all, its top 18, at best.” Who has a top 18 of anything? “And second, I forgot my wallet at Pidgey’s place! What do you want me to do? Starve?! Like some potato farmer in 1846? I don’t think so. I’m a growing boy, Shiro! I needs my meats! And third, yeah you’re right. That lava cake was trash and it burned my tongue.”

Shiro raised a brow. “I thought you were a vegetarian?”

“That was the old me, Shiro,” Matt told him. “I was just...always hungry. Hey, don’t distract me! Shiro, I really need this. If you get this autograph for me, I will never ask you for another favor again.” He dropped to his knees. “I promise. Cross my heart and swear to never use your money on the 18th best pizzeria in town ever again.”

Shiro closed his eyes. Matt was as dramatic as those theatre kids who walk the hallways singing the lyrics to Hamilton. However, he could tell that this autograph was really important to him. Hopefully, this Allura woman didn’t think it was for himself because that would be kind of creepy. Hey, I know I just spent the majority of the day taking your picture but you can sign this crumpled up one that looks like it belongs under my pillow?

“Fine,” Shiro caved with a sigh. Matt rose from his knees to wrap his arms around Shiro. “But don’t think I won’t forget our little deal.”

“Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank y-“

“That’s enough of that. Now get going. I still need to set up a couple of things before your temporary crush gets here.” He peeled away his friend before he set out to organize his backup cameras just in case something happened to the one he had chosen for the photoshoot.

“Temporary crush? Our love will last forever, just you watch,” Matt told him as he gathered his duffel bag and slung it over his shoulder and across his chest.

He made his way to the back door. “Thanks again, Abbeh-leh. And good luck with today and try not to fall in love with her. She’s mine.” He sang the last part before he was out the door and the studio filled with silence.

Shiro knew he only had a short amount of time before his crew arrived to help finish with setting up the area. With the help of Matt, he already set up the majority of the area.

As nonchalant as he was with Matt, he actually was nervous about this shoot. Allura was now a huge name in the industry and if anything everything went right, it could skyrocket his career. But if things went wrong, she had the potential to sink his career along with all of the hard work he put into it. It almost happened a year ago when some up-and-coming model had threatened to put him out of business because she argued that he only shot her bad side. He offered her reshoots but she declined them all. If it wasn’t for the fact that she personally knew Keith, she would have gone to the tabloids to slander his name.

From then on, he felt like he had to give up his role as the leader and take the backburner in his own studio. Whatever the models wanted, especially the ones with star power, he made sure it happened out of the fear that they might tank him. Even if they were terrible ideas, he would try to compromise but most of the time, he gave up his creative control. It was something he dreaded most for the upcoming day, giving up his control.

He did his homework, of course. He did a little research on her to see her work ethic and his surprise he read some very positive things. Always on time, easy to work with, always had beautiful shots, knew how to work with what she had, and not so much as an eye roll. It put Shiro at ease a bit but he still remained skeptical.

No one was that perfect.

It wasn’t long before he heard a commotion outside. Russling followed by high pitched screams admiration. “Look like the princess has arrived,” he thought to himself. He nicknamed every model he photographed that because they always acted so prissy.

Soon, the back door whooshed open and in walked in a horde of people followed by dozens of flashes. He should have known that where there were screaming fans, there were always dozens of paparazzi not far behind. The two often went hand in hand.

He focused on the dozens of people who suddenly entered his studio. He recognized a few as his crew and there were others he didn’t recognize. They must be a part of Allura’s team.

Everyone either had a jacket that covered their heads or an umbrella. In the middle of the crowd was a giant pink umbrella that spread out wide enough to cover maybe two people. It was used to hide from the rain and quite possibly the aggressive paparazzi waiting outside just to get the perfect shot he knew he was getting in just a few short hours. Shiro didn’t even realize that it was raining. He had been so busy getting everything ready, he didn’t even hear the shallow drops that hit the roof above him.

Shiro watched as his crew separated from the model’s crew. He instructed his crew to dry off then finish moving the heavier props and backdrops into place in time for the shoot before he made his way over to the model to introduce himself.

When the crowd thinned out, he could see the figure standing with the giant umbrella. She did her best to shake off the excess water away from anybody or any equipment. She was a lot taller than he had originally thought she was, almost if not taller than he was. And he was pushing 6’3”. She wore dark pants and a navy blue coat with matching gloves. Dark shades covered her eyes and a hood pulled over her head to serve as extra protection from the rain. Pieces of her white hair poked out from under the hood ungracefully and fanned around framing her face.

He quickly strode over to introduce himself. He wanted to get on good terms quickly. The rain looked like it already put a damper on her mood as she struggled aggressively to close the giant, pink umbrella. He wanted to get good with her now before she was too far to reach. He’s seen a model when they get wet unexpectedly. It was not a fun time.

Shiro took the umbrella from her hands. “Here let me help you that, Miss Altea.” He closed it quickly before more water could drip onto the floor. He wiped his hands on his pants to get rid of the water he wasn’t spared from and then he reached out with his flesh hand to shake her hand.

Allura didn’t move. She only stared at Shiro, dissecting him from behind her shades. Oh boy, here we go, Shiro thought in a bitter tone. She was already about to get on his bad side.

Shiro was about to comment before Allura let out a laugh.

A deep laugh.

Shiro frowned. That’s not a girl’s laugh. The person who he thought was Allura pulled off his hood and shades to reveal someone who definitely wasn’t the woman he was getting paid to photograph for the next 7 hours. However, he did recognize the tall man. He was always at Allura’s side holding her hand whenever she was caught on TMZ. Boyfriend maybe?

Shiro suddenly felt embarrassed. He rubbed his hand behind his neck, feeling his face heat up. “O-oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t recognize you, Mr...?”

The man took the opportunity to introduce himself. “Lotor Galra. Nice to make your acquaintance, Mr. Shirogane. Even if is on these...awkward terms. One would think that the photographer would do a little more research. Even if it’s to tell the difference between his client and a complete stranger,“ Lotor finished with a smirk.

Shiro frowned but before he could defend himself, another voice spoke up. “Oh shut up, Lotor.” A boy with a short brown hair cut in. “You’re just mad because Shiro thought you were a girl. If you didn’t act like such a snob, then it wouldn’t have happened. Because, my guy, who wears gloves in 78-degree weather, ya ass.”

Lotor sneered and rolled his eyes. The man walked passed Shiro to scope out the rest of the building.

“Hey, sorry about that.” The boy said. “That’s Lotor. He’s a jackass but a softy. I’m Lance: Makeup Extraordinaire.” Did he just do jazz hands? “I’m Allura’s makeup artist and manager for the day on the count of Coran couldn’t be here for the photoshoot.”

Shiro smiled, at least this boy was friendlier than his first encounter. “I’m Shiro, but you already knew that. If I knew it was raining, I would have brought out some towels for everyone.”

Lance laughed. “A little rain ain’t never hurt nobody. With the way Lotor was dressed, you would think it was raining acid. I guess witches can’t get wet or else they’ll melt!” he yelled the last part in hopes that Lotor heard it.

“I’ll burn your entire house down, plebian.” Came a threat from the back of the studio. For some reason, Shiro believed him.

Shiro frowned and looked around. He didn’t see anyone there that fit the description of the woman. If that person who he thought was Allura, then where was the model? He focused back to Lance. “Hey, Lance. So, uh...where is Allura?” he asked, hoping to not sound alarmed. He hoped this wasn’t the one time she was late to a photo shoot. They really had a big day ahead of them.

Lance made a confused sound and looked around the studio. He turned his head, craned his neck, and walked around a short distance. “Where is she? She was just here.” He was talking more to himself than to Shiro. Lance brought his hands to his mouth to project his voice. “Lotor, where’s Lu?” he called out.

“Melting,” came the smooth reply.

Lance’s eyes went wide. “Shit!” He cursed while he shrugged off his jacket and held it over his body. “She’s still out there!?” He immediately went back out the door and returned shortly with a woman smothered under his green jacket.

She laughed when he ruffled her hair under through his jacket. “I’m sorry, Lance! Those girls said that they were waiting for hours! I couldn’t just leave them out there with nothing to show for it.”

Lance smiled. “I know, but we gotta job to do, ‘Lura,” he told her. He was still holding the jacket over her head. “Nu-uh, nope. That pout won’t work on me. I taught you that pout. Hey, at least they all got their selfies, that should be enough to hold them over until next time, don’t you think?”

Shiro heard a muffled sigh from under the coat. He almost laughed at how cute she sounded. This isn’t what he expected. A supermodel outside in the rain signing autographs and taking selfies with every one of her fans. It was a surprise for him to see a model behave like this. Most models just came in and ignored both the fans and him.

“I think your hair is about dry,” Lance said as he gave her hair one more ruffle, making her head shake back and forth. She gave a playful whine at the treatment. “Hopefully Nyma won’t be too mad that she has to wrangle this bird’s nest into something high fashion. Imma go grab a towel to dry the rest of you off. Don’t move or you’ll get water everywhere.” With that, Lance ventured off in search of towels.

“They’re on the shelves in the bathroom to the far right,” Shiro called after him. “I packed plenty, you can pass them around to whoever needs them.”

Shiro looked back towards Allura, the real Allura, just as she took off Lance’s jacket from around her head and face. And for the first time, Shiro got to get a look at her.

Lance was right, her hair was a mess and it looked like a bitch to get manageable again. The rain had converted it back to its naturally curly texture and it still somehow perfectly framed her face. Long, thick lashes, still coated with rainwater, surrounded the bluest eyes Shiro had ever seen. Her lipstick, that once painted her full lips, was now smudged across her chin and some even stained her teeth because of Lance’s harsh treatment. Her tank top rode up slightly and clung to her body in all the right places and he was pretty sure that one of her shoes were missing.

She looked a downright mess. She looked like she was out in the rain for hours instead of minutes. She was truly the definition of a disaster. She was - She looked - She-S-

She was fucking gorgeous.

Shiro doesn’t think he’s ever been left speechless before. Matthew was right about her - she was breathtaking. The photographs don’t do her justice because nothing can compare to seeing her standing before him now.

Shiro watcher her lips move but he heard no sound. All he heard was the sound of his own heart pounding wildly against his chest and the sound of his own blood rushing to his head.

He was embarrassing himself.

Yes, he knew that. But could he stop? Probably not. Did he want to stop? Hell no. He’s falling for her but he’s doing nothing to catch himself and when he hits the ground, he knows he won’t even try to get back up.

When her beautiful lips moved again, he forced himself to listen to the words they formed. When he focused, he could vaguely make them out: Are you alright?

All too suddenly, his world reformed back around him. “Huh?” He tried to play it off. “Yeah, I’m good. I’m cool.” He cleared his throat. Play it cool, Shiro. “I’m fantastic.” Fuck, Shiro, you stupid bitch.

Allura let out a laugh and Shiro mentally groaned. It was the sweetest sound he’s ever heard. Does she have to laugh like an angel? He’s not even funny. Why was she laughing?

“Okay,” she laughed again. “I’m just making sure. It’s about time we had a proper introduction, yeah? However, I can’t say it cant qualify as too proper considering I look like I was hit by a tornado carrying a hoard of cats.”

Oh, that voice. That accent. Was she always British? She could tell him to jump off of the fucking Golden Gate Bridge and he’d do a flip just to go the extra mile. Shiro straightened up and put on his charm. “That’s why we have a hair and makeup team, I’m sure they can get you glammed up,”

Is what he thought he said.

However, the dork in him came out and only replied with, “Catnado.” Allura gave him a strange look as her brain tried to understand his made up word. When she did finally understand, she threw her head back with a laugh. A beautiful laugh. There she goes again with that bullshit.

She pulled herself together. “A catnado, huh?” She took a step forward and Shiro felt his heart leap. “I suppose that is somewhat clever. However you can do better, I’m sure,” she teased with a smile.

Shiro shrugged. “Cycat.” She cocked her head to the side, and her silver curls followed her movement. He was mesmerized but managed to explain himself. “...Like...a cyclone? ...But with cats.”

When she still didn’t respond, Shiro let out a chuckle as he rubbed the back of his neck with a sheepish smile. “See? I can’t do better.”

Her laughed lightened the mood. “Ah, at least you know your comedic limitations. I admire that.” She took another step forward, almost invading his personal space but stopped just short of it. “We Brits aren’t really known for our sense of humor.” She beamed up at him and it was then that he noticed just how blue her eyes truly were.

She stood with her back straight and her head held up high, exuding confidence. “Well, I do believe that it’s time for introductions.” She stuck out her hand for a handshake. “Allura Altea. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Mr. Shirogane. I’ve heard so many wonderful things about you and your work,” she praised.

It took a split second for Shiro to access the situation he found himself in. When he did introductions, he liked to be the first to extend his hand in a greeting because it gave him the freedom of offering his flesh hand as opposed to his prosthetic, forcing most people to use their non-dominant hand. Not that he was ashamed of prosthetic, he just didn’t want to take people by surprise when they gripped the hard metal. Especially the models. He had one girl long ago refuse to even get near him because she was so disturbed by it.

He mentally scolded himself for allowing her to control the handshake. Now he had no choice but to follow her lead and offer his prosthetic. His eyes never left hers when their hands touched. He sighed in relief when she didn’t show any indication that she was uncomfortable with the contact.

He couldn’t help but smile at her reaction but also saddened that he couldn’t feel her hand through the metal. “The pleasure is all mine, Miss Altea. But please, call me Shiro.”

She giggled. “Okay, Shiro.” He never thought his name would sound so good. “But now you have to address me simply as Allura. Do we have a deal?”

“Deal.”

Before he was to allowed to drown in her blue eyes, Lance came back draping a thick towel around Allura. “Alright, alright come on, ‘Lura,” he said, wrapping the towel around her body trying to dry her off. “We’re already a behind schedule because you wanted to release your inner Hilary Duff with all this rain. I’ll have Hunk bring you in some dry clothes. Now go finish drying off so Nyma can get started on your hair for your first look. You have…” he checked his cell phone for the time. “An hour and thirteen minutes!”

Allura hugged the towel tighter around herself. “Alright, alright.” She turned to leave towards the dressing rooms towards the back of the studio, but before she left she turned towards Shiro. “See you soon, Shiro. Can’t wait to see what you have planned.” She gave a wink. Shiro could only give an awkward wave in return.

Lance patted Shiro’s back in a knowing fashion. “We’re gonna have a good time today, Shiro. Trust me.” Soon, he left in the same direction she had gone.

He finally felt his heartbeat return to normal. Today was going to be a long day because he knew that she was going to be the death of him.

While Allura and her team worked to get the model together, Shiro decided to check out the wardrobe brought it so he can make some last minutes adjustments to the set. Most were long, elegant gowns by both famous and local designers. Allura’s team already knew the exact order of everything. The hair, the makeup, the outfits were already predetermined. Shiro’s job was to simply capture the beauty of the gowns and Allura on camera.

Seeing how dark the first set of gowns were, Shiro decided to let in more natural light. The gloomy skies above would give a unique effect to the gown as well as compliment Allura’s complexion.

Soon, everything was in place. The cameras were fully charged, cleaned, and ready for a long day of shooting for a magazine he never thought of reading. He sat down in his chair and waited for Allura to make her entrance.

When he heard the sound of heels click on the hardwood floors, he stood and got his camera ready.

Shiro held his breath as he watched her approach. As he suspected, she wore the dark blue gown first. It was truly an elegant piece. Probably worth more than him, his studio, and apartment combined. The gown was made of a heavy material and it had a high collar that left her shoulders and back bare. She wore thousands of dollars worth of crystals and gold.

Her makeup was dramatic. Lance placed dark shadow around her eyes that gave her eyes piercing yet haunting look. Her lips were painted a deep red and her blush was harsh. Her silver hair was pulled back into a low bun. It was messy, but at the same time, he could tell that each curl was meticulously placed. Finally, atop her head sat a golden crown. She looked like royalty. Like an empress.

“Sorry if getting together took longer than you’re usually used to.” Her voice snapped him out of his stupor. He turned his wrist to check the time. She was two minutes ahead of schedule.

Shiro cleared his throat and pretended he was messing with something on his camera so he could make himself stop staring at her. “You’re just on time, actually. I’m impressed,” he told her with a lopsided grin.

She gave him a smirk. “Impressed that I clean up nicely or that I’m on time with two minutes to spare?”

He challenged her smirk with one of his own. “Both.” He pointed his camera at her before he snapped a picture. He reviewed the photo to make sure the set complimented both her skin and the gown. “You came a long way from looking like a drowned alley cat,” he teased.

He feared that he went too far with his response until he heard her laugh. “Oh, so you are funny?” she responded as she gathered her dress so she was able to walk onto the busy set. As gently as she could in such an extravagant dress, she sat down on the vintage couch. Immediately, her team followed her to smooth out any wrinkles or straighten out where the material had bunched up. She kept her eyes perfectly still when Lance strode over to apply more mascara to them. “And here I thought you were only capable of making shitty puns.” Her accent made the lighthearted insult sound almost like a compliment.

Shiro blinked. So this kitten’s got claws? Such language from a beautiful girl was...kind of a turn on if he was being honest with himself. Even in such an expensive...well everything, he could tell that she didn’t take his remark seriously.

Lance snorted from his position over Allura. “Yeah, dude. ‘Catnado’? Wow. - Look up real quick, babe. - I’m almost embarrassed for you. Because c’mon, you can do better than that.”

“I can’t,” he told him with shrugged shoulders.

“He really can’t.” Ouch.

When her eyes met his, he took another picture. He frowned when he realized that it still wasn’t the lighting he wanted. “And that’s why I’m a photographer and not a comedian,” he told them.

He came to the decision that all the artificial lighting that wasn’t directly from his camera wasn’t going to work on this dress. He turned off the lamp directly to his left and instructed his crew to turn off the rest. He only kept the reflectors to help distribute and guide the flashes from his camera.

He set down the camera and approached her. “Alright, Miss Al-“ he heard her tisk and he quickly corrected himself. “Alright, Allura. Are you ready?”

She nodded with a bright smile, careful not to disturb the curls at the base of her neck. “More than ever.”

“Well okay.” He turned back to pick up his camera. “Let’s get started, then. Remember we have a long day ahead of us. If you need a break, don’t hesitate to ask.”

“I may look like royalty, Shiro but I assure you, I am far from a princess. I’m sure I can handle whatever you decide to dish out,” she said with a wink.

Well just fuck me up.

“How do you want me?” she asked innocently and he almost choked on air.

“Excuse me?” he tried his best to recollect himself. In the distance, he heard Lance howl with laughter and a couple of his team laughed quietly along with him. His felt his cheeks flare up with heat.

Allura blinked at him owlishly with well-rehearsed fake innocence. “I said, ‘how do you want me?’ As in, do you want me standing or sitting? How do you want my face? This is your vision. I am only here to help you interpret that to an audience.”

A familiar voice spoke from the side. “Are you sure this isn’t your first shoot, Mr. Shirogane?” Lotor appeared beside him, smirk still firmly in place. “You seem awfully nervous for someone who has been in the business for almost six years. And, why may I ask, are all the lights switched off? This dress cost thousands. Surely, you would want to highlight its elegance through proper lighting?” he questioned with a hint of sarcasm.

Before Shiro could go through the explanation that the dress doesn’t reflect artificial lighting well, Allura intervened. “Lotor, this isn’t your studio,” she informed him sternly. “It’s Shiro’s. He knows exactly what he is doing. That’s why he was hired for the job. Now let the man work.”

Shiro stood in shock. It was unexpected that she openly gave him creative control over this project. It showed that she trusted him. He smiled then instructed Allura how he wanted to showcase the gown.

~•xXx•~

73 frames in and Shiro was convinced that Allura’s eyes were the most expressive he’s ever seen. She conveyed such a wide range of emotion with her eyes alone. It only took her a split second to completely change the feel of the photo.

He was elated that he didn’t have to do much to direct her on what he wanted from her. She handled everything on her own. If he went in for a low angle, she held her head up high towards the skylight to give the illusion that she appeared taller than what she actually was. Whatever he gave her, she tried her best to compliment every angle he shot her at and it matched up perfectly with his vision.

The downside to using the natural world as his source of lighting was that it was unpredictable. It was still gloomy outside, but the sun was overhead so it covered the room in a greyish blue hue.

He let his camera hang from the strap around his neck as he sent out another request. “Allura, can you give me a longing look while we still have this cloud over us? I want to try something out.”

She nodded and almost immediately, she had transformed into someone else. She allowed her lips part slightly and her eyes held the expression of someone who was light years away. The shadows in the room not only gave the dress a different hue but it also dulled and aged the expensive jewelry she wore, as if they hadn’t been polished in years. She looked exactly like a queen who no longer had a people to rule over as if she had lost them to time.

Shiro was blown away. “Perfect.” He took a couple more shots then set his camera down. He stood and stretched his back. “That’s a wrap for the first set, everyone.”

He approached Allura. She was no longer far away. She was right here with him. Eyes sparkling like the sun over the ocean. She smiled up at him from the couch. “Well?” She raised a brow. “How did I do?” she asked him honestly.

“Magnificent,” he told her without hesitation. “Honestly, I’m blown away. You exceeded my expectations.”

She laughed. “I told you I was no princess, Shiro.” And she was right. She was an absolute goddess.

“Okay, Allura back to the chair.” Lance was beside her, helping her stand up straight in the tight dress. “We have to move on the next shoot in just under an hour if we want to stay on schedule.”

“You act just like a camp counselor, Lance,” she told him.

“Damn right. All I need is a whistle,” he said while guiding her away from the set. “Coran left me in charge for the day and I’m not going to let you flop your way through it like some…?”

“Weblum?”

“Yeeeah that. Not today, sister. Now get those shoes off. Here, I brought your slippers.” And with that, they were gone deep in the dressing room. There was another grueling round of hair pulling and makeup application.

Shiro watched them go. He was being honest when he told her that she was magnificent. He had never experienced anything like her. The way she was able to have complete control her expression but she somehow made them editorial. It was breathtaking.

~•xXx•~

The hours ticked by and the next two shoots went off without a single problem. He was an expert behind the camera and she was an expert on camera. He also became more comfortable around her. He was no longer tied tongued when she spoke to him or teased him. He learned that he could dish it right back to her and it only made her smile more.

Now, they were setting up for the 4th shoot. This set had the theme of an enchanted forest. Complete with fake trees, grass, and flowers. He was grateful they were fake because he didn’t think his crew liked sneezing every few seconds because of the pollen floating around.

Before he knew it, Allura was approaching him. This dress was straight out of a fairytale. The lilac chiffon and lace material hung casually off her shoulders and it was so light that it flowed gracefully behind her as she strode forward. Her hair was down in soft waves with several small braids and several flowers were woven into them. The tiara from the last shoot was replaced by a circlet made of vines. Her makeup was whimsical. Her eyes were completely surrounded by pink pigment as if were a mask and her lips were bare with the exception of a vertical white line that went directly down the center. If she had elongated ears, she would look just like a magical elf in her secret garden.

It wasn’t until she sat down in the middle of the field did Shiro realize that she was barefoot. For this shoot, the dress was more forgiving so he allowed the artificial lighting to flow through the set.

He stood atop a ladder, looking down on her. He was changing on the bulbs in one of the taller lamps. “You ready to rock and roll, Princess?” he winked.

She retaliated at the nickname by slightly shaking his ladder. Shiro quickly found his balance and laughed nervously. He shook his head in fake disappointment. “Who would have thought that the Allura Altea would be capable of murder?”

She rolled her eyes. “And who would have thought that the Takashi Shirogane would be taken out by such a small woman by means of falling from a 3ft ladder?”

Hearing her say his first name made his chest tighten. He knew he was falling again. He knew it. He felt it. He was going to do nothing about it.

He turned his attention towards the bulb so she wouldn’t see his face flush. “Ya know, that’d make a really good episode on one of those murder porn shows. I can picture it now, ‘The Photographer, The Model and The 3ft Ladder.’ He laughed at his own joke and was delighted to hear her laugh along with him. He inspected the bulb closer and noticed dirt had collected on the surface. “Hey, can you do me a favor and pass me that towel on that chair?”

She did as she told and when she handed him the towel, Shiro’s hand brushed against hers briefly. It was just as soft as he imagined. “Can I get you anything else, Mr. Shirogane? Maybe a lemonade? Or a single Oreo?” She was teasing him.

He played along. “No, lemonade is too sweet and no one can just have one Oreo.” As he climbed down, he took the chance to wipe the rest of the lamp. “A good night’s rest seems like a good deal, though.” That came out wrong. Really wrong. He didn’t want her to think of him as some creep who promised her more money if she spent the night with him.

He opened his mouth to apologize for the easily misread comment but she was already talking, “Naughty naughty, Shiro.” She placed her hand on her chest in a fake offense. “What kind of girl do you take me for? At least take me out to dinner first.” Her voice danced with humor.

Shiro watched her. Did she just...ask him out on a date? She couldn’t have. She was just having a friendly banter with him. This was all in good fun.

A sudden burst of claps interrupted what he was going to say next. “Alright people.” When did Lance get a clipboard? “Shoot 4 is going down in T-minus 2 minutes and 37 seconds. Places people.” Did he think he was on a Hollywood movie set?

Allura rolled her eyes at his behavior. “Keep that up and I’ll tell Coran you’re out to steal his job.”

“They call me Mister Steal Yo Job,” he told her, jotting things down on a clipboard.

“Do they, Lance?” she asked sarcastically with a straight face. “Do they?”

Lance began to click his pen rapidly on the clipboard that definitely wasn’t his. “Yes, Allura...yes they do. Now let’s get going. We only have one more scene to shoot today.” Out of his pocket, he fished out a tube of chapstick. He went to Allura who immediately puckered her lips out to allow him to apply it. When he was done, he popped his lips and she immediately followed suit.

Allura stood in the middle of the “garden” and waited for Shiro to pick up his camera. Her eyes danced with mischief as she watched him. “Where do you want me, Shiro?”

This time, he was ready. “Just stand there for a moment.” He brought his camera up to take a test shot. He reviewed the photo. She had her eyes crossed with her tongue sticking out. He laughed at the silly face but took note that he liked how the garment reflected light. “Alright, Allura. Do what you do best.”

And she did.

The next half hour, he once again found himself completely infatuated with her. Every pose was perfection, every subtle movement was meticulously planned and he snapped it all.

Everything was going perfectly until they ran into a little problem.

He imagined a pose that he wanted her to try and she only looked confused at his instructions. She cocked her head to the side and tried to move her body the way he wanted her to, but it just came off as uncomfortable.

She stood up and moved away from the area and gestured towards the patch of grass. “Could you maybe...show me?” She obviously wanted him to show her exactly what pose he was thinking of.

Shiro let out a nervous chuckle. Sure, he had the body of a model because he worked out 4 times a week, but he was far from one. He had the social awkwardness of a kid who was forced to sing at the school’s talent show and he was also camera shy. A long scar on the bridge of your nose will do that to a person.

He set down his camera on a nearby stool and made his way to the area. He laid on his back and brought his arms up to rest of his over his head in a casual manner. “So with the beading that lines the seams, I figured the designer would also want to showcase that. Having your arms out the way and positioned like this will add a fantasy element to the photo.”

Allura’s eyes beamed hiding a mischievous smile. “Oh, that’s a wonderful idea. Care to share any more ideas?”

He nodded. “Maybe this kind of pose would also work?” He shifted until he rested on his stomach. He honestly had no idea what to do with his hands, so he just rested them under his head like he was taking pictures at the mall. Just as he was about to do another pose, he heard her laugh.

He heard everyone laugh, actually.

He looked around with furrowed brows. “What?” he asked out.

Allura tried not to laugh too hard because she didn’t want to ruin her makeup. “C-could you show me the second pose again?” she asked through a fit of giggles.

Raised a brow but did as he was told, “Yeah, sure but what’s so funny?” he questioned. “I’m trying to show…” it dawned on him. “...a model how to...model.” He let out a groan. He looked at her. “You’re just fuckin with me, aren’t you? You knew exactly how I wanted you to pose.”

She couldn’t hold back anymore and she erupted with laughter. “I’m sorry, Shiro,” she managed to say through her laughter. She used her hands to fan away tears that were forming. “I just wanted to see if you’d actually do it.”

Shiro felt his face heat up with embarrassment as he let his head fall. He must of have looked ridiculous rolling around in the grass like he was some top-heavy garden gnome.

He suddenly felt the heat of a body beside him. He didn’t need to look up to know exactly who it was. He could smell her sweet perfume and feel the ends of her soft hair caress the nape of his neck as she leaned over him.

“I truly am sorry, Shiro,” she whispered into his ear and he felt his face grow hotter. “If it helps you feel any better, you looked damn good posing like you were in a JC Penny catalog. Maybe I could photograph you some time and show you how a real model does it?” she proposed with a soft giggle.

Was she flirting with him? As inappropriate as it might seem, given that they were on work hours, he tested the waters a bit.

He peeked at her from under the fort he built with his arms. “You just want to see me shirtless,” she said with a boyish grin.

If she was taken aback by his comment, she didn’t show it. She moved closer to him so only he could hear her. “Maybe I do.” Her voice was downright sinful and he had to repress the shiver that raced up his spine. Just as quick as she was there, she was suddenly gone, putting distance between them. It was a bittersweet moment for him.

She poked at his side. “Now, move so I can do my job and get out of this dress.”

Shiro sat up and watched her. “So now you’re bossing me around?” She held out her hands to help him into a standing position. He doesn’t think he’ll ever forget how soft her hands are.

They switch positions and she proceeded to do the exact pose he wanted, only she did it better than he could ever imagine. He stood on the ladder he had earlier so he could photograph her from above.

It was a mistake.

From this angle, it was definitely more private because only he saw her at the moment. They were in their own separate world. Sure, the others could see her body, but only he saw her body language. He saw the way her fingers danced on the edge of her lips. He saw how her back arched just right. He saw the way her eyes wouldn’t leave his.

He cleared his throat. “Can you look that way for a couple of seconds, Allura?” She was beautiful the way she was, but he didn’t know what was going to happen if she kept looking at him like that.

He forced himself to look away. “I - uh, I think we got it,” he announced. “That’s a wrap.”

He climbed down the ladder and noticed that she hadn’t moved from her spot and her eyes were still glued to him.

He towered over her and squatted down. “What?”

She raised a perfectly arched brow. “Aren’t you going to help me up?”

He laughed but offered his hand out anyway. “I thought you were no princess?”

She took his offered hand. “You are correct, but I am a lady, Shiro.” He hoisted her up and her body pressed into his and he did nothing to put distance between them. In the back of his mind, he was vaguely aware that their hands were still connected between them. Without her shoes on, he noticed just how much shorter she was than him.

Someone cleared their throat and both immediately put distance between them. It was Lotor. Shiro almost forgot about the man. He was never on set, instead, he chose to always stand in the shadows of the studio.

Lotor approached the two. His golden eyes watched Shiro with an unreadable expression. The silver-haired man then offered his arm to Allura who took it without question. “Would you please excuse us, Mr. Shirogane?” He then led her to a secluded part of the studio where they could talk privately.

Shiro watched them talk. Lotor had his arms folded across his chest while she mimicked his stance. He couldn’t hear what they were saying but they both looked irritated with the other.

Shiro groaned. It had slipped his mind that she already had a boyfriend. Here he was, a lesser known photographer falling in love with a supermodel who was completely out of his league. He mentally slapped himself for being so stupid. She was only being nice to him and he had mistaken it for flirtation.

He peeked at the talking couple again. Their body language had changed completely. Lotor had one of his hands on her shoulder and the other under her chin to make her look up at him. He was saying something in what looked like a gentle voice. She nodded slowly in response and pressed into him with a hug and rested her head on his chest. He wrapped his arms around her and kissed her forehead in return. Shiro felt a tinge of jealousy rise within him.

The two parted and made their way back to the photographer. Lotor went on to talk to Lance while Allura approached Shiro. He noticed that she avoided his eyes. He didn’t know why his heart felt so heavy. Maybe because he knew that whatever spark that was between them was extinguished.

“Everything alright?” he asked. The thought that he did something to threaten the couple’s relationship sat wrong with him. He was no homewrecker.

She hesitated before she answered. “Yes,” She started to rub her arm. “Everything is fine. I just…” she bit her lip while she struggled to find the right words.

“Lotor thinks that we need to take a break. I got carried away and hadn’t noticed the time. He gets upset when I do that. I have a tendency to,” she brought her fingers up to do air quotes, “‘overwork myself.’’ She said her statement with a mocking voice and ended with a pout.

Shiro looked at his watch. “He’s right. I hadn’t noticed the time, either,” he admitted sheepishly. Time did get away from them. It was already close to 5 and they have been shooting since 10:30 that morning. He felt guilty about putting both Allura and their crews through that. “Lunch does sound good right about now.”

Allura perked up. “Lance already asked your crew for the opinion of what they wanted for lunch. They came to a consensus to order Thai,” she said. Suddenly her face was serious. “You right like Thai food, right?”

“I’m a slut for Thai food.” The words tumbled out of his mouth before he could stop them. He completely blamed Matt for the outburst. His best friend was always a slut for everything.

He immediately felt his heart flutter when he heard her laugh harder than she had all day. “Wow. Well, I’m happy to hear that your crew knows you well enough.”

Allura heard Lance calling her from the dressing room. “I have to go get out of this dress. The food should be here shortly. We ordered enough for everyone to at least get seconds.”

He thanked her and as she turned to leave, he reached out to grab her arm. She turned her body back to him in question. “Yes, Shiro?” she asked with her head cocked to the side. Why was she so fucking cute?

“I just wanted to say that I’m sorry if I crossed the line, earlier. I didn’t mean for your boyfriend get upset.”

Her brows came together in confusion. “My boyfriend?”

“Yeah...Lotor. He’s your boyfriend, right?”

Her eyes went wide and she almost doubled over in laughter. “Lotor? My boyfriend?!” she repeated loudly, drawing the attention of people who were nearby. “You think Lotor and I are dating? Heavens no!” She looked for Lotor in the crowd and shouted out to him, “Lotor! Shiro thinks we’re dating!”

“She wishes, Shirogane,” came the bored reply.

Shiro was confused.

Allura got herself together long enough to explain. “Sorry, that’s just too funny. However, I can’t fully blame you for thinking that,” she told him while she wiped away tears from the corner of her eyes. “Our relationship is only for show. Along with fame comes some very...enthusiastic fans. The reason why he’s always by my side in public is for safety reasons. He sort of intimidates people who think they can boldly grab at me. I can handle myself just fine, but he insists that I bring him with along with me for precautions.”

“I hope that clears things up between us, Shiro,” she said simply with a wink. “I must get going before Lance blows a whistle.” Then she turned to leave.

He watched her as she walked away. In the distance, he vaguely heard a whistle but the only thing on his mind was:

She’s single.

This obviously ran away from me. Part two should be up within a day or two. Hope you guys like it.

#shallura #shiro #allura #voltron

124 notes · View notes

ang3leyes · 6 years

Text

Rebel Rebel

Notes: Hey! I wrote something?? Okay, this one goes out to @elf-scones-research for being there and listening to me rant about this for like months. Love ya bby! Without further ado, the Radio Rebel AU I’ve been planning for months.

Summary: Small, gay, well-mannered Eddie Kaspbrak has a secret. More specifically, a secret identity. By day, he stays quiet and hangs out with the self-proclaimed Losers Club, but by night, he's the smooth talking anonymous DJ 'Radio Rebel'. The genius part of it all? No one would ever suspect it. Only now, Eddie's long time crush Richie Tozier is in the picture, and there's more at stake than just his podcasted radio show.

Pairings: Reddie, Stanlon, possible Benverly

Chapter: One/Six

Word Count: 3883

Warnings: Sonia Kaspbrak. Just,,,, Sonia Kaspbrak.

Eddie flipped on his earmuffs. He checked the voice modifier. He took a deep breath. Here we go again he thought as he hit ‘Record’.

He supposed it was stupid. A bunch of idealistic bullshit, which it kind of was. But… there was just something so tempting about sounding like a bit of a smartass anonymously.

“This is Radio Rebel coming at you live from the underground,” Eddie felt something warm slide over him. He smiled as he felt it sink into his skin, felt himself becoming comfortable, for once, hidden inside his own skin. “You don’t know who I am, but I know who you are. Because I’m one of you,” this part always felt the best to Eddie. Hiding in plain sight, the thrill of it was intoxicating. He could speak his mind, he could play music and talk to people and be himself, without anyone actually knowing it was him. It felt as good as telling a secret, and it didn’t sting nearly as much.

“Before we get to a Bowie mix I made when I was bored off my ass in English, I just wanted to tell you how bullshit the report cards that came out today at Lincoln Bay are. So what if I don’t want to dress like I’m from the 1950’s? A low participation grade for short shorts, that sucks ass.” Eddie smiled. He was angry, yeah, but that's where his best stuff tended to come from. “But it’s not just the teachers, is it? Guys, we all talk shit about the school staff for putting us into boxes and shutting us down, but I thought, since grades were being handed out, I’d let you all know that it’s not just the teachers who fuck us over by judging us.” Delicate, ran a tangent thought through Eddie’s head. Fairy boy in the short shorts. “Jocks, outcasts, dorks, the pops, the gays,” Eddie took a sharp breathe from between his teeth. “We’re all so quick to judge. And, obviously, people get hurt by that. You’re you. You’re not some perfect mix of qualities that make you one thing, neither are your best friends, neither are you classmates, neither am I.” Eddie spun in his chair and sighed. “I do it too guys, sorry this turned into a tangent, I promise I’m not trying to lecture. We all have a power to change things, that’s all I wanted to remind you.” Eddie rolled his chair around in lazy circles. “Talk to the kid with the remote control car. Invite him to soccer tryouts. Ask the stoners for help on your math homework. Actively change the status quo,” he spun once more before stopping and planting his feet determinedly. “I dare you.” Eddie paused. “And I get it. Not everyone can do that right away. But this next song is what inspires me to try a little bit every day. Hope you guys like it.” With that, Eddie lowered the headset mic and spun once more to his computer, selecting the song. The opening riff to ‘Rebel Rebel’ filled his bedroom. He smirked at his own joke.

He loved this. This was his life, and for the first time in a while, he really, really loved it. This was his music, his advice, his show. Here, he could be himself.

Admittedly, at first he had been unsure. His music taste wasn’t eclectic or cool or obscure or anything people really tended to enjoy in a radio program. He listened to a strange mix of classic rock, even classic-er rock, and ‘80s pop. He didn’t know much about music either. He could clumsily play a few notes on the piano, (the remnants of lessons his mother had scheduled in his heavily drowsed childhood that he resented and shuddered at the thought of), but that was it.

All of this, he had thought, would lead to a flop of a podcast, so he had let the idea sit on the backburner. That had, however, been before the first day of Junior year, when Eddie had returned from the summer after coming out the last day of Sophomore year.

It wasn’t that he had gotten pushed into a locker or been beat up behind the school like the movies might have suggested. Instead, people treated him like he was breakable, timid and quiet. He was just so done with the soft stares and even softer words, spoken to him as if people thought that if their straightness was even a smidge louder, he would shatter. What was worse, his new sense of retrospect had given him an almost superhuman ability to see those around him struggling.

He couldn't help but see that even within friend groups, stereotypes prevailed. Ditzy blondes and rude jocks filled his thoughts for months, and it was little things that caused him to throw caution (and his fears of his music taste being inadequate) to the wind. He would give his advice and try to make a difference, even if no one would listen. What came to surprise Eddie was that it actually worked. His podcasted radio show, Radio Rebel, had caught on and, though Eddie wasn’t sure how, a significantly large portion of his school (and other schools in the area? What the hell?) listened to him every Tuesday and Thursday night.

He danced around with silly kicks and shimmying shoulders to the music playing from his computer, another show successfully recorded and broadcasted live, and began to gather his homework, set out his clothes, and get ready for school the next morning.

Though he had started this whole show because of the bitter taste school had put in his mouth, it was heartwarming to hear people listen to his advice, or to at least try to. He felt (in the moments he was walking through the school, seeing his words rippling back and forth between friends old and new and hearing his clueless band of loser friends debate the illustrious Radio Rebel’s identity) like a spy in the old films he and Ben had watched over the summer when the rest of their friends had been busy. So yeah, he was excited for school, excited to see that from behind an unknown persona, he was making a difference, and excited to spend time with his friends, who he loved with everything he had.

This excitement for school, Eddie found once more hours later as he stood by his locker with Mike and Bill at his sides.

“Ruh-Radio Rebel was a-awesome last night,” Bill said, leaning against the locker and sighing.

“I know! Bowie’s my absolute favorite,” Mike was smiling now too, the curve of his lips around his words giving him the appearance of sunshine and of sunflowers. (Eddie, of course, knew that his best friend loved David Bowie-it was one of the reasons why the man’s music had become a regular part of Eddie’s rotation).

“I don’t know,” Eddie said, hiding a smirk, “Wasn’t their advice a bit... idealistic? ‘Change the status quo’ is harder than it sounds.” Eddie was constantly undercover to find what he could do in order to make Radio Rebel universal and unbiased and, most of all, true.

Mike gasped. Bill’s eyes bulged.

“What? Of cuh-course not!” Bill declared, puffing his chest out and looking personally affronted

“Maybe they aren’t realistic, but they’re inspirational. So what if it’s hard? Rebel’s doing a good thing.” Mike, instead of defending the school’s favorite radio DJ as he had done in the past, smiled down at Eddie with a spark lit up in the corner of his eye. His smile was playful, but it almost made Eddie wonder… no, Mike didn’t know. Of course he didn’t. Nobody would ever suspect the cool, relatable Radio Rebel to be the small Gay Kid who didn’t seem to fit anywhere. Most people actually thought Rebel was a girl, much to Eddie’s chagrin and pleasure. The voice modifier worked miracles. So no. Mike wasn’t acting any out of the ordinary. Everything was perfectly normal, and Eddie was projecting.

“Yeah,” Eddie agreed distractedly. “Wish I could be more like them.”

Bill and Mike shared a look.

“W-well,” Bill said, kicking up fear within Eddie’s chest. He couldn’t know anything, none of them could.

“Bill and I have been talking,” Mike’s voice was soft as he laid a hand on Eddie’s shoulder, but instead of sounding condescending, his voice was comforting in an understanding way. “We think you should talk to your aunt.”

“My aunt?” Eddie questioned, looking from one of his best friends to the other.

“Eh-ever since you’ve been living with her, yuh-you’ve suh-seemed more confident.” Bill explained, looking a bit uncomfortable and glancing at Mike, who was the best out of all of them at giving advice without making a person feel small.

“We thought it might help you to get a job at Slam. The two of you could spend time there together.” Eddie couldn’t deny that every interaction he had with his aunt (and the owner of Slam FM Radio) Joyce made him feel just the slightest bit more solid, the slightest bit more real. But a job at Slam, one of the biggest radio stations in Seattle? He was already so busy with his own show.

(A small voice whispering, delicate, you’re my delicate boy, the slick slide of honey down his throat, something in the middle of it all, the recognizable bump of a pill in its sugar coating, bird bones enclosed in human skin-)

“I don’t know,” Eddie said instead, “It’s pretty hard to get a job there.”

“But yuh-you’re pretty talented.” Bill said, bumping his shoulder against Eddie’s with a reassuring smile that had made their whole group fall in love with him at one point in their lives.

“Just think about it,” Mike said, his forehead creasing. “Your aunt is really good for you.”

And she was. Eddie knew this, he wasn’t stupid. Ever since his aunt and her sons (one of whom he only saw occasionally due to his status of being away at college) had moved into town, they had taken him in. They had taken him from sticky half swallowed medicine and a drugged dredging summer that had seeped its way into Eddie’s pores like sap to a tree, (so slowly and so entirely that he could think of nothing else), and had given him a strength he’d never known was possible. The immense gratitude he felt, as well as his unsureness, well, that only created a thicker barrier from them. In this reverence there was hesitance, and in all hesitance there is fear.

“I’ll think it over,” Eddie said finally, looking around at the people who could care about him without making him feel breakable, letting a smile flit across his face, small and genuine as he reached up to bring his two towering friends down for a hug.

“How can you even think in a time like this?” Beverly’s voice broke through their touching moment as she and Ben walked up, completing the group of five best friends.

“We’re so close!” Ben said, and Eddie bit back an inappropriate joke. That wasn’t supposed to be him. He wasn’t funny, at least, he never had been to anybody else but himself and his cousins.

“Radio Rebel revealed the biggest clue about their identity yet!” Bev squealed, taking Eddie’s hand and spinning him in a circle.

“Stop it Beverly,” he said through stern laughter, “What do you mean?”

“In last night’s show! Did you even listen? Minute 0:27, Radio Rebel goes to our school!” Ben was positively glowing and it made Eddie feel warm all over to know his small mishap had caused that happiness. “They could be anyone all around us!”

“It could be,” Eddie put a hand to his chin and tilted his head, “Mr. Dennis. Or, no! I bet it’s Principle Marino!” Mike laughed at his sarcastic tone and slung his arm around his best friend.

“I-if you kuh-keep that up Ben’s gonna get an aneurysm,” Bill said, linking his arm with Ben’s unoccupied one.

“This is serious guys!” Ben huffed as they began to walk to Bev's locker, located farther down the hallway in a different clump. “What if I like, spill my drink on them at lunch or something? I don’t want the whole school to hate me,” he bit his lip as if he considered that to be a very real possibility.

“Benny, it’s literally impossible for anyone to hate you,” Bev said fiercely.

“You’re so sweet Ben, nobody'd do that to you.” Eddie really hoped Rebel didn’t come across as a person who’d rat someone out to the rest of the school for something so small.

“Ugh, wuh-would you look at that?” The friends were diverted from Ben’s plight as Bill pointed across the hallway where Greta Bowie was standing with her lackeys, chatting and batting her eyelashes in a way that just screamed fake as she kicked Josh Halkin’s book from where it had fallen from his hands, like the book was nothing and Josh was even less. If there was something Eddie absolutely could not stand, it was a sense of hierarchy. And, okay, as much as he preached open mindedness, he was loyal most of all, and Greta had been so horrible to each one of his friends in so many ways that Eddie found it inexcusable. This was just a sick reminder of it, and Eddie felt a fire high up in his chest that pushed him to walk in her direction at the same time Bev did.

Eddie could feel the other three following at a slower pace and looked over to Beverly, seeing the same fire on her face as he felt within himself.

“What’re you doing?” Ben called, causing Bev to turn around and Eddie to turn his head over his shoulder.

“What Radio Rebel told us to do,” she responded, taking Eddie’s arm and squeezing.

“Let’s see how far ‘idealistic’ will get us,” Eddie said, feeling less and less sure about himself by the ticking seconds, but soon he and Bev were standing right in front of Greta and her friends, who giggled meanly behind their hands as if they knew something Eddie and Bev didn’t.

“Well, well, well,” Greta said, her voice pinched as if she was talking through her nose, “What do we have here?” She raked her eyes up and down Eddie and Bev.

“We saw what you just did to Josh,” Bev said, and Eddie bit back a bit of fond annoyance at his ability to cut straight to the chase, no preamble necessary. “It was kinda rude, don’t you think?” Bev’s voice was sickeningly sweet, her eyes glinting dangerously.

“Oh, wanna fuck him too, do you Marsh? The other four aren’t enough for you?” Eddie gritted his teeth, breathless fury boiling at the base of his throat.

“Excuse me?” he bit out, causing the heads of everyone in the opposing groups to turn to him. He wiped his palms on his shorts. Why was he nervous now? He wasn’t anxious with his friends when he went to make a sassy remark, and he wasn’t when he was in his bedroom speaking into a microphone. “W-what did you just, what did you just say to her?” Greta looked a smallest bit surprised. Eddie doubted they’d spoken to one another since seventh grade. “You can’t just,” he whipped his head from side to side nervously, “Just say that! Jesus, what the hell is wrong with everyone at this school?”

"Hm," Greta hummed, tilting her head to the side. "This Rebel Rabble," Bev mumbled 'Radio Rebel' in correction under her breath as she looked at Eddie in gratefulness and awe, "Is making sickly nobodies think they can talk to us."

"Hey!" Mike stepped forward, his brave, broad chest high and his kind demeanor twisting into something angry. "Don't talk about by friends like that!" Eddie's teeth ground together once more as Ben and Bill stepped forward as well to defend him, and Bev reached out to grab his hand, because despite the fact that his friends never made him feel delicate, their protective nature sometimes made it hard for him to appear strong to others.

That didn't stop him from being grateful to all of them, but especially Mike in that moment, who, as the school's star quarterback, held the most respect among their friend group with the rest of the school and caused Greta to back off with a small 'whatever'.

"Let's go girls," she said, whipping around and flipping her hair like she was the mean girl in a silly movie as she walked away from the school's resident losers.

"Fuck off asshole," Eddie said as he glared daggers into Greta Keene's retreating form, though Greta was a bit too far away to be within earshot. Beverly snorted, and with a sad smile, Eddie realized that once more, his friends had come to his rescue. When, he wondered, would it be the other way around?

“What is up my dudes, this is Trashmouth Tozier of The 69ers,” Richie’s loud voice rang out as he focused his video camera (large and vintage from the late ‘80s because Richie was Edgy like that) on Stan, who was standing at his locker, getting his books out.

“That’s not our name,” Stan deadpanned as he turned around.

“Yeah, I know Mr. Lead Singer Big Shot, but I thought it might be time for an upgrade,” Richie said as he balanced the bulky camera and went to throw an arm over Stan’s shoulders.

“An upgrade in a lead guitarist, maybe,” Stan grumbled, causing Richie to turn the camera clumsily around to capture his face within the frame as he threw his head back in a bout of raucous laughter.

“Oh, Stan the Man gets off a good one!” Richie’s glasses dangled a bit crookedly from his face, and his hair was mused into wild curls, and these two things matched with the disgruntled and slightly windblown looking nature of his shirt (which was brightly patterned and buttoned wrong) gave him the distinct appearance of always looking breathless. Perhaps this was what gave him the feeling of always being on the edge, and maybe it was what made him feel as if he was at the precipice of a personality.

“Shut up Richie,” Stan mumbled, shrugging Richie’s arm from off of his shoulders.

“What’d we talk about, Staniel,” Richie said, wrapping his body lankily around the camera to show off a self satisfied grin, the glint in his eyes refracting in his coke bottle lenses. Stan only heaved out an exasperated sigh, his face taking on a sour pinch. “Go on, say it!”

“Hi, we’re Fight or Flight, and we’re gonna tear up prom,” Stan began and tapered off, wincing and shaking his head, as if wondering why he had become friends with Richie in the first place, “Just like Richie tore up your mom last night.” Richie let out large guffawing laughs.

“Would’ya look at that! Stanny’s really got it in him!” Stan put his head in his hands, and removed it a second later to turn to the camera.

“I lost my dignity for twenty dollars.” Richie laughed nonetheless.

“Twenty dollars well spent!” he hollered, and before Stan could release the cutting remark that sat on his tongue, Greta was strutting up to them.

“Hiya Richie,” she giggled, a fake little thing that was too high in pitch to sit right with Richie, “Hi Richie’s camera,” Stan cleared his throat, and Greta turned, her face flashing disdain before molding back up into positivity. “Uris.”

Richie rolled his eyes. Greta, he knew, was a certified bitch. He wasn’t stupid. He knew about how she bullied Stan in middle school. He knew she’d trashed the yearbook club’s classroom because the student editor had had the guts to tell her to shove it. He saw how she treated everyone in school, and Richie hated it. What made his blood boil nearly more than anything else, though, was the particular fixation she had on a specific band of students, a group of self proclaimed Losers. It wasn’t like Richie would ever admit it, but for the past year and a half, he’d been getting closer to the, again self proclaimed, Losers Club, and he liked to consider at least some of them to be his friends.

And then there was the case of Eddie Kaspbrak, but Richie tried his very hardest not to think about that. Greta had been a bitch to him for years upon years, though Richie didn’t know how anyone could do anything other than respect the guy.

“What do you want Greta?” he asked, his voice flat.

“Just to say hi,” she giggled, twisting her hair around her finger with something dangerous glinting in her eyes. “Come on girls.”

With that, she crooked her finger and had her friends trailing behind her. Richie shut off the camera.

“I don’t know what the fuck her problem is,” he muttered as he walked over to Stan. He looped his arm casually around Stan’s shoulders, because while Stan pulled away mockingly and made a face as if to tell Richie he was disgusted by him, Richie knew his best friend appreciated the contact every once in a while.

“Yeah, yeah, you have a massive friend crush on the Losers Club,” Stan said, rolling his eyes with a fond smile. Richie scoffed, affronted.

“They gave themselves an iconic name, they take no shit, and they’re just as obsessed with Radio Rebel as we are!” he gushed.

“As you are,” Stan muttered. Richie went on, ignoring him.

“And don’t act like you aren’t head over heels for Mike Hanlon,” Richie said, smacking his lips together to making over exaggerated kissing noises.

“Beep beep, Tozier.” Stan said as they walked to the pre-calc class they shared first period, his cheeks tinted pink. Richie laughed at the familiar phrase and nudged his best friend fondly. Stan had English with Mike Hanlon, the school quarterback and founder of the art club. The boy was one of the sweetest people in the school, and Stan tended to talk about him non-stop on days when he had English class.

The two boys continued on their way, joking with each other and feigning annoyance. They had been best friends for years, and while they got on each others' nerves often, they had each others’ backs.

As they passed by the losers, Richie’s eyes were drawn to the figure of Eddie Kaspbrak, whose arms were moving all around in a way that spoke of a passionate conversation. Richie smiled a bit, and tore his gaze away.

With lingering thoughts of Eddie in his head, he turned back to Stan, who was pulling up last night’s Radio Rebel broadcast. Stan offered his an earbud, which he readily took, searching for a distraction.

As the distinctive filtered voice of Rebel drifted into one ear and the precalculus classroom loomed at the end of the hall, Richie glanced over at his best friend, the comforting weight of normalcy settling down on him.

Just a normal day, Richie thought to himself, smiling at Rebel’s words.

Little did he know just how much could change in one day.

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sasuhinasno1fan · 6 years

Text

I was rewarded your love

Its @plumeriafairy14’s birthday and the one year anniversary of the completion of her story Taking Chances, which is still one of my fav klance stories. Last year as a gift and desire of mine, I wrote a companion fic based on Keith and Lance celebrating Valentine’s Day with Lance making Keith his favourite desert and Keith getting Lance a kitten. This year, and mostly because I feel like I’ve been pushing this couple to the backburner, I thought this year, I’d do Shallura. I did something in my bookbinding class and I wanted to do something similar for all my followers. So I decided to have this be around the same time Lance is doing his gift, so I hope you enjoy and happy birthday fairy!

Allura loved the kids at the kindergarten she taught at, but she never realised how much they could beg for something or want attention until she was trying to finish something. Lance was taking a bookbinding class and he had sent her a video of a book that he had been making for class as well as sending her letter pressed covers they had made. Lance said it was one of the easiest things he had done, but the instructions on how to properly sew all the 10 sections and cover together was utterly confusing. Honestly, if she didn’t want to do this idea so badly, she would have given up long ago. Then again, she wasn’t raised a quitter, not with the life she had.

She left her family after she became pregnant with Lance and she didn’t regret a single moment raising her beautiful and happy boy. It didn’t seem like long ago that they both got something they didn’t think they had time for, a love life. She became her son’s future boyfriend’s tutor and fell in love with his guardian, Shiro. She let herself fall in love again, even with Shiro’s mother looming her scornful face over them. It was hard, having to deal with a controlling mother but Shiro was willing to give up his fortune to be with her and that’s all that mattered. Now she was married to the love of her life and her beautiful boy was engaged and if everything went well on Valentine’s Day, it’d be official with rings and everything.

For her first valentine’s day with her husband, she knew he’d be getting back late because of a scheduled exam at the police academy, so she wanted this gift done, so he’d have it with him the whole day. If only the kids didn’t get into fights or come begging for answers to questions or doing the things that little kids did that seemed to eat up all the time.

“what ‘cha doing?” a little girl named Lindsey asked, rocking back and forth on her feet as Allura struggled to tighten the thread to keep all the pages connected to the cover. It was to create the binding on the cover but she already messed up on the last two making them slightly loose compared the perfect tight bonds Lance had in his book.

“I’m trying to sew a book.”

“You can’t sew a book.” The little girl said matter-of-factly

“Yes you can. Go get a hard book and a soft one from the bookshelf and I’ll show you.” Allura said, which allowed her a few moments to figure out what she was doing wrong. Of course right when she figured it out, her phone started to ring. She let out a sigh and put the book down before answering her phone. “Hello?”

“Hi mom.”

“Lance, sweetie. How are you? Don’t you have class right now?” Allura asked, smiling at the sound of her son’s voice.

“Cancelled, so I’m picking up extra hours at work. I know you’re at work but I’m meeting with my Statistics TA tonight so I wasn’t sure when I’d have time to call you. How’s everything? Getting your project done?”

“If only. You made this seem extremely easy in your video.” Just then Lindsey came back with her books in hand. “Though I’ve seemed to of gained a student. One second sweetie. Ok, see on the soft book where all the pages meet the spine, the back of the book. See all the glue?”

“Yeah, but that’s not sewing.”

“That’s because you sew the pages on the hard book. Can you open it and look at the top? Yeah, just like that. Do you see the thread?” Allura pointed out to the little girl, loving the look of curiosity on her face. This is why she loved teaching, just to see these looks

“I see it, I see it!”

“See, that’s what I’m doing. It’s not going to look this amazing when I’m done, but it’ll look close.”

“Can you teach me?” Lindsey asked, buzzing with excitement

Allura was silent trying to think if it was doable.

“Mom, I’m more than happy to ask my teacher if there’s a kid friendly way to do this. Plus pre punched holes and plastic needles would work.” Lance said, still on the line and hearing his mother.

“I’ll talk to Ms. Ryner and see what she says ok? Go and put the books back and go and play with your friends.” She gently ordered, watching Lindsey go and put the books back, happy with the promise.

“And another happy student thanks to the wonderful Mrs. Shirogane. But really, how are you doing on that project?”

Allura looked over to the half-finished book sitting at her desk. “If I send you a picture of where I am and explain where I’m lost, do you think you can help me?”

“Well, you’ve got a day and a half to finish this and I could use some company. No one ever comes to the school’s art gallery unless there’s a show so I’ve got nothing to do. Text I a picture and I’ll help you.”

“Sure, and while you’re at it, you can tell me exactly how you plan to officially propose to Keith.” Allura said, right before another kid called for her. “Though, this might take a while. Coming Mike.”

It took so long, having to work whenever she had free time or the teacher she worked with Ms. Ryner was able to keep the kids distracted long enough but finally it was done. Granted, the binding wasn’t as tight as she would have liked and she knew one of the sections was slightly messed up and at the top and bottom on the spin, the thread was able supposed to join into a braid but only the bottom braid actually looked like one. It wasn’t as perfect as Lance’s was, but it was perfect for Allura. She just hoped Shiro thought the same thing. She wrote something on each page for him to read all throughout the day, hoping that by the last page, he’d be home to read it with her.

The morning of February 14, morning after their anniversary, Allura stirred as she felt the bed move and the soft footsteps of Shiro getting ready. He moved into the guest room to get changed into his uniform, so Allura took the time to wake up and pulled the wrapped gift out from her bedside table and put it on Shiro’s side so he could see it when he came back in. she was drifting off back to sleep when she felt the bed dip and lips pressed against her cheek.

“Happy Valentine’s Day.” Shiro whispered his gift in hand as he watched his sleepy wife wake up again. She let out a small moan, obviously not getting up that much, leaving Shiro to smile down at her. “Your gift is being delivered to the school, so all the kids will be envious. I’ll call you when you get to work ok?” Allura nodded before her husband kissed her cheek again, his fingers brushing against her cheek softly before he got up and quietly left the bedroom.

The police academy was sporting a few red hearts as Shiro came in, the woman sitting at the front desk handing out chocolate Kisses to those coming in. Shiro decided to spoil his breakfast a bit by eating one, right when his superior seemed to sneak up on him.

“Shirogane.”

“Kolivan, sir.” Shiro spun around, hand in front of his mouth as the chocolate started to melt and stick to his tongue.

The tawny eyes of his superior made Shiro feel like he was a student back at the academy, “sweets at 8 am Shirogane?”

“I wasn’t able to get a kiss from my wife?” Shiro said, trying to justify the sweets, but the sigh he got told him he wasn’t successful.

“You’ve got 3 3 hour classes today plus the exam tonight but seeing how it’s Valentine’s Day; don’t be surprised if you’ve got distracted students on your hands. I take it you’ll be texting your wife?”

“Maybe more than usual. I haven’t opened my gift but according to the note it came with I have explicit instructions that I look at the pages she tells me to, except for the first one which I can read whenever.”

“That’s fine, but on breaks only, got it?” Shiro nodded. “Good, now go put your things away, I want to have a meeting before classes start.”

“Yes sir.” Shiro disappeared into the locker room where a few of his other co-workers were, putting their things away and talking amongst each other.

“Ah! It’s the married man! How was the anniversary last night Shirogane?” one of his co-workers called at the sight of him.

“It was fine and that’s all the details you’re getting.”

“I bet today’s going to be even more intense. Married day before Valentines, that’s something.”

“I mean it works out so you two don’t have to go insane for both days.” One of his female co-workers pointed out.

“We’ve decided that this year we’d do both and see what happens next year and if we can’t do anything on those days, there’s always White’s Day.” At the confused looks he got, he explained, “in Japan, Valentine’s day is a day were women give the gifts to men and white’s day which is March 14, is where men give gifts to women.”

“Ooh. We need that.”

Shiro laughed as he pulled Allura’s gift out of his bag, which got attention.

“Is that the Mrs gift? Jewellery?”

Shiro shook his head as he took a seat on one of the benches. “She was making something.” He ripped the paper off and smiled at the sight of the familiar book cover. He was there when Allura opened the gift Lance sent. “It’s a book.”

“A book?”

“My son is taking bookbinding at college. He sent us a spare book cover and a video of how he did it. I found a bag from the craft store the day after. If the mild cursing I heard when I came in late was anything to go by, it wasn’t as easy as Lance said. She told me to open pages when she told me. I did get a text from her telling me to open the first page.” Shiro opened the printed cover and read the note out loud, knowing his co-workers would be nosy and read over his shoulder anyway. “Happy Valentine’s day to my amazing husband. I have 30 moments that I will always remember with you. The first one is when I met you for the interview of Keith’s tutor. The magazines didn’t do you justice. I was terrified but soon I realised you were perfectly polite and I’m sure that’s what started my feelings for you. You’ll have to wait to find out the next moment when I tell you. All my love, your wife Allura.”

“Aww, that’s so sweet.”

It was, Shiro was going to have a hard time not turning the pages.

Teacher meeting was over when Shiro got a text from Allura to go ahead and open pages 2 and 3. His teacher partner, Antok looked over his shoulder as they headed towards their classroom.

The second moment was the next time I saw you again. I went a bit coupon crazy and was sure I’d be a sweaty, tired mess with all the groceries I had but there you appeared, a gorgeous man, out running when you saw me. You didn’t have to but you helped me take them to my house. Do you remember on our way there, the old couple thought we were together? It was like the universe was trying to say something but I kept myself from listening.

The third was when you came to the apartment for your reward of the no-bake blueberry cheesecake. You said you loved it but I didn’t realise how much. Our conversations were on the boys and their school life but I barely finished my one slice by the time you seemed to devour half the cheesecake. You looked so embarrassed; it was one of the cutest things ever.

“So the blueberry thing isn’t new?” Antok asked, obviously remembering the blueberry cheesecake Allura personally brought over for his birthday, a bright spot in being teased for being a leap year baby by his co-workers all day.

“Nope, and I still do it too.” Shiro proceeded to devour the whole cake while Allura talked to his co-workers. They didn’t notice until he was on the last piece. The scolding from Allura was well worth it.

“I’m sure.” His co-worker said drily as they finally reached their classroom. A few students were already in their seats and the teacher’s desk had been littered with different sweets as gifts from their students. It certainly put Shiro in an even better mood at the sight of it.

The classes had two breaks and Shiro was a bit disappointed their wasn’t a text waiting for him at the first one but the second his phone buzzed at the start of the second 15 minute break, Shiro immediately pulled out his phone, his smile getting bigger when he saw Allura was calling him.

“Hello, wonderful wife of mine.” Shiro said, ignoring the giggles from passing students

“Hello husband of mine. I just got to school, the power went out here last night and all the cupcakes we pre-bought for the kids today melted, so guess who had to go and brave the grocery store?”

Shiro flinched. Because they were on their honeymoon, they avoided the whole rush of Valentine’s Day. Keith and Lance however? Let’s just say he heard the horror stories. “Do I need to send a police escort to come get you? I’ll happily volunteer.”

“I’m sure you would. But no, I’m fine. I know you have a break and after what I went through I wanted to hear you read pages 4 and 5.”

Shiro looked around. There weren’t a ton of student’s in the classroom but he was sure the sight of the book would cause questions that would eventually he’d have to answer. So holding the phone in between his shoulder and ear, he thumbed to the next two pages.

“The next moment was the moment I knew I had feelings for you. While not one of my favourite memories, it was something that showed me just how I felt. That night Pidge and their brother found Keith in the park and I had to call you. I thought the woman you were with was his mother because I didn’t know the truth then. When I realised just how much it affected me, it became apparent to me that I was feeling something for you and I’m actually glad it happened now because who knows how long we would of spent buzzing around each other if it didn’t happen. Oh, Allura.” He knew that Allura had been affected about the call when she realised he was in bed with Valerie long before he and Allura went out but he never really heard it out how she really felt.

“Honestly it was thanks to her it started to make me feeling clear. Now read the next one.”

“Ok. Memory five made me question myself. I thought you were with Keith’s mother so I tried forgetting you but you completely ruined that when you called and asked Lance if I liked coffee because you wanted to give me a bag as a thank you. Honestly, you didn’t have to, but you were making it extremely hard offering, what was truly fine ground coffee. Even now you do it, when I’m mad at you and you give me gift to try and earn my forgiveness, it usually works all the time. Don’t think this is always going to get you off the hook. Nice to know. Maybe I can talk to one of my old associates to get you another bag of that coffee. Though you obviously love me more right?”

“Do I?” Allura teased

“Very funny Mrs. Shirogane. I make you coffee in the morning. I’m more than willing to stop.”

“No, no, no. I’m sorry. Please don’t, how else can I survive in the morning?”

“My love alone?”

“Shiro, not even you can do that. I’ve been waiting near the door while I talk to you but Ms. Ryner just spotted me so I have to go. I’ll text you when you can look at next set of pages. I love you.”

“Love you too, love.” Shiro said, glaring at the students who could hear him and ‘awwed’ mockingly. He made note to call them out for answers as payback during class.

“Moment six wasn’t the best but you kept me calm while I was close to panicking and fearing Lance would lose his scholarship. You were able to take one look at me and kept me calm; telling me you’d make sure Lance wouldn’t lose his scholarship. But we had nothing to worry about when Keith took the blame and we both realised he wasn’t the same difficult boy as before and I felt happy knowing that he was doing better and I knew we were both confident it would improve from there.”

“My Wi-Fi router had died the day I came to see you at your company. I was expecting to see you briefly and leave you on your way, but instead I found you overworked and close to breaking down. I didn’t think being a good person with offering a bit of help would land me a job as your secretary but I don’t regret it. I was around you more and that made me happy.”

“Moment eight was one of my favourites. I had been working with you for a while and you were getting tired of all the paperwork and suggested lunch. It was our first time at Le Petit Jardin de Verre where Vicky worked. The food was good and the company amazing and it made me feel good that you felt comfortable enough to share the place with me. We’ll have to go back there some time”

“This moment was a very big one, but it’s a fond one. You had fallen asleep at your desk because you overworked yourself again. You still do this, keep working until you fall asleep at your desk. I covered you with me shawl and told you to take care of yourself and of course you heard me. I now know unless you’re on a bed, you’re an incredibly light sleeper.”

The next four pages got him through his next class and he was able contain his excitement until lunch when he was told to read from pages 10-17.

“That’s a lot of pages.” Ulaz, one of the visiting EMTs who helped teach the first aid class, said when most of the co-workers gather around to hear what Allura wrote.

“There are 30 pages in here. My day is half way done. I’ve got another class after this and then the exam to oversee.”

“Don’t interrupt him. Most of us don’t have anyone waiting for us at home.” A co-worker told Ulaz from his place.

Shiro felt like a school teacher sitting and reading. But he continued anyway.

“The next moment happened the day after when I was greeting with coffee, my shawl and a red and white tulip. The fact you got close to my favourite flower was certainly something. Not everyone can guess it. It confused me, I’ll be honest since I didn’t know the truth then, but you certainly knew how to woo a girl.”

“Damn Shiro, coffee and flowers, your girl is easy to please.”

“No, she just enjoys the simple things. Doesn’t mean I don’t like spoiling her. Now, shush. Number eleven seems so silly but it’s such a big part of our lives now that the boys got us hooked on it. When I went with you to the event for the Arusian Children’s Hospital, we talked about Space Rangers and how the boys loved it when they were kids. Of course, now they’re obsessed with it all over again.”

“Does your son still have the Space Ranger phone you got him?” Ulaz asked

“Last I saw it, not a scratch on it. While twelve and thirteen happened in the same time frame, I felt like they both deserved a spot. Twelve was watching you win me the lion. I didn’t think it was possible that you could hit all 5 targets in 15 seconds, but it was like you never left the force. I’m sure that carnival man still hasn’t seen anything close to it. Thirteen was proving the man at the strength test booth wrong, and you I guess. Seeing your stunned face when I won you that 2 litre jar of blueberry jam made it even more worth it.”

“Jez, you and your blueberries. Remember when he ate the whole cheesecake his wife made?”

“It was my cake and you guys were being assholes. Don’t yell at me because you got what you deserved.” Shiro said, quickly reading over 14 were Shiro clearing up the confusion about who was Shiro’s mother and what happened to Keith parents made her happy he trusted her with the information and that he wanted to know he was available. It was more private and he didn’t want to broadcast it to the room. “The next memory was when we became gushing parents when Keith and Lance went on their first date. You told me that we were sure Keith would stick to his promise and take care of Lance and he’s done so for the past almost 2 years. The next one is one of the more special ones. My mind had been on memories I didn’t want to remember and instead of getting upset I wasn’t focused, you were worried about me. You told me that I made you nervous, nervous enough to clue me in on how you felt about me. We shared our first kiss than and I knew that I wanted to give this a chance. The next moment is just as special. You opened up to me about your brother and I told you about Lance’s father. We take a chance and put ourselves out there and were rewarded with the start of a new relationship.”

Shiro finished and was rewarded with a collective aww from the room. He knew Allura would be busy with the kids lunch so he texted her an ‘I love you’, silently begging for permission to continue so he could relive these memories. All those memories were important because it made the relationship they had today.

Shiro’s last class had finished when he was greeted with a call from Allura. It was close to 6 and Shiro knew she had to of been home for a while. The exam he was looking over didn’t start until 8 and it was a two hour exam so he’d still be at the school for a while.

“So I was greeted with an Edible Arrangement and chocolate strawberries at lunch today. You were right, the kids were envious.”

“Was there enough to go around?” Shiro asked, knowing Allura would share with her students.

“There was, though the strawberries were all for me. I can’t believe you remembered I wanted one. Is that why you said I had to wait for my gift?”

“Well the other one is us going to see the boys over the weekend, who will hopefully have good news.”

“Lance texted to say he was finally heading back to the couples dorm. Keith will hopefully still be at work.”

“Last I talked to him, he said he’d be getting back late so I’m sure. Let’s not worry about them. They’ll be fine, I know it. Can I read you more memories?”

“Yes you certainly can. You can read up to 25. I want to read the last 5 when your back home.”

“Ok.” Shiro got himself comfortable in the chair in the classroom the exam would be held and opened the book. “Ready?” at Allura affirmative hum, he started. “Moment 18 was after we decided to be together you asked me to dance. I couldn’t remember the last time someone other than Lance turned on music and asked to dance spontaneously. I loved that moment as simple as it was. I loved the kisses during then just as much. I loved them too.”

Allura laughed over the phone. “I hope so. Continue reading.”

“The next is small but it was meaningful to me more than anything. Our first dinner together with the boys. It was both a double date with the two who meant the most to us and a family dinner all wrapped in one. It was the first of many though we didn’t know it but it meant a lot that you both opened your home to us like we did for you. Allura, you were more like home than that place.”

“Even that early into the relationship?”

“Yeah. It was hard not to feel completely comfortable with you. It’s one of things I love about you.” He could hear the smile in Allura’s laugh. “Ready for the next one? I didn’t know the meaning behind it when you gave it to me but it’s one of my most treasured possessions. When you gave me the engagement necklace, you told me you wanted to match and even though I tried to say no, you insisted. I kept it, not knowing what it fully meant but knowing I would treasure it forever. You have no idea how much I battled with myself to give it to you. I couldn’t tell you what it meant just yet but I knew that you were the one.”

“Really?”

“Really. Shall I continue?”

“Mhm.”

“Alright. Watching you win at the meetings was amazing and something that always impressed me. You took me to Aroura for a celebration and gave me the nickname princess. I still blush at the thought that you think me of some kind of royalty. I practically hinted that I loved you but you didn’t seem to get it. Still, I didn’t think we’d be leaving to having one of the most memorable nights. Really? That good?”

“I married you didn’t I?”

Shiro had to give her that. “I don’t know if I can read the dirty details in my classroom.” Shiro joked looking at the next page.

“I’d rather you be here so we might relive it.” Shiro groaned at those words. He wanted that, really badly. If only time could pass quicker so he could be back with his wife.

“Ok, skipping twenty-two, the first time we made love, twenty-three. I got up before you to let myself think. I didn’t regret anything that happened between us but you told me you loved me before you fell asleep. I was never in a relationship were I felt I could say I love you since Owen and I wanted to tell you how I felt. When I told you, you didn’t push me. You were fine with waiting and I wanted to take a chance. I had a feeling that I wouldn’t regret it and I don’t and never will.”

“I don’t regret taking that chance. It was a risk I was more than willing to take.”

“And I’m glad you did. Looks like your next memory fits, with you having to deal with my mother. Moment 25 was terrifying but I know that it was necessary. Your mother arrived without warning, ready to try and take control of your life and I know you’ve been able to defy her enough but seeing you do it for the first time was something else. I didn’t fully grasp how horrible she was until that dinner but I’m glad I had even more reason to hate her. It just makes me more proud of you for being able to stand up to her. Didn’t even regret it then?”

“Nope, not for a minute. If I’m remembering what I wrote correctly, that was 25?”

“Yes princess it was. I have about an hour before the test starts, so really 45 minutes before the students start coming in. how about you tell me about your day?”

“Where do I start? Well for one, Ryner and I weren’t planning on the kids getting cards from everyone but most of the parents wanted to start early so while I got more cupcakes, she had to make mail boxes and then told me to get any kid friendly cards I could get my hands on so some kids didn’t feel left out. I didn’t think parents would be this bad on Valentine’s Day. I feel so horrible that it took me so long to get back, though I really did want to talk to you, so she forgave me. The rest of the day was insane though…”

Allura perked up at the sound of the door unlocking and being pushed open. Soon she saw Shiro coming into the living room to see her laying on the couch waiting for him.

“Keith and Lance…”

“Have made it official.” Shiro finished for her. She was happy for her son, she knew Keith would say yes again but he had been so worried. She let out an ‘oof’ when a sudden weight was dropped on her. Shiro, looking tired, was sprawled out on top of her, her head pressed against her chest, his arms wrapping around her waist.

“Last test hard for the kids?”

“They actually all finished early but I had to do a small amount of paperwork before Kolivan felt sorry for me and let me come home.”

Allura pressed a kiss on top of his head, running her fingers through his hair, noticing the new amount of silver hairs he had. She smiled silently, decided to hold the jokes about him stealing her hairstyle for later.

“Are you hungry?” she asked instead

“I’m hungry for you. I seem to remember that we need to go over a page in your gift.”

“Cheeky. How about we finish the book first?”

Shiro let out a whine at the thought of moving but eventually did. Shiro arranged himself to be pressed up against the back of the couch, Allura cuddled close, her head on his chest, just like he did. She could still see well enough as Shiro pulled the book out of his pocket and thumbed to the correct page.

“How about we take turns reading them out loud? I’ll go than you?” Allura asked

“Alright. That gives me time to put my glasses on.”

“Old man.” Allura couldn’t help but tease.

“Hey! You’re married to this old man.” Shiro said, voice full of fake insult. “Pass my glasses pretty please.” Allura leaned over to wear Shiro’s bag was and pulled out the brown case, handing it to her husband, waiting until they were on and Shiro’s arm was behind her comfortably before she started reading.

“You’d had made it clear to Lance early on that he could trust you and I know he appreciated that. So when he went missing after he was wrongly expelled, I know he was upset that we’d be disappointed in him. That was the last thing on my mind. I was a complete mess, worried for him and you didn’t leave my side for a minute. You got help from your police buddies to go look for him and you made sure Keith was safe so he could go find him. He brought him back and we both told him how proud of him we were before you pulled us all into a hug and I felt like we were a family all over again.”

“And we are. Even more so after the boys are finally married. My turn?” Allura nodded against his chest. “Ok. After we found Lance and he was asleep, you asked me a question? You asked what if you loved me so much to the point you were willing to stay by my side for the rest of your life. You loved me and didn’t want me to bear the burden alone, even though you knew I’d push through. I knew from just hearing those words, my answer would be yes. It would always be yes.”

“Even if you ask me again and again.” Allura promised, leaning up to kiss Shiro. Shiro pulled her closer until she pulled away. “Sooner we finish this, the better.”

“Fine, it’s your turn.”

“Ok. Moment twenty-seven was a whirlwind. You were finally free of your mother, even if it meant she disowned you. My mother was surprised that my sudden new fiancée was now living with me but I didn’t care. It was different and it was an adjustment, but it was one we all made together. Everything was better then, Lance got his scholarship back and he and Keith continued to grace the top ten list. You were in a job were you rarely fell asleep on yourself and we knew we had each other.”

“I’m surprised you didn’t put when you called my mom a bitch.”

“I could have put when you cursed at her and threw juice in her face. After the fact it was so much funnier then.”

“Are we horrible people for making fun of my mother?” Shiro asked

“Sweetie, she was worse. Your turn.”

“This moment is another small one but one that I truly appreciate. You told me you wanted to ask Lance if he wanted a new dad. You asked Lance if you could have his blessing to marry me. When Lance told me he called you dad, I knew that the rest of my life would be perfect. You know, I was actually scared Lance wouldn’t give me his blessing.” Shiro said sheepishly

“Lance loves you Shiro, you couldn’t be more wrong. But the fact that it meant that much to you makes me happy.”

“I’m glad he said yes and that I get to call him my son. It’s gonna be weird calling Keith my son-in-law soon.”

“But you’ll enjoy every minute of it. Ok, last you for me. “Moment twenty-nine will always be a favourite of mine. Last year, on the day before Valentine’s Day, we walked down the aisle and said our ‘I dos’. I never thought the chance to say that would be something I’d ever get but I did with you. I took a chance opening my heart again to love and I was rewarded with the most amazing husband and a new life together. I love you so much and I know our years together will be just as amazing as our last.”

Shiro knew he had one more page, but he didn’t care right now. He pushed his glasses up and pulled Allura into a deep kiss, hoping she could feel all the love he put into it. Judging from how she kissed back, she did and she was doing the same.

She pulled away again, Shiro trying to pull her back in but she pushed the book back in his hand from where he dropped it.

“One last one and then you can tell me thank you.”

“Fine. Moment thirty. It’s a moment that is happening now, a moment that will last and grow and it took everything in me not to say anything. This moment seems only to last 9 months, but it lasts so much more? Wait.” Shiro sat himself up and looked Allura straight in the eye, his hear stuttering in nervousness. “Allura, love, please tell me if I’m right. Allura, are you pregnant?”

Allura broke into a huge smile as she nodded and was pulled into a hug by her husband. “Yes Shiro, I’m pregnant.”

“Oh my god, I’m going to be a dad?”

“Yes.”

“I’m going to be a dad!” Shiro said in excitement. “Does anyone else know?” he asked, pulling away to look at his wife’s face

She shook her head. “I wanted Lance to focus on his moment; we’ll tell them when we go see them. Are you happy?”

“Allura, this is the best Valentine’s day gift I’ve ever received. We’re going to be parents.” He said, kissing his wife before hugging her again.

He was going to be a dad. He was going to have a baby with the love of his life. Allura had taken a chance in opening her heart, just as much as he did and they were both rewarded with the best things, each other.

#shallura #pregnancy announcemnt #plumeriafairy14 #taking chance AUs

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