#yes I made this in my own time when I should’ve been revising no I’m not a monsterfucker

[thepunkmuppet]

society if the angel writers had committed to the part demon storyline:

[putseraphinaonthaphone]

That's on Me | Revised Fic Pt. I

based on the thirst about Izuku wanting to beat the pussy because it's too good up by @awilddreamerwrites

cw// everyone is aged up to third years, quirk use during sex, innocence kink, m/m, anal play, d/s dynamic, creampies, sloppy seconds, threeway, group sex, Bakugo x Reader in an established relationship, queer reader who uses feminine descriptors (Bakugou calls you his girl/woman in intimate scenes where there's already pre-established consent to do so, pussy, tits, etc) but he/him pronouns, BakuDeku Poly dynamic w/ reader endgame

There was always tension in the air when the three of you were in the same room, different than the preceding energy of one of your boyfriend's explosive outbursts. More like the smell of a storm in the air, like lightening followed by earthshaking thunder.

Deku would look at Kacchan, and Kat would look at Deku, and Deku would look at you and Kat didn't really mind and why didn't he mind?!

If anyone came in he would start barking at Deku to 'get his eyes off his boyfriend before he blows his face off,' but if you happened to time it perfectly and you three were the only ones in the common room..

Your boyfriend didn't growl at you to cover up if you were wearing his boxers that molded indecently to your ass beneath his shirt, in fact he groped at your curves possesively- delighting in the way Deku watched every movement of his hand on your ass while you cuddled into him.

So when Deku burst into Kat's dorm room while you were face down, ass up and getting absolutely railed-- it seemed like the final straw snapped in all three of you.

"Get in here and shut the fucking door nerd." Your boyfriend growled at Deku who was already doing so without having to be asked. He came closer to the bed, entranced by the filthy squelching of the blond's cock in your soaking wet pussy.

"You've always got an eye on my- ngh- fucking girl, Deku. Imagined him like this didn't you?" Even though his words should've been angry, it sounded more like the dirty words he growled at you that lit your pussy on fire. Your boyfriend was fucking you stupid but you tried your best to call out to the greenet, wanting him to know that you wanted him here (as much as Kat did if he let himself admit it.)

"'Zuku," you couldn't help the way your voice came out fucked and whimpering when Kat was rearranging your guts with a vengance.

"Fucking slut, why is your cunt getting tighter on my cock when you say his name?" His accusing tone was rendered meaningless because his cum started filling your cunt as he hammered into you, making you cum around him to milk every drop of seed from his balls as they smacked against your ass.

"Because he wants me to take a turn at his pussy." The utter confidence in Izuku's earnest voice made your pussy clench around Kat's slowly softening girth. He pulled out of your pussy and let you collapse tiredly on the bed, sprawled out like the perfect little whore you were tempting them both to ruin you. He kissed your temple and grumbled a 'traitor' under his breath before turning to face Deku.

The greenet had his dick out and a scarred hand wrapped around it, and it made Kat's cheeks dark to see that he didn't try to hide himself. He keep stroking a cock that made both of you revel in your inner size queens, and the little sound he made when he grabbed his own heavy balls made Kat sport a half chub quick enough to make him dizzy from the blood loss.

But he had to pull himself together, if he was going to make this work with his heart and dignity in tact.

"And why the fuck do you think I'd let you?" He challenged, green eyes clashing with red as the two stood too close for their posture to be aggressive.

It was intimate, like they shared a center of gravity and couldn't help but be drawn together.

"Please, Katsu, Zuku.." You whimpered, your eyes heavy lidded and pleading as you rolled onto your back- pulling one knee up so that they could both see Kat's cum leaking out of your hole. "Stop fighting. I want all of us to fuck in as many permutations as possible before I can't take anymore. Got it?" Your demand was spoken with only a few moans and whimpers as you fingered your stretched pussy, knowing one of them would break and you'd get what you needed.

"Do you have a condom or.. can you swear to me that you're clean?" Kat looked at Deku seriously, and Deku's breathed hitched by the intensity of those red eyes on him. His rhythm with his hand stuttered before he was able to nod with honesty ringing in his voice as he answered,

"I'm clean, Kacchan. I swear. I wouldn't put him.. or you at risk like that. And.. no one compared to you two. I haven't had sex in months." The admission made you whine- you were going to be at the mercy of hasn't-had-his-dick-wet-in-months Izuku? You prayed that you'd be able to walk tomorrow.

"Then go for it. But I'll be watching you. Do a good job and make him cum or you'll never get to fuck his pussy again." The threat made Deku's thick cock spurt more precum as he nodded and made his way to the center of the bed to push both your thighs to your chest. There was no way you'd be able to escape the mating press he put you in, so your pussy gushed realizing you wouldn't really have a choice about being impaled on his cock-which was well over your boyfriends already intimidating 8 inches.

"You think you can be a good girl for me and take it all?" The tip of his cock kiss your cum filled hole, and he looked at you so sweetly when you nodded you could almost forget he was about to split you in half.

You could hear Kat cursing under his breath to the side of you as he pulled up a chair to watch, but you could also hear the shameless sound of spit hitting his hand so he could jack off to the sight of Izuku's muscled form pinning you to the bed. The greenet had grown over his three years at UA, and he was a few inches taller than Kat now, and a lot broader.

His large scarred hands gripped your hips as he started pushing into you, inch by inch until he was buried as far inside you as he could reach- pressing snugly against your cervix and his heavy balls resting against the luscious fat of your ass.

And it was like he saw the face of god. Your dripping, clenching, fluttering heat was the best thing he had ever felt on his dick. Even if he got to put his dick in Kacchan's equally fuckable ass like he dearly wanted to, he didn't think even then it would beat this. This, the perfect and maddening pussy that belonged to Kacchan's beloved boyfriend. His girl.

The pleasure of it, hot as the sun and tinged with something dark and hungry and wild, grabbed him by the base of the spine and infected him with the almost painful craving to rut into you as hard and deep as possible.

"He's so fucking tight," Izuku's filthy moan wasn't even addressed to you, but it made your pussy clench further around his thick girth as he fucked you. There was green lightening crackling around him and his gaze on your was determined as he fucked into you harder- wanting to get as deep into your insatiable, hungry little pussy as he could. He could think of nothing else. Not even Kacchan watching him fuck you, not what this all meant.

Your moans had long since gone past embarrassing but your boyfriend only continued to watch as his childhood best friend fucked orgasm after orgasm out of you, not put off in the slightest by the growing mess off fluids between your lush thighs caused by his generous attention to your throbbing clit.

At some point there was a loud CRACK and the headboard fell to pieces where Izuku had been trying to hold himself up. He had let go of your hips at some point, but the sharp smack of his hips against your ass was a testament to how determined he was to imprint the shape of his dick into you.

"He has the best pussy I've ever fucked. Doesn't it feel like he's trying to milk your load right out of you?" Katsuki grinned ferally with pride at being blessed with such an irresistible partner.

"He's going to," Izuku's bright green eyes meet yours intensely, and you shivered under his gaze as he continued to fuck your overstimulated pussy. Your legs shook around his waist but all he did was fuck you deeper so you couldn't run from it.

"Ah ah ah, don't run, sweetness. Even if I have to break the bed too, I'm making sure all my cum ends up in your tummy.."

Your cervix was hammered so persistently you were sure Izuku's plan was to shoot his cum directly into your womb. By the time he let out the filthiest groan of "ngh- fucking, take it-" all you can get out is a garbled mess of

"yes!" and "'Zuku!" and "baby.."

Katsuki was laying beside you now, watching Deku fight to control his strength as your pussy threatened to undo himcompletely by fluttering and milking him until he was gritting his teeth from the overstimulation. Kat had cum twice all over his own fingers watching Deku being bested by you. He was so high on the thought that his girl could do this to Izuku. Make him look all fucked out, flushed tits heaving as he kneeled over your well fucked form, desperate..

Pretty.

"You look like a fucking slut, Deku." Why did that come out sounding like he was flirting? "You owe me a fucking headboard too dumbass." You watched your boyfriend growl the threat as an after thought, smirking at the blush on his cheeks. When Izuku came back to bed after putting the washcloths he used to clean you both in the bathroom, his eyes trailed over Katsuki's bare chest and low slung basketball shorts with a slight wet spot- his fourth erection of the night making the greenet's mouth water.

"I think I can find a way to make it up to you."

[nctsjiho]

Can’t Go On Like This

warnings: none

era: beginning of May 2021

❀ When, the one and only, Lee Soo Man joins one of JiHo’s meetings, he reminds her of what her future could look like if she’d stop sabotaging herself

The noise of fingers tapping against the wooden table in the otherwise silent meeting room, sounded absolutely deafening. The tension was so thick, JiHo was sure you could cut it with only the sharpest of knifes. It was a suffocating feeling, even after having been in this same exact room for hours almost each day of the past month or two.

A fake cough caught everyone’s attention and all eyes were on the one and the only, Lee Soo Man. JiHo’s eyes were blown wide and were lingering with slight fear but more so pure youthful naivety. “JiHo…” The man started which caused the girl to sit up straight and nod in acknowledgment.

“We don’t want to take you out of the group. You know this. But JiHo… We can’t let you go on like this.” JiHo knew exactly what he was referring to and it was embarrassing that it came to a point were the staff she’d previously talked to had to get the founder of the company involved.

The man continued. “There’s no reason to keep you here if you keep declining our offers, it also looks very bad on us. Your fans want exactly what we can, and have tried, to give you.” He put emphasis on that last sentence which made JiHo want to bury herself deep into the ground, but she kept her composure as to stay professional in the situation. “If you keep saying no however because of, what your managers have told me at least, is your lack of confidence, then we will have to let you go and not try to save your contract.”

JiHo could feel the eyes of her closest female manager burn into the side of her face. Kim Yebin had been working with her since 2019 and had practically become her best and closest (female) friend. She was a bit like a older sister or a cool aunt that took care of her, but also treated her as an equal. She only wanted the best for JiHo, and sometimes the that meant that she had to be a little harder with her. The young idol wasn’t particularly stubborn, but when it came to her confidence or her own mental health, JiHo didn’t know how to take care of herself in that way.

For the past few weeks, and even over the course of her working with JiHo, Yebin had always pushed her to be more confident and sure of herself. She always had to remind JiHo that she had no reason for her to doubt herself and JiHo would usually listen, but the second Yebin turned her back, JiHo started doubting herself again.

“JiHo it’s time to start believing in yourself. We already do. Me, your fans, the boys, your family and even the whole company does. There’s no reason for you not to do so yourself.” Yebin pressed a few days ago.

Remembering the words JiHo���s manager had told her, she quickly glanced her way and send her a small smile, before focusing on Lee Soo Man again.

“We’ve given you so many opportunities many idols and trainees can only dream about. We as a company spent a lot of energy in not only NCT but you as an individual member as well. Don’t let that energy go to waste. Now that we cleared up the misunderstandings it’s time to move on and move up. Understood?” JiHo nodded before answering with a firm “Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.” The smallest of smiles tugged at the corners of his mouth before he started to exit the room.

“Tomorrow we’ll have the meeting with Kim So Yeon, the CEO of Esteem. I want to move that meeting to the second floor lounge, so I need someone to reserve that room and notify the front desk so they sent our guests to the right place tomorrow.” He explained to the staff and not long after he left the room.

JiHo let out a big breath she didn’t realise she was holding in before dropping her head on the table in front of her. Her body trembled slightly as the nerves that had started to build up from the second she knew that Lee Soo Man was joining the meeting until now, began to subside.

JiHo felt the small hand of her manager start to run up and down her spine to sooth her. “Unnie~” The girl whined. “I know JiHo. Just... I know I’ve said it so much lately, but honestly, stop doubting yourself.” JiHo tilted her head so she could look at Yebin who watched her with a motherly gaze. “It’s not that I don’t think I’m good enough...”

The girl sat up and looked straight into her manger’s eyes. “It’s like when they asked me to join Dream.” A small sigh escaped JiHo’s lips. “It’s not that I wasn’t confident in my skills. I just felt like Dream should’ve been only the boys. I didn’t think I’d look good with them.” Yebin and one of the group’s other mangers sighed and shook their heads. “This is exactly not being confident in yourself.” Yebin explained which made JiHo mouth an “oh” in realisation.

“If you debuted in Dream, all the fans would have know was Dream with the seven boys and you. And they would’ve loved it, just as much as they love you with the boys now.” The other manager decided to add on to Yebin’s words. “It would’ve been just the same as if you agreed to debut with NCT U back in 2016. You did everything! Sang the guide for the song. You participated in making the performance. You did so much, you proved you could do it and then one day we hear that you decided not to go through with it and continued on as a trainee leaving the boys oblivious to the fact that you were planned to be added to the group since the start. JiHo you didn’t just have to potential, you had and still have the skill to back everything up. So believe us when we say that there’s no reason for you to ever decline an opportunity because you can do it.”

Even though the words were meant to be words of encouragement, JiHo couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty about everything. She had never told the boys about what kind of opportunities she had gotten from SM before and even after her debut. She felt guilty for keeping it all a secret, for changing how things could’ve been.

Being aware of JiHo’s internal turmoil, Yebin placed a hand on JiHo’s thigh and gave it a friendly squeeze. “Cheer up baby doll! From now on things will be better. And to start things off I’ll treat you to dinner.” The mention of food sparked a bit of excitement which was very clear to Yebin and made her chuckle. “You’ve become too much like the boys. You’re all just little kids.” She dramatically ‘complained’. Yebin reached out for her purse and then beckoned to JiHo. “Let’s go!”

When Yebin walked out of the room she heard a rushed shuffling and a taller figure retreating towards the practise rooms. The brown locks and the stature of the person seemed a bit familiar. But with the amount of people Yebin saw daily - whether that was consciously or not - Yebin couldn’t quite put a name to it. It probably wasn’t someone too close to her, since she prided herself in being good with people - names and appearances.

“Unnie, what are you looking at?” Yebin’s eyes must have been lingering in the direction the person disappeared for a while, because she didn’t notice JiHo joining her by her side. “Oh nothing! Let’s just go.” She sent the confused looking girl a warm smile before they headed towards the elevators. “Good, because I’m starving! I was so nervous for the meeting, I couldn’t eat all day.” JiHo complained while holding her stomach of which she was sure could start growling any second now - thank the Gods it didn’t start while she was still in the meeting. “JiHo! I told you not to skip meals even when you don’t feel like eating. You’re already getting so thin lately.” “I’m sorry, I’ll try to eat next time.”

With that both woman left the building to enjoy a meal together and take a break from the endless meetings and stress filled situations.

---

Side Note: The title might change as well as the little description/summary, and this wasn’t proofread because I’m on a little time crunch. I’ll revise it asap if needed! Also who was that, who Yebin spotted???

Have a good day/evening/night <3

[possessingtheproperspirit]

hellooo!! L + H + F if you don't mind <3

Helloooooo!! Thanks for sending these <33

L: How many times do you usually revise your fic/chapter before posting?

It varies, mainly based on how tired I am/how fed up of the writing I am by the time I get to posting. Sometimes it's very much a case of "ugh I can't look at this anymore, if there are issues then so be it", and other times I take a few runs at it. I don't enjoy editing and revising that much and, actually, a lot of it happens each time I open the doc to write—I go back through to remind myself where I've got to, and tinker with it as I go.

H: How would you describe your style?

I find this a hard question, in that I'm not sure how I'd describe anyone's style, let alone my own! I think it's very emotion-centred. A bit zingy. A bit/lot painful.

F: Share a snippet from one of your favorite dialogue scenes you’ve written and explain why you’re proud of it.

Okay I chose a snippet that can't really be deemed a snippet but I just really like it, okay?

Remus was sat on his bed, scribbling something on a piece of parchment; he looked up and watched as James dumped his dirty Quidditch kit in a heap on the floor, kicked the dorm door shut and moved to sit at the foot of Moony’s bed.

“I saw Lily in the bath,” he said, deciding that preamble would be a waste of time.

Remus’ eyes widened comically and he sat forward. “I’m sorry—what?”

“Apparently there’s been an issue with the prefect bathroom door, it doesn’t always shut properly and it hadn’t done, and I wandered in there all innocent and muddy from practice to find her in the bath.” The words rushed out of him—it was almost a relief. He sighed and lowered his voice a little, furtively. “Moony, I almost saw her tits.”

Remus could only blink for a few seconds before he found any words. “Wow…”

“Yeah,” James agreed.

“I mean…blimey,” Remus shook his head.

“Yeah,” he said again, and paused. The quiet of the dorm room struck him, and he thought about what he had caught sight of downstairs—Sirius and Pete hadn’t looked very far into their game. He lifted his gaze to look his friend in the eye. “This is an embarrassing secret, Moony. You know why I’m telling you?”

Remus raised an eyebrow, and a shoulder in a shrug. “Why?”

“Because you’re my best friend.”

James watched, fondly, as the flash of realisation crossed Moony’s face—that he’d wandered unwittingly into a Serious Conversation, one he’d been avoiding since his return, and now there was no easy way out of it. “Prongs—” he started.

“You know how there’s a scale of, I dunno, affection?” James carried on; best to cut the chap off before he got a head of steam going. “With, let’s say, Rosier and Mulciber and those utter cretins at one end, and my mum and dad at the other?”

Remus eyed him warily. “James, I don’t need you to—”

“On this scale,” he barrelled on cheerfully, “there’s mum and dad, obviously, and then just below them is a three-way tie.” He held up three fingers to tick them off. “You, Sirius, Pete. All the same level, as it happens, because best friend isn’t just one tiny pedestal, it’s a…” he paused thoughtfully. “Yes! It’s a platform. With space for several people.”

Remus had that uncomfortable, squirmy look about him that told James that he was trying desperately not to get emotional. “Seriously, James, you don’t need to…tend to my wounded ego or anything.”

James fixed him with a stern look. “Piss off, Moony. You can’t tell me who my best friends are. I’m the one who makes that decision.” He paused, and when he spoke again, his voice was gentler. “I’m sorry. After…what happened, I just wanted things to be okay again, but…that shouldn’t have come at the expense of your feelings.”

Remus dropped his gaze. “S’alright.”

“It’s not,” James insisted quietly. “Sirius fucked up. He knows it. Pete knows it. I know it. And if you think I haven’t been angry and sad and…and fucked off about what he did to you, then I’m sorry, because I should’ve made it clearer.”

A silence fell, although it wasn’t awkward. James had a feeling that Remus was using the opportunity to gather himself.

“It felt like we’d lost a limb without you here, Moony,” he added eventually. “If you think you aren’t important, that you don’t matter to us, then I’m sorry but you’re fucking mad.”

A smile, finally, cracking just slightly through on his pale face. “Alright,” he said, voice thick with feelings unnamed. “Christ. You’ve made your point. I believe you.”

“Good,” James nodded. “But I’ll keep reminding you at regular intervals, just in case.”

“Kind of you,” Remus replied dryly.

“And you might want to put the stopper in that inkwell,” he suggested.

Remus frowned in brief confusion before the truth of what was about to happen dawned on him. “Wait—”

“Incoming!” James beamed before launching himself at his friend, half hug, half tackle that ended up with them both falling off the bed, Remus kicking him in the shins and James declaring all out war as he attempted to sit on his friend’s chest.

I am proud of this chunk of dialogue (chapter 10 of The Price We Pay, for full details, see my published works #gilderoyforever) because I feel like it hits several key notes for me. 1) James being head over heels for Lily and desperately trying not to be. 2) James being a fucking dreamboat of a friend, so earnest and sweet and kind. 3) Remus being a bit of an emotionally-constipated struggler, god love him. 4) James showing affection by leaping on his friend.

I mean, what more could one ask for...?

Send me an ask from this list, if you'd like!

[mrsfrecklesmarauders]

James Potter Supremacy

“James Potter is a bully toe rag. He was a bad person”

“Peter followed him around like a puppy. James treated him like shit, that’s why Peter betrayed him”

James yawned laying back on the chair. He couldn’t study anymore. He was done.

“Alright, Wormy. We need to sleep a bit to be bright and fresh tomorrow”

James looked at Peter. He seemed pale, tired, stressed nearly about to cry.

“Go ahead, James. I’m gonna stay for a little while”

“Mate, you need to rest. We’ve been in The Library all the bloody afternoon”

Peter shook his head, staring at his book.

“Come on, I’m pretty sure Pads and Moony are done shagging by now” he laughed a bit at his own joke.

But Peter didn’t laugh.

“That’s my point” Peter sniffed “We’ve been here the whole bloody afternoon and nothing seems get into my brain….” Peter was pulling his hair “I’m so stupid”

“You’re not stupid”

“I’m probably gonna fail. You guys are gonna get tops marks in everything and I might have to repeat the whole year again”

“Hey, hey…” James said facing his friend “Don’t discourage yourself Pete. You’re very intelligent”

Peter snorted.

“Yeah you are” James said “You’ve done incredible pranks with us…”

“None of them were my ideas…”

“What about the time we changed gravity in The Great Hall?”

“Moony’s idea”

“You turned into you know what, for Moony’s you know what furry little problem”

James turned around to see if someone was around, luckily no.

“I had your help”

Shit. Peter was so negative and down. James knew perfectly well that to cheer Pete up, they had to preach him, tell him he was doing things right. James tried to do that all the time. But there were times when Peter just didn’t believe him. That nothing could make him cheerful again.

“Okay” James said opening his own book “Page one hundred and forty what was it?”

“Forty-two”

James opened the page.

“Conjuration. Let me guide you up” James said

“I thought you were tired…”

“I’m gonna revise again, this test is gonna be difficult you’re right”

It would be easy piecey. Minnie usually asked a few questions and then they were supposed to write a little essay on the topic of their choice.

“But…”

“I made this helpful summary, I’m gonna read it. You should write this down”

Peter looked at James, then he smiled.

“You’re an imbecile”

“Don’t need to insult me Wormy, I’m bloody studying…”

“You…”

“Shh”

And James began reading. He didn’t have a summary but he tried to explain the subject as easy as possible.

Peter nodded and scribbled things on his parchment.  

After a few hours. James pretended to study again. Actually, he was reading the same line over and over again. He already knew this stuff. And he was so bloody tired. But Peter seemed to be concentrating more, he muttered things to himself as he wrote them down. James smiled.

I knew you could do it, Pete.

Finally, both boys were kicked out if The Library by Madame Pince.

As they headed back to The Gryffindor Tower. Peter seemed to be relaxed. Cheeks flustered and a little smirk on his face.

James’ heart warmed up.

“Wow, thank you Pete. I needed that revision. I had so many things wrong”

He didn’t want Peter to think he had made James stay with him for nothing.

“Cheers James. You’re a good friend”

James smiled as he rubbed his friend’s hair.

“Come on, I deserve a kiss”

“What?”

“Just a little peek on the cheek, come one” James joked as he pointed to his cheek.

“No way”

“You said I was a good friend”

“Keep dreaming…” Pete rolled his eyes and walked away.

“Oi! Pettigrew! Just give in to my sweet face and give me a kiss”

“Shut up Potter” Peter laughed

“You shut up” James laughed as well

 “Remus just stands James for what he did for him. But James was a bully. Remus should’ve stopped being friends with someone like that”

“Where’s Sirius?”

Remus asked as James approached him after Charms.

“With another girl” James rolled his eyes.

Moony’s face went down adopting a sad expression. It had happened before, when James mentioned Sirius’ girlfriends. James knew something was happening. James was no stupid. He knew his boys pretty well.

“And Pete?”

“Chess club”

Remus just nodded.

“It’s just you and me handsome” James winked.

Remus smiled a little.

“Why are you so gloomy to spend an evening with me? Am I that horrible?”

“Yes, James. You’re a nightmare” Remus said smiling

“Oi!”

“As long as you don’t talk about Quidditch, or Lily…”

“Bloody tosser”

 James and Remus had dinner together.

“Did you notice how pretty Evans looks?”

James couldn’t avoid noticing her hair was longer, with soft curls all over it. Pretty.

“Why did I say about the Lily talk?”

“Fucking twat”

Remus laughed as he chewed.

James noticed he looked kind of sick and pale.

“Do you want my chocolate tart?” he asked “I think I’m full”

Remus beamed at that “Yes, please”

James smiled as he passed him the dessert.

Good Moony, eat up. You look miserable.

Sirius entered The Great Hall. His hair was a mess and his shirt slightly opened. Cheeks kind of red. Fucking wanker.

“Hello lads” he sat down serving himself some Pumpkin juice.

“I’m guessing you already ate, Padfoot” James commented

Sirius smirked.

James noticed Remus flinched beside him. He looked pissed.

“I have to say it, Ravenclaws might be studious and all, but they definitely know what they are doing” he winked.

James hated when Sirius behaved like this. He was an imbecile, playing to be cool and a fuckboy.

“You’re a wanker”

Sirius laughed.

“I’m glad you had fun, Padfoot” Remus said sarcastically.

“Don’t worry, Moony. I’m all yours now…”

“You know what? I was fine without you. Enjoying my tart, and you needed to come and ruin it”

“Lads…” James said

“Wow… Someone is not in a good mood. I thought the full moon wasn’t until next week…”

“FUCK YOU SIRIUS”

“Rem…”

“What am I doing? I just came here to share dinner with my friends, and you started insulting me”

“Then go! Bloody go with your new sweetheart or whatever…”

“Prongs…” Sirius complained

James raised his shoulders “I don’t know what’s going on…”

“You know what? I might go with Pru and have dinner with her…”

“I’m not stopping you!”

“You’re such a tosser Moony…”

“Thank you very much…”

“I can’t believe you’re on his side, James”

“I’m not in anybody’s side”

Sirius rolled his eyes and left furiously.

“Sirius…” James called after him.

But Sirius ignored him.

James raised an eyebrow to Remus.

“What was that all about?”

“I’m sick of him bragging about girls”

“Moony…”

“I’m not longer hungry” he stood up “I’m gonna go to the dorm”

“I’m coming with you”

As they were walking back, Remus stopped. And he leaned on the wall with pain.

“What is it Remus?”

“I’m fine.”

“Remus…”

“My hip hurts a bit”

“Let’s go The Hospital Wing”

“James, it’s nothing…”

“Don’t be stupid, Remus”

James hated when Remus didn’t take care of himself. He was clearly in pain, and he didn’t want to do anything about it.

“Remus…”

“Jus’ take me to the dorm, James”

James let Remus leaned on him as he placed his arm around him.

“This is ridiculous”

“Shut up, Lupin. You should be pleased you’re in this position with me. Anyone would kill to be on your shoes”

Remus laughed “Tosser”

James was smiling now. He loved making his friends happy.

“I’m still worried though”

“I’m okay…”

James didn’t insist. They got to their dorm and James helped Remus lay down in bed. James made Remus swallow a relaxing potion his mum had given him in case of any stress. Remus needed to sleep for a bit. Remus must’ve known what it was because he didn’t complain.

“Cheers”

“Are you sure you don’t want me to…”

“I’m fine, really” Remus smiled

“Moony…”

“Prongs…”

James sat down on Remus’ bed. He rubbed his friend’s hair gently.

“Sirius will stop seeing all those girls” he said “He’s gonna come back to us”

To you.

James saw Remus closing his eyes, the potion was taking effect now.

“You’re a good friend, Prongs” Remus said before drifting to sleep.

 “James and Sirius were a pair of stupid boys who didn’t give a shit about anyone. Popular rich boys in a good position to bully others”

James waited for Sirius to come back. The letter he had received from his parents this morning must’ve been bad, because after that, Sirius disappeared all day. Remus seemed to be bloody worried, he had insisted on coming with James, but he didn’t let him. He had instructed Pete to take care of him. Remus needed to rest. The full moon had been the day before.

James considered having a smoke while he waited. But he thought better of it, he didn’t know how. And he didn’t want to go back and ask Remus for one.

Finally, James saw the figure of Sirius coming to the castle.

“Where were you?”

Sirius’ eyes looked puffed. He had been crying.

“Having a romantic moonlight walk by myself” Sirius laughed “You didn’t have to wait for me, Prongs”

Sirius wanted to walk by but James stopped him.

“Just stop with this, Pads”

“With what?”

“You can fool anyone in the world. Not me”

Sirius snorted “I don’t know what you’re talking about”

James was getting impatient.

“I’m very offended, Pads”

Sirius raised an eyebrow.

“I don’t think I ever did or said anything to make you believe that you have behave like this idiot fuckboy who doesn’t give a shit about anything or anyone…”

Sirius looked hurt “I…”

“Why are you behaving like this around me?”

“Prongs…”

“I KNOW YOU CARE, PADFOOT”

James didn’t mean to yell but he didn’t know what else to do. Sirius jumped.

“I know you care about your parents and it affects you whatever they say on those letters… I know you miss Regulus that you love him despite all….”

Sirius looked down.

“I know you don’t give a shit about any of those girls… You know? You’re hurting Moony…”

Sirius looked up at that. His eyes were glittery. He was biting his inner lip to avoid crying. James knew him too well.

“I didn’t mean to”

“Sirius you’re not made of stone. You’re allowed to feel”

Sirius shook his head.

“You…you don’t understand…”

“I do…”

“I have… I have expectations… Everyone is looking at me…”

“Fuck what they think…”

“I’m so…I’m so scared” Sirius had tears on his eyes.

“Pads… I’m your best friend. I don’t care if you break down…”

Sirius kept shaking his head.

“Sirius…” James said more softly “Come here…” he opened his arms.

“I…”

“Come here”

James hugged Sirius. His friend seemed to be tense between his arms.

“It’s okay to cry, Sirius. I’m not gonna judge”

“James…” Sirius whispered before bursting into tears.

“It’s okay Pads. I’m here” James whispered “I’m always gonna be here”

Sirius sobbed even more on his shoulder. Letting out everything he had been accumulating.

 Later, as they approached the Portrait Hall, Sirius stopped James.

“Why would do without you James?”

James smiled.

“I honestly don’t bloody know. I take you ass out of the worst situations”

Sirius laughed.

“I do care about Moony” he said looking down, and kind of blushing? “I never intended to hurt him. He is one of my best friends…”

“But not your best friend, right? That’s me”

Sirius smiled “That’s you”

James smiled back “You should tell him then. Just fix things with Moony…”

Sirius nodded.

James entered the Common Room, climbing up to their dorm. Sirius followed. Before James opened the door, he turned to look at Sirius, he smiled and winked, letting him know everything was okay. And back to normal.

Then James opened the door.

“Hello boys…. Who fancies having his ass beaten by me in an Exploding Snap Game?”

 “Lily should never have chosen James. He was a bully who molested her best friend and couldn’t take a no for an answer”

James didn’t particularly like Petunia. And he knew she hated him. And then it was Vernon, Petunia’s fiancé. James seemed to irritate Vernon with only his mere presence. He was eyeing at James with such furry and disgust, and he wasn’t even trying to be discreet. James felt uncomfortable.

Petunia was talking about their apparent perfect life. They had bought a new muggle car, that seemed to be a thrill for muggles. Vernon had been promoted on his job; James didn’t know what he did. He had explained but James didn’t seem to understand, it sounded boring. They were talking about the preparations for their upcoming wedding.

Lily seemed tensed. She had tried to comment and congratulate her sister. But that bitch shut her up. James was about to take his wand out and jink the shit out her. But he didn’t want to look like a mental on Lily’s house. And they were all muggles. James had to behave like a gentleman.

Lily’s hand moved nervously under the table. James took it on his own. Lily finally looked at him. James smiled. Lily smiled back grateful to have him here.

After dinner, James thanked Mr. and Mrs. Evans over and over again for the delicious dinner. Mr. Evans was nice. Mrs. Evans seemed to be a bit awkward around him. Lily had told him she acted like that around everyone magical.

The Evans started to be very busy with Petunia’s wedding. Her and her mother discussed about dresses and other stuff. They talked about decoration, food, music all that. As if James didn’t know some spells to prepare a ceremony in seconds. Poor muggles, James loved having magic.

Lily seemed sad, she felt out of place as she watched her family discuss those things.

“James, can we go somewhere else?” pleaded

“Of course”

James took Lily’s hand and dragged her to the kitchen. They needed to hide from the muggles to be able to apparate.

“Where do want to go?”

“Anywhere but here” Lily said with tears in her eyes.

James wiped them up gently, before apparating. James took Lily to The Potter’s beach house. It was the only place he could think of. It was his happy place. He had so many memories there. As soon as they got there, Lily began pacing.

She snorted

“They have the nerve… They just keep celebrating and being happy about Petunia and her wedding… And they don’t have any idea of what a horrible world we are living in”

James knew what she was talking about. The war. James and Lily had decided to join Dumbledore’s Order after graduation and fight.

“I have explained it to them… I really have. What I would do” Lily continued “And they just don’t understand. They don’t seem to care actually”

“Hey, Lils…”

“I mean until they don’t see something on the telly they won’t believe it, but there won’t be something on the telly… Fuck…”

“Lils…”

“And Petunia is now the golden girl because she is going to get married.... Since when getting married is better than giving up your life to fight for something good…”

“Lily…” James had reached her. He made her stop and look at him.

“And I’m doing this for them! James! I’m fighting for them!”

James smiled, stroking her hair.

“You need to yell”

“What?”

“You need to let it all out”

“I don’t…” Lily snorted

“Let me show you”

James took out his wand and performed a silent charm on the house.

“Now you can yell all you want without no one bothering you”

“I’m not gonna do that” Lily smiled

“Why not? You’re gonna feel better, trust me”

“James…” Lily bit her lip

“Like this… Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah”

James yelled. Lily laughed at him.

“Your turn”

Lily shook her head. She was smiling behind her sweater sleeve.

“Come on, babe. Trust me”

Lily took a deep breath before yelling.

“Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!”

James laughed amused at his girlfriend.

“FUCK YOU PETUNIA!! FUCK YOU SNAPE!! FUCK EVERYONE!”

“FUCK EVERYONE!”

“FUCK EVERYOOOOONEEEEEE!!”

They both laughed. Then James pulled Lily towards him.

“Fuck everyone but you” she whispered now

James kissed her.

“I’m so in love with you Lily”

Lily smiled so beautifully that James’ heart jumped on his chest.

“How long that spell lasts?” she asked

“An hour or so, why?”

Lily blushed “Perfect. Let see if you make good silencing charms”

James’ face was on fire, he was sure he was bright red.

Lily laughed. And then she kissed him so fiercely, like she never had done before.

James heart was jumping on his chest. He was so in love with Lily that sometimes it scared him.

Lily began unbuttoning James’ shirt. He took it off.

Oh, bloody hell. He had had sex before but not with Lily. He was bloody nervous. What if fucked it up? James found himself breathing nervously and shaking for some reason.

Lily took off her sweater and dress. And she stood there only on her underwear. Lily smiled embarrassed.

“Oh shit…”

James sighed because he had no other words to say. But before he could say anything else, Lily kissed him again.

They laid on the nearest couch. James on top of her. He was still shaking, like a tosser. Why did this happen to him? He was supposed to be confident. But James was nervous, he really didn’t want to fuck it up.

Lily didn’t seem to notice. She seemed to confident and sexy, even though James knew it was her first time.

She smiled stroking James’ cheek. They stared into each other’s eyes.

“Are you sure about this, Lils?”

James was surprised on how shaken his voice sounded.

“I’ve never been so sure about anything in my life” she said “I love you, James”

James was out of breath for a second.

“I love you too”

And James proceeded to kiss Lily’s lips, then Lily’s neck and breasts… He needed to warm up his body to avoid shaking.

“Oh James…” Lily sighed as he kissed her body.

This would be one of the most precious moments in James’ life. He was completely in love.

[izzyfandoms]

Follow The Red String Path

SHIPS: Lomile, side Royality

CHARACTERS: Logan Sanders, Emile Picani, Roman Sanders and Patton Sanders

WARNING: Nothing

GENERAL TAGLIST: @quillfics42 @aj-draws @phantomofthesanderssides @phlying-squirrel @sly-is-my-name-loving-is-my-game @because-were-fam-ily @imtryingthisout @a-creepycookie @emo-disaster @littlestr @spooky-scary-virgil @fuyel @mimsidoodles @soupgremlin @aroaceagenderfluid @birdsbookshiddeninrealbirdsskin @quirkalurk @gingers-trashy-stuff @iinyxtello @justaqueercactus @melodiread @mrbubbajones @glassferns @pun-master-logan @gayturtlez

Masterpost

A Series Of Soulmate AUs Masterpost

The tug at the string tied around Logan’s finger wasn’t an unwelcome one.

An unexpected surprise, sure, but not a negative one. It made Logan look up from his textbooks that were laid out in front of him, and he smiled at the string that no one else saw. Then, he quickly curled his ring finger inwards, tugging the string back. Hopefully it was enough movement for his soulmate to feel, too. It would be nice for them to feel the same comfort he did, so he hoped they could, though he would never admit that aloud.

(Logan had a reputation for being serious and uninterested in relationships, and he wanted to make sure he kept that up.)

He took a moment to watch the taut red string: one long straight line that would eventually lead right to his soulmate. His gaze followed it across the room, up to the opposite wall that it passed right through.

One day, he would follow that string to find his soulmate, but he didn’t know when that day would be.

“Hey, hey, Lo!”

Logan straightened up, pulled from his thoughts, and he turned to look at his friend, Roman, who was sat just beside him.

“What is it, Roman?”

Roman grinned at him. “You staring at your string again?”

Logan felt his face warm, and he looked back down at the textbook between them.

“No,” he lied.

Roman laughed, clapping him on the back. “No need to lie to me, specs. You know I know you better than that. You may have everyone else fooled, but I know what a sap you are.”

“I am not a ‘sap’,” Logan argued, making quotation marks with his fingers. “And I also believe that you are being a massive hypocrite, here. You and Patton are the ‘saps.’”

“You say that likes it’s an insult!” Roman announced, in a much louder voice than he should’ve had in a library. Someone shushed him, and he shot them a sheepish smile and a wave, before turning back to Logan and lowering his voice. “And I am sure that when you meet your soulmate, you’ll be even worse.”

“That is a ridiculous notion, and also, frankly, impossible.”

“Well, you know what they say, opposites attract. And you are going to need the sweetest of soulmates to balance out your sour personality.”

Logan glared weakly at Roman. “Why am I friends with you?”

“Because I’m amazing!”

“That is debatable,” Logan mumbled. At Roman’s overly offended reaction, he sighed. “We are supposed to be revising for our exam this Friday, not having a friendly conversation.”

Roman leant back in his chair, tipping it onto its back two legs. “Psh, who cares about a dumb exam-”

“I do.”

“-all I care about is love! And since I have already found my soulmate, it is my job, as your best friend, to help you find yours.”

Logan gave Roman a flat look. “That is what the string on my finger is for. I will know them when I meet them, so there is therefore no reason to actively seek them out myself.”

“But that could be when you’re all old and grey! Don’t you want to find them now, so you can have even longer together?”

“I will find them when I find them,” Logan said flatly. “Now, we are going to revise, or you will fail math and Patton will be disappointed you. Do you want Patton to be disappointed in you?”

Needless to say, that was the one thing that could get Roman to study. He was always consistent in that way, and Logan was glad that he at least had that to help motivate his best friend to revise with him. Roman wasn’t the best at math, but helping him was good practice for Logan’s desired future as a teacher.

But when Patton arrived at the library and joined them about half an hour later, the studying was clearly over, as Roman was far too distracted by Patton’s curly hair and pretty smile – both things that Logan had listened to his best friend ramble about on many, many occasions – to pay any more attention to the textbooks. Logan tried to keep studying for a few minutes afterwards, but even he had trouble concentrating with a loudly flirting couple beside him.

It didn’t help that they kept trying to include him, which usually he would appreciate, but today he was trying to study, so it wasn’t very convenient.

Logan sighed, closing his textbook and catching the attention of Roman and Patton, who had been holding hands and staring into each other’s eyes for an amount of time that Logan would consider excessive.

“I don’t think we’ll be getting any more studying done, today.”

“Aww, don’t look so grumpy, Microsoft Nerd,” Roman said, letting go of one of Patton’s hands to place his on Logan’s shoulder. “You don’t need to revise, you’re already a genius, you’ll ace this test.”

“Yeah!” Patton agreed. “You’re so smart, Lo!”

Logan sighed. “Yes, well, that will only take me so far, so I was hoping to get some more studying done, but I suppose I’ll have to finish my revision at home.”

“Or,” Roman said, throwing his free arm around Logan’s shoulders. “You could come back to my house with us, and have a Disney movie marathon with us!”

“Ooh, yeah!” Patton agreed.

Logan pulled a face. “Are you sure? I wouldn’t want to intrude, or – what's the phrase? – third wheel.”

“Aww, don't worry, Lo, you’re always welcome to hang out with us!” Patton said. “If anything, I’m the third wheel, ‘cos you guys are such great friends!”

“Oh, darling, don’t say that!”

“Okay, okay, we can all be the third wheels. We’re a tricycle!”

“I do not think that that’s how it works,” Logan commented as he collected his books and returned them to his backpack. Roman had forgotten to bring his own textbooks to their little library study session, so they’d had to share, which was a common occurrence.

Patton didn’t go to the same high school as them, but the other nearest one, so he and Roman didn’t have to travel far to spend time with each other, and did so almost every weekend. Logan was often invited, too. He liked to pretend he was being dragged along – he had a reputation to maintain, after all – but nobody was fooled.

“So, does that mean you’re coming, specs?”

Logan swung his backpack over his shoulder, making sure to hook both arms through the straps, before pushing his glasses further up his nose. He sighed.

“I suppose I can stay for one movie, but then I really must return to my studies.”

Both Roman and Patton cheered loudly, the former raising his hands triumphantly in the air (including the one still holding Patton’s), causing the two of them to be shushed by someone sat nearby. Roman huffed, and Patton apologised sheepishly, but Logan hardly noticed as his attention was suddenly captured by something else: his string.

It was moving.

Now, movement wasn’t too uncommon of an occurrence, but it was moving quickly, sliding across the room from one wall to another.

“Hey, nerd.” Roman waved his hand in front of Logan’s face. “What are you looking at?”

Logan turned to him, blinking. “I...” He swallowed. “My string, it’s moving.”

“Moving?”

Patton gasped, his whole face lighting up. “How quickly?” He asked.

“Much quicker than I have ever seen it move before.” Logan returned his gaze to the red string, which continued to move across the library, still through the wall. He allowed his hand to follow the motion, though there was nothing actually pulling him, so his friends could have a better understanding of its speed.

“Oh. My. Stars!” Roman’s eyes were bright. “You know what this means, right?” He asked excitedly.

“I- I think so,” Logan said, stumbling over his words in a way he didn’t often.

“They’re close!” Patton squealed. “Oh my gosh, oh my gosh! Lolo, you have to follow it!”

“Yes, yes!” Roman agreed. “Come on, we’ll go with you!”

Logan opened his mouth a few times, taking his gaze off the string for a moment to look at his friends for answers. They both nodded supportively.

“Uh... uh- okay.”

“Yes!” Roman pumped his fist in the air.

“Go on,” Patton made a shooing motion with his free hand. “We’ll follow you, start moving before you lose them!”

At that, Logan began to do something he’d never done once before in his life.

He followed the string.

Out of the library. Down the street. Around the corner. Across the road.

He quickened his pace as he could feel in his gut that the string was getting shorter and shorter. He didn’t check behind him for Roman and Patton, but he could hear their footsteps and words of encouragement, though his mind was racing so fast he could barely process what he heard.

Was he really doing this? Did he dare get his hopes up, was he really about to meet his soulmate?

He tugged on his string, hoping that his soulmate could feel the sudden pull.

A moment passed, and then he felt them tug back. An answer.

It filled his heart with a hope that he would never admit aloud, even to his closest friends. Roman’s teasing about Logan being a ‘secret romantic’ would increase tenfold if he ever realised it was actually true.

Logan followed the string with his eyes, watching as it cut right through a building to his right. He took a moment to pause and think, calculating his path, before he decided to continue down the pavement he was stood on and turn right. He heard Roman and Patton slow and stop behind him, but before they could say anything, he started running again.

As he ran forward, his shoes thumping loudly against the concrete below him, his breaths short and quick, he watched – wide-eyed – as the string changed too, like his soulmate was moving parallel to him, though at a slower speed, so it was moving slightly behind.

He reached the end of the street and then turned a corner.

Roman and Patton were lagging behind – Patton wasn’t the fastest runner, and Roman would never go ahead without him – but Logan couldn’t focus on that.

He ran and ran and ran and ran.

He turned and-

Whack!

Logan collided with someone else running, and they both tumbled to the ground. He fell on his right leg and arm, and the first thing that crossed his mind when he hit the ground was that he would probably end up with some nasty bruises.

“Oh, gosh! I am so, so sorry,” came the voice right in front of him, sheepish and apologetic.

(A teenage boy, likely around the same age as Logan.)

Logan huffed, rubbing his arm. “It’s quite alright, I was the one who wasn’t looking where I was go-”

He cut himself off mid-word when his eyes landed on his string. It was no longer taut, like it had been every other day of his life, now loose and running across the ground, looping around itself and no longer cutting through anything.

He followed it, and froze in place when he finally laid eyes on the person on the other end of his red string.

From ring finger to ring finger.

From soulmate to soulmate.

“Oh,” Logan spoke in a strangled voice.

“Oh,” his soulmate repeated, in a much softer voice that made Logan’s heart skip a beat.

His soulmate was a teenage boy about his age, with a beige cardigan and a pastel pink tie the same shade as his dyed hair. He had big, round glasses, and his eyes were just as wide and surprised as Logan was sure his own were.

Logan wanted to say something, anything, but stumbled over his own words like he’d suddenly forgotten how to speak, and his soulmate seemed to be having the same problem.

He heard footsteps approach, quick and stopping just behind him, though his soulmate didn’t seem to notice them as his eyes were glued on Logan’s face. Logan hardly noticed, too, as he was also far too focused on staring back at his soulmate.

“Wow,” Roman laughed when he caught his breath. “You two have the same glasses!”

[vampiresuns]

🍋 Private Diversions

1.7k words. That Tamryn and Anatole weren’t attending the Midsummer Masquerade didn’t mean they couldn’t bring it home. Tamryn belongs to @valhallanrose​

Written for the @midsummer-masquerade​, Day 1, using the prompts ‘Marking’ and ‘Temperature play’. Lemon ahead, Minors DNI.

You can read the rest of ‘City of Delights’, here.

CW: Dom/sub dynamics, anal fingering, penetration.

“I knew you weren’t going but,” Tamryn shook his head, frowning, “I thought you said you’d take this as having a free week, finally.”

Anatole hummed, echoed by the sound of his quill scribbling away. “It is a free week if I don’t have to go to the Palace.”

Anatole put his quill down, resting his hand over Tamryn’s. “It also means I can catch up on the job as I see fit, if I so desire. I do like working with people, but sometimes I do need them all to shut up.”

He moved his hand away to resume his scribbling. Revising documentation was a never-ending task, but it was a worthwhile one when he had to do it for investigative purposes. Linguistics and policy planning remained two of Anatole’s greatest passions. 

He didn’t notice Tamryn frowning again, deeper this time, but he could sense it in his voice. 

“I’m going to lay on your desk. You can’t work if I’m in the way.”

“Tamryn, this is the bedroom secretaire — if you break it I’ll find another room to sleep in, and that is a threat.”

“You’d do that?”

“You know I wouldn’t, but I am working, Tamryn. Just give me a moment.”

Instead of giving him a moment, Tamryn put his knee on the edge of the desk. “No, not for long you aren’t.”

Anatole stopped scribbling, pausing his timer spell so the bright orange clock stopped turning. When Tamryn met him, he used to make the spells another colour, a softer hue between mauve and champagne that Tamryn couldn’t see, resulting in a number of unintended interruptions from his behalf to Nana’s time blocking methods. However, as soon as he pressed himself to do it, Anatole changed the colour, so it was something Tamryn could see without trouble. He had kissed his jaw and told him it was no problem, as he didn’t want Tamryn to feel guilty about interrupting him. 

That way, he had said back then, he could choose what to do better, even if once again he assured him Tamryn was very welcome to draw his attention, and if Anatole couldn’t give him his right then, he’d find the time. He always found the time. He had also said that that way, if Tamryn didn’t see it, they could attribute it to him being a dumbass. 

Tamryn’s sole remark had been Anatole liked him that way. 

Noticing the cease in the sound of quill on paper, Tam moved his knee away, a triumphant look on his face that grew when Anatole moved away from his desk, and evaporated when he settled somewhere else. The orange clock began ticking again. 

“You do realise I can just move my things away, don’t you?”

Tamryn pulled out his tongue at him before he moved closer to Anatole again. “And you do realise I’m obnoxious and I will follow you until you put your work away?”

Anatole turned to him, standing toe to toe with Tamryn, as if they were the same height. They weren’t but that had never stopped him. Besides, both of them knew Anatole’s presence was somehow taller, heels or no heels involved, and Tamryn would be lying if he didn’t admit it sent a shiver over his skin. Anatole just had presence, and the bastard knew how to use it. 

“I can always work on top of you.”

Tamryn smirked as he began playing with one of Anatole’s locks. “Kinky, though if you’re going to be on top of me, I rather you were working hard on something else.”

Anatole hummed again, squinting up at Tam. That did sound tempting. “Fine,” he said, rolling his eyes.

With an incredulous face Anatole found adorable, Tamryn let out a whistling, victorious ‘yes’. Anatole shook his head as he let his boyfriend walk away, towards the bed, as he removed his shirt faster than he could repeat his own name and threw himself on top of it. 

“So, what are you waiting for?”

Anatole kicked his shoes off, climbing on the bed. However, he had not let go of his papers and his squill; he was still holding onto them when he climbed over Tamryn, straddling his chest to sit down over his sternum with his full weight. 

He turned the page and Tamryn wheezed. 

“You did say I should work in something else,” Anatole said absently, in that ennui filled, small-talk tone he used when he wanted to rile Tamryn up, or tease him. “You never said what in.”

“It was implied.”

“Was it? Well, I could shorten my timeblock and finish this tomorrow, but I still want to finish this go, so why don’t you behave for once in your life.”

Tamryn could not resist the challenge. Maybe Anatole wasn’t trying to raise one, maybe he was. Tamryn knew he liked challenges and that he liked to win them, but he also liked to make Tamryn whine and usually got away with it. Perhaps he could do both. Raise a challenge and butter him up with sweet tones. 

It didn’t work. Anatole smiled instead, and pressed his quill against Tamryn’s lips. He didn’t look at him, however. “It is very cute when you try to be all sweet, but do be quiet. You can be a good boy for me, can you not? The better behaved you are for me now, the better it’ll be for you in the end.”

Maybe Tamryn had insisted because he knew this would be the outcome. He sounded more eager than he intended when he told Anatole he could be good for him.  When Anatole called him his “good boy” he knew he was done for. Just no how much. As Anatole worked, he began idly tracing patterns over Tamryn’s skin with the feather end of his quill. Ticklish as Tam was he tried his best not to squirm but the longer Anatole did it, the harder it was to not move. 

He tried his best until the time spell ran out. Anatole sighed, reaching forward to leave his papers and his quill on the night-table. He sat back on top on Tamryn, only a little further down this time. “If it was that tortuous not to move, you should’ve told me.”

Tamryn squirmed a little underneath him, as Anatole began running his fingertips with a feather light touch over his ticklish spots. “I wanted to be good.”

“Oh, you are being very good, Tamryn, my very good boy. I should ease it up a little for you, would you like that?”

“Please.”

“Of course, sweetheart.”

Anatole did not ease it up. For a moment, Tamryn thought he would. He began running his hands over his torso, his sides, his arms; hands which decreased and increased in temperature, slow and steady. Anatole’s right hand got colder, his left one warmer. They traced patterns on his skin, increasing and decreasing in temperature, until they changed — his left one growing colder, and his right one warmer, as he traced the same places they did before. 

Anatole moved a little further back, kneeling between Tamryn’s legs. He pressed a cold hand to his stomach, forbidding him to move unless Anatole told him to. He only told him to move so he could lift his hips as he pulled his pants and underwear down. Anatole leaned forward to press a kiss to his hip bone as he ran his hands over his legs. 

With his hands on the crease between his upper thigh and his hips, Anatole told him to wait. 

He got up to get various things he planned on using: his dick, a plug for Tamryn, lubricant. He warmed the latter up and scooped some with the fingers of his cool hand. He cooled it after, and scooped some with the fingers of his warm hand. 

“Colours, sweetheart, do you have them in mind?”

“Yes.”

“Safeword.”

“Yes, sir.”

Anatole smirked. “Good boy.”

He wrapped his warm hand with cool lube around Tam’s cock, stroking him slowly, pressing his thumb against the slit on his head, toying with his piercing there. He pressed one of his fingers from his cool hand with warm lube against his ass, doing circles until he pushed in. 

Tamryn whined. Anatole was unable to resist teasing him as he began moving his hands, coordinating each movement and adding another figner when Tamryn could take it. He built him up, going at it for a little longer than necessary. What could he say? He thought Tamryn looked pretty when he whined and sounded even prettier when he begged. 

The idea came to him on a whim: to put his mouth on the soft skin of the inside of his thighs, leaving lovebites on both of them, watching them bloom as he continued to finger Tamryn. He was a begging mess; past the point of caring how he sounded or looked like, he became a malleable matter to anything Anatole wished to do onto him, which is exactly how Anatole liked his men: handsome, hopefully with nice tits, begging for him. 

Anatole left lovebites over his hip bones too, fingering Tamryn until he came, his come falling onto his stomach. Though he called him a good boy again, he gave him no time to recover, ordering Tam to turn over. 

“On your knees, sweetheart. Lift that ass for me, I don’t want you to get your come on the bed, am I clear? I want you to have it as a reminder of what you’re here for.”

As Tamryn got on his hands and knees, he thought Anatole was going to be the death of him. Anatole didn’t take long getting his dick and his harness, but anticipation made Tamryn hyper-aware of every sound he made. 

“You look good like this, sweetheart,” Antole said, positioning himself behind Tam. He felt his clicked cock against him, moaning as Anatole slowly pushed in.

Once it was fully inside, he said: “But you know how you’d look even better?” 

Tamryn didn’t get to verbalise a reply before he felt Anatole’s hand on his back, shoving his upper torso into the mattress as he began fucking him. “Like this.” 

That they weren’t attending the Masquerade didn’t mean they couldn’t bring it home. 

[imaginejamesandsirius]

hi! I can't stop sending you prompts. I hope you don't mind :") "Severus hits James with the "Sectumsempra" spell and leaves him in this state." thank you and have a nice day!

((A/N: The prompt sort of leans in a hurt/comfort direction, but I didn’t do that. This is more ‘Sirius has Anger Issues and James doesn’t like it’)) 

"What the hell happened?" Sirius asked. James looked a little fragile, so instead of squeezing his hand until it hurt, Sirius's fingers were knotted together in his lap where he was sat on the edge of the hospital bed. He'd tried to sit in the chair next to the bed, but James had rolled his eyes and told him that if he didn't get up there, then James would go to him. 

James kicked his lips before answering. "Spell accident." 

"Accident," Sirius repeated. He didn't want to think that James was lying to him, but really- an accident? 

"You know how it is with new spells. Sometimes it's exactly what you want, and sometimes they blow up in your face." 

"What the hell were you thinking trying a new spell by yourself?" 

"Well I didn't think that was going to happen. Why get back-up for something I thought couldn't possibly go wrong?" 

"You're the one that gave me that lecture! Like, a month ago. 'Don't go practising anything experimental, Sirius. You might get a hangnail and then I'll have to panic for forty minutes.' Remember that?" 

"I didn't say it like that." 

"Believe me, it was the gist. You're absolutely ridiculous." 

James stuck out his bottom lip in an exaggerated pout. "I'm injured! Be nice to me." 

"I'll be nice to you when you stop being an idiot." 

"That'll never happen," James whined. "I want you to be nice to me now." 

"Keep on dreaming." Besides, maybe this would remind him not to go off on his own and experiment! What kind of spell could it have been to land him in the Hospital Wing? Singed eyebrows, sure, but Madam Pomfrey hadn't even healed him and then let him go. Whatever it was that had gone wrong, it was having lasting effects. 

"Where's Moony and Wormtail?" 

"Revising. You said it was nothing, so I told them not to worry about it." The only reason James had told Sirius was because he knew better than to try and hide something like that. They both agreed to tell the other about any injury, no matter how small, and they got on a lot better for it. "If I'd known you were lying, they'd be here." 

"I didn't lie. I said I was fine, and I am." 

That was when Madam Pomfrey walked up to them with a tray of potions in hand, and she raised an eyebrow at James. "Anyone who loses that much blood is not fine. You're lucky Professor Dumbledore happened upon you when he did, or you might've bled to death right there." 

"What?" Sirius yelped, turning to James accusingly. "That's not sodding fine!" 

"I'm heartened that you agree with me, Mister Black. Perhaps he will actually listen when I say that he should stay here overnight." 

"Aww, c'mon," James said. "Nothing's going to happen to me back at the dormitory. You already said it would just be for observation." 

"No way," Sirius said immediately, shaking his head. "You're staying here so we can be sure there aren't any lingering effects." 

"There aren't." 

"You don't know that for sure." 

There was a hesitance to James's expression before he said, "Yeah, but I'm pretty sure." 

"Pretty sure isn't enough to bet your life on." He heard Madam Pomfrey move on to the next patient, leaving them alone again. "Come on," Sirius said, lowering his voice. "I wouldn't be able to get any sleep if I knew you might get hurt in the middle of the night. If you're here, at least we'll all know that you're as safe as you can be." 

"Bloody hell, you're becoming more like Mum with every passing day." 

"Your mother is a lovely woman." 

"Yeah, but she hovers," he said, wrinkling his nose. 

"You like my hovering," Sirius said. He managed to untense his fingers so that he could put one hand on the bed and lean forward to give James a quick kiss. 

"Merlin help me, I do," he whispered. 

"So you'll stay here, tonight?" 

"I will, but I still think you're overreacting. Nothing's going to happen." 

"That's what I thought this morning too, and look at where that led us." 

James rolled his eyes. 

*

Sirius thought about it more as he went back to the dormitory. He couldn't manage to think about anything else. James's answer had almost made sense, but something about how he'd said it all... It had soothed Sirius at the time, but now that he had some space, it struck him as odd. It's like James had been trying to get him not to focus on how it happened. If it had been a simple spell accident from a new one, then he would've complained about the spell itself; he would've talked about how he was so sure he'd gotten the right phrasing for it this time, and he'd worked so hard on trying to get it perfect before he ever raised his wand. 

He hadn't done any of that. 

James and Sirius didn't have to have talked about it first to know that Sirius was going to sneak in that night to visit him. Since he was actually hurt, Sirius didn't plan on staying for very long. 

He was going to get to the Hospital Wing, ask James what had actually happened, kiss him once (maybe twice, for good measure), then leave. Nice and quick. He'd be back at Gryffindor Tower in time to catch enough sleep that he wouldn't pass out at his classes tomorrow. 

It was a good plan, he thought. The only problem was that James didn't seem to know the script. 

He was awake when Sirius got there. That much, at least, they were on the same page for. Sirius cast a silencing spell around them, then carefully sat on the edge of the bed. "How do you feel?" 

"No worse than before," he said with a tired smile. It was hard to say if he was tired purely from staying up a little late or if that was an effect of being injured. "I still think you're overreacting a bit. I'm fine, and I know that nothing's going to happen." 

"How?" 

"What?" 

"How do you know that nothing worse is going to happen?" Sirius elaborated. 

"Trust me on this one, love. The initial," he waved his hand lazily, "thing happened, and I get that it scared you, but everything's fine now. It's not going to spontaneously reappear; it's not like that." 

Sirius stared at him for a long moment. If he hadn't been looking for it, he would've accepted that answer. James was not only dodging the question, but he was doing it in a way that tried to ensure Sirius wouldn't think twice about it. James was lying, and he didn't know why. "This wasn't a spell accident," Sirius said flatly. "You know exactly what went wrong, but you're not telling me. Even if you were telling the truth about it being a spell accident, I'd need a better explanation for why you're so sure it's not going to have any lingering effects. But since you're lying about that, I figure you can just tell me the whole truth right now." 

James's expression turned guilty, but no answer was forthcoming. 

"What the hell is going on?" 

He still didn't answer. 

"Fine," Sirius said, getting to his feet. "If you're not going to talk to me, I'm going to leave." 

"Wait," James said hurriedly, even though Sirius hadn't taken a step. "Don't- don't go." 

Threatening him-- even with something so small as going back to bed-- made him sick to his stomach. "Are you going to tell me what really happened?" 

James made a face. 

"What the hell is going on? Since when do you not talk to me?" 

"Since I know you'll freak out." 

"Why would I freak out?" 

"Because that's what you do when you get upset. For fuck's sake, you almost killed Snape last-" 

"You said you forgave me for that," Sirius interrupted as his heart clenched. "Wait, did he do this to you?" 

For a moment, James looked conflicted. Then he said, "Yes, but I don't think he really knew what the spell would do. He panicked when he saw all the blood." 

"He left you there? Madam Pomfrey said that Dumbledore's the one who found you, so when he panicked, he just left you like that? I swear to Merlin, I'll sodding-" 

"Stop!" James shouted. "You're not going to do anything." 

"The hell I won't." 

"This is why I didn't tell you. I hexed him first." 

"Yeah, you hexed him; you didn't cut him open and leave him to die." 

"You're not listening to me!" 

"I'm listening just fine." 

"No, you're not," James snarled, his face twisting with frustration. "You're just saying that you're going to kill him because he hurt me, and I'm telling you that that's utter shite." 

"He'd deserve it." 

In a flash, the anger was gone, replaced by shocked disbelief. "You'd really do it." 

"He nearly killed you," Sirius hissed. 

James swayed back slightly, like he couldn't handle being so close to Sirius's anger. "You told me last time that it was a mistake. One you regretted." 

Sirius grit his teeth. "It was." Then, vindictively, "I never should've dragged Moony into it when I could've done it myself." He hadn't expected for the statement to do anything but make James more disappointed with him, but he looked scared now. The reaction almost had Sirius apologising-- it's not like he would ever hurt James, but the other man didn't look too certain of that. 

"If anything happens to Snape, I'll tell Dumbledore that you're responsible." 

"You wouldn't," Sirius said, narrowing his eyes. 

"I definitely would if it'll stop you from hurting him. He made a stupid mistake, just like you'd done, and you're not going to punish him for it." James still looked scared of him. "If you hurt him again, Dumbledore will expel you. He was lenient last time, only Merlin knows why, but he won't do it again." 

Sirius turned on his heel and left, angry enough that he wanted to start flinging spells at the stone until it crumbled before him. 

He stomped back to the Tower. He wasn't careful or using the Map, but he somehow didn't get caught. That was good. He wasn't sure he would've held his tongue, even against a professor. 

*

He woke up in the morning, feeling nauseous. 

He skipped breakfast to go see James. Madam Pomfrey was releasing him when he got there, so he hovered awkwardly near the door for her to finish. 

James had seen him when he entered. His eyes chased that direction when he saw the door open, then slid back to Madam Pomfrey as she spoke. Sirius leaned against the wall, feeling almost like he hadn't slept at all for how tired he was. He didn't know if James would listen to him, or if he wanted more space before talking. Hell, he might consider last night good grounds for breaking up with him, and what made it worse was that he wouldn't be wrong. If Sirius were James, that's what he'd do. He wouldn't be able to be with someone like him. 

But when James walked to the door, he stopped at Sirius's side. "Hey," he said, subdued. 

"Clean bill of health?" Sirius asked, looking at James's shoulder because it was easier than looking him in the eye. 

"Yeah. Nothing happened during the night, so she said I should be fine. The usual lecture about being more careful in the future." 

Sirius nodded. "Breakfast?" he suggested, pointing towards the door. The last thing he wanted was to sit in the Great Hall and try to force himself to eat. 

"Sure." 

They left, walking side by side. It was a tense silence until Sirius broke. "Can we talk?" 

"Sure," James said again. 

It was easy to find an empty corridor that was far enough away from the Great Hall that they didn't have to worry about being walked in on. 

"I don't know what's wrong with me," Sirius said quietly. He didn't think of himself as overly emotional, but he started to tear up the moment he opened his mouth. "Every time I get angry, it's like I don't care about anything. I always feel like myself, and then it passes, and I just want to be sick. I used to think it was my parents, you know? That I was so buggered up from living with them that feeling murderous was just part of who I was, but now I live with you and it's-" Sirius stopped, swallowing thickly. He blinked the tears away before they could bead together and fall. "I don't know how to be better." 

James didn't say anything for a long moment. "Have you talked to anyone about this?" 

"I'm talking to you, aren't I?" 

"I meant, like, an adult. A real one. A good one, not your parents. Maybe Mum?" 

"Why would talking to your mum help?" 

"She's our mum," James corrected automatically, like he always did. "I dunno. She seems to know a lot. When I was going through some things, talking to her made me feel better. It can't hurt, right?" 

"I guess," Sirius muttered. He'd do it because James thought it was a good idea, and he couldn't trust his own council about this. He just wasn't really sure if it would be better for him, and more than that, he didn't know how willing he was to say those things to Mrs. Potter. She always looked at him fondly and said that he was family. He didn't want for that to be tossed out the window because he said too much to her, but he couldn't stay like this. If James hadn't been scared of him last night, he probably would've done it. Maybe he wouldn't have killed Snape, but he wasn't sure-- and he definitely would've hurt him. 

Sirius felt... fragile. Like he was a vase with cracks all along it. 

"I'll write to her today," Sirius said. Since they agreed, he started to turn back to the main corridor, but James stopped him. 

James stepped forward, wrapping his arms around him just like he always did. Not tighter, not less constraining. The same as always, like nothing had changed. "I'm glad you're okay," James whispered. 

Stupidly, that was the thing that made Sirius start to cry-- that James touched him and talked to him like he was the same he'd always been. Like he still loved him. 

[themilky-way]

in the night

gif credit: pedropcl

pairing: javier peña x fem! reader

summary: when you’re asked to partake in a dangerous task, you form a sudden and unexpected bond.

warnings: mentions of the mob and alcohol, a very vague implication of a gun

author’s note: this man lives in my mind rent free good-fuckin-night  

----------

life in columbia sure as hell wasn’t easy, but being a dea agent working against the downfall of the world’s most powerful criminal took the proverbial cake. your mission had seemed fairly easy: travel to bogotá and help the columbian authorities catch escobar. except, the ambassador didn’t mention any sort of infiltration, one that had to be done by none other than you. 

there was no fighting it. the job carried many (dangerous) responsibilities, and someone had to fulfill them. to help, steve had reached out to carillo and asked him to substitute one of his own men, which, in a way, wasn’t any better because someone’s life was still at risk, but it was denied. connie made the wait for you as easy as she could by sending you dinner with peña a few nights a week, and although you loved that woman like your own blood, she couldn’t make a bowl of rice even if her life depended on it. 

by being a helpful friend though, connie had unintentionally brought her husband’s partner closer with you. you knew of him and how he worked, an unavoidable aspect if you operated where he did, but your role slightly differed from his. the week you had been assigned for undercover was spent in the privacy of your apartment, ensuring important documents were locked up, sorting a couple of suitcases as if this was a leisurely trip instead of a guaranteed death sentence. the following week wasn’t any less hectic, but it was the first time connie sent out a personal order to you. her chosen delivery man? yeah, you guessed it.

it became a regular occurrence after that. the days leading up to your departure began consisting of javier residing in your home for hours at a time. there were moments where he showed up at your door without a small bag of food, claiming steve was in charge of dinner that night and how he’d never forgive himself if he let you take a bite of it. you noticed how on some nights, he’d linger for just a few more minutes than he should’ve by washing spare dishes or going over routes crucial to the cartels. he didn’t need to do any of that, but the difference here was that he wanted to. 

“so,” steve started off one morning, “you and peña- you guys a thing?” he ended it with a small smirk perfectly hidden by the bottom of his coffee mug. indeed, an unprofessional topic for an unprofessional man.

“to my knowledge, he’s just being a friend and a very bad delivery person,” had been your answer at the time, never once looking up from the jumble of words constituting your report. nothing else mattered as much as your security on that mission; you truly didn’t have the time to delve into emotional matters and invest any thought into silly questions like this. “he keeps me company, that’s all.”

perhaps you were lying to yourself about this whole thing, afraid of what might happen if you allowed emotion to regulate the demanding life you led. a vase of lively flowers would replace the holster on your coffee table. scattered papers and pens and pictures would find a home in neat sections of a drawer rather than the floor. a few photographs might even color the opaque walls. these were trivial aspects of your life, and the aspirations to contrive them hardly appeared in your mind, but now? well, now they were everywhere. 

during the third week, javier didn’t even need steve’s wife to deliver anything. excuses to knock on the hard wooden door of the complex were compiled up in his brain, and they were eloquently spilled in order to pass its threshold. “you see these papers? yeah, we need to go over them,” he’d say all rushed and hurried, holding up a stack of articles with sloppy handwriting. the thoughts-hopes-from before would start then, and they’d take up every ounce of your reasoning as if nothing else mattered. from that point forward, javier’s attention was yours, and your’s his. watches’ were discarded and left on a random end of a couch, the sounds of the clock drowned out by the now casual chatter instead of a business delegation. nights of the exact nature transcurred one after another, with the agent leaving closer to dawn no matter his imploration to keep you company. “call me if you need anything, alright?”

ultimately, everything had led you to the couch your legs were crossed upon, javier sitting in the space between it and the small, rectangular coffee table. one leg lay calmly folded on the pearl-tinted carpet while the other was bent, an elbow resting sturdily on top of his knee. a blanket covered the bottom half of your sitting form with a few of its edges tickling the man’s arms, but it seemed he didn’t mind the feeling. you’d offered him one, and upon his negation, you’d offered him to share yours, which earned you a cocky remark. tonight, he didn’t bring any documents or transcripts to revise, only what he insisted to be the best take-out meal in town. additionally, being the friend he was, he gifted you a bottle of whiskey that was to be celebrated with, except he was on his third refill, and you weren’t even finished with the first. 

“unless you wanna sleep here tonight, i suggest you slow it down,” a small joke as you leaned over to place the glass down. you assumed he’d laugh as he did with all your past banters, but was met with nothing but the sound of his ice rocking against his cup. naturally, you turned to face him as you reached back, catching a delicate smile below the curve of his stache.

“yeah, i’m sure you’d like that, huh?” he took a sip as coolly as ever. the glass came down next to yours, his newly free hand propping up on your knee closest to him. granted, the close intimacy wasn’t new-none of it was, at this point-but your very own mind was spinning and wasn’t due to the alcohol, or potential food poisoning, or even goddamn nerves wracking your system about the ordeal you’d be facing. “no, seriously. would you like me to stay?”

“i mean i wouldn’t technically mind it if i had company. i’d prefer connie but you’ll do, i guess,” to this, javi did release a hearty laugh, followed with a expression of feined insult. 

a few hours trascurred beyond that moment before exhaustion creeped up on the both of you. it was arranged that he’d sleep on the sofa while your bed awaited you in the adjacent dorm, and it appeared quite modest. “i’ll, uh, i’ll be right back, hold on,” you assured him, discarding your day clothes for something more comfortable in private. you brushed your teeth next, and then fixed your disheveled hair into a style suited for sleep. 

“oh shit, javi-” you found him sitting at the edge of your bed tucking in a sheet that almost threatened to come off. he’d taken the liberty of adjusting the variety of pillows and blankets how he deemed fit you best. “did you just un-make my own bed?”

he got up to lift one cover to motion you under it, replying with, “yes, ma’am, i sure did.” javier ensured that every single limb was secure under the safety of the sheet, standing up straight to peer down at his work and, regarding it “perfect,” said his good night, but cold fingers unsheathed themselves to encircle around his wrist to prevent him from leaving. “oh, come on, i did such a good job-”

“please stay with me. just for a little while,” you plead. it took him more than few seconds to properly register your words, but eventually he twisted his hand to take a hold of yours and bring it into his lap as he sat back down on the cushion. he didn’t mind-he never would. you spoke to him about random things, conspiracies and books and movies and in turn, he offered his own insight. amidst slurred words, the entanglement of your fingers to his occurred. javi’s thumb drew softly on the edge of your own; throughout the silence that suddenly filled the space, he cautiously lifted the top of your hand, as if to wait for a withdrawal, and when he saw none, he kissed it softly. 

“murphy asked if you and i were a thing,” he mumbled. 

“what’d you tell him?” you asked.

“that we are.” he kissed your hand again before letting it go, rising up to stand over you. with the same gentleness as he’d done to your skin, he inched down to press another to your forehead. “get some rest, i think you’ve seen enough of me for today.”

“i don’t really think that’s possible.”

[evermorehaikyuu]

▬◊☆One More Time

A/N: This has been one of the most requested second parts to one of my fics in angstember and it took me a while because I kept thinking of how to write a second part and chances are I’ll write a third part of fluff because this is angst again. Here’s the first part to the angst, let’s get started! 

Warning: Blood and details of surgery, proceed with caution 

~

One year had gone by and Shirabu was living in solitude. Maybe that was too little of a word. He felt like he was locked up in chains as every single day he glanced at the door in the hopes that Y/N would come in and hold him like she used to. It never did happen.

How many times did his own words come back to haunt him in the times where he sat alone in the middle of the night, revising his textbooks? It was the main reason why he always tried to go back to work, even during his break time and his days off. His supervisor had noticed that something was up with him everytime he had left his group to go and get back to work. What was worse was that Y/N had left to go to another hospital. Perhaps if she hadn’t left, they could’ve fixed it. However, when she put her mind to something, she went through with it. 

Nothing was ever going to help him go back to what he wanted, he had decided. Every night after she left he would study craniectomy, but from his exhaustion, he couldn’t focus. He could barely tell anyone anything other than the basics. He was a surgeon, he should’ve known everything. But Shirabu was only human.

On a day where everything was going slower than usual, something had to come up right as he was going to go home. There was an ambulance right outside of the hospital, the red siren flashing over the walls as the paramedics started rolling someone in as quickly and smoothly as they could. Shirabu’s supervisor grabbed his arm and said, “Someone got into an accident. They need a craniotomy right away. Shirabu, I need you to do this, they look like they’re in really bad shape.” 

Shirabu looked at his supervisor and in a split second, he knew what he needed to do, albeit feeling like all was going to fail. He decided to go into the operation. 

Inside of the room, the tension was thick and so was the smell of blood. The surgeons were all going around the patient like ants on sugar and speaking in medical terms that Shirabu had come to learn a while ago. As he walked over, one of the nurses stopped him. “Hold on. Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes, of course. They’re a patient and they need to be saved right now.” Shirabu could barely contain his emotions within him, patience was not a virtue he had when it came to someone stopping him from doing his job. “What’s their name?” He reached out for the clipboard near one of the tables and the nurse tried to stop him until he saw who it was.

Y/N was on the table. If he didn’t move now, she would die.

Moving as quickly as he could over to her, he could see her face shriveled up in pain but her eyes were glossed over. The anesthesia was doing its job well as her expression slowly shifted and she started dozing off. Shirabu gulped and looked up at his team of doctors. “What happened to her? Where was she hurt?”

“Got into an accident. Brain damage.” Another nurse said, handing him the craniotome. “Shall we begin?”

Shirabu took the instrument from her and looked down at Y/N. She was on the verge of death and here he was hesitating. Even though she didn’t love him anymore, would he be so petty as to let her die?

No, he said to himself, I’m not someone who will take the life of someone else just because they left me. With the instrument in his hand, he started his procedure, drilling the hole into her head to see what the injury was. 

~

“Doctor, I think we’re--” The nurse who had warned him glanced at him with fear in her eyes. This would be his second time to let someone die. He’d get fired at the very least, banished from the hospital. Why did they let him do this operation again? Just because she was his ex-girlfriend and all of a sudden, the pieces would be put into place inside of his mind? 

Shirabu’s concentrated gaze was soon blurred by his own emotions as panic settled in his chest, realizing that his efforts were futile. He was killing her. She was dying anyways and instead of giving her a peaceful death, Shirabu was assassinating Y/N L/N, the only person he had ever truly loved. “No. Don’t finish that sentence until we’re done. Get the AED ready if her heart rate goes down.”

Even though he refused to let the knowledge of her dying enter his mind, it was becoming very clear to everyone in the room that she was going to pass away. “Please...please don’t die, Y/N, please…,” he whispered to himself, his voice breaking at the last word as he kept trying to keep her alive. “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry, I shouldn’t have done anything that I did and I missed you so much, please, Y/N, stay with me…”

“Her heart rate is going down.” The buzz of the defibrillators filled the air but Shirabu could barely hear it over the sound of his own heart pounding inside of his chest as he bit his lip and tried to continue his procedure. His hands were shaking as he kept cutting, the blood pooling on his hands, a symbol for the crime he was about to execute.

Execute, he thought, that’s a strange word. It could be used as an act, but most of the time it’s seen as something to fear, a wrongdoing. Maybe I am not supposed to be here. Maybe I should’ve paid more attention.

“She’s at 40, she’s going further down, we’re losing her!” The nurses were all rushing, trying to get Y/N back to life. The constant beeping of the ECG started slowing down before there was a flatline, telling everyone in the room that they had failed. 

“Time of death, 11:39 pm.” Someone muttered, scribbling it down before all of them stared at each other, defeated. All of them turned to look at Shirabu and regretted it immediately.

Shirabu was staring at Y/N’s dead body on the table and looked at his shaking crimson hands, his vision now filled with tears as he gazed at her closed eyes. They’d stay shut forever. It was his fault again. He had killed another person and this was the person he had loved the most. 

His supervisor, when meeting with Shirabu outside, asked him what had happened and Shirabu stared at him with the most broken look he had ever seen in his life. “I lost her. I was too late.”

~

Getting back home was a blur and it was much faster than he had expected as he slammed the door shut and threw his jacket aside, breathing shakily. He couldn’t look at his hands again without seeing the redness blooming on them. Everytime he heard the words “time of death”, it made the reality of her being gone from this world face him. 

Shirabu didn’t know when he fell to the floor. He didn’t know when the tears started coming out of him as he hugged himself, pitiful wails coming out of him before a fist came down on the floor as he screamed. He screamed at himself for not knowing enough. He screamed at himself for not keeping her. He screamed at the heavens for notting letting him keep her for enough time to apologize. 

“I’m so sorry, I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Y/N….” Shirabu said before bursting into tears again, his hands covered his face before sliding up to grip his hair as his tears continued falling and he started shaking as he hugged himself.

Shirabu had a chance to apologize beforehand. She was gone now. There was nothing he could do to bring her back. As he looked at the ring on the corner of the room, so many memories came rushing back to him, causing him more pain. 

“What do you think about marriage?” Y/N had asked him.

“Hmm….I wouldn’t mind it.” He didn’t tell her that it was her that he wanted to marry. The promise ring he had given her was not only to seal his vow that he’d protect and love her forever, it was the promise that someday, he would marry her. 

The ring symbolized what would never happen.

[drawlfoy]

Undertones

masterlist request guidelines please feed my inbox. she’s starving. requests are more open than ever!

pairing: draco x nonslytherin!reader

request: yes! thank you anon!

summary: non slytherin reader offers draco her scarf when she realizes he’s cold. he secretly wants to accept but he’s too afraid to ruin his reputation.

warnings: fluff idk. maybe foul language because *that’s me* but i write warnings before i write fics and i cannot foresee this going anywhere dirty

a/n: i’ve made spaghetti how many times? too many times. and yet every time i misjudge the amount of pasta sauce i need to heat up to match the amount of pasta. every single time. i don’t know what’s wrong with me but i can never fix this problem. i’m sorry this is random but i don’t think many people actually read this part so i’m kind of going off. the pasta is good  tho, i’m eating it right now. reply with “pasta” down below if you actually read this

music recs: shoot i’ve been listening to alvvays tbh

also, last thing: Y/H/N means your house name, Y/H/C means your house color(s) :) also O/H means other house... as in not your house or slytherin!!

word count: 1,435

The wind was howling outside, cold and biting, as Y/N settled into the bench next to her “friend”, Draco Malfoy.

They’d only begun to be civil to each other that year after they’d been forced together in potions. At first, it had been horrible, but eventually, Y/N and Draco came to a truce. The merciless teasing about her house ceased and Y/N stopped reminding him how much she hated him every day. 

And then there was Quidditch. You were both big fans of getting high marks in potions, but you were both even bigger fans of the game. Y/N was unfortunately rendered unable to play in 4th year, after a particular nasty crash messed up her leg, She was perfectly capable of attending games, however, and she was especially supportive of the Y/H/N team. 

This particular Saturday, Y/H/N was playing O/H. It was the first time this year that Slytherin wasn’t playing, so Y/N had thought it appropriate to invite Draco along with her.

She was beginning to regret her decision as she watched the blond boy sitting next to her complain.

“Why does it have to be so cold out?”

“Uh, I don’t know, Draco,” Y/N shot back. “It’s wintertime, maybe that plays a role?”

He huffed and dug his hands into his cloak pockets.

“Y/N, please at least let me feel sorry for myself in silence.” He pouted, pulling his hands out of his pockets and blowing on them. “I never should’ve come. It’s too cold out for this.”

Y/N’s heart stung a little at this comment. They both loved Quidditch, and sometimes it was all they talked about. She was cold too, but the love for the sport kept her glued to the spot. 

“Didn’t think you were such a wuss,” she grumbled, pulling her own down jacket tightly around her body. She’d abandoned their uniforms and had instead opted for her muggle winter gear--except for her Y/H/N scarf, which was pulled tightly around her neck. 

“I prefer realist,” he shot back. Draco’s voice wavered just a slight bit, and Y/N cast him another glance. She was shocked to see that he was actually shivering. 

“I’m cold too, Draco,” she retorted “But for some reason, I’m still here.”

No response was returned. Instead, comfortable silence between them rested as the yells of the other onlookers pulled her attention away from Draco. 

After the first 45 minutes, Y/N felt positively chilled. A quick glance at Draco confirmed that she was not alone in this feeling. Both were ill dressed for the occasion.

“Hey,” she began, inching a little closer to her potions partner, “Do you want my scarf?” 

Draco turned to look at her, eyeing her neck. He looked like, for a second, he was considering it.

“No,” he finally told her. “You need it more than me.”

“What do you mean, Draco?” Her voice cracked slightly from the cold air rushing into her mouth. “You’re just wearing a cloak. I have a full coat.”

“And you’re still shivering!”

“So are you!”

At this point, neither of them were paying any mind to the game in front of them. 

“Even if I was...cold,” Draco told her, his teeth chattering comically, “I wouldn’t be caught dead wearing a Y/H/N scarf. Y/H/C doesn’t suit my pink undertones.”

“Oh. My. God.” Y/N rolled her eyes so hard they nearly reached the back of her head. “You are such a diva. Do you know how many people die during the winter from hypothermia? And you’re out here, refusing a scarf because it doesn’t compliment your undertones?”

“You know that’s not the real reason, dimwit,” he told her with a hushed voice. 

Y/N’s cheeks were no longer being bitten by just the wind--now they were red from Draco’s scathing words.

“No one really cares,” she whispered, her eyes falling to the ground. She knew that that was a blatant lie. 

“You know they do,” Draco answered, sighing and turning his attention back to the game.

Y/N only pretended to watch the game. In reality, she was trying to get her cheeks to stop flaming red with embarrassment. Perhaps she could blame the sudden flush on the cold, but Draco had to know. He had to know that he had, in a sense, rejected her, proving that his reputation was more important than sharing a sweet moment between the two of them.

Without the heat of an argument, Y/N settled back into her chilly state, quivering slightly with every new gust of wind. Pins and needles began to rush into her bare hands, forcing her to resort to sticking them inside her jacket like some kind of deranged penguin.

“Are you cold?” Draco asked.

“Er....yeah? Duh,” she responded, turning her head to face him with an unimpressed expression. “I thought we already went over this.”

Draco swallowed. His hands were shaking, harder than they were before. If she didn’t know any better, she would’ve thought he was nervous, but it was cold enough out to excuse the behavior. 

“Give me your hands,” he demanded.

“Excuse me?” Y/N asked, bewildered from the sudden suggestion.

“You heard me. Give them here.” As if to prove that he was being serious, he stuck his own hands out expectantly,

Hesitantly, Y/ drew her hands out of her jacket and held them out to him. He grasped them, pulling them to his chest and rubbing his hands back and forth. She was pleasantly surprised with how warm his core was. (a/n: the word core is ruined for me because of smut and i promise that that isn’t what i was trying to imply)

“I thought you said you were cold.”

“I thought you appreciated my dramatic flair.” Draco exaggerated a frown, rubbing his thumbs over her knuckles. 

This was new. While they were on better terms and had done a fair bit of things that friends did, one line they never crossed was legitimate physical touch. Y/N couldn’t say that she minded it, though.

Feeling slowly tricked back into her hands as they sat like that, Draco still stroking the outsides of her hands and Y/N standing ramrod straight in disbelief. Once her hands were no longer numb, she cleared her throat and shifted in her seat.

“Thank you,” she said awkwardly, withdrawing her hands from his chest and tucking them back into her pockets. “I can feel them now. I think I’m alright.”

“Ooooooookay,” Draco responded, raising an eyebrow in slight disappointment. “If they ever get cold again...”

“Okay.”

The tension between them only thickened as Y/N realized she’d made a horrible mistake. She was starting to feel positively frozen at this point, and to make things worse, the Y/H/N seeker had decided to hang out over the stadium seats where Y/N was seated. Every few seconds, she’d dive down and another rush of freezing wind would hit Y/N and Draco. 

Within a few minutes, both were shivering messes. Y/N considered offering her hands back to him, but her pride kept her from going  back to it. She withdrew them. She couldn’t ask for more again. 

“You’re still cold, aren’t you?” Draco’s voice pulled her back from her plotting. 

“Was it that obvious?” 

The laugh Draco let out was small and involuntary. 

“Well, I mean....” He sucked in a deep breath before meeting Y/N’s eyes. “You can....you can sit closer.”

“Oh?” The words left her mouth before she could revise them. 

“Er.. yeah, come over here.” Draco patted the already rather small space on the bench between them. 

Y/N cautiously scooted closer, closing the gap until their shoulders were almost rubbing. 

How was this supposed to accomplish anything?

Draco answered her question before she could even voice it out loud, taking one arm out of the sleeve of his cloak. He draped it over Y/N’s shoulder so they were sharing the garment, pulling her close.

Y/N almost gasped but caught it just in time. Draco’s arm was now wrapped around her shoulder and her head pressed up against his warm chest.

She could hear his heart racing as his free hand slid under the cloak, taking hers and stroking them like he had done before. 

“And what was this about being ashamed of my house?” she managed to quip, lifting her gaze upwards to meet his soft grey eyes. “You won’t wear my scarf but you’ll allow...this?”

He blushed, turning his fair pink skin an even deeper red as his thumb rubbed lazy circles on the back of her hands. 

“I told you,” he whispered, dropping his head down so his face was mere inches away from her, “Y/H/C looks ghastly on me.”

final a/n: this kind of took a u turn from the original direction that was requested and i deeply apologize for that haha. i’m not the best at writing fluff, i’m a little better at writing build up, so i’m going to have to work on that. thank you for reading!

[junkratsloverat]

22 and Cullen from the kiss prompts? (toogay)

22.  a kiss that is leading to more, but is interrupted by a third party

this is such a cute idea, tysm @toogayforthistoday​!! :3 sorry for taking so long, i got distracted by the ovw event and getting the new emote for jamie lol

i’ve had a college au in my head for a long time now, and this is the first time i’ve written for it; hopefully it’s ok sjkdhfsldfs

length: 8563 characters ; 1570 words

warnings: gets a little steamy ｜−・;） nothing explicit tho!

[ more kisses! ]

     “...it’s 72, love.”

     “Right, that’s what I said.”

     “You wrote 82.”

     “No I didn- yeah I did. Dammit.” I mumbled, fixing the mistake. “Why did I do that?”

     Cullen shrugged, leaning over to rest his head on my shoulder. “Come on. What’s the next one?”

     I glanced at the clock beside my bed. We’d been trying to put a dent in my math homework for a solid three hours, but it didn’t feel like any of it was sticking, even with Cullen’s best efforts. Granted trying to study on my bed with our backs against the wall may not have been the best place to try, but my dorm had the quiet of a library without the social anxiety of studying around other people. For a few more hours, anyway.

     I sighed, tucking the finished worksheet inside my notebook and hesitantly taking out the next one. “Do we have to do another one?”

     He considered it, but eventually nodded. “Yeah. One more. But if you promise that we’ll finish the rest tomorrow, it can be the last one. Is that fair?”

     “Okaaay...” I rolled my eyes, which got me a Glare. “Whaaat? I told you I hate this stuff.”

     “It’s still important.” He chided, gently elbowing my side.

     “For you, sure. But I’m majoring in art stuff, I ain’t gonna need this.”

     “But what if you did?”

    “...theeeen my super sweet boyfriend would come help me?”

    He laughed, but immediately turned an adorable shade of pink. “Focus, you. A-and don’t look at me like that! Your puppy eyes are unfair.”

    “Psh — have you seen yours?” I asked, hoping to cover up the heat I felt rushing to my face. “You could get the biggest monsters in the Fade to-”

    Cullen planted a chaste kiss to my cheek, cutting that train of thought before it could get anywhere. “Focus. We’re almost done.”

    “R-right!” I nodded, taking a deep breath. “Focusing. Gotcha.”

    He grinned, kissing my temple. “That’s my girl. You’ve got this; just remember what I taught you.”

    Right. Because I was 100% listening the entire time, and never got distracted by how cute you are. Not once.

    “...why are you staring at me? Is everything ok?”

    I nodded, despite knowing my face was turning a brighter shade of red. “Uh huh. Peachy.”

    He smirked, eyeing me curiously. “Would a kiss for every correct answer be better motivation?”

    The speed at which I turned back to my work and started scrawling numbers down on what was left of my scratch paper must’ve been enough of an answer — thankfully, since I wasn’t sure if I could give him a verbal ‘yes’ without my voice going up an octave and looking like a bigger dork than usual. Cullen’s head came to rest on my shoulder again as he watched, gently nudging me or clearing his throat when I’d mix up my numbers. It would’ve been peaceful, if I didn’t have to do math the entire time...

    It took me close to an hour, but the relief that flowed through me as I passed my notebook to Cullen after I’d finished... almost made it worth it. Watching him go through my answers helped, too — his confused head tilt was almost like a puppy’s, and his occasional looks of surprise were super cute, too.

    “Sooo... how’d I do?”

    He hesitated. “Do you want the good news first? Or the bad news?”

    “Uh... bad?”

    “You still missed five of them-” I groaned, burying my face in his arm “-but I think I know why you did.”

    Thankfully, the revision process was much quicker than my original try. Would what he taught me stick this time? It’s debatable, but I wouldn’t put much money on it.

    “Wait, was that the good news?” I asked after we finished fixing everything. “That you knew what part I got so hung up on?”

    Cullen shook his head. “It was that you had the other 25 right. But now that we fixed them, you got all 30.”

    “...riiiight.”

    We sat in silence for a minute as I put my books in my bag and tossed it back to its resting space by the end of my bed. When my attention turned back to Cullen, he was still watching me — smiling, but also like he was waiting for something.

    “...what?”

    He pouted and tossed one of the plushes from my pillows at me, making us both laugh. “Do you want your 30 kisses or not?”

    “OH. Right. I, uh...”

    “Forgot?”

    “Not ‘forgot!’ I just... was so focused on my homework that-”

    “That you forgot.” He giggled. “Maker’s breath — how would you remember anything without me?”

    “I never did,” I admitted, motioning to the perfectly-made bed across the room. “Ask Josie.”

    Cullen shook his head, but he was still smiling. “Come here.”

    I scooted closer to him, resting against the wall again. I started to cross my legs, but he sat up on his knees and planted himself in my lap before I could. We almost bumped foreheads as his hands landed against the wall behind me, turning us both a nice shade of red.

    “Are we still... good?” I asked hesitantly, tilting my head. “’cause I’m still good. Are you? Still, uh...”

    His face softened, smiling as he cupped my cheek and caressed it with his thumb. “Y-yeah. Just a bit... flustered, that’s all.”

    “Ok, cool. Me too.” I giggled, subconsciously resting against his hand. “Should I, like... count these, or...”

    He nodded, brushing my hair away from my face and kissing my forehead, peppering a few more down the side of my face.

    “Right, ok. So that’s one, two, three...”

    “See?” He grinned, kissing my nose. “You are good at math.”

    I snorted. “Dude, I wish. Five- that counted for five, right?”

    ���Uh huh.” He cupped my face with both hands, giving my lips a brief kiss. “And that’s six.”

    He quickly pressed his lips to mine again, only pulling away long enough for me to say the next number before drawing me in for another kiss. One of his hands slowly worked its way behind my head, the other guiding my hands to his shoulders, where they probably should’ve been the entire time.

    The kisses kept getting longer, leaving me less time between them to try and remember what number I was supposed to say next.

    “F-fourteen...” I mumbled as he pulled away from my face to trail a few kisses down my neck, “fifffteen—”

    “I told you she’d want boba!! Why the hell did you buy bubbles?!” questioned an upset Cassandra from the hallway outside our dorm.

    “You called it ‘bubble tea’!” was the muffled response, presumably Sera’s. “What else would I get?”

    The whole ruckus caused us both to almost jump out of our skins; Cullen quickly pulled back and stared at me like a panicked deer. “I thought you said they weren’t supposed to be home until later!” he whispered.

    I shrugged, whispering the best reply I had. “Maybe it is later?”

    “Hannah!!”

    “I’m sorry! My blood ain’t exactly rushin’ to my brain right now!”

    “It’s alright, I bought enough for all of us.” Josie piped up from outside, the group’s voices getting louder as they reached our front door. “Could one of you get the door open for me? And, Sera, you know you can’t drink actual bubbles... don’t you?”

    “Pfft! Only if you’re too scared to try.”

    “Ah, mercy-” I mutter, trying to reach for my bookbag, forgetting I’d tossed it to the floor.

    Cullen shook his head, grabbing a textbook from his backpack, which he thankfully hadn’t thrown across the room... unlike me. “We can use one of mine!”

    “Aye, lovebirds! We brought worms!” Sera announced from the next room, giggling to herself.

    Cassandra groaned. “She means we brought food!”

    “Huh. Nest looks empty. Reckon they’re still here?”

    “They have to be,” Josie replied, sitting down whatever she’d been carrying. “Hannah would’ve texted us if they left.”

    Cullen and I were still scrambling to look like we were studying while the footsteps outside kept getting louder. We barely had sat down beside each other again before Sera knocked twice and opened the door. “They’re back here!!” she yelled over her shoulder before looking us up and down and giggling again. “Lookin’ real warm and cozy, too.”

    “You’re supposed to wait after you knock,” Josie reminded her gently, stepping through the doorway. She didn’t say anything at first, but the smirk on her face gave away that we cut it real close. “How’s the studying going?”

    “It’s good!” I answered a bit too quickly, making Cullen elbow my side. “Real — ow — really good. Got all my math right and everything, heh...”

    “Did you now? Is that why you’re using Cullen’s criminology book?”

    He nodded. “She’s... helping me now! S-so it balances out.”

    “Alright.” Sera cut in, grinning. “Then why’s it upside down?”

    “I- uh-”

    “W-well... we were, um...”

    Cassandra had joined the jury now, leaning against the doorframe and sipping from her own boba cup. I caught her gaze, mentally pleading for help, but she just shrugged. “Don’t let me interrupt you.”

    I turned to Cullen, hoping to find some kind of answers there, but his face was redder than a sunset, and he was biting on the end of a stray pencil he’d picked up from somewhere — looking to me for the exact same thing.

    There was no easy way for us to get out of this one.

[saiilorstars]

The Girl in the Forest

Chapter 19: Among the Battles

// Story Masterlist //

Fandom: The Originals

Pairings: Klaus Mikaelson x Original Female Character

Pronunciation of OC’s name: Ma-leh-nee

Requested tag: @queenmj10​

~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~ 0 ~

Chapter Summary: Maleny must put her feelings aside in order to help her friend keep her body from being taken over, thanks to Esther!

The next morning in the compound was filled with tension. Finn and Kol had been forced to stay the night shackled and were now sat at a formal breakfast table. Elijah was looking over them while Cami and Hayley stood several feet away - Hayley none too pleased to see either of them still alive. She'd brought them in to see revenge, and instead they get breakfast catered to them?

"So, I don't quite understand what we're doing here," Cami slowly said to Hayley in concern of the two Mikaelson warlocks. She actually expected more violence than what she was seeing.

"Neither do I," Hayley mumbled,"I think it's about time we were joined by the others, don't you think?" Cami shrugged and so Hayley went on her way.

~ 0 ~

Klaus felt like putting an end to the peaceful morning would be like a sin, and while he was usually inclined to commit these faults this precise one didn't seem so tempting. It was half past eleven and the pretty blonde was still fast asleep beside him on his bed. He, on the other hand, had gotten up and changed but she still hadn't made the slightest of moves. It amazed Klaus how she could still be so...normal in the middle of so many supernatural creatures. But, then again, that had always been Maleny - the village girl surrounded by vampires and a witch. She had stayed true to her 'girl in the forest' title for so many centuries he wondered if she was truly ready to become one of them - one of the dead.

Klaus pushed away those thoughts and focused on the good he had in front of him. He reached for Maleny's hand and gently dragged it till it was between them. He held her hand and turned it over, lightly rubbing it with his fingers. He was barely beginning to consider the idea of waking Maleny up when she took in a deep breath. She shifted a bit before languidly opening her eyes.

"It's too bright..." she mumbled, her voice hoarse from sleep.

"That's because this isn't your room, love," Klaus knew his voice would put her on red alert for a short time before she remembered anything.

Maleny's eyes snapped opened and blinked rapidly as she took in the hybrid beside her, "Klaus?"

"Maleny?"

"I'm...I'm in your room..."

"Yes, you are."

"...on your bed..."

"Correct."

Maleny pushed herself up into a sitting position and pushed her hair from her face to get a clearer look of the picture, "I don't...I don't really..." and then she remembered, and gasped, "I fell asleep here! And you let me fall asleep here!"

"Only by a couple seconds," Klaus shrugged, "I felt you fall asleep and while I did consider moving you back to your room my mind may have shut down before I could carry the idea out."

"You asked me to stay here with you till you could fall asleep on your own," Maleny recalled his request last night and looked at him, still mildly alarmed.

"Thank you," Klaus smirked, "I don't think I have slept so peacefully since...well, since our village days."

Maleny looked away, blushing, "Don't start please."

Klaus laughed, "What? I'm not saying anything wrong, am I?"

"You know damn well what you're doing!" She tried hitting him with a pillow but of course he would easily dodge the blows and take it altogether from her.

"Don't scowl, you're far prettier when you smile."

Maleny mimicked Klaus as she got up from the bed. She made straight for the door but as soon as she opened it she bumped into Hayley.

"Mal...?" Hayley's eyebrows raised upwards in shock.

Maleny shook her head, "It's really not what it looks like, I promise."

"It's really not," Klaus agreed from the bed, looking very amused at the show he had across him.

"Be quiet," Maleny pointed a finger at him, to which she received a miming of him zipping his mouth.

Hayley passed a hand through her hair and focused on what she came for, "Look, you guys do you but right now you both need to come downstairs."

"What's downstairs?" Maleny asked.

"Finn and Kol."

Klaus shot up from the bed and walked up to them, traces of plafulness gone, "How are they here?"

"I helped bring them in last night," Hayley explained, "But, for some reason, Elijah said not to bother you till today...now I know why."

The crooked smirk on her face had Maleny blushing again. Hayley stepped to the side and motioned Klaus to walk out first.

"I'll see you in a bit," he said to Maleny and left.

Hayley stood by her spot and smirked at Maleny. The blonde rolled her eyes "Be quiet, Hayley."

"Oh give me this, I haven't had a good moment in forever," the brunette hybrid chuckled.

"Sorry to say, my love life is not for anyone's amusement."So, how the hell Finn and Kol here? Last time I heard, Kol wasn't even in the Quarter."

"Marcel got him in the end," Hayley replied, "Though I doubt Davina is going to take that lightly."

"I don't want to talk about her right now," Maleny shook her head, still overly irritated with the teen, "Kol's deserved all that's coming for him. Finn, Finn is another story."

"So, you wanna see them?"

"Definitely, but I have to get changed first," she gestured to her sleeping clothes and led Hayley out of the room. Hayley happily smirked and went after the blonde, already coming up with ways to tease Maleny.

~ 0 ~

Klaus was content seeing how his morning was getting better and better by the hour. First, it had been realizing Maleny spent a night beside him, asleep, and hadn't been upset by the matter either. And now, Klaus felt like it was an honor to see two of his brothers, Finn and Kol, shackled by the wrists, and forced to sit across him at the table - neither able to do their precious magic.

Yes, it was a very good day so far.

Maleny thought the same the moment she saw the scene when she entered with Hayley, "Ooh, you should've woken me up earlier," she smirked and sauntered her way up to the table, taking up a piece of sweet bread.

"Mal," Kol looked at her with a devious smile, "you think you can convince my brother here," he nodded over to Klaus, "to take this nasty things off?" he held up his shackled wrists.

Klaus rolled his eyes and held his tongue at the lame attempt of Kol. He preferred to see how Maleny would react to that, or even better Hayley herself.

"Perhaps," Maleny pretended to think about it and went behind Kol's chair, "but I don't think I want to attempt. You weren't nice to me. And you Finn," she shot the silent witch a glare, "tried using my good friend, Amarrah, for something I would assume is bad."

"Technically that was Finn," Kol tilted his head up to the blonde, "So, c'mon?"

"Oh shut it," Maleny stuffed her sweet bread to his mouth and walked back to Hayley, "Where's Elijah?" she looked around for the other Original.

"We needed someone else for today's plans," Klaus replied and reached for glass, "Of course none of it would be required if you two," he looked at the two warlocks, "forget your animosity toward Elijah and myself. Instead, join us against Esther who truly deserves your ire- our mother. Do this, and we will welcome you with open arms."

"Might want to revise the last sentence," muttered Hayley who crossed her arms and sent glares of daggers towards both warlocks.

Klaus smirked, having heard Hayley, "Of course, if you continue to oppose us, a denial of pastries will be the least of your concerns."

Kol finally spit out the bread from his mouth and wearily looked at Klaus, "If all you wanted was my allegiance against Mother Dearest, you should have said so! Save me a night shackled to the wall."

Maleny snickered, "You had him shackled to the wall all night?" she looked at Hayley.

"Hey," the brunette hybrid gave a light shrugged, "if it had been up to Elijah, he would've removed their limbs, one by one, until they complied. Thank God he had Cami and I."

Klaus had to laugh at the antic. He rose from his chair and addressed his brothers, "We've-we've no desire to torture you. Provided you vow to stand beside us!"

"Brothers…" Finn spoke up for the first time, and his tone implied no sudden movement of sides, "Does that word even apply to us? After all these centuries of betrayal? And, has loyalty to you ever rewarded? If so, tell me, Niklaus- where is our sister, Rebekah?" the question left Klaus quiet for a minute, allowing Fin to continue, "She was blindly loyal to you for a thousand years, and now? Nowhere to be found. Where did our sister go? And, how did she escape your vile machinations?"

Klaus had turned over to Hayley and Maleny, clearly suspicious of Finn's indications. Was it possible Esther already knew Hope was alive? Well, none of the trio would let them find out if they didn't know.

"You have a big mouth that won't stop," accused Maleny, walking up to the table again, "Your mother is a thief, a liar. After all, she did make you what you so long hated."

"She was trying to make us mortal again!" Finn argued with her in frustration, "And I wouldn't be so quick to blame my mother for this - have you forgotten you also took place in our curse?"

It took a moment for Maleny to be able to answer without guilt, "No, I remember what I did...and had I known what your parents had in mind I would have never accepted," she glanced back to Klaus, her voice growing softer, "I wouldn't have. She tricked me," she repeated solely for him.

Klaus gave her a nod and joined her side, putting a hand on her back and looking at Finn, "This conversation has reached to an end seeing you choose to stay with our mother. However, turn this against Maleny another time and I may just consider Elijah's idea of torture for you."

Finn raised an eyebrow, not surprised by the threat, "You two may have declined the proposal, only showing how far you've fallen...but I expect Rebekah will have a different response to her proposal. See, unlike the you, she always did cling to her humanity."

"Rebekah is off-limits to you. You pursue her, and you will suffer," Klaus didn't fail to warn in his dark tone.

"Don't both making threats, Klaus," Hayley walked over to the edge of the table, "We all know Rebekah doesn't want to be found."

"Hm, Esther is quite determined," Finn challenged her calmness, "She's been searching for Rebekah since the day she returned. I imagine it's only a matter of time.

"So then what?" Maleny decided to speak up, sensing both Hayley's and Klaus' worriment for their daughter, "You try to force Rebekah into this proposal? Because that's exactly what you've tried doing here. This isn't a 'proposal'. It's an ultimatum in hiding."

"Hey, you've gotten smarter," Kol remarked with an air of sarcasm.

"Don't be fooled, brother," Finn cut in, "She did blindly accept a curse with no forcive action."

Maleny pursed her lips, taken down momentarily. A cellphone went off and figuring it was his, Klaus walked off to the side to see who it was. Rebekah's name on the ID couldn't mean a good thing so he decided to go even further to get away from Hayley's super-hearing boundaries. Meanwhile, Hayley decided to go in and defend her friend. She walked to Finn and promptly bit into his neck, making the warlock yelp in pain.

"Hayley!" Maleny had been startled by the action as well.

Hayley pulled away, showing her golden hybrid eyes, "What? He had it coming."

Maleny sighed and shrugged, "Well, thanks, but I don't need it. I'm not sorry for what I did, nor do I regret it. Because of it I stand here today to see such...wonderful things," she genuinely smiled, "Because I took the curse I met Cami and Hayley, two friends - no, family - that I love to death. I have learned that I am not as weak as I once thought I was. So yes, Finn, I did 'blindly take a curse'," Maleny leaned on the table wearing a wide smirk, "but I have lived in many ways that you have not. Isn't there a coffin you almost barely left?" Finn glared at her but didn't say anything back.

"Hey," Cami came into the compound, looking worried for some reason, "Um, Hayley?" she went directly to the brunette, dismissing the scene before them.

"What is it?" Hayley caught onto Cami's worried looks a lot quicker than one would think, "Who's in trouble now?"

"Em…" Cami's eyes drifted over to Finn, letting Hayley know not much could be said in front of them at the moment.

Hayley looked around and saw Klaus returning from his phone call, "Mal, I have to go apparently," the blonde nodded and motioned for them to leave, "This can't be good, is it?"

"Nope," Cami shook her head and hurried out with Hayley, rushing into the story of her frantic wolves.

Maleny went over to Finn and grabbed a cloth for his neck, "She was right you know, you did have that one coming," she told the warlock while cleaning the blood off.

"And yet here you are," Finn smirked and looked up at her.

"Finn, believe it or not, your crazy family was like my own family back in the day. You do remember, no?"

Finn rolled his eyes and looked away.

Maleny sighed and put the cloth on the table, finally noticing Klaus' face, "What is it now?" It wasn't even noon and things were going bad again?

Klaus motioned for her to follow him away from the table and quickly she did. He stopped around the threshold of the living room and told her Rebekah was basically on the run from Esther.

"You need to go, then," the blonde wasted no time in saying, even ushering him to get a move on.

"And leave you here with those two?" and at that, Klaus had a good laugh.

"They're shackled," Maleny reminded with an indignant scoff, "You think I can't handle that? Do not forget I am a witch as well."

"A bit out of practice, love. I am all for you practicing again but not when it's with my two oh-so-clever brothers itching to escape at all costs," he made a point and motioned for there to be silence to think, "Elijah can go. If he comes back here he'll probably kill them by nightfall."

"I will look after him, Cami will help," Maleny assured him, "I think after months Hope just needs her father."

"What she needs- what we need- are allies to help us defeat my mother. Finn and Kol must be turned to our side. Without their help, there will be nowhere left for Hope to run."

"Don't stand there and act all...indifferent," she waved a hand at him.

"I am not indifferent to the matter," he corrected her, "There are pressing matters I need to take care of before I can give myself the luxury of seeing Hope again. Getting Finn and Kol on our side can benefit her as well as you," Maleny blinked at that, "If we can get the location of your previous body then we can end the curse and…"

Maleny put her hands on his face, sadly smiling at him, "Thank you for that. But I...I can't ask you to give up your own daughter just to look for my corpse."

Klaus took her hands from his face, holding them tightly in his own, "Mal, I would have thought by now you would see how important you are to me…"

"No, I...I do know," Maleny assured him, "Believe me, after yesterday I don't...doubt you one bit. But you remember what I said before, right? I shouldn't be over your daughter, and I don't want to see that even now."

"I'm not, I'm compromising," Klaus clarified her, "Today, let's make it safe for you and her. Tomorrow, we see her - together."

Maleny's eyebrows raised upwards and couldn't help smile almost instantly, "Okay…" she whispered, allowing him to lead her back to the awaiting brothers who one way or another would be giving up information.

~ 0 ~

Cami was in the bayou with Hayley who was having a tensed talk with Aiden and Jackson. The blonde vampire would've joined had it not been for a call from Elijah. Apparently he was to be meeting Rebekah but Hayley was not supposed to know just yet. Cami assured Elijah she would maintain the secret until told otherwise. Her task now was to keep Hayley preoccupied until her next task came in.

However, it appeared things were no better with the wolves as they out-rightly refused to listen to Hayley. After setting a meeting with them through Aiden, Hayley returned to Cami holding a leather bound book.

"Is Jackson okay?" Cami had to ask when she saw the other wolf drowning beers down like there was no tomorrow.

"The wolves are getting antsy," Hayley sighed as she skimmed the pages of the journal, "Aiden set up meeting with them. This is the chance we have to get them on our side."

"Not to be a downer or anything, but as long as Esther can give them power through those rings, it'll be really tough to get them on our side."

Hayley briefly looked up at the blonde, "Thanks for not being a downer."

Cami sheepishly smiled, "Sorry. So, what's that?" she pointed to the journal.

"It hopefully has something we can use for the wolves. But we have to read it all."

At that, Cami beamed and held a hand for the book, "Give me. I'm a psychology student, I've got tons of experience on reading - and fast," Hayley gave her a look, "I crammed a lot," Cami explained and motioned for the journal.

Hayley handed over the journal, "Get to reading then, student."

Cami playfully rolled her eyes and opened the journal up, getting for her task. Hayley followed the blonde silently for a better reading atmosphere. She still cast a glance back for Jackson, worried over the man. It wasn't every day a wolf pack turned on you.

~ 0 ~

Whilst Klaus went to retrieve a missing part of their supposed plan, Maleny waited in the ballroom with Kol and Finn - both still whom were shackled. The blonde witch had a bowl of berries in front of her and wearily munched on them while thinking...outloud.

"If I were Esther where would I put a corpse that didn't belong to me?" her blue eyes cast over to the two brothers, "Any ideas?"

"Even if I did know you wouldn't know," Kol shot at her, then smirked, "Unless you'd remove these things from me," he raised his wrists.

"I didn't take you for an idiot, Kol," Maleny bluntly said and earned a glare from the teen.

"Oh, you're only angry with me because I chose not to help Klaus save you. Let the past go, Mal."

Maleny put a finger to her lips and pretended to think, "No, that's not what my anger is about anymore. You were helping Davina kill your own brother, therefore putting her against me as well. I lost a friend because of you."

"Davina hated Klaus long before either of us showed up, sweetheart," Kol pointed out a very honest detail, "So time to let it go."

"I'll let it go," Maleny leaned back on her chair, "Soon after your mother let's go of my corpse which I know she has."

"Took you long enough," muttered Kol and earned a glare from his brother.

"I so knew it," the blonde crossed her arms, "Where is it?" she demanded yet neither brother answered her, "Where is it!?" she nearly shouted the next.

"There's no need to know of its whereabouts," Finn began but Maleny had reached her breaking point with them.

"Yes there is!" she shouted that time, "Because of this little important detail: it's mine!" she slammed a hand on the table, "And I need it!"

Finn released a smirk which indicated nothing good was about to be said, "You can get it back after you accept my mother's offer. She'll break the curse for you."

"I have two hands I can do it on my own!"

"It requires magic you no longer have access to."

"Then Amarrah can do it," Maleny quickly inputted, "How I break my curse is none of your business. Your business is to hand the corpse over."

Their conversation was interrupted by the entrance of Klaus into the room, Marcel coming in right behind them.

"Mal, I apologize for keeping you waiting with such bad company," Klaus walked over and helped the blonde stand.

"It's okay, we talked and I remembered how they're both jerks," she shot them both a look.

"And I suddenly remembered how you annoyed me at times," Kol returned the favor with a smirk, "Tell me, do you ever grow tired of whining and complaining to my brother?"

Maleny tensed and glared at him, but this time stayed quiet. She knew he was right, she just never liked to think about it too much. It made her feel less guilty.

"Marcel, take your pick," Klaus looked at the man in waiting, his voice edgy from Kol's comment.

"Oh," Marcel immediately beamed, "That's easy…" he walked up behind Kol's chair, "First, you messed with Davina. Now, I hear you wanna drag Rebekah into all this. Uh-uh. Not happening."

"See if you can get anything about a corpse that Esther's keeping," Maleny said, ignoring Klaus' surprised look on her, "Or you could just leave Esther's side. Either way I will get the location of my previous corpse - no matter who has to be tortured."

~ 0 ~

After separating Kol and Finn into two rooms, Klaus took Maleny into the living room, getting straight to the part of Maleny's corpse's whereabouts. Things only got worse when she told him just how she discovered Esther possessed it.

"You visited Esther on your own!?" the shout Klaus gave had Maleny flinching.

"Calm down, it was like for 10 minutes," Maleny tried dismissing the issue but of course it was too big of a problem for Klaus to forget about it.

"Maleny, what were you thinking? Did you miss the part where my mother is evil? Out of her mind?"

"I'm desperate, okay!?" Maleny walked off a bit, "I had my suspicions and I followed them through. I was right."

"You could have been hurt! Or worse, taken as leverage against us," and of course Klaus was correct in all his thoughts. Esther was that twisted in using love against her own children.

"I know that," Maleny grumbled, crossing her arms, "But I wasn't gonna drag you into it when you had bigger problems to deal with. Kol's right, I whine and complain to you 23 hours of the 24. I don't want to rely on you for everything."

"Well, then we have a problem because I don't want you taking stupid risks - especially ones where Esther is involved," Klaus walked up to her and turned her around, letting her see he was dead serious.

Maleny softened up as the frustration got to her, "I just want to be free…"

"Then let me help," Klaus nearly pleaded her, "I can keep you safe, Mal. Let me."

"I'm sorry I went behind your back," Maleny glumly apologized, feeling he deserved that much, "I make no promises that it won't happen again because you know...it's me."

Amused, Klaus smiled, "Yes, I know it's you. But a little notice, that wasn't always you."

"I've had a good teacher," Maleny shrugged, smirking a little, "And he also taught me how to get what I want. It may not be the most moral way but it gets the job done. And I want nothing more than to use it on your brothers - all offense can be taken at this point."

But no offense was taken. Instead, Klaus laughed and took her hand into his, "I look forwards to pleasing you, then."

"See if anyone was outside that could've been taken in a completely different context," Maleny laughed, sporting a blush on her cheeks. She sobered up while gathering courage to speak the truth that was becoming more of a burden for her than anything, "Do you think that I'm whiny? And that I complain to you a lot?"

"No," Klaus said instantly, making Maleny believe he hadn't even thought about to spare her feelings.

"C'mon, Klaus, just tell me the truth. It has a point, I promise."

"Mal, I am telling the truth," Klaus insisted with a small laugh, "You've only asked of me two things in the whole time you've been here: help you break the curse and help you acquire your previous corpse. Now, what's your point?"

"Do you like me even when I actually do complain to you all bloody day? Or how about when I ignore your requests and go out on my own?" Maleny asked and stepped forwards, "Cos I irritate you a lot and you know it. Do you still think you could like me like that?"

"Mal," Klaus chuckled and once more took her hand, gently rubbing its back with his thumb, "I don't think I could ever stop being fond of you."

Suddenly, it became difficult to stand on her feet under Klaus' intense stare. Maleny couldn't come up with a response then, but two seconds later it wouldn't be a problem anymore.

"MALENY!" Her French friend, Amarrah, came in from the courtyard and was screaming at the top of her lungs, sounding furious, "MALENY!"

Maleny and Klaus shared a look of confusion, Maleny regretting the interruption of their conversation. She ran past Klaus and came up to the banister, seeing her dark-haired friend standing below, the fury in her screams matching the look on her face.

"Where the hell is Finn Mikaelson?" Amarrah demanded from Maleny.

"I don't...understand," Maleny said slowly and glanced to her side as Klaus came to join her.

"Looking for my brother, dear?" the hybrid studied the French woman he hadn't had a chance to properly meet yet, "I'm afraid he's a little tied up at the moment…" and he chuckled at the irony.

"Spare me your annoying sarcasm and tell me where the hell you put him in?" Amarrah snapped rudely at him, surprising Maleny as she'd never seen a side of Amarrah like that.

"Ams, what's wrong?" the blonde nervously inquired.

Amarrah angrily turned her back to the two and lifted her black hair into a pony tail, allowing a brief glimpse of scars running down from her neck, "I am going to kill that stupid warlock!" she screamed again.

~ 0 ~

While Hayley didn't want to say anything of the boredom she was in waiting for Cami to finish reading Jackson's journal, it was clearly evident in her pacing manner and languid kicking of rocks on the ground. Cami sat on a rock busy studying the pages as best as she could and knew she was losing the patience of Hayley. She didn't want the hybrid moving away and thus learning her daughter was going to be back in town.

"Ooh, wait a minute," she had finally caught something interesting in the journal and was deeply grateful for the streak of luck. Hayley looked up from her fascinating game of rock kicking to see what Cami was talking about, "Look at this," Cami motioned for Hayley to come closer, "There's this thing about marriages and vows…"

"I'm not looking for marriage history, Cami," Hayley said, losing interest in the news.

"N-n-n-no, just listen," Cami smiled brightly, "You'll want to talk to Jackson about this, c'mon!"

She pulled Hayley off to go in search of Jackson for a better clarification of the mythological marriage. On their way, she explained the basics of it to Hayley and got the hybrid excited for the possible solution to her wolf pack.

Jackson was chopping firewood near his trailer when the two women found him. Hayley took the journal from Cami and walked ahead, "You wanna stop playing mountain-man and explain why you kept this from me?" Jackson looked up from his work and sighed, already figuring what detail she'd want to discuss with him, "Why don't I jog your memory?" she flipped to the page Cami had bookmarked, "The werewolves' power can be traced back to the myth of the Unification Ceremony, a ritual that bestowed certain unique abilities onto every member of the pack."

"Is that true?" Cami asked from her spot a couple feet behind Hayley, "It sounds a bit mystical…"

"I didn't at first," Jackson admitted, "And then Ansel swore he saw it with his own eyes. And then he dies, and I found out he was resurrected from a thousand years ago, which means he was alive to see it!"

Hayley closed the journal and shook her head, "How did I not know about this?"

"You didn't grow up out here," Jackson reminded her, "Yeah, every kid grows up hearing the stories. Back in the day, werewolf bloodlines were all distinct, right? Some had speed, some had strength, some could sense enemies from miles away. Now, to evolve, we would perform a ritual. A shaman would marry the alphas of each bloodline, and then the special abilities of each would be... inherited, mystically, by everyone who participated in the ritual. See, after a few centuries, everybody had the same abilities, so alpha marriages became political. They became about... power, about territory."

Hayley thought for a minute and looked at her hand, "But I have a unique ability. Because I'm a hybrid, I can control when I change! So, if this mystical marriage thing works, then- then our people get my power, and they can ditch the rings!" she started smiling at the idea, "Which means Esther no longer has a hold over them! Jack, this is exactly the answer that we've been looking for! Let's find a shaman, we'll say some vows. Hell, we'll make it a party!"

"It ain't just a party," Jackson almost snapped, looking far too unhappy with the solution than anyone else would be, "If the vows ain't honored, it doesn't work."

Hayley stiffened in her spot as she realized what it would mean for her.

"It's gotta be a real marriage, in every way, for the rest of our lives," Jackson continued, wanting Hayley to see just what she would be getting herself into, "Are you up for that?" but of course, the hybrid remained silent, "Didn't think so," Jackson bitterly returned to his wood work.

Hayley glanced back to Cami, looking torn and in quite need of help. Cami felt awful for ever picking out the excerpt in the journal. She felt like she had given Hayley an unnecessary burden of guilt. If she didn't do the marriage, the wolves would continue to work for Esther...but if she did marry, she would marry a person she didn't love.

~ 0 ~

Maleny and Amarrah were heading to Kieran's secret apartment in search of of a better explanation of the puncture wounds Amarah bore on her back. They were certainly not expecting to find Cami and Hayley lurking inside the secret room.

"What are you two doing here?" Maleny asked her blonde cousin.

Cami instantly looked to Hayley, unsure if the hybrid wanted to reveal their true purpose. Hayley was considering the marriage but things were still confusing for her so they opted for a further explanation of this mystical unification.

"I needed help with something wolf related," Hayley settled for in the meantime. She'd been glad to learn that Cami had a copy of the apartment's key, thinking they would avoid coming face to face with the others for a while...but apparently she was wrong.

"And you?" Cami asked Maleny, noticing the look on Amarrah's face.

"We have a witch problem," Maleny sighed.

"I hardly call this," Amarrah turned her back on the three and raised her hair to show the puncture wounds, "a 'problem.'"

"What the hell are those?" both Cami and Hayley asked together, horrified.

"I'm pretty sure it's a body changing spell," Amarrah turned back to them.

"But I suggested we get some more information," Maleny added in, really hoping Amarrah was wrong, "So we're here…"

Hayley looked around and growled in frustration, "This is all Esther's fault!" she exclaimed and kicked a shelf, startling the others.

"Hayley, what's wrong?" Maleny questioned, finally taking notice of her distressed demeanor.

Hayley didn't answer right away, the issue still told complicated to say in a simple answer. But when she started to speak, it only became more simple for her… she knew what she had to do.

~ 0 ~

By the time Maleny and Amarrah returned from the secret apartment, they were more than convinced Amarrah was to become the next body Esther was plotting to jump into. To say Amarrah was furious was an understatement. She was on the verge of losing it and ensuing a murder plan on Vincent and Esther. Maleny barely contained the French woman after barging into the room Finn was being kept in.

"I'm gonna kill you!" she shouted her threats to the prisoner and struggled to get free from Maleny's hold, "And don't think I'll make it fast, no! I'll make it slow and painful until you beg me to release you and kill you!"

Klaus, who'd been short from losing it against his brother mere minutes before the two women entered, looked more awed than confused, "Mal, I like your friend."

Maleny shot him a glare, "So not the time! Help me," she was barely keeping her hands on Amarrah's arm by now.

"I assume you were right in the body changing spell, then?" Klaus went on to ask Amarrah in a completely calm manner.

"Esther has done some bad things but to use my own friend like this?" Maleny said to Finn and finally released Amarrah when she seemed slightly more calm, "What the hell goes through that woman's head?"

Finn sustained a glare at the blonde, "My mother loves us all," but Maleny's scoff intervened, as well as Klaus', "She did," Finn assured, "If you only knew through the trouble she had to go through just to have us."

"We don't want to know," Maleny dismissed him with a hand but that didn't stop him.

"She was barren. She grew so desperate for a family that she begged one of the most powerful witches in history for help- her sister, Dahlia. Of course, Dahlia's price was high. She agreed to make our mother fertile, but in exchange, she sought the first-born as sacrifice. Having no other choice, our mother gave away our beloved Freya."

For a minute, Maleny almost believed him. However, Klaus was more apt to refuse all his brother's words, "Our sister died of plague."

"Esther gave her away. Think about that. The pain, the grief."

"She is a demon," Amarrah declared seconds later, "Mal's told us all about Esther but I really had doubts. Now I know she really is the devil."

"The quicker you learn that the better chances of survival," Klaus sarcastically pointed at her.

"She loves us more than you realize," Finn snapped at him.

"And is love the reason she wanted my child dead?" the hybrid turned on him angrily.

"She was trying to protect you from Dahlia's curse!"

Klaus lost all patience and screamed, "WHAT CURSE?"

"Dahlia demanded the first-born of every generation. Had your child lived, she would have paid the price! And, if anyone had tried to protect her, Dahlia would come and destroy us all."

While Klaus had all death glare on the brother, too frazzled to think, Maleny to consider the value of Finn's words. Hope lived...and if Dahlia was real...would she be coming for them right now?

"Can I have a word with your brother?" Amarrah's cold tone broke through the silence in the room, "I have a bone to pick with you and your mother," she glared at Finn.

Klaus could care less what the woman had in mind at the moment. He motioned for her to go ahead and went for the doors, "Stay far away from him," he warned Maleny who nodded just to keep him at ease.

"Alright, Finn," Amarrah was now in front of Finn, her arms crossed, "What the hell, man? I meet you for two weeks," she raised her index finger, "and you plot to convert me into your mother's vessel?"

Finn looked confused for a minute, something Maleny easily saw, "Unless...was that not the plan?" she slowly asked.

"My mother wasn't preparing you for herself," Finn began, "She was preparing you for Rebekah."

Amarrah's eyes widened at the revelation, although somehow she felt a little more relieved to know it would be Rebekah who could enter her body rather than the demon Esther was.

"But why her?" Maleny asked, sparing Amarrah a glance, "No offense - but why her, Finn? You've been here for months now and you go with the French woman who barely arrived to the Quarter?"

"My mother sent me to do the task but I couldn't find someone to fit the category," Finn explained, "And then you showed up," he looked at Amarrah who continued glaring, "You were foreign, and you had nobody."

"And if I refuse to allow such a thing to happen?" Amarrah challenged, "Do not forget my family is one of the most powerful covens there are."

"By the time you reach them or they reach you it will be over and Rebekah will have taken your body," Finn calmly said, seeing it was obvious.

Distressed, Amarrah ran her hands through her black hair, "No! Absolutely not!" she exclaimed, turning to Maleny, "Mal, I've grown to love you ever since I was a little girl and learned of your story...and I know your friend Rebekah wouldn't want to hurt me but I would rather die than let her take over my body."

Maleny could understand the perspective in which Amarrah saw the whole situation. After all, it was the other end of her cycle, the one she felt overly guilty about to that day, "You will not have your life stolen," she put a hand on Amarrah's arm, "I promise you. We'll find a way. If I have to take Esther's deal myself to get you out of this I will."

And she meant that. Completely.

Maleny would never forgive herself for allowing someone else to take her friend's body like she'd done so many times in the past. This time, she could prevent it...and if it meant taking Esther's deal for herself then so be it.

Maleny's thoughts were broken by the loud sound of doors breaking. Immediately she looked around the room to see if it had been something by Finn's hand until she remembered he was still perfectly bound to the magic-cancelling shackles. Amarrah too became intrigued, and partly scared Esther had already begun to do part of a spell against her.

"What the hell is that?" Maleny mumbled to herself as the sounds continued. The more minutes passed by, the better the noises were reconfigured to those of...fighting.

"This is part of Esther's plan, isn't it?" Amarrah hurried up to Maleny, "Oh my God, is it starting now?"

Maleny had no idea what it could be but she was going to go find out. She ran out the ballroom doors with Amarrah behind her. They both came into the courtyard where sure enough there was fighting - Klaus and Davina. Marcel had been knocked out by the stairs, thus allowing the fight to continue.

"What are you doing!?" Maleny horrifically shouted to the two who took no notice of her nor Amarrah.

Davina's head was oozing with blood while Klaus had less blood on him yet with pieces of wood in his clothes from assumed attacks.

"Stop it!" Maleny ordered but her tone implied she was more desperate than anything. She didn't want to see either get hurt, specifically the weakest - Davina - who could easily die.

"Mal…" Amarrah too grew concerned as Klaus flung Davina down a hallway, causing the teen to bleed from an arm.

"Klaus, stop!" Maleny cried and made to run for them when Amarrah grabbed her by the arm.

"You'll get hurt, are you crazy?" the French woman hissed.

"Such hubris!" laughed Klaus, "And from one who bleeds so easily!"

Davina had risen from her spot on the floor, smirking at the hybrid across her, "You talk such a big game, but you couldn't even kill Mikael when you had the chance! He was right about you, you know? You're weak."

Losing his temper, Klaus sped towards her and grabbed her by the hair, getting ready to sink his teeth into her neck. Davina screamed in pain at the contact but it didn't last long before Klaus felt something weird in his throat. He let her go as he choked, gasping for needed air.

"Davina, stop!" Maleny tried shaking off Amarrah from her but now it was the French woman who had a tight grip on her arm, "Both of you!"

Her cries were of no use as Klaus fell to the floor, unconscious and Davina stood straight, triumphant over her apparent victory.

When Amarrah felt like it was over, she promptly released Maleny and so the blonde dashed over to where Klaus was. Amarrah slowly went to follow and joined Davina's side, "What exactly did you do to him?"

"I channeled dark objects through my blood to poison him," the teen shrugged, not at all guilty for her actions.

"Well reverse it!" Maleny ordered her angrily, now beside Klaus' body, "I swear to God Davina I will forget every ounce of friendship we have right now if you don't reverse the spell."

Davina furrowed her brow in confusion, "You would seriously make me bring him back after all he's done to me?"

"I am so tired of the same stupid story!" Maleny rose to her feet, startling Davina with the loud boom of her tone, "I get it, Davina, and I am so sorry for all that he's done to you - I really am. But you have no right to kill him. What would that do to you, hm? How the hell is that supposed to help you in any way?" she deeply sighed, "I am so tired of you two and this stupid hatred."

"Well, I'm sorry," Davina crossed her arms, genuinely feeling bad for putting Maleny into that position. After everything, Davina still cared for the blonde witch and just wanted her to be safe and happy...if only that happiness didn't depend on the hybrid.

"I'm sorry too," Maleny nodded, seeing Kol coming out from his prison room without the shackles, "Because you're gonna find out what it's like being in my position fairly soon, I imagine."

Confused, Davina stared at her until Kol sneaked up behind her, "Hey!" he greeted her and made her flinch in surprise.

"How did you get free!?" she turned to him in excitement.

"Oh, it's a long story," Kol shrugged and looked down at his older brother, "Better question is, if he's not dead, then what are you gonna do when he recovers?" he'd heard of Davina's actions as he'd came for them.

"Nothing," Maleny said before Davina could, "She's going to do nothing."

"Mal-"

"NO!" the blonde finally snapped and screamed at the teen, "I am done with all of this. You have tired me out," she accused Davina, "just like he has," she pointed to Klaus.

"Mal," Amarrah gently grabbed Maleny's arm and tugged her to her side, "It's okay," she said softly and looked at Davina, "Look, I get your head if full of this revenge stuff but I'm gonna need you to let it go - not for her sake," she nodded to Maleny, "nor for yours, but for mine."

"Why?" Davina frowned.

"Because Esther has prepared my body for Rebekah Mikaelson to jump into and I need witches to help me. In the end, sweetheart, you always help out your kind."

"Mal, I swear I didn't know about that," Kol quickly raised his hands in neutrality towards the blonde, "That...was not my task."

"Yeah, I know," Maleny mumbled, still too affected from the earlier fight, "It was all Finn. So, since I suppose you're with us now - otherwise you'd still be tortured - you're gonna help Amarrah."

"What!?" Davina was now glaring at Kol for what she'd just heard, "You're with them now?"

Around that time, Marcel came around and quickly rose to his feet as he gathered his bearings. Seeing Klaus on the floor and unconscious, he figured what had happened and walked to the group.

"He's with us," he assured the two women, "And we're going to be going up against Esther, assuming Klaus is... upright."

Kol tried withstanding Davina's look on him as he tried to explain himself to her, " Look, Nik is a pain in the ass, but, well... she's a problem for us all."

"Klaus is the problem! I don't give a damn what happens to Esther," Davina angrily snapped and promptly heard the clearing of Amarrah's throat.

"Hello," the French woman waved a hand, "I kinda do and I'll put this to you in terms you can understand: you're going to help me because you're going to help me. Don't make me reverse the spell myself because that would only complicate things between you and her," she once again nodded to Maleny.

Davina sighed and looked around, knowing she was easily going to lose there and then. This was her victory and they were taking it away from her!

Maleny had enough and stepped forwards, "Davina if you do this to me you would be the biggest hypocrite," she pointed to Kol and forewarned him, "I'm sorry," before she looked at Davina again, "Kol is no angel either. He slaughtered a near village every now and then."

"Hey," Kol muttered, unhappy this had somehow turned on him.

"Making a point," Maleny snapped before she continued, "Even Marcel had a tyrant air in this Quarter and don't you dare say no," she warned Marcel before the man even opened his mouth.

"I can't believe you're playing this card on me," Davina said, frowning deeper.

"I can't believe you're making me," countered Maleny, "You know I'm right so do it. I don't want to have to explain to Amarrah's mother why her daughter was overtaken by someone else due to my friend's inability to get past her revenge plan."

Amarrah hugged herself, slightly nervous, "Exactly how long do I have until Esther starts?" she asked Kol.

"Well, now that Esther knows where Rebekah's hiding... not long. The only way to stop it is to stop her."

Amarrah then raised an eyebrow at Davina, "Seriously? You're gonna leave me hanging here?"

Davina gave in with a deep sigh, "No, of course not," and she couldn't turn away an innocent who needed help.

~ 0 ~

Hayley and Cami were coming towards the chosen meeting place of the wolves. After talking, Hayley had decided she was going to marry Jackson. It wasn't something she was completely excited over but it also wasn't something she was despising.

"So…" Cami cleared her throat, feeling awkward for a reason, "...you sure you want to do this?" she asked Hayley slowly.

"Well, I outweighed the problems with the goodness and I think this can work," Hayley said, slowly feeling more sure of the plan.

"You mean for the pack or...between you and Jackson?" Cami spared her a glance, "Because let's be honest, Hayley, you're not in love with him."

Hayley came to a stop and turned to her, "No, I'm not. But maybe I can grow to be."

"Are you sure that's what you want, though?" Cami turned to her as well, making a face at the idea, "I always thought getting married should be because you're already in love with your fiancee."

"For us," Hayley gestured between them, "that's not what happens. Fairytales are for humans, Cami - something neither of us are."

"I'm not trying to talk you out of it nor push you to do it," Cami clarified, "I just want you to be completely sure. I don't want you doing something just because you feel there's no more hope...for anything."

Hayley tilted her head and soon enough realized Cami had been hinting at Elijah, the topic having become almost a taboo for the hybrid since lately.

"Cami, I feel like lately we've become closer - I like to think of us as friends…"

Cami lightly smiled, feeling the same, "Yeah, I think so too."

"So, as a friend," Hayley placed a hand on Cami's shoulder, firmly speaking, "and as a decent woman, I am telling you face to face that I did hold feelings for Elijah but that's in the past, I swear."

Cami instantly blushed and backed off, "I-I never...ever...said anything about that," she stuttered to speak freely, "And if you do like Elijah then you should go for it - never mind me."

Hayley was very amused by the blonde's demeanor, "Oh, I think even if I wanted to it wouldn't matter anymore. Besides, that's in the past and it's gonna stay there. I had my chance and I didn't take it."

"Doesn't mean there's anything blocking you right now," Cami raised her hands, "I'm not, I mean...I'm like…" she stepped to the side, gesturing, "...moving away, okay?"

"Cami," Hayley was unable to hold in her laugh, "Really, it's okay. I don't mind if you want something with him-"

"I don't!" the blonde defensively exclaimed, growing redder by the minute.

"Ooh you're gonna be fun to tease," Hayley beamed and began to walk again, "Just like Mal."

"Hayley!" Cami, exasperated, rushed after her, "I don't understand, and…"

"Well I'll make it clearer for you," Hayley stuffed her hands in her jacket's pockets, "Any feelings I had for Elijah are slowly dying and I'm okay with it. I know that there's something brewing between you two and I'll honestly be happy for you."

Cami was horrified to hear all that but at the same time couldn't help feel slightly relieved.

Hayley looked at the blonde with an expectant smile, "And I hope that you will be happy for me at my wedding."

Slowly, Cami calmed and smiled back, "Of course. But I'm telling you right now when Maleny finds out about this she's gonna make a big deal about this. I'm talking about big wedding dress and party."

"Well I say after living a thousand years never getting one for herself she deserves to plan one," Hayley said, "But I'm setting this straight as of right now: nothing pink. I hate pink."

Cami laughed alongside her and the two continued towards the meeting.

~ 0 ~

Maleny walked back to the breakfast table where Kol and Davina were, Kol hungrily picking at the different foods from the plates.

"Amarrah's waiting," she announced then coldly added, "Kol."

Davina sighed at the purposely left out name of hers, "I get it Mal, you're angry with me. I woke Klaus up already, lighten up."

While it was true and the hybrid himself was busily preparing something for Finn with Marcel, Maleny refused to let it go. She meant what she said: She was tired.

"Kol, Amarrah would like to discuss more things about this vessel spell," she said instead.

Davina sighed louder, "Mal, c'mon."

"Kol?" Maleny expectantly waited for the teen.

"I'm on it…" he nodded, "...right after I have myself a well deserved breakfast."

"KOL!"

"I'm hungry!" he argued, "I'm like you now remember? I need actual food to survive. Amarrah can wait another ten minutes."

"Can she really?" she challenged but even her glare didn't work on him.

At that moment, Klaus entered the room looking far more content than earlier, "Provided you're not busy concocting a new paralytic to use against me, I'd like a word with my brother," he addressed Davina firstly.

"Well, to be honest, I can't stand being around you anyways," she rolled her eyes.

"Mal, I happened to have heard a phone call from your bedroom," Klaus glanced at the blonde but received the same silent treatment as Davina had, "Might have been urgent - it went off three times."

Maleny ignored him and picked up an apple from the table.

Davina couldn't help smirk, "She's doing it to you too, ha."

Klaus was less than amused, "Maleny, this is no time for petty cold shoulders."

Maleny spared him a glance before biting into her apple and turned to leave. Kol snickered and took a seat at the edge of the table, "Ah, the cold treatments from Maleny were the most amusing thing about her. Glad I'm not on the receiving end," but just before he was about to take a bite from his meal, something hit him on his temple.

An apple. A bitten apple.

"Hey!" Kol frowned as Maleny glanced back.

"Keep it up and you'll be on the receiving end, I promise," the blonde snapped and went on her way.

Kol rolled his eyes and returned to his meal, but not before remarking to Klaus, "You sure know how to pick them, don't you?"

Before Klaus could respond back his phone went off, and seeing it was Rebekah he left the room to go answer. He didn't need either of the teens hearing anything suspicious.

~ 0 ~

Maleny had retreated to her room where she checked her cellphone and sure enough it had rung three times like Klaus had told her. They all belonged to Hayley, but no voicemail had been left. She wondered what her friend could need now. She surely didn't seem alright after telling them all about mystical marriage she was considering.

Perhaps she should call back…

But then someone knocked on her open door.

"Maleny, it's urgent," Klaus stepped into the room, his voice exhibiting the urgency he spoke about. Things had gotten worse and he really could do without the silent treatment of the witch.

Maleny continued scrolling down her phone as if he weren't there.

"Mal, it's Elijah," he tried again and this time at least got her to look at him, "Rebekah called and told me Elijah slaughtered a dozen people in a diner."

Maleny's eyes widened in horror, that wasn't the Elijah they all knew.

"Esther's torture must have affected him more deeply than I'd realized. We need to go to them now. So please, leave behind your senseless anger-"

"My anger is pretty justified," Maleny cut him off there and then, "I told Davina and now I'm telling you: I'm tired. I am so done with the hatred between you two. This fight could've been the end of Davina or yours."

"She came looking for me," Klaus reminded, growing angry himself, "and I gave her what she wanted."

"And look where that had you? She tricked you and I'm pretty sure her plans for you afterwards involved chaining you up somewhere," Maleny threw her phone to the bed, frustrated, "Dammit! I care for both of you and I just want you both alive, don't you see? Why can't I live in a world where my boyfriend and friend…" her voice trailed off when she realized what she said and quickly corrected herself, "Where my friend," she pointed at Klaus warning him to stay quiet, though his smirk spoke a thousand words, "and my friend can get along…"

Though Klaus struggled to keep his mouth shut concerning her slip up, he spoke without a trace of it, "Mal, I'm sorry you were put in this position - honestly the last thing I want is to hurt you. But please, can you accompany me somewhere?"

Suspicious, she stayed where she was, "Where to?"

"To see my daughter of course," Klaus shared a smile with her, "I'd like for her to meet you."

Maleny felt the air leave her lungs, now completely turning to him, "A-and Hayley?"

"Well get her on the way. But will you come, please?"

"Amarrah…"

"Will be taken care of, I promise. As much as Davina hates me I don't think she would turn her wrath on the innocent witch."

Maleny pursed her lips together and gave a small nod, "Okay. But don't think you're free of the scolding you deserve," she warned and took his hand.

"Oh I wouldn't dream of it," Klaus rolled his eyes, "I'm sure you'll be taking care of that throughout the drive there," but he would rather hear her scolding and shouting than the silent treatment she so perfectly gave.

[ouronlyangelhes]

The Girl on the Side: Harry Styles One Shot

-The one where you know what it feels like to be the girl and you’re not sure if you can handle it anymore. Let me if you want a second part!!

Love, it’s a powerful force that is capable of bringing people together and also tearing them apart in powerful ways. You hadn’t expected to get involved with your co-worker, let alone your married co-worker. It was one of those things that just happened and completely took over.

Harry was very charming, something that attracted you to him in the first place. Him and his wife had been married for almost five years, that’s all you really knew about their relationship. When you and Harry first started spending time together, it was on work projects. Then overtime, it turned into something more. You knew that he was married, you knew that it was so beyond wrong to place yourself in the middle of someone else’s marriage, but you fell for him and couldn’t help for wanting to be a little selfish with him.

It had started one night after the two of you had stayed late working on a project late in the office. Then the next thing you knew, he was taking off your clothes and had his hands running up and down your body. That was almost a year ago now.

“Good morning angel.” Harry said as he pressed a kiss on your cheek in your kitchen.

Harry had a habit of staying over at your house when his wife was out of town. You had never been to Harry’s before. Part of you was curious what his house would be like, the other knew that was a place you were never meant to go.

“Morning. You look handsome, where are you off to?” You asked.

“I have to head out early, I’m sorry. She got an earlier flight than I thought and I have to leave to go pick her up. I’ll see you tomorrow morning. I’ll make it up to you, promise.” He said as have you one last kiss and was out the door.

This wasn’t the first time he dipped out on a day with you, or had to cancel plans. You knew that he had other commitments that weren’t you. But at the end of the day the love he made you feel was beyond worth it to you.

-

Harry loved his wife. He really did. He knew that your feelings for him far exceeded the ones he was capable of having for you. He had never stepped out on his wife before. It was something he didn’t think he was even capable of doing. Then he met you. It was like everything stopped, the world stopped turning, and you were all he could think about it. He might not be able to love you in the way you had wanted, but really did care about you.

It wasn’t one of those situations where Harry had promised that he was going to leave his wife and be with you. Harry had never made such promises. He knew that he wouldn’t be able to keep a promise like that. He didn’t want to not be married, he didn’t want to not be with his wife anymore, he really did love her.

-

“Would you mind running these files over to Harry’s? He called in sick this morning but he said he wanted to get back to reviewing the files as soon as he felt better. The address is on the post it note on top of the file folders.” Your boss said as she handed you the files.

“Uh, yeah I’ll head over now and take it to him.” You said as you walked out with the files.

Here you were, sitting in Harry’s driveway. A place that you never expected to find yourself. A place that Harry lived with his wife, a house that they shared together, a home that wasn’t inviting itself for the other woman to set foot in.

You finally worked up the courage to knock on the door.

“Hi.” The woman on the other side of the door said to you.

“Hi, I work with Harry and heard he was sick. Our boss said he wanted to get revising the files when he felt better so she asked me to bring them by.” You asked nervously.

“Oh hi, come on in. Harry’s asleep but I’ll show you where to set them. He mentioned that someone might come by. What’s your name again?” She asked you.

“I’m Y/N, sorry I probably should’ve lead with that one.” You said.

“No worries, I’m Sarah. Here this is Harry’s office, you can set the files here if you’d like. He has them all arranged in some specific order so they don’t get clustered. He has all sorts of labels on them. I’m sure you could tell better than I could where they are suppose to go.” She said with a smile.

“Well, he’s very organized wow.” You said as you slid the files into the labeled section.

“He very much is, love that about him though. He always knows where his stuff is and mine honestly. Is there anything else you need to drop by or is that all?” She said.

“That’s all, tell Harry I hope he feels better!” You said as you walked out the door.

“Of course, I’ll pass the message along. Thanks again for dropping them by, I know he’ll appreciate it.” She said to you.

As soon as you got back in your car, you lost it. Tears began running down your face. Harry’s wife was just a person that didn’t exist to you. You had never met her, heard him talk much about her, or had any sort of idea what she was like.

Now that you had, you wished you could crawl into a hole and hide. You couldn’t wrap your mind around why Harry would cheat on her. She was perfectly lovely, really nice to a stranger and even invited you in. You didn’t know what you were expecting her to be like, but that wasn’t it. You expected her to be cold, someone who wasn’t capable of giving Harry the kind of love that he needed, but she was the opposite.

You weren’t ready to face Harry today day at work. His wife had to mention that the files were dropped off and probably said your name somewhere in there.

You were sitting at your desk typing away when you heard a knock on your door.

“Can I come in?” Harry said as you waved him in.

“Are you feeling better?” You asked him.

“Uh yes, thank you.” Harry said as a uncomfortable silence filled the office.

“So I heard you came by the house yesterday to drop the files off. I appreciate that.” He said as he sat down in the chair across from you.

“Harry I met your wife yesterday. I met her and she was lovely and I don’t know what I was hoping for her to be like but she exceeded every idea I had. I met your wife Harry.” You said as you became noticeably upset.

“You know that I was married, that wasn’t a secret.” He said to you.

“Well no kidding! I know that. What I’m saying is she feels real to me now. I never knew her before or anything about her really. Now that I do, I feel like an even worse person. I am some big secret to you and I don’t get to introduce you to my family or friends because you’re already married and have done all that. I am just here moping around like some idiot because I am in love with you.” You said letting all of your frustrations come out.

“Love, I’m sorry. It is the way that it is. You know I care for you, I’m not trying to make you feel like you’re something to be ashamed of. You know we just have to be careful.” He said doing his best to comfort you.

Right now, his attempt to comfort you was useless. You knew that you would be upset about this for a few more hours or maybe a couple of days, and then you and Harry would fall back into your old routine as if nothing had changed at all.

You had been keeping your distance from Harry since this mornings conversation in your office. You just needed a bit of a break and a little time to collect your thoughts. You decided to just go home and try to have a relaxing night.

You were in your kitchen, getting ready to pour yourself a glass of sin when you heard a knock at the door. You knew it was Harry, it had to be. Part of you wanted to not open the door and stay mad at him and Harry on with your life. But you know that you have a weakness for all things Harry, so you found yourself opening up the door.

“I was worried yeh weren’t gonna answer, love.” He said as you opened the door.

“I thought about it, I really did. Cmon in.” You said.

“Look, I think we need to talk about what happened today. I can tell that you’re really bothered and I know that there probably isn’t anything I can say to make you feel better, but I want to try.” He said as he say himself down on the couch next to you.

“It’s plain and simple Harry. I’m in love with you. Hopelessly in love with you and you can’t reciprocate those feelings because you have a wife. I knew what I was getting into so I can’t blame anyone else but myself for that, but it doesn’t make it hurt any less.” You said trying to get him to understand.

“Just because I can’t love you in the way you want, doesn’t mean I don’t care about you and have great love for yeh. I know it’s selfish but I don’t want to lose you. I don’t want to lose what we have.” He said as ran his fingers through your hair.

You didn’t say anything. You just laid there as he ran his fingers through your hair. The words he spoke replayed through your mind. You wanted his feelings to match your own, but you knew that was never going to happen. You weren’t sure if whatever it was he had for you was going to be enough anymore.

[misha-moose-dean-burger-lover]

We're both fighting over the last packet of ramen at target because we're both broke college students + sabriel. Thank you.

Sam spotted the only remaining packet of ramen, lying forlorn, at the far behind of the shelf after he'd already given up hopes of dinner that night, and was sulking in another aisle. Once he had, though, he instantly abandoned his (ironic) half-hearted toilet-paper shopping, and rushed.

The faster he was done with this, the sooner he'd be able to return to his notes.

But while he was still a full metre away, a much smaller guy seemed to cut into the race and snatch it up. "Ah!" Said the guy, not having seen Sam at all. "I knew squatting to a cat's eye-level for a once-over, is always the key to all things good."

Sam made a small, whining noise in his throat; that he didn't exactly intend to make. That got the guy's attention, and soon he had a pair of clear brown eyes turned up at him, enquiring. Uncertain, as he held the packet in his hand. He looked weary, in spite of the humor in his words, but then in college campus during finals, everyone does.

Fuck, Sam's chest almost hurt, upon realization. He was going to have to fight this guy for that stupid packet of ramen. He needed that. But - this guy looked so small. He -

What had his life even come to, for Christ's sake?

Sam sighed, holding his hand out, hoping for the guy to not protest too much. "Excuse me, but I saw that ramen first."

The query in his eyes gave way to a defensive glare, as he clutched the packet to his chest. "Well, I ran all the way from the cashier's counter, so I don't think so!"

Sam swallowed, not taking his outstretched hand away, yet. "Dude, you don't get it. I need that."

"Well, I need it too!" He glared back. Sam blinked at him, trying to do the 'puppy-eye' stare that Dean and others at home always said worked really well. But probably, being stressed off his ass about the next day, and hungry without a single full meal since the previous day's lunch didn't help his convincing quota. Because the guy kept glaring at him. "Move! I need to get back to the dorm."

"You can go." Sam frowned, only just realizing that he accidentally had the smaller guy cornered. "Just - you're not getting it, I need that packet, okay? Give it to me. Please." Sam made a reach for it, stretching towards him. His voice was raised.

The blond shuffled backwards till he had his back against the shelve, with a sound of metal. "Hands off, man. This is mine." His voice held more courage than his eyes did. He looked sort of terrified, and Sam hated himself already, for doing what he did next.

He made another move for it, leaning till he had him pinned - but he didn't have his heart in it, so instantly, the other guy was wriggling away, and this time, with a proper frown. "What the fuck, dude?" He declared, and didn't look half as scared as Sam felt, at this point. "I told you to get away; I'll call the goddamn Target security on your ass, if you touch me again!"

Sam's voice cracked in the middle of saying, "I'm sorry, I -"

"Make yourself another fucking packet, if you 'need' one." He had his voice raised too. "Or go get something else. Or to another store. This one's mine!"

Sam knew he wouldn't possibly fight this guy for it. He knew he could, he'd probably have him in like a minute - sorry, but the guy was short and skinny - and Sam had experience. But he knew he wouldn't, because the thought made him ache, again.

(Maybe what hurt was his stomach, and not his chest, because that would make a lot more sense.)

"I can't buy something else, or go to another store." Despite how hopeless he felt, he kept his voice flat. He struggled to, but he didn't want to have a breakdown in the middle of a Target store in front of someone who he was trying to take ramen from - when he hadn't even had a conversation about this with Dean before. "Maybe you could do that." Please do that, his eyes begged.

The guy crossed his arms on his chest, against his oversized Stanford hoodie. "I can't do that." He emphasized, in a deadbeat tone. And then, on half a wry chuckle, trying to make it sound light perhaps, he added. "I'm so totally broke."

And that was that. It was the end of things. It was hearing that fucking word that made him lose it.

Of course he didn't start breaking stuff in the aisle and getting hysterical - he literally couldn't afford to, but that word seemed to shatter the last of his walls. A single tear rolled down his face, and his cheeks heated up with the realization of it. "Hell, me too." He strangled out of a choked throat, screwing his eyes shut completely, on having finally uttered those damn words.

("But hey, ask me for whatever cash you need, okay? Trust me. I'll get it." Dean had added, at the end of the announcement of his recent unemployment, following Bobby Singer's death. His older brother was only 24, but already worked so many jobs to pay for them, and since their dad's death, he had been wearing himself thin trying to support the both of them, and Sam couldn't possibly ask him for more - even though, for it to be 'more', he needed to have asked for a single thing before it. He never even had to do that, because Dean just did everything. And now, he was struggling himself and trying to keep Sam happy by offering to send him more money and Sam hadn't even spared a single second of thought to his own condition before firmly shaking his head.)

But now, the other guy moved towards him, the glare melting away, as he puts his hands on Sam's forearms. "Dude, you good?"

"No, I'm not, okay?" He let out, wondering why how he got here - crying in front of a complete stranger, in Target, over fucking ramen. But he wasn't going to get into his sob-story right now. Not to a random person, not like this. Not when he still had shit to cram when he got home, and needed to concentrate and not spend the night drowning himself in tears he'd gathered over the last many years.

"Hey, hey, hey," A voice interrupted him. "I'm worried - Sam, isn't it? I think you're in one of my classes somewhere, I'm Gabriel, hello there - and calm down, alright? Is this about the ramen, because if it means that much to you -"

Sam eyes him uncertainly, blinking away the tears that are still pricking away at his eyes. He can hardly breathe properly. "I - I am so sorry, okay? I didn't mean to -" He begins, harshly shoving the palm of his hand against his eyes, and the guy - Gabriel - shakes his head.

"You're holding it together, okay? Don't worry about it, you're good, okay?" Gabriel says, keeps saying, until he's said it so many times that Sam can say it to himself.

"Yeah. Yes. Yes, I am." He mutters, morose and still feeling crappy about this entire ordeal. "I - I just haven't eaten a single thing since about 8 am, and that was only a stupid fucking cup of coffee in the college canteen because I didn't have the one extra dollar for sandwiches. And the last meal I had was yesterday, and I don't know what to do anymore, because I have my goddamn final tomorrow, and I don't know how I'll get through those three hours without passing out at this rate, and I just -"

"What? You have a final tomorrow?" Gabriel interrupted him, looking very concerned. "You should've said that before, Sam. You know what? We're getting you back to the dorm."

"But I -"

"Oh, shuddup" Sam frowned, but he went on nonetheless. "You should've played the 'finals' card before, plus you should've told me the passing-out-part, dumbass." Sam looked ashamed of himself. "At least now I know you're a giant idiot, who doesn't even know how to use his trauma into getting a ramen from a little softie like me. Listen to me. You look like crap, and I don't know you enough and there's all of that, but I know you won't try to hijack this ramen from me anymore, so you know what? We'll just share."

Sam had a loose smile on his lips, from the 'hijack', and he wasn't completely in his head either, so he weakly nodded. "Thank you."

"And 'cause you've got to study," Gabriel shrugged. "I mean, obviously you're at least a little bit dumb because of afore mentioned cards that you didn't use, so I recommend that you go to your room and study, and I'll make the ramen. What room are you in?"

Sam almost protested - because this guy seemed really nice, and pretty cool and all of that, and come to think of it, he had heard of him before - but what if he didn't come, and what if he -

But he didn't have to say it. Gabriel seemed to understand, all by himself. It stunned Sam how someone could comprehend his complicated trust-issues so simply, but Gabriel did. "Or, you know what, you could resume revising and I'll make the ramen in your room, okay?"

"Communal kitchen," Sam swallowed.

Gabriel nodded. "Alright. Come on."

*

Gabriel offers to drive him back in his car, and Sam blinks at him incredulously, because he usually takes the college bus, which is never really on time, and doesn't go many places - but has to work for him. But then he doesn't say anything about it, because he knows the 'there's broke, and then there's broke with a capital B' concept too well.

While he slumps in his seat, shoulders folded in, he is hit by the realization that his wallet is no lighter than it already was, and becomes aware of the fact that Gabriel paid those thirteen cents.

And to think Sam had been trying to fight him for it, made him want to bury himself under the cheap fake-leather seatcover, to avoid having to face Gabriel's kind, concerned eyes.

*

It's after he's been sat at his table for almost a half hour that Gabriel comes in, with a tray, a bowl of steaming ramen and spoons. Sam is already feeling more in his element, because until he's flipped through every page of his syllabus, he never does feel prepared - and now he's way more confident than he was before, and that also may have something to do with the fact that he gets to look forward to dinner.

Gabriel hands the whole tray to him with a small smile. "There ya go, Sammich." Sam is kind of engrossed in learning a definition, so before he's free to hold it, Gabriel has already put it on his table. He stands by it, looking slightly proud of himself. Or maybe Sam. Maybe both.

"Thank you, uh," Sam mumbles under his breath, his breaths tightening again. "Thank you very much, Gabriel."

"Nevermind." He nodded.

"No, I really do need to thank you, Gabe." Sam says, and he isn't even thinking too much at this point. "You're really nice, and I, uh, hope I can repay you some way for doing this for me, soon."

"Don't think about it right now." Gabriel says, and urges Sam to have his dinner while it's still hot. "I made it for you, hon. Tell me how it is, honey," He teases, in a caricature of a suburban wife.

"It's amazing." Sam promises.

*

Gabriel sticks around for a while after Sam's eaten - it's not a lot to eat, even though Sam could bet he got the larger half, but he has company to talk to while he eats, so it stays for a longer time.

They talk, and then Gabriel picks up Sam's Ethical Law Handbook for kicks and Sam has an idea, which he bashfully suggests. Gabriel has absolutely nothing against quizzing him on chapter 5, to his sheer delight - he justifies it saying that he's already done with all of his finals, and would probably just go home and sleep anyways, and learning a bit of Ethics couldn't suck that much - and they do that past midnight because Gabriel is into it too, and Sam knows it helps.

Angels might not exist, but there are some people very close to being that kind of good, he decides, on a sleepy note after Gabriel has gone back to his own room. He doesn't have time to think about more cheesy things, and goes to sleep almost immediately after - dreaming of Gabriel, who's "hijacking" ramen at gunpoint, in an aeroplane, for some reason.

*

The next day, after a surprisingly satisfactory exam - he'll get more than most, and way more than the required grade, he's sure - he goes back to Target.

Since they haven't restocked yet, he goes to another one - taking the college bus, and has to walk all the way back (because the bus is absolutely and completely unreliable, is why) to their dorm. And this time, he's the one knocking at Gabriel's door, with a packet of uncooked ramen in his hand, nervous of what he's about to do.

Gabriel opens the door, wearing shorts under a Marvel t-shirt, but lets Sam in easily. "How hard did you rock the paper, Sammoose?"

"Sufficiently hard," Sam supplies, smiling wide.

Gabriel sees the packet in his hand, and it's his turn to smile. "Paying me back, are you?"

"Sure. But I only owe you three-fourths of it, so maybe I can stay and finish my one-fourth portion with you?" Sam says, and it's borderline hopeful, but what he doesn't expect is for Gabriel to laugh.

"I was beginning to wonder when I was going to get asked out for all of my good deeds," He winked, and takes the packet from Sam's hand and walks over to his kitchen. Sam follows him there, with a laugh himself.

"Doing it out of the goodness of your heart is more attractive, Gabe, but nevermind." He grinned, and without really thinking about it, joins Gabriel in the kitchen - well, to help with all the "cooking" that instant noodles need.

***

Aaaaand - DONE! Whoa, this was supposed to be a LOT shorter than it is now, but I dunno, I couldn't come up with a funny ending so it kept going and became sad. Will edit it later, I've gotta rush to studying myself 🍪 But here's a word out to the tribe: @ctrl-alt-destiel @emmii4 @awkward-penguin-in-a-trenchcoat @styggtroll @adventurous-blob @petrichoravellichor @all-or-nothing-baby @moderatelypanickedbiromantic @elvenlicht @legendary-destiel @noemithenephilim @galaxy-charm @trenchcoatsandfreckles @naitia @ladywaywarddsc @zoerayne2426 @thekidsmaybealright @hellfire37 @3dg310rdsupreme @impulsivedandelion @iamcharliebradburylevelperfect Do lemme know if you want to be added or removed from the list! Or if there's specific stuff you wanna be tagged for, and not me answering the prompts I've received (*eeeee's happily* thank you so muuuch, croutons) because I'll probably be fitting a lot of writing in, this weekend? So stay tuned, I guess. I love y'all! Have an amazing daaaay ~

[staytheb]

Seriously

Pairing: SKZ’s Chan x OC [Kierra] Genre: slice of life, slight fluff Word Count: 3,475 Summary: Kierra always thought Chris was playing and never took his flirting as something serious. She always played it off and now he wants to let her know that with her it was always serious.

Warning: curse words, i guess, that’s mainly about it lol

oh look, another ficcy featuring Bang Chan. it’s not a bad thing, but it just sucks when i picture him in the role instead of another idol, but oh well. at least it’s something than nothing. anyways, this was also part of another story with a different male in mind and to me the original person just didn’t fit anymore so Bang Chan came to be instead. but yeah, for the title, it was just something that came to mind and fits it then whatever else i can think of for it instead. anyways, that’s about it and so happy reading and kthxbai, Admin Lia~

revised 9.13.20

Kierra stared up at the Department of Music building before following Chris inside with a confused look.

"Why am I here again?" She asked while following him up the stairs.

"You promised to help me out when I asked you a few days ago." Chris reminded her as she groaned.

"Chris, you do know that you had called me at like four in the morning to ask me that, right?"

"Yes, Kierra, I do, but you're the one that accepted the request I made at four in the morning."

"Ugh. I blame the girls for my lack of sleep lately." Kierra muttered before glaring at him.

"After this is over, feel free to lose my number."

Chris laughed at her serious, but not really serious words. Kierra frowned with a rolled of her eyes as she asked him on why she was there again.

"You're gonna help me out." Chris answered, but didn't further explained on what kind of help exactly.

"Okay, but I'm not majoring in music."

"I know, but you're minoring in Journalism, right?"

"Creative Writing, but I don't see where you're getting at though."

"You'll see."

Chris glanced at her with a secretive smile before arriving on the designated floor.

"Here we are."

Kierra continued following Chris until he stopped just outside one of the rooms at the furthest end of the hall.

"I had asked one of the department professors for permission to use this room solely as my studio when I first started since it wasn't being used throughout the years." Chris explained as he pulled out a key and inserted it in to the door before opening it. "Ladies first."

Kierra hesitated before entering as she shot the male a cautious look. Chris cast her a playful smile as he motioned again for her to enter first.

"I'm not gonna do anything to you, Kierra, unless you want me to."

Kierra scoffed at his flirty words while scrunching up her face as she backhanded his stomach area. Chris let out a small grunt from her small action.

"Yeah, right. In your dreams, Chris." She remarked while walking passed him and into the room.

"Only if you're there, too, Kierra." He countered with a laugh and actually dodged another hit from the female who seemed slightly flustered, but didn't say anything.

Kierra turned away and was amazed by the recording studio like room. Despite it's small size and simple style and equipment, the room had a nice charm to it. So lost in her thoughts of observing the room, she didn't hear Chris calling for her attention.

"Kierra?"

Nothing.

"Kierra?" Chris asked louder which got the female's attention this time around.

"Hmm?" She hummed while facing him. "What?"

"You ready to help me out?" He asked while indicating for her to take a seat at the empty chair next to him.

She glanced at the chair before walking closer and sat upon it while placing her backpack onto the floor. Kierra then shot Chris a curious look.

"Honesty, I know nothing about music and I don't know why you want me to help you out when there's Jisung and Changbin that do music with you. Like all the time, bro. Even BamBam and Yugyeom can help you out, too. Oh, and those three girls you hang out with, too. Um, Sana, Chaeyoung, and Jamie. Why do you need me?"

"I just wanted a new perspective." Chris answered nonchalantly while messing around with his music stuff. "Besides, Linna mentioned that you used to write poetry and your own lyrics to instrumental beats back in the day."

"Yeah, I used to, but that was like back when I was in late middle school to early high school." Kierra informed while giving him a suspicious look. "Why would Linna mention that to you, anyways?"

"We were just talking and it somehow popped up somewhere in the conversation."

"Y'all better not be talking about me."

"And if we are?"

Chris gazed at her with a playful look as Kierra scowled at him.

"Then she better not be saying anything personal."

"Does this personal thing have anything to do with me?" He probed with a hint of a playful tone as Kierra tried to not seem phased by it. "No."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm gonna hit you if you don't stop."

"Stop what?"

Chris continued to play around with Kierra and he dodged her hand that came out to smack him. He laughed upon hearing her cursed him when she missed.

"Gosh, you're so annoying. Anyways, Chris, hurry up and let's get this thing started and over with so I can leave."

Kierra changed the topic with a slight flustered expression as she gave Chris a pointed look to get a move on. Chris chuckled before grabbing his mouse and moving it about. Kierra had a sudden realization when her eyes watched the monitor.

"I can't read music notes or whatever they're called."

"You can count paces, right?" He asked her as she nodded.

"Yeah, but I can't sing either."

"You can hum, right?" He asked with a smile as she reluctantly nodded.

"Yes. Ugh, there's no escaping, is there?"

"Nope. You're already here and you already promised to hang out, too."

"I'm totally deleting your number when this is over." Kierra grumbled as Chris chuckled before handing her some pieces of paper.

"You'll be fine, Kierra. Besides, this should be really fun."

"Says you, but alright. What do you want me to do?"

~~~~~~~~

"I don't think this is working out like I thought it would have." Chris commented after coming up with nothing for the past two hours.

"No shit, Sherlock." Kierra deadpanned as she's been trying to let him know that since the beginning.

Chris eyed her tiredly, but a small smile graced his face.

"I'm sorry, but at least you didn't try to beat me up within those two hours."

"Oh, I wanted to, but then I didn't want your fangirls to come after me though."

"What? I don't have fangirls."

"You literally have a fanclub on campus, Chris."

"No I don't, Kierra."

"Are you serious? There's a fanpage on the school's website dedicated to you."

One side of Chris' brows quirked up interested as he cast Kierra an amused look.

"And how would you know that, Kierra?"

"It's not what you think, Chris." Kierra explained while leaning away as she hadn't realized how close she had gotten to the male over time.

"So tell me what you think I was thinking then."

"Um, no. Don't feel like it."

"That's what you always say."

"Because that's how I always feel."

"I beg to differ."

"Yeah, like you know."

"Oh, but Kierra, I do." Chris cooed as he leaned closer to her and she shied away from him with a hard look in his direction.

"Stop."

"Stop what?" He asked playing clueless.

"You know what I mean."

"I don't though. Could you help remind me again?"

"Um, no. Don't feel like it."

Kierra smirked as Chris rolled his eyes before catching the time on the wall. He turned his attention back onto the female with a casual expression.

"How about we go grab some late lunch slash early dinner?"

Kierra's eyes glanced at the same clock to check the time before casting the male an apologetic look.

"Sorry, I can't."

"Oh, why not?"

"I have another class to go to in a little bit."

"Oh, then we can grab dinner afterwards."

"No way. I get out super late. So yeah, no dinner for tonight. Sorry."

She picked up her backpack and stood up to leave, but Chris stopped her.

"Wait. That sounds like a 'maybe, next time' kinda offer to me."

"And what if it does?"

She faced him with an amused look.

"Then does that mean I can take you up on that rain check then?"

"Yeah, sure, whatever, Chris. You can take it however you wanna take it." She dismissed not really believing that Chris would be serious about it.

"Wait. I thought your late classes were on Mondays and Wednesdays."

"No. That was last semester. This semester's Tuesdays and Thursdays."

"Oh, well now I know."

"Right. Anyways, good luck with your music composition. Also, please do not ask for my help again. I don't think it did any good on your end."

"Although quite true, but it helped with other things."

"Like what?"

Chris didn't answer her and just shot her a secretive smile. She rolled her eyes while giving him the peace sign.

"Alright. I'm out. See you never."

Chris didn't get a chance to bid her a goodbye as Kierra hurried on out of there. Chris chuckled before gathering up the pieces of paper that Kierra had written on.

"Maybe I should've suggested something else instead of this."

~~~~~~~~

Chris was waiting for Kierra to get out of her class after getting the information from Linna. When he finally saw her walked out of the building, he was surprised to see his other friend, Allen, walking alongside her casually. Kierra was happily talking to Woojin and Chris found it weird as she was never like that with him. He shook that thought away while jogging over to the pair and greeted them as he interrupted their conversation.

"Kierra. Allen."

"Oh, Chris, what's up." Allen acknowledged his friend while Kierra just smiled and didn't say anything.

The trio walked with Allen in the middle as he and Chris conversed quietly while Kierra remained quiet not bothered by Chris' presence.

"I didn't know you had the same late class as Kierra." Chris mentioned as Allen cocked his head. "Wait, you didn't? Didn't I tell you?"

"No, Allen, you did not."

"Oh, my bad. So what are you doing here?"

Chris moved his head passed Allen to glance over at Kierra who wasn't even paying attention to them before returning his gaze onto his friend.

"You know that thing I was trying to work on, well, you're like kinda in the middle of it. Literally."

Chris motioned with his head to indicate it towards Kierra for Allen to comprehend his meaning. Allen discreetly followed and got what his friend meant.

"Oh? So you're finally acting upon it then?" Allen mused as Chris nodded. "Yes. Yes, I am."

"Damn about time. Took you long enough."

"I know. Anyways, what are the two of you doing walking together though and in this direction?"

"I always walk Kierra back to her dorm building since it's so late and I gotta make sure she's safe."

"Oh, so that's why you always come back late."

"Yup." Allen glanced at Chris with a knowing look before speaking. "So, do you wanna walk Kierra back instead?"

Before Chris could respond, Kierra spoke out to them having already walked further on.

"I'll let you two catch up and I'll head over to the Girls' Dormitory myself."

Kierra's attention went to Allen.

"Don't forget we have to meet at the library tomorrow afternoon for the group project, okay?"

Allen gave her a thumbs up.

"I won't. Just make sure that you won't forget to bring the snacks this time around."

"I won't. It was just that one time. Anyways, see ya."

Kierra waved Allen goodbye before turning to Chris and doing the same thing. Chris felt a little weird as she wasn't her usual aloof and indifferent with him this time around. He felt a small nudge and glanced at Allen.

"What?"

"There's your chance to walk her home."

"But I'm sure I would just inconvenience her as she had just said that she would go on by herself."

"You're wrong, Chris. It's the other way around. Kierra hates being an inconvenience to others."

Chris regarded his friend a bit.

"How do you know her so well?"

"We've had classes since we started and always ended up as partners through the semesters." Allen explained. "So we just built a friendship between us."

"Ah, so that's why she's more friendly and comfortable with you."

Allen chuckled.

"She would be more friendly and comfortable with you, too, if you didn't always try to flirt with her all the time."

"I don't always do that."

"Well, Kierra believes so and thinks it's just a part of your personality."

"Really? She thinks I'm like this with everybody."

"Yeah, basically. She won't admit it, but I hear her grumbling about it for you to either be serious with her or to stop playing with her feelings and mind or whatever."

Allen then glanced in the direction that Kierra had walked off to and noticed her small figure in the distance before gazing at Chris.

"Anyways, this is a perfect opportunity for you or you're gonna miss your chance and Kierra's gonna keep thinking of you the way that she does now."

~~~~~~~~

Kierra was quietly walking back to her dorm with the serene campus night life surrounding her. She yawned as she thought about falling asleep in her comfy bed and being surrounded by her equally comfy and fluffy friends. That was until a familiar voice called her name and Kierra's mood dimmed wondering what the male wanted.

"Kierra!"

"Yes, Chris?" She responded, but didn't turn around and continued to walk on.

Chris soon matched her pace and would tentatively glance at her every now and then.

"About that rain check."

"What rain check?"

"The one from earlier this afternoon."

Kierra had to think about it and Chris was about to tell her to not worry about it until she actually remembered the situation from earlier.

"Oh, that. What about it?"

"Well, I was thinking this Saturday, you and me, at Compass Cafe. Yeah?"

"In the morning or afternoon? I thought it was supposed to be dinner."

Chris chuckled which caused Kierra to look over at him.

"What's so funny?"

"Do you want it to be just dinner?" Chris asked to confirm.

"It can be whatever you want it to be as I didn't think you were being serious about it. Anyways, I also just thought it was a rain check for dinner because you had ask to grab late lunch slash early dinner."

"Kierra."

Chris called her name as the two of the them stopped walking. Kierra regarded the male a bit and wondered what he wanted to say.

"Yes, Chris?"

"If you weren't aware by now or at all, but I just wanted to let you know that with you I've always been serious."

"Right. That's a good joke. Tell me something I don't know."

"No really. Yeah, it was playful, but it was always directed at you and only you. And for something that you don't know which is kinda apparent to me now, but I have no feelings for anyone else, but you. I like you, Kierra. I like you a lot."

"Why?"

"What do you mean?"

"Why would you like someone like me? There's like tons of people you hang out with and talk to more than me. So why would you like me when we barely hang out."

Kierra was being serious as she couldn't wrap this information around her at all.

"I mean, you seem to get along well with Jamie and crack a lot of jokes with her like all the time. There's even those few girls that seem to follow you around during the day and fetching you food and drinks like all the time. I'm sure you can get with them without having to try, honestly."

Chris was gonna intervene, but he allowed Kierra to vent out whatever it was that she was trying to make a point of. He was actually quite amuse by what she had to say as he didn't think this was floating about in her head this whole time.

"And then you have those fans of yours. For you, Changbin, and Jisung as 3RACHA. You have no idea how many times they scream and cry at the mention of your guys' names and songs. It's kinda weird. Also, Linna took me to one of your guys' show one time and it was insane. I never went again because I did not want to experience that, but then Linna always knows how to persuade me go to those things and so I just had to deal with it."

Kierra let out a loud sigh at the next set of words she was about to express.

"And don't let me get started on your fanclub page. It's so mind-blowing that all they talk about is your Australian accent, abs, and the type of underwear you wear or whatever. Honestly, like it doesn't dawn on them that you're more than that at all. It's pretty ridiculous."

Kierra went on to list some things she appreciated of Chris while he was left surprised, shocked, and speechless by her thoughts of him.

"Like how you're so caring, considerate, and attentive to those around you. You're ever so patient and want everyone to feel included even if you may not know them that well. How you make people feel at ease with the way your voice and words soothes them. The way your mind works with wanting to convey things in your songs and how you just go about things in general. Chris, you're such an amazing guy and you totally deserve the whole world."

Once Kierra spoke that last sentence she didn't realized that Chris looked at her adoringly when she finally gazed at him. She instantly grew shy at the thought of her expressing what she had really thought about the male over the years.

"So, please tell me how you really feel now, Kierra." Chris teased wanting to break the awkwardness between them after what Kierra had indirectly admitted and knew this sort of thing must've made her feel a bit embarrass and shy.

"You're a brat and super annoying." Kierra retorted and Chris laughed.

"Now, that sounds like the Kierra I know."

"Shut up."

"You're such a tsundere."

Kierra didn't bother to comment on that knowing it was definitely true, but she wouldn't admit to it just yet. She just needed to find a way to get Linna to stop spilling all of her secrets to Chris somehow. Because she knew for a fact that Linna had to have some sort of hand into Chris knowing some of her quirks.

"Anyways, I'm busy Saturday." She finally answered him. "I have a paper to finish that I've been procrastinating on."

"Haven't you listened to one of my song that mentions something about 'stop procrastinating'?"

"I have, but that just makes me want to procrastinate more. Anyways, so no Sa-"

"Sunday. I know you're free Sunday. Linna mentioned that you have nothing planned and are totally free."

"Why do you always gotta get Linna to tell you about my life?"

"Because I know you won't tell me."

"Okay, true, but why do you wanna hang out so bad?"

"It's not a hang out, Kierra. I've been trying to ask you out on a date."

"Oh."

Chris chuckled highly amused, but tried to not rush the female about it.

"So, Kierra, will you go out with me this Sunday?"

"This isn't a joke, right? You're being serious?"

"Completely."

"And if my body is nowhere to be found once the date is over, then please assume your fanclub got to me and did something."

"Kierra."

Kierra laughed as she couldn't help it.

"I'm sorry, but I worry about your guys' fanclub as 3RACHA and personal ones. People get scary and crazy with this sort of stuff. You can't blame me."

"I'm here, aren't I? I'll take care of you and protect you from them."

"Oh, my hero." She sarcastically stated with a feign lovely expression.

"I'll try, if you'll have me." Chris stated with a loving gesture.

Kierra rolled her eyes, but nodded in agreement.

"Okay, Chris. I'll go out with you this Sunday. We'll see how this plays out."

"Really?"

"Yes, really."

"Alright, so you take back on me losing your number, right?"

"Yeah, sure."

"Cool, so now about that rain check."

Chris laughed as he dodged a hit from Kierra.

"I thought the rain check was the date."

"No, that was just a date, date, that you agreed with me when I asked not that long ago. The rain check is still something from earlier that I would still like to claim."

"Ugh, seriously, bro, I hate you!"

Kierra made to swing at him again, but Chris caught her hand and then re-positioned them to holding hands instead before leading her back to her dorms.

"C'mon. We can make the rain check like a practice date for Sunday. We can have breakfast tomorrow."

"I hate mornings." Kierra whined as Chris chuckled beside her.

"Don't worry, Kierra, I'll be with you to make it better."

"Fine, you better."

"I will."