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shewrites444 · 9 months

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arranged [thomas shelby x reader smut]

[ i’ve never written about one of cillian murphy’s characters but oppenheimer has me feeling a bit inspired lately. i haven’t watched peaky blinders in ages, so apologizes if it’s not completely accurate to the storyline. ]

[update: arranged part 2 ]

word count - 2.1k

[ summary - the reader and tommy agree to an arranged marriage that suits both of their needs. despite their disliking of each other, the two seem quite fond of each other in the bedroom, especially on their wedding night. ]

[ warnings - enemies to lovers trope that includes unprotected sex, oral, roughness, etc ]

thomas shelby was the last man i ever imagined myself being wedded to, but when my father unexpectedly passed and i no longer had the protection of his people, i had to find another way to make sure i wouldn’t be a victim to any gangs of birmingham - including the peaky blinders.

of course, tommy would never have married me if there wasn’t something i could offer him in return - that happened to be a ton of inherited money from my father, and several breweries i now technically owned, and numerous meeting spots that only i knew about, that the coppers would never find him or his family at, during anytime of the day.

despite the convenience of our arrangement, there was nothing favorable for either of us past the business side of things. our families had been at each other’s throats for years and now that my father was gone, a lot of that tension was, but nevertheless, you can’t expect a peaky blinder to not hold a grudge, even on their wedding night.

“see, that wasn’t so bad.” i mutter to my newly wed husband, walking into the dimly lit bedroom as i took off my white heels, setting them aside the now shut door. i watch as tommy began to unbutton his white dress shirt, and i sigh to myself, but loud enough to quirk his brow.

i tuck my hair behind my ears, walking to the bed and pulling the sheets down to prepare for what would hopefully be a fairly long sleep, given that i’d prefer not think much about who i was now standing across from.

“you don’t have to stay in here tonight if you don’t want to or even at all, tommy. you already have children and i’m aware you don’t want more, and frankly, i don’t want any, so just lie and tell polly the marriage was consummated tomorrow morning. go on.” i gesture my hand up and towards the door, watching his blank expression as i spoke in a more demanding, harsh manner.

he walked towards the bed, untucking his side, his shirt now unbuttoned and his toned, pale body at my exposure, which only made my cheeks redden as the muscles flexed with his movements. i may have despised the man for his profession, but it’s not like he wasn’t physically attractive.

“i may not be so found of you, mrs. shelby, but i do keep my marriage duties, at least to sleep beside you.” he says plainly, sitting down on the white sheets before looking up to me with a teasing expression. it almost felt wrong to see him show any emotion besides, well, none. “now, do i have to make you turn around while i fuck you, or can you bare the sight of me while doing so?”

i roll my eyes with a smirk, laying down and hovering my face above his before biting my bottom lip, glancing at his own with a bit of temptation, but nothing i couldn’t ignore for the sake of my ego. “i’m shocked you even asked to touch me, mr. shelby. peaky blinders have always seemed so forward with what they want.”

he tilted his head, his well-groomed hair bouncing lightly at the movement, now reaching over to hold the back of my neck, running his fingertips through the ends of my hair. “would you prefer i not ask? you didn’t strike me as the type of woman who’d prefer to be fucked like an animal.”

“you didn’t strike me as the type of man to wait until we were wed to even discuss sex, so we’re both a bit surprised. have you been distracted with other women through our engagement, dear husband?”

he scoffed at my comment, sitting up and leaning himself down to peck at my neck lightly, his heated breath against my tingling skin, a pit forming in my stomach at the touch he never dared grant me until now.

“you never gave me any suggestion to fuck before tonight, [y/n]. i assumed you wouldn’t allow me to lay a finger on you. this all seemed like a business opportunity, a plan for protection and financies, nothing more.” he muttered through his kisses, trailing his lips down to my covered chest before looking up to me again. “so, how about i ask you like a gentlemen, mrs. shelby. is this for business, or not?”

i shrug softly, glancing down to meet his seductive, icy blue eyes. “i think i’ll be able to tell if it is or not when you fuck me, mr. shelby."

he reached over to pull me on top of him, grabbing the white gown that dressed me and helping me to slip it off my core and past my arms, tossing it to the floor, which exposed me in nothing but my underwear, my breasts falling out of the fabric and resting before him. he took one hand to hold my back, the other cupping one breast and his thumb flicking at the hardening nipple. i feel him push me down, his lips attaching to the bud as i let out a soft moan, shocked by how sensual thomas shelby could be if directed to do so.

i could feel the bulge in his pants growing, beginning to grind myself against the black pants while he fondled my breasts with his mouth and free hand, the other that was once on my back now guiding itself down to my ass. he pulled himself away from my breast, panting softly to himself as the tension began to increase between our moving bodies.

“take off your panties and lay down on your back, won't you.” he said to me in a more demanding tone. i stood up and did so, spreading my legs before him as he undressed himself at the side of the bed, soon leaning down in front of me.

i chew my bottom lip at the sight of the man before me, but gasp as his tongue links to my clit, swirling and flicking around the sensitive bud of skin, while i only grow wetter through his touch and the saliva that collected against my entrance. i reach down to hold his head of black hair, my other hand resting against my chest while he continued to give me nothing but pleasure.

“this… this doesn’t seem… like b-business to me…” i stutter my words, my back arching at every sensitive touch he brought to my body. my words made him pull away, a smirk on his wet lips as he stuck one finger inside of me, pumping and curling it slowly enough to draw a loud moan from my lips before pulling it out right after.

he leaned down and gestured for me to open my mouth, sticking his finger inside for me to taste my own juices before pulling it out and licking it himself.

“neither does this, how wet you are for me. are you sure you want to take back the consummation of our arrangement, hm? it seems you like my tongue, mrs. shelby. do you think i’ll like yours?” he grinned, standing up and pointing his full erection towards me, holding it in one hand as i sat up on the bed.

i blush, getting off of the bed and onto my knees before him. i take his length into one hand, pumping it slowly as i look up to him, our eyes locked when i lean forward and take his tip into mouth, a heavy sigh coming from his lips as i begin to suck him off. he was thick and much longer than any man i’d ever been with, and frankly, if we were to sleep together tonight, i was a bit nervous of how my body would take him and the aftermath of it all tomorrow morning.

“fuck, fill your throat with me, [y/n]..” he moaned, both hands holding the back of my head as he thrusted himself towards my face. i took his cock down my throat, my eyes closing almost immediately as a tear runs down my cheek from the unexpected penetration, moving my head back and forth as his balls slap against my wet chin.

he tilted his head, mouth hung open as he watched me take him down my throat. i could hear his breath cutting short each time he thrusted, his cock twitching inside my mouth as he edged himself through each stroke. when he could tell through my reddening expression and glossy eyes that i was a bit overstimulated, he slowly pulled himself out of my mouth, leaning down to help me back on my feet and onto the bed.

he kneeled down before me, grabbing my face with both hands and pressing a passionate kiss against my lips, his tongue pushing itself into my mouth, which distracted me from the way he was moving my body off the bed again. he wraps his arms around me and guides me across the room and to the dresser, where he then breaks the kiss and turns me around, bending my body against the wood to where i made eye contact with the mirror that connected the furniture.

"i think this is worth the watch, don't you?" he teases, a devilish smirk across his face as he takes my neck in one hand, the other trailing before my pussy, his index and middle fingers attaching to my clit as he pushes himself inside of me without warning.

i gasp, watching my mouth open as he begins to fuck me, hard, against the dresser. the stimulation above my insides didn't make this any easier to take, given the fact i could already feeling my climax building in a matter of seconds.

i rest both palms against the wood, watching tommy's lips trail to my shoulder as he kissed against my sweating skin, leaving fresh hickeys from time to time, marking me like i was more than just an arrangement to him. if anything, this showed me that thomas shelby may not favor me, but he sure wanted the world to know i was his wife, and no one else's.

"i could fuck you all day, [y/n]. nothing fucking... compares to... how good you feel, fuck.." he muttered between kisses, looking up to meet my eyes in the mirror, his hand moving from my neck to hold my left breast tightly, halting it from bouncing throughout his thrusts. "do you feel me as much as i feel you?"

i nod, mouth still hung open, unable to even speak a word as tommy pulled my body closer, his fingers digging into my clit and forcing me to arch my back down, my ass pressing against him and causing even harsher friction between our bodies while he quickened his pace at the touch, the sound of our skin slapping together overpowering the bedroom.

i suddenly feel his arm wrap around my waist, and then the other, holding me so close and his body leaned so far down my back was touching his core. he thrusted deeper, further than what i even thought was possible for him to go, and so much so to the point i was in immense pain, but god, it felt so fucking good. his cock overpowered my entire body, and i felt my orgasm rushing to the surface, fluids leaking out from inside of me past himself and dripping between my legs, his own orgasm filling my insides within a matter of seconds after.

i feel him slide out of me, catching his own breath and helping turn me around to face him. he takes my hand and places the other on my back, guiding me to the bed once more and laying me down, pulling the sheet on top of me to cover my stomach down, my breasts exposed to the cold air. i feel his lips against my chest, lightly kissing from my nipples, to my shoulders, to my neck, and to my lips, once more. he smiles softly, and genuinely, to me, before snapping out of his sappy mood to grab a cigarette from the nightstand, lighting it.

"do you think we'll be doing this again?" he asks quietly, handing me the cigarette. "doesn't seem like it would be a negative thing to add to our arrangement, eh?"

i smirk, blowing the smoke out from my lips and towards the ceiling. "i wouldn't be opposed, but if you fuck me that hard every time, i'm not sure i would be able to get out of bed the next morning."

he chuckled to himself, standing up and walking to the other side of the bed, sliding himself into the sheets and putting out the cigar. he took me into his arms, lighting running his hand across my hair. "we can see about that. goodnight, mrs. shelby."

i rest my head against his chest, closing my eyes and smiling to myself, partially hoping tommy wouldn't see my vunerability.

"goodnight, mr. shelby."

#smut writing #cillian murphy #cillian murphy x reader #thomas shelby imagine #peaky blinders imagine #thomas shelby #peaky blinders x reader #x reader #thomas shelby peaky blinders #x yn #smut #fanfic #fanfiction #fic writing #thomas shelby x reader smut #tommy shelby x you #peaky blinders fanfic #peaky blinders smut

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natailiatulls07 · 6 months

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He doesn’t want any other nurse

Charles Leclerc x female!nurse!reader

Summary - Charles has a habit of hurting himself so he visits the medical bay quite a lot which he doesn’t mind because his favourite nurse is there

Warning - Cuts, Crash, tripping over, medical centres, bruising

A/n - This was inspired by a character ai bot lmao

This was becoming a regular routine. And it’s not like no noticed, everyone noticed. Every other race, Charles would have to be taken to the medical centre in the paddock, why?

Because of her; one of the nurses who would travel around with the FIA as a nurse.

Like Zandvoort, Charles had crashed his SF-23 into the first corner.

“Charles, are you okay? Are you okay?” Xavier voiced through the radio, the race engineer could see Charles moving in his car.

“Yeah I’m good…I think I’ll go to medical just in case…” Surprisingly he sounded somewhat excited to be visiting medical, it was usually dreaded by the drivers.

So that’s what he did. He took himself all the way back to the paddock and through the paddock to medical. There’s was a small waiting room, Charles sat himself down excitedly.

One of the other nurses had come out to the waiting room. “Charles, I can see you now” she offered but he quickly turned her down.

“No thank you, um is Y/n here today?” The Monégasque asked eagerly. The nurse looked back through to the medical bay, and saw that Y/n was in fact treating someone who had fallen in the paddock.

“Uh she’s a bit busy at the moment…please I can help you” The nurse tried again to which Charles just shook his head again.

“I’ll wait…” His tone was blunt and straight to the point. The nurse just sighed, knowing there was nothing she could do to change his mind, before walking back into the medical bay.

I was just finishing up cleaning up a small cut on someone’s knee as they fell in the paddock. “There you go ma’am…take it easy on your feet” Smiling softly I walk the women out through the medical bay carefully.

I walk into the medical bay as one of the other nurse told me that a certain Ferrari driver was waiting on me and only me.

Knowing of his refusal of any other nurse here, I strike up a conversation with him “I heard you’ve been waiting for me”

His response is quick and almost impatient “Too long” I look him over and notice a few cuts but other than that he seems okay.

“Why?” I ask in defeat. The driver just stares me down.

“Because I wanted you…” Charles just picks at the skin around his cuts, going silent again.

“You do realise that there are more qualified nurses than me…right?”

Glancing away from his cuts up at me, Charles continues “Yes and I rejected them” He looks around the medical bay before meeting my eyes again. “Your qualifications don’t matter to me, I still want you”

As I treat his cuts, cleaning them up and putting some plasters on, I continue the conversation “I don’t understand…why me?”

He remains still allowing me to treat him correctly “Why not you?” Charles’ green eyes follow my hands as I work.

“Whatever you say…” Chucklibg softly before move to grab the plasters. After I finish fixing him up, I pat his shoulder “You’re all done…”

“Thank you” He mumbles before making his way to the media tent, feeling that bit more excited.

The two Ferrari drivers were in their teams hospitality filming a challenge video for the Ferrari YouTube channel. However, Carlos had accidentally tripped up Charles.

That’s how Charles ended up back in the medical bay waiting room, rejecting away any nurse until his favourite arrived in the waiting room. Y/n.

“Back again so soon Charles” I teased as I walked over to him, he was sat clutching his head.

Charles just offered me a tired smile. “Why are you so busy when I come in?” He asks with a grumble.

“Because…this is my job, I have to treat other people as well” I smile softly, laughing slightly. Reaching over, I inspect his head.

“What happened?” Asking him, I notice some bruising on his head just before the forehead.

“Carlos, le moromi, tripped me up” Laughing softly as Charles curses in his mother tongue. I move to the medical fridge, picking up a small ice pack wrapping it in a blue paper towel.

Holding to the bruising, I take one of his hand before putting it in place of mine. “Hold this here…” Once Charles is holding onto the ice pack, I take my clipboard “Do you feel dizzy, nauseous?”

Nodding his head, I start to worry before Charles speaks up “Only because of you…”

Crimson blush covers my cheeks, my face feeling flustered. “Okay Charles that’s not what I mean…I uh meant the bruising”

“Oh no but…can I ask you a question?” He looks up at me from his seat. I nod politely. “Are you single?”

Taken back, I am instantly taken back by his confidence. “Uh um yeah…being a nurse and travelling around the world with f1 is that ideal when it comes to relationships…” Once again chuckling quietly.

Despite his injury, Charles laughs along with me before speaking again “Can I ask you another question?”

Nodding my head again, I let me continue. “Are you busy tonight?”

My laughter continues with his questions. “No not really…I was probably order room service and then fall asleep to a chick flick…the usual” I blush at my obvious loneliness.

“That’s cute” My blush on deepens “Do you…um doyouwanttogoonadatewithme?…tonight” Charles just quickly mumbles, this makes it hard for me to hear his question.

“Pardon?” I ask politely and patiently.

The Monégasque breaths in hesitate before speak again, this time more slowly and clearly “Do you…want to go on a date with me?”

I just smile softly, yeah my blush is still there but I don’t care really. “Of course…”

“Oh perfect…I’ll pick you up around seven tonight” Charles is evidently more confident now that I agree to the date.

“I’ll see you then” Walking off to another patient, I feel his green eyes staring at me.

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blooberrries · 3 months

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『monday misery』 — yuji

— pairing: yuji x reader — genre: college/university au, slight crack — wc: 1.7k — rated: sfw — notes: when inspiration strikes you gotta follow it ya know. this cracked me up more than it probably should have

prompt: I don't know why you've got a ferret on a leash but at least I've stopped crying on public transportation to watch that lil guy go

The tears are still damp on your cheeks, another set budding and ready to go, when you see it. Something small, something wriggly, something wormy.

Something that has absolutely no business being on the 8AM train into the city central.

Just moments ago it felt like the world could come to a crumbling end around you, and you’d embrace it all while sitting there and doing nothing but emptying your tear ducts of every single drop of moisture they could spare. You literally could not imagine a single event that would have stopped your exhaustion and assignment deadline-fueled weeping. You wouldn’t have been surprised if you just kept on crying, forever. The future was bleak and not set to look up anytime soon with an 8.30AM lecture looming on the horizon.

But this… this is a variable you never could have predicted.

The sheer lunacy of it has stopped your tears in their tracks, and now you’re watching the poor guy sitting across from you like he’s an animal in a zoo. He has noticed, and it has made him sweat. A large hand comes to scratch the back of his neck, fingers ruffling the two-toned hair. The cherry-blossom mop atop his head really only adds to the comedy of what you’re witnessing.

Something is worming around under this man’s clothes. Which, you have to admit, does sound like a poor excuse to be drilling holes into him right now with your eyes – but that’s not it! You saw something poke out earlier. Something furry, with beady eyes and such rapid twitching head movements you’d swear the thing was on crack.

It’s a fucking ferret.

The worst part is, no one else around you has even noticed! Or maybe they don’t care. Truthfully, they seem to be giving this guy a wide berth— and you for that matter, being across from him and all that. Or maybe it was the silent weeping and looking out the window like you’re in your own early 2000s music video. There’s no way to know.

To his credit, cherry guy looks embarrassed. Good. You don’t want him thinking it’s anything normal to tote around a ferret in the quiet carriage, like some noodle-shaped teacup dog. The only way he could get away with it is if he at least had one of those exorbitant handbags he was keeping it in. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like any vessel on this green earth, luxury or otherwise, could keep this tiny demon contained.

Your eyes burn in the aftermath of your sleep deprivation and crying spell as you watch the man try and push the ferret’s head back into hiding, and the little mongrel, without even a split-second of hesitation, chomps down on the closest finger. Cherry guy whimpers, eyes slipping closed in something akin to defeat and resignation.

At this point you’re beginning to feel that he didn’t bring the ferret, but instead the ferret brought him.

A few minutes is what it takes for cherry guy to gather the strewn shreds of his pride. When he opens his eyes next, their chocolate hues meet your own. He leans forward a little, as much as he can without the hell noodle slipping loose from his cotton prison, and whispers ever so softly across the space.

“His name is Mahito.”

You frown, and can physically feel your eyebrows scrunching together like it was a crime they had ever been apart. “What, like the drink?”

Apparently you hadn’t asked that as quietly as you’d thought, because you get shushed by someone three seats down right after. Wait– three seats? There’s no way they’ve all moved even further away.

Cherry guy looks like he is seriously contemplating the question, and you wonder if the ferret is even his or just some poor animal he snatched off the streets. “… No. Probably… not.”

You stare at him, sniffling. Your face is almost entirely dry now, skin feeling tight instead of damp. “Uh-huh.”

Steadily, the man’s face begins to flush as mortification warms his sun-kissed skin. Silence beats painfully on between you. Eventually, you break it.

“So, uh. You do this often? Carry around a ferret in your shirt?”

The flush spreads to cherry guy’s ears. “Um, no. That would be weird.”

You incline your head, lips pressed firmly together so you don’t let a laugh slip and make him feel worse. “Indeed.”

“He’s not mine,” he blurts suddenly, and like the ferret has a flourishing vocabulary and outstanding comprehension of the human language, he rips out of the bottom of cherry guy’s shirt and sinks his teeth into the flesh between his thumb and forefinger in retribution. You wince, and the poor man has to cram his fist to his mouth at the speed of light to muffle the slew of profanity that begins to escape.

A few moments full of deep, meditative breathing later, he lowers his fist and scowls at the ferret that is only now removing his jaw from the tender flesh of his hand. He hisses lowly, shaking out his hand. “You little rat bastard. Just you wait till we get home and Sukuna finds out you snuck into my backpack again. You’re gonna get sent to macaroni prison for sure.”

You raise your brows. Ah, so that’s what must have happened. That actually explains a lot. You can’t help your smile now. “What a darling little angel.”

Cherry guy’s head snaps up to shoot you an incredulous– nay, borderline affronted look. “He’s awful, truly. Actual hellspawn. I have to buy a new gaming headset every other week because the little monster chews through the cords so often. I tried keeping my door locked while I was out but the little bastard just turns his body to liquid or something and worms his way under.”

A strangled sound escapes you when you barely manage to lock down your laugh in time. Cherry guy continues, apparently needing to vent about the foot-long menace more than he’d anticipated.

“My brother actually already replaced his door with one that doesn’t have a big gap at the bottom, but he keeps refusing to do it for mine every time I ask because he thinks it’s funny that his little agent of rat chaos eats through half my stuff on the daily.” He huffs, glaring at the wriggling noodle that he has now trapped in his hold. An older woman gives a very strongly disapproving look from four seats down before returning to her killer sudoku. “I have not known peace since he has entered the house.”

You wince, feeling a little sympathetic. “Damn. How long has your brother had him?”

You expect it to be an awful long time, based on how burdened this man seems to be by the mere existence of this ferret. His answer makes you physically bite down your reaction, your entire body tensing from the effort.

“Uh, a month or two.”

Yikes. You’re scared to think of what the rodent might do once he’s actually settled in.

Silence settles between the two of you once more, broken the chime of the conductor’s voice echoing over the speakers as you come one stop closer to the city. A few people disembark, including the lady that gave the stink eye earlier. She does it again as she steps off, and cherry guy shrinks into his seat. The doors close, and once more silence falls, though more comfortable than the first time.

A while later, the man shifts, a complete contradiction to the tornado of movement that the creature in his hand is doing. The noises escaping the little thing are hard to ignore, and even harder to keep a straight face at.

“What, uh… what were you crying about?”

You blink at him as your gaze returns from the window. You’d actually forgotten you were crying earlier, which is pretty funny considering at the time you were acting like the world was about to end for a solid fifteen minutes at least.

“Oh,” you say. It’s your turn to flush a bit in embarrassment. “Uni assignment, due today. There was a spillage and, um, that doesn’t tend to bode well for artwork on paper.”

Cherry guy winces. “My condolences.”

You nod, allowing a moment of silence for the work of art your assignment could have been, before speaking again. “Thanks… and, well, that’s one good deed your little hellspawn has done. Seeing him wriggling around under there like he was about to burst from your chest definitely distracted me from my existential crisis.”

Cherry guy hums, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. “Okay. I guess I’ll put in a good word for him when we get home.”

You smile, whatever you were about to say next interrupted by the chime of the conductor announcing your next stop to be the destination you need to get to campus. Out of habit, you gather your things and stand, before pausing and turning your gaze to the pink-haired man still seated and wrangling a chaos being with the viscosity of YouTube slime. After having another look at him, it’s clear he’s a fellow university student. You’re guessing he was on his way to his classes when he discovered the stowaway in his bag. No doubt he now has to head back home and drop the ferret off before doubling back for his own classes.

You have a lecture at 8.30AM, but to be honest… you don’t want to spend the rest of the day miserable and mourning your assignment from the get-go. Talking with this random guy about his ratchet ferret has completely cancelled out your earlier feelings of angst, and it’s… nice. You kind of want to return the favour and help distract him from his misery.

The doors begin to shut, and the pink-haired man looks up in alarm as he notices you’re still here. “Wait, won’t you–“

“Yeah,” you say, swivelling on the spot and plopping down right next to him. You turn your head with a smile. “But that’s okay. Gotta look after my mental health and all, you know?”

He blinks at you for a second, before a warm smile breaks onto his face. He’s handsome, you notice from this close up. Almost painfully so.

“Yuji,” he says, by way of introduction. You return with your own name, and he beams wider. “Wanna hear about the time Mahito got into a fight with my brother’s other ferret Jogo?”

“Absolutely.”

#jjk x reader #yuji itadori #yuji itadori x reader #yuji x reader #itadori x reader #requests are open!#feel free to request something silly like this or something else #I wanna let myself love writing again #jujutsu kaisen x reader #yuji itadori x you #itadori x you #sfw

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marthawrites · 1 month

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A Tale of Two Moons

Rhaenyra Targaryen x fem reader

Word count: 900+

About: At the end of a long day Rhaenyra shares a tale with you, and then offers to share more.

Includes: Soft wlw fluff 🩷

Note: Hello lovely reader! This fic was inspired by @hotd-bigbang! The myth in it was inspired by a bit from Game of Thrones. I wrote this with young Rhaenyra in mind but you can read it with whichever Nyra your heart desires. As always, reader is non-descript. Please, enjoy!

Soft crackles popped from a newly lit fire inside Rhaenerya’s hearth. Various candles burned around her bedchamber, too, creating an atmosphere of quiet serenity. You sat upon a stool by a freshly prepared bath and sprinkled various oils into the still steaming water: lavender, chamomile, bergamot. The princess took her baths near scalding, and the water’s heat bloomed all those fragrances three fold.

Twiddling your thumbs, there was little to do now aside from waiting. If she didn’t arrive soon she’d likely walk in on you sleeping on the job! Something you’d never done before.

Each night Rhaenyra saw to her evening meal–as well as any remaining duties–before retiring. Tonight, however, she seemed to be running later than you ever remembered. A slow worm of anxiety creeped its way into your gut. Could something be the matter? Should you alert Queen Alicent? Or, better yet, her father, King Viserys? You were the princess’ favorite maid servant and your word would surely strike a chord of panic.

Standing, you walked over to the large window in her bedchamber and pulled its drapery open. You opened the window next, spring's breeze blowing in, fresh, and admired the view. It was enchanting. Truly. The moon was full and high in a clear sky, and the smooth inky blackness of Blackwater Bay may as well have been a mirror–stars twinkled on its surface.

If you had it your way–and Rhaenyra had it her way–you'd spend many more nights with her than the scarce few you shared since your employment. She was good at keeping secrets. You were too; something you quickly learned was a not-so-subtle requirement for the job.

You must have been lost in your thoughts because before you knew it the door creaked open and Rhaenyra entered with a heavy sigh. “Oh! I’m sorry. I should have sent someone up to warn you of my tardiness tonight.”

Turning, you did your best to look unworried. “You owe me no apologies, princess. I've your bath ready. And more water on the fire if it starts to cool,” you said, gesturing to the hearth.

“You know you don't have to be so formal when it's just us,” she replied with a playful roll of eyes, taking her gloves off and tossing them on a table.

With a coy smile you offered a half curtsy. “Old habits are hard to break,” you giggled. “I was beginning to worry about you though! Are things… well?”

“Somewhat. Apparently Syrax would not eat for the dragonkeepers and I was summoned to the dragonpit to feed her a sheep. She gets annoyed when I don't ride her. It’s only been a few days since my last ride!” She groaned, sitting down to begin removing her boots.

“Perhaps tomorrow?” You suggested, looking over your shoulder at her with a thoughtful brow; moon calling to you all the while.

“If I have it my way, yes.”

A quiet moment passed as you continued to peer outside and she continued to remove layers of clothing. Before too long she wore only her linen shift. Coming up behind you she rested her chin on your shoulder and looked out to where you were. “See anything exciting tonight?”

Smiling, you turned your head until the tips of your noses brushed together. “Only the moon and stars. Aren’t they beautiful tonight?”

Rhaenerya hummed appreciatively behind you. Both her arms wrapped around your waist, then, swaying gently as she asked, “have I ever told you the tale of two moons?”

Anticipation and warmth settled in your belly with the princess’ affection. Your fingers idly traced over the tops of her hands and forearms, enjoying her embrace. Whispering, you answered, “no, I don’t believe you have.” You leaned back against her, allowing your gaze to slowly pan between her lovely purple eyes and the night sky. The moon’s reflection on her creamy skin and silver hair made her glow.

“Long long ago, before there were dragons, our world had two moons. Together, with the sun, they all danced and played in the sky. Man watched this in awe from the ground. Then, one night, one of the moons danced too closely to the sun. But, it wasn’t merely a moon. It was a dragon egg. It hatched and out came hundreds of dragons. They drank fire from the sun like a newborn babe would drink from its mother. After their fill they came here to live, and with them they brought magic and dragonfire. Brave men–and women–eventually came to bond with these dragons and harnessed their magic in their blood. If the world should ever run out of dragons, perhaps our moon here, now, will dance too close to the sun, too.”

You listened in awe, picturing everything in your mind’s eye. “And you believe this, princess?” You asked with equal wonder and suspicion.

Rhaenerya smiled against your neck, kissing the soft spot beneath your ear. “A part of me does.”

A pleased hum slipped from your lips. “I’d miss the moon terribly if that ever did happen.”

Finally letting you go, she laughed sympathetically. “You stink, sweetling. Like fireplaces, sweat, and… something I can’t quite put my finger on?”

“Hey!” You exclaimed. “Well, you smell like dragons and sheep!”

She giggled again, softer. “Been a long day for you too, huh?”

You sighed with a nod.

“Come join me in the bath?” She asked with a tilt of her head and pull of your hand, pretty lips smirking.

Blushing with excitement, you answered, “I would love to, Nyra.”

Thank you so much for reading! If you enjoyed, please consider a follow, and/or reblog, and/or letting me know as it all makes me vvvery happy! ♥

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Masterlist

Main taglist: @watercolorskyy @melsunshine @girlwith-thepearlearring @arcielee @barbiedragon @targaryen-dynasty @succnfuccubus @fan-goddess @schniiipsel

#house of the dragon #hotd spring prompts 24 #rhaenyra targaryen #rhaenyra x reader #rhaenyra fluff #rhaenyra fic

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maybege · 1 year

Note

217 with paz pls🥺

Home Is Where The Heart Is

Summary: You visit Paz at one of his conference after not having seen him for a long time.

Pairing: sugar daddy!Paz Vizsla x fem!Reader

Wordcount: 9.1k | Rating: E (18+ only!)

Warnings: explicit sexual content, dom!Paz, sub!Reader, a whole lot of size kink, hints of exhibitionism, unprotected sex, idiots in love, kind of a fake relationship agreement not really a sugar daddy arrangement, lots of checking in and pausing due to size difference (Paz’s BDE is real), crying during sex (from pleasure not pain, Paz makes sure of that), just pure fluff and happiness but also they are idiots in love so remember that

Prompts: #3 “I'd hold onto something if I were you.” + #32 “I just wanna fuck you right against the glass so everyone can see how good you take it.” + #217 “Can you help me with this zipper?” + “There we go.”

Thank you, anon and @adancedivasmom for sending in these prompts! I know it has been a very long time in the making but inspiration strikes when it strikes and I wrote over half of it in the last 48 hours. It drifts from fluff to pure filth back to utter fluff and I just love how idiots in love I can put in with these two. They have the most unconventional relationship (again, a reminder that this is not an actual sugar daddy dynamic, it is just a kind of very unusual meet cute) so of course they will also have an unusual way of perceiving and revealing their feelings for each other. You can find the Masterpost to this AU here (including some hcs). I really had a lot of fun writing this and I hope you have a lot of fun reading it as well. Pretty please let me know what you think in a comment or a reblog, they really do mean the world to me and motivate me so much when it comes to writing and sharing my little brain babies. ❤️

masterlist | crossposted on AO3

gif by @bernthality

“How is my favourite cat?”

“She is busy knocking over the flowers you sent over.”

Crash!

You sighed.

“Maybe we should really invest in these break-safe vases your sister recommended,” you murmured, trying to sit up so you could peek over the edge of the sofa. Safe enough, Snowball was sitting on the sideboard in the entryway, peering down at the shards as if it was as much a mystery to her as it was to you.

“That doesn’t sound like such a bad idea,” Paz chuckled, rubbing his chin, “I will text her tomorrow.”

The sound of his laugh seemed to get Snowball out of her thoughts and she bounded for the sofa you were currently laying on. With a loud meow, she jumped onto the armrest, laying low so she could butt her little face next to yours, in plain view of the camera.

“Look who has come to say hello,” you smiled, tilting the phone so he could see her more clearly. Your other hand reached up to scratch her little chin.

“New York’s most important cat,” he agreed and you hoped the phone would pick up the purr she let out as she leant into you.

“She misses you,” you murmured, “She hardly stopped staring at the door yesterday.”

As soon as the words left your mouth you wanted to take them back. You had sworn to yourself, in the early days of your fake relationship or whatever it could be called, that if there was one thing you would do it was to lift Paz up. And if that required you to hide how much you missed him (ridiculous amounts, really) then so be it.

“I miss her too,” he sighed, “And you.”

“How is the trip so far?” you asked, trying to sound more chipper, “Are the investors as happy as you’d hoped?”

“They are as boring as I expected them to be,” he shrugged before a slight smile formed on his lips, “But I cannot wait for the shareholder’s dinner on Saturday. Are you still planning to come?”

“Of course, I am,” you said indignantly, sitting up at the, “We haven’t seen each other in three weeks!”

Paz laughed, “I am sorry, sweetheart, I didn’t mean any offence,” his face softened, “Briggs will pick you up on Friday for the flight so you have time to relax. There shouldn’t be a lot of appointments I made sure –“

“Mr Vizsla? There is – oh.”

You could see one of his assistants in the background, clearly only now releasing that he was in a private conversation. There was a quick flash of displeasure on Paz’s face that disappeared as soon as you noticed it and you were sure that it was only because you knew him so well by now that you had recognized it.

“It’s all right,” you soothed him, already seeing the apology on his face. He had once said he hated goodbyes, especially because they were never his choice, and you could see it now, too, the way he seemed to be searching for the right words to appease you.

“I will see you in a few days,” you smiled, “I can’t wait.”

“Me neither, sweetheart,” he sighed, “Give Snowball some kisses from me, yeah?”

You spent the week feverishly preparing for your trip. It was funny to think that the part of your relationship that you found the most luxurious was the one that was actually at the core of your arrangement. Paz was lonely and on many occasions, his advisors advised, would work in his favour if he had a female companion to fulfil the picture of the man who had his life together. So somehow your accidental match on a drunken night had led to you being his travel companion. And the platonic companionship had quickly developed into something … not quite platonic.

To think that a stupid drunken idea by your friend had led you to sit on your bed, surrounded by the prettiest dresses you had ever seen and contemplating which one to take.

The doorbell rang you out of your thoughts and you laughed when Snowball skittered over the wooden floorboards to greet her second favourite man in the world.

“Briggs, you are early,” you greeted the older man with a smile and no venom in your voice. If there was one person on Paz’s team that made you feel welcome, it was him. Paz’s most trusted advisor and, quite tellingly, also yours.

“Good morning, Miss,” he nodded at you, straightening his tie before bending down to pet a purring Snowball, “Good morning, Miss Snowball.”

“You know you can call me by my name,” you reminded him as you made your way back to your bedroom and your half-packed bag.

“Old habits die hard, Miss,” the older man called from the living room, “Are you quite ready? I have arranged a car to take us to the airport, it should be here in five minutes.”

You rushed into the bathroom and picked up your already prepped toiletries bag and stuffed it into your suitcase. It might just be a weekend trip but if there was one thing you had learned when travelling with Paz Vizsla for business it was that it was always safe to pack two fancy outfits for every occasion – just in case.

“Five minutes should be enough,” you answered, “I got most of the packing done yesterday, I just need your help with something.”

When you popped your head through the door, you spotted Snowball rubbing herself against Briggs’s legs as the man primly sat in an armchair. He turned to look at you and the two dresses you were holding up. “Which one do you think –“

“The dark blue one,” the man decided with a nod, already knowing what you were going to ask, “Mr Vizsla has his dark blue tie with him, that should harmonize nicely.”

“Thanks,” you sighed a breath of relief, carefully folding the dress on the very top before closing the bag, “I can always count on you to make the best choices.”

“And to be on time,” the man added, standing up and running his hands over his jacket, “Which means that we should get going if do not want to miss our plane.”

The conference meeting Paz was attending took place on the coast, in one of those fancy beach hotels that looked like it was a luxury that had survived from the last century. It was stunningly beautiful and you found yourself admiring the golden accents and hand-painted wallpapers before you could even start to really appreciate the tastefully quiet piano player in the corner.

“Welcome, are you checking in?” the receptionist greeted you as another employee loaded your suitcase on a golden luggage trolley.

“Uh yes, I am here to join Mr Vizsla,” you answered, always feeling a little nervous when you had to make your connection to him known.

Recognition dawned on her face. “Ah yes,” she typed something into the computer before handing you a key card, “Mr Vizsla told us to be expecting you. Here’s your key card, you’ll need it for the elevators and all the amenities which you will find on the second floor. Just around the corner here,” she leant towards you and pointed towards a little nook, “take the elevator up to the eighteenth floor and you will find your room on the right side of the hall. Do you need anything else?”

You nodded, taking the card in hand. “That would be all for now, thank you.”

“Should I have your bags brought up?”

“That would be kind, thank you,” you smiled at the young man who hurried your bag away.

Briggs, who waited behind you for his turn to check in, cleared his throat. “Mr Vizsla is still in some talks, I’m afraid but if you like I could organize a dinner reservation for you.”

Shame filled you when you remembered what time it was. You hadn’t even thought about food. “I think, I will be fine, Briggs, thanks, I will just get some room service.”

The older man nodded, “Then a very good night, Miss. I shall see you tomorrow.”

“Good night, Briggs.”

The suite Paz stayed in was, not to anyone’s surprise, absolutely gorgeous. The bedroom was large and the bed the largest you had ever seen. You smiled when you saw one side completely untouched – your side – and his clothes neatly folded on one of the armchairs. The wall opposite the bed was dominated by a flat-screen TV and the little desk by the window could barely be seen through piles and piles of paperwork.

After tipping the bellboy, you immediately took off your shoes and buried your toes in the soft cream carpet. You always dressed for comfort when it came to travelling but there was still nothing better than unpacking your suitcase and putting on your pyjamas for a comfortable night in.

You had just checked your cameras at home (Mrs Marigold had been so kind to volunteer and check in on Snowball every day) and made sure that Snowball was comfortable and taken care of when your phone vibrated with a new message.

Paz: Talks take even longer than expected. Don’t wait for me.

Then, just a moment later, another message popped up.

Paz: I am glad you are here.

You: Should I order some food for you? Gonna get some room service.

Paz: Got dinner here but I can recommend the tacos on there, had them yesterday and they were delicious.

You smiled at the screen, sending him a quick heart emoji. Already feeling closer to the. And so, you ordered yourself the tacos, watched reruns of The Nanny and lounged on the bed, already knowing that tomorrow you would wake up with Paz beside you.

You flinched up, eyes wide open as something woke you. You just didn’t know what. It took you a moment to realize you were in a hotel room and not at home. Someone was beside you and your heart stopped in fright for a second before it resumed beating in your chest.

It was Paz.

“I’m sorry,” the man whispered in the dark, scooting behind you, “I missed you.”

You smiled, relishing in the heat of his body against yours. He was shirtless and his mouth on your shoulders made you giggle. But your smile faded when he shifted away from you and the bed lifted with someone taking their weight off it.

“What are you doing?” you mumbled, reaching your arm behind you only to find cold sheets.

“I need to shower,” he grumbled, “I stink.”

“Don’t go,” you pleaded, “We can shower tomorrow.”

You could hear the grin in his voice, “We?”

The blanket was lifted again and he was back behind you, so close not even a sheet of paper would have found space between your bodies. In the back of your mind, you wished you weren’t as tired, that you could appreciate his presence more. But then his arm wrapped around your middle and his breath fanned over your neck and you felt the happiest in weeks.

“Yes,” you murmured, closing your eyes again and allowing your body to drift back to sleep, “We.”

It was barely light out when you woke again.

“Paz?” you asked, sleepily, reaching for him only to find the space beside you empty. Again. You sat up, afraid that perhaps all of it had been a dream. What if Paz hadn’t come last night? What if something had happened?

Blinking, you finally found your focus and heard the water shut off in the bathroom. Moments later, Paz came in, a towel wrapped around his hips and you bit your lip. In the curtain-clad twilight of the room, it seemed he had not noticed yet that you were awake, sneaking his way to the wardrobe and taking out a new dress shirt.

You let your eyes roam over the broad expanse of his back, how the muscles bunched and flexed as he moved through the room. There was that spot just under his shoulder blade that you loved to run your hands over and if he just turned around – ah yes, there was that tattoo that you traced with your fingers.

“I thought we would shower together?”

Paz looked up, his dark eyes meeting yours and even in the dim light, you could see the smile on his face. He let the shirt fall and with two big steps, he was at the end of the bed, crawling towards you as you let the blanket fall from your chest and wrapped your arms around his neck. He breathed in deeply, his nose running over your jaw. And then his lips were on yours and you got to kiss him for the first time in weeks.

You hummed, smiling against him as your fingers played with the soft hairs at the nape of his neck, still a little damp from his shower. His mouth was gentle on yours and the stubble on his chin let you know he hadn’t shaved today.

“I missed you, sweetheart,” Paz whispered between kisses, his mouth wandering to your jaw. You closed your eyes, your arms loosening around him as you tilted your head to the side to give him more access. “Did you miss me too?”

“Uh huh,” you brought out, his large hands cupping your face, his entire hand spanning your jaw to behind your ear, “Missed you so much.”

“Can’t wait for the dinner tonight,” he said, turning your head so he could kiss you on the mouth again, his tongue slipping between your lips. You shuddered, your fingers combing through the soft hairs at the nape of his neck. You loved seeing him in his professional get-ups with his hair slicked back and his sharp-cut suits. But there was something to say about how different he looked when he was just freshly showered. He looked much lighter, brighter and overall softer. Like a truer version of himself that you knew he hid when he attended meetings like these.

“Briggs helped me choose the dress,” you murmured, leaning more and more into him, “You will love it.”

“I’ll be sure to thank him,” he whispered back, pulling you against him and leaning back until you straddled him, “I have a meeting this morning as well. I am afraid I won’t have more time for you until tonight.”

“When will you need me?” you asked, taking in how soft he looked. There was no frown between his eyebrows, and he looked so … peaceful and relaxed.

He was silent for a moment, his eyes fluttering as you traced your finger over his jaw. “I always need you,” he whispered and closed his eyes, turning his face to the side and pressing a kiss to your palm, “I swear I don’t know how I ever got through these things without you.”

“I am sure you did fabulously,” you assured him with a smile, kissing the corner of his mouth, “And it will all be over tonight.”

“It will all be over tonight,” he repeated in a murmur, “And then I can show you how much I missed you.”

Hours later, the ringing phone woke you from your dreams.

“Hello?” you asked groggily into the speaker, feeling even more tired than when Paz had left you this morning to attend the very last meetings.

“Good morning, Miss, this is the reception calling,” a woman chirped from the other end, “Mr Vizsla asked us to remind you of your spa appointment in an hour.”

You huffed with a smile. That was so typical of him.

“Thank you,” you murmured, “I really would’ve forgotten about it.”

“Would you like to order room service for breakfast?”

“Uh, yeah,” you asked, looking frantically around for the menu, “I, uh, I don’t know what I want yet …”

“May I suggest our breakfast special?” the woman on the line suggested candidly, “It has some fresh pressed orange juice, coffee, pastries and eggs however you want them.”

“That sounds good,” you nodded, “Could I have them scrambled please?”

“Of course, I will have it brought up shortly.”

When the afternoon was nearing its end, you felt more relaxed than ever in your life.

Paz had booked what felt like the entire spa menu for you and after all kinds of massages, treatments and relaxing sauna visits, you felt like you were living on a cloud. But truly the best thing about your spa visit was that it distracted you from the entire day you had without Paz. Because as soon as you opened the door, you were greeted with your very favourite sight.

Paz Vizsla was clad in only briefs as he unglamorously hopped into a new pair of slacks.

His face turned up and a blinding smile came onto his lips. A smile you could only reciprocate.

And before you knew it you hurried into his arms and he hold you against his chest, stumbling from how his feet were tangled into the piece of clothing but you couldn’t care less when he kissed you like a man starved.

“Remind me to never go this long without seeing you,” he grunted between kisses, “I always hate it.”

You couldn’t answer from how his tongue was playing with yours, your core clenching at how close he was. Stars, you wanted to do other things than preparing for dinner.

And it seemed that Paz wanted that too because his hands cupped your ass, pushing you against him and there was definitely a prominent bulge pressing against your hip.

“When’s the dinner start?” you asked breathlessly, running your hand over his warm chest before tracing your fingers over his lower stomach.

Paz’s hips surged forward, urging you to touch him and you could feel your cheeks and frankly your entire body heat up with want. “Too soon,” he answered, sitting down on the edge of the bed and pulling you between his legs. His hand shifted to your hips and he looked up at you.

The bathrobe you had worn to the spa gaped open at the neck and you watched him tug at the fuzzy belt with a smirk. The cool air caressed your bare skin and could feel your nipples harden under Paz’s admiring gaze.

You lifted your knee to the bed right next to his hip, hoping to look as enticing as possible. “Don’t you think we have enough time for a –“

“I am not going to have the first time I fuck you in weeks be a fucking quickie,” Paz complained, though his hands did pull you closer for a minute, “I want to take my time with you, make you feel good.”

“You always make me feel good.”

“I could make you feel better.”

“Paz,” you whined when he pushed your leg off him, making you stand again, “Please.”

But the large man was not to be swayed, even with his erection too prominent to ignore, “Not yet, sweetheart, just let us get through this dinner first.”

“And what about you?”

“What about me?”

You pointedly looked at his crotch.

“Don’t you worry,” he grinned, “I am going to take care of that and then I am going to take care of that tuxedo Briggs got me to bring.”

“You’re insufferable.”

“But you love me for it.”

And the sad truth was: You did.

“Can you help me with this zipper?” you asked, turning your back to a just-emerging-from-the-shower Paz, “I can’t reach it.”

Paz did not let you wait, immediately stepping behind you, the heat of his body radiating onto your back. “You look so beautiful,” he said, his fingertips grazing your bare skin before getting a hold of the zip. It was a dark blue silk dress, one that accentuated and hugged your curves and made you feel irresistible with the deep back and swooping neckline.

“We’re in partner look,” you joked, glancing at the dark blue tie he was wearing, “You look very handsome, Mr Vizsla.”

He grinned, turning you around, “And I am sure no one will notice when I am accompanied by a beautiful woman such as yourself.”

And you were proven right because the first words you heard when you entered the hotel’s restaurant that had been booked for the occasion were: “Mr Vizsla, what a beautiful companion you have brought with you this fine evening.”

“Mr Organa,” Paz greeted the man in front of you, “A pleasure to meet you again.”

He introduced you to him and you shook the man’s hand, reciprocating his friendly smile. “I do hope we get to talk again, Mr Vizsla,” the man said when the bell rang, “But now I think it is time to eat.”

Spending the evening with him once more reminded you of how much you loved him – even when you tried your hardest not to. Paz made sure to scoot as close to you as possible, his chair touching yours and it did not take long for his arm to settle comfortably on the back of your chair.

He laughed with his business partners, talking numbers and making jokes and it took everything in you not to spend the entire time just staring at him like a love-struck teenager. Mrs Organa, who was fortunately sat next to you, involved you in a conversation about the most recent restoration projects of a Mr Boba Fett and so you spent the evening with Paz’s fingers brushing your shoulder and the occasional kiss on the cheek and talking to an incredibly interesting woman.

And still, all you wanted was for Paz and you to be alone.

“When do you think it would be not too early to go?” you asked him teasingly as the dessert was served. It was a delicate chocolate-y creation, served on a giant plate with what looked to be mango sorbet beside it.

His arm left your shoulders but his hand immediately landed on your knee, fingers drifting even higher. Paz chuckled, “I’d suggest now but the way you’re eyeing that chocolate soufflé has me thinking otherwise.”

You glared at him for his joke but the man just grinned, his dark eyes twinkling with joy as he took a bite of his own portion. The conversations around you continued and you watched as almost everyone went out to the dancefloor and the lights dimmed on the dining tables.

But all you could do was admire Paz out of the corner of your eyes. He was relaxed, leaning back in his chair as he observed everyone and even when he was lacking any tension in his shoulders or on his face, he looked so much in control of everything.

Stars, he was handsome.

His hand crept up on your thigh and you shifted, feeling the heat rise into your cheeks as he planted a kiss on your bare shoulder. “What are you thinking about, love?”

You loved when he called you that.

“You,” you replied, tilting your head to the side and smiling when his hand came up to turn your face towards him, pulling you in for a kiss.

“What are you wasting your precious thoughts on little old me?” he teased you, his big hand cupping the side of your neck.

“Old? Maybe,” you grinned, “But little? I don’t think so.”

He growled playfully, surging forward to kiss you again. Hard. His teeth grazed your bottom lip and you opened up for him, letting him control the kiss. When his free hand slipped down your side, his fingers passing your chest dangerously close, you squeezed your thighs.

“Paz,” you whimpered against his neck, gasping for breath, “I haven’t felt you in weeks.”

He growled, his hand landing dangerously high on your lap before discreetly squeezing the soft flesh of your thigh, his fingers so close to your core you were surprised the fabric of your dress did not come back with a wet spot. “Believe me,” he said, “I am more than aware of how long it’s been.”

Eternally grateful that the other guests had left your table to join the dancefloor, you opened up your legs the tiniest bit for him, needing his fingers just that much closer. Way closer than they were now. The grin on Paz’s face made your heart (and pussy) pulse and you swallowed thickly.

“I just missed you so much,” you said quietly, trying to bite your lip seductively.

“Did you now?” he leant forward, his nose brushing against yours. His fingers flexed, brushing higher on the inside of your thighs.

“Uh huh,” you nodded eagerly, cupping his cheek to hold him closer. The stubble was rough under your fingertips and you remembered that time he ate you out in his city car in bright daylight. Stars, the things this man did to you ….

Paz chuckled darkly and kissed you again, soft and gentle while his fingers brushed over the thin fabric of your panties. His teeth tugged on your bottom lip just as your hips bucked against his hand and all shame left you.

If he wanted to fuck you out in the open you might just allow it if it meant you could finally feel him again.

But suddenly Paz was standing up and you were standing up and he was holding your hand, thick digits wrapping around your wrist as he dragged you towards the exit. You stumbled after him, a little confused but more excited than anything.

“We’re leaving now,” he grumbled, pushing the elevator button, “Waited weeks to see you again, I am not waiting any longer.”

The doors opened and Paz let you in first. You watched as he pressed the button at the very top and then turned to you. The look on his face made your breath catch in your throat. He had his hands in his pockets and the dark suit looked so good on him and then he had that slow smile on his lips as he approached you.

Your back bumped against the wall of the small room and your hands behind your back grabbed onto the waist-high bar they had installed on each wall.

“That’s right,” he murmured, his big hands caging you in, “I'd hold onto something if I were you.”

“Paz,” you said, your voice barely a whisper between the two of you.

“What?” he mocked you, his nose dragging along your shoulder, “All speechless now that you finally have my attention?”

You did not reply, probably proving his exact point but stars you were so turned on you just did not know what to say. Especially not when his large hand drifted along your thigh before grabbing your knee and lifting it up to his hip. He slotted his body against yours and his bulge pressed against your core. XXXX

“Don’t worry, I won’t take you like this,” he assured you, slowly grinding against you, “Can you tell me why?”

You whimpered, trying to move against him to get that pressure on your clit that you so badly wanted but his hips had you pinned in place.

“Tell me why first,” he instructed, “Then I’ll let you move.”

“Because-cause it’s too big,” your cheeks felt flush with warmth, “You don’t fuck me without preparation because you – you don’t want to hurt me.”

“Good girl,” he grinned, showing his teeth before using those same teeth to drag down the strap of your dress. Your head fell back and you regretted wearing a bra that night because it meant your nipples were rubbing against the lace instead of the cold fabric of Paz’s dress shirt.

The elevator pinged and you froze, your eyes immediately flitting to the little number over the door. This was not your floor.

Paz had a steel grip on your knee, preventing you from taking it from his hip. You could hear the door slowly opening and your heart raced for reasons other than the sheer excitement that Paz caused in you.

You watched as the dark-haired man slowly turned around, uncaring about the mess of his hair or your half-naked form in his arms.

“Take the next one,” he said and pressed the button for the doors to close. Then he leant back to you, one hand cupping the side of your neck, his thumb brushing over your jaw, while the other wandered from your knee to your hip, gripping at the naked skin.

You did not even catch a glimpse at the people he had spoken to. Paz’s body was completely shielding you from their view and somehow that did not help the wetness between your thighs.

“I swear sometimes all I could think about was what it would be like to fuck you again,” he whispered in your ear before pressing a kiss just underneath your earlobe, “

The way from the elevator to your room was a blur of wet kisses, wandering hands and hot skin. Somehow, Paz managed to find the key card in his jacket and you both fell into the room more than you walked, refusing to let go of each other.

Paz walked you back to the bed, one hand reaching for the lube on the nightstand while the other opened his belt. Your breathing felt heavy and you were sure your panties must have been completely drenched at this point. Your hands found the hem of your dress and you pulled it up to your hips, not having the patience to get completely undressed.

Stars knew you had the time tonight. You could take it off later.

Paz pulled out his cock and you watched mesmerized as he put a generous drop of lube in his palm before wrapping his hand around his shaft. The cocky smile on his face told you that he had caught you watching but you were. At this point, your relationship with Paz was nothing new – especially not your physical one – but his size always left you feeling nervous.

He was not only long but also thick and while you knew.

“Could stare at your pussy all day long,” he murmured, his fingers tightening around his shaft before rubbing his fingers carefully over your folds. You squirmed, the lube making you feel. One finger entered you and shortly after another one.

Paz pumped his fingers inside you slowly, his eyes mustering your face for any sign of pain but all you did was whine, trying to push your hips against his. Your walls clamped around him and when his thumb rubbed over your clit ever so slightly, you swore you already saw stars.

“Feels like you are ready,” he determined, the pace of his fingers picking up before slowing down again. Until they barely moved.

“Oh, stars why’d you stop?” you threw your head back, arching your back so you could take them deeper, “Don’t stop, Paz.”

A third finger appeared at your entrance and Paz pressed a kiss to your hip. “It never gets old,” he murmured against your skin, “Watching you take my fingers.”

“Would be much rather taking your cock right now,” you replied breathlessly, moaning when he pushed his fingers a little deeper.

Paz did not answer in the form of words but he pulled his fingers out and stood up. Having him look down on you gave way to another rush of wetness from your core. He looked so dishevelled and sexy, half-dressed with his cock hard as a rock.

“Spread ‘em for me,” he growled, taking his cock in his hand while the other pushed on your inner thigh. He stepped closer between your legs, his hand warm on your thigh.

“Good girl.”

Your walls clenched around nothing at his praise.

The feeling of his cock against your pussy brought back that little nervous voice in the back of your head. What if he would not fit?

But Paz knew how to calm you down. The heat of his body against yours paired with his forearm resting next to your face and his fingers tracing your hairline as he looked at you was the perfect combination for you to focus just on him. On the feeling of his skin against yours, the sound of his heavy breathing in your ear, the scent of his cologne in your nose.

When the tip of him pushed inside you, you gasped. He was bigger than you remembered and you were thankful for the amount of lube and your wetness that eased his movements.

Your breathing got faster and you could feel your walls stretch to accommodate his size. Paz’s fingers and you. His brows were furrowed and though his eyes were half-lidded with pleasure, they always met yours and you knew, you just knew, he was trying to see if he hurt you.

It felt like he was pushing all the air out of your lungs and you found yourself holding your breath, feeling his small thrusts stretch your walls more and more. Your belly fluttered and you felt so close to him that it made your heart sing.

“How – how much more?” you asked in a gasp, pushing your chest against his shirt to get some sensation on your nipples.

The large man looked down between you, his hand absentmindedly coming up to pinch your nipple, making you squeeze around him.

He chuckled, his nose brushing against yours when he looked up again, “It’s barely in, love.”

Your smile fell and panic took over for a solid second. You could see the moment Paz took in your change of heart because his smile faded as well and his hand came up to cup your jaw. “What is it, love? Are you all right?”

“What – What if it is too big, Paz?” you asked shyly.

Paz frowned, though you did not get the feeling that it was because he was displeased with you, and slowly pulled out. “Then I will make it fit,” he said, “Or I will make you come on my tongue. Whatever you want, my love.”

You whined, immediately missing the feeling of him inside you. He peppered kisses along your neck, his hands under your dress, gripping your ass as he pulled you closer to the edge of the bed. His eyes focused on your core and the sparkle you saw in there made your heart flutter and your pussy clench.

Pulling your knees to your chest, you tried to give him more space. “I want you to make it fit,” you decided, feeling a little embarrassed at sounding so needy, “Please.”

Paz hummed, “Always so polite.” His shoulders pushed against the back of your knees as he looked at you. His eyes were so intense and, at that moment, you were convinced he knew exactly what you were thinking.

“Deep breaths,” he reminded you, his thumb circling your clit as he rubbed his cock all over your folds, “I know you can take it. You know you can take it.”

You nodded, more to assure yourself than him. Because he was right. You had taken him countless times before and you could take him now. And if you couldn’t then it would not be the end of the world.

Noticing you relaxing back into the sheets, Paz rested more of his weight on you. “Do you remember our safe word?”

You nodded quickly, wrapping your arms around his neck and pulling him closer.

“I do,” you confirmed, “You won’t hurt me, Paz.”

“I know how stubborn you can be,” he reminded you gently before pressing a quick kiss to your lips, “I want you crying because I gave you too many orgasms, not because I am hurting you.”

You smiled at his comment but that smile quickly turned into a silent Oh when he circled your clit with his cock. Then he tapped his shaft against your pussy again and again and again. He felt hot and heavy and the wet sounds only spurred on the fire inside you. Stars, you wanted this man so bad.

The change in position helped a lot because this time he got the tip inside you like it was nothing.

“You are doing so good for me,” he murmured, his hips moving against yours in slow and small thrusts while his finger kept playing with your clit, “You are such a good girl for me, love, you deserve the world.”

There was nothing you could answer. Your throat was full of words but all you got out were breathless gasping sounds as you felt him get deeper and deeper. In your search to hold on to something, anything, you found his hand. You gripped his fingers so tightly, you were afraid to hurt him but Paz only squeezed back, his dark eyes searching yours and probably finding nothing but utter devotion in them.

Just like his.

His lips landed on yours so gently, it distracted you from everything. There was nothing but you and him and the way you felt so connected.

“Feel that?” he asked you quietly, his breath mingling with yours. You blinked, not really knowing what he meant. Paz smiled, his eyes softened when he laid his hand on your lower abdomen. “You took it all, sweetheart, you took all of me.”

“Oh,” you murmured, a little astonished, “Really?”

He laughed, “Really, love. How are you feeling?”

You thought for a moment, trying to take in all that you were feeling. “Full,” you answered truthfully, “But good.”

“Good, huh?” Paz started to move again, slow at first, making sure there was enough wetness and not a single trace of pain on your face, “It feels good to have me fill you up like this, huh?”

You nodded, too shy to repeat his words. Something was just how filthy he could get. And how he loved to fluster you with his said filthy words.

“Fucking dreamt of your pussy gripping me,” he grunted in your ear, his pace picking up, “Next time I am taking you with me. There is no way I am going to fly anywhere again without you sitting in my lap and taking my cock like a champ.”

“What – what about your advisors?” you asked, your body moving up the bed with the force of his thrusts.

“They can watch for all I care,” he murmured, “I already know the only one who can make this pussy stretch is me. I am the only one that can make you feel like this, aren’t I? The only one who can make you come and still beg for more.”

You nodded helplessly, feeling like you were about to burst at the seams. And then Paz changed the angle of his thrusts ever so slightly and you were done for.

“P-Paz, fuck, I’m –“ you gripped his shoulders, the tingling in your belly getting stronger and stronger, “Paz, I think I’m coming.”

Normally, that would only get him to move quicker, to have his fingers work on your clit in a way that was sure to get you over the edge before he came inside you. So, what you expected from your breathless announcement were Paz’s encouraging words while he slightly pinched your clit and bit your lip. What you didn’t expect him to do was simply stop his thrusts with an uttering of “Not yet you aren’t.”

Completely dazed, you looked at him as he pulled out. “Stand up,” he instructed. His voice was stern but not unkind and you blinked, watching him take off his tie and quickly unbutton his shirt. Your body ached with the lack of him and you weren’t sure if it was a tremble in your muscles that only you noticed but stars you felt like you were shaking.

Paz completely undressed and you tried your best to put your weight on your legs, your hands gripping the edge of the bed. But sitting up after having your thoughts fucked out of you by one Paz Vizsla seemed to be a bad idea because it just wasn’t working.

Paz seemed to notice your struggle, his hands pausing on his belt and he tilted his head, watching you fall back on the bed with a sigh.

“Do I need to call you Bambi?” he teased you, his hands coming up under your elbow and gently helping you up, “Or are you that fucked out already?”

You looked up at him with wide eyes, trying to think of a good reply. Only you could not come up with one because, stars, did he look good and, stars, did it feel good to be fucked by him. And it felt good to be with him and to touch him and to be touched by him and –

He stepped closer until his chest was pressed against yours, not saying anything. Your hand gripped his forearm and you waited with bated breath as he leant slightly over you. His fingers brushed over the nape of your neck, down your back until he found the zipper of your dress and slowly pulled it down, his hand tracing over your spine in the process.

When he reached the end, you shimmied your hips, the dress pooling at your feet. His eyes roamed over your figure, noticeably stopping at the way your panties were still pushed to the side.

“Beautiful,” he said, more to himself than to you but it warmed your heart nonetheless. Wordlessly, he helped you out of your underwear as well, his hands caressing your skin every chance he got. You had never felt so desired in your life.

His hand closed around your elbow and he started moving across the room.

“What are you doing?” you asked, following him away from the bed. You still felt uneasy on your legs but you knew you could trust Paz to hold you up and when he noticed your difficulty, he slowed down before stopping at the window front overlooking the city.

“I just wanna fuck you right against the glass so everyone can see how good you take it,” he explained as if it was no big deal.

You paused for a second and so did he, taking in your reaction.

“There is something about fucking you for everyone to see and knowing that no one gets to see you like this,” he elaborated, “Because I want you to look out at the world when you cream around my cock and recognize how fucking perfect you are.”

“Okay,” you nodded.

His smile lit up the entire room and he took your hands in his, positioning you exactly how he needed you. His calm but dominant demeanour made your pussy pulse again, reminded you how fucking confident he was when it came to your pleasure and how happy it made you to be able to fulfil some of his desires as well.

“There we go, put your hands right here and – beautiful,” he murmured, his hands intertwining with yours against the glass, “Now just spread your legs and there we go.”

The glass was cold under your palm and you could see the fog forming around your hand where the temperatures collided. Behind it, you could see the colourful lights of the city that a million people called their home. You were so high up there were barely any buildings that even reached your level but it did not help your nervousness to know that behind each little light there was at least one person.

There were hundreds of lights in your view.

You turned around, wanting to look at Paz for guidance. He slid his hands down your back before groping your ass, pulling your cheeks apart. He was unmistakably looking at your pussy and you shifted, feeling exposed under his gaze and in this position. Your movement made him look up, meeting your eyes.

“Don’t look at me,” he said, his hand gently pushing you to turn back, “Look outside.”

Easy to say when he wasn’t the one whose knees would get weak once he started to get going.

“The whole city is awake and yet no one can see us,” he whispered, pushing his cock slowly back inside you. You sighed, resting your cheek against the glass. The cold air and arousal had caused your nipples to harden and you were highly aware of how your tits swung with each movement.

“Stars, imagine all the places I could take you, all the places I could fuck you,” he mused, one hand coming up to cup your tit, his finger and thumb rolling your nipple. You moaned, tilting your head to the side. “I want to have you with me everywhere I go,” he continued, “I don’t want to wake up another day with the knowledge it’ll be weeks before I can see you again.”

“Paz –“

“There we go,” he hummed, pressing a kiss against your shoulder blade, “That turns you on, hm? Knowing there is nothing I wouldn’t do to feel your pussy come around me. I could get us the room with the best view in the whole city everywhere we go,” he pulled on your nipple and you cried out in a mix of pain and pleasure, “And then I would fuck you against that view and still the only thing I would want to look at is you.”

Your heart and your pussy clenched at sheer adoration in his words. “You are so fucking beautiful, love.”

“Paz, please, I –“

“What is it?” he asked you, his voice just on this side of mocking and why did that make him even hotter now, the way he made you feel a little too out of control, “What do you need, sweetheart?

“I need you to come in me.”

“You don’t get to decide that,” he reminded you, his hips not stopping their movement. Instead, his hands tightened on you just the tiniest bit and you whimpered, “You know I am the one who decides when I come in you. And it is only ever after I feel this,” he tapped his fingers on your clit, “tight pussy clamp around my cock.”

“I know, I know, but I,” you trailed off in a whine, pushing your hips back against his to try and work with his rhythm, “Please, Paz, I need it now.”

“Then beg me for it.”

You bit your lip, whimpering when he did not cease his ministrations on your clit. It pushed you even closer to the very edge and you could have cried from frustration. You just needed – You wanted – Why wouldn’t he just –

“That’s what I thought,” he mocked you, kissing your neck, “Don’t think I haven’t noticed how shy that little mouth of yours is. You can’t wait to have your pussy stuffed with my fat cock but my innocent little sweetheart cannot even say the word cock. Or come,” he groaned, grinding into you, his fingers tugging on your nipple again, “Or pussy.”

“So, if you want my come before I planned to give it to you,” he breathed against you, “You have to beg for it, love.”

His rough tone made your cheeks burn and your pussy clench. Of course, he had noticed, Paz Vizsla was a ridiculously attentive man and there was a reason he was as successful as he was. You just had not thought that it would turn against you at some point.

“I am waiting,” he teased you, his cock once again hitting that spot that literally made you see stars.

With your hands slipping on the now warm glass and your pussy getting wetter and wetter, you knew there was only so much you could do before you would come.

“Please, Paz,” you cried, “Please come inside me, I need you to come inside me. Please, I – “ you hiccupped, tears stinging your eyes, “I want to feel you come inside my pussy.”

“Fuck, you really are that needy,” he stated, “Who would’ve thought.”

“Please,” you whimpered again, a single tear making its way down your cheek, “Please, Paz, I will do anything you want.”

You could barely stand, trying to keep your hands on the window and your knees from buckling. But that only got harder with each thrust of him inside you. And he was getting closer too. You could feel it in the way his breath hitched, or how his mouth sought out your neck, something he liked to do before he filled you up.

“Hm,” Paz mused, one hand coming up to hold yours against the glass. His entire body pressed against yours, holding you up and making you feel. “Anything, you say? What an enticing offer that I will certainly get back to. But for now, I think you begged prettily enough.”

His words should not have relieved you as much as they did but they did. More tears streamed down your cheeks and you let your head fall, trying to focus on how good you felt, how your entire body tingled with him close and how he.

While one of Paz’s hands stayed on yours, the other arm reached around you and found your clit. “You ready to get filled up?” he asked you, playing with that bundle of nerves, “You want to feel my come inside that tight little pussy. Want me to make you that pretty little mess I know you like to be?”

You nodded eagerly, “Uh huh, p-please, I want that.”

Paz groaned, the sound pure heaven to your ears, and his pace picked up. His thrusts got harder and deeper and ended with him grinding even more into you like he wanted to reach places you did not even know existed. And it made you feel that much better.

“Good girl,” he praised you, “If there is anyone who deserves my come, it is you.”

Clamping your walls around him and trying to move your hips against him, you did your best to make him feel as good as he made you. It was when he got quiet that you knew he was close and not even a moment later, he pulled you straight up, pressing you completely against the glass and him inside you.

You gasped at the cold feeling on your skin, but there was something undeniably erotic about having your tits squeezed up and Paz behind you. He buried his face in your neck, sucking a mark into your shoulder while he ground into you again and again. And it was that feeling of him coming inside you, paired with his fingers still very much circling your clit that made you come around him as well.

And it made you almost black out. Your eyes rolled back in your head and your mouth opened in a silent gasp. You could feel your walls squeeze uncontrollably around him, milking him for all he was worth and you were pretty sure you had lost all control over your limbs. You were just hanging there, mouth open, pussy overflowing and legs trembling with the love of your life right behind you.

“Oh shit,” Paz laughed, feeling you tremble between him and the glass, “It’s a big one, isn’t it, sweetheart?”

You couldn’t really answer but you also knew you did not need to. Because Paz was there to take care of you.

For a little while, he did not move at all, simply letting you ride out your climax while he slowed his strokes over your clit. Time and again you could feel him twitch inside you and you thought to yourself that big one didn’t only apply to you – he had come so much inside you, it was already dripping out around where he was softening inside you.

“You are doing so good for me,” he whispered finally, pressing another kiss to your neck and you turned your head, trying to get him to properly kiss you. And he did, his lips gently landing on yours while he, very carefully, pulled out of you.

The feeling of his come flowing out of you made you grimace and shift on your feet.

“Bathroom?” he asked you quietly and you nodded weakly.

The hotel bathroom was all white marble and had fancy lights and even though Paz only switched on the mirror light, it made you squeeze your eyes shut and whimper. Why was everything so fucking bright?

“Shhh I know I know,” Paz murmured, wrapping his arms around you and leading you to the shower nook, “But I know you will want to clean up, right?”

You nodded against his chest, relishing in his body heat. “Forgot my shower stuff though,” you remembered with a frown.

Your big man chuckled, turning on the rain shower to the perfect temperatures. Not loosening his arms around you, he turned you both so you could tilt your head back and let the water flow over your body. “That is okay, love,” he said, his thumbs gently rubbing circles on your back, “You can use mine.”

The thought of smelling like him made you smile and, feeling a little more like yourself, stood up on your toes to kiss him.

Paz did not wait for a second to reciprocate but you noticed he held back.

“What is it, Paz?” you asked him, running your hand over his wet hair and wondering if he would ever consider leaving it as curly as it was, “Did you not like it?”

He shook his head with a smile. “It was more than I could ever dream of, love,” he smiled, “I was just thinking …”

You tilted your head, watching him consider his words.

“I meant it when I said I want you to accompany me on my travels.”

Your heart skipped a beat. “So you can fuck me everywhere you want?” you joked, trying to hide the very real fear that his feelings did not run as deep as yours did. Sure, you had started your arrangement on quite superficial terms but it had been a long time since anything you felt for him had been superficial.

“No,” he shook his head, “I mean, yes, that too, but … I missed you, sweetheart, a lot and I don’t think I want to spend my time away from you when there is a way that we could be together.”

“I mean we also spend a lot of time together when you are home,” you argued, drumming your fingertips on his chest, “I thought maybe you would like to have some alone time once in a while?”

“About that …” he rubbed the back of his neck and seeing him made you realize something very fundamental.

You could not contain your smile, leaning a tiny bit back from him to really take in all of him. The way he avoided your gaze, how he shifted on his feet as if he was nervous, how he.

“Are you asking me to move in with you?”

“You can keep your city apartment, of course,” he assured you immediately, “I was just thinking, I mean … I have this big place and Briggs keeps pointing out it is due for some redecorating and I …” he interrupted himself, drops of water falling from the tip of his nose and lashes, “When I am with you and Snowball I feel more at home than anywhere else in the world. And I am wondering if you feel the same way?”

Of course, I feel the same way, you wanted to scream at him, I have been in love with you ever since you asked me to take care of Snowball.

But you remained silent on that front, not wanting to scare him away. Instead, you reached up to pull him closer. His nose brushed yours and the tiny frown between his brows betrayed his insecurity. How rare it was to see Paz Vizsla insecure.

“Yes, Paz,” you smiled against him, kissing him slow and thoroughly, “I would very much like to move in with you.”

The look of complete happiness on his face, when you pulled away, was only echoed on yours. You were sure your grin could only ever be rivalled by his and you squealed when he pulled you up and spun you around, water flying everywhere.

“You have no idea how happy that makes me,” he set you down. His hand found its way to the side of your neck, his thumb and finger spanning your jaw. He did not let you go and his grin faded, replaced by a look on his face you could not quite pinpoint except for how warm it made you feel, “You have no idea how happy you make me.”

“I might have an idea,” you replied shyly, feeling your heart beat against your chest. Was this the moment you could tell him? Was this where you confessed your undying love and revealed just how much you would do to see him happy? How you wanted to wake up with him every morning and fall asleep with him every evening and spend your weekends with him and Snowball curled up on the couch?

But when Paz rested his forehead against yours, you convinced yourself that the moment had passed. Sure, he wanted to move in with you but did that really mean anything? Maybe he just wanted to put another layer of security on your fake relationship arrangement?

“So …” you murmured instead, “How are we going to tell Snowball she is going to move again?”

#maybege writes #paz vizsla x reader #paz vizsla x fem!reader #smut #sugar daddy!paz vibes

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countryclubkook · 11 months

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The Gold

Pairing: Rafe Cameron x reader

Warnings: season 2 spoilers, angst, mentions of death of course, mentions of alcohol

Summary: Rafe has changed since the hunt for gold started and you’ve had enough. But then tragedy strikes and you feel like things are finally getting better, then something unexpected happens and you have to make a choice

A/N: made some tiny adjustments to this and wanted to repost it, i was listening to phoebe bridgers ‘the gold’ when I wrote this the first time which heavily inspired it

You knew your relationship with Rafe had come to a standstill when you began to feel like he was a ceiling waiting to collapse on you at any moment. You spent 4 years with each other and it all came crashing down in one month, it's funny how things work out sometimes. All the love you once felt for him was replaced by estranged thoughts and tears over what once was. You knew it wasn't all his fault, his father had a stronghold on him and he was desperate for his love and validation, but it still hurt you in the end.

“I love you and I miss you Rafe.” there was a tense silence before he spoke up.

“Yeah, love you. Look I've gotta go cause dad needs me. I'll see you soon.” it was all lies, his voice held the same distance it’s had for the last month.

“Okay.” this is how your phone calls had been for weeks now, it hurt more now to pretend the two of you were fine than not speaking at all but neither one of you wanted to admit to the other it was over, neither of you ready to admit it.

When news broke of Ward's death, you ran to the Cameron residence to see how Rafe was doing. He looked horrible, he had been crying and reeked of whiskey. He broke down in your arms and he didn't know if it was from losing his father or from feeling your comforting touch after so long. He hadn’t meant to neglect you or the relationship, but he was so worried about his father going back to hating him or thinking he was a disappointment again that it was all he could think about.

“I'm so sorry Rafe,” you told him while trying to hold yourself together. Ward wasn't a very good man, but you knew how much he meant to Rafe and it was still his dad at the end of the day. He still loved and grieved him.

“He's gone Y/N, he's really gone. I'm all alone again, i’ve got nobody.” the last part hurt you but you tried to ignore it, he gripped onto you harder than before as he began to sob.

“I'm right here Rafe, you’ve got me still. It’s going to be okay” you whispered, stroking his head trying to reassure him, but you were only met with silence. The only thing you could do was be there for him hold onto like a lifeline.

That was a few weeks ago and things seemed to be getting back to how they once were between you and Rafe, if not better than before. He’d been talking you out on more dates, trying to get clean, stepping up to take over the business. It felt like you truly had your Rafe back and you couldn’t be happier…that was until he had come to you saying Ward was actually alive and that he and his family had to leave in a few days but you weren't allowed to come with them. It was like a knife had stabbed you in your chest and that's when you knew, no matter what happened or how much you were there for him, how much you gave him your everything, how much you loved him, it would always be his dad that he chose. This wild hunt for gold and dire need for validation had changed him completely and his kisses didn't taste like the mint gum and whiskey you were once so addicted to, they tasted like poison.

“Rafe we need to talk.” you said solemnly, ushering towards the couch for him to sit.

“Sure what's wrong? Are you okay?” concern suddenly lacing his voice when he saw your face laced with sadness and defeat.

There was a tense silence for a moment, you took a deep breath before spitting out the one thing you were both terrified to admit, “I don't think I love you anymore.” there it was, the words you both knew were coming but too scared to say out loud finally out in the open. Maybe that's why it didn't come as a shock to either of you when you said it.

“What? Don't be crazy Y/N, of course you do.” he was just trying to fool himself, it wasn’t a surprise to him, he just didn’t want to lose his safety line. But he knew that wasn't true anymore. He had pushed you to the side and stopped caring about the relationship and you.

“No Rafe, I don't, and you don't love me anymore either so please, can we stop playing this game? It hurts too much to keep pretending and I don't want to do it anymore, I can't do it anymore.” tears streaming down your face as your voice broke. You needed him to let you go so you could being healing.

Rafe hated to see you cry, especially when he was the reason for your tears, but it was the truth. Pretending to still love each other and act like your relationship was fine was taking its toll on you and he knew it. He wanted to be selfish and keep you around as a safety blanket when things got worse after his dad but knew it had to end before he left.

“I still love you, I've always loved you. That was always real.” was the only thing he could say that was really genuine.

“I think that you believe you loved me but I don't think you really did. You don't do the things that you did to people you love. I think you've gone crazy searching for this stupid gold and I can't keep pretending otherwise. This good changed you, you’re not my Rafe anymore, you're a stranger to me. You don't have to hold me anymore Rafe so please, just let me go.” you pleaded, your voice desperate and distant. You hated to be so cold towards him but it was the only way this conversation would end the way it needed to.

“You're right. I'm sorry, I've got to go and prepare everything to leave. I did love you in the beginning though, regardless of whether you believe me or not. I'll see you around Y/N/N.” he said, tears forming in his eyes as he spoke to you for the last time without looking at you before walking out the front door for the final time.

That was the final straw for you, you burst into tears from both relief and heartbreak. The relief of being free from him and not having to pretend that the two of you were in love anymore and the heartbreak of losing what you thought was your forever person to that stupid fucking gold. It was finally over now and the only thing left to do was heal from the damage he caused and try to find happiness again.

#rafe cameron #rafe cameron imagine #obx imagine #rafe cameron x reader #outer banks netflix #rafe cameron x y/n #outer banks #obx fic #obx rafe #outerbanks rafe #rafe obx #rafe x y/n #rafe x reader #rafe cameron angst #rafe cameron x fem!reader #rafe cameron x you

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groundnul · 11 months

Text

Through the Glass (Giyuu Tomioka x GN!Reader)

Prompt: “Rengoku's such an inspiration to me (we stan a king, tbh) and Giyuu is so criminally underrated (the dancing one was so cute) and I'm always happy to see more of them. Could I request a food date with Kyoujurou or an aquarium date with Giyuu? Either format would be welcome, thanks!”

Summary: A work event-turned impromptu outing leaves you alone at an aquarium with Tomioka Giyuu, the notorious hard-ass of Kimetsu Academy who has a soft spot for you that even he has yet to discover. As these feelings rise to the surface, he is left to wonder: will he sink or swim?

Word Count: 10.1K

Warnings: brief mentions of insecurities, generally awkward interactions, slight miscommunication/lack of communication, children, sharks

note: pretend like i didn’t just disappear for two years before coming in and dropping the longest one-shot i’ve ever written. kind of tried a different format with these! a mix between headcanons and a fic, really. let me know what you think!

being a fellow teacher at Kimetsu Academy, you’ve known Giyuu for a couple years now

you started teaching a little after he did, and while you operated in different departments and different parts of the school, you’ve still gotten to know him gradually through schoolwide functions, staff meetings and disciplinary proceedings

you had always considered Giyuu to be incredibly methodical, meticulous and strict – in all honesty, he’s kind of a hard-ass, but at least he’s a well-intentioned hard-ass

on the surface, he’s always on time, stringent with deadlines, and someone who, for the most part, plays by the rules

and as fate would have it, his eye for detail and deadlines put him in charge of tracking staff assignments

so you have been unlucky enough to find yourself on the wrong side of a pointed stare as you entered a room only seconds before a meeting began, and had the pleasure of being confronted by a barrage of minor corrections to paperwork

these conversations are usually short and pretty awkward, him pointing out your shortcomings with red ink and sticky notes, but he’s never mean-spirited. just uncomfortably cold

to be entirely honest, you were convinced he didn’t care much for you – you caused lots of small problems here and there, and surely inconvenienced him more times than you can count

but still, you always greet him in the mornings and as you pass him in the hallway, and you generally try to strike up a casual one-sided conversation as you wait for meetings to start (assuming you arrive with time to spare) or after you finish correcting whatever embarrassing mistake you made

you respect that he’s only doing his job, and while his seemingly calloused demeanor does him no favors, you don’t think he has bad intentions

he’s simply doing his job a little too well, while you’re doing yours… kind of not as well

so needless to say, this is definitely your first date!! but not intentionally

initially it was supposed to be a work outing amongst a few of the staff members of Kimetsu Academy to try and Build Character and whatnot

but literally only you and giyuu showed up

you were awkwardly waiting for the others inside the aquarium on a bench together for twenty minutes

he seemed indifferent, but judging by the increasing frequency of checking his watch, you could tell Giyuu was growing restless

you tried to distract from the silence with questions

to which he responded politely but curtly (as expected)

“Have you ever been to an aquarium?” you ask Giyuu, waiting for a lull in passers-by so you wouldn’t have to shout. His head turns slightly to you, meeting your eyes for just a moment before pointing his gaze elsewhere.

“Once,” he states matter-of-factly. “When I was younger.”

You nod kind of exaggeratedly in response, murmuring “nice, nice” aimlessly with a smile. Your eyes flicker between him and the families passing by, keeping an eye out for anyone you work with.

“Did you have any favorite exhibits when you went?” you ask again after a beat of silence, trying to ignore the palpable awkwardness of the situation.

He thought for a moment, indicated by just the smallest shift in his expression.

“Not that I can remember,” he answers honestly, suddenly studying the pavement beneath his shoes. Perhaps brevity is a practiced talent. His eyes eventually shift back to his watch.

You nod again with a small “hm” of understanding, adjusting the bag in your lap a bit. He quietly unfolds a map of the aquarium beside you – where did he get that? – and starts scanning the layout. It grows quiet again, and this time you can’t help but check the time for yourself on your phone. The rest of your group is about 20 minutes late, by this point.

“I guess it’s taking everyone a while to get here,” you comment, unlocking your phone. “I’ll go ahead and text Rengoku-san to check in.”

Giyuu gives a small nod in response, and you set to typing your message. After giving it a once-over, you press send and await a response.

“Okay, done,” you say with a smile, locking your phone again. Giyuu doesn’t respond, his eyes still roaming around the unfamiliar map terrain.

Silence settles in again, and you’re left twiddling your thumbs, looking mindlessly at the rock walls surrounding you. You nearly fall into a trance as you study the winding cracks in the architecture, the sound of Giyuu’s voice startling you.

“--t about you?” he seemed to ask, eyes falling on your figure for the first time in a while. You grow warm at the sudden attention, embarrassed for zoning out.

“Hm?” you inquire as you meet his eyes, hoping he’ll repeat whatever it was. His eyes look to the wall behind you for a second before meeting yours again.

“An... aquarium,” he repeats. “Have you been to one?”

“Oh!” you laugh quietly in relief. “Yeah, I went a couple times when I was kid. With school and family, I think.”

He nods much like you did before, only much less noticeably, offering a “mm” in response. After an uncomfortably long silence, he offers up your own question to you again.

“Any… favorite exhibits?” he asked. Out of your peripheral, you could see one of his hands fiddling with his jacket cuff. He was wearing a black variation of his usual blue tracksuit.

You thought for a moment, tilting your head to one side and then the other as you considered the question.

“Actually, I really liked seeing the dolphins!” you chuckle, remembering how you’d begged your parents to watch their hourly show. “But I’m not sure if that really even counts.”

Another polite nod was interrupted by buzzing from the phone in your hand. Turning the screen over, you see an incoming call from Rengoku Kyoujurou.

“Ah, sorry, it’s Rengoku-san,” you explain briefly before answering the call and pressing it firmly to your ear.

big mistake holding the phone so close

cue: wincing and pulling the phone away immediately because of how unintentionally loud kyoujurou is

after explaining that you and giyuu were already inside the aquarium waiting, you were kindly informed by your coworker that the outing had been moved to next weekend (something that was conveniently not mentioned to Giyuu or yourself)

he apologizes for the hiccup in communication and says he’ll get the tickets comped for you, which is nice, but you already came the whole way here

and now you’re caught thinking about just how weird it was to have this little outing planned in the first place. what were you supposed to do, bond with your coworkers over fish or something? anyway

a little annoyed but accepting that it was just a misunderstanding, you thank him and hang up

after you tell giyuu the event was moved he just sighs and looks at his watch again, kind of unsure what to do because bro really planned his entire week around this one event he doesn’t get out much okay

Another awkward silence settles over the two of you as you try to find something to say.

“So… what do you want to do?” you ask tentatively. Your question is met with one of his own.

“What do you mean?”

This time it’s your turn to anxiously fiddle with the sleeve of your shirt, searching for the least weird way to ask this.

“Well, do you still want to look around?” you reason innocently. “I know the outing was moved, but we already have the tickets and all…”

You’re met with silence and a slightly wide-eyed stare, which sends you into a panic.

“If not, t-that’s okay! I mean, I’m sure you have better things to do on a Saturday,” you rush to clarify, not wanting to accidentally guilt him into spending any more time with you than necessary. “Or if you just want to look around by yourself, that’s okay too, I just–”

“That’s fine,” he states plainly, cutting your nervous tangent short.

“I– Huh?”

A beat of silence passes at his unexpected answer.

“I said that would be fine,” he clarifies a little louder, perhaps thinking he was too quiet the first time. His expression returns to its usual withdrawn state, punctuating his sentence with a distinct lack of enthusiasm, but you don’t mind.

It still takes a moment to sink in that he actually said yes, but once it does, you’re almost embarrassed by how excited you suddenly feel. You haven’t been to an aquarium in ages.

“Really?” you ask, anticipation as toned-down as you can muster. Wouldn’t want to seem too eager for an impromptu aquarium adventure with your emotionally-distant coworker, right? “Are you sure?”

He offers a simple nod in return with a “mhm” to re-confirm his answer. You unconsciously flash him a wide smile.

“O-okay! Cool! Let me just, uh,” you throw your bag over your shoulder, fumbling to situate yourself as you stand. You exhale in preparation. “Okay. Where should we go first?”

and so begins the aquarium trek!!

now giyuu is the type to go with the flow on just about anything in these kinds of situations

he doesn’t really have any particular desire to see a certain exhibit or anything, he’s for real just along for the ride

so it IS going to feel like you’re just dragging him around sometimes, and you probably are, but he doesn’t mind. he kind of prefers it, actually?

ironically, it’s generally his complacency that earns him a bad rap with the other teachers for his withdrawn demeanor and reluctance to jump in on group activities

while he is resistant to the idea he is widely unliked, he can still tell there is a tangible divide between himself and some of his coworkers

generally he’s reclusive. he doesn’t go out drinking with the other teachers or partake in small talk, opting to either listen in silence or leave. whether or not this is a conscious decision to exclude himself is unclear

which is why it was surprising he agreed to not only come to an aquarium on a work outing in the first place, but stay with you to explore following its rescheduling

he’s been called lots of not-very-nice things, most equating to the idea of him being snobbish or a wet blanket, and from your perspective he just seems withdrawn and kind of cold

BUT you can tell something seems… weird. you hear a decent amount of complaining from your more vocal coworkers about him and his rules, but rationally you think he wouldn’t willingly ostracize himself in his own workplace

plus not all of your coworkers dislike him! teachers like kanae and kyoujurou get along with him just fine. granted, you’ve never seen them not get along with someone, but still

and moreover, he’s not malicious – he’s harmless, even, bar the occasional dings to your self-esteem from his pointed criticisms. also the heavy-handed dress code violations he hands out, but that doesn’t really affect you. and! this outing is arguably only kind of work, so maybe he’s different! either way, you wanted to give him a chance. what’s the worst that could happen?

now, giyuu………. has a soft spot for you. but probably doesn’t even realize it. you are never harsh towards him, you never make backhanded comments or ignore his existence altogether. he likes you, even– he hasn’t put the pieces together that his feelings might be romantic in nature, but he can tell he finds a certain comfort in your interactions

whereas in your eyes all you do is cause him problems, in his eyes, you aren’t any more or less competent because you make mistakes

what matters to him is how you handle them. always with a smile and quick on the turnaround – the same could not be said for others he is responsible for correcting

you always listen to whatever he has to say (even if he has to say it twice just so you can hear it, sometimes) and you try to never make the same mistake twice

you’re kind and resilient, and most people seem to like you. your warmth draws people in like moths to a flame.

in any case, you seem like polar opposites

so when YOU were the one that proposed venturing through the aquarium together of your own free will, he was more than a bit taken aback

he’s never understood how to get close with people. he’s not good with words, and he’s not the most social. it’s something that largely escapes him, forces him to move in silence with small gestures that usually go unnoticed like turning your desk light off for you after you’ve left, or making sure the mug you use during lunch is always clean

and he does all of this without expecting anything in return, simply because the kindness in your eyes makes him feel fuzzy and the spirit with which you move through life leaves him in silent awe

so asking him to spend time with you… alone, in a public place… on the weekend… now officially outside of work hours? consider this man thrown for a loop

of course he’s nervous, but he’d regret it if he said no

so he agrees, and now he’s here with you. what is he supposed to do now?

all of this is swirling in his head as you take the lead just slightly in front of him

Your first stop isn’t really a stop– it’s a walk-through tunnel created to look like a broken ship. Several small inlets in the faux woodwork give way to panels of aquarium glass showing an artificial sea floor decorated with coral, mollusks and several varieties of small schooling fish. Children rush back and forth between the many lower-height glass panels, calling dibs on a certain fish or creating little games with their friends. Giyuu’s eyes track their movements cautiously as you both walk.

It was obvious this area was more for kids than adults, but there were enough glass panels at your height to get a good view of the action. Giyuu looks on similarly through his own window about a foot away, eyes scanning the sea floor seemingly indifferent as a stingray emerges from the sand, previously undetected.

Suddenly the many children from before swarm over to you both, faces pressed against the glass beneath you in wonder as they shout in excitement. One child even slips between the gap in Giyuu’s legs, head poking through the other side by his ankles for a better view. You notice immediately as Giyuu tenses at the obvious intrusion. His head minutely whips quickly from side to side, thinly masking a silent plea for help.

It took everything in you not to laugh as you back away from the glass and tug Giyuu by his sleeve away from his accidental captor, gently removing two little hands from his legs with an “excuse us” so he could make a break for it. The child seems unfazed as they move even closer to the stingray now skirting the glass. The second you were out of the pirate ship, you finally let your laughter free, bringing a hand up to cover your mouth as you let out little apologies between laughs.

“Sorry, I just–,” you start, letting out another giggle involuntarily. “That was sweet. Are you used to being around kids? Younger ones, I mean?”

It takes him way too long to realize you just called that interaction sweet, and it takes you way too long to realize you might have just crossed some kind of unspoken workplace boundary.

“No,” he says quietly, clearing his throat. You offer an understanding “hmm,” in response, another small laugh escaping you.

“It definitely takes a while to get used to,” you comment, taking one last deep inhale to calm yourself. “Ready to keep going?”

it took a little bit for Giyuu to regain his composure following the embarrassing incident with the child

initially he thought were laughing at him, mocking him for his poor handling of the situation

it wouldn’t be the first time he was on the receiving end of something like that

but… then you said it was sweet. ??????

now, giyuu has been called cute before. being as handsome and aloof as he is, it kind of comes with the territory. that being said, he’s never really paid these comments any mind; the people they came from would soon find him disinteresting or unpalatable, opting to move onto someone hopefully more receptive to their advances

so normally he brushes it off and moves on. but coming from YOU? someone who at least kind of knows him, someone that has seen these parts of him already?

fills him with a feeling so foreign he can’t quite name it

and your laugh… he’s never heard you laugh like that before. it felt carefree, joyous. different from the polite laugh he’s heard you offer to coworkers in passing

and it’s at this moment he realizes he wants to hear you laugh like that again (preferably not at his own expense)

unfortunately this moment of realization is over almost as quickly as it began, fading as you both enter the next exhibit: sea turtles

he watches now as your eyes switch between the handful of sea turtles swimming about in their large tank, poking themselves up at brief intervals for air around the many rock structures in the water. the light is dim in the rest of the room, lit mostly by the tank itself

you make a comment about how big the turtles seem, but all he can do is silently agree as his eyes scan around the room over the other handfuls of people vacillating between areas

he notices two children from before barreling forward after one another down the hallway, lost in an intense game of tag

Blue eyes switch between your form and the approaching children. He instinctively reaches for the whistle that usually lives around his neck only to remember it was the weekend.

“Watch out,” he says to you instead, stepping towards the glass slightly himself. When he notices you seem lost in the view, he surprises himself by placing a hand on your shoulder, gently pulling you towards him.

At his touch, you seem to startle and look at him, finally noticing the rambunctious children zipping by. Your head shifts from Giyuu to look over your other shoulder, watching as the two continue on down the walkway.

“Thank you, sorry,” you laugh out softly in embarrassment, looking back to him as his hand retreats from your shoulder, wondering Why did he do that? “Guess I should be paying more attention.”

He quietly clears his throat, putting some distance back between you as he moves to examine the map he found earlier again.

“They shouldn’t be running,” he offers in response, inner-hard-ass peeking through on cue. “Where to next?”

He glances at you briefly when you don’t respond, handing you the map so you can see what’s up ahead. You thank him, taking the map in both hands as you try to get your bearings. With a furrowed brow you try to discern your current location – this is quite literally the least intuitive map you’ve ever seen. Maybe that’s why Giyuu spent so long looking at it earlier.

Sensing your confusion, he steps closer once again, left shoulder just barely brushing against you as he points to a spot on the map with his right hand. His fingers trace over two pathways, likely your next options for exhibits.

You see his lips moving, but his words are in one ear and out the other as you try not to think about how warm his hand felt earlier, or how his face seems so close to yours as he explains. And you are definitely trying hard not to notice how full his lashes are at this distance or the way his top lip dips into just the slightest cupid's bow that you really kind of want to–

You cut the thought off immediately. Thoughts about kissing a certain gym teacher during an aquarium visit are strictly forbidden from this point forward.

As you feel your face heat at the mere implication, you’re grateful for the blue-green glow of the aquarium hopefully obscuring your over-reaction to his simple gesture.

Clearing your throat, you notice him staring expectantly at you. Were his eyes always this pretty?

“Uh, t-this one looks fine,” you stutter out, cursing at your lack of composure as you point to one of the areas you vaguely think he referenced moments ago. His expression shifts the tiniest bit as his brow pulls down, seemingly in concern.

“Are you alright?” he asks, head tilting slightly to the right as he examines you. It makes your eyes go wide, heart hammering in your chest as you take a step back, suddenly overwhelmed by the proximity. The strained “mhm!” you respond with earns a brief look of subdued suspicion before he turns to lead the way.

you’re glad he turned when he did, allowing you save even a fraction of face

it wasn’t the first time he’s been physically close to you, but it was the first time you could see his face while doing so

usually it would just be him leaning over your shoulder to explain paperwork corrections, and while you may have been slightly flustered then, you were at least turned away

but this time… this time you were looking at him and he was looking at you and the confusion of suddenly wanting to feel his lips on yours mixed with the alarm you felt overtook you

and he said something about it

you find yourself wanting to bang your head into the nearest glass surface in sheer embarrassment

but if you thought he was quiet before, the next half hour is so excruciatingly silent that you start to worry

you receive no response to your utterings of wonder as you pass by different tanks, no “hmms” or nods

though he initially took the lead from the sea turtle exhibit, you’ve somehow ended up back in front. as you both slowly follow the crowd through the next few rooms of saltwater fish exhibits, he seems more intent on putting space between the two of you

the lofty silence gives you far too much time with your own thoughts. you begin to wonder if you’ve done something wrong, worried he’s not enjoying himself (you briefly wonder what it would look like if he was enjoying himself, but find yourself drawing a blank)

it wasn’t until you got to the jellyfish exhibit later that he seems to relax again

The large, cylindrical tank emits a comforting blue glow into the dark room as the two of you approach. Jellyfish dance in the center of the room, long tentacles moving in time as they swirl. Airy, ethereal music plays quietly from the speakers overhead.

A near-inaudible “wow” escapes you, subdued as if in fear of ruining the atmosphere. Your eyes are trained on the flowing tendrils of a particularly large jellyfish, its shades of red, orange and cream floating weightlessly in the water.

Giyuu approaches the tank from beside you in silence, but unlike in the sea turtle exhibit, he looks utterly entranced by the mysterious creatures before him. Sapphire eyes follow the symphony of movement, curious. His fingers trace the glass as one moves past, just beyond reach.

You find yourself unable to look away from his child-like gaze, suddenly enamored by the uncharacteristic innocence on display. It’s when his eyes meet your own that you realize you’re staring. You offer only a small smile in return, gesturing slightly to the wooden seats behind you.

“Wanna sit?” you whisper, waiting for his small nod in response before taking a seat on the right. He sits a little after you, enough room for another person between you. Time seems to move slower here. You’re not sure how long the two of you stay like that, caught in the semi-comfortable silence.

He seems much more at ease in this moment, hands folded neatly in his lap as he marvels at the sight. The stiffness in his shoulders has faded away, the harshness of his eyes tempered. Shadows from the soft light carve out his features, highlighting the outline of his brow to the sharpness of his jaw. He almost looks like a painting.

This is kind of… nice, you think to yourself. Maybe I was worried for nothing?

Several minutes pass in relative silence, but the entrance of a small gaggle of rowdy children eventually breaks the two of you from your reprieve, attention turning in tandem to watch three pairs of light-up tennis shoes stop directly in front of you. A weary mother emerges seconds later, apologizing for the intrusion and moving the children off to another side of the tank. Alas, it seems your time here is up.

“You ready?” you ask with a smile, eyebrows raised. He offers a nod again, this time with a small “hm” (progress!), moving to follow your almost hesitant steps back into the outside world.

once your tiny bubble was popped, giyuu is sent spiraling back into the reality he finds himself in

in the sea turtle exhibit, you seemed to react badly when he got close to you. you were stuttering, backing away from him, even. he wasn’t trying to pull anything–far from it, really– but it did kind of hurt

now was this misguided? most certainly. never once did it cross his mind that your reaction may have been because you enjoyed his closeness

but that didn’t stop him from trying to give you space so you didn’t have to be near him if you didn’t want to be

however

while he’s not the most astute observer when it comes to emotions, he did vaguely pick up on some of the dejected looks you were unknowingly sending his way

and then he was even more confused because he was like?? is this not far enough??? do i have to go even farther???!? and then he’s kind of sad because he likes being near you :/

but then… he also saw saw the gentle smiles you gave him in the jellyfish exhibit, pretended not to notice your subtle glances towards him

and now, after the exhibit, you seem happier. what changed?

he’s still pretty confused but… at least you’re smiling again

the next few exhibits pass easily, him quietly agreeing with comments you make as you move forward

the flow of conversation seems to match what it was at the beginning of your visit, which is good, you think

after a brief interaction with the map again – which he just handed to you this time, not wanting to chance it – you two decided to circle back around to the other avenue you didn’t take from the turtle exhibit

a clownfish cave, stingray touch-tank (which was far too crowded and germ-ridden for either of your tastes – a fact you were briefly able to bond over) and seahorse exhibit later, the two of you are back where you ended previously outside the jellyfish

from this point it’s a one-way path through to the food court at the halfway-point in the aquarium

located between here and there, though, is a (frankly huge) walk-through aquarium tunnel

Giyuu has stopped trailing behind you at this point, more so walking beside you as you traverse the boundary between floor and glass. Your first step is cautious, almost weary that one more person in the tunnel would surely be the breaking point. But of course, the tunnel holds sturdy and you continue with slow steps into the fray of curious people.

“This is so cool,” you comment, looking to Giyuu excitedly before eyeing a large fish swimming past him. You swiftly cross behind him, taking a closer look at the sealife beyond the glass.

Small schools of fish skirt back and forth over the artificial sea floor, while larger fish varieties swim overhead, barely missing one another in their practiced movements. Crouching closer to the floor, you see a variety of starfish, coral and a pair of scuttling lobsters amid the seaweed, duking it out over something.

“Oh my gosh, they’re fighting! C’mere, they’re right here!” you say excitedly, waving Giyuu closer so he can see. He hesitantly shuffles towards the glass to your left, peering over you to view the crustaceans in question. They were indeed fighting, it seemed, as each male used its dominant claw to smite the other. You tear your eyes away from the scene as if to make sure he’s watching, the wide smile on your face followed by a laugh.

“What do you think they’re fighting over?” you question, eyes scanning the terrain. The lobsters bobbed towards one another repeatedly, the larger of the two moving to strike shallow blows on the smaller.

“... Food?” Giyuu reasons after a few moments, uncertain if you were actually looking for an answer.

“Hmm, maybe,” you respond, nodding your head as you consider the possibility. “Who do you think’ll win?”

Your enthusiasm in eliciting responses from him is something he’s not used to–at all–but strangely enough, he doesn’t mind. The excitement in your eyes makes him nervous, though.

“... The bigger one, probably,” he answers practically, standing to his full height again.

“Mm, makes sense,” you surmise, pupils still fixated on the dueling opponents. His eyes are drawn to your expressions as you observe the two, watching as the laugh tumbles from your lips following a particularly silly looking move from the smaller lobster. He quickly averts his gaze as you stand again.

He steps back once more towards the center of the tunnel, looking overhead. A strange peace settles over him as he watches the fish swim by, the rippling water above them creating a kaleidoscope of light on the glass below. A chorus of “oohs” and “aahs” overtakes the other visitors as a shark passes over, its presence making waves among the other sealife fleeing from its path. A brief silence passes between the two of you.

“Have you ever seen ‘The Meg’?” you suddenly ask, eyes trailing after the shark. His expression switches minutely to confusion.

“No,” he responds, not sure of what you’re talking about. Evidently you take this as permission to explain.

“Well, it’s this movie about a huge prehistoric shark terrorizing people. There’s this one part where it bites a glass tunnel while a kid is inside and leaves these giant teeth marks,” you describe, gaze finally landing on him as the shark exits your view.

The look you’re met with makes you giggle, the ever-so-slight unease in his expression seeming out of place.

“Don’t worry, it’s not real,” you respond with a laugh, patting him lightly on his shoulder in reassurance. “Well, the shark was real, but that was a long time ago.”

He only looks slightly comforted at the new information as you walk ahead a bit, dodging kids and other visitors. You miss the slight widening of his eyes at your casual touch before he’s following behind you again.

you?? touched??? him?????

he tries really hard not to think about it. tries and fails

… do you not mind if he’s close to you? you also called him over just before to show him the lobsters. and you were excited

maybe not for him, but excited nonetheless

here are his thoughts on the matter: you speak to him kindly and your touch is gentle. it’s nice and makes him feel warm inside

and he decides right now that so long as he can remain close to you, he will be content

he doesn’t know what it means, but… he he thinks he likes it

so as far as you know, your time in the tunnel continues rather uneventfully and it isn’t long until you’re exiting the other side into the food court

during which, he is internally reeling but enjoying himself nonetheless

neither of which you would know by looking at him

The two of you are led to a large, oval room with high rafters and skylights. Some areas take on a more tropical theme with cartoon fish and 3D waves poking out of the walls, while others are more riparian, fake varieties of lush vegetation climbing up pillars with cartoon frogs and lizards dotting the way.

You ponder over the options for lunch in front of you, most of which have several people waiting in queues to order. A large food court sits across from the vendors filled with families, couples and school kids alike, conversations melding together to form one giant mass of voices.

“Wanna get something to eat?” you ask over the noise, looking to him for an answer.

He nods, surveying the lines for food. You agree to separate and meet back up after you’ve got your trays.

Wandering for a bit, you eventually settle on a place called “Sukiya” and order Gyudon, a fatty beef and rice dish. Simple, but filling enough, you think. You are only halfway through the aquarium, after all.

As you wait in line, you mill over the crowd once more, watching as toddlers make messes of themselves and friends laugh with one another. You find yourself eventually searching for your coworker amongst the crowd, using black clothing items to narrow down the search.

You’re about to give up when you suddenly catch sight of his raven hair. He’s scrolling through his phone while he waits in the line for a seafood place, black jacket tucked into the crook of his arm. The white shirt he’s wearing underneath reveals a closer look at his physique, the toned muscles of his arm tensing as he readjusts his posture.

Have I never seen him with his jacket off?

Thinking back through your interactions, you’re not sure you have. Maybe in the mornings occasionally, but usually you’re too busy rushing to your classroom to notice. As he shuffles ahead with the rest of the line, his side profile becomes more visible. It’s suddenly feeling a little stuffy in here. Much to your chagrin, you’re left with one very damning thought.

Has he always been this... hot?

Eyes wide and face growing warm, you don’t let your eyes linger too long on him in fear of somehow making eye contact across an entire food court. If someone could look inside your brain right now, they’d see the blaring alarms, red flashing lights and frenzied shouts of panic instructing Operation: Get The Hots For Your Coworker be terminated immediately. Luckily, you’re the only one privy to those thoughts. You inhale deeply, hoping to calm the wave of sudden anxiety in your chest.

Way to pick the worst possible time to come to this realization.

As you turn back to your own line, you realize you’re up next to pay. After inserting your card, you grab the small tray with your meal and turn back to face the crowd. Looking back to your cohort, you notice he’s still in line, nearing the front. You gather the resolve to search for a table, efforts fruitless as you wind through the seating area. Finally, you notice one table off in the back opening up.

The table-for-two makes for close quarters, but it will have to do. You set your tray down on the far side before noticing a trail of crumbs and leftover rice on the table. Taking a napkin from your tray, you unfold it and wipe what would be Giyuu’s area and seat before doing the same to your own. Crumpling the napkin up, you set it on the side of your tray before brushing your hands off. When you turn around, Giyuu is standing a few feet away with his own tray of food.

How long has he been standing there?

“H-hey!” you greet, standing to your full height as he approaches. “Uh, I’m gonna go wash my hands, I’ll be right back!”

You don’t wait for his response before b-lining it to the nearest restroom. You spend what one would call a reasonable amount of time in a stall, convincing yourself that even if he is hot, it’s fine and you shouldn’t make it weird. Really, it’s fine. Everything’s fine.

It was not fine. But you had already spent too long in the bathroom to just be washing your hands, and you were certain he was wondering where you were. A few more deep breaths later, you step out of the stall, wash your hands and make your way back to the table. His jacket is hanging from the back of his chair, once again showing off his white shirt and lower forearms.

Just act normal.

Giyuu looks up from his food as you approach, chewing and swallowing the bite in his mouth before putting a napkin to his lips. You smile and let out a “hey” again as you slide into your seat, setting your bag down to pull your chopsticks from their paper sheath. Removing the small lid from your bowl, you eagerly eye the tender beef slices still slightly steaming in place.

“Oooh, this looks good! “ you comment, whether to you or him is unclear. “What did you get?”

Perhaps your question caught him off guard as his eyes widened the smallest bit, body stilling at the sudden attention. He looks down to his food and then back up to you before responding.

“It’s, uh… daikon and salmon,” he states plainly, sitting a little straighter.

“Nice!” you reply, carefully taking your first bite into your mouth. The meat is beautifully cooked, the flavors subtle but just right. A small “mm” escapes you as you finish the bite. He takes this as his cue to go back to eating, his quiet demeanor seemingly content. After a minute or two, he takes a small break to sip from his glass.

“How is it? D’you like it?” you ask innocently, chopsticks paused as you await his response. He offers a small “mhm” in return as he puts his glass down.

“...How is yours?” he asks after a few beats of silence. You smile at him again.

“It’s really good, do you want to try it? Here–” you begin to search through your meat for the juiciest looking one, picking it up between chopsticks and moving to place it in his bowl before pausing. He grows still as he watches you. “Wait, are you allergic to anything?”

He’s back to that minutely-wide-eyed stare as he processes your question, shaking his head no after a moment.

“Okay, cool,” you say as you place the meat gently into an empty part of his bowl. You go back to eating, not wanting to put pressure on him. After he carefully maneuvers the strip into his mouth and chews, you pipe back up.

“Good?” you ask, patiently awaiting his reaction.

The dip of his head up and down while he swallows is enough to tell he enjoyed it.

“Good,” you say with a small laugh, returning to your own bowl. A minute or two later, you just barely catch him reaching across to your plate while you take a drink.

?!?!

Your eyes widen in shock and you lower your cup, setting it to the side gingerly to see what he did. Much to your surprise, on the left side of your bowl is now a piece of salmon with daikon.

How was he so fast??

And is he giving this to you?

“For me? Are you sure?” you ask, surprised and also concerned you may have guilted him into returning the gesture. He looks to you, answering with a simple nod in confirmation before finishing off the last few bites of his food.

“Ah, okay! Thank you!” you say as you pick up the bite of simmered salmon between your chopsticks. Popping it into your mouth, you’re pleasantly surprised at the quality and mix of flavors. Giyuu’s eyes are watching you expectantly as you chew, and you try desperately to control any form of heat rising to your face at the attention.

“That’s really good!” you assure him with a smile, bringing up a hand to cover your mouth as you finish swallowing. He seems to relax slightly at your response with just the smallest smile on his lips.

The smile fades as quickly as it appeared as he wipes his mouth a final time with a napkin before laying it beside his now-empty bowl. You finish the last few bites of your own food in silence before following his lead.

“Are you finished?” he asks, hands gripping the side of his tray. When you say yes, he stands, moving to stack your tray, bowl and glass with his.

“Oh, that’s okay, I can do that,” you interject, hand reaching out to take it from him.

“I’ve got it,” he responds, almost gently, as he straightens and heads to the nearest dish drop-off. Watching him go, you notice the white shirt again. Looking down, you realize he forgot his jacket on the back of the chair. You grab it along with your bag and meet him outside the seating area.

“Here,” you offer, handing it over to him as you approach. Seeming a little surprised again, he takes it from you with a small “thank you” before shrugging it back on.

Welp. There goes the gun show.

You ignore your decidedly unhelpful thoughts as you peer around the room, trying to locate the exit.

“Uh…I think it’s this way?” you ask, gesturing forward and to the left toward an arched hallway bathed in green.

And with yet another small “mhm” and a nod from him, you’re off to your next stop.

Giyuu follows dutifully behind you, his face not betraying the cacophony of confusing thoughts swimming in his head

he was definitely caught off guard when you offered him a bite of your meal, but the fact you were thinking of him did make him feel happy

he was too shy to immediately give you some of his in return, but had been saving the best bite for last anyway. and he was also happy you liked it :)

he for sure thinks he would like to go eat with you again sometime if he gets the chance. it was comfortable, and he enjoyed your reactions

Maybe you could… eat lunch together someday?

But like so many facets of his life, his self restraint is ever-present here. He will refrain from “selfishness,” cherishing the experience without asking anything more from you

A winding and counterintuitive path to building intimacy if ever there were one, but he knew no better than you the feelings threatening the rock-solid walls he’s built between himself and others

But little moments like this – eating together in the food court, walking through the exhibits, making idle conversation – they are all small glimpses into something he craves so badly but lacks the words to express

Even so, he trails behind you in quiet contentment as you navigate the Mangrove and Rainforest exhibits, pointing excitedly to the various reptiles, birds or small mammals in their enclosures

As you’re reading the species description for a particularly cute snake, he takes a look ahead to see what exhibit is up next

He scans the horrendously designed map, deciphering the key as he mindlessly follows in your footsteps toward several frog varieties

Eventually, he locates the rainforest exhibit, and looking ahead sees a rock pool with presumably more touch tanks–hard pass– and a theater

But just a step beyond that was the outdoor arena, where little cartoon dolphins and seals swam on the page

Dolphins… you liked those, right?

“(Y/N),” he calls quietly, catching your attention. You look up from the poison dart frogs with a “hm?” to see him pointing at something on the map held out to you.

“Did you want to see the water show? It should be starting soon,” he asks, finger hovering over a box reading “Stage Times.” According to the map, there was one more show today, starting in about ten minutes.

“Oh yeah! That might be fun, what do you think?” you ask nonchalantly as if you weren’t ready to break into a full sprint to make it to the arena in time.

Despite your attempt to play it cool, the sparkle in your eyes was not missed by Giyuu.

He nods once, excitement met with quiet determination. Before you know it, you’re speedwalking through the crowds of parents and children, sidestepping strollers and screaming toddlers as you make sure Giyuu is keeping up.

Before long, bright blue gates for the outdoor arena come into sight, and you let out a triumphant laugh.

“We made it!!” you say, turning too Giyuu with a wide grin. You look more excited than he’s ever seen you, and he gestures for you to move up in line as the family in front of you gains entry.

“For two?” the attendant asks, stamp at the ready. You nod eagerly, extending your arm to receive a dark blue wave on the back of your hand. Giyuu does the same, his usual deadpan stare silently watching as the dark ink stains his skin.

After gaining entry, you pass through a tall blue arch, the smell of saltwater washing over you. An expansive pool of water greets you as you walk in, spanning the edge of the outdoor arena. Looking around, you see several rows of bleachers under orange sun shades, filled to the brim with children just as excited as you.

You scope out the remaining seats, and Giyuu lets you take the lead as you choose an open spot on the second row, off to the left. You smile politely at the family behind you as you take your seats, and there’s hardly even time to settle in before the announcer comes on the loudspeaker, welcoming aquarium-goers and highlighting rules of the arena.

Soon after, a cheery voice comes over the speaker, this time from the aquarium employee running the show about 15 feet from the bleachers. She’s small in stature, dark hair pulled up in a ponytail sticking out the back of her visor.

“Hello everyone! My name is Asa, and I’ll be introducing you to some of our sea friends today!” said the speaker, her overly-excited voice rousing cheers from the children surrounding you.

You watched in glee as a line of three seals plopped up on the platform behind her, each introduced with a name and trick. You giggled along with the children as the seals waddled, barked and rolled. Eventually, the seals returned to the water, showing off swimming formations, speed and everything else such cute little creatures were capable of.

Before long, the seals had to say their goodbyes, sliding into the water with a chorus of disappointed children waving them off. But just beneath the water you could see shadows moving, your anticipation building– and just like that, it burst, with two striped dolphins leaping from beneath the still surface to say hello.

You cheered along with the children as the dolphins splashed back into the water, growing ever-closer to the bleachers with each expert movement. The dolphins swam circles around each other in the center of the arena before swimming up to the aquarium worker’s platform.

An awed smile overtook your features as the top of the dolphin’s heads popped up above the water while they were introduced, Iru and Kai. Each had two striking black lines down their sides, but Iru, the larger of the two, had a large scar over the left side of its forehead down to its beak.

“Iru here was rescued after being hurt in the wild two years ago, and she’s been with us ever since,” Asa explained, leaning down to pet her darker beak. She nudged upward toward Asa’s hand, relishing in her touch from above. “Kai was actually born at the aquarium a year and a half ago, but his baby fin here makes it hard for him to survive in the wild.”

On cue, Kai flipped to his side, showing his stunted right fin. Your heart sank a little at the thought of their pain, saddened gaze looking to Giyuu to gauge his reaction. While his attention stayed glued on the dolphins, he nodded forward to point your attention back to the front as Asa perked up and the dolphins did a spin.

“But we’re so happy to have them here with us now! Iru and Kai, why don’t you show everyone some of your favorite tricks!” Asa stood, gestures prompting each of the dolphins to swim off to the left and right for their first set of tricks.

The tricks started simple enough, leaps into the air or through hoops, but soon divers were introduced and began showing off just how much skill and intelligence Iru and Kai held.

Time passed quicker than you would have liked. The next twenty minutes of feats from the wonders of nature before you were quickly coming to a close, and you felt like it had only begun.

”Alright Iru and Kai, come on back!” Asa called, the dolphins listening in kind. The two swam right back up to the platform, ready to say their farewells.

“We had so much fun with all of you today, but Iru and Kai have to say bye now,” Asa says, sadness clearly in her voice. “Before we do that though, we have one last trick to show you!”

On cue, Iru swam off to the left by your spot in the bleachers and Kai to the right, each popping up behind the fenced area at the front. You grinned widely at the sight of Iru up close, wondering at her beauty.

“Alright, say bye-bye!” Asa shouted.

The next few moments moved in slow motion, and it was only then, as the dolphins whipped around to the side to send a tidal wave to the audience, that you noticed the glaring “SPLASH ZONE” sign plastered on the seat and wall in front of you. Maybe there was a reason these seats were empty.

Delight shifted to fear and surprise as the water grew nearer, impending doom mere milliseconds from impact. You brought your arms to haphazardly shield your face, a shout of surprise escaping you and several of the audience members near you. Just beyond the approaching curtain of water were spray fountains from the front of the arena, shooting wildly out into the audience. Giyuu’s right arm extended in front of you in a vain attempt to shield you.

But no such luck. In less than a second, you were soaked from head to toe, sputtering as the sea water assaulted your senses.

Looking to Giyuu, you saw his hair was soggy, sticking to his face on the sides as water dripped down. As stunning as he looked dripping wet, he was in shock–a look you’ve never seen on him– and all you could do was laugh at the absurdity.

Loud guffaws escaped you as you grabbed onto Giyuu’s sleeve in front of you to steady yourself, his confused eyes meeting your joyous ones. You stayed like that for a few moments, wiping tears of laughter from your eyes as Asa bid her goodbyes to the crowd.

Your grip on his jacket loosened, replaced with two quick pats.

“Oh man, that was good,” you relent breathlessly, still giggling to yourself.

“Are you alright?” he asked in that flat tone of his, but amusement lie somewhere in his eyes. You laughed again, reassuring him as he slowly pulled his arm back to himself.

“Yeah! Just a little wet,” you snicker, wiping some of the excess water from your face. “What about you?”

He nods, mirroring your actions and sliding a few fingers through his bangs to get the wet strands out of his face. Had you been a lesser man, you would have died on the spot.

Instead you clear your throat, averting your eyes as he stands, flicking water from his jacket before handing it to you. Pointedly ignoring the taper of his waist beneath his black joggers, you reach tentatively to take it, confusion etched on your features.

“Oh, do you need me to hold it?” you ask, grasping the fabric between your fingers.

“No, you should…” He averts his eyes from you, the smallest of rosy hues appearing on his cheeks as he clears his throat. “Cover up with this.”

You look down and have the startling realization that the thin fabric of your light-colored shirt has soaked through as well, showing off everything underneath.

You could die right now. Really, you could. But instead you choose to quietly mutter an expletive, thank Giyuu for his jacket and slip it on, zipping up the front.

Dignity slightly restored but pride absolutely shattered, you turn to him.

“So, um… gift shop?” you ask, still buried beneath approximately 15 levels of shame and embarrassment. He nods, gesturing for you to lead the way, and you take the five minute walk to regain any remaining composure you can.

the next several minutes are spent in an extremely awkward silence as you look throughout the various trinkets, t-shirts and keychains

though the air inside is a bit chilly, you’re thankfully kept pretty warm by giyuu’s jacket

speaking of which, he can hardly look at you right now because of a) what happened earlier and b) the sight of you in his jacket. So he is just… trailing behind you as you shop

you excuse yourself to the restroom for a chance to get a good look at yourself, but on the way in, spot a screen with several photos on display

amid a variety of blue and orange displays are photos from the outdoor arena, capturing in full color the delight of children and parents alike

and off to the far right was a photo of you and giyuu a half second before the water hit, a sharp look of panic across his face as his arm was shooting out in front of you. next to him, you look as if you’ve seen a ghost, arms halfway shielding your face in preparation

as the photos scroll through, though, there is a second taken just a few seconds later

it’s perfect, you think

Giyuu is idly standing near the front of the store, having had more than enough time to look around in your absence. As you approach him, he notices you have on a new baby-blue crew neck shirt you picked up from the store, your previous one from before shoved haphazardly in the giftshop bag.

“Hey! Sorry for the wait,” you greet, looking far more refreshed after your visit to the restroom. “Ready to head out?”

He nods simply, choosing to walk alongside you toward the exit. Groups of parents and children move en masse toward the turnstiles, forming lines at the front. You both wait patiently in a surprisingly comfortable silence, the excitement of the day finally wearing on you.

After making it past the entry barriers and onto the sidewalk near the road, he realizes this is where you part ways. You pause in your stride, turning to him.

“Here’s your jacket back, sorry about that,” you say, extending it toward him. He takes it from you gently, tucking it over his arm.

“You have nothing to apologize for,” he states matter-of-factly, but there is a certain gentleness to his tone this time, a quietness in his voice.

A silence settles between the two of you as he contemplates how to say goodbye.

“By the way, I um…” you fumble your words as you reach into your bag, extending two small trinkets on your palm toward him. “Do you want one of these? They were making them inside.”

His brow furrows just slightly as he angles his head to look at the objects in your hand. On the right is a small photo of the two of you during the outdoor arena show, taken just after the water had splashed into the crowd. Your face is alight with laughter, and to your side, Giyuu dons a look he doesn’t quite recognize on himself. Something soft, almost, as he sees the pure joy radiating off of you, your hand clinging to his arm as delight and surprise overtake you.

Attached to the light blue frame is what appears to be a small plastic figure of Iru, the dolphin from the show. The larger and older of the two, if he remembers right. On the other keychain is the same photo framed in darker blue with a small figure of Kai, the other striped dolphin.

Did you… pick these out?

He stays quiet as he observes the small trinkets in your palm. As is so often the case, you mistake his silence for rejection, quick to backtrack.

“It’s okay if you don’t want it! I just thought they were fun,” you are quick to explain, still unsure of his reaction.

Eventually, he reaches forward, gingerly picking up the darker blue one with the Kai charm. The brief graze of his fingers on your palm sends a shiver through you as he looks thoughtfully at the keychain.

“Thank you. It’s… nice,” he says after a pause, pocketing the item in his black track pants.

“It’s no problem,” you reassure. “Thanks for, uh, hanging out today. I had a great time, all… mishaps considered.”

You huff a laugh at your own expense, knowing so badly what you want to say next but still building up the courage.

“I appreciate the invi–” “Anyway, let me know if you–”

You both pause mid-sentence, looking at each other in embarrassment at the misstep.

“You go ahead,” you say, gesturing to him.

“No, you,” he insists, shaking his head.

“Well, um, I was just going to say let me know if you want to do this again sometime or something.”

“Won’t we be coming back here with the other teachers?” he asks, clearly missing the point.

“Well, uh, I mean… it doesn’t have to be the aquarium,” you laugh nervously out of reflex, suddenly wishing you could crawl into a hole forever. “But anyway, yeah. No pressure, I just had fun and wouldn’t mind… Um. Yeah.”

Your hands gesture in the air aimlessly as you flounder. You have to pat yourself on the back for putting together probably the least helpful response known to man. Really, good work. Absolutely indecipherable.

In your sudden embarrassment, you don’t realize as Giyuu’s eyes widen just a fraction, taking in your words.

“I… enjoyed today,” he offers after a brief and unbearably awkward silence, sounding as if he’s still processing the day himself. “We can do it again. If you want.”

You feel your heartbeat quicken at his choppy sentiment, heart thrumming happily in your chest. The grin you send him leaves him in a similar state.

His fingers trace over the smooth plastic of the frame in his pocket as you say your goodbyes, his steps unusually slow as he watches you disappear around a corner to the nearest subway station.

Once you’re out of sight, he fishes the keychain from his pocket, swiftly affixing it to the rest of his keys before setting off on his own way home with your kind words echoing in his head. The sunset hues peeking through his bedroom window seem strangely more picturesque as he settles on the edge of his bed after returning home, thumb brushing carefully over the plastic frame of the keychain.

Much of his life has been spent watching others through the hardy walls of his own glass enclosure, witnessing as they navigate life and love and everything else. And as hard as he has tried, slamming fists and feet against the barrier, the walls have yet to give, leaving him hopeless in his efforts to reach and be reached.

But this difference between himself and others is not something he has yet come to terms with. Denial is a far easier pill to swallow. Even so, you make him feel as if the ocean between himself and others is not quite so vast–like the glass isn’t quite as thick as he was led to believe.

Today was his first spark of hope in a long time that maybe there is more to life than his own self-imposed solitude.

That is not to say he understands, and he will not for many months to come, exactly why you inspire such feelings of hope and longing within him–but it is not unwelcome. Not by a longshot.

a/n: hi!! this is so long. and i have no excuse for why i haven’t posted on this blog in ages. but i hope you like it!! it’s been in my drafts for so long mostly done and i finally got the urge to finish it

#tomioka giyuu #giyuu x reader #giyuu tomioka x reader #tomioka giyu x reader #Kimetsu no Yaiba #kny #groundnul #giyuu tomioka #gn!reader #kny x reader

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e-dubbc11 · 7 months

Text

Never Again Pt. 2

Photos are not mine. They are courtesy of Pinterest/Google.

Pairing: Brock Rumlow x F! Reader

Warnings: Well let’s see…swearing, stalking, violent, smut (18+ please or I’m telling on you) , fingering, oral (M&F receiving), protected sex, mentions of past domestic abuse

Word Count: 4.3k-ish

Summary: Continued from part one. Read it HERE Your ex has tracked you down, you hear Brock’s voice in your head when he comes at you and you use your training against him.

A/N: I didn’t expect this to turn into a little series but as my lovely Lily @munsonownsmyass told me just a little while ago, you gotta strike when the inspiration does, which is fitting because this stemmed from her ask in the first place, so thank you my love ♥️

As always, thank you for reading! I appreciate it so much and comments, reblogs are welcome and encouraged. Don’t be shy to tell me your favorite part. 💕💕 💕

When you heard his voice again, it brought you back to the first time he put his hands on you. The accusatory tone as he asked you where you had been all night, he was insecure and always thought you were cheating on him when, in fact, he was the one that would cheat on you every chance he had.

Danny exuded classic narcissistic behavior. He would be critical of people, look down on them, and believed he was superior to others. You seemed to have a gift for finding and falling for the biggest assholes on the planet because they were all the same.

They were handsome, charming, and sweet at first but even though they all looked different on the outside, their insides were all the same…ugly.

Seizing your upper arms, his fingers pressed firmly against your skin and the more you struggled, the more intense the pain was.

“I asked you, where have you been?!” He had asked with a raised voice.

“I told you, I went to the movies with a couple of friends. Let go of me!” You told him.

That exchange should have been enough for you to pick up and leave but it wasn’t. After the arguments, he would apologize or bring home flowers. You felt like you were living in one of those shitty Lifetime movies, just repeating the cycle over and over again.

Until you didn’t want to anymore.

Because he had money, he had the means to hire private investigators to track you down. It was never about the cat, it was always about the fact that you left and embarrassed him which he couldn’t have. But this strange cat and mouse game he was playing with you was slowly killing you.

As you walked the busy streets of Washington, D.C., it was hard to not look over your shoulder, wondering if someone was following you or if he was waiting for you around the corner. And it took some time but he found you again, just when you were starting to feel somewhat comfortable in a new place.

His words and the tone of his voice sounded like nails on a chalkboard to you.

“Miss me?” He had said.

You’d be lying if you said you weren’t scared because you were but suddenly you became hyper aware of your surroundings, looking at anything that could possibly get in your way, trip you up, or be thrown at you. Remembering the lessons that Brock taught you about always being on alert.

There was a packed bag next to the door in case you had to make another escape. It really was like a game for him, just something for him and his trust fund to do. “Where will she go next?!! Well let’s go find out!” But you were tired of running, you liked it here, you had a good job and you finally had…a friend.

Sure, Brock was cranky, angry, and a bit of a smartass but at least he never hit you…well, unless you were sparring or he was teaching you something new.

His teachings were playing in fast forward and on repeat in your mind. There weren’t any weapons Danny could use, not even a steak knife and he didn’t know your apartment like you did.

“I don’t know why you keep running, y/n. You know I always find you.” He said while sitting on your couch across the room.

“It’s easy when you have unlimited resources and an endless supply of money, Danny!” You replied, staying close to the door.

“Where’s Peanut?” He asked. “I couldn’t find him anywhere.”

Your voice cracked. “He’s somewhere you’ll never find him.”

The cat carrier was by the door also and it took some time but you were able to train Peanut to come when called which has enabled you to escape with some of your belongings and the cat each time.

Up until this point, he was just toying with you. He wanted you to escape so he could find you again but you sensed that this time was different, that he didn’t want to let you go, and he wasn’t letting you out of your apartment unless you were with him…or something else.

“Well come in here, baby. Lemme get a better look at you. Been workin’ out, I see. You’re lookin’ good. What have you been doin’?” He asked.

“Spinning.” You replied, curtly.

He shook his head, slowly and tapped his tongue against his teeth. “Tsk, tsk…sweetheart. What did I tell you before about lyin’ to me?” He asked. “The P.I. I hired told me you’ve been taking boxing lessons from an angry lookin’ goon every day.”

“Yeah, just boxing lessons.” You thought to yourself. He didn’t know the half of it because Brock always made sure you were alone in the boxing ring area until your lessons were up. No one else was allowed in so that included Danny’s private investigator.

Placing his hands on his knees, he pushed himself off of the couch to a standing position and your heart lurched into your throat. The look he had in his eyes was ice cold as he started to walk over to you which caused your reflexes to jump.

Brock’s voice echoing in your head. “Hands up, always be ready y/n. He WILL try and catch you off guard but you’re not gonna let that happen, are ya?!”

His lessons were still so clear in your mind, telling you that he’ll tire if he keeps swinging and missing so just keep dodging those punches. That was how you tired Brock out, he kept swinging and you kept moving.

The door to the cat carrier was open. “Psspsspss, here kitty kitty.” You said softly. The cabinet door underneath the kitchen sink opened and Peanut shot out, went right to the cat carrier and you closed the door, he had treats in there. He would be fine. You were more than sure that Danny didn’t want the cat this time.

“Well isn’t that a clever hiding spot.” Danny said.

You narrowed your eyes at him. “He never liked you anyway.” You said, smugly.

It sounded like a little bit of Brock’s attitude had worn off on you.

“Don’t let him get behind you.”

Your hands were up and ready in case he tried anything but you wanted to show him what would happen if he tried to hurt you so you struck him on his left cheek, then on his right. Backing away from the door, you inched closer to the kitchen.

“You’re not gonna hurt me anymore, Danny. Leave, now!” You yelled.

“Loose knees, elbows tucked in, show me that combo I taught you. 1-2-hook-2, that’s it.” There was Brock’s voice again.

His nose was bleeding now and he had a surprised look on his face like he couldn’t believe what you just did to him which just made him even angrier.

With his arms outstretched, he lunged for you but you quickly moved out of the way, so he missed and hit his head on the cabinet.

Dizzy and trying to catch his balance, Danny staggered toward you and in a moment of clarity, managed to grab you by the throat and pin you against the wall, an all too familiar position but you knew how to free yourself.

Extending your arm straight up and turning to the right, your elbow came down on his wrist, allowing you to elbow him hard in the face and move past him.

He attempted to chase after you but you managed to open the freezer door and he slammed head first into it, knocking him flat on his back.

He was out cold, not moving but you didn’t want to stick around long enough for him to wake up. Grabbing your keys, bags and Peanut, you left the apartment and called the only person you could.

**********

He answered on the first ring.

“You miss me already, doll?” He asked.

You quickly looked over your shoulder, no one was there. Breathing heavily, you replied. “N-not exactly.”

“Ouch!” He exclaimed.

“H-he was waiting for me at my place after y-you brought me h-home.” You said with a hitch in your voice.

You had no idea where you were walking or where you were. You turned down a couple of side streets to make sure he couldn’t follow you when he woke up, you knew you didn’t kill him.

“Where are you?!! Tell me now!” He shouted into the phone.

With your head on a swivel, you looked around to see if you could identify anything familiar but you couldn’t. “I-I don’t know! I’ll share my location. You can find me that way, right?”

“Do it now! I’ll be right there.”

You told Brock what happened after he picked you up.

“Are you hurt?” He asked with just a hint of concern in his voice.

You violently shook your head. “No…I’m fine. Well as fine as I could be, I guess.”

He brought you back to his place and got you settled on the couch before telling you he was leaving again.

“Where are you going?” You asked.

He attached a knife to his belt. “I’m going to check to see if he’s still there. I’ll be fine. Do not move from that seat and do NOT let that cat out!”

“But Brock, he’s been in there for—“ You started to say.

“Do not let that thing out until I get back.” He growled.

You tossed your hands in the air. “Ok, ok cranky pants. Jeez Louise.”

You could tell he felt a little bad for raising his voice given your previous relationship so he stopped and sat down next to you.

Gently brushing the stray hair away from your eyes. “Shit, I’m sorry sweetheart. I’m happy you’re not hurt, I’m just angry that asshole found you again.”

“I knew he would, it was just a matter of time.” You said, gingerly brushing his stubble with your thumb. “Thank you for picking me up…and for teaching me how to protect myself. I’m not sure I would have made it out of there this time if it hadn’t been for your lessons. I can’t help but see the look in his eyes when he…” The hitch in your voice caused you to trail off, you wanted to speak but your words were caught in your throat and tears welled up in your eyes.

He pinched your chin between his forefinger and thumb, tilted it up toward his face so he was looking into your eyes and he softly pressed his lips to yours.

But just as fast as he kissed you, he pulled away to leave so he could check to see if Danny was still at your apartment.

“You know how to use one of these?” He asked handing over a 9 mm.

Releasing the clip to check it and slamming it back into place, you replied, “It’s been awhile but I remember.”

You weren’t sure you’ve ever seen Brock speechless before, his jaw was on the floor. “I have never been more turned on.”

You couldn’t help but crack a smile.

“I’ll be back, remember…stay put and don’t let the cat out, I mean it.”

“Yeah, yeah I heard you the first time, Rumlow.” You replied.

He closed and locked the door.

You looked at Peanut through the door of the cat carrier and said, “Sorry, buddy. Brock said you have to stay in there until he gets back.”

Waiting for Brock to come back felt like hours but it really hadn’t been all that long before you heard keys in the door. He walked in carrying cat food, litter and a litter box.

Your heart swelled and the image of Brock standing in line at the store, holding all of that stuff made you giggle a little.

“You bought all of that stuff for Peanut?” You asked.

He pressed his lips together in a straight line before replying, “Well I sure as shit didn’t buy it for me! You can let him out now, if you want.”

Brock told you about what he found when he went back to your apartment but Danny wasn’t there. He found a note that said “see you again soon, baby.” And he found blood.

“You really got him good, huh?” He asked.

The compliment made you smile. “Yeah, I guess I did.”

He brought back more of your clothes and a small jewelry box with the only jewelry you had left from as many times as you picked up and left, it contained a ring that your mother had given you. It was just a little hard to believe that this sour, angry, brute had a soft spot for you…and your cat.

“You want some tea, doll?” He asked.

“Brock Rumlow, you actually have tea here? I didn’t think you even knew what tea was!” You said with a sly smile.

“And that doesn’t leave this room, you got that?!” He said pointing a finger at you.

“Yes sir!!”

Even though you were cracking jokes, you felt very uneasy and worried that Danny was going to find you again because he always does. But you felt terrible that you brought all of this to Brock’s home and got him involved.

Your shoulders dropped and you started to fidget. Looking down at your busy fingers, you said, “I’m sorry, Brock.”

“What? Why?” He asked.

You wiped a tear that had streaked down your face. “For involving you in my problem, I shouldn’t have done that but I also feel like I’m alive because of you.”

“You’re alive because of you, y/n. I just gave you the tools to fight back with.” He said.

He gazed at you with his eyes that were the color of whiskey, the tone of his voice was raspy and sexy, and the lines around his eyes silently told you he had been through a lot in his life. That was probably why he acted the way he did.

Brock closed the gap between your bodies until you were sharing the same air and he kissed you but it was gentle and sweet, not very “Brock” like which is really what you wanted but you’d settle for this.

His rough calloused hands brushed the hair off of your shoulder and tucked it behind your ear, grazing the side of your neck, and sending a shudder up and down your back.

“You’re gonna stay here until we figure something out, alright? And I ain’t takin’ no for an answer.” His breath warmed your eyelids as he spoke.

“Ok.” You replied.

“Well I’m sure you probably wanna take a shower, towels are in the closet, and I ain’t much of a cook but you want a sandwich or somethin’ to go with your tea?” He asked, getting up from the couch and walking into the kitchen.

“Sure, Brock. That sounds great.” You said.

Walking into the bathroom, you closed the door and inhaled sharply. What happened to the Brock that kissed you so hungrily earlier, tasting you like he couldn’t get enough? Something’s changed and you wanted to know why.

**********

For two weeks, the two of you lived together basically as roommates, still working out together, and you still went to work every day.

The only thing that was different was you didn’t go anywhere without him. He brought you to work every day, some days it was on the motorcycle that left some of your co-workers drooling.

“Hey, you got a little something on your chin.” You had said with a sly grin, offering them a tissue.

“He is a smoke show, how do you keep your hands to yourself?!!” One of them had asked.

With raised eyebrows and a smile, you waved them out of your cubicle. “Goodbye, Candace.”

Brock picked you up at the end of the day too. He told you it wasn’t safe for you to drive your car around so he had it put somewhere that only he knew where it was.

At night, you’d have dinner together, watch tv or a movie, and he’d kiss you goodnight. A quick gentle kiss on the lips was all you got at the end of the day and he’d go to his room and you slept on the couch.

All of this was starting to take a toll on you, some of the excess pent up energy you could get out in the boxing ring, but the rest of it…you held on to. You needed to get it out in another way.

You remembered his words from a couple weeks ago. “The next time my head is between your legs, sweetheart, it will be because you want me there, trust me.”

And you did want him there.

You wanted his lips pressed hard against yours, his strong arms pinning you against the bed while marking up your body in the places only he could see, which probably turned him on.

That’s the Brock you wanted.

The thought of him attacking your body like a wild animal and growling against your mouth made you so wet. Most nights you had to clench your thighs together sitting next to him on the couch because of how desperately you wanted him.

And finally, one night, you couldn’t take it anymore.

You were barely through the door before turning to ask him, “What happened, Brock?”

His mouth narrowed to a fine line and with a confused look on his face asked, “What do ya mean? Happened with what, doll?”

Frustrated, you dropped your work bag onto the floor while the blood in your veins burned like wildfire.

“What do I mean?! I mean, you were ready to fuck me in the middle of the boxing ring two weeks ago and you haven’t touched me since!” You shouted.

Brock tossed his keys onto the kitchen counter and ripped open the door to the fridge to get a beer, never taking his eyes off of you. Forcefully twisting the cap to the beer off, he threw it into the sink and took a sip.

“You think I haven’t wanted to?! Huh?!” He said with a raised voice.

“Well you have a funny way of showing it!” You said.

“You were attacked, y/n! Contrary to VERY popular belief, I’m not a fuckin’ monster! I didn’t want to take advantage of you…not that the thought didn’t cross my mind because it did.” He said sharply.

He moved across the room to stand in front of you. His eyes were wide and unfocused. The angry shape to his mouth seemed to change the entire look of his face and his gaze slipped from your eyes to your mouth.

Brock was still dressed in his work clothes, black from head to toe, and he had no idea what that look did to you. The outline of his ab muscles strained against the black t-shirt, everything about him turned you on.

“I’m not a broken little girl, Rumlow! I’m stronger now than I thought I could ever be!” You yelled but then your tone changed. “Because of you.” You said in a softer tone.

He didn’t say anything, he just captured your lips and walked you backwards until you were up against the wall, his strong arms caging you in as his mouth slanted over yours. His tongue begged for access to your mouth, swiping at your lower lip as his scruff brushed against your soft cheeks.

You gripped his head firmly as if to keep him from escaping. This is the Brock that you had wanted, the real one. You didn’t want someone to walk on eggshells when they were around you, or treat you with kid gloves because they thought they were going to break you.

You felt stronger than ever and no one was going to break you.

He suddenly seized the top of your blouse and ripped it apart, the buttons flying off in every direction, and discarding it onto the floor.

“This is what you wanted, isn’t it sweetheart.” He said in a low gravelly voice, his hard body pressed firmly against you and pushing you into the wall.

“Yes, yes Brock.” You whispered against his mouth.

Reaching for the hem of his t-shirt, you hurriedly pulled it over his head revealing his toned body underneath. Every single muscle was tight like piano wire and it was hard to tear your eyes away from the specimen in front of you.

Dropping to your knees, you unbuttoned his pants and inched them down as well as his boxer briefs. When his cock sprang free, you quickly took him into your mouth, while he praised you for it.

“I knew that pretty mouth of yours was good for somethin’ other than yelling at me, fuck that feels good.” He moaned.

Tickling the tops of his thighs, you hollowed out your cheeks as you took it all. His hips bucked as he let out a guttural moan and growled for you to get up. “Go to my bedroom…NOW!” He ordered.

Pushing you down onto the bed, he made quick work of the rest of your clothes, and ripped your panties clean off before climbing on top of you and painting kisses all over your body.

“You’re not the only one that’s good with their mouth.” He whispered.

The corners of your mouth turned up slightly as you challenged him. “Oh yeah? Then prove it to me, baby.”

He parted your folds with one finger, then a second. You were soaked. “This all for me, princess?”

You nodded.

“Answer me, sweetheart.” He husked into your ear and biting down on your neck.

“Yes, it’s all for you.” You said.

He kissed your stomach, nipping at the skin just above your core, down your inner thighs and marking you as he went further down then feeling his tongue slip inside you as you arched your back off of the bed.

Brock hummed against your clit as sharp shudders of pleasure traveled through your body. The gradual intensity of your orgasm building while he tongue fucked you until your vision went white.

His name fell from your lips over and over again, and your moans became louder as you hit your peak, soaking the sheet underneath you. With a wicked grin on his face, he climbed up your body like a tree so he could look at you again.

“You are the sweetest thing I have ever tasted.” He said, firmly pressing his hips in between your legs.

You felt warmth spread across your cheeks, you’ve never received a compliment like that before. It was almost a little embarrassing so you couldn’t help but cover your eyes with your hand but it made you smile.

He barely let you catch your breath before forcefully pinning your arms to the bed, kissing you hard until your lips were swollen and raw, and reaching into the nightstand for a condom.

He slipped into you with ease, going deeper and deeper until he was buried to the hilt and moved slow and rhythmic to stretch you out.

“I’ve been thinking about this since I met you. Fuck, you feel so good, baby.” You said, the air ripped from your throat, tearing away your voice.

“You’re doin’ real good, princess. Takin’ my whole cock like a good girl.” He barked.

Brock’s pace quickened, his movements became more urgent, and caused your walls to clench down around him.

Pulling back hard on his hair, he hit that sensitive bundle of nerves over and over again until you couldn’t see straight. His thighs and stomach went rigid, you knew he was close.

You screamed his name, gripped his ass tightly and pulled him deeper inside as he chased his own release and collapsed on top of you.

As you both tried to catch your breath, he insistently gripped your chin to turn toward his face to kiss you again. The man was absolutely feral for you.

“You can grab my ass during sex like that anytime, sweetheart. Fuck, you’re amazing.” He said, panting.

“Well you should see what I can do on top.” You said with a wink.

He smiled back. “Well we can try that later…among other things. Let’s go take a shower, doll.”

**********

After showering, you cuddled against Brock’s chest talking to each other for a while. He broke a quiet moment by saying, “I know I ain’t exactly cuddly and soft. I couldn’t bring myself to do, well, this after he came after you.”

Your expression softened as you propped yourself up on one arm, looking at him as he spoke.

“I’m grouchy, angry, I raise my voice to you and rough around the edges. I didn’t want you to think that…that I’m like him.” He said. “I would NEVER put my hands on you, well unless you want me to.” One corner of his mouth turned up into a half smile.

You sat up and straddled him, resting your hands on his broad shoulders.

“I know you’d never put your hands on me, Brock. Just because of how angry you got when you found out Danny had hit me and how determined you were to make sure I could fight him off and cause him pain. I guess that’s how I know you’d never hurt me.” You said, leaning forward to kiss him.

He rested his hands on your hips and looked up at you with his honey colored eyes. “Just don’t go around tellin’ people, alright?!”

“Ok, Ok, I won’t.” You paused. “Well, look at that…I’m on top.” You said with a sly smile.

Through the sheet, you could feel his hardening length against your leg.

He looked at you with a coy smile of his own and replied. “Yes you are, doll. Show me what you can do, baby.”

**********

You were in the middle of a dream when you felt a hand clamp down over your mouth and Brock whispering in your ear.

“It’s just me, doll. It’s just me. I need you to be quiet, do exactly as I say and keep calm for me, can you do that?” He asked.

You nodded.

“Someone’s here.”

Others that might enjoy: @fluffyprettykitty @qu1etwolf @redstarsandnightmares @gijos @nutmeg17 @k-marzolf @randomlittleimp @itwasthereaminuteago

#brock rumlow #brock rumlow x reader #brock rumlow fanfiction #brock rumlow x female reader #brock rumlow x y/n

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yanderu-deredere · 1 year

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line.

★ you and your friends accept the gracious invite a couple of strangers extended to you. they didn't seem all that bad and, in fact, you get a bit attached to them! they're really kind after all...

a/n: here's the second part. i'm writing this before ive published the first part so here's crossing my fingers, hoping that first part gets good reviews loool this should be published the day after so! hope i didnt make yall wait to long!

like i warned in the first part, these yanderes are inspired by slashers. the first part didn't include any violence but this part might. i'll include in the warnings if it does. please heed the warnings! thank you!

part one (hook.) ★ part two (here) ★ part three (sinker.) ★ part four (?)

pairing: casimir fiala x reader x emmaline fiala word count: 2393 warning: gender neutral reader, reader is attracted to males and females, readers friends suck even more, reader is kind of pervy in this one, final ship is poly

When the entire group finally entered the couple's house, you were met with a hallway entrance. Unlike the outside of the house, the inside was nice and well-maintained.

"Pretty sweet house." Dirk wolf whistled as he walked ahead and looked around, his bag slung behind his shoulder. Chloe giggled at him as if what he said was a joke. You honestly didn't understand.

Of course, Bran had to put his two cents. "Pretty sweet for a glorified security guard."

"Shut up, don't be rude." You couldn't help but defend the couple a little, a frown marring your lips as you watched Emm look curiously at her husband, only for Casimir to roll his eyes as if to say 'Don't get me started'

Before you could venture further into the home, you felt a rough shove from beside you. You tried your hardest not to fall over; not an easy feat considering the hefty pack on your back.

When you glanced at who shoved you, you weren't exactly surprised to see it was Kathy. She mouthed at you to shut up, probably annoyed that you were telling her boyfriend off.

She had a weird notion that only she was allowed to do that.

Rolling your eyes, you just gave a curt nod and went on your way, trying to stick close to the couple and avoiding your friends who were oddly striking nerve after nerve with you today.

You weren't surprised. After years of the four of them keeping you around to use you for their own bullshit, you had gotten tired of it and tried to distance yourself.

Why did you even let them talk you into going on this trip?

Maybe a part of you still felt some sort of friendship for them. After all, even though they'd been terrible to you, you were good friends with them for a long time and that wasn't something easily forgotten.

Call it stupidity or some misplaced sense of loyalty.

"Make yourselves at home." Emm gestured to everything before pointing to the stairs directly at the end of the hallway "The third floor's off limits 'cus that's where we're at but everything is on the second floor."

"There is two guest bedrooms there and a shared bathroom." Casimir elaborated as he hung up his rather drenched lab coat "Usually, we keep it for the in laws and close family. They stayed recently so the rooms should still be good and clean."

"Why would anyone want to visit here..." You spotted Chloe running her fingers along a table by the door with a bunch of knickknacks on it, frown evident on her face

Emm tossed her motorcycle keys Chloe's direction and she had to snatch her hand back just to prevent it from smacking the back of her hand.

"We're not allowed a lot'a vacation days so family have to visit us here if the wan'a spend time with us." Emm easily explained, shrugging as she hung up her motorcycle helmet before just unceremoniously placing her elbow pads right next to her keys.

You ignored how much that didn't make sense and opted to look into one of the door ways branching off of the hall way.

Dirk was right, though. Their house was pretty impressive for an abandoned little town.

It reminded you of those historical movies set in rural Georgia or something; a lot of wood furniture, with the open wooden beams in the ceiling, and a lot of family heirlooms cluttered everywhere.

The room you specifically looked into was a living room, complete with a fire place and a creepy looking mirror hung above it.

The couches at least looked nice but they also looked ancient, with the floral patterns looking like they came from someone's Grandma's linen closet.

"No windows?" Kathy walked up next to you, taking every step like she was about to walk into a trap.

You would've rolled your eyes if you didn't think she would've shoved you into the rather nice coffee table as retaliation.

You gestured to a rather large window to your left but she just scoffed at you "That's a door."

You walked closer to observe and were surprised to be proven correct. It was a door. You could see something like a garden through the gauzy curtain covering the panes of glass.

"The lack of windows make it a little gloomy in here." Bran appeared right next to Kathy, arms crossed as he pretended to shiver from how scared he was of the bad lighting.

Kathy just laughed but you shook your head.

As you turned around, the three of you were suddenly blinded with light and, though you couldn't say the same for Bran and Kathy, you definitely jumped a little.

At the entrance of the living room, Casimir stood, his hand on a light switch and a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.

"I am in charge of dinner, as I am every night. I was going to cook a rather nice scotch fillet for me and my wife. I have some extras I was going to save for later this week." He explained, drawing his hand away from the way to tuck it behind his back "Any allergies? And how would you like your steak cooked?"

"No allergies in the group." All the anxiety in Kathy's body seemed to evaporate at the thought of getting free dinner "And I love having my steak done medium well, thank you!"

"Well done for me." Bran grumbled out, not happy his girlfriend was so easily won over by a steak dinner

You, on the other hand, felt a little nervous accepting such a wonderful dinner invitation so you moved forward, dropping your bag next to the couch "Are you sure it's okay for you to cook us dinner?"

"It's late, the rain is predicted to keep up all night. I most certainly won't let my wife drive in the middle of the night even if it does stop." Casimir held out a hand as if to stop you from whatever you wanted to say "Let us at least do you this one favor. We don't get a lot of visitors after all and we're paid well enough by our jobs to afford feeding a bunch of strays."

When he said that, you saw his green eyes flicker for a second to Bran and there was some sort of irritation there but then it flickered back to you and all you could see was sweet politeness.

So, of course, you relented but not without compromise "At least let me help you prepare dinner."

Casimir seemed surprised by that but then he grinned "If you insist."

Then, his hand, which he had held up a second ago, raised even further to tuck a stray strand of your hair behind your ear, his fingers seemingly lingering for a bit longer "How about I get the ingredients ready and you change out of those sopping wet clothes?"

"It won't do either of us good if you get a cold now would it?" He added and you felt your ears get a little hot with embarrassment.

He was right, you were getting a bit ahead of yourself. You gave a quick nod. Scurrying back, you picked up your bag and made a move to go upstairs.

As you passed by Bran, he shouldered you a little and you heard him whisper to you, "Don't flirt with him, you fucking freak."

You felt your face fall but you quickly tried to compose yourself.

You honestly should've been used to it by now. Bran always decided to knock you down a peg at random moments like that but, still, it always took you off your guard.

Before you could get up the stairs, a gentle hand cupped your elbow and you turned, curious to see who stopped you.

"Hi, sorry, darl', just wanted to say that you'll have to stay in a spare bed on the third floor." Emm smiled gently at you, the picture of a kind hostess "I hope you don't mind."

You quickly shook your head, trying to calm the heat on your face and ears "Of course not! You're already helping us so much after all the trouble we've put you guys through!"

Then, you leaned close, pretending as if you were going to tell her some terrible secret "Don't tell Bran I said this but it was honestly stupid of him to try and go through here as a short cut to Lovelock."

When you pulled back, there was an expression on Emm's face that you couldn't exactly decipher. Before you couldn't really think about it though, it was gone and she was back to smiling at you.

"Yeah, there's been millions'a people like him for sure." Emm nodded, hand gliding up to your forearm as she guided you up the stairs, probably to where your room was "I always think the fine's too big for'em to try but there's always anoth'r dum'ass every week."

You giggled a little at her words but your brain felt a little dizzy at the feel of her hand around your arm, the way her palm almost wrapped entirely around it, how firm her grip was on you.

She was one tough looking lady.

"Your other two friends are a'ready in their rooms, d'now if you were lookin' for them." She informed you as the two of you passed that landing before embarking on the second set of stairs to the third floor.

"How come you guys have such a huge house?" You couldn't help but wonder, the curiosity getting the best of you.

"This used't be the house of some big shot at the Pharma back in the day, before the factory closed. Someone with a big family, I reckon." She shrugged as the two of you got to the final step on the stairs "The Pharma gave us reign to the entire village and we were movin' in with my brother and sister at the time so we jus' picked the biggest house. The oth'r choices were way smaller or just straight up apartments."

You nodded before feeling a little surprised to see that the third floor looked like a second living room. There was another set of couches, a coffee table, TV set and a door leading to what you presumed was the master bedroom.

"I hope a pullout is okay with you?" Emm smiled apologetically at you "It's really comfortable, I promise."

Without thinking much about it, you took her hand into yours and gave it a little shake "It's really fine, truly. Like I said before, you've been more than hospitable to us. This is so much more than what we should expect."

Her smile grew wide and she swooped in, giving you a tight hug "I'm so glad you think so! You'd fit right in here, y'know."

You laughed, hugging her back. You didn't know exactly what she meant by that but she was just so nice and kind that you accepted her words easily.

"Now, I think I heard you say you'd help Cas out with dinner." She pulled away, her hands rubbing up and down your shoulders for a second before she turned you towards the closed door you spotted earlier "Let me show you the bathroom."

"Oh, wait, isn't that--"

"It's fine!" Emm waved off your concerns as she practically dragged you along, opening the door and gesturing to the other door on the far side "That's the bathroom, by the way."

Then she let you go to rifle around her drawers for something.

You couldn't help but look around a little, curious about their master bedroom. It looked like any other bedroom, albeit a little too clean. Big bed in the middle, nightstand on either side, dresser for both him and her. There was another door you assumed was a closet.

"What's wrong?"

"Oh nothing, I was just--" You were about to answer her except, when you turned to look at her, she was in the middle of taking off (or putting on?) her shirt and you panicked, your entire face feeling as hot as a kettle.

You turned around, squeaking out apology after apology as you scrambled into the bathroom, heart beating a mile a minute.

You locked the door and put down your bag, changing as fast as you could while trying to erase the image of Emm changing in your head. Still, you couldn't.

She was a married woman so you felt guilty but that didn't change the fact that she was very beautiful. Her body was built but curvy, pudgy but in a way where you could tell she had muscles underneath, with black and red tattoos swirling all over her tanned skin.

All you could remember was the lace of her black bra cupping her breasts, the way they were too big and seemed to overflow at the top of the cups.

Even her pants hung low, revealing the tops of her matching underwear and the hints of a tattoo on her wide hips.

You wanted to slap yourself.

She was a married woman! And she was being so gracious to you! Why were you lusting over her like some stupid high school kid? You idiot!

You tapped your head a few times as if you could tap the thought right out of your head before continuing with your changing.

When you exited with your bag, she was gone, probably weirded out by your staring. You sighed and just dropped your bag off at the couch right outside their bedroom.

Then, you walked downstairs. You wanted to check on Chloe and Dirk but, from the giggling right outside their room, you rather gouge your eyes out.

So, instead, you headed directly to the kitchen.

Casimir was already there, looking dressed and ready to cook. He had a different button up, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He also had an apron around his waist and his hair was tied in a messy bun high on his head.

There was something both domestic and handsome about the way he was dressed.

"Ah, my dear Igor, you've gotten dressed." He smirked as soon as he spotted you, his hand doing a couple of final flicks to roll up his last sleeve "There's an apron there, on the chair--"

You spotted it quickly and put it on, though you struggled a bit to tie it at the back.

Casimir chuckled a little, all deep and rich, before going behind you and helping you tie it.

"So, if I'm Igor, does that mean you're Dr. Frankenstein?" You tried to keep the silence at bay as he tied your apron and you rolled your sleeves up to your elbows.

He chuckled again "Of course. Though, hopefully, our cooking doesn't end up as convoluted as the Creature."

As he got ready at the kitchen counter, you couldn't help but turn a little meek "Uhm, by the way, did you see where Emm went?"

Casimir didn't spare you a glance as he set out a board and some vegetables out, probably for you to cut or dice "Oh, I think she went out to park her motorcycle? Probably so it doesn't rust in this downpour."

You frowned but took your place beside Casimir who seemed intent on peeling the potatoes as best as he could "When-- When she was uhm showing me the bathroom-- I uhm-- I accidentally-- you know-- I uhm--"

That's when Casimir finally stopped and peeked at you, his green eyes justas intimidating as when you first saw him out on that main road, by the factory.

"I a-accidentally saw her ch-changing." You squeaked, unable to keep your gaze on him

Instead of anger, Casimir suddenly clapped a hand on the back of your neck and pulled you close, that same deep and rumbling chuckle leaving his lips "Is that all? It's fine. If she had a problem with it, you wouldn't be with me, chopping up vegetables."

"O-Oh, okay!"

"She's taken quite a liking to you. I can tell." He continued to peel the potatoes, chucking the peeled ones in a bowl before gesturing to some broccolini and asparagus that needed trimming "Don't worry, if she had a problem with you, she will let you know."

"I'm sure she's told you but you'd be a good fit here, you know."

"Yeah, she said that." You started chopping the bottoms of the asparagus absentmindedly "What does that mean?"

"Just that we both really like you. Your friends take you for granted. You're a really great person." Casimir shrugged before bumping his hip against yours "Have you ever thought of settling here in Lovelock permanently?"

"Oh, I mean, there's not really anything waiting for me back at home other than a college degree." You laughed nervously before shrugging too "I don't know, I think it'd be nice but I'm-- I've never-- I don't know."

You could see Casimir look unsure for a second, like he was panicked and didn't know what to say, before he sighed "Sorry if I said something-- Or-- I'm not good with words or with feelings."

"But you have a place to stay with Emm and I if you ever need it."

You grinned at him, nodding "I really appreciate it! Thank you!"

When you looked up at him, there was a strange expression on his face. KInd of similar to that expression on Emm's face earlier. You chalked it to you just being weird. Instead, you focused on your asparagus, excited about the dinner coming.

#yandere oc x reader #yandere x reader #female yandere #male yandere #yandere #oc x reader #female oc #male oc #slasher x reader #slasher oc x reader #female slasher #female slasher oc #male slasher #male slasher oc #emm #chaptered

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thru-the-grapevine · 2 years

Text

Under the Stars

Pairing: Choi San x reader

Summary: The stars decide to spell out your fate with the cute boy who took you stargazing rather clearly, for once.

Word Count: 1.6k

Tags: summer camp au, fluff to end all fluff, also idiocy

You peer up at the universe sprinkled overhead, gnawing your lower lip. “I’m not sure I see it.”

The grass of left outfield shifts beneath the blanket as San scoots a little closer to you. Despite the comfortably warm night, the feeling of his body heat mere inches from your side sends prickles across your skin.

“Okay, look,” San says, lifting his arm and pointing to a cluster of stars. “Starts right there, beneath that really bright one, and it goes down left, and then trails around that way, see?”

You force your gaze away from the contour of his arm and attempt to follow as he traces an outline in the heavens. “And you said it’s…”

“A jellyfish,” he says, and you can hear him grinning. “That spot I just traced is the bell, and then the tentacles—”

“—are just there,” you realize, suddenly seeing the constellation. You snort.

“Nice, right?” San snickers. “I actually felt clever making that one. Okay, your turn.”

“Oh, god,” you mutter, smiling and gazing all across the sky. “Okay, um…”

This is exactly what you’d expected when San asked if you wanted to sneak out to the campground’s baseball field and look at stars. Several other young camp staff you’d been sitting with watched you accept his offer with jealousy, and you knew they were picturing a far more romantic, swoonworthy scene. Something it seemed most of the young camp staff would kill for with San—at least, something they’d kill for now.

Choi San has been your camp bestie since the day you met as kids, when you accidentally spilled green Kool-Aid all over him and he retaliated on purpose with his purple Kool-Aid. He wasn’t one of the cooler kids at camp over the years—too dorky, the other kids said. But that worked out perfectly for you, because you were a dork, too.

It was shocking when he turned up one summer a few years ago when you were counselors and he was…cute. Against your better judgment, it awakened something in you—and, apparently, several other counselors, who were suddenly interested in hanging around him. You tried not to let it boost your ego when he barely noticed them, preferring to stick around you, instead. He was still just as dorky, like nothing had changed, and you wanted to keep it that way, so for the sake of your friendship you fought down any feelings that awakened.

Except they like to re-awaken all the time, as you both continue to grow up and he only gets cuter. A constant battle. You’re running out of room to bury your feelings at this point.

“Aaah, wait—um, uh, um…” you sputter, laughing as San begins humming the Jeopardy theme.

You chance a glance over at him, only to look away again sharply when you see him grinning ear-to-ear at you. Your entire face comes to a boil. Panicked, you fling your arm up and point. “There, take a guess.”

You begin scrutinizing that spot desperately for a form that makes sense as San groans. “No fair, that’s where I was going to pick next.”

“Pff, yeah, what were you gonna pick, a….coiled-up snake?” You retort, tossing the snake idea out the window.

“...Noooo,” he says, then pauses. “Okay, kind of. It was going to be one of those fuzzy worm things, so that doesn’t technically count.”

You snort. “Keep dreaming.”

“What’s yours, then, huh, if you’re so clever?”

“You mean you can’t see it?” You ask, faking offense, wracking your brains for ideas.

“Methinks thou doth protest too much,” San says, and you can hear him smirking.

You huff. “Fine, I’ll tell you, spoilsport. It’s one of those, you know…”

You can definitely hear him grinning now. “You know…?”

At last, inspiration strikes. “It’s an ammonite.”

A moment’s pause, and then San asks, “an ammonite?”

“Don’t tell me you don’t know what an ammonite is,” you say, injecting mock horror into your voice. “I remember your dinosaur phase from fourth grade summer too well for that.”

There’s a moment of silence as San scrutinizes the sky.

You smirk the longer he doesn’t reply. “So, you know. An ammonite. Duh.”

“That…” He says, staring at the place you’d pointed out, “…is genius…”

You grin.

“....ly stupid.”

“Hey!” You turn and smack his arm, laughing. “You were going to say it was a fuzzy worm!”

You pointedly ignore how cute his dimples are, the way his eyes crinkle when he smiles. “At least mine wasn’t a fossil.”

“You didn’t make any rules except ‘it can’t be boring like a real constellation’!”

“I’m changing the rules now, no fossils.”

You scrunch your face up into an indignant, scowling pout. “Starting now. Mine counts.”

San rolls his eyes, but a grin tugs at his lips. “So needy. Fine, my turn.”

“And you can’t start from where I just made one,” you remind him.

“Yah, who’s in charge here, anyway?” San complains.

You scoff. “Who said anything about someone being in charge? Besides, you’ve got loads of other stars to work with.”

“But I wanted to work with those stars.”

“Bo-ring.”

“Ah come on, they’re all fake constellations anyw—whoa!”

You both jolt, eyes wide, as the brightest shooting star you’ve ever seen hurtles through the sky above. It’s huge, the tail burning fire from one horizon to the other in a brilliant slash.

As quickly as it comes, it fades, but the spell it casts lingers over you both. Both of you fall quiet, staring up into the stars. Everything comes into focus that you hadn’t been aware of before—the soft chirp of crickets from the nearby woods, the barely-there breeze stirring across your legs, the earthy smell of the baseball diamond. How close Choi San is lying next to you, on this blanket, the two of you in a world all your own.

“That was…amazing,” San breathes.

Your throat is dry. All you can do is nod.

“Did you see that?”

“Yeah.”

“It was huge,” he says, shifting a little on the blanket. “I’ve…I feel like I need to make a wish. Should I make a wish?”

You wish your feelings could just go away. “Nah, not on that one. You kidding? It was way too big for just a wish. That was like…a sign, or something.”

San sounds thoughtful. “A sign of what?”

“Like, anything.” Lying here next to him feels more and more dangerous by the second. You sit up, still staring at the sky. “That’s a sign for anything. Like a big thumbs-up, you know? The universe saying, ‘time to go for it’.”

“Go for what?”

“Whatever’s right in front of you, man,” you say, just rambling at this point. “Got a dream school you’re shooting for? Send in the application. Up for that promotion? Assert yourself. Someone you want to see? Gotta shoot your shot. Life’s too short and shooting stars know about it. Like, you saw that one, it was huge and bright and beautiful and it just fizzled…out…”

You stop talking, mind going blank, when you feel San take your hand, twining your fingers together.

You look down at your hands. He really is holding yours; you aren’t just imagining it. His thumb brushes over the back of yours gently, once, twice, and your entire being feels like a live wire.

He clears his throat in the silence that follows. “I, um, then I guess this is just…me, shooting my shot, then.”

Your gaze trails from his hand up his arm, over his shoulder and neck, settling on his face. He’s staring resolutely up at the sky, like the stars have just started tap-dancing. “I mean, you know, if that’s…cool? Maybe? Since you said the star was a sign and not for wishing…maybe this was a bad idea—”

“You’re shooting your shot with me?”

“Not because I don’t like being friends or anything!” San says quickly. “Honestly I haven’t said anything for a while because I didn’t want you to…I guess I was just worried that…and like, we can totally just be friends, that’s super cool, we can just forget this happened at all—”

“Stop talking.”

He falls silent, and you take the moment to calm the veritable tornado of thoughts and feelings whipping through your head at breakneck speeds.

“I…” You trail off. Where are you even supposed to start? “I’m not…I mean, I like being your friend, too, don’t get me wrong, but like…”

You squeeze his hand. “This is cool.”

Slowly, San sits up next to you. “…It is?”

“Way better than cool,” you blurt, feeling your face start to burn again. “I’m…god, San, I’ve liked you a stupidly long time and I didn’t want to blow it and you’re telling me you’re shooting your shot because of a shooting star?”

“Hey, that thing had to be a comet or something,” San said, a slow smile growing over his face. “Like fate. Or an omen.”

“I was talking out of my ass about that earlier,” you tell him, pulse sputtering frantically at the way he’s looking at you.

“No, I think that was the first non-stupid thing you said all night,” San says decidedly. He lifts your joined hands briefly and presses a kiss to the back of yours before letting them drop to his lap.

Your head feels like it’s spinning. “The ammonite wasn’t stupid.”

“It was stupid,” he says, grinning at you.

You huff, scowl-pouting again. “You’re so mean.”

“I think you like it, though,” he says, squeezing your hand and looking back up at the sky. “Just a little.”

Your face feels like it’s in flames. “...Maybe. A very little bit.”

You both spend the next few minutes smiling rather stupidly at the stars.

428 notes · View notes

suniix · 2 years

Text

overnight shift | inumaki x reader

synopsis | working the overnight shift means you’ve seen some weird things, but this guy by far is the weirdest (yet also the cutest)

word count | 6k+

warning | creepy themes, some violence

note | this was meant to be a short writing practice but became a lot longer than i expected, inspired from an idea my friend Mina gave me 🫶

DAY 1 | MONDAY 1:56 AM

You stared blankly at the shelves in front of you, anger beginning to fizzle up inside causing your eye to twitch. Bags of chips had been ripped open, making it seem like a tornado passed. You had been gone for five minutes to take a bathroom break, but that short amount of time was enough for this mess to happen. You could only assume it was the group of teens loitering outside the store.

You could hear them chuckling from outside the store, but you paid no mind to them. You didn’t get paid enough to confront them, let alone deal with the aftermath of their mess. So instead you do what you get paid for— stand at the register and wait for someone to buy something.

Normally you’d feel bad for not cleaning the mess, if you worked the morning shift you’d want the previous shift to clean up, but your manager is, to put it nicely, a bad person. Cutting your hours, calling you to work on your off days, and leaving you to work all alone during an overnight shift— what kind of asshole does that? Your manager apparently.

Luckily for you, he always came in the morning to open up shop and let the morning shift in. You knew the moment he walked through those doors and saw the mess he’d be furious, but there was nothing he could do since you were hired as a cashier, not a janitor. Not cleaning up this mess is the nicest way to get back at him without getting fired. You’d figure out a way to make it up to the morning shift later.

Glancing at the clock, you saw it strike two am. Only four more hours to go before you can sink into your nice comfy bed and take a long, well deserved, nap.

Right in the middle of you thinking about how nice a nap sounded, you heard an automated beep ring throughout the store signaling someone had entered. You immediately turned to the door, ready to glare the teens down, only to see a guy around your age limping in.

At first you were confused, but then you grew concerned upon seeing the giant gash on his side and oh my god is that blood?

The guy walked straight to the pharmacy section and grabbed all of the throat medicine you had, which was a lot given no one really bought any. He placed the small bottles on the counter and you stood there stunned for a minute. Shouldn’t this guy be more concerned about the blood dripping from his side than a sore throat?

“Um, will that be all for you today?” You asked awkwardly.

The guy nodded and you began to scan the items. You didn’t even bother asking him if he needed a bag, already knowing the answer. You told him the total and he pulled out his wallet to pay. While he did that you walked away from the register and walked over to one of the fridges. You grabbed a tuna salad sandwich along with a drink. The guy gave you a confused look upon seeing you place the items in the bag along with his medicine.

“It’s on the house. Hope your, uh,” you point at his side, “situation gets better.”

His eyes gleamed happily and you could’ve sworn he was smiling, but you couldn’t tell because his high collared clothing was covering his mouth. He bowed, a silent thank you. As he left the store he cheerfully waved goodbye. You had no idea where the sudden cheerful attitude came from, but you waved back nonetheless. If your manager said anything about the missing food you’d blame it on the sketchy teenagers.

Curiously, you leaned over the counter and saw small drops of red leading from the door to the pharmacy aisle to the counter. You pull away in disgust, as much as you hated your manager you don’t think he’d forgive you if you left a trail of blood for him to find in the morning, neither would your coworkers.

Sighing, you leave your spot at the register to grab a mop. While cleaning your mind goes back to the guy you saw earlier. You took one final glance at the door, wondering what happened to him to make him bleed out like that.

What a weird guy.

DAY 2 | TUESDAY 1:20 AM

You really need to learn how to say no to your manager. Then again, you don’t think saying no is even an option.

Once you got home last week you immediately passed out on your bed, not even bothering to change clothes. You woke up to an angry voicemail left by your manager which was quickly deleted.

So now here you are, working the overnight shift again. Part of you thinks this is your manager’s way of getting back at you, but part of you also knows that no one else would’ve accepted it because they actually have a life. Despite the slightly higher pay, no one wanted to ruin their sleep schedule for a shitty job, which was understandable. The manager knows that you’re not busy and that you need the extra money so you were the only option.

I should just quit.. you thought to yourself. But no other job would hire me because I have no experience, but how am I supposed to get experience without a job? Ugh, this is so annoying..

Normally you wouldn’t complain, but these days you were beginning to find the store to be scary. The store was hauntingly quiet, save for the barely audible classical music playing. People barely came instead, heck, it’s like they avoided this street all together. Even those sketchy teens who would constantly loiter outside seemed to have run off. You hoped your manager wouldn’t blame you for ‘scaring’ off the customers.

The familiar beep of the door rings softly throughout the shop. You turn to see a familiar face.

“Oh hey, you’re not bleeding this time.”

He holds a hand up in greeting, “Kelp.”

You hold a hand up and confusingly repeat, “Kelp?”

He then disappears into the aisles. Weird.. is this some new trendy way to greet people? Oh well, at least I don’t have to clean up his blood this time..

You go back to scrolling on your phone. Soon enough you come across a coworker’s post. It was her and a couple of other coworkers having brunch, posted a day ago. They looked so happy in the picture, laughing happily like it was natural. It brought a sad smile to your face, you wished you were like them.

“Salmon cod roe.”

You look up to see the guy from earlier. He placed a tuna salad sandwich on the counter along with some throat medicine bottles. Ignoring the fact he used an onigiri ingredient to get your attention, you’re surprised to see he grabbed the sandwich you gave him for free last time.

You smiled, “Seems like you liked the sandwich.”

He nodded excitedly. You laughed, “I’m the only person I know who likes these, so it’s nice to see someone else who shares the same taste in food.” When you start to scan the throat medicine you notice he grabbed less than last time.

“Does your throat hurt often?”

He sheepishly nods. “I heard gargling salt with warm water helps, oh chamomile tea too.” You suggest.

He pulls out his phone and begins to type something. You assumed he was writing down what you said, but instead he shoves his phone in your face to show you what he typed.

‘I’m sorry for bleeding on your floor. I got in a fight with a raccoon.’

“A.. raccoon?” You ask.

He nods his head in confirmation. You’re sure that he’s lying, the giant wound was way too big to be from a raccoon, but the determined look in his eyes almost made you want to believe him.

“Must have been one vicious raccoon. It’s a wonder how you made it out alive.” You held back a giggle.

You hand him his bag and tell him his total. He gratefully accepts it and types something on his phone again.

‘Extremely vicious! So vicious that I might not survive another attack to see your cute face! :(‘

You felt your face heat up at the compliment. “Are you trying to get another free sandwich? Sorry buddy, your sweet words won't work on me.” You tried to laugh it off, but you still felt your cheeks and ears burning from his comment.

He smiled, at least you think he did, and pocketed his phone. He paid and walked out the store, but not before turning back to look at you one last time to wave goodbye. You waved back.

He was surprisingly smooth.

DAY 3 | WEDNESDAY 1:48 AM

This is becoming an ugly habit. Working late nights was something you did not want to get accustomed to.

The color on your nails are beginning to chip due to you constantly picking at them. You couldn’t blame yourself though since there was nothing better to do. Your phone died and your charger is slowly deteriorating causing it to charge slowly. It’s been dead for a few minutes now.

The silence was deafening. Earlier in the day before your shift you noticed that classical music no longer played throughout the store, so you decided to bring your speaker to play your own music; except you forgot to bring your speaker and your phone was dead. Without your music you could swear you heard whispers throughout the store. They whispered so often you were beginning to think their conversations were your own thoughts, but you knew they weren’t. Their words were far too horrific to be your own. It was unnerving.

The familiar beep of the door rings, startling you out of your thoughts. It’s nice to know at least that still works.

You’re almost relieved to see the familiar sight of platinum blonde hair. His eyes immediately find yours and suddenly, the voices stop whispering. The air feels lighter and it feels like you can breathe normally again.

He raises his hand in greeting and you do the same. “Hello Mr. I survived a raccoon attack, here for some more throat medicine or are you just here to see my cute face?”

He stifled a laugh, understanding the small reference from your last meeting. He types something out on his phone and shows it to you.

‘I was just in the area and decided to stop by. Luckily I managed to avoid getting attacked by a raccoon this time! :D’

You couldn’t help but laugh. You found it weird how he communicated with you through his phone, but you decided not to ask about it; at least not yet anyway. “What do you do with all that medicine anyway? I doubt it’s healthy for someone to consume that much.”

‘It’s a secret! ^^’

“Mm really? You won’t tell me even if I give you a free sandwich?”

His eyes widen for a moment and you can imagine him drooling at the mention of the sandwich, but he quickly shakes his head.

‘Maybe next time?’

“Oh so there’ll be a next time?” You smirk.

‘Of course!’

“I knew it, people can never resist a face like mine.” You laughed dryly, feeling fatigued.

You felt his eyes on you, almost as if he was examining every detail on your face. Suddenly the skin under your eyes felt cold and the lack of sleep caught up with you, you felt vulnerable and exposed. His face is serious for a moment before he starts typing on his phone.

‘Are you working alone? I never see anyone else here with you :(‘

“Oh, yea.. I’m the only dumbass that accepted working this late. It’s ok though, since I need the money.” You lied, it’s not ok.

It was fine at first but this was beginning to affect your school life. You never completed homework and always fell asleep in class, that is if you even decided to show up. Not to mention you were failing most of your classes. Your appearance was also beginning to feel the effects of your lack of sleep.

Your reasons for quitting just kept piling up.

‘You shouldn’t do that to yourself! Working at night all by yourself is dangerous. It’s also unhealthy!’

You laughed, “Says the guy who came in bleeding!”

He froze, then began to scratch his head innocently. You laughed once again. You didn’t know why, but simply being with him made you feel better. Maybe it was the fact that having him with you meant you weren’t alone, but you also felt safe.

‘Let’s ignore that and focus on your cute face :)’

You laughed. “I already told you compliments won’t work on me.” You lied, they’re working. Extremely well in fact. You hoped he couldn’t see the blush on your face.

Suddenly his phone rang. He took a look at the screen and sighed. “What? Is it past your bedtime?” You smirked.

You didn’t expect him to actually nod at your comment, but seeing as he always has on his school uniform you’re guessing he goes to some fancy private school, so you’re not surprised. If he’s dorming at his school they probably have a curfew or if not his parents probably have one for him.

You leave the counter and run over to the freezer to pull out a sandwich and some onigiri. You hand it to him. He shook his head and tried to hand it back to you, but you stopped him. “Think of it as a thanks for keeping me company.” You smiled.

Watching him leave made you feel lonely again, you hoped he’d come back the next day.

DAY 4 | THURSDAY 2:02 AM

Your eyebags are definitely more noticeable now.

You don’t know when your insomnia got worse, but you’d bet all your money it was because of this job. The customers weren’t to blame, heck you barely even got them anymore, it was the store itself. No one even came in during the day time. Sometimes when you’d begin to space out you swear you’d see movement out of the corner of your eye.

You decide to be a good coworker and restock the shelves. It’s not like there was a line of customers waiting to be helped, plus it’d lighten the workload for the people working in the morning and it kept you entertained.

You opened a box and began placing bags of chips and candies on the shelves, neatly arranging them so they looked organized. Having everything neatly organized was very pleasing to the eyes in your opinion, it helped the store look a little less chaotic.

As you were neatly putting away the products you didn’t hear the door open or the footsteps that were closer coming closer and closer. You stood up holding the box in your hands when suddenly a hand tapped you on the shoulder, startling you. You dropped the box and yelled, quickly turning around to face whoever it was that scared you, only to come face to face with your favorite customer.

He raised his hand in greeting. “Kelp.”

Angry, you grabbed skittles from the box and began chucking them at him. “You scared me! I thought you were some stranger about to attack me!!”

He managed to dodge most of the bags, except for one that hit him square in the face. He looked a bit shocked and for a moment you felt a bit guilty upon seeing his face.

“Sorry, guess the lack of sleep is putting me a little on edge.” You began to pick up the skittles and he helped you. You walked over to the register and placed the skittles on the counter, telling him to do the same.

“Nice to see you didn’t get attacked by another raccoon today.” You comment, attempting to lighten up the mood.

He chuckled and suddenly, things went back to normal. If he noticed you acting strange, he didn’t comment on it.

The two of you stayed ‘talking’ for a few minutes. It felt nice having another person to talk to. You didn’t feel alone anymore.

“Ok, genuine question. I don’t mean to sound rude or anything, but why do you talk to me through your phone’s note app? I’ve heard you talk before, so why don’t you use your voice?” You asked.

He became stiff at your question and you immediately regret asking. Before you got the chance to say nevermind he began typing. He quickly showed you his phone.

‘It's a long story, I don’t think you’d believe me if I told you :(‘

“Trust me, working this late means I’ve seen some weird shit.”

You weren’t kidding. Two days ago after raccoon guy left, some guy started licking the window. At first it was funny but after five minutes it was just creepy and weird. You gave him a sandwich and told him to leave before you called the cops.

The guy thought for a moment before sighing. He began to type and so began the long convoluted story of why he can only speak in onigiri ingredients.

—

“Ok ok, I think I got it down.” You tapped the paper where you wrote down your notes about his cursed speech.

“So basically the reason you can’t speak normally is because of your cursed speech, which I kind of understand? So you use onigiri ingredients which are safe words?”

He nodded.

Confusing? Yes. Did you understand? Partially. Did you believe him? As surprising as it sounds, yes, you did.

You don’t know whether it’s because it’s almost three am and the lines between reality and fantasy were blurred, or because the look in his eye was dangerously convincing, but you believed him.

“Kinda cool. So curses are kinda like ghosts?”

He thinks for a moment before shaking his hand, a silent so-so to answer your question. You lean over the counter and motion for him to get closer. He does and you lean in to whisper something in this ear.

“Are there any in the store?”

His body becomes stiff and his face almost looks shocked, but he quickly changes his expression to a cheerful one while crossing his arms. He shook his head saying “bonito flakes”.

You quickly glance at your notes and see that it has a negative connotation. You pretend not to notice how hesitant he was to tell you because maybe he is right and there’s nothing lurking in the shadows, but you just don’t want to face the reality that there might be something sinister waiting for the perfect opportunity.

He notices your stare and pulls out his phone to type something. His face got serious, you didn’t like it. You prefer it when you could tell he was smiling just by looking at his eyes. He showed you his typed note.

‘If anything ever happens, hide and call this number’

Below it was a number, you assumed it was his. The air was serious, now you knew he wasn’t telling the truth earlier, and you’re sure he knew you were aware of this, but no one said anything. You wrote it down nonetheless.

That statement basically confirmed your suspicions.

“If you wanted me to have your number you could’ve just said so!” You laughed, attempting to brighten the mood.

It sort of worked, you managed to hear him stifling his laugh.

After he left the voices returned. You were left alone with nothing but a phone number and no name to match it with.

DAY 5 | FRIDAY 2:59 AM

The street lamp outside the store keeps flickering. You fear it'll turn off any minute now, making the street pitch black.

Normally you didn’t fear the dark, or being alone, but when you opened the door to the dark storage room you couldn’t help but feel something lurking in the darkness. You stopped going outside to throw the trash because it didn’t feel safe, so you left a sticky note near the trash apologizing to the morning shift for the inconvenience.

Your hallucinations got worse, if you could even call them that. You would see shadows out of the corner of your eye more often now. You thought they’d go away if you didn't acknowledge them, but that only made it worse. They’d come closer, demanding your attention until you gave it to them. It feels as though you’re constantly being watched and if you close your eyes for even a moment too long you'll be screwed.

You quickly shake your head. Get yourself together, those things aren’t real! They're just figments of your imagination due to lack of sleep! Yea.. just, very ugly, figments of your imagination..

To keep yourself entertained you decide to look over the notes you took when raccoon guy was explaining his situation. If you were a little more awake you’d slap yourself for believing a total stranger, but you were currently running on five minutes of sleep so you believed anything was possible. You flip a page and scan the words. Kelp, usually said as a greeting.. you remember the day he came in and scared you, he had said ’kelp’.

Now you felt even worse about that day, he basically said ‘hi’ and you responded by throwing things at him.

You shake your head and decide standing behind the counter is only making you even more sleepy and guilty so you decide to do something productive; restock the shelves. Luckily for you, you don’t have to go back into the creepy storage rooms to grab more products since your lovely coworkers left them under the counter for you.

You grab a box and walk past the entrance, standing to stare for a minute. So far your favorite costumer hasn’t come in yet, is it bad to say you miss him?

Shaking your head you walk over to an empty aisle. You stare blankly at the shelves, noticing what was missing the most. It's always chips and condoms. Strange combination but at least people were being safe.

Squatting, you grab chips and begin stocking the bottom shelf. This goes on for a minute before you hear the automatic doors ring. You never thought you’d be so happy to hear that sound. You quickly turn your head expecting to see a certain platinum blonde, only to see no one.

“Hey raccoon guy, don't hide! I know you’re here!” You laugh, quickly walking to the door to see if he was hiding behind a nearby shelf, only to find no one. Your smile instantly dropped, why did the doors open if no one entered?

Suddenly you didn’t feel like you were alone anymore.

You step outside to take a quick look but find nothing. It was dead silent, you swear you could hear your own heart thumping rapidly. The street lamp above you burns brightly for a second before it suddenly shuts off. You quickly run back inside and stand behind the register. The hair was thick and the store smelled like rotten eggs, it wasn’t like that before. The note from that stranger pops up in your mind.

‘If anything ever happens, hide and call this number’

Your hand immediately hovers over your pocket containing your phone, but you hesitate. He hadn’t come in yet to check up on you during your shift. What if this was a prank? What if something happened to him? What if he didn’t pick up and you were left to die with the false hope of him coming?

The lights in the store suddenly started to flicker and that was your final straw. You couldn’t take it anymore.

You didn’t care if your manager yelled at you or fired you for this. You quickly grab your things and run out of the store, not daring to look behind in fear of what you might see.

You didn’t get any sleep that day when you got home.

DAY 6 | SATURDAY 3:32

After this, you’re putting in your two weeks notice.

Never again will you work at a twenty-four hour convenience store.

The only customers that came in now were shitty, the hours left you with you questioning your sanity, and your boss was an asshole.

After you left the store you received a call at six am from your boss, screaming at you for leaving the place unlocked and a mess. You told him what happened and how you’ve had enough and he said you still had to come in because he couldn’t find someone to take your shift on such short notice. You told him to check the cameras and he replied that they weren’t working.

So here you were, standing behind the register for the final time.

The automatic doors stopped working entirely, you nearly had to pry them open just to get inside. You should’ve taken that as a sign to turn around and head back home. The smell of rotten eggs refused to leave the store despite mopping the floors with fabuloso not once but twice.

Things are so calm that you almost begin to think yesterday was some sick and twisted dream. Almost.

Your eyes kept going back to the door of the storage room. Simply staring at the door was enough to fill you with anxiety. There was something behind that door, you could feel its presence. You had no plans on opening it.

You grab your phone and immediately notice you have no service. Did I forget to pay my phone bill? Great, just my luck..

It was now 3:50 am. You were debating whether or not to leave early. It’s not like anyone would notice, right?

You glance at the security camera placed in the corner of the room. How convenient it only works when you do something that’ll get you in trouble with your boss and not whenever there’s some paranormal activity happening.

Lights begin to flicker and you immediately freeze. Your eyes instantly go to the storage room door. You type in the number the guy gave you but pause. Remembering your situation from last time you decide there’s too many ‘what if’s’ and instead type in the number for emergency services. Your finger hovers over the call button waiting for something to actually happen.

A moment later the lights go out and you quickly hide underneath the counter, momentarily fumbling with your phone from the nerves. You quickly press call, trying to keep your breathing quiet. The phone rings about twice before someone answers.

“Please help me, there’s some weird shit going on, I don’t feel safe and I think someone’s here with me.” You quickly whisper into the phone.

You don’t even get to hear what they’re saying because the moment you finish talking it finds you. The grotesque figure resembled a disfigured human with a disturbing smile. You scream and jump over the counter, almost dropping your phone in the process.

You quickly try and open the door but realizing it’s glued shut you give up and run to the back of the store. You didn’t have to look back to know that thing was chasing you. Up and down the aisles you ran while throwing whatever you could grab at the monster.

Nothing seemed to slow it down, you were beginning to lose hope.

At this point you were covered in scratches and bruises from bumping into the shelves, you were getting tired. As a last ditch effort you ran to the back of the store, waiting for the monster to catch up. It quickly did and once it was close enough you opened the door to the freezer and the monster ran in. You quickly locked it and leaned against the door, catching your breath. Your moment of relaxation quickly ends when the monster bangs against the door, hard. So much so the hinges are coming off.

You take this moment to run to the front of the store and pry open the doors. You only had a limited amount of time to get those doors open and time was running out. Beads of sweat rolled down your face and your hands got clammy. After several attempts you got the door open, immediately hearing the freezer door break open. The moment you step foot outside you run into someone. You’re filled with a sense of relief once you notice who it is.

“Raccoon guy!”

His clothes look torn just like the first day you saw him and there’s beads of sweat rolling down his head, it seems like he ran here. You’re not sure if it’s due to lack of sleep but you thought he looked cute. He quickly moves so he’s in front of you to shield you from the monster.

You’re confused for a moment, not expecting the scrawny boy to be able to do anything against that thing. You remember what he said about his cursed speech but you still had your doubts. What if he was lying about being able to kill things like that?

Any doubts you had are erased the moment you hear him yell.

“Explode.”

The curse stopped for a moment. Its eyes began to bulge out of its head before they popped out entirely, its body following the command. Pieces of its body littered the ground making you almost puke at the sight. You scrunch your nose at the smell, you were definitely about to puke.

“Mustard leaf?” He asked with a raspy voice turning to look at you.

It was now you saw how tired he really looked.

You couldn’t say anything, heck, you didn’t even know what to say. You could only stare in shock as blood began to drip from his mouth and he began to fall forward. You caught him in time, almost falling to the floor with his added weight. For being scrawny he sure is heavy.. you thought as you gently lowered him to the ground.

You stayed there on the floor with him for a few minutes, slowly processing what just happened. A phone begins to ring which jolts you out of your thoughts. You don’t recognize the ringtone, so you know it’s not yours. A few feet away from you is a phone, you assume it belongs to raccoon guy.

You slowly stand and walk over, picking up the phone. The screen is cracked and the person calling is labeled ‘Panda’. What’s up with this guy and wild animals?

You decide to answer, hoping that it was just a weird nickname for a friend and maybe they’ll be able to help.

“Toge! Where are you?! I can’t believe you ditched me to fight this thing all by myself!

“Um.. hello?”

The line is quiet for a few seconds. You hear wind and distorted muffled from the other line and you debate whether or not to hang up. What if these guys were part of a cult and since now I know about curses I’ll be killed?

Thinking the worst, you go to hang up but a voice stops you.

“Who are you?”

“Uh.. I’m (Y/n), your friend is at my job and he’s passed out.. and bleeding.”

“Where are you?”

You give him your location and he tells you not to move, saying he’ll be there in a few minutes. You don’t know whether or not to believe him, but you don’t have much of a choice. If you were to call the police you doubt they’d believe you about a monster chasing you throughout the store. Now that you think about it, you called the police awhile ago.. where were they?

You text your manager saying you quit after the call with Panda ended.

DAY 7 | SUNDAY 12:05 PM

This was the best sleep you’ve had this week.

The morning was wonderful. The skies were clear, the sun was shining, and birds were singing happy tunes. This must be a sign— today will be a good day!

After waking up you felt so energized, yesterday almost felt like a dream. The scrapes and bruises were enough to prove otherwise. You tried not to think about the events of yesterday too hard in an attempt to forget your near death encounter. You still don’t know how you made it out alive.

You open up your phone to see ten missed calls from your manager and a couple from your coworkers. I should just block him.. or better yet I should just report him to the police for exploitation.. you think while scrolling through your call history.

While scrolling you notice the name ‘Racoon Guy’ in your call history. It says you called him, which leaves you confused. According to the time it says you called around the time of the attack. When did you call him? You only remembered calling the police—

Then it hit you. The moment you ducked under the counter you fumbled with your phone, that’s likely when you accidentally called raccoon guy, or should you say Toge?

Toge.. so that’s his name.. you thought. That explains why he came so fast.

You were oddly touched, despite looking like death itself he still came to your rescue. Then again, fighting them was his job, you remember him talking about that awhile back.

You looked at your clock. It’s the afternoon and there’s no school, you finally have a day off to relax. You lay back in bed, deciding to spend your day watching movies and eating snacks.

—

5:53 PM

The sun is setting now.

Your day was well spent, you caught up on shows and now your fridge was empty. Though, you avoided your backpack the whole day. You didn’t want to think about all the missing assignments you had piled up waiting to be completed. That was a problem for you to solve another day.

There was one final thing you wanted to do before the day ended.

You wrap your jacket around you tightly, making sure to lock the door before leaving the house. The air was cold, not cold enough to the point you’re shivering but cold enough to wear a sweater to avoid getting sick. As much as you wanted to stay home for the week and catch up on more sleep, struggling with a stuffy nose was not worth it.

You walked down the street, letting the street lamps illuminate your path. You won’t lie, the thought of walking alone at night after what happened yesterday at work terrifies you, but this might be the last free night you have before catching up on school work and you were going to enjoy it to the fullest.

The familiar sight of swings fills you with a childish joy. Taking a seat, you take a few steps back before lifting your feet, letting your body move back and forth. The rusty metal squeaked as the swing moved. When you were younger you thought that meant the swing was about to break. You laugh at the memory, you were so naive back then. Heck, maybe you still are after believing a stranger’s fantasy story. You let your thoughts wander and you begin to think of what happened after work yesterday.

You stared in shock as Toge’s friend lifted him and placed him on his shoulder. Turns out the nickname Panda was not just a nickname, he was literally a panda.

“Thanks for looking after him! It’s a good thing he got here in time, that curse sure caused a huge mess!” He laughed.

You don’t know how to respond, it’s not everyday you survive an attack from a supernatural being then meet a talking panda afterwards. You were beginning to think you actually died in the attack and this panda is secretly an angel about to guide you to the afterlife.

“Am.. Am I dead?”

The panda went oddly quiet for a minute before he started to chuckle. “That’s a surprisingly calm reaction, but no, you’re not dead. In a state of shock? Probably. I’ll walk you home to make sure nothing happens.”

Ok, so you weren't dead.

Maybe this was all just a dream.

You were tempted to pinch yourself, but you’ve gone through enough pain today, that’s proof enough that none of this is a dream. Panda starts walking away with Toge on his shoulder.

“Well? You coming?”

“Wait.”

You quickly run back to the store, grabbing a plastic bag and empting the shelves of cough medicine. You slowly walk to catch up to Panda. It was a quiet walk as you led the way home. Once you reach home you hand the bag to Panda.

“Tell him I said thank you.”

Then you walked inside, feeling as though your body was as light as air.

A gentle ring brings you out of your thoughts. You pull your now cracked phone out of your pocket to see who messaged you. Maybe it was your manager trying to tell you off again.

Your eyes scanned the contact name and a small smile appeared when you saw who it was.

Raccoon Boy:

Hey! Are you busy right now? (・◡・?)

You should really change his name now that you know his real one.

You:

Nope, just relaxing at a park

Toge:

Which one?

You give him the location and don’t receive a text back. A part of you feels sad by this but you try to ignore it. You have no reason to feel sad, if he doesn’t respond it’s likely for a good reason. He’s probably busy fighting another curse and saving more lives.

Continuing to kick your feet, you debate whether or not you’ve spent enough time outside. I should sleep early since there’s school tomorrow, but I really don’t want to go.. you sigh. The struggles of being a teen, choosing between school or sleeping in, the right answer is debated among many.

You see a shadow appear in the dirt and quickly turn around half expecting to see someone asking for money to buy cigarettes or another curse, only to see the person who saved your life.

“Kelp.” Toge raised his hand in greeting.

You sigh in relief. “I told you not to sneak up on me.” Despite trying to sound angry you can’t help but let a small sneak its way onto your face.

He takes a seat on the swing next to yours. The light from a nearby lamp illuminated him; he almost seemed to glow in the light. It was your first time seeing him without being sleep deprived and needless to say, he looked even better.

He begins typing on his phone then shows it to you.

’Thank you for the medicine. It really helped :)’

“It’s no problem, that’ll be the last time I give them to you for free though since I quit.”

His eyes widened in shock, you never realized they were purple.

‘You quit?’

“Yup, after I got home yesterday I texted my boss that I was done. It’s improper but I literally could not deal with that hellhole anymore, especially after what happened.” You lean back on the seat, getting a good look at the sky.

The stars were barely visible thanks to all the light pollution in the city, but there were still a few specks of light that you could see if you squint hard enough. They sort of reminded you of Toge in a way. Even though you couldn’t see him, you had a feeling he’d be there to save you again.

“Salmon cod roe” He nudged you with his phone.

‘Does this mean no more free sandwiches? :(‘

You couldn’t help but laugh. “Yup, no more free sandwiches.”

‘Well then I guess it’s my turn to treat you to some. I know this place that sells amazing breakfast sandwiches, are you free Saturday?’

You felt your cheeks and ears begin to burn. Despite it being cold out you were beginning to heat up inside your jacket. “Is this your way of asking me out on a date?” You tried to play it off, but the way Inumaki stared at you you couldn’t help but look away. You were flustered and he probably knew it too.

‘Depends, do you want it to be?’

You clench your fist. This guy.. seriously?..

“You know what, yes, I do want it to be a date. And yes, I am free on Saturday.”

‘So it’s a date?’

“It’s a date.”

Sure you were never invited to have brunch with your coworkers, but at least you got a date with the cutest customer.

thank you for reading till the end! :D

masterlist

#inumaki toge #toge inumaki #jujutsu inumaki #jujutsu toge #jjk #jujutsu kaisen #toge inumaki x reader #toge inumaki x you #toge inumaki x y/n #inumaki x reader #inumaki x you #inumaki x y/n #toge x reader #toge x you #toge x y/n #—🎐; bean writes

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silverdune · 2 months

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an aria in perfect fifths | k.hj, c.jh

"well, that would be great, but newsflash: i.. didn't.. sing!"

minors dni. ageless blogs dni. blank blogs dni. you'll be blocked. genre: supernatural character(s): kim hongjoong, choi jongho tags: violin demon hunter!hongjoong, demon!jongho, violins, jongho can show up in mirrors, explicit language, banter, mild rivalry energy, hj and jh have some history, very very loosely based around phantom of the opera (more vibes than anything) word count: 1.3k summary: choi jongho, a notorious demon of the opera house, can be summoned to any mirror, but only if you sing three notes perfectly in a very specific order. one day he is summoned.. only to find the man responsible didn't even open his mouth. a/n: this work is entirely inspired by and workshopped with the amazing anne (@bikerjongho)! please go and read her work, she is incredible. particularly for this one shot, i would advise you read her one shot stradivarius in flames, as that is where violin demon hunter!hongjoong originated! with her permission i have combined my idea with her world to create this. to anne: i really hope you like it!🫶

Hongjoong knows how to play the violin.

Over the years of setting the instruments to the fire to burn the demons within, he has learned to become quite the virtuoso. Now, he may not be perfect, but he is certainly no slouch at playing.

When the mood strikes him, he waits until the demon is lying perfectly dormant to lift up the violin along with its bow and play a line or two. Hongjoong knows he has little time to spare, but he uses that time to place the violin between his jaw and shoulder, and drag the bow across the finely tuned strings.

With being so lost in the melody, he does not even realise something happening to the cracked mirror behind him.

Clouds rumble behind the glass, and in its fragile state, almost shatters completely.

When the figure materialises, his lips tilt up in a smirk briefly, before he realises just who has summoned him. "..Oh, God.."

The voice almost makes Hongjoong drop the instrument on the ground.

Pivoting on the spot, he comes face to face with what exactly happened to the mirror.. and the person inside it.

His jaw drops, a mix of disbelief and annoyance. "What the hell do you want, Jongho?”

Jongho merely stares at him, deadpan. "It is a pleasure to see you again too, Hongjoong.”

Rolling his eyes, Hongjoong groans, "I thought you needed to be summoned! Why are you bothering me?”

"Bothering you?" Jongho repeats, remarkably calm with his hands crossed in front of him. "I do need to be summoned, that is exactly why I am here, or have you forgotten?" he asks, lifting a brow like a disappointed father.

"No I haven't forgotten, how could I forget? That's your entire shtick," Hongjoong retorts.

"Well.." Jongho gestures vaguely around him. "Then you would know the only way I could possibly be here is if I had been summoned, and.. you are the only one here." Jongho smiles; it seems bizarrely genuine, though anyone who knows Jongho would know he could hide a thousand laughs of ridicule behind his saccharine grins. "Might I say, I did not expect your vocals to improve so dramatically, you truly did pay attention in all of my lessons!"

Hongjoong purses his lips, not at all amused by this. "Well, that would be great, but newsflash: I.. didn't.. sing!"

He punctuates each word with a wave of the bow in his right hand. Jongho draws back in shock.

"You.. did not?”

"No! I did not!" Hongjoong asserts.

Jongho's attention then gets brought back and forth between the violin, the bow and Hongjoong. The violin, the bow, Hongjoong, the violin, the bow..

Jongho stops. He covers his eyes with one hand and sighs. "It was the violin. You playing the violin summoned me.”

Hongjoong stills, then slowly glances down at the instrument in his hands. It clicks, and he scoffs.

"Oh, fuck- You're right, it was the violin!"

Jongho drops his hand and looks away in exasperation.

He does not get paid enough for this.

Hongjoong twirls the bow around his fingers. “Ha! Funny that.. But, hold on.” He pauses, then quickly throws the bow in the air to catch again before pointing it at Jongho. “I barely played a chord on this thing. How did you get summoned so fast?”

Jongho shrugs, still baffled by the fact it was a violin that did the trick over anyone singing to start pondering the specifics. “Don't ask me, you’re the one who plucked it.”

“But that's all I did!” Hongjoong says, exasperated.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Jongho sighs, “Look, you played a couple notes, it managed to match the notes that would need to be sung in order to summon me, I’m here now..” He drops his hand and stares at the demon hunter. “What do you want?”

Hongjoong’s eyes shift around the room before they land on Jongho, blank as ever. “You- You think I did this to legitimately conjure your presence? I didn't even know this was possible, your appearance is a bigger surprise than my appearance on stage getting the Stradivarius last month.”

“Ah.. Ah, yes I did hear whisperings about that..” Jongho recalls in a tone of voice Hongjoong just knows is leading to a punchline. “You made quite a name for yourself in the local fucking newspaper!”

“Well, if they didn't know it was me, did I really make a name for myself?” Hongjoong quips, putting the violin and bow aside.

“Stradi-Vulture..”

“Yeah, see? No name for myself, I live perfectly in secret,” says Hongjoong, taking a seat on an old, dusty chair in the corner. He clasps his hands over his abdomen then kicks his feet up on a crate in front of him, crossing one ankle over the other.

Jongho draws his lips to a thin line and exhales through his nose. He pointedly decides to change the subject. “Have you remembered anything from my lessons?”

Hongjoong's eyes dart over. The tonal shift from somewhat light-hearted banter to sincerity nearly knocks him off the chair. “I didn't not remember anything..”

“Wonderful answer,” Jongho tuts.

Planting his feet on the floor, Hongjoong rests his arms on his thighs. “Let me put it this way: I haven't applied your teachings in the way you might think but they have helped a tremendous amount.”

Jongho’s brows pricked up at that. “Oh?”

Hongjoong smirks a little proudly. “..I know my arias from my cadenzas.”

Jongho scoffs a laugh. “You’re a funny one, Hongjoong.”

Jongho processes the information and it slowly clicks into place. “..Because you know what form they take, you know what kind of demon you are dealing with.”

“You laugh! But, it has helped me figure out what the demons are singing when I’m seeking them out. Does more than you might imagine.” He nestles back in the chair then flicks a stray bit of lint off his jacket.

Hongjoong shrugs a shoulder, “You taught me that.”

Jongho shifts in place inside the mirror. He starts to feel the growing embers of his limited time in this space closing in on him, a sign that he should not spend much longer in there, lest he grow weak. “You surprise me, Hongjoong. Though, to be fair, it was not as though you took much interest in the singing portion of my lessons.”

Hongjoong rolled his eyes. “You can thank Astaroth for that one..”

“You made a mockery of each other. Besides, are you telling me you always took an interest anyway?”

“Why do you think I showed up?” Hongjoong fired back, looking Jongho directly in the eyes.

Jongho was taken aback by this sudden admittance. Hongjoong had always been the one to turn up late. He sat in the back and played with the piano keys. No mention of any genuine interest in the singing, apart from the odd time Hongjoong would throw a note through the air just to appease the old choirmaster.

His eyes narrowed. “Why did you show up?”

Hongjoong feels a lead weight in his chest.

Gently, he lifts the violin and places it on his hands, as though he were presenting an award, and stands up.

“Had to save you from one certain fate, didn't I?”

Hongjoong can't look him in the eyes.

Jongho swallows the lump in his throat. The embers grow stronger.

“I- I must go.”

“I bid you farewell, sir.” Hongjoong smiles faintly. A smile that does not reach his eyes. His eyes are still trained on the violin. “Tell Astaroth we can talk it out soon.”

The warmth of fire starts to burn Jongho’s skin as his eyes well up with tears. Without another word, he disappears from the mirror, shrouding the backroom in darkness once more.

Hongjoong hums passively. He decides not to risk another note.

At least he now knows he could get an aria in perfect fifths.

× tristeetconfus. (ave) ×

#ateez scenarios #ateez imagines #hongjoong scenarios #hongjoong imagines #jongho scenarios #jongho imagines #ateez au #ateez fic #words.(ave)#fic: an aria in perfect fifths

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prettyboybuckley · 1 year

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WIP Wednesday

As always, I'm getting way ahead of myself, writing something that I won't be posting for a while because I have other parts of this series to finish first. 😅 Anyway, I got a spark of inspiration the other day and figured out a way to write the lightning strike into a future installment of the ace kink fic 🥺 and I just had to share this for WIP Wednesday, (which is why I'm not waiting for anyone to tag me 😂) And yes, as you can see, you will indeed be getting Eddie's POV in this series as well 🥰

He makes it back to the living room five minutes later to find that Buck has indeed fallen asleep, passed out with a crick in his neck and one arm hanging off the couch. Eddie sighs, putting the mug of tea on the coffee table before sitting down next to it.

Somehow, as uncomfortable as it seems, Eddie thinks that he looks more peaceful than he did in the hospital. Perhaps that's simply because he's home now. Eddie's home, but still.

His heart has been in his throat for the past few days, ever since he climbed up that ladder and realized that Buck wasn't responding, hanging off the rope like dead weight.

Literal dead weight.

For three minutes and seventeen seconds, Eddie lived in a world where Buck wasn't alive and-

And he's been trying not to think about it, because the moment he starts thinking about it, he won't be able to stop. He didn't go into Buck's room if he didn't have to while Buck was unconscious, didn't stay as long any of the times as he did when he smuggled Christopher inside.

Not until Buck was awake again and Eddie didn't feel like panic was clawing its way up his throat every time he looked at the man. Though he has to admit that even now, there is this low grade anxiety buzzing under his skin.

Eddie is glad that he has Buck here, at least. With him, under his roof, where Eddie can keep an eye on him and make sure that he is as close to okay as he can be after something like this.

Buck had recognized that in the hospital, he thinks. Simply from the tone of Eddie's voice and look in his eyes, he'd know that what Eddie needed was to feel in control. And honestly, Eddie thinks that what Buck needs right now is for someone to take care of him, someone who knows how to help him get out of his head.

He reaches out, softly shaking Buck's shoulder to wake him up. Buck grumbles and groans, turning his head into one of the throw pillows, but he does wake up.

"Here, tea," Eddie says, handing Buck the mug as he sits up a bit, and Buck blinks sleepily a few times before taking it.

"Thanks."

"Christopher will be dropped off in an hour or two, I got Jesse's mom to take him. He'll be happy you're home."

A tiny smile quirks at the corners of Buck's mouth, and he nods.

"Maddie call yet?" he asks after a moment of silence.

"No? Did she say she would?"

Buck huffs out a laugh, shaking his head in that way that makes it clear he thinks Eddie is being silly about something.

"After all these years, you should know how my sister can be," he says, ducking his head with a fond smile. "Don't get me wrong, I love her, but you shouldn't be surprised if she shows up unannounced before the end of the day to check on me."

tagging @rogerzsteven @holdmygum @honestlydarkprincess @monsterrae1 @buddierights @swiftiediaz @alyxmastershipper @fatedbuddie @princessfbi @bigfootsmom @elvensorceress @mooshkat ♥️

#buddie wip #buddie #gary writes #gary writes the ace kink fic #tag games #wip wednesday #yeah i'm tagging a lot of people but that's also for all the times i haven't done this lol

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thousand-winters · 2 months

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Coven head nicknames for hunter

I'm assuming this is in the normal canonical universe, so I'm going to go with that.

Easy one is obviously Darius and the "little prince" nickname that started very much in a derogatory manner, but which I very much believe ended up becoming one of the affectionate petnames Darius has for him. I know this in my soul. Assuming this is in EC times, I think that would be the only nickname he would really have for Hunter before their relationship became better, and then in private I think he would make a point of getting to know Hunter and as such, calling him by his name as well.

With Eberwolf I'm forever fond of them calling Hunter "cub" or "pup", though at times of the castle he either wouldn't acknowledge Hunter much or call him simply the Golden Guard. "Darius' cub" specifically once the sewing lessons are happening and if they know about it. I like to think there might also be some specific demon term of endearment that they might take to calling Hunter once they bond more with him specifically, but I'm going to have to wait for an strike of inspiration for that one.

Raine I think mostly would call Hunter... Hunter, at the castle, yes, but also most of the time after everything has happened and they got more of a chance of talking normally. Though since it's Raine, and they're very much the kind of person who probably went along with calling Eda "lord Calamity" back at Hexside, not to mention a theater kid, I feel like at some point either Hunter is going to come up with a dramatic and embarrassing nickname for himself that Raine will NOT let him live down, or Raine themself is going to come up with something extra that Hunter thinks it's silly but also fun enough to let it pass. Raine just has that mischievous energy.

Terra would definitely play with the "technically I'm not doing anything wrong but I'm going to make you feel very unsettled regardless with the creepiness" line. I made her call Hunter "little blossom" on a fic, so I'll stick with that one because I feel like "sprout" was a Raine exclusive since she's creepy like that. She strikes me as the type to also call Hunter "dear" or any terms of endearment, really, but in that way of hers that would make Hunter go "oh, that's not affection not anything I want something to do with."

Adrian is definitely pulling things like "brat" and other things that aren't exactly nicknames but judgments of character, very much like the "runaway" but in the form of making fun of him for presumably being bad at his missions or at training. Since it's Adrian, he probably would resort to calling him things like "amateur" and such, since he seems to be so focused on his little films and all and I feel like he's the kind of person to make everything about that.

I feel like Vitimir doesn't talk much in general unless he thinks it's really necessary or wants to, which he generally doesn't, so I think his way of being insulting would be not acknowledging Hunter at all, which would incluse of course not speaking to him even to mock him, but in his head he probably would be agreeing with the "brat" assessment. No nicknames there in truth because he has more important things to do like little messed up experiments with his potions and poisons.

Osran could either not care at all or go the passive aggressive route of simply pretending he isn't aware of Hunter's status because he has been in the EC for so long, you see, and he was used to a far more competent Golden Guard, so this child? What is he even doing, why does he think he gets to be in charge of people who know better than him. I don't think he would come up with any nicknames either, mostly he wouldn't call him by his name or by Golden Guard either, he's just like "boy" and "kid" if he has to, but not in a particularly gentle way. Hunter was probably a bit touchy at the idea of being considered a kid, and being treated that way condescendingly at the coven by people like Osran would definitely contribute to that.

I still like thinking Hettie would be particularly pissed off mostly because of her wounded pride here. I think she also wouldn't dignify Hunter by acknowledging how much he annoys her and wouldn't come up with mocking nicknames, but she would come up with the most mocking way one can possibly say "Golden Guard" with. At times not mocking as much as threatening. Everyone is well aware they have to steer clear from Hettie, especially if she doesn't like you, so that would be more than enough, particularly since Hunter could tell she's not calling him that out of respect.

Mason as always strikes me as a little bit clueless, and if we follow the idea that he has children, I think he would be a bit put off at first like "oh, well, that's a teenager" and kinda consider asking for his name before realizing that's not how the dynamic goes here and going "well, that's the Golden Guard, I guess" and then not thinking any further abour it.

There was a desperate lack of actual nicknames in this list. That is because, you see, I love nicknames and petnames, yet I took like two years to find one for my closest friend. The situation is dire over here.

#hunter deamonne #darius deamonne #eberwolf the huntsman #raine whispers #terra snapdragon #adrian graye #toh vitimir #toh osran #hettie cutburn #toh mason #the owl house #toh #once again apologies for this very late answer. i've been drowning in ocupations lately

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moodymelanist · 1 year

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Where The Light Won't Find You Chapter Six

Happy New Year, everyone! I'm super excited to be coming back to this story and I hope you are too. The feedback has been so wonderful so far, and that makes me even more inspired to write it. I have the next chapter mostly done, so hopefully that will be coming next week! Until then, please enjoy :-)

Read on AO3 here!

✵✵✵✵✵✵

Cassian

Cassian was rooted to the spot for a few long moments before he came back to his senses. Lucien was long gone, and his family would be demanding answers soon. He needed to come up with something plausible, because explaining he’d had a feeling wouldn’t be sufficient justification for letting Lucien escape.

Just in case, he performed a quick search of Nesta’s old apartment. Other than whatever Lucien had done, the apartment seemed to be undisturbed, but it was just as decrepit as ever. Cassian didn’t think he’d ever understand how she’d ever been able to stomach living here — she deserved palaces and estates, not a place that only got hot water on a good day.

Cassian took one last look around and sighed heavily before leaving. He slowly began making his way to the river house, having decided to walk instead of fly so he’d have more time to clear his head. Lucien’s words had struck him right to the core, and he couldn’t show up to face his family like that.

The last thing he needed was Rhys to see right through him without listening to a single thought.

Cassian just couldn’t get over how Lucien had known every button to press, every shoved-down feeling to drag back up to the surface kicking and screaming. Now that he was gone, Cassian would readily admit that Lucien had been right — Cassian truly didn’t know how he’d been able to stand it. He knew that his family was going to count this against Nesta, even though Lucien hadn’t even really confirmed if he’d taken Elain, let alone why.

You’d really risk her life? he’d asked Cassian. You know what they’ll do to her.

The worst part was that Cassian knew exactly what they wanted to do. Mor had already been talking about acts of aggression and war, and that was before Cassian had let Lucien slip through his fingers. If Lucien’s allegiances had changed, it would only be a matter of time before Rhys decided to take matters into his own hands. Rhys had been the one to pressure Feyre into intervening with Nesta’s life in the first place, and he’d probably do the same when he decided enough was enough.

Nesta was powerful, yes, but she’d barely trained her magic while she’d been in Velaris. How could she be a match for Rhys, who’d had centuries to hone his skills? Against someone like Azriel, who had mastered hiding in the shadows in wait? Hell, even Mor could strike Nesta down with a well-timed blow — could all the raw power in the world really keep Nesta alive if his family decided to strike?

At that gods-awful thought, Cassian had to stop and lean against the nearest building to force himself to breathe. His chest was so tight that it was a miracle he could get in any air at all, and his heart was pounding so loudly in his ears he could barely take in his surroundings. The idea of Nesta being struck down was so repulsive to him, so gut-wrenchingly wrong, that his body couldn’t physically handle it. How could he be expected to stand by and allow them to do that to her? Just thinking about all the awful things that could happen to her made him desperate to throw himself in front of her, to protect her with his own flesh and blood when nothing else could.

Eventually, he managed to catch his breath and calm himself enough to start walking toward the river house again. If nothing else, he needed to be there as the voice of reason, to hopefully keep his family in check so he could keep Nesta as safe as he could.

When Cassian arrived at the house, he realized he was the last person to come back. Everyone was already assembled in the study to wait for him, and he refused to falter under the weight of all those combined gazes. “Sorry for being late to the party.”

“I guess you saw Lucien,” Rhys said once he noticed the state of Cassian’s shirt. “What happened?”

“He got away,” Cassian answered, his heart pounding in his chest. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d lied to his family, especially over something this serious, but he knew he wouldn’t be able to justify why he’d let Lucien go. If he wanted to keep Nesta as safe as he could, this was the best course of action. “He blasted me and winnowed out before I could stop him.”

His brother’s violet eyes lingered on him for a moment before he nodded. “He’s not called the fox for nothing.”

“He had to have known we’d be looking for him,” Feyre said with a disappointed shake of her head. “Did he say anything to you before he attacked you?”

Cassian supposed he could mix in some truths to his answers. “He wouldn’t give me a straight answer about whether he’d taken Elain, but I didn’t notice her scent on him.”

“That doesn’t mean he wasn’t involved,” Mor pointed out. “Where did you end up seeing him?”

“Outside Nesta’s old apartment building, actually,” he answered without looking at her. “I don’t know what he took, but he had something in his hands when I got there.”

“She could’ve sent him to retrieve something for her,” Azriel suggested quietly. “We just packed the obvious things when we moved her — clothes, shoes, books that she left out. She easily could’ve hidden something that we missed.”

They lapsed into silence for a few moments before Feyre broke it. “So… what should we do now?”

“We don’t know what she’s planning,” Azriel answered, his voice still deathly soft. “It would be premature to move before we know what her end goal is.”

“She killed my father and slaughtered all his advisors,” Mor snapped. “She stole my birthright. What else do we need to wait for?”

“I’m sure Azriel is just as aware of that as the rest of us,” Feyre intervened, pinning Mor with a warning look. “We just don’t want to be too hasty. Or make any unnecessary mistakes.”

“You’re right,” Mor replied. She made a show of calming down, pasting a sunny smile over her features in a poor attempt to hide the anger simmering underneath. “What do you have in mind, then?”

“I think we should try to reason with her before we jump to answering with aggression,” Feyre responded diplomatically. “I know she’s done some terrible things, and I know you want retribution. But I don’t want to jump to violence if we don’t have to.”

“And if she doesn’t give up this farce?” Mor pressed. “What then, Feyre? Maybe you’re fine with turning a blind eye, but I won’t stand—”

“Morrigan,” Rhys thundered, night-kissed power leaking from him as he rounded on his cousin. “That is enough. I won’t let you disrespect my mate in my presence. Do you understand me?”

Brown met violet in a tense staredown, and Cassian watched with bated breath for Mor to stand down. Like he knew she would, she blinked first and apologized for her behavior, and Feyre nodded tightly before accepting it.

They stood in uncomfortable silence for a few moments before a strange expression flitted over Rhys, Feyre, Mor, and Amren’s faces. Azriel’s shadows darkened around him a split second later, and even Cassian’s siphons rumbled in response to whatever they were all reacting to.

“What the hell was that?” Cassian asked, frowning. He hadn’t felt something like that since Hybern attacked the city, and he prayed to Enalius that they weren’t about to be attacked again.

“Did we all just feel that?” Feyre asked. Her palms erupted into flame before she reeled her power back in, but she wasn’t the only one leaking magic. Mor’s form was shimmering gold, a stark contrast to Rhys’ glittering, dark magic, and even Amren’s eyes were glowing silver.

“Yes,” Amren replied through gritted teeth. “Someone’s altered the wards.”

“What?” Mor asked, shocked. She summoned a gleaming, golden sword that reminded Cassian of the one she’d wielded in the Hewn City. “Can you sense which ones? Is Velaris in danger?”

Rhys took in a slow breath, his eyes going vacant as he searched for the answer with his magic. “No.”

“Velaris isn’t in danger, girl,” Amren added before Mor could get another word in. “Put that sword away. It’s the moonstone palace.”

Feyre spoke up next once she got her magic under control. “What’s wrong with it?”

“Nesta’s finally claimed it for herself,” Azriel answered. His shadows were practically bouncing off each other, they were so agitated, but he merely waved a hand and they calmed themselves slightly. “She must have had someone re-key the wards around the palace — likely Lucien. He’s very proficient with them.”

Cassian nearly bit his tongue off trying to hold back surprised laughter. It was like Nesta had plucked the thought right out of his mind and made it happen. Part of him couldn’t help but be proud of her, even though he knew this would only continue to spell disaster.

“You’ve got to be fucking kidding me,” Mor hissed under her breath. The sword she’d put away at Amren’s insistence thankfully didn’t make another appearance, but even Cassian could tell how badly she wanted to summon it again. “My birthright wasn’t enough for that greedy, conniving little bitch—”

Cassian moved without thought at that word, his wings flaring wide as he stalked toward Mor. Any amusement he’d felt at the situation had been rapidly replaced by anger burning so hot inside his veins it was a miracle his hands weren’t shaking. “Don’t you ever insult her like that again.”

“She doesn’t want you, Cassian,” Mor sneered, refusing to be cowed by the way he towered over her. “She’s not going to fuck you because you defended her nonexistent honor.”

“Take a walk,” Azriel interrupted before Cassian could get another word in, using his shadows to shove Cassian back a few steps. “Now, Cassian.”

“I’m not going anywhere until she apologizes,” Cassian snapped, his patience dangerously thin. His own magic shoved back at Azriel’s shadows, the darkness mixing with his red to produce a color that reminded him of dried blood. “This whole situation is her fucking fault and she knows it—”

“I never made her do any of this,” Mor snapped back. “I thought she’d come back a little humbled, not go on a fucking killing spree and usurp the throne!”

“You thought she needed to be humbled?” Cassian couldn’t believe what he was hearing. He’d lost the ability to be surprised about Mor whenever Nesta was the topic of conversation, but she still managed to disappoint him all the same. “You honestly thought a twenty-five-year-old female needed to be humbled so badly that you’d willingly send her to the people who abused you? Are you hearing yourself?”

Mor shoved at him with her magic, but he refused to be moved by the golden blast. “She asked me to take her!”

“And you shouldn’t have listened to her!” Cassian yelled.

“And done what instead?” Mor sneered. “Gone to you? What part of she doesn’t want you is so hard to understand?”

“Hey!” Feyre roared, effectively ending the conversation. “That is enough. Both of you, get the fuck out. This meeting is adjourned until you both cool off.”

Mor’s eyes slid toward Rhys for confirmation, which only served to make the atmosphere in the room even tenser.

“Your High Lady gave you an order,” Rhys answered the unasked question, sliding his hands into his pockets with forced nonchalance. “I suggest you both follow it before one of us makes you.”

Cassian didn’t need to be told twice. His blood was roaring so loudly in his ears that he knew it was for the best that he left, but it didn’t stop him from throwing one last glare in Mor’s direction before storming out of the study.

He was so pissed he barely thought about where he was going, snapping his wings out again and again as he flew as hard and fast as he could. The early autumn air had some bite to it, especially this high up, and he felt every sharp wind like a slap to the face. Flying without conjuring a shield would leave his eyes watering and his body cold, but he didn’t trust himself to call his magic any closer to the surface.

By the time he made it to the top of one of the mountains surrounding Velaris, he was still spitting mad and more than ready to take it out on something. The air was even colder this high up, but it barely even registered in the face of his rage. He landed hard against the solid earth, the impact jarring his knees, and he yanked his wings in close so they wouldn’t get snagged on any of the nearby trees.

Cassian barely spared a thought to protect his hands, reaching into one of his pockets to grab his gloves and shoving them on before he hit the nearest tree. He knew it was stupid, that he should’ve gone down to the House and used all the training equipment designed for this very purpose, but he didn’t want to risk running into anyone if he didn’t have to. He knew it wouldn’t stop his family from finding him if they really wanted to, but it felt better to be physically isolated.

The shock of the hit against his hands felt good too, even with how painful it was. His gloves weren’t as thick as they should be for this kind of exercise, and he could already feel the pain from his knuckles as he hit the bark over and over again. With every smack of his hands against the unyielding trunk, he poured more and more of his anger into his hits, his hands protesting every time they connected.

“Fuck,” Cassian snapped as he continued to pummel whatever was left of the tree in front of him. He knew the trees here had some kind of magic in their roots from how long he’d been coming up here, but for the first time in a long while he wished the enchantment would break just so he could snap something for real. What was wrong with him? Letting Lucien get away, lying to his family — he knew something was off, but he didn’t know how to explain it.

He knew the answer even though he didn’t want to admit it. Nesta was what was wrong with him, and between Lucien’s words and Mor’s insults, he could hardly bear to think about what it meant that they could rile him up so quickly at the mere mention of her name.

He didn’t want to think about it, so he just kept hitting.

Eventually, he stopped punching and just stood there breathing heavily. It had started raining, and he realized he was soaked and shivering from the chill of the unexpected storm. The next sense to come back was the pain in his hands; once he’d stopped punching, it was easy to notice how the dull pain had turned into sharp throbbing.

Cassian cursed at the sight of his knuckles once he pulled the gloves off, bloody and bruised in a way they hadn’t been in months. Even the sudden rain wouldn’t be enough to wash away all the blood, and he might have to go see Madja if he’d fucked up his hands as badly as he suspected.

What was it about Nesta that made him want to be so violent? He would tear the world apart for her, let everything burn just to bring her warmth, even when he knew she wouldn’t even look his way. He would lie for her, steal for her, demand retribution for her — even kill for her if she asked him to. Even if she didn’t ask him to. He didn’t want to know what he would do the next time someone insulted her in his presence, family ties or not. It was pure instinct to defend her in a way he’d only felt for her and only her.

Cassian’s entire body yearned to be by Nesta’s side in a way he’d never felt before. She’d always been close at hand, even when she wanted nothing to do with him, and he’d never had to wonder about her immediate safety the way he did now. Even when she’d been chasing her pleasure in the seediest parts of Velaris, they both knew he’d never been far away if she’d ever truly needed him.

But now… now, things were so different. If his family decided to strike and Cassian wasn’t there to protect her, he’d never be able to forgive himself. He’d already failed her so many times — too many times — but he couldn’t stand for this. Wouldn’t stand for this, not when her life could truly be in danger.

“Are you done sulking in the rain like a youngling?” Azriel suddenly asked from behind him.

Cassian whirled to see his brother standing before him, his siphons creating a blue shield to protect him from the worst of the rain. Once he realized Cassian was drenched in rain himself, Azriel let the magic go and let himself get just as soaked, but he didn’t seem nearly as bothered by it as Cassian did. “Well?”

“I’m not sulking,” Cassian responded, breathing hard. Whatever he’d just done, it had been far too angry to be called that. “I was just blowing off some steam.”

“If you say so.” Azriel’s wings shifted, reflexively shaking off some of the water. “We need to talk about what happened earlier.”

“Do we?” Cassian replied flatly. “You were there. You saw what happened for yourself.”

“Just because I saw what happened doesn’t mean I know why,” Azriel responded coolly.

Cassian laughed, the sound cold and ugly and without a shred of humor in it. “You know exactly why that happened, Az. Don’t be an idiot.”

Everyone knew, but they’d been dancing around it for weeks. Months and years, really, but none of that mattered when the female in question didn’t seem to notice.

“I’m not trying to be an idiot,” Azriel told him. “You’ve got that taken care of.”

“I’m not trying to—” Cassian began, but Azriel was faster.

“You’ve always been a shitty liar, Cassian,” Azriel said, shaking his head. “You’re lucky today went how it did.”

“I’m lucky?” Cassian exclaimed.

“Yes,” Azriel snapped, his cool exterior giving way to the icy rage that glittered underneath. “Lucien slipping away without much of a fight? You’re lucky Mor made you lose your temper when she did. It was only a matter of time until Feyre or Rhys started asking questions.”

“Who said anything about Lucien getting away without a fight?”

“There isn’t a single defensive wound on you. You don’t need to be a spymaster to come to the likely conclusion.”

“And what conclusion would that be?”

“That whatever he said made you think twice about hurting him, and you decided to let him go instead of doing what you were told.”

Cassian turned away, a muscle in his jaw working as Azriel hit his mark without much effort. “I was never going to hurt him. I just wanted him to tell the truth.”

“If he’d really taken Elain, he wouldn’t be stupid enough to show his face in Velaris without proof of an accepted mating bond,” Azriel replied, a tinge of annoyance coloring his words. “Lucien hasn’t stayed alive this long to start making foolish mistakes now. Someone else is pulling those strings.”

“So you let us run around on a pointless mission because…?” Cassian trailed off.

Azriel remained silent for a few moments before speaking again, his shadows growing agitated around his hands. “Because I don’t think what they’re doing is right.”

“What do you mean?” Cassian asked. His brother could’ve been referring to a lot of things, but something like hope sparked in Cassian’s chest anyway.

“It was a mistake to lock Nesta away in the first place,” Azriel eventually answered. “And to punish her for making changes in the Court of Nightmares when no one else bothered to seems… cruel.”

“You don’t think she usurped the throne?” Cassian questioned curiously. He knew how strongly Azriel felt for Mor; he wondered if that held any sway over his brother’s opinions. “That she stole Mor’s birthright?”

“Can she truly call it a birthright when she’s been content with the way things were all these years?” Azriel quietly pushed back. “When we’ve all — Mor and Rhys included — turned a blind eye to the suffering there?”

“Have you spoken to her?” Cassian asked suddenly. He’d had no idea Azriel felt this way and couldn’t help but think about the possible reasons why. “To Nesta?”

Azriel snorted. “Relax, Cassian. I haven’t spoken to her since she was here in Velaris.”

“Oh.” Cassian couldn’t hide the disappointment. He hasn’t spoken to Nesta since he’d seen her that day covered in blood and wearing a crown of bones, and he suddenly ached at the separation. Even if it was only to hurl a well-placed insult his way, he’d grown used to speaking to her every day. “Yeah. Of course.”

“Do you really think speaking to her would make a difference?” Azriel asked after a moment. He took a few steps closer to Cassian and resummoned his blue shield to protect them from the rain once he noticed Cassian shoving his hair out of his face. “Do you think she would even listen to anything you have to say?”

“I don’t know,” Cassian admitted. He knew there was a very real chance Nesta could make good on her threats, but a large part of him hoped he’d have a chance to make things right. He knew he wouldn’t be able to rest without at least offering himself up. “But I have to at least try. I couldn’t live with myself if she got hurt and I did nothing. Or worse, if I helped.”

“If you go down there, you won’t be coming back the same way you left,” Azriel replied. “You might not even come back at all. Do you really want to risk that?”

Cassian set his jaw. “Yes. She’s worth it.”

“I know,” Azriel told him simply. “But I at least had to try and convince you otherwise first.”

“What?” Cassian replied, caught off-guard. “You’re not…?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Azriel cut him off with a look. “You’re my brother. If this is something you have to do, I certainly won’t stand in your way.”

“And if Rhys asks?” Cassian dared to question. He didn’t want to force Azriel into an impossible position, but Nesta’s safety was more important than that.

“I’ll deal with it,” Azriel answered with a shrug. “He needs me too much to do much, anyway.”

It was true. Shadowsingers were rare in Prythian, and having one in your court was far too valuable to throw away over a potential disagreement. Still, it was no small thing for Azriel to just brush aside, and Cassian hoped Azriel knew just how grateful he was.

“Thank you,” Cassian said emphatically.

Azriel nodded. “I know you’d do it for me.”

✵✵✵✵✵✵

Azriel made Cassian promise to at least sleep on his decision before they did anything serious about it, and so Cassian found himself flying back to the House of Wind to try and get some rest. He doubted he would get much sleep, but at minimum, he needed to do something so his hands healed right.

Instead of calling for Madja, Cassian decided to go about things the old-fashioned way. He hissed as he ran his hands under some cool water, doing his best to pick any errant pieces of bark out from between his bruised and bloody knuckles, and eventually was able to apply a salve before wrapping them gently. With any luck, the damage would be healed enough tomorrow that he wouldn’t have to walk into Nesta’s court with any visible bandages.

As he wrapped his hands, his mind traveled back to that day on the battlefield where Nesta had been the only one to notice he was injured. Gods, he’d been stupid then. How could he have turned away from her, especially after noticing the hurt look on her face? He’d give anything to go back to that moment and keep holding her hand.

There was nothing to be done about it now, though. He could only keep moving forward and keep praying that she could find it within herself to forgive him rather than put his head on a spike.

The next morning, Cassian found Azriel waiting for him at the dining table. A second, steaming plate of eggs and sausages was waiting across the table, and Cassian dutifully took his seat across from his brother.

“Well?” Azriel said after a few moments.

“I’m still going,” Cassian answered quickly. “It’s… hard being away from her.”

“I’ll take you tonight,” Azriel told him. He fixed Cassian with a flat, serious look before adding, “Assuming you actually manage to keep your head, you’ll owe me a favor.”

“Whatever you need,” Cassian agreed quickly. Owing someone a favor could be dangerous in their line of work, but he trusted Azriel with his life. He wouldn’t lord it over Cassian the way other fae might. “Thank you.”

“Remember your gratitude when I ask you for it,” Azriel replied. His tone didn’t invite a reply.

Cassian nodded and tucked into his food, though he was suddenly so nervous that he could barely hold down the food. He would be seeing Nesta tonight, and it was all he could do to stay focused on the tasks before him. He wondered how she’d changed the Hewn City, but more importantly, he wanted to know how she’d changed herself.

The day passed in a blur. Cassian did his best to behave normally as he put the males through their paces in Windhaven, but even Devlon was eyeing him strangely once training was over. Cassian didn’t let himself dwell on it; they could speculate all they liked about what was going on with him. Enalius knew they talked about him enough behind closed doors.

By the time Cassian touched back down in Velaris, he was almost too wired to think straight. Azriel hadn’t specified what time they would be meeting, but Cassian figured it wouldn’t be so late in the evening that they risked Nesta having retired for the evening. To keep himself busy, he paced around his bedroom for several minutes, agonizing over whether to pack anything, whether to bring Nesta anything, but ultimately decided he would come as himself.

He forced himself to take a bath, doing his best to scrub away the day’s grime. Thankfully, his hands had healed enough that he could remove the bandages, and although he knew Nesta would undoubtedly notice the injuries, he hoped his presence would be enough of a distraction that she wouldn’t call him out on it right away.

Once he was satisfied with his cleanliness, Cassian hauled himself out of the bath and dried off. He didn’t want to make Nesta doubt he respected her – especially not in her capacity as a ruler – so he reached for the nicest pair of leathers that he had with him. He didn’t have his ceremonial leathers with him, so these would have to do.

Eventually, Azriel came to find him. He didn’t say anything about the way Cassian was furiously polishing his siphons, but his pointed look was a comment in and of itself. “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” Cassian answered. He stood and took one last look around the room before following Azriel out to the balcony,

They flew to the top of the same mountain they’d talked on last night, the sky thankfully much clearer now. It was the perfect evening, with the full moon shining down from above them and the stars glittering against the dark night sky.

“I’ll winnow you as close as I can,” Azriel told him once they’d both landed. “I like my head attached to my body, so I won’t risk winnowing you inside.”

“That’s fine,” Cassian replied. “You’re saving me a lot of time as it is.”

Azriel nodded before offering Cassian one of his scarred hands. Cassian took it without hesitation, and the two of them faded into the night. Cassian much preferred his brother’s way of travel to winnowing, the shadows warm and familiar against his face, and before long the darkness disappeared in favor of the familiar gray mountains surrounding the Court of Nightmares. True to his word, Azriel had taken them as close as he could to the entrance without arousing suspicion, and Cassian looked around for a few moments before realizing they were on a plateau overlooking the entrance at the bottom of the mountain.

“Best I could do,” Azriel said with a wry smile.

“Better than me, that’s for sure,” Cassian responded with a wry smile of his own. “Thank you again.”

“You’re welcome,” Azriel answered. He extended his forearm toward Cassian and Cassian immediately reached out to grip it, both of them squeezing tightly for a few moments before letting go. “Good luck, Cass. Don’t get yourself killed.”

“I won’t,” Cassian promised.

Azriel studied him quietly for a few moments before he was apparently satisfied. With a final, tense nod, he disappeared with his shadows, leaving Cassian standing alone outside the entrance to the Hewn City. He spread his wings and launched himself into the air, easily maneuvering himself down toward the mountain’s entrance, and landed on soft feet after a short flight.

Cassian swallowed hard as he eventually made his way inside the mountain, immediately wary when the wards let him in without issue. They felt stronger since the last time he’d been here — probably Lucien’s doing — but they were certainly more than enough to keep him out if Nesta wanted.

The optimistic side of him was hoping it was because she wanted to see him. The other, more logical side was screaming that this could be a trap, that she could be luring him inside just to kill him as soon as he got close.

There was only one way to find out.

As Cassian walked through the cavernous halls of the Hewn City, he was shocked to see so many fae wandering about. Normally when he paid visits down here, everyone was already gathered in the throne room, but instead, he got a glimpse of what life looked like under Nesta’s rule. The servants he passed didn’t seem terrified to make eye contact, and he even passed a bright corridor where some youths were roughhousing playfully. He of course attracted his fair share of stares as he wandered, but no one paid him any mind beyond a few moments of initial interest.

Not until he stumbled across one of the guards that Nesta hadn’t killed in her hostile takeover, at least. “You there! Halt!”

“Yes?” Cassian asked, pausing mid-stride. He’d be more than able to overpower the young male, but he didn’t want to make Nesta hate him any more than she possibly did.

“Her Grace wishes to see you, my lord,” came the swift reply. “Come with me.”

Cassian didn’t bother questioning how he’d been found out so quickly. He just nodded and let the guard lead the way, their footsteps echoing off the smooth stone surrounding them.

They eventually reached the large stone doors Cassian knew led to the throne room. The male leading him exchanged a few quick words with the few guards standing at attention, and suddenly the massive doors were groaning open to reveal the throne room.

“The Lord Commander of Illyria,” someone announced as he walked in. The room was mostly empty, with only a few servants and guards milling around, but it didn’t make the walk to the throne feel any shorter.

Cassian’s heart was pounding so loud in his chest that he didn’t bristle at the title, far too concerned with Nesta’s reaction at seeing him again. His eyes took in all the changes she’d made to the room — most noticeably replacing Rhysand’s throne with one of her own carved with emerald-eyed snakes — before settling on Nesta herself sitting on her throne.

Cassian couldn’t breathe as he looked at her. She was so beautiful that it was difficult to stare at her for too long, like she was his own personal sun and he was blessed to orbit around her. She’d traded the crown of bones for one of glittering black spikes adorned with emeralds, nestled safely within her braided coronet. The crown perfectly matched the bodice of her dress, and she looked so stunning and powerful at the same time that Cassian had to force himself to stay focused on the task at hand.

“Cassian,” Nesta eventually said, tilting her head as she continued to study him. She’d put on some more weight since the last time he’d seen her, and even when she was staring at him like that, he couldn’t help but be thankful that she’d regained some of the color back in her cheeks. “Tell me. Have you come to bend the knee? Or did you want to die by my hand?”

Read Chapter Seven here!

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