#but we're going to keep this funny and fluffy as well

[candied-cae]

We're All Going Home, No One Left Behind - Way Back When

Here's Part 1 <- This is Part 2 of Our Family

Chapter 5/? - - - Read it on AO3

[1] [2] [3] [4] <- Previous Chapters - - - Next Chapters -> [6]

Word Count : 3,333

Summary : Join Stede and his interruptive listeners as they share and remember the day The Revenge's crew all met for the very first time.

(This is sort of a mini-chapter. I know it's not a whole bunch story progression wise, but I got my wisdom teeth stolen on Friday so I really just wanted to work on a fun little update while I finish up the next big one. And I wanted to headcanon how tf Stede managed to get all these people on the same boat. So sit back and relax for a casual, silly 3k about our found family doing the damn finding of the damn family. 🥰)

More OMFD Fics

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Once the crew received what felt like Captain Anne’s approval and promise to help them get back to their ship, they were all positively elated. Toasts of drinks, cheers, gratitude, and affection, they shared it all in their relief. They stood a better chance now of actually getting it all back. It felt possible again. Which was a comforting feeling because there was a second there where it didn’t. 

Once their joy and reprieve settled, and it felt like tomorrow was a tangible thing in their hands and not something they might lose grip of, Stede felt a call to remember. He looked around his crew, though it was missing two, and remembered the day he found them all on the port outside Bridgetown. 

“What’re you smiling about?” Lucius teased.

Stede chuckled as he took a sip from his glass,” Just… all of you. Being here.”

“That’s something to smile about?” Roach wondered skeptically as he looked around them at what was an arguably overcrowded ship, and it wasn't even their own.

“I’d say it is.” He refuted. 

True, them being gathered not on the Revenge and not wasting their days away doing whatever it is they managed to come up with… it wasn’t the ideal way they’d have been together. But Stede couldn’t help but smile while looking at all of them. He loved them incredibly so. Being with them felt more like being with family than anything he’s ever really known. How was he expected not to smile when it finally looked like he was going to be able to get everyone back together again?

“It’s still wonderfully strange to think that people I’ve known my whole life have felt like strangers compared to you all, who I’ve only known since the harbor.”

“About half a year back now, yeah?” Oluwande asks.

“A little more than that,” Stede corrected,” But yes, Oluwande. It’s not even been eight months now that I’ve known any of you.”

“So, you really did just slip into this sort of lifestyle.” Mark comments, emphasizing the ‘just’ because, hell, Stede’s still an infant when it comes to being in this line of work, isn’t he?

Anne asks,“ And you said you’d just gathered them all up the day you got your ship just because they happened to be around, right?”

“Well, yes-”

“How did that happen?”

Seems they weren't fully satisfied by the tale of the near mutiny and brushing over the life Stede left behind. Well, he did promise entertainment in exchange for assistance. And, not one wanting to disappoint their hosts, nor the kind to miss the chance to tell a good story, Stede smiled softly to himself as he began recounting the very day he met his darling crew.

“Well, the first one I met was Buttons…” Stede begins.

He remembers boarding The Revenge alone for the first time just before dawn that morning when there were barely more than a few people getting ready to start their day. He’d set down his bag and tucked away the model as he set on the prowl for the crew to manage his ship. He’d only gotten so far to lean over the railing to scope out the street when he sighted someone… interesting. One of the only people there so early in the morning was none other than Buttons. He was sitting at the edge with his legs hanging off the wooden dock, sharing crumbs of food with a seagull named Karl-

“I thought she was Olivia.” Sabine cut in, cocking her head to the side.

“Yeah,” Xi adds,” Isn’t her name Olivia?”

“Aye, she is Olivia” Buttons motions to the bird presently seated in a nest of rigging rope,” but back then, it was Karl.”

Sabine continues,“ So, wait- Did Olivia used to be called Karl?”

“Or was this a different seagull?” Emilio asks.

Stede answered,“ Another seagull.”

“Olivia’s late husband.” Buttons further explained, and though he was clearly trying to clear up why they've had more than one pet bird, the idea of seagull marriage he's just extended to them seemed to only confuse.

“Alright…?” Sabine accepted, though it sounded like it was more or less to appease Buttons’ waiting expression.

“May I continue?”, Stede asked before taking their nods as approval to go on.

Stede didn’t know him, and he had no clue how important this weird fellow was going to be in his life, but he had packed a few finger sandwiches with him to start his journey. So he elected to give some to Buttons and the bird. Buttons happily accepted the gift and proceeded to share it with his feathered companion. The sight of it was something very foreign to Stede, he’s never seen such a gentle and genuine kindness extended to animals in high society. Such engagements were usually raised out of the children who entertained them, so they might all just see creatures as measures of ability and status. But, here was this man, enjoying a pet bird for no other reason than to enjoy him. So Stede sat down with Buttons and asked about how he came to know and care for the pet. They spent a good amount of time together just chatting. But the sun had risen further, people began to flitter into the port, and so Stede stood up to continue his search. And the other man stood up with him. From that moment on, Buttons seemed to display unwavering allegiance to him. He’d never imagined that he would've hired his first crew member with a snack, but it worked out very much in his favor. 

“Then I found Oluwande and Jim.” Stede attempted to segue.

Until Llyod wanted to clarify,“ And you’d said this Jim was….” 

“One of the ones still on The Revenge, yes. But back then, you couldn’t hardly find either Oluwande or Jim apart. If you found one, you’d find the other.”

As more began to gather, he stumbled upon Oluwande and Jim. The two were slinking around together. They were looking all around, Oluwande was whispering to Jim, they kept their face angled below the brim of their hat. The display looked more than a little suspicious.

“We had good reason to be suspicious-looking!” Oluwande interrupted.

“Not that I knew it at the time!” Stede defended himself,” And I was getting to that bit, for your information.”

When he’d first seen them, Stede just assumed they might have snagged something that wasn’t theirs from the market down the way and were looking to avoid the local law enforcement. He now knows it was because Jim was in disguise and running from Spanish Jackie’s vengeance, but he wasn’t put off by his own assumptions. A little bit of thievery wouldn’t be the worst skill to have on his crew. And Oluwande had a nice face-

“Awe, you thought so, mate?” Oluwande broke off Stede right in the middle of his sentence with a feigned coy laugh to tease him. 

Stede rolled his eyes,“ Oh please, you’ve got a very nice face, Oluwande. But my point is that you seemed like a very sweet guy. Anyway-”

Oluwande had a kind disposition, and he clearly cared about his rather capable-looking accomplice, so Stede decided the pair would make a good addition to the team. Stede didn’t even have to offer much of a sales pitch to them. The fact that he seemed like a good guy who was hiring help and looking to leave before noon was enough for Oluwande to readily agree and drag Jim along with him. 

“After I had them in tow, I looked down the boardwalk and saw this one.” Stede continued with a wave of his hand to Wee John. 

The man was sitting on a set of crates with his club tucked under his chin propping him up. He was gazing thoughtfully over the horizon where the sun was still rising when Stede spotted him. Even seated, Stede could tell the sheer size of the man was impressive, so he was quick to think it’d be a smart idea to get him on his crew. When Stede approached him and he stood up to speak… he saw how truly massive he was. And donned with tattoos and piercings? The sort of expression he had when he furrowed his brows? That was a man people didn’t mess with. But he still had an air of… joy, one might call it, to him.

All the while Stede was saying it, Wee John was grinning to himself and looked like he’d be the sort to say “oh, stop it” with a sheepish swat of his hand.

To Stede’s delight, Wee John didn’t take a whole lot of convincing either. In all honesty, Wee John was nearly ready to agree the minute he realized Stede was an actual fancy man who was earnestly speaking to him and proposing ideas like “people positive management” and “luxury amenities”. And the funny, fantastical little man seemed like he’d be amusing, what with his frilly outfits and the giddy smiling and all his whimsy. It was nothing like anyone had ever seen in a pirate captain before. Then Stede said he’d encourage arson at every event it seemed fitting, and that was it. Wee John was in.

“After that, we ran into another pair having their own happenstance meeting for the first time: Roach and Swede,” Stede said with a nod to the two sitting next to one another.

The crew had grown to five if you counted the captain with them, and they were passing a restaurant. Stede was keeping his eyes peeled for anyone who seemed like the pirate type when two people burst from the restaurant doors right in front of them. Swede was first as he sort of tumbled right out of the doors once he’d swung them open, and just following behind was Roach with a handful of items. The Swede had fallen onto the ground, and Roach grabbed him by his arms and pulled him against the building to prop him up. When Roach lifted his shirt, they all saw the back end of a fork sticking out. No one ever figured out why he’d been stabbed before even breakfast time-

“Well, it was none of your business” the Swede argued with a cross of his arms.

“If you say so.” Stede conceded to continue.

But the Swede added a quick,“ And they started it.” before he could.

But the fellow loudly whined his Swedish phrases over his shoulder back into the establishment, and a few curses, also in Swedish, called back out in response while Roach worked. In just a few moments, they saw the man remove the impalement, clean the wound, and sew it closed. All with very minimal bloodshed. When they’d seen him run out in an apron, they assumed he was a cook, but his skillful recovery of this other stranger was cause to question just where his profession lay. And such skills would surely serve well on The Revenge. Stede started on his proposal to Roach, though he didn’t seem especially piqued by their numbers nor by the captain’s obvious inexperience. However, when Stede took the hint from the apron anyway and went over the sort of extravagances he’d had the kitchen stocked with, there was a certain interest sparked. 

Roach had just begun to pull his rolled cigarette from behind his ear when Burns asked,“ So wait- are you the chef or doctor?”

“Both,” he said simply as he brought a lit match to its end as it hung from his lip.

“Wh- how does one- Are the two skills not incredibly different?” the reddened fellow pushed.

After taking a draw from his cigarette and blowing the smoke away from the circle, he shrugged and answered,“ Meat is meat. Knives are knives.” which gave some of the strangers a worrisome shiver.

Anyway, Roach had never gotten to work with some of the expensive ingredients Stede was offering uninhibited access to. And the Jim lad they already had on the team looked extremely competent. Worst case scenario, that guy seemed the kind you could make a sneaky escape with. Thus, Roach signed on. And by then, the Swede seemed entirely set on staying with them. Probably because the accident-prone fellow didn’t want to stray too far from the sort of person who could handle his injuries and illnesses, or maybe he just liked the vibes. Whatever it was, Swede held his wound and looked up toward the captain as he asked-

“Me, too?” the Swede pipes in, putting on the same display as he had that day, wide eyes and a finger pointed towards his own face. 

And perhaps most people might’ve gone on ahead with their recruitment and not thought to include the man with the fresh stab wound he’d earned before it was even 7:30. Though, Stede was hardly like most people. 

“Hm, why not? You, too, you little Swede.” Stede repeats his response from back then. 

“That was how we gained our sixth and seventh. Though,” Stede said as he cast a sassy eye on Pete,” our eighth wanted to be a more difficult case.”

“What can I say?” Pete asked with a sort of self-satisfactory smile to himself.

“Well. I, for one, would appreciate a thank you for the opportunity after all this time, but besides all that…”

The band of pirates was quickly finding themselves growing towards the size of a decent crew when they came across Pete. He had that sort of classic pirate-y look and was waiting by the ships like he wasn’t sure which one he would board. Stede sauntered forward and asked if he’d like to join their bunch. Pete was far harder to convince than the others. He introduced himself as having previously been on Blackbeard's crew and asked a barrage of questions which all seemed to circle back to 'how does this guy compare to the legendary Blackbeard?’ Stede was honestly sure that Pete was going to end the conversation by saying that Stede could never measure up and he'd rather find a better ride with someone else. So, Stede chose to bid him a good day and began to walk away so the men he did hire and him could get to the ship with anything they had on them and have lunch before setting sail. But Pete ended up stopping him, saying he might as well climb aboard and keep the rest of them from getting themselves killed.

“You’re welcome.” Pete chimed it at the end, again looking so very cocky and pleased with himself.

“I asked for a thank you.” Stede reminded him.

Though it was clear he wasn’t going to receive one at this time, so Stede elected to move on,” Next then, came Pete’s little poet.”

Lucius raised a finger at the title,“ I wouldn’t really call myself particularly poetic-”

“Can’t you let me have a bit of alliteration? Fine, the little scribe was the next one we came upon.”

Stede wasn't exactly sure how many men he needed, but it was nearing midday, and he really wanted to treat his men to a meal before they set off for their adventure. So he figured, a captain, something of a first mate, a medic/chef, plus various levels of pirate-y-looking guys would be enough to get started. They started to head back towards The Revenge with his crew in tow when they quite literally ran into Lucius. Or, more accurately, the boy ran smack into them. Pete, specifically. He was looking behind him as he darted around a corner, they weren't exactly sure what he was running from, but he flashed them a grin and immediately began selling himself as a writer and artist if they could find the need for such a person wherever they were going. Stede did like the idea of having someone around to keep a record of the journey and his attempt to form a new kind of piracy without all the usual abuse. And the boy seemed alone. It's no good being alone. So Stede readily pointed just down the boardwalk to where The Revenge waited for them and told Lucius she was their passage if she pleased him. Clearly, she was indeed a pleasing sight, because Lucius came along with them to climb aboard. 

“I was coming out of a less than ideal companionship with someone and found myself without many options. Was even beginning to reconsider my pickpocketing days as a way to find funds for the foreseeable future. Hadn’t even mulled the thought over much when I saw the very person I was trying to cut ties with.” Lucius excused.

“All in all, I’m very happy we caught hold of you. Happier still that we hadn’t lost you.” Stede said.

“I am, too”, Pete hummed as he snuggled further into Lucius’ hold. 

“And finally, the last one to join us was Frenchie, also still on The Revenge at this time.”

Now the musician, he was a rather surprising end to Stede’s recruitment mission. They were all trekking onto The Revenge when he saw them. He was casually walking down the street, playing the harmonica like he didn't have a care in the world as they were loading up into the ship. He simply looked at them and asked where they were headed. Stede told him they weren’t sure. Frenchie asked if they had room for another. Only seconds later, he was walking up the gangway along with them at the end of the line, right behind Wee John, as they boarded. 

Wee John himself laughed remembering the moment. 

“What’s so funny to you about it?” Stede asked.

Wee John stifled his giggles down and explained,“ Well… never mentioned it before, but as we were loading up he tapped on my shoulder. Asked me ‘What’s this guy’s deal?’ He figured you obviously came from money, not just from your clothes but pretty much from everything about you, and so he wanted to know what exactly was happening with all of us coming into your crew. If it could really be for piracy.”

“And what’d you tell him?” 

“I just shrugged and told him none of us really knew what was up with your… everything, and that you were being completely serious about not having a plan.”

“What if he’d decided to leave, Wee John?” Stede exclaimed the question like such a thing was still at risk.

“Well, he didn’t.” Wee John pointed out,” He was happily surprised by all the musical things you’d had and later told me that he thought the ship looked nice and that her miss-matched crew seemed like the right kind to kill time with. He’d figured, 'why not see the same old same old with the likes of you lot and hope it was at least a little more fun this time ‘round?' At least, that's what he said.” 

“Then I guess it’s lucky for us you two became near-instant companions. Can’t imagine that hurt the efforts to keep him on board.” Stede sighed before clapping his hands together,” Anyway! That’s the tale of how the eight of us, plus our two dearly departed, came to be The Revenge’s crew.”

From there, they all spent a good portion of the evening running through everyone’s greatest and worst of their days on the water. They play a game called “raise your hand if you’ve been personally victimized by Calico Jack and his whip”, which results in Buttons, Swede, and most of Anne’s crew with arms up. And finally, at the end of it all, they tell Stede and his crew where they can settle for the night. Stede tells the night’s bedtime story of Sleeping Beauty: a tale of gifts, curses, grief, loneliness, true love, a dragon, and happily ever after. And while he was telling the story, it seemed that some of the Kingston’s crew were listening from right around the corner.

#My Fic: Our Family <3 #This was mostly an outlet for my silly little headcanon for how everyone came together #It was super fun to write #I know the style was kinda all over the place with a sort of 3rd person narrative story telling with dialogue jumping in and out #but I liked it - so I hope you did too #Anyway - I love all of them so much #Am pushing my WeeJohn/Frenchie agenda #But we are going to build it #There will be emotional angst #and everything that comes with that #but we're going to keep this funny and fluffy as well #Our Flag Means Death #Our Flag Means Death Spoilers #ofmd #ofmd spoilers #hbo #Stede Bonnet #Edward Teach #The Revenge #Gentleman Pirate #Blackbeard #blackbeard x stede #gentlebeard #blackbonnet #Stedward #stedebeard #Our Flag Means Death Fanfic #OMFD Fanfic

[undead-supernova]

Bummer! / Masterlist / 18+

part 1 / part 2

Playlist

pairing: Eddie Munson x fem!reader

plot: you invite eddie out to a party with you and your best friend and it's all perfect...right?

contains: eddie lacking confidence, confident!reader, dirty dancing/making out, hints at past trauma, arguing, underlining slut shaming, lots of heavy petting and fluffy feelings

note: we're up to part 3 already?! with part 4 already in the works?! who even am I anymore!!! thank you to both @littlexdeaths and @jo-harrington for being my biggest supporters and encouraging me to keep going. this is for you both !!!!

song inspo: the song in this chapter is Tití Me Preguntó by Bad Bunny. It is an absolute bop (also he is so hot it’s not even funny)

wc: 5.6k

“Your life sounds like fan fiction.”

You let out a high-pitched scoff, taking Aron’s stuffed octopus by the tentacles and whacking her with it.

“Shut up!”

Aron chuckled, throwing her hands up. “Hey, I never said that was a bad thing!”

You and Aron, your best friend since freshman year, were perched on her bed, all cross-legged and giggly, recounting the last few weeks with Eddie. When you finally told Aron about him, she was livid. How could you not tell your best friend about a really hot guy you’d been seeing who wasn’t an asshole? 

“He’s just so good,” you said with a content smile, throwing your head back on the bed like a girl in a 2000s romantic comedy. “I can’t believe I got this lucky.”

“Yeah, I’d feel lucky too if I had a guy playing guitar for me and tasted like cinnamon and beauty and stuff.”

Your smile widened, the phantom touch of his lips already having imprinted itself on your mouth. “He’s just so nice. And I feel like he gets me, you know? He sees me for me, not for my body or whatever. Plus, we have the same taste in music and movies and…” A soft sigh left your lips as you shrugged. “He just makes me happy, I don’t know.”

Aron leaned over, smiling down at you. The beads at the end of her long braids clinked together as she shook her head at you. “Well, I’m very happy this Eddie is making my best friend all gooey and soft for once.”

You rolled your eyes but you both knew you really appreciated the affirmation. Sometimes you needed that extra assurance, Aron’s opinion being maybe the most important to you—besides your own. When you’d met her at that dreaded Halloween party, all tattered clothes and broken sobs, Aron was quick to help you. Without questions, without judgment. A stranger helping a stranger before becoming best friends within a week.

Before you could get lost in the cold memory, Aron clapped her hands and gasped.

“You should invite him to the party!”

You sat up, furiously nodding. “Oh my God, yes! I completely forgot.”

“It’ll be fun.” You nodded, watching as her nose began to crinkle. “Unless you sneak off to go make out or something.”

Your apologetic smile that turned a little too exaggerated made her groan.

“I don’t kiss and tell,” you said, feigning a sensual tone as you made kissy noises and reached out to tickle her.

She hit you with the octopus (that poor octopus), causing you both to laugh. “You tell me about every fucking kiss, bitch.”

Grabbing it from her, you smirked and said, “And you love hearing about it.”

Aron shrugged. “True. I’m too nosey for my own good.”

“And I’m too honest,” you added, giving her a high-five.

“So, the party?”

You hadn’t felt this way since you were fourteen, running around the football field late at night with Trent Summers, lost in the throes of an unrequited crush. Lost in an all-American fantasy of dating a boy on the football team when you hadn’t even made the cheer squad. Getting your heart broken after he told you he had a girlfriend. You ended your friendship right then and there—resulting in you throwing a football at his face.

Mary Winston had been next, all braces and crooked smiles. Sweet sixteens and discovered identities. You’d met in the art room during lunch, fawning over some TV show before realizing that there was something more there. It didn’t last long, but you swore you’d love her till the day you died. And if anyone had access to your tear-stained diary, they’d know it was very dramatic. Very dramatic.

(Come to think of it, you’d felt something bubbly inside you for Eliza Roseheart in preschool. Playing “husband and wife” and pecking each other on the lips shouldn’t have been as fun as it was.)

Now there was Eddie Munson, the guy who walked you to class and got you coffee just because. At night, you hopped in his van and went on drives. An hour and a half of scream-singing that always ended up with feverish make out sessions by the dock of a lake, the windows fogging up despite the humid heat just beyond those doors. Gnashing teeth as you both giggled your way through can we play 20 Questions? and can I tell you another secret? in between kisses. Helping him down from orgasms after some whispers and heavy, heavy petting, caressing his face in your hands as you told him how good of a job he did. Tracing the lines of his face as you teetered in and out of sleep. Feeling his lips on your forehead as he helped you back into your dorm.

You were never one to believe in good luck. After years of being thrown to the wolves and caged inside a dungeon you built yourself, this nerdy little goofball had coaxed you away from the bars. Led you from a state of hidden solitude, only to welcome you with warm sun and sweaty palms.

All you knew now was that you wanted him. Always.

“We’ll be there.”

Eddie felt naked without his jacket.

As a matter of fact, he felt a bit out of character. A dark, dark purple Black Sabbath tee was paired with his regular black jeans, combat boots, and wallet chain. The same rings and bracelets.

But his jacket. He knew he’d have to leave it with this weather. Smelling bad wasn’t an option tonight, especially meeting your best friend. The less he fucked up his appearance, the less he had to worry about fucking up in general.

So he hung up his favorite boy and left his dorm with bare arms. Followed his heart all the way to your dorm.

Had your roommate greet him, a giggle escaping her lips as soon as she saw him. Aron, as he learned, was quick to pull him into conversation as you finished up getting ready. Though you called down the hallway to them, he still couldn’t calm his anxiety.

Meeting new people didn’t bode well for him.

And yet he was proven wrong—their conversation was as easy as breathing, exchanging thoughts on their favorite video games and how legendary Black Sabbath was.

“Oh, I like you,” she said at one point and laughed at the blush rising to his cheeks. “I’m glad you already know that’s a compliment of the highest degree.”

He’d thought he got his groove back. He really did. But then he heard your heels echoing through the hallway and looked over at your figure coming closer. Eddie immediately shot up out of his seat at the sight of you.

Your dress was one he hadn’t seen before, a satin black spaghetti-strapped dress that hugged your curves just right. A patch at the bottom showed a red rose, circled by a silver snake. Black heels and an array of rings. No necklace, no earrings. Smokey-eyed and gloss-lipped.

“Fucking hell.”

Both girls broke out into laughter.

He wanted to hit himself. Could he once, just once, keep his mouth shut?

“Sorry,” he added.

You shook your head, stepping closer. “Don’t be. I think that’s the best compliment I’ve ever received, so thank you.”

Eddie nearly missed Aron skipping off to her room when you pulled him into a hug. He let out a breath he didn’t know he’d been holding, letting his arms wrap around your back. Even after all these weeks, he found that he could never get used to your embrace. Your skin against his, the fizzle of something electric jumping between your bodies.

“You look amazing, by the way,” you whispered in his ear before pulling back. He was pretty sure your smile was just as goofy as his. “I love your shirt.”

“Thought you might,” he responded with a small laugh. He leaned in to kiss your cheek, but stopped himself. “Sorry.”

Your smile faltered as confusion flooded your face. “For what?”

Before he could apologize again, Aron was skipping back into the room and clapping her hands together.

“Alright, let’s boogey.”

You were quick to settle into the party, the three of you standing in one corner or another, laughing over really anything you could think of. Aron was sure to point out everyone who was cool and everyone who was not, giving Eddie a crash course in the party scene that always felt a little too high school for your taste. He didn’t seem like the kind of guy to bother with that stuff which you liked. There was nothing worse than watching someone lose themselves in fair-weather friends.

Two drinks in, Aron left to go find some other friends of hers, reiterating that they were part of the Cool Crowd. It left you and Eddie to your own devices, with your exaggerated bantering and light shoves. Touches that felt like electric shocks, the voltage only increasing with each jab. At some point, you had to wonder if that’s why you both kept doing it.

Then, in the middle of threatening to tickle him, you heard the starting sounds of a Bad Bunny song you liked. Leaning your head back, you let out a satisfied “Yes!”, watching as people quickly gathered near the speakers.

Eddie looked at you, confused.

You merely chuckled, taking his hand and leading him over to the small crowd.

“Let’s dance!”

Your hand grasped his over your shoulder, just like that night you met. It was a feeling like no other, Eddie’s heart hammering in his chest. And, God, he really couldn’t keep the grin off his face.

He was happy. He was having fun.

“I don’t know how to dance to this kind of music!” he admitted loudly, a smile still plastered on his lips.

But you were far from deterred. “Just follow my lead, pretty boy.”

And just like that, you were turning around and tugging his hands forward until they met your waist. Let yourself lean back on him, grinding your hips as they swayed back and forth.

Effortless. That’s the best way he could describe the way you moved, the way you never missed a beat. The bass pumped and vibrated through Eddie’s limbs, but you seemed to be one with the music.

Dancing wasn’t something unheard of when it came to Eddie. If he was listening to music, chances were that he was shimmying his shoulders or head banging. In a mosh pit, he let himself get jostled around, bopping along to the sound. He may not have had hips like Jagger, but he knew how to move them at least.

However, this was new territory, having a girl, having you in front of him, waiting for him to move. And if he was supposed to move, then god dammit, he was going to move.

Eddie took a deep breath before the beat slowed down. Letting his wired thoughts fade into a soft buzz, doing what he felt was right. Like pulling you tight against his chest and moving his hips at the same time as yours. Pushing himself against your ass, a harsh breath leaving his nose at the friction.

Sighing, you let your head fall back on his shoulder, a content smile lifting onto your lips. Raised your hands, wrapping them around his neck the best you could, rhythm never lost on you.

And it would be just so easy to…

But would you be okay with…

Fuck it.

Shaking his head, he leaned down and began to kiss your neck. Your next sigh was what officially turned him on, pushing him further into your heat wave. Licked a stripe up your neck and tugged on your earlobe with his teeth.

Eddie couldn’t help the thought, the impulse creeping up in this crowded house party to move his fingers just a bit lower, to skirt the hem of your dress that was riding up with each swirl of your hips. He wanted you, cock straining against his jeans in near agony, continuing to litter your neck with love bites as if you were alone.

And just before he could get a little more bold, you were taking his trigger-finger hand and placing it on your thigh, so close to what he could call the inner thigh.

“Is that okay?” you asked, looking up at him through your eyelashes.

He nodded. “Was already headed there, sweetheart. You beat me to it.”

“I took an earlier flight,” you joked.

A breathy chuckle left his lips. “That’s okay. That’s not my last stop anyways.”

Your thigh was soft, full, easy enough to squeeze. So he did, eliciting a high-pitched sigh from you.

A proud smile met your face. So you liked when he took the upper hand.

And, God, if you kept looking at him like that, he was going to start fingering you in front of every fucking person here. Maybe he would. No one was looking at you both, right? He could do it. Just a little bit. Just…just a little bit.

His fingers twitched, raising higher and higher and—

“Hey, sorry to interrupt,” a voice said, snapping you out of this moment. You both looked over to see Aron approaching, taking hold of one of your wrists. “But I gotta steal her for a second.”

“Aron!” you exclaimed, holding onto Eddie’s hand as long as you could before Aron dragged you away. Sorry, you mouthed at him before turning back.

You couldn’t help your face growing hot at the feeling of your wetness still sticking to your inner thighs as you parted them.

She didn’t pull you far, but you couldn’t help how pissed you felt. Granted, you weren’t really pissed at her but something was about to happen and you’d been more than happy to just let it.

Eddie was finally taking the upper hand, doing what he wanted. Not just going along with what you told him to do. There was no blind faith or overthought. No, he was showing—initiating. It was euphoric. It was nearly orgasmic…

“What’s going on?” you asked, smoothing out the hem of your dress. And as you stood there fixing yourself, you felt Aron step closer to you.

“Listen, Sam is walking around, drunk as fuck—”

“Big shock there,” you commented, crossing your arms over your chest.

Aron let out a snort. “Yeah, literally. Anyways, he’s talking about how easy you are in bed and keeps telling everyone you’re here with Eddie to make him jealous.”

Sam Covington had been a problem for…a while. Maybe since last summer, when you were…friendly with some of the frat guys’ girlfriends. Got invited out one night and Sam was there, always staring at you from any corner of the room or finding excuses to talk to you. It was fucking creepy.

It was one of those things that sent chills down your spine, the fear for your safety growing with each glance. That voice that made you want to run and hide. The touch that had you wondering if you’d remembered to grab your pepper spray and whistle.

Usually, you were able to stand your ground and hurl insults he couldn’t fathom hearing from a woman. Even the last party you’d seen him at, the one where you had met Eddie…

But it didn’t mean that you felt any more secure.

“Him? Ha!” You exaggerated your tone, trying to keep your voice from shaking. Waved your hand around, desperate to stay calm. “What a fucking joke. He wishes.”

Eddie’s blood ran cold at your mocking tone, taken aback by your blatant degradation. Like a mask had been removed, revealing a forked tongue and razor sharp teeth.

He’d seen your expression, your shoulders turning inward, like you were uncomfortable. He decided to walk over and, sure, it was probably rude. He knew that. However, he couldn’t stand to see you upset. He needed to know what was going on, pulled to you with some tether that he couldn’t explain.

But he regretted it immediately.

Aron chuckled. “If that ain’t the truth, girl.”

“He’s such a fucking loser, I swear. Can’t catch a fucking hint.”

Eddie once thought he’d let go of the anger he once held in high school. The defiant boy that was once riddled with so much frustration at the cruel hand he’d been dealt. The one that jumped up on lunch tables and screamed at whoever would listen. He thought he’d given up on holding onto the bitterness of verbal sucker punches and bruised ribs.

But it was creeping back up, that violent shaking that ran along his arms. The torment of those five brutal years of high school tingling in his fingertips as you continued to desaturate the vibrancy of a man he thought he was becoming.

“Like, why does he have to be so obsessed with you?”

You shrugged and his eyes caught the tail end of your eye roll. “Because he’s so fucking desperate for someone to fuck him. That’s why.”

And before he could stop his head from going there, he was back in that blistering July. The fear of being used goods clutching at his throat as he struggled to speak, struggled to find an escape. 

“Pathetic,” you stated, voice thick with disgust.

That scorching July. Fingers trembling on the doorknob, his sweaty palm slicking it in sweat. Slipping. 

No escape, no escape.

He needed to get out. There was no thought, just action. So, he turned and started stalking towards the front door. Voices in his head spoke over one another, flooding his brain.

Freak. Loser. Dirty. Good for nothing. Desperate. Trailer park trash.

Pathetic.

“Eddie?” he heard behind him, the sound of his name on your lips like a beckoning call, serenading him with its delicacy. 

If he didn’t have a shred of dignity left, he would’ve turned around and come running. But he didn't, instead making a run for the side of the house. Maybe if he hid, he didn’t have to face your humiliation.

And, like he said, he didn’t have to run back…because you were already catching up with him, stopping him in his tracks as you stepped in front of him. How you did that in six inch heels was fucking beyond him.

Placing a hand on his chest, you asked, “What’s wrong?” As your eyes scanned his face, you added, “Are you okay? Did something happen?”

But he knew better. 

He did, didn’t he?

“Are you using me?”

You paused, flinching away from his chest as if you’d been burned. “Excuse me?”

“Like…” Eddie started, trying to take a deep breath to keep himself level. But he was starting to falter, all shaky and desperate for you to get it the fuck over with. “Like, if we even fuck, is that it? Will the chase be over for you?”

Your face began to harden, something resembling fury clouding your features. “How fucking dare you think I’d do something like that.”

“It’s just a question!” he exclaimed.

“Yeah, and I don’t appreciate you acting like I’m engaging in this relationship just to fuck you and leave.” 

His eyebrows furrowed as his nostrils flared with frustration, both of you holding mirrored expressions. But yours softened first, the edges of your snarl quivering. Shaking your head, you took another step back.

“I like you, Eddie. Okay? I’ve liked you since that first night. We’ve been on, like, three dates now? And I introduced you to my best friend, for Christ’s sake. You make me laugh but you make me so fucking soft, it drives me insane. And those late night drives make these stupid midterms worth it.”

“Oh.”

“Did I really have to spell it out?” Eddie didn’t say anything. “I mean, geez. I thought I’ve been an open book this whole time. I’ve spent practically every day with you. Every night, even. Like, why would I want to be with anyone else? And did you really need me to reiterate all of that?”

“But you told your friend that I’m—”

“What?!” you exclaimed before shaking your head. “No, that was about this frat guy, Sam. He’s been creeping on me again and is spreading fucking rumors and I am getting literally so sick and tired of it.”

The dissipated anger began to creep back up at the thought of some douchebag stalking you. Who the fuck was Sam to not take a fucking hint? And why was it becoming so increasingly hard not to run back into that party and beat the shit out of him?

“A guy’s been creeping on you? Since when?”

You sighed. “Yeah, don’t worry about it. It’s nothing.”

Eddie held up a hand. “Now, hang on. I am going to worry about that, because that’s not nothing.”

“I agree, but that’s a later conversation,” you said, pushing his hand down and shaking your head. “Get to the part where you tell me why you think I’d ever say that about you.”

Eddie was the one to sigh now, pissed that you had to move on but ultimately needed to confess. “I just never thought you’d actually be into me.”

“Why?” you nearly yelled.

“I’m just a fr—”

“Ew! If you say ‘freak’, I’m legally obligated to rip your eyes straight out of your skull.”

A breath escaped his nose as he closed his eyes and tried again. “You just…you’ve dated more people than I have.”

“Based off of what?”

His eyes flew open. “What?” he asked, unsure what you meant.

“You haven’t even bothered to ask me how many people I’ve dated—or fucked, for that matter.” Eddie’s eyes widened. “I’ve had one relationship. One.”

“Really?” he whispered.

You let out a laugh that didn’t match your exhausted expression. “Yeah, for a week until she got nervous about her parents finding out and dumped me. I was sixteen.” Furrowed eyebrows returned to your face as you crossed your arms over your chest and leaned towards him dramatically. “What about that, huh? How many people have you dated, Eddie?”

Two. The number was thick in his throat, his verbalization swallowed by your question being, well, rhetorical.

You paused, turning your face away from the light. But he caught your pointer finger flying up to dab your lower lash line. “Like, I’ve had sex, sure. But it’s not like I ask all those guys to fucking harass me. I honestly don’t know how that became a thing here. Like, I’m just here. I’m just trying to have fun.”

The guilt was starting to settle in his chest. “I should’ve caught that.”

“I thought you understood me,” you said before letting out a high-pitched sound of disbelief, lifting your hands and letting them fall at your sides with a loud thwack. “Like, I’m not a slut or a whore or whatever they want to say despite it being the twenty-first fucking century! And I can’t even be with you without some guy trying to—”

He heard it before he saw it. A scoff that shifted into a sob as you crouched down to your knees, only hovering above the ground by your tall heels. 

Eddie had never seen you cry, had never seen the façade so easily broken. This girl he once thought untouchable, invincible, cracking before his eyes.

Looking back to all of those moments, those numerous instances of harassment, how quick you were to send them a message. How easily it came to you, to throw your verbal and physical punches like it was nothing. Like it was a normal thing.

He’d gotten so caught up in how badass you were that he didn’t stop to think about how you felt about it. Or why it came so easily to you.

He crouched down, putting a hand on your shoulder. “Hey, I’m really sorry. That was really shitty of me.”

He felt you lean into his hand, glad that you weren’t rejecting him. It was lame, but he didn’t think he could handle your rejection right now. Especially when you were in this state. Especially when he was the reason why.

Turning to glance at him through your tears, you said, “Eddie, that really hurt my feelings.”

“I shouldn’t have assumed,” he said truthfully. “If it means anything, I didn’t think you were a, um, slut or whatever. I just thought maybe you didn’t want me the same way.”

You nodded, sniffling while wiping the snot away from your nose. Never once did you pull away from his touch or grow cold. “Yeah, I get that.” You paused, your eye contact starting to burn him. “I’ve never done any of the shit we’ve done with other people. I’ve only felt that comfortable with you.”

“But you’re just…” he trailed before sighing and closing his eyes. “You’re just so good at it.”

When he heard a loud laugh leaving your lips, his eyes flew open, grateful to see a smile on your face. The laugh turned into a fit of snorts, leaving him to laugh at just how adorable you were.

“Yeah, thanks,” you teased, the familiar tone giving him the ability to breathe again. “It’s a litany of porn, smut, and—” You moved your hands up to mimic the shape of a rainbow. “Imaginaaation.”

The reference got Eddie laughing again, nodding along as he replied, “You could’ve told me you’re a dominatrix on the side and, like, I would’ve believed you. Scout’s honor.”

“Good to know,” you joked.

Eddie stood back up then, shaking his head as he reached a hand out to you. “I’m an asshole.”

You lifted an eyebrow, slowly shaking your head back at him before taking his hand. “You’re more special than you think you are.”

He lifted you up, grasping your palm in his as he brought you closer to him. Your joined hands rested against his heart, faces inches apart. 

There you were, your eyes fully in view now. Watery, with makeup creasing along your waterline and smudged mascara littering your cheeks. Despite the quiet pain it caused him, he was grateful to get a glimpse at your beauty again, your attention still gutting him over and over again.

If he didn’t know any better, he could’ve sworn he could feel his guts spilling onto the concrete. And when he drew closer, it was made even worse as he felt your heart rate increase in real time.

And, god dammit, he couldn’t help himself. Eddie closed the gap and kissed you. Gently, tentatively. Let himself linger just long enough to inhale your breath before pulling back.

“My god, you’re precious,” he whispered, heart clenching with every feature you softened—the mask slipping. His eyes fell upon your lips, slightly ajar in shock.  

“Yeah?” you whispered, breath hitching when he lightly pushed you against the wall. 

Eddie’s nose skimmed your cheek, desperate to breathe in your perfume. One last whiff. He swore it. Just one more.

Just one more.

“Mm-hm,” he hummed, inhaling your scent again.

It was the last time. Promise. 

“Tell me again,” you pleaded.

He pulled back, catching the clenching of your thighs in his peripheral. A dangerous smile grazed his lips as he gave you what you wanted. 

“You’re precious.”

You nodded repeatedly, doe-eyed as you begged, “Again.”

“You’re precious,” he said, hushed as his lips hovered above yours.

“Please,” you whimpered, legs squirming against his. But he pushed you further into the wall, your connected hands halting your movement. He could feel your heart racing furiously. “One more time.”

“You’re precious, baby.”

Before you could lunge at him, he was a step ahead of you, crushing your lips with his. Released your hand, quick to cup your face as you floundered to find somewhere to put your hands. Taking a page out of your book, he grabbed your wrists and placed them on his shoulders.

A sigh left your lips at the movement, nodding your head as you pushed your tongue into his mouth. What you were nodding about, he had no idea. He didn’t have the ability to have thoughts about anything anymore. 

All he could think was more, more, more.

All he could feel was you.

He couldn’t help himself when he slotted his thigh between yours, earning a deafening moan that made him harder than he already was. You’d moaned, sure. He’d heard you do it plenty of times when you made out. But he was suddenly struck with how different your positions were now. And how he was the reason for it. 

The thought drove him closer to the edge, roughly grabbing at your cheek with one hand while the other slid down your thigh, snaking around your knee and jerking your leg up to his hip. Your gasp made him even crazier, unable to help it when he pushed his thigh further against your core. Another wild whimper, this time with an edge of impatience.

“This okay?” he asked.

You nodded furiously. “Yes. Yes.”

If Eddie had the confidence, he’d take you against this house right now. He’d slide into you with ease, Fucking those little sounds out of you, the ones he dreamed about at night. The ones that would mirror the way you sounded right now, only intensified and louder. 

And yet it was enough to hear your now quiet desperation, to feel your thighs clench around his leg, your soaking pussy dripping through your panties and staining his jeans with ease.

“Jesus, you’re soaked.”

You nodded furiously, seemingly unable to speak as you gasped and chased his lips again. Ground your pussy against his leg. Impatient, hungry.

He couldn’t help but feel greedy, draping himself around you.

Let there be witnesses. Let the whole house hear him, he didn’t care. But those noises, your noises, belonged solely to him. Swallowed by his mouth, muffled by his body shielding yours. The vibrations pulsed through his cheeks and he couldn’t help but let out a low groan.

He noticed you continuing to chase the friction, rubbing yourself along the denim over and over, his jeans being ruined with every rut of your hips. If Eddie hadn’t been drunk off of you before, he was deliriously faded now. Because you were still going, no words leaving your mouth. Just whimpers and moans.

He wanted to say something, wanted to beg you to keep going. But he stayed quiet, knowing that you’d probably stop, keeping yourself from the pleasure he was witnessing. You looked like a goddess, eyes rolling back and, dear god, he needed to mark your neck again. He dipped his head down and began nipping at your skin again, frenzied at the reaction it pulled out of you.

The hitch in your breath caught his attention, moving his face from your neck to see your head thrown back. Your heaving chest was the indicator, the slow build of something beginning inside you. 

“Do it,” he whispered. “Come for me.”

Without any warning, he felt your legs tremble before your cum seeped into his jeans. A cry left your lips as your breath continued at a rapid pace, sweat dripping down your neck. Eddie was quick to lick it up, trying hard not to get on his knees and lap up what was left from the source.

(He was just glad he had enough restraint to resist begging for your underwear to keep for later.)

(The one time he’s able to keep his mouth shut.)

One last whimper left your lips as you came down, chasing the last of your high on his leg before he moved it out of the way. Left a gentle kiss on your forehead before he heard you sniffle.

“S-sorry,” you breathed, tightly squeezing your eyes shut. He came back to the present, leaning back as he watched your face crumble. “Sorry.”

Eddie took your chin between his fingers. “Hey, open your eyes. Look at me.”

At first, you only opened one, like you were testing the waters. He chuckled, earning access to your other eye. “There she is,” he murmured, pecking your nose. “Why’re you apologizing?”

“‘Cause I didn’t ask you if it was okay if I did that.” Tears brimmed in your eyes as you pushed his fingers away, covering your mouth with your hand. Shook your head as you added, “I didn’t ask. I’m so sorry, Eddie.”

“Baby, I would’ve stopped you.” He moved your hand away, lightly stroking your cheek as he continued. “I was honestly scared you would stop.”

Your head cocked towards his, glassy eyes turned clear again. “Why?”

“‘Cause then I wouldn’t have gotten to make you cum.”

A bashful expression immediately fell over your features, shoulders caving inwards as you bit your lip. You tapped your heels against the concrete, one by one, all jittery and shy. It was cute.

“Yeah, I didn’t plan on that, either,” you said. “But you just…”

“Hm?”

You shrugged, sighing. “You kinda fucked with my head.”

“Does that mean I get to finally fuck you?”

Tapping at your cheek, you looked away in feigned contemplation before shaking your head. “Nope. I think I’ll make you work harder to get to see it.”

“Nah, I could prove it right now,” he insisted, getting down on both knees.

You became flustered, looking at your surroundings before back down at him. “Eddie, no.”

He put his hands in a praying position and tried to puppy-dog eye you. “Trust me, I can make you do that, like, five more times right now.”

“Eddie—”

“And that’s just with my tongue.”

“Oh my God. Get up,” you said with a laugh, tugging him to stand back up. “We’re not doing this in public.”

Eddie snorted, a goofy smile meeting his lips. “Well, technically we already—”

“There you guys are!” 

Aron’s voice snapped you both out of your delirium, bringing you back to where you were.

“Oh, ew!” she nearly screeched, eyes wide as she stared at Eddie’s jeans. “We’re in public, guys. Come on.” 

When you both looked down, you saw your cum glistening across his jeans. 

“I’m sorry!” you said at the same time Eddie said, “I’m not sorry!”

You immediately gawked at him and he couldn’t have enjoyed any reaction more. His smirk said it all, earning a quick whack to his shoulder. 

“You’re both so horny on main. I’m never letting you out of my sight at a party ever again.”

thank yew for the divider @strangergraphics

#Eddie munson x reader #eddie munson/reader #Eddie munson x you #Eddie munson/you #Eddie x you #Eddie x reader #eddie munson one shot #eddie munson x y/n #Eddie Munson x fem!reader #eddie munson fanfic #Eddie Munson smut

[joonsytip]

Anonymously Yours || Joshua Hong

Pairings: Joshua x Fem!Reader Genre: Fluff, Angst, Humour (broken coz mine), high school au, enemies to lovers au, strangers to lovers au, anonymously yours au. Synopsis: After an accidental text message turns into a digital friendship, you and Joshua start crushing on each other without realizing you both see each other frequently in real life. Notable Mention: You both hate each other's guts.... Word Count: 18.6k Inspired By: Mexican Flick - Anonymous yours. Warnings: profanities, Joshua acts dumb one big time, mentions of periods, tears and tears but mostly fluffy, protagonists don't know how to act around each other (lmk if I missed any) Banner credits to my baby @wannabeyourshua . Also, it's your birthday present from me, hope you like it! Taglist: @wannabeyourshua @hoeforhao @kimmych @chocolatekdramakpopfreak @starlight-night0 @alyssng @imsjane @i-dont-give-a-fok @gaebestie @meowmeowminnie @hanniehaeism

Please heart, comment and reblog, would really help to keep me going <3

[SVT Flick : Fic Masterlist] [SVT Masterlist]

Unknown Number:

[3:05 AM] Hey!

It was great meeting you! Maybe we should meet again sometime soon :)

What do you think?

You:

[3:09 AM] It's 3am for god's sake???

You got the wrong number!

Unknown Number:

[3:10 AM] Haha, not funny! It's me.

You gave me your number at the party :(

[3:12 AM] They gave you the wrong number obviously.

Now stop right there & let me sleep!!!

The blaring sound of the alarm is hurting your ears and adding to your headache.

"Ugh, I can't even sleep without getting interrupted.", you groan but manage to lift your body to do two trivial things. One, stopping that goddamn alarm. Two, checking your phone.

8 AM. The time glares back at you.

You have a class at 9, well assignment submission to be more precise and you're still in your bed, half awake, half grumpy.

Next half an hour goes in a blur as you gobble down your breakfast and smoothie that your mother makes daily, it's almost like a tradition and good part is that you don't hate it. The only bad part is that the same conversation that follows everyday of them insisting you to join the family business and you dismissing them because you have a passion that you want to turn into profession.

Currently you're waiting for your best friend, Hyerin, who's never not late to pick you up.

Some insights on Hyerin, she's your best friend, have been your friend since when you knew could pronounce that term. She's pretty, easy going, quite popular and star player of the school's tennis team.

Hyerin Calling....

You don't have to pick up that call so rather you are running straight down the block knowing that she's waiting there with her jeep.

"Babe, I'm late because of her.", she says as she points at her younger sister, Hyejoo who is seated in the backseat.

"I admit. But you know the other 99 times of 100, we're late because of whom", she immediately quips back in her defense.

You roll your eyes, bored of their banter and turn on the radio to have a vibe to jam to till you the reach the school.

As soon as you cross the threshold of the school, Hyerin is hijacked by Jeonghan, her tennis partner and Hyejoo situates herself with basketball teammates when she spots them.

And you're left alone.

And you're used to it.

The final bells rings indicating that you should be now sprinting to the class to avoid the grudges of your literature teacher.

You are with your full concentration tangling the wires of your earphones around the phone while climbing up the stairs when you suddenly bump into someone.

Your head whips up to see the other person, glaring at you having his shirt stained in coffee which he was supposed to drink.

"Sorry, very sorry", you take out your handkerchief and just as try to dap on the shirt, that person backs away.

"Please give your number, I'll pay for the dry cleaning.", you say politely.

"No need, I can pay for myself", that person grumbles, "Do me favour and from next time keep your eyes open while walking."

He says and walks away leaving you speechless and infuriated.

"What an ass, I was trying to nice.", you mutter before sprinting to the class.

Joshua is already having a bad day so when the only thing he was looking forward to, coffee from his favourite café got spilled on his shirt because of some girl who can't walk straight, he is vexed.

Fortunately, he doesn't have classes within next hour so he goes straight to basketball ground. He has been enrolled into this high school recently so he has no friends, neither he intends to make any.

He fishes out his phone and taps on a contact who's name he doesn't know and proceeds to send a text.

Joshua:

[9:35 AM] Hey, sorry for waking you up last night.

Stranger:

[9:36 AM] No worries, I fell asleep right back.

Joshua:

A heavy sleeper it seems lol.

Stranger:

[9:37 AM] You can say that. And whoever did this to you is so mean, they could have told you no instead of doing this.

Joshua:

[9:37 AM] Ikr. I was at this party last night when my best friend insisted me to ask her number coz according to him I was checking her out.

Stranger:

[9:40 AM] Didn't work out for you :(

"Hey cutie, are you new here?", Joshua who is now quietly watching the match is called out by Hyejoo.

"I am.", he responds right away.

"Wanna play with us?", Hyejoo asks twirling the ball on her index, a sly smile set on her lips.

"Yes.", Joshua simply says and jogs down to the play arena.

"Before we get started, I'm hosting a party today and you're invited.", Hyejoo says, her expecting eyes staring at him.

"Thanks for the invite but sorry I won't be attending.", Joshua replies and extends his hand, asking for the ball.

Hyejoo immediately backs down, tossing the ball , "Then you don't get to play."

"What?", Joshua's face twists in a mix of confusion and rage.

"You heard it right.", Hyejoo taunts him further.

"Are you being serious?", Joshua chuckles in disbelief, "Such a spoilt brat."

Hearing this, Hyejoo's friend Jisung walks upto him and grabs his collar in aggression, "What did you say?"

"Exactly what you heard. You're her bodyguard or what?", Joshua smirks.

And the next second a hard punch lands on his face. Just as he was about to retort the sports coach shouts, "The group over there, you're all going for detention."

A series of groans are heard.

You look around in utter disappointment. Well, detention room could and should never be appealing to anyone.

It's your fault you're here because you couldn't cure your curiosity when you saw a text from the familiar unknown number and your hands immediately to had respond back even after getting two warnings from the teacher.

Sitting idle never does you good, so you deck your bag on the desk which is going to act as a makeshift pillow and next you rest your head on it.

Joshua enters the room and the first person he spots is you, who had deprived him the privilege of drinking morning coffee.

With a scowl set on his face, he walks past you and sits on the corner most seat.

Next, a smile plasters on his face as he takes out his phone goes through the conversation between him and the stranger.

Mrs. Yoo walks in with all her glory knowing she's very much despised by the students not because she's an ass of a person but for her detention projects she puts everyone through.

You heave a sigh, unbothered to greet the teacher.

Her heels clanks sharply against the floor as she walks to the teacher's desk and taps her finely manicured nail against the table with a sickening sweet smile plastered on her face, sweet enough to make everyone else present in the room barf out.

"I'll get to the point straight. Block your calendars for Saturdays & Sunday, 2 to 5, every week.", she orders, unphased by the string of protests coming in.

You exchange glances with Hyejoo, who looks equally terrified.

"But I have classes", you speak up, "And I guess everyone has some or other sort of commitments as well."

"That's for you and everyone else to manage. Should have thought before.", she points her eyes at you and moves on, "I'll create a gc and add everyone of you. So the venue of next meetup will be shared across. And I want full attendance.", her voice holds the authority and every single being present there knows that they would be attending otherwise the wrath of Mrs. Yoo is not something anyone would like face.

Sundays are no more Fundays.

Hyerin's are rich rich. So whenever her parents are out of town for business, both the sisters throw parties and invite the whole town, okay not whole but they'll be almost there soon.

And you are present in each of them, as a pure obligation and to be a good friend to Hyerin.

Parties are not your thing, it never was and it's safe to say it will never be. Because your social batteries are weak and that's why while everyone is doing beer pongs or fuzzy duck or whatever questionable things, you sit by the pool, in calm, legs dipped in the cold water.

"Oh there's my girl!", you hear Hyejoo as she sits beside you.

"Congrats, you found me.", you shrug and swing your legs lightly in the water, making a brief eye contact with her.

"Thanks for coming.", she says leaning on her shoulders, "I know parties are not your thing but your presence matters. And thanks for these dresses? Like I don't know how you do it everytime, you have magic in your hands ."

"Don't go all sappy on me, Joo.", you chuckle and lay your head on hers, "But thanks for the words."

"Anything for you, love.", she smiles and closes her eyes basking in your presence until she hears a call of her name.

"Gotta go.", she immediately gets up and sprints to the hall as she yells, "Tell me whenever you wanna leave, I'll drop you off!"

You shake your head and take out your phone.

You:

[9 PM] You there?

Unknown Number :

[9:01 PM] Hey!

Just pulling a marathon of Victorious.

[9:02 PM] Cool! Cat Valentine my love.

Do you like parties?

Unknown Number:

[9:04 PM] Depends on the people, both accompanying and hosting.

What about you?

You:

[9:05 PM] I don't exactly like parties.

I'm that miserable wallflower :(

Unknown Number:

[9:07 PM] Come on, you're not miserable, it's just that you don't feel it, you're not into it.

You :

[9:09 PM] Maybe....

Joshua stares at the phone screen a little longer before chucking the phone on the bed. He sighs and his thoughts drift away to the same old wistful thinking.

There's a knock on the door and he hums in acknowledgement, allowing the person to enter.

"Make space for me, I'm tired.", Mingyu is already nudging Joshua who lets out a grunt but shifts anyway.

"If you're tired, go to your home and sleep on your bed.", Joshua remarks in an agitating tone but both of them know that he's actually far from that.

Mingyu laughs and snuggles closer to him, "That's not how you treat your best friend.", he playfully quips, "I have a match on Sunday, you're coming right?"

"When have I missed any of your matches?", Joshua rolls eyes, "Mixed Doubles?"

Mingyu nods, "The practice is thinning me tired.", he then taps on Joshua's arm and the later extends his arm so Mingyu can lay his head on.

"How's new school?", Mingyu asks.

A bit of silence before Joshua answers, "It's okay."

"Made new friends?", Mingyu asks with concern.

"No. Don't wanna.", Joshua says, "I'm just doing it because I have to."

"Tried talking to your mom about this?"

"Gyu", he trails off even though he has so much to say.

"I'm all ears Josh. Even if it's the same old talk, I'm willing to listen. Please tell me.", he insists.

"I had promised dad, that I'd become like him.", Joshua stills when that exact memory flash in front of his eyes, "After his death, I have fully devoted myself to studies so that I can get accepted to the best law academy. My mom always keeps on encouraging me and I know she wants to keep my dad's profession alive through me because she thinks I'm as much interested She's not at fault for doing so but..."

Mingyu waits with all the patience in the world, just for his friend to pour out everything, so that it hurts him less, so that his suffocation lessens even if in miniscule amount.

Pouring out is always better than bottling in.

Joshua relents for a moment but he knows that the listener is never going to judge him, that he's always there to share the burden so he continues, "When I was younger it was fascinating, I wanted to become lawyer but in recent years I don't feel the same. Heck, I don't even know what I like or what I'd like to have in as a career but it's definitely not something in law."

Mingyu listens and he worries a lot about his best friend because he knows that Joshua isn't particularly vocal and impulsive. He's neither outspoken nor indecisive.

If it had been him, Mingyu would have relayed his thoughts to his parents and worked a way out but it's not him.

It's Joshua.

It's Joshua, who would never willingly hurt his mother, even if it costs his mental health and choices.

It's Joshua, who on Mingyu's fifteenth birthday gifted him a Yonex Racket because Mingyu wanted one from long time but his parents weren't interested to invest in such an expensive racket. It had costed Joshua all his savings. It also costed Joshua his ears for all the scoldings he got from his and Mingyu's parents.

Mingyu is perceptive.

Joshua is also perceptive except for times when it comes to himself.

"Take your time Josh. We're too young to be worried about stuffs.", Mingyu says and turns to the other side, "Set the alarm at 6. I have practice."

"You're so bothersome.", Joshua quips with no seriousness instead setting the alarm on his phone but only after kicking Mingyu on his shin, "Go change into something comfortable atleast."

Mingyu just hums and Joshua pulls over the comforter.

Mrs. Yoo stands patiently and all the students wonder why in the world they are standing outside an abandoned playground.

"I am gonna divide everyone in teams of two and you're gonna paint the walls of this playground.", Mrs. Yoo smiles wide as she sees the distress showcasing on the faces of her students, "and do gardening."

"What's the meaning of us doing all this?", you voice out in genuine concern.

"To make you all aware of the privileges you have been availing all your life.", Mrs. Yoo answers, "And I decide when the detention will be over so behave accordingly."

As if it wasn't already nauseating, Mrs. Yoo decides it's best if you pair up with Joshua Hong.

The same Joshua Hong who can't look at you without glaring.

"So let's start with making the soil bed", you say not looking at him as you two manage to gather some wooden sticks and tie the ends together.

Joshua hums disinterested and suddenly pours the bag containing manure into the bed without soil.

"Stop! what are you doing?", you scream as if facing a mid life crisis and he glares at you again.

You sigh, "That's not how it's done. We'll have to put a layer of soil and level it first --"

"Fine.", he cuts of you and starts pouring the soil bags one after one.

Your eye twitches and you think Joshua Hong can't be this dumb. He is definitely trying to stress you out.

"You're not helping at all, if you're doing it wrong.", you relay your mind to him and it irks you more when Joshua's response is same, it comes in form of his glare.

You glare back at him and he finally says, "Okay, do it yourself then."

He walks away and you're actually relieved because being in his vicinity is becoming the bane of your existence.

Suddenly your phone dinges and you smile looking at the notifications.

Unknown Number:

[3:26 PM] I'm having a really bad day ಠ_ಠ

You:

[3:28 PM] Yours wouldn't even compare to mine.

There's this boy whom I really can't tolerate but we keep on meeting.

Unknown Number:

[3:29 PM] Lol Same! There's a girl and I don't want her to even breath in my direction.

You: [3:30 PM] Damn, we're in same predicament huh.

Unknown Number:

[3:31 PM] Guess so... Gotta go, bye.

You:

[3:32 PM] Bye bye! He's coming towards me again, gosh ༎ຶ⁠‿⁠༎ຶ

Unknown Number:

[3:32 PM] Goodluck, I guess...

Joshua laughs as he sends the text. The lingering smile on his face immediately vanishes when his eyes lands on you.

"Do you prefer to paint with brush or rollers?", you ask Joshua who's busy watching something on his phone.

He presses pause button on the screen and looks at you, "First of all, I can't paint to save my life.", he states, "So brush or rollers doesn't matter. It's same for me."

You nod and hand him a roller, "You won't be much help here too, so please do a favour and with start painting the walls these rollers, roll up vertically please. Don't change the direction."

"Who are you to order me around?", Joshua glares at you.

You think you are going to get hernia because of stress he's giving you lately.

"I'm someone who knows how to paint so instead of running your mouth why don't you try utilising those hands of your?", you spat out and turn around walking to the opposite side.

Joshua sees red.

He thinks he's going to have appendicitis because of the stress you're causing him.

You smile looking at the beautiful hues in the paint buckets.

Atleast something is able to calm your nerves.

"Don't you think he's handsome?"

Suddenly an arm is thrown over your shoulder that almost causes you to topple to the front.

"Who?", you quirk your brows questioningly at Hyejoo.

"Duh, who else your  partner. Joshua Hong.", she answers and turns you around so now you have to look at Joshua again.

You squint eyes at him, "He definitely looks good but he's an asshole."

Hyejoo smirks, "Really? I thought he's a cutie. Anyways, I like him."

You make gagging noises, "You have had not less than thousand crushes and that's totally cool but please not him."

"As if I'd listen to you."

"Yeah whatever. Maximum a week and then you will get to a new guy as always.", you mumble, "So fine."

Hyejoo leaves after Mrs. Yoo warns her to not pester anyone.

You sigh in relief and take out your phone.

You:

[4 PM] Whatcha doing'

Unknown Number:

[4:01 PM] Something I don't know how to do...

You:

[4:02 PM] Lol why?

Unknown Number:

[4:03 PM] Pure Compulsion.

You:

[4:03 PM] Ugh sucks.

Unknown Number:

What sucks more is when you have no one who understands you.

You:

[4:04 PM] Know that feeling.

I feel like no one understands me as well.

Unknown Number:

We have been talking for few days now and we don't even know each other names.

So may I know your name?

You stare at your phone screen, re-reading the text that had just appeared. Suddenly a pleasant idea pops in your mind and you happily type that away.

You:

[4:08 PM] I have an idea.

We won't share our names, any personal details, voices messages or pictures.

We'd be anonymous and get to know each other for real.

What say?

Joshua's face morphs into something that's both confusing and amusing. He doesn't think much finding it fun to try something new.

Joshua:

[4:10 PM] Let's that do.

Anonymous, saved.

Anonymous :

[4:10 PM] Anonymous, Saved :)

Joshua stands up holding the roller and tries to follow what you said. He dips the roller into the paint bucket containing orange paint and starts rolling it up vertically section wise.

He is having fun, too much fun that he accidentally spills the colours on the white tee shirt he is wearing underneath the jacket.

"What the hell?", he grunts, looking at his now stained tee, "Why doesn't anything work out for me?"

He feels emotional all of a sudden. He feels vulnerable, every thoughts that were pushed at the back of his mind starts to resurface.

He remembers the day he lost his father.

He remembers the moment when the girl he liked left the city one day and never came back.

He remembers --

"Hey, are you okay?"

Joshua hears you and falters at the tone of concern in your voice.

He simply nods and faces the wall.

"I can help you", Joshua stiffens but immediately relaxes when you say further, "to fix your tee."

"Do you have spare clothes?"

Joshua turns to face you and nods.

"So go get changed now and give me this tee.", you state and he throws an incredulous look.

"Are you planning to ruin my tee?", he asks, "What are you gonna do with it?"

"You'll see.", you say rolling eyes, "Hurry up, we don't have forever."

Joshua gets changed and hands you the tee.

You search your bag and take out your sewing kit.

Joshua sees your hands skim through the bag again and this time you fish out a bunch of cloth patches.

Next hour passes in a blur as you cut the ends of threads with scissor.

"It's done I guess.", you sigh and look at Joshua, "Manageable? Looks descent?"

He gapes at the tee in your hand and then he gapes at you.

You think he's cute with those bambi eyes resembling that of deers.

He is shaken out of trance by your light nudge.

"Woah, you're....", he manages to speak out, "so good... You gave this tee a whole new look and it's obviously trendier then the previous one."

You smile at his compliments. A smile that doesn't reach your eyes.

"Glad you liked it." you hand him the tee and start to assemble all the scattered tools and clothes putting them in your bag.

Then without another word, you get up and start to walk away.

Joshua ponders as he sees your figure diminishing from his sight, "Why did she look sad even if I was complimenting her?"

"Damn, did you see that!!", you scream absolutely astonished when Hyerin & Jeonghan won the break point of the game, leading the first set 5-3.

"That's my sister!", yells Hyejoo and looks at you, "She's so good, if she wasn't my sister, I'd have been a fan."

The next game starts soon with Jeonghan doing the first serve and that ends quickly both of them sweeping the game with 40-0. Mingyu and his partner Seji are down by a set.

"Come on Mingyu! You can do better than this!"

You heard a very familiar voice not from far and crane your neck to see Joshua cheering up the opponents.

Must be his friends from previous school, you think.

"Oh my god, Josh's here too.", Hyejoo squeals and you roll eyes choosing to ignore her.

You are recording the match when you feel Hyejoo fleet from your side and it doesn't take a genius to figure out she's going to Joshua.

With the camcorder still recording you turn and through the lens you see a very agitated Joshua who's constantly ignoring whatever Hyejoo is saying.

A smile creeps upon your face.

Joshua suddenly turns and your gazes meet through the lens.

And you freeze.

Joshua squints his eyes at you before walking away and towards the players resting area which makes you realize that the opponents won the second set and you should be doing the same.

You hurriedly run over only to see a pissed off Jeonghan which is scary because the guy is always full of mischiefs and is a moodmaker.

"What happened Han?", you ask and the stare he gives you is enough to regret speaking up.

"Seji, she's his ex Y/N.", Hyerin explains further, "They used to play together and since they didn't end up on good terms it's kinda hard for him to see her and play against her." That clicks, why Seji seemed so familiar to you.

You give a nod of understanding and next you're crouching in front of him and he looks at you in confusion, "Whatever that happened must have happened for a reason and it's all in the past Han. I think it's an opportunity for you."

Jeonghan perks up, "Opportunity?"

"Yes opportunity.", you pat his arm, "For you to get over her and to discard all those lingering feelings. Also to get the cup and lift that trophy. You could have it all sorted Han, it's your now or never moment."

Hyerin listens to you mesmerized and Jeonghan cracks an all toothy grin.

"Thanks Y/N.", he acknowledges, "For making me see things clearer."

You get and huff, "I don't want your thanks. Just win this match and treat me to BRs."

"Okay deal.", Jeonghan extends his pinky and you hook yours to his.

"There's still time, strategize your play", you say looking at the timer, "All the best guys!", and you run away.

"Thank God, Seji has gone to washroom.", Mingyu sighs in relief, "She's already pissed off since she knew we're playing against Jeonghan and if she heard all this, I'd be in trench because you can't motivate the shit to Seji like that girl did."

Joshua glares at his best friend, "Why is this falling on me? Neither I'm playing with you, nor I'm the ex boyfriend. So keep me out of it. If Y/N impresses you that much why don't you ask her for motivation directly."

Mingyu smirks, "Oh Y/N it is. Joshua Hong why do I get this feeling that you're not on good terms with her? I mean your tone says that."

Damn Kim Mingyu for knowing his best friend so well.

Joshua scoffs, "I think you have better things to worry about.", he gets up, "If you loose today, I won't allow you crash at my place for a month."

Mingyu dramatically gasps, "Are you in your right mind? You're scaring me Josh, please don't do this."

"So win this match.", Joshua smirks, 'Think this as your motivation to win."

Mingyu and Seji loose the match.

While you are celebrating with your Hyerin, Jeonghan and Hyejoo, Joshua is getting pestered by Mingyu.

"Are you serious right now?", Joshua asks in disbelief, "You just lost to them and know you want to know if Hyerin is single?"

Mingyu nods quietly liked a kicked puppy but he has no shame at all.

"Really?", Joshua asks again to confirm and when Mingyu doesn't respond he kicks his shin, "Fine. I'm going."

Joshua trudges through the crowd to find someone.

He finds you.

"Hey", he greets and you just nod at him.

"Uh can you help me with something?", he tries to sound as polite as possible, "I just wanted to know something."

"Go ahead."

Though he's cursing at Mingyu in his mind, nonetheless he asks, "You're good friends with Hyerin right?"

"Yeah we are best friends.", you say proudly looking at her as she holds the trophy and chats with Jeonghan.

"Is she single?"

The smile drops off your face and you throw a death glare at Joshua.

"Why do you wanna know that?"

Beads of sweat accumulates on his forehead as Joshua stumbles upon his words, "I-I, well-- It's..", and he finds this sudden urge within himself to explain it you before you misunderstand further, "Mingyu, my best friend, he wants to know about her."

"Didn't he just loose a match?", you ask him while your questioning gaze is fixated at Mingyu.

"Exactly! That's what I told him", he explains, "But he's like that only so if you could tell me.."

"She's single.", you respond to shut him up.

Joshua quietly cowers away.

"She's scary.", Mingyu laughs, "I thought she was going to bite off your head."

"Asshole.", Joshua quips, "She's single. Go shoot your shot."

Mingyu's eyes twinkles and skips away immediately.

Later, Mingyu manages to get Hyerin's number.

Mingyu and Hyerin are dating.

"Please Y/N", Hyerin literally corners you in your own bedroom, "It's just a double date--"

Your face contorts in distaste, "And with whom? Joshua Hong. No. Never. We both can't tolerate each other."

"Oh come on darling", Hyerin tries to persuade you, "I have talked to him, he seems good. Plus I've heard he was the star player of his previous school's basketball team. A heartthrob, you can say."

"He's good to you, because you're his best friend's girlfriend.", then you declare, "Otherwise he's an asshole."

"He's cute.", Hyerin corrects you.

"You know Hyejoo has been crushing on Joshua for sometime right? Why don't you ask her?", you sort to your last resort.

"Please, I don't her around when I'm chilling or on dates.", Hyerin sighs, "You know she's hard to handle and we both get her but other people can be uncomfortable sometimes. Last time at practice she said something ridiculous to Jeonghan, ofcourse as a joke but it was really off.", she shudders at the memory, "Jeonghan's always laid back so he let it pass."

"Okay. But why do you need us? Go on dates alone, spend time with each other."

"Because I want you to know Gyu and Josh better and same for Gyu.", Hyerin says grabbing your hands and sighs when she sees confusion written over your face, "Look even though we have just started dating but I think I like him. So I want you to know my boyfriend and his friend, you know, so you it's fluid between the four of us."

You understand. You are happy that you're her confidant. Everything makes sense except Joshua.

But when Hyerin gives you those puppy eyes, who are you to deny her.

"Fine. I'll go with you."

Mingyu gapes at Joshua in disbelief.

"What?", Joshua almost mewls and chucks a pillow at Mingyu, "Stop staring okay?"

Mingyu sits up on the bed, "So you have been talking to someone you don't know and what if that person turns out a psychopath."

"She's not a psychopath, Gyu", Joshua is immediately retaliates.

"She?", Mingyu is amused, "What if it's a he and a 50 year old weirdo?"

That sends Joshua off. After some moment of contemplation he says, "Whatever. They don't even know me and it's fine we just share our minds with each other."

"Dude you always that I'm crazy but I think it's you. You're the crazy one.", Mingyu pouts and scoots over to where Joshua is seated, "So about the double date...."

"We're not having this conversation again.", Joshua retorts.

"Why?", Mingyu now lays on Joshua's lap and looks at him, "Y/N is such a cool person Joshy. You'd love it. She's definitely better than that person you're chatting coz we know her."

Joshua rolls his eyes and places a hand over Mingyu's mouth, "We don't get along at all so no."

Mingyu bits his hand lightly and Joshua flinches in pain.

"Do me this favour Joshy, please.", Mingyu pleads, "We'll have a lot a fun I promise."

"I'm seeing her everyday Gyu, courtesy detention class. I have no will to see her more."

Mingyu's phone dinges a notification and his eyes narrow into slits as he reads it and Joshua knows it's definitely not something beneficial for him because--

"Y/N agreed to it.", Mingyu announces almost shoving his phone to Joshua's face as the later read the text from Hyerin saying the same.

He slaps away his friends hand, "Still a no."

"I thought we are best friends.", Mingyu says sadly as he gets up and takes his bag, "But seems I was wrong. Anyways, I'll get going."

Joshua knows Mingyu is pulling the best friend card yet he let's himself indulge into it once more.

"Fine.", Joshua hollers, "If I don't have a great time, I'll really cut you off Kim Mingyu."

Mingyu grins from ear to ear.

"Y/N, we got a call from your school.", your mother says. You don't like where this conversation is going.

"They informed us about your detention.", your father adds, "Why didn't you tell us?" "It's just a detention dad which will be over by the end of this week.", you say taking a bite of your sandwich even though your appetite was gone. "Y/N", your mother places her hand on yours, "You need to be serious about your studies. Your grades gonna decide your university. Remember that you'll have to take over your father's Pharma company because it's for you. This is our legacy." You are tired of the same old conversation. "I don't want to", your voice cracks as tears prick at the corner of your eyes, "I want to study fashion technology. I want to be a designer!" "We already had this discussion Y/N.", your fathers alerts and you are getting off the chair. "Getting late.", you say slinging your bag over, "Bye." Your parents look at each other solemnly. You can't pinpoint which part of the day went fine for you till now. Because everything was going wrong. First the conversation with your parents during breakfast, second Hyerin informing you about not attending classes today at the last moment over a text, third being late in the class and hearing a earful from the teacher and lots more to account for. Now, as you got some free time before the detention class starts, you decide to sew the remaining series of sequences on the piece of cloth you are currently working on.

You are pulling the needle from the backside when it pricks your index finger.

You're immune to this, it doesn't even sting much but your eyes are teary and you curse out in mumbles.

The tears start to roll your cheeks, you sob silently hiding your face behind your palms.

"Why did you agree to this double dating thing?"

You could see Joshua towering over you but don't raise your hear.

"I could have managed Gyu but just because you agreed I couldn't do so.", Joshua says angrily, "You are so annoying you know--"

"I'm sorry", you stand up, raising your head and your gazes meet.

Joshua instantly freezes when he sees your bloodshot eyes and hears your body racking sobs.

"I know I'm annoying. I'm sorry.", you cry out, "I-I'll just do something."

"Y/N--"

"I'll cancel out on them last minute with some excuses. I promise.", you are wiping your never ending tears as you continue, "So that from next time if they propose something you can always shut them up by saying that I bailed out last time."

"Hey please stop crying.", Joshua gently holds your arms as he crouches to look at you eye to eye, "Please tell me what do I need to do so that you can calm down?"

You don't respond and Joshua renders in panic as he feels you shaking under his touch.

Before the gears in his head could start turning he pulls you into embrace.

And when you still don't stop crying he gently rocks you and hums a soothing melody. His one hand strokes your hair and the other firmly hold you to his chest.

Your cries reduce to sobs until it stops.

"It'll all work out.", he says still rocking you and your hands fist on his shirt at the back.

"But it never works out", you whisper meekly.

"It will. I promise.", his says softly and with so much sincerity that it makes you want to believe him.

You pull away and ask, "You think it will?"

Joshua smiles as he wipes your tears and cups your face. His response comes in form of a soft smile and a firm nod.

"Now sit right here", he backs you and sits you up on the chair, "I'll be back quickly. Don't leave!"

He runs off halfway and calls Hyerin to know what's your favourite food or drink or anything that you make your mood shift even a bit.

And around 20 minutes later he returns with a bag full of cheese puffs, strawberry juice cans and butterscotch flavoured ice creams.

He pants but is relieved to see that you are still there and most importantly not crying.

But your rummaging through your bag.

"What are you searching for?", Joshua asks and sits beside you.

"Band-Aid", you sigh in defeat, "Of course I don't have it today. What a shitty day to be alive."

"I have it, wait a minute.", he fishes out one strip and asks, "Did you get hurt?"

"I pricked my finger with the needle.", you say extending your hand and he looks at you in concern as he applies the ointment and then wraps the Band-Aid.

"Don't worry, I'm used to it.", you try to lessen his worry, "If you do sewing with hands, you're gonna get a lot of it."

Joshua's wide eyes meets your as he realises what you're saying is correct and you find him adorable.

"Here", he hands the bag, "I got these for you."

You tear the seal and a broad grin sets on your lips.

"How did you manage to get all these?"

"Called Hyerin and run to nearest convenience store."

Your heart swells a bit, "You really didn't have to but thanks. I really mean it."

"I hope this helps you get through the day.", Joshua says and takes the ice cream stick you're offering him.

"It definitely will.", you thank him again, "I'll repay you by cancelling the double date. I promise."

Suddenly the idea doesn't sit well with Joshua.

You rack your brain hard to come up with an excuse so that the double date gets cancelled.

Looking at the time, you're about to pull your hair in frustration when your phone rings.

Hyerin calling ...

Panic surges within you causing you miss her call. You immediately call her back.

"Hey love, meet you at the arcade. I'm loving this dynamic between you two.", her suggestive tone confuses you, "I wanna know what's going on between you and Josh. Start getting ready, Josh will pick you up at 7 sharp. Bye."

"Wait what?", you squeak out, "Hello?? Rin?? Hello??"

What does she mean by that, you thought.

It was already 6:30 PM and you don't even have Joshua's number.

"Let's get ready Y/N.", you say to yourself, "If Joshua comes then fine, if he doesn't come the possibility of which weighs more, still fine you get the wear the dress you have made."

Your mood instantly lifts and you search through your wardrobe for that one dress which you have been meaning to wear for a while now. You had completed stitching the dress last month. It turned out really pretty, more than you had expected.

You had cried tears of pride and finished two tubes a butterscotch flavoured ice creams that night.

When you spot it, you caress the dress with gentle hands before taking it out and laying it on the bed.

It's a simple wrap dress, except for, you have recreated the whole dress using some torn out velvety clothings from your mother's old garments. You favourite part is that tie around which you reconstructed from a bodice and put the sequencing overall.

Green always looks good on. You're confident this one also would.

Putting on the dress, twirling around in pure joy and after being done with the makeup and pairing it with your favourite shoes you waited for Joshua.

Sharp at 7, your doorbell rings and you sprint down the stairs grabbing your sling bag to open the door.

"Wow", Joshua blurts out, eyes wide and mouth agape.

He's enchanted.

Your soft giggles breaks his reverie and he curses himself for being so obvious.

"You clean up nice too.", you actually word out the complement because Joshua is really damn good looking.

With his hair brushed back, you can see his exposed forehead and fine lined brows. The blue polo shirt that has been half tucked under the white chino pant is definitely enhancing him.

He's glowing under the strip light and you're sure he'd glow even more under the moonlight.

"Thanks", Joshua breathes out.

"Don't you have something to tell me?", your lips curl up as you say stepping out and close the door, "I was surprised when Rin--"

Joshua doesn't step back.

So when you turn you're words stuck in your throat as you almost bump into him.

But you don't bump into him. Rather there's hardly an inch of gap between you both as you stare at each other wordless.

You think he has kissable lips.

Joshua thinks you have beautiful pair of eyes.

You think his cologne smells nice.

He thinks no one ever did justice to any shades of green as much as you.

You think he has beautiful pair of eyes.

He thinks you have kissable lips.

So he leans down slowly and you don't back off. His breathes fan over your face and your hands find his.

He entwines his fingers through yours and you close your eyes.

He dips down further and is within the cusp of having luxury to put your lips together when the shrill ringtone cuts the atmosphere.

You open your eyes wide and Joshua yanks his hands backing off. You are frozen in place for a few seconds until Joshua's call of your name shakes you up.

He clears his throat and scratches his nape when you look at him.

"Gyu called.", he looks at everything and anywhere except your eyes, "They have reached and waiting for us. Let's go."

You grimace at the sudden change in atmosphere.

It's awkward and suffocating.

You both don't talk to each the whole time Joshua drives you to the arcade.

"Hey love, hey Josh", Hyerin greets as soon as you enter followed by Joshua.

You clinge to your best friend's arm and wave at Mingyu. He waves back with a huge grin.

"Guys", Mingyu calls out, "I checked the bowling ally and booked us the next slot. Let's go."

You have to unwillingly let go her arm when Mingyu extends his for her to hold.

But just before she goes, she whispers in your ear, "Did something happen between you two?"

Your eyes go wide for a moment but before she could catch up to it, you deny it. Her gaze lingers on your face trying to find any inconsistency but thankfully Mingyu ushers her away.

You and Joshua are left behind.

Joshua isn't looking at you at all and you ponder over the fact if you're going to have a good time it has to be with Joshua and this dynamic between you two has to change immediately.

"Do you want to go there?"

Joshua perks up and follows your gaze to the bowling alley where both of your best friends were having fun.

"Well.... actually no. Don't wanna interrupt them", he says, "I want to try basketball though."

"That's my favourite!", you are grabbing him by his hand, "It's that way."

Joshua smiles and he thinks that he could get used to your presence.

"You try first.", you say as you buy the tickets.

"Fine. Next round's on me.", he say taking his position infront of the machine.

You take your camcorder out and just out hold the device when Joshua scowls, "It's illegal to shoot without permission."

You realise that he's right and you mutter a quick sorry before switching off the device and shoving it into your bag.

When you look up again, Joshua is rolling of the sleeves of his shirt and while doing it he's looking damn hot  for some reason.

You gulp nervously and look away.

When you're courageous enough to back at him, he's brushing his hair with his hand.

Again, for some reasons he's looking damn hot.

You think you'd combust if you stay there another moment so you say, "I'll be waiting there", and fleet away.

No matter how much you try, your straying eyes lands on him and you get a whiplash from his chiseled jaw. He must have had his side profile sculptured.

You wonder if Joshua had been always this easy on eyes or it's your hormones talking all of a sudden.

Trying a way out of distraction you decide to text Anonymous.

But before you could apprehend your fingers type away a text that makes you groan upon reading it.

You:

[8:07 PM] How do you know if you like someone?

The lack of response comes from the other side makes you ponder if you had asked an invasive question.

Did you come out too cringey, you sigh in defeat and rest your phone on the table.

"Y/N!", you hear Joshua yell, "You gotta come here."

You would have waved him off if not he had that cute little pout set across his lips.

"Don't tell me you're not able to cross level 2", you laugh straight at his face.

"As if you're the highest scorer.", He retorts.

"So naive", you tsk taking your position in front of the machine.

Joshua goes to recharge the card and returns quickly to tap it on the scanner.

You swiftly pull him beside you and he looks at you startled.

You think he's startled because he's clueless.

He is startled because of the proximity between you both.

"W-What are you doing?"

"Obviously, we're both gonna play.", you say casually, "Otherwise there's no way to crack this unless you climb on this keep on keep ducking the ball in & out."

"Wait what?"

"Look as soon as the balls start rolling, keep on picking and throwing them up.", you set aside your sling bag and tie your hair up in a messy bun, " One thing try to aim when the basket slides to your side, I'll aim on mine otherwise other balls would collide with each other and fall off."

Joshua blinks.

You wait.

Joshua is still confused.

"Look, I have wanted to try this with someone for so long.", your pleading tone resonates with Joshua.

"You haven't tried it before?", he asks, "The way you gave the instructions I was pretty much sure you're a pro at it."

"I did try it with Hyerin.", you lament, "But given she's into sports, her arcade skills are zero."

Joshua snorts at this and gets ready to fulfill your wish.

"We're gonna beat this machine today.", he raises his fisted hand for a fistbump and you gladly reciprocate.

Your cheat key fails at Level 5 but you are happy.

Same for Joshua because he couldn't recollect when was the last time he had this much fun.

"Are you sure they don't get along?", Mingyu asks with a huge grin set on his lips.

"I don't know about Y/N but Joshua upped himself by delivering himself at her door today.", Hyerin smirks.

Mingyu rolls eyes, "Don't you think I didn't notice Y/N literally giving hearty eyes to Joshy."

Hyerin doesn't comment anymore, she just smiles.

That night after dropping you off at home, when he basks in the memories of the spent evening, Joshua realises he has got a text from Anonymous.

Anonymous:

[8:15 PM] How do you know if you like someone?

Joshua:

[10:45 PM] Sorry, had a busy day today.

Do you like someone?

Anonymous:

[10:47 PM] I'm not sure???

I think I like him, the same boy whom I used hate.

Joshua:

[10:48 PM] Should I be happy? What about me?

Kidding! Feelings works funny because I think I'm starting to like the girl I told you about before.

Anonymous:

[10:49 PM] Oh? Should I be happy?

We're really in same boat lol.

Hope we can sort it out.

Joshua:

[10:50 PM] Touché.

Detention classes are going to end today.

You should be feeling ecstatic but you have a glum aura around you as you splash the paint on the wall for one last time.

"You're amazing you know."

A small smile forms on your lips but Joshua doesn't need to see that.

"I just complimented you, are you seriously gonna ignore me?", Joshua bumps his shoulder to yours but you don't budge.

"You are gonna keep doing that?", Joshua let's out a sound of annoyance, "Fine, just remember I had no other choice."

Before you could ask or ignore, you are being turned around in a moment, in the next you are being dragged you have no idea where.

Mrs. Yoo smiles as she watches you both. She just wanted you both to stop hating on but what seemingly she's a getting a lot more than she bargained for.

Hyejoo glares at the two of you and though she isn't sure if she's serious about her feelings for Joshua, a green monster of jealousy starts to invade her mind.

You are pulled inside an empty room which you never knew existed and now you're being cornered by the guy who's causing your hormones to react horrendously whenever around him.

"W-What are you doing?", you gulp nervously, looking everywhere but at him.

"Why are you ignoring me?", he says in a desperate tone and it makes you feel bad.

Because I get nervous around you, I think I like you.

You want to say it all loud and get everything off your chest but you don't.

"I-I'm just being moody", you lie partially, "I have gotten my periods."

Joshua looks relieved, "So you're not particularly being hostile towards me? Oh that's fine. I get it."

You sigh in relief.

Then, his worrying gaze is scrutinizing your face, "Are you in pain? I shouldn't have dragged you here, really sorry. Do you need me to buy to anything? Do you want to eat ice creams--"

You hush him by putting your finger on his lips, though you wish if you could put your lips on his instead.

"I'm fine Josh.", you tell him, "Since today detention classes are ending do you wanna go somewhere with me afterwards?"

Joshua agrees in a beat.

Mrs. Yoon has a teasing grin across her lips when you both stand side by side waiting for her to give you the slips which marks the end of detention.

"I'm impressed how you both went from almost plotting murder to gardening together real quick.", she says with an underlying tone, "Oh, painting too. You've learned to breathe in each other presence, that's what I wanted. You're free to go."

You both quickly mutter a thanks to her and head towards the exit.

You wait for Joshua as he goes to where his bike is parked.

And he groans when he see Hyejoo waiting for him there.

"What do you want?", he asked bluntly, as he pulls his bike and wears the helmet.

"I want to sit on that bike of yours.", she says coyly, "Can I?"

"No.", Joshua says as he prepares to flee, "As I have told you before I have no interest in you. Please stop seeking attention from me all the time."

Her gazes turns shearer as she asks, "So who do you have interest in? Y/N?"

Joshua stiffens for a moment before deciding to ignore her wholly and riding away.

"He didn't even deny it, wow", she scoffs, "Fine, let's see how this goes."

"Such a beautiful place exists and I didn't even know about it?", Joshua laments, "How did you find this place?"

You smile looking ahead, sound of the waves calming you in an ineffable way.

"Accidentally.", you say after sometime, "But this is where you'll find me if ever you couldn't get in touch with me."

Joshua's heart tightens within his chest as he asks, "Why are you showing your safe place to me? Who else knows about this place?"

You don't respond right away and Joshua waits patiently.

"Hyerin, Hyejoo and someone I used to know, knows about this place.", you look at him with warmth in your eyes, "Now you know it too."

Joshua had never imagined that a person who got his coffee spilled, became his detention partner would also be the one who would cry in front of him because of having bad day to be cheatmates at an arcade game.

Joshua never got the slightest intuition that the person whom he hated the most would also become the person he'd be liking the most.

"I want to become a fashion designer. But my parents want me to manage our family business of pharmaceuticals.", your words, tone, aura, everything is emitting sadness, "I have tried to convince them since the day I found out about my passion but they won't let me. The discussion goes nowhere."

Joshua listen, not entirely but somewhat relating to the situation.

"Tell me about you, Josh."

Joshua finds you staring at back him.

He thinks for a while, trying to put together the words for you to make sense and then speaks, "My dad was a lawyer. And I respected him a lot, so I think because of that I found law intriguing.", he pauses and heaves a sigh, "After his death, I promised mom that I keep his profession alive through me. It was an impromptu decision I had made. I was barely 12 years old then."

You listen and empathize with him. You could take a guess where this is going and if not entirely, you can also somewhat relate to him.

"As I grew up, the realisation gnawed at me. I didn't find law intriguing anymore, I don't wanna be a lawyer anymore."

Joshua sounds so dejected that you wanna put his head on your shoulders and wrap your arms around him in an embrace.

But you only caress his back.

"I have tried to tell mom about it but I didn't yet have the courage to actually tell her yet because she's still so immersed in dad and the memories he left. She doesn't even change the old television we have which barely works coz it was one of dad's favourite possession."

He suddenly blinks almost comically, bambi eyes getting rounder and lips parted in awe.

"You're really cool you know!", he emphasises on the adjective for you to get the sincerity of it, "You already have a passion and you know what you want to do. Unlike me."

"You realize it's never too early or too late to find one's passion. We are too young for figuring out our entire life. There's time. There always a right time.", you too emphasize, "Maybe you don't know today but maybe you'll know it tomorrow or someday."

Joshua finds your words oddly comforting and true.

"You can try to make your mom understand little by little. Like how about convincing her to replacing the television or anything else that could be replaced. When and if she agrees find the right time to bring in the topic and get it to her slowly. She'll understand, after all she's your mother."

What you just say, tastes bitter in your mother maybe because you wished for your parents to understand you as well.

Joshua must be knowing how to read minds, because he says, "I would like you to use your advice to yours as well. Show your parents what you wanna do and why you wanna do it. Show them your dedication."

"I'll try.", you smile at him.

"I'll try as well." he echoes you.

When he left home today, he had a mission on his mind that was to get your number.

Because when he asked Mingyu for the same, he quoted something along the lines,

"You need to get it yourself. How long until you don't suck at getting numbers?"

Infuriating, cocky of a best friend Joshua has.

When he drops you at your doorstep, Joshua had those words on the tip of his tongue until you pull of his helmet and kiss his cheek.

Joshua.exe has stopped working.

It's too late when Joshua comes back to this realm because he hears a door slam and you're have successfully sprinted into your house.

Next time definitely, he promises to himself.

You:

[6:30 PM] shared a playlist

Anonymous:

[6:35 PM] I just went through the songs list and I must say you're a music nerd fr.

You:

[6:37 PM] That I am. This playlist represents me so I just gave you a glimpse of what I am.

Anonymous:

[6:39 PM] FYI your playlist has many of my favourite songs as well. We're so similar.

"Are you texting that random stranger again?", Hyerin grimaces as she situates herself between your legs, trying to take a peek at your phone.

When you ignore her she asks again, "What's going on between you and Joshua?"

"Nothing.", you answer simply, knowing Hyerin won't buy a penny of it.

You shift so that Hyerin falls flat on the bed and you lay beside her.

"Rin, even though I have been talking this guy--"

"Don't have no idea whether you're talking to a guy or a girl or a bot or whoever!", Hyerin huffs, "Look I know you like talking to them, share interests and all but can you seriously think about Joshua. You like him, don't you?"

You sigh in defeat, nothing goes past your best friend, "I do like him, Rin."

"I freaking knew it! You both are so obvious!", Hyerin laughs, "And cute."

"I'm going to tell him someday maybe.", you say, "Even if he rejects me, I can console myself saying atleast I tried."

"Before you do that, why don't you meet this Anonymous.", Hyerin suggests, "I mean look, I know you have crated an attachment towards them. So meet them in person, get to know each more and do tell them that you like Joshua."

You blink at her owlishly.

"What I mean is, sort things out. First go meet Anonymous so you know they're not some weirdo and if they're not great you got another friend. Then confess to Josh about your feelings.", Hyerin expectant gaze falls on you hoping you got what she's trying to say.

"Okay!", you say and she can almost see that see a lightbulb going off in your head, "I'll meet anonymous first, then... then we'll see."

"Then you'll confess to Josh, if he doesn't do it first.", Hyerin scoffs, "Please we know the amount of time you're both spending."

"What about Hyejoo?", you ponder, "Doesn't she also like Josh?"

"Look, I'm very much surprised Joshua made it past a week okay? But I really want her to see Jisung's the one for her. That poor boy, I don't know how many heartbreak he suffers everytime my sister chooses a new crush, chooses someone who's not him."

"And tell her to spend a day without Jisung, she'll go berserk.", you continue to add points, "I wonder how long until she realises it's been him all this time."

"I know right, she's so goddamn stubborn.", Hyerin laments, "Hope she doesn't pull something stupid to get to Joshua because he doesn't even have an ounce of interest towards her."

"Good for me I guess?", you shrug and get an 'aww' on return.

You immediately pull up your phone and send a text.

You:

[7:25 PM] I was wondering if we could meet up?

Anonymous:

[7:30 PM] What about your rule of not knowing each other personally ?

You:

[7:31 PM] The one who made the rule is trying to break it, so .....

Anonymous:

[7:32 PM] Ok cool, let's meet.

You:

[7:33 PM]

Okay day after tomorrow, 5 in evening at Crimson Café. Sounds good?

Anonymous:

[7:33 PM] Fine by me.

How are we going to recognise each other lol?

You:

[7:34 PM]

I'll be wearing a purple beret hat with a bear logo on it.

Anonymous:

[7:35 PM]

I'll be wearing a green sweatshirt with Los Angeles written on it.

You:

[7:36 PM] Noted. See you on Thursday!

Next day when you cross the threshold of your school canteen, it's not Hyerin who gets hijacked by Jeonghan.

He hijacks you.

"What does the school heartthrob want from me?", you quip nonchalantly, "And you have a treat pending so...."

Jeonghan rolled eyes, "Oh my god, fine. After classes end, let's go to that bakery shop nearby. I heard they sell the best black currant cakes."

"Deal!", you bump his shoulder, "I'll be waiting by the exit. Will drop a text."

Jeonghan gives a nod, pats your head and part ways to attend the class.

Joshua has been occupying mostly of mind nowadays and you wonder if he was just a mere crush anymore. You also realise that you could have texted him asking if he's attending school today or not but you don't have his number.

You ask him for it next time, you take a mental note.

As promised, Jeonghan takes you to the bakery and after placing your orders Jeonghan finally ask a favour from you.

"It's the final project and I have no clue how to design the cover.", he tells you, "So could you please help me with it?"

Jeonghan knows you would definitely help him.

"Han, look to be honest, I have a lot of assignments and project to deal with", you explain, "So there's a limit on my end to provide you support. It shouldn't be taking long, we need to decide specific days and anyhow get it done by that."

Jeonghan sighs in relief, "Y/N you could have literally said no but you're an angel.", he grabs your hands and expresses his gratitude, "I'll mail you all the details and you have a look. Then we can decide on the rest."

"Sounds like a plan and you know I'd never not help you if I could.", you assert, "You are a good friend."

Jeonghan would never admit but his heart swells with emotions. For him too, you have been a good friend. Not always in touch maybe, but the one he can confide to anytime.

You let out a yelp when your pulled against his chest, as Jeonghan gives you a side hug.

"Dude what's gotten into you?", you scrunch your nose looking at him with pointed eyes.

"Well definitely not someone who goes by Joshua Hong.", he teases.

You gasp, almost scurrying away from him.

"Hyerin that little snitch!", you gruff in disbelief and Jeonghan laughs.

Joshua doesn't see you in school. He searches but you're neither in the canteen, nor with Hyerin or any of the classes he thought you'd be.

"Looking for Y/N?"

He hears a familiar voice and doesn't like it at all.

Hyejoo stands in front of him, her lips curled up in a smirk, arms crossed over her chest.

"If you know then tell me or mind your own business.", he deadpans.

Hyejoo definitely knows where and with whom you are because she had overhead you two while passing by and the absolute joy she got because that would definitely be a fuel to fire.

Joshua decides to walk off but what he hears next cause him to halt.

"Be careful Josh. Y/N maybe not be all what she seems to be.", Hyejoo says.

She continues on realising she has successfully garnered his attention, "I'm only saying because I care for you."

"What are you trying to imply here?", Joshua asks.

She chuckles, a mocking tone cutting through which Joshua fails to notice, "Did she ever breakdown in front of you?"

Joshua stills. A moment later he nods.

"You'll often have to handle that, not a big deal", her lips curl down as if in worry, "But as days goes she'll be blaming every irrelevant things on you. You won't be able to tell her that things are not working out for her because she's not trying."

Joshua is rooted to ground, he only listens.

"I assume you already know about her safe place."

Joshua feels like someone had poured a bucket of ice water on him.

"Your face says you know it.", Hyejoo taunts, "It's always like this. She's difficult to handle."

"What do you mean by always?"

"It was same with Junsik, her ex.", she utters hurriedly.

Joshua doesn't know what he's gonna do with all these information he just acquired.

"Let me take you where she is now."

That's how Joshua finds himself standing outside the bakery. Through one of window walls he sees you laughing at something Jeonghan was saying.

His hands balled into fists as he watches Jeonghan pulling you into his embrace.

You look so happy that Joshua's mind lingers back to the memories shared between you two and he doubts if you were ever this happy when you were with him.

When he sees Jeonghan feeding you, his heart constricts too tightly in his chest.

He realises that he doesn't like the intimacy between you and Jeonghan.

He realises he wants to swap places with Jeonghan, that he should be the one who gets to hug, to feed you or hold your hands.

He realises that he likes you.

He likes you a lot.

"You like her, it's so obvious", Hyejoo says impassively, "But does she like you back?"

Joshua has his minded clouded with all sorts of nonsense Hyejoo fed him with that anger seeps through his veins and clutters in his heart as pain.

He blames himself for believing that you would have some sort of liking towards him and he is indignant because you acted as if you would reciprocate his feelings.

Joshua leaves with a heavy heart and he might not have noticed the tears that were pooling his eyes.

Your eyes stray in anticipation everytime you sense someone passing by your table.

You wait for Anonymous as decided at the Crimson café with lot of expectations and only one hope for the person to be not any weirdo.

You:

[7:10 PM] I'm already in here.

Took the table nearest to the counter, the view looks good from here :)

You quickly send the text and rest the phone on the table as you take out your sketch book and start doodling.

Joshua is still heartbroken for which he really looks forward to meet Anonymous.

Today, he just wants to forget everything and have a good time.

To get you off his mind, to push back the career choices, he only wants that.

He heaves a deep breathe standing outside the café and his lips curl up as he reads the text he just received notifying that the one he's going to meet has already arrived.

Joshua pushes the door, walking in.

All hope dissipates instantly when he sees you, wearing a purple beret hat with a bear logo, sitting at one of the two tables nearest to the counter, other one being empty.

Joshua doesn't think anymore, he just sprints out of the café.

You sigh bored, finally getting your head out of your sketchbook and check the time.

You:

[7:24 PM] You didn't forget about meeting me today right??

Are you stuck somewhere?

It's 8 now, neither do you get a response of your texts, nor does Anonymous shows up.

You:

[8:03 PM] Are you still coming?

Did something happen? Are you okay?

Please just drop a text whenever you get this, I'm worried...

The clock strikes 9 and you're dragging your body out of the café.

You are worried. You are exhausted.

Not trying to read much into it, you coax yourself into believing that there must be a valid reason for Anonymous to take a raincheck on you. That you'll get a response and may be an apology later.

Next day when you wake up, the first thing you do is check your phone.

No messages.

You huff in annoyance but don't let it ruin your mood because today you have a mission.

To get Joshua's number.

Not a big deal, you could have easily gotten it from Hyerin but you believe it's best to be a little brave and get it from the person himself.

Generally, you have often bumped into him for the past few day but today, somehow it's hard to find him. You even doubt if he's attending school today.

But that doubt dissolves when you see him in the canteen, snacking on a snicker bar and scrolling through his phone with a bored expression.

A grin sets on lips as you walk up to him and occupy the seat across him.

He lifts his gaze from his phone and his heart drops when he sees you.

"Hey", you say, "I have been searching for you."

Suddenly, there's a screech and Joshua is dragging out his chair as he stands up.

Your curious eyes try to meet his but he doesn't look at you.

"Josh--"

"I have a class now.", he says and leaves.

You are confused and you are worried.

If he's having a bad day you want to help him, as he had done for you.

If he's bothered by something, you want him to eat up your ears by ranting it all out.

If he's tired, you want to put his head on your shoulder.

"I'll let him have his space for today.", you mumble in distaste, "But I miss him. I'm so miserable."

Next day you bump into him in the hallway.

"Hey Josh", you greet, smiling wide.

Joshua is stoic and you notice it.

"I have some work at library.", he says and just as he was about to take a turn you grab his wrist.

"Did something happen?", you ask with uncertainty, anxiety creeping in you slowly.

"Can you unhand me?", Joshua quips sharply, "If you haven't noticed it, I'm feeling uncomfortable."

You immediately release his hand and take a step back "I-I'm sorry --"

"Save it.", he says, "What do you want anyway?"

Your mind runs thousand miles on the memory lane to come up with anything you could have done to upset Joshua.

But nothing comes up. Absolutely nothing.

"I just want to get your number."

There you just had to say it when Joshua is vexed at you.

A scoff leaves his lips and he glares at you, "What are you playing at? Don't you already have my number. Stop messing with me."

You think you're hearing everything wrong. You look at him as if he has grown another head and a pair of lips which are uttering absolute nonsense.

"How could you do this to me?", he asks, his gaze peering into your soul and wrenching at your gut, "I feel like you're always breathing into in my neck. And it's suffocating."

"What did I do, please tell me." , you plead in helplessness, eyes glistening with unshed tears and you all get in return is a condescending look.

"Stop pretending, oh my god", Joshua whispers in a threatening tone, "I don't want to see to you anymore.", with that he leaves.

You suck in a sharp breathe and close your eyes letting those tears fall. A sob throbs out of you and you are unbothered with the looks you're getting from those passing by.

Your mind only reels the words Joshua had spat out, the bitterness and hatred from them getting to you.

Joshua is the only good thing that has happened to you in a long time so you refuse let him go just like that.

Whatever it is, you're going to fix it.

"Mrs. Hong?"

"Y/N?"

You chest tingles in mirth as you ask, "How have you been?"

"Been good dear.", she answers in her calm voice, "What about you?"

"Okayish, I'd say.", your voice wavers, "Just stressed with finals and career choices."

"You should do whatever you feel like doing.", she advices, patting your head.

"My parents want me to handle the family business which I don't want.", you ramble, knowing that ranting about it to everyone won't change anything.

"Then fight for it", Mrs. Hong says, "Go to hell and back, take all of it. It's always better to try than to have regrets for life."

You nod, somewhat finding new confidence to have the conversation with your parents again.

"Your son must be lucky to have you as a parent, Mrs. Hong.", you comment with sincerity, "You know there's one thing I have always wanted. For my parents to ask me what do I want."

You place all your items on the checkout counter and solemnly tell her, "Mrs. Hong, you should also ask your son what he wants. You know as we grow up, we discover new interests, our choices change. You're a sensible parent so I want you to be the cool mom and support his descisions, whatever it maybe be."

Mrs. Hong stiffens for a moment. Her mind reels back to a lot of things and she has been complacent with Joshua on this matter.

"Mrs. Hong?", your concerned voice reaches her, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything."

You are suddenly pulled into her embrace and she thanks you.

"You might have unknowingly done me a huge favour.", she whispers on the top of your head.

"He has been cranky lately", Mingyu hums as he recollects, "Mostly cooped up in his room, doesn't even open up to me."

You and Hyerin grimace at his words.

"Did he shout at you?", you ask in hopes that it's only you but it's just a phase and Joshua is mad at every one.

Mingyu pouts because he knows the answer he's gonna give you is nowhere going to make you feel better.

"No, actually we went to arcade yesterday. He blew off his steam at that poor basketball machine but we're good. Like normal, just he's a bit more serious nowadays."

You slouch down and Hyerin glares at her boyfriend.

"It's okay, love. I think you should confront him asap.", Hyerin wraps her arm around your shoulder as she throws pointed eyes at her boyfriend.

Mingyu seems to take the hint and says, "I'm there to help you, just tell me what I need to do."

"For the starters, give me his number.", you insist, almost on verge pleading, "If I can't get through him, then help me to meet him alone."

"Okay ma'am!", Mingyu immediately takes his phone and sends you Joshua's contact.

"Thanks Gyu", you say and getting up sweep a glance at the couple, "Gotta go, I need to help Han to design the cover."

"Keep us posted Y/N."

You nod in acknowledgement at Mingyu's words.

Walking down the alley, you contemplate a lot of things, life is tough, yours is toughest.

Nothing seems to work out for you.

You want a career, your parents don't resonate with you.

You like a guy, he suddenly starts to hate your entire existence.

Taking out your phone you open Mingyu's chat to save Joshua's contact.

Just as you proceed to add it to a pops up appears.

Do you want replace the contact name from Anonymous to Joshua?

Your eyes go round like saucers as you re read the sentence again and again.

You trace back and confirm that it's actually Anonymous.

Joshua Hong is actually Anonymous!

"What are you playing at? Don't you already have my number. Stop messing with me."

Joshua's words ring in your mind and everything made sense to you now. That also meant he had come to the café and left without meeting you, misunderstanding the whole situation.

You immediately call Jeonghan only to cancel on him.

Next, you're calling Mingyu and as soon as he picks up you say, "Gyu, please anyhow bring Joshua to that old park, I need to talk to him, it's urgent."

Joshua is startled when Mingyu suddenly barges into his room and starts tugging on his sleeves.

"I need a help from you Josh", he says and Joshua could sense the urgency in his voice, "We have to be somewhere."

As an unsuspecting and good friend he was, he immediately agreed on it.

Suddenly he is dropped off outside the park with Mingyu saying, "Go inside and you'll know it", before riding away in his bike.

Joshua stands there for a moment, utterly confused but anyways walks into the park.

You wait for him, biting off almost all of your nails.

You figure out his silhouette approaching and you could also see his face morphing from confusion to distaste on seeing you.

"Is this some kind of prank?", Joshua yells out, "Very irritating."

You are prepared to hear all the harsh words and off word gazes you're gonna get.

You are also adament to dissolve the misunderstandings and confess your feelings for him today.

"I think there's a misunderstanding, you need to listen to me.", you speak stepping ahead.

Joshua doesn't respond and you take it as your cue to continue.

"I asked Mingyu for your number today.", you continue carefully, "That's when I came to know you are Anonymous."

Joshua scoffs, "You really think I'm gonna buy it? What do you take me for Y/N?"

"I'm not lying --"

"Oh so you're telling you bumping into me right after I texted you that night is pure coincidence? Pairing up for detention classes was also a mere coincidence? Don't you know it's quite weird, how I got to see you each and everywhere, often, more and more just after I hit you up with those texts.", Joshua's gaze is enough to cower you down, his words just added to his condescendness towards you.

"What are you getting at?", you ask bracing yourself for another set of insults you knew that are going to come your way.

"You clearly knew that it was me the whole time.", he spats out, "You just wanted some attention because of the petty princess you are. Oh did I mention attention seeker too?"

"You're not in your right mind Joshua.", you warn him, "Don't say anything you're going to regret later."

"I'm not gonna regret anything. The only thing I regret is meeting you. Do you always do this?", he asks rather accuses you and you shot him a look.

"Do what?"

"Make guys believe that you like them and them tangle them into a trash relationship?", he chuckles bitterly, "I almost believed that you like me until I saw you with Jeonghan. Are you gonna take him to your safe place too? Were you gonna treat us the same as you treated Junsik?"

You freeze on hearing that name.

"How do you know about Junsik?", your eyes sting and voice falters, "What do you know about him?"

"Does it matter now?", he disregards you totally, "You are really sick for playing me like that because I really liked you..."

You perk up at his words, the pain in your heart never subduing but tearing it into infinite pieces.

"But fortunately, it isn't too late.", his words are venomous, more than he could realise, "I want to see you ever again. So do me a favour and never show your face again."

Your sobs doesn't stop until you're biting your tongue to the point where the metallic taste fills your mouth.

You lift your gaze to look at him past your wet lashes, "I also liked you Joshua, like a lot. Gosh I might be in lov-", you fist your hands focusing on them to not break down, "But your wish is granted."

You only say that much before walking past him.

The door to your heart, through which Joshua was making his way is cemented now.

"He said what?", Hyerin is raging and you are the one actually keeping her in check instead of getting comforted.

"Kim Mingyu what kind of bastard your best friend is?", she yells at her boyfriend, "Why are you even friends with him?"

"I still can't believe Joshua could say all this.", Mingyu mumbles, "I was quite sure that he liked you back and he obviously liked talking to Anonymous which turns out to be you."

"Leave it guys", you speak meekly through your sore throat, "It's all over--"

"It's not over, how dare he bring up Junsik?", Hyerin is sure she's going to commit manslaughter today, "What does he know about him?"

"I wonder", you sigh and lean against her shoulder.

"And he thinks, you were gonna double time him and Han?", she throws Joshua another punch at the gut in her head, "Who does he think he is? That bastard I'm-- I'm gonna ugh!"

Mingyu breaks into cold sweat on looking at his girlfriend, grimaces on watching you and fumes in anger when thinks about Joshua.

"Something must have happened, he ain't always like this.", Mingyu comments and is met by a death glare from Hyerin but he continues, "We need get it out of him."

"Whatever guys", you climb on your bed, laying down, "If you want me as your friend then never bring up Joshua ever again. I'm being serious right now.", you pull over the comforter and point your index towards the door, "Thanks for coming but now you both please get out."

Once the door slams shut, all the tears you've been holding stream down as you indulge in self dejection and that broken heart of yours bleeds in scarlet red. A colour so beautiful yet vicious.

A colour that Joshua gave you so brutally.

Joshua Hong was cruel to you and you pledge you're not going to give him the luxury to hurt you again, you're going to be unbothered, apathetic and indifferent to him.

Joshua Hong is a just stranger to you now.

Joshua doesn't immediately leave from the park. He takes a seat on one of the rusty swing and cools down. And while doing so his mind lingers back on the recent episode he had with you.

Joshua is generally a calm guy, a bit cranky but mostly calm. So when his own voice echoes in his mind saying those words to you, he topples with guilt.

He knows he went overboard and he was the actual sick one for bringing up your ex into the conversation.

But words once said cannot be taken back.

Letting the emotions get consume you is never a wise choice and Joshua made that mistake today.

His heart constricts when he remembers your tear stained cheeks, hurt eyes and maimed demeanor.

"I also liked you Joshua, like a lot. Gosh I might be in lov-"

He laughs. He is humored at how sincere you sounded when you were lying.

A Jack of Fools.

You are watching an interesting movie on your phone when someone taps you on your shoulder.

You crane your neck to see Jeonghan, seriousness ghosted over his face.

"What happened?"

He heaves a sigh and takes the sit across you.

"Before you start", you say getting up, "Let me bring something to eat."

Joshua enters the canteen and is displeased to see it extremely crowded. He searches and gladly he finds an unoccupied seat which he quickly takes.

On sweeping his gaze he finds Jeonghan occupying the table in front to his so he seats with his back faced to the later.

That's when he sees you passing by and hears a screech of chair. You place the food tray on the table as you take the seat opposite to Jeonghan's, and behind you is where Joshua is seated.

You don't notice Joshua.

"Spill.", you say, passing him a plate.

Jeonghan relents. He stays quiet for a moment before he's speaking, "It's about Seji."

You nod and wait for him to continue.

"We've been talking again.", he says and he wants to say a lot more but he cuts it down to, "My feelings are resurfacing."

"Your feelings for her were never gone.", you shrug poking the food on your plate you continue, "Look I don't get what the concept of being on & off is, so either you both get back or cut each other off. Otherwise I'm sorry but this looks very toxic to me."

"You're always so brutally honest", Jeonghan mops, "and have a clear conscience that's why I always confide in you."

"Oh, it's nice to hear that, someone just called me liar, sick and all sorts of synonyms it could go for.", You say meekly.

Joshua who has been eavesdropping, in his defence he had no choice as they sat behind him, it was all audible.

Jeonghan gasps in disbelief, "Who do I need to chain on? Tell me."

You give him a knowing smile and Jeonghan understands.

"Joshua berated you?", he ask gently, "I thought you were going to confess your feelings to him?"

Joshua freezes.

Then he hears a sob.

"Please, please don't cry. I don't know what happened but he doesn't deserve your tears.", Jeonghan rushes over to you as he hands you his handkerchief, "Gosh, I can't believe someone could hurt you so much. Promise I won't ever bring him up again, stop crying please."

You shake your head, wiping your tears, "I-I liked him a lot Han. And he said I was gonna double time with you and him."

Joshua hisses, he's ashamed.

Jeonghan sees red when he hears this, "He said what? No, I need to find him and beat the shit out of him. What a jerk, good riddance Y/N. Curse him all out now."

"Please Han", you tug on his sleeves, "He doesn't deserve any of this attention. I don't even want to hear his name anymore."

Jeonghan seethes but he decides to let it go for now. He would definitely deal with Joshua later.

"How about I take you that bakery? We can have everything you want!", he tries to cheer you up.

But you shake your head in protest, "You already bribed me so much for a mere cover design Han. I shouldn't rob you anymore."

Jeonghan rolls eyes, "Please it's not a mere cover, it requires so much effort and even though you're crammed with your tasks, you decided help me diligently."

"Fine.", you say, "You better sort things out with Seji and I'll text you when I work over on what discussed on before."

Joshua is this close to turn around, the apologies being on the tip of his tongue.

But you are leaving and Jeonghan follows you not before throwing a glare at the back of the person about whom you both just had a conversation.

Jeonghan knew about Joshua sitting exactly behind you this whole time.

"Hey mom", Joshua greets as he sits on the tool, "You wanted to discuss something?"

Mrs. Hong is standing by the kitchen counter, your words have been ringing in her head since that day and she wants her only son to know that he doesn't need to feel burdened if at all he has been feeling so.

"I want to ask something and I'm expecting an honest answer from you."

Joshua straightens in his seat as his attentive eyes fixates on his mother.

"What do you want to do Shua?", she elaborates when she see creases on his forehead out of confusion, "As in your choice for a career?"

Joshua's eyes goes round, as this was totally unexpected to him, something he had been meaning to bring this topic but never had the courage.

It suddenly felt like a blessing as he collects his thoughts and frames the sentence in his mind before speaking out.

"Mom, I don't want to be a lawyer.", he says and waits for his mother's reaction.

Mrs. Hong falters a bit but she quickly regains her composure.

Joshua notices, it's natural and expected, so he continues, "I don't know what I want to do but it's definitely not law mom. Just for clinging onto it because it was dad's profession, I don't wanna regret it later, have depression and blame everyone for it."

Mrs. Hong walks over to her son and pulls him into her embrace, "Why didn't you tell me before?"

"I wanted to mom but I didn't have the courage to break your heart, knowing how much you treasure everything related to dad.", he whispers, voice wavering, "But won't dad be happier if I follow my passion and live in content?"

"Yes, he'd be so happy. I'm sorry for being so ignorant", Mrs. Hong sobs, "I should have been more attentive. You're allowed to do whatever you want Shua."

Joshua smiles in relief, a big weight being lifted off his chest.

"Thanks mom.", he say sincerely, "Thanks a lot."

"We both should be thanking that girl.", Mrs. Hong laughs, wiping her years and also patting her son's back.

"Who?", Joshua quips up.

"Oh you wouldn't know her." she says, "She made me realise that parents often take matters related to their children for granted and for providing them expect something in return."

"Please thank her on my behalf.", Joshua requests.

Next day, Joshua reaches the classroom as soon as he could because it's the only class he shares with you.

He just wants to see you.

You enter the class minutes after he does. Joshua's gaze is on you, you are aware but your gazes never meet, not when you walk past him and sit in the back.

In today's class, you are gonna get to know the project topics and will be assigned partners for completing the same.

Joshua hopes he get paired with you.

You pray to get assigned with anyone but Joshua.

"You can choose your partners.", the teacher announces, "In groups of two."

You groan, definitely luck not your side because you knew no one except one and the one you knew you'd never pair up with him.

Joshua is sure that universe is giving him a chance and with his new found confidence, he walks upto the walks to your desk.

When you see Joshua walking your way, you think he's gonna pass by but instead he halts infront of you.

You are going to be unbothered, apathetic and indifferent to him.

"Hi Y/N..", he says with hesitancy.

You don't even spare him a glance.

Even though he's sweating and up on his toes, he asks, "Will you be my partner for this project?"

"No.", you say resting your face on the palms of your hands, still not looking at him, "Thanks for asking though."

"I'm sorry Y/N.", he just wants you to look at him atleast but you don't make any effort to do so, "I went overboard that day. Said many things I shouldn't have. I just--"

"You have said all the things you wanted to say because you wanted to hurt me.", you crane your neck to lips curl up in a mocking smile, "You don't have to apologise to look good to yourself specially when you don't mean it. Don't be a hypocrite and let's pretend to not know each other from now on."

You are standing up, grabbing your notebook as you continue, "Since you don't want to see my face, don't talk to me."

Joshua's words are coming to bit him back as pure venom.

You take out your phone, "Look here, I'm doing this infront of you so that you can get assured."

Joshua's curious gaze falls on the screen and his heart drops when he gets your intention.

"See I'm blocking your number.", you press on the block button and your thumb hovers over the delete button, "And now I'll delete your contact. Rest assured, you won't be bothered by me."

Joshua stays rooted to the ground until the teacher calls his name.

Fortunately, you don't get paired with Joshua.

"I don't want to see his face, let alone talk to him", Hyerin barks, literally barks, "You're calling in for your best friend's murder, I'm warning you."

Mingyu agrees that he's hypothetically plotting a murder by letting his girlfriend meet his best friend.

"Babe, when I said we need to get the root of this, we are gonna do so.", Mingyu warns Hyerin, "Now, when Joshua walks in through the door, I'll talk to him. You only speak when needed."

Hyerin huffs, "Lucky that I love you."

Mingyu grins and pecks her lips.

The door creaks open and Hyerin scoffs, "Here comes the idiot."

Joshua doesn't have a good feeling, specially seeing Hyerin who's constantly glaring at him and he thinks that's enough to drill holes into his skull.

"Hi guys", he tries to initiate a conversation, "Why did you wanna meet?"

"First, what you did Y/N was very lowly", Mingyu says, "I'm very disappointed in you."

Joshua sits quietly, hanging his head low.

"What do you know about Junsik?", Hyerin interrogates, "How do you know him?"

Joshua fiddles with his fingers and sits wordless.

"We're not here to look at your face, you better open that stupid mouth of yours like you had done that day.", Hyerin barks again, her patience wearing thin.

"Hyejoo told me about him.", Joshua says and looks up at her.

Hyerin stiffens, all the words she was about to gurgle gets stuck in her throat.

Joshua finds an opportunity and he relays everything that happened to the couple.

"You should have asked me about Jeonghan atleast.", Mingyi sighs, "And how could you bring up Junsik when you don't even know a thing about him?"

"Junsik was Y/N's first, well only boyfriend till now", Hyerin reveals, "who had dumped her over a text because he fell in love with a new chick in the school he just got transferred to. He just threw away a relationship of two years just like that."

"She has been aloof since then. Always reluctant to make friends, didn't show interest in other guys", she looks dead in his eyes, "Until you came along. But it's her bad luck, you also turned out to be a douche. And she was so excited to meet Anonymous until you intently stood her stood. I hope karma to be an actual bitch to you."

Joshua feels like he has been pushed into the trench, like what he deserves.

Hyerin feels humiliated because she had never thought that her sister could be so much of a menace.

She gets up and Mingyu looks at her alarmingly.

Placing her hand on his hand in assurance she tells, "Hyejoo needs to be taught a lesson so I need to go. I'll drop by Y/N's to apologize to her."

"Babe, don't blame yourself okay?", he says affectionately as he wraps his arms around her waist, "It's not your fault. Just go & handle the things your way."

She turns to look at Joshua, "I wonder how long you have known Hyejoo to believe all the shit she uttered that day."

The door slams and Joshua breathes out.

"I like her a lot, Gyu.", Joshua says in distress and Mingyu scoffs.

"Who, Hyejoo?", he counters, "Because that's the only plausible option I can think of."

"Right, I deserve to be mocked.", he admits, "You're so dumb Joshua Hong."

"Stop being miserable than you already are and if you are ready serious about Y/N, then make it up to her and confess your feelings.", Mingyu suddenly grins as he says, "I hope you get rejected five times before she accepts you."

Joshua could only grimace at his words. You couldn't pinpoint since when it started but you have been receiving some items with a cute note everyday. First time it was a mini bouquet that was kept in your locker with the note saying-

Like a bouquet tied with twine, I can be yours if you will be mine.

From, Your Anonymous

You didn't read much into, thinking someone must have mixed up the locker numbers. Next day, you found a miniature panda with another note saying- In a room full of basic brown bears, you are my panda.

From, Your Anonymous This time the gears in your brain turn harder when you reread the note. A lightbulb goes off and you find the literal meaning of the words at the end.

Your Anonymous means Your Anonymous in literals who is none other then Joshua Hong. That note and the teddy goes straight into the trash can. Third day, you find a strawberry juice can and a note which makes you snort.

You're the grenadine in my tequila sunrise. Without you, I'm just this strawberry juice.

From, Your Anonymous. "Now he's playing on my weakness.", you mumble eyeing the can, not having the heart to chuck it into the trash can.

Joshua watches as your stand there in dilemma with a grin set on his lips. The strawberry juice can ultimately doesn't show up in the trash can.

One day, you are climbing up the stairs reading an article on your phone when you bump into someone.

Very surprising, you find Joshua in front of you.

"Can I talk to you for a moment?", he asks and you dismiss him immediately turning to go on a seperate way when he says, "It's urgent, please."

You tail behind him as he leads to you a random empty class. You lean against the wall, Joshua stands at a distance.

"Tomorrow is my mom's birthday and I bought her a dress.", he starts explaining, "I accidentally tore a button...."

Silence fills in the air and Joshua watches you intently for any reaction. He watches your eyes go wide in absolute disbelief and next you're hitting him on his arm,   "Such an idiot", another hit, "Where's the dress? We need to fix it soon." Joshua is overjoyed but he doesn't show. "It's at home.", Joshua says, "Do you want me to bring it to school?" You roll eyes, "Have you thrown the remaining 1% of your brain in gutter?" Joshua nods, resembling a kicked puppy. An adorable kicked puppy. Your heart twists abnormally in your chest, no he's not the guy you like anymore, get a grip on yourself, he can be all cute but it doesn't effect you anymore-- "Y/N?" "Yes?" "So..."

"Oh yeah-- I don't have classes anymore so if it's okay with you then we can go now.", you offer curtly, "Since her birthday is tomorrow, we don't have time." You awkwardly stand in the middle of the hall as Joshua goes somewhere seeking for his mother. You hear their voices, not able to make anything coherent out of it as the padding sound of footsteps against the floor increases. Joshua walks in followed by his mother so when you see her you almost shriek in shock, "Mrs. Hong?" "Y/N?", Mrs. Hong, pushes her sone aside and runs to hug you, "Oh my, what a pleasant surprise!" Joshua stands as confused as ever as he watches you both gush about each other. "Shua", his mother calls, "I was talking about her, she's you were seeking for. Thank her yourself." Joshua feels all the air leaving his lungs at once. It's you, again. The same girl who he had trash talked straight on her face. The same girl who is present in his house just to help him. The same girl who he likes loves. He leads you to his room and the entire time you could sense the sudden shift in his aura. Crossing threshold of his room, hits you with a surge of Joshua. You look around, watching a large poster of LeBron James pasted on the wall adjacent to his bed. A huge stack of books about economics pilled up on his study table and a neatly made bed. "Here", Joshua lays the dress on the bed and hand you detached button, "How long will it take?" You deadpan, "Hardly 5 minutes." His face falls like tons of brick and it's so obvious that you had to stiffle a laugh. The dress is beautiful, you think but it's plain, too plain for your eyes and your hands itch but you should have no business with dress apart from stitching that button back. Joshua notices and he knows what's going on inside that mind of your. He trusts you, he wants you stay longer so he plays it down, "Don't you think the dress is simple. I bought it because that colour is beautiful and rare." You perk up at his words and Joshua swears he could melt into puddle if he'd stare at your doe eyes one more second. "I could stitch a flower towards the left flange of the dress.", you ponder over and ask, "What's her favourite flower?" "Daisies", he answers. "Oh that will be comparatively easy", you clasp your hands in excitement, "A simple satin stitch would do." Joshua looks at you with all the attentiveness in the world. His heart swells and he realises that it's been long he has stopped crushing over you. His heart yearns for you and maybe that's the reason he was hurt and raged seeing Jeonghan with you. He admits to loving you, he hopes that you'd give him another chance just to show that how much you mean to him. "Give me the dress", you are already searching designs on your phone, "It will take around 4-5 hours. Come and get it by 9." "Can I be with you?", he asks and you shot him a look. "What are you gonna do, except for bothering me?", you quip back, "Don't you hate me?" "I lov-- I won't bother you promise. Just let me be with you." His underlying tone resonates in your ears and heart does flips when you look him in the eyes. Brimming with emotions (read: love) "I don't have any other choice, do I?"

"Can you stop staring at me?", you finally blurt out, "Also, if you could not breathe on my neck!" Joshua doesn't bother listening to you, he's just having the time of his life watching you closely, basking in your presence. You are almost done with stitching the embroidery and Joshua yet again raises his hand to your mouth urging you to eat the pastry, one of the enormous amount of items he bought for you, emphasizing it's his way of saying thanks. "I can eat it myself--" "But both of your hands are occupied." This reasoning would take you nowhere. He has been acting as a lovesick soul, touch starved body and happy fool around you. And it's certainly not helping your heart in keeping check. You have finally embroidered the daisies and it turned out prettier than you had expected. "You can work magic on fabrics you know.", Joshua sincerely complements you, "Thanks a lot Y/N." "No big deal.", you smile, "Mrs. Hong is an amazing woman, she deserves all the love." Joshua gleans but suddenly remembers the purpose of crashing in your place. "Hey, there's a basketball game at my previous school on this weekend and I'd be playing, would you like to come?", Joshua asks. You look at him with a scowl on his your face, "Why don't you ask your Hyejoo to come with you?" Joshua almost scurries but it will be a lost battle if backs down now. "Am I not being obvious?", Joshua asks all seriousness ghosting over him. "What?" "Am I not being obvious with my feelings?", Joshua asks again. "What are you insinuating?" "I want you, only you, and no one else to come to my match. You matter to me because..", he breathes in, breathes out, shuts his eyes, open them just to say-- "I love you, Y/N." He does it. Says the words he had been meaning to tell you, the words those set themselves on the tip of his tongue whenever he saw you. "Josh..." He smiles at the slip of his nickname from you and leans in to you. "I was so mad when I saw you with Jeonghan, because I was jealous.", he admits, "I wanted to be the one feeding you, wanted to be the one hugging, to be the only one to closely watch that beautiful smile of yours." You are rendered speechless. But Joshua has so much to say. "The outburst I had, it was only because I realised I have been in love with you and the possibility of you not reciprocating, was hurting." He rummages through his bag and you see him taking out a jersey. "You don't have to say anything now.", he smiles and pats your head, "Think through and", he hands you the jersey, "Let me know on the match day." You lay the jersey on your bed and see a 17 imprinted on white below the name Joshua. Joshua is by the door when he calls your name, "Whatever your decision is, I'll respect it.", and he's out of your room and house. You don't know much about basketball but you know when a player gives their jersey to someone prior to a match, what do they want and what can the indications be. You let out a scream and immediately fetch your phone to dial a number, "Hello, Rin...."

It's matchday. Joshua is nervous. Partially because of the game, partially because of you. When Seungcheol, a good friend and teammate of his from previous basketball school team had requested him to play one last game before they officially strike out his name from the team list, Joshua agreed instantly. A farewell game, he thought. The team does warm ups and stretches before the game starts. Joshua steals glances at the courtside every now and then but fails to find you. He's afraid that you won't come at all and his heart would shatter into millions. "Hey, looking there often won't make her magically appear.", Seungcheol knows and he teases, "I never thought our best shooting guard would be playing shooting hearts too." "Oh juicy juicy", Soonyoung, another teammate, who's also the centre of their team quips in when he overhears the two, "Joshua Hong is in love!!!", he shouts a little too loudly out of enthusiasm and now the whole team knows. The warm up is over and the game starts in twenty minutes.

Joshua checks his phone for one last time to see no notifications of your name and remembers you have his number blocked and contact deleted. Dejected, he switches off the device and deposits it to the collector, heading to change into his jersey. The game is already into the second quarter and Joshua's team is leading by only four points. Soonyoung slips causing his dribble to be cut and the opponent's point guard steals the ball and scores a two pointer. Soon the whistle blows and both the teams head to their respective locker rooms. As soon as Joshua enters the room, he's slammed against one of the locker by Seungcheol. He groans in pains at the sudden impact. "Listen dude, I get you're vagued but please don't let the team down. Coach is already contemplating on substituting you.", Seungcheol is frustrated, but he cares, "I want the best shooting guard within the entire school to score points. Stop being diverted and focus on the game." "Sorry", Joshua gruffs out, "I will--" "What the hell? Unhand him right now Mr.!" The whole locker room pivot their attention on the source of the voice. Joshua thinks he's hallucinating when he sees you standing in front of them, hands crossed over and brows cocked. Wearing his jersey and having his jersey number, 17 painted on your left cheek. Seungcheol looks at you, then he looks at Joshua to get the confirmation he needs. "It's her guys.", he announces with a huge grin as his hands free Joshua. Suddenly the locker room fills with  whistles, hoots and hollers. "Hi! Thanks for coming. I'm Soonyoung by the way.", a guy with questionably dyed hair greets you. "Hi, I'm Y/N...", you greet him back and gulp nervously when you realise all pair of eyes are on you. "We don't need to be here anymore it seems.", Mingyu tells Hyerin and the later nods, the two leaving to occupy their seats at the courtside. "Thanks in advance for saving the match.", Seungcheol comes to you and says, "And I'm Seungcheol, the captain." Then he looks at Joshua, "You have 10 minutes", and announces, "Clear out the room guys!" Everyone follows, all of them greeting you with huge grins making their way out. Now the two of you are left and the atmosphere turns heavy. You walk upto Joshua and grab his arms to shake him out of the trance. "Hi", you giggle. "You came...", Joshua whispers. You are about to say something but suddenly you feel yourself loose a footing as you are slammed against the locker, hands pinned over it. Joshua hovers over you, his body pressing yours and if you entire focus isn't on his lips, you could have heard both of your hearts beating rapidly. "Can't believe you agreed to be all mine, I don't deserve you ", he whispers leaning closer. "Just kiss me & seal the deal.", you bite your lips, gaze flicking to his eyes. "Gladly.", he smiles and closes the gap. Your lips are just touching when the whistle blows. You laugh, giving him a slight push, "Times up." Joshua tries to get back on you immediately but you manage to run out his grip and the room yelling, "Earn your kiss, babe!" And Joshua takes it personally. You never knew basketball matches could be this exciting and you regret not attending them previously. Oh the man, Joshua Hong is, your eyes are glued to him as he runs around the court with that sweat glistening glow on him. The game is now into it's last quarter and you squeal as Joshua scores a two pointer extending the lead. Everytime he scores, his teammates cheered looking at you and you're sure that the whole arena knows that Number 17 of home team is either trying to woo you or you both are already a thing. It's a few seconds until the game ends and opponents foul Joshua. All the players stand behind the three points line and the free line extension. You are brimming in anticipation as you see Joshua taking position at the base of the line. The home team needs their shooting guard to score the three points from the long shot. The long field goal which would seal the win. The referee blows the whistle, a cue for Joshua to shoot his shot.

Joshua takes a deep breathe, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips. The arena is pin drop silent all eyes on the man on the line. You breathe hitches when Joshua raises his hands holding the ball and looks at you. "This one's for you!", he yells and releases the ball looking forward. You swear the time slows down as the ball revolves on the ring, you admit dramatically, before it falls into the basket. The arena blasts with cheers and Joshua is already hurled over on his teammates' shoulder as they hail his name. You see him. He sees you. Then you're running down the stairs and jumping over the partition to reach him. The team hollers when they see you in the court. Putting down Joshua, they push you to him, circling the two of you as they chant in delight, "Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!" You grin looking at him which turns into a gasp when he suddenly grabs your hips and lifts you up. "Am I worthy of getting a kiss now?", he asks, smiling cheekily. Your response comes in form of you dipping down and placing your lips on his. You feel him smile against your lips as they slot into each other perfectly and he holds you to him tighter. "Get a room!" You both hear a yell, knowing it came from Mingyu. You are the one who breaks the kiss but Joshua pecks you one more before putting you down. The teases never simmer down for the rest of the evening.

"Thanks for all backing me up the whole time I was talking to them, my parents even started looking for universities for fashion technology courses.", you sigh in content, resting your chin on your palm. "You did a lot more for me. Talking to my mom, making me signing up for the varsity training program and whatnot.", Joshua makes sure you know how grateful he'll always be. "Oh by the way I changed your contact back to Anonymous.", you inform him. "You can't do this your boyfriend!" Joshua props beside you, with pouty lips and doe eyes. "I can. I already did.", you deadpan. "Why should my contact be saved as Anonymous?", he tries to snatch your phone, "Change it to babe, love, sweetheart anything. "You glare at your dramatic boyfriend, "Because that's where it started. You are my Anonymous." Joshua grins, finding it somehow cute and romantic at stance. "Anonymously Mine.", you say. "Anonymously Yours", he echoes.

Do not copy, re-post, translate, or share any of my works on other platforms! All stories are copyrighted, joonsytip. ©️

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[solarwoniii]

heyyy!! just wondering if i could request “zb1 legal line reaction to catching their s/o masturbating” hehehehheheehehe if not all goodzz 💗💗

reaction to catching you touching yourself ! zb1 legal line

smut, crack, some fluff ! includes jiwoong, zhanghao, hanbin, matthew, taerae and ricky

contains ; dacryphilia, punishments, i think thats all? lmk if i missed any T^T

a/n ; THANK U FOR UR REQUEST ♡ HAD SO MUCH FUN DOING THIS

jiwoong ;

would laugh at you but not in a cute funny quirky silly way

that low kind of dominant chuckle that makes you realise.

you fucked up.

he'd pull up a chair beside the bed and insist for you to continue in that same scary tone ur mum talks in when u forget to wash the dishes 😰😰😰😨😨

and then he'll force you to make yourself cum until you're crying while he sat there and watched because you're not allowed to stop until he says.

then he'll finally touch you.

with his fingertips.

just to fuck with you more because he's a petty little bitch

edging you until you're shaking, eyes rolling back, body arching

and then, and only then will you get to cum.

zhanghao ;

finds it cute that you think you're so big and strong now

puts ur ass in its place so fast 🫣🫣

love bites all over you

your body is his canvas and his marks are his art 😵😶

actually, this timing is perfect

he'd been waiting for you to misbehave so he could try out the new vibrator he got for you

edges you again and again, just to rip away your orgasm and have you crying

when you finally cum you both know damn well it's not over 💀 keeps the vibrator in that exact spot and refuses to move it until you cum another three times.

i'm sorry i just think mean dom hao is extremely accurate and attractive

hanbin ;

i think he would genuinely laugh at you 💀

and you would try to be mad at him for laughing at you but his stupid laugh is unfortunately extremely contagious 😭😔

when he's done laughing at you he'll come and help you

i think it would be all giggly and fluffy and cute though

and then you would cuddle naked (i feel like hanbin wld enjoy this so much during aftercare esp idk) and gossip LMFAO

matthew ;

GETS SO SHY I SWEAR JSJSJSJS

THE PERSONIFICATION OF 😳

quickly closes the door behind him before anyone else can see what he's seeing

'd-do u want me to . . .' 'o-oh ok'

he's flustered but he will help you feel good 😭

turns into a cute little mutual masturbation session after u notice the boner building up in his pants from the sight of u T^T

when you both finish he'll clean you up and then be a little cutie patootie

'uhmmm there was this disney movie i really wanted to watch with you so could we maybe do that now ? 👉👈'

taerae ;

just smiles and locks the door behind him when he realises what you're doing

'do you need my help baby?'

he'll sit beside you and replace your hand with his

helps you reach the best orgasm of your life with his skilled fingers

idk i genuinely don't think he would get mad

but he'll remind you that you can always come to him if you're feeling needy.

kisses

so many kisses

he'll give you more than his fingers after as well if you still want more ;))

ricky ;

YEAH THATS RIGHT WE'RE BACK TO PUSSY SLAPPER RICKY BECAUSE MY LOVE MIYUKI PUT THE THOUGHT INTO MY HEAD AND I REFUSE TO LET GO

when he walks in i think he'd get flustered but he'd quickly cover it up because being seen like that by you hurts his precious ego

AGAIN LOW DOMINANT CHUCKLE he takes after jiwoong because he aspires to one day be that cool and strong but u already know he's a cute little softie

'if you wanted me to treat you like a little whore you could've just said so, baby.'

AGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH 😭😶🫣😵😳😰😭😶

gets you up on all fours and spanks your pussy until it's swollen and dripping.

then he'll mark your body up and take photos of you for his little collection 😨

eats you out (prolly makes u sit on his face too bc he's a little freak)

#zb1 #zb1 smut #zerobaseone #zb1 jiwoong #zb1 zhanghao #zb1 hanbin #zb1 matthew #zb1 taerae #zb1 ricky #zerobaseone smut #zb1 fluff #zb1 drabbles #zb1 smau

[fandoms--fluff]

Shopping or Babysitting?

Flufftober, October 10th

Female vampire reader x Josie Saltzman x Hope Mikaelon x Lizzie Saltzman

Summary: You guys go shopping and you and Josie end up more like babysitters

Warnings: swearing, other than that just cute and funny and fluffy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Why the hell does Alaric need all this shit again?" You groan while pushing a shopping cart around Bells grocery store.

"Something about a fire happening in the kitchen and burning all the food and the counters and cabinets, everything really" Josie answers, feeling the same way as you. She places a carton of blueberries in the cart.

"Ooh, we should get whipped cream" Lizzie says, walking over to the refrigerators. "It's not on the list" Josie calls after her twin.

"Wait, where's Hope?" You look around all the displays from where you're standing. Your eyes land on the auburn headed girl distracted by rearranging an end cap shelf of pancake mixes.

"You know what, how about you grab a box, and Lizzie, you can get one can of whipped cream" you sigh, calling out to them both. Josie looks at you with a confused look on her face.

Hope and lizzie come back with their item and place them in the cart beside eachother.

"Now, if you both don't get distracted and we get the hell out of here quickly, then I'll make vampire pancakes for all of us. Got it?" You explain and look at them as if they're children.

They both excitedly agree right away. "Good idea" Josie whispers to you and you nod your head, agreeing.

"What's next?" Hope asks. Josie looks at the list in her hand "uhhh, tortilla chips. Wow, now that I look at this list, it had the most random order" Josie answers and tilts the list over for you to see. "Huh, it does. Almost as if Jackass just wanted us out of his hair" you say as you turn the cart into the chip isle.

"You know he's my dad, right?" Josie says, trying not to chuckle at how you casually talk about him in such ways. "Oh, I know, but you've got to agree that he's a dick most of the time" you tell her, keeping a close eye on the other two teens in front of you both.

"Hey! Put those down, we're down here for tortilla chips, not any of those" you exclaim, making Josie look at what's in their arms. "How did you guys grab that much so fast?" Josie lightly chuckles. Lizze and Hope have their arms full of different chip bags. They have small pouts on their faces while you make them put the bags back on the shelves.

"Wait, do we still get the pancakes?" Lizzie asks when they walk back over to you and Josie. "On one condition" they both nod. "You each have to have on hand on the cart for the rest of the time we're here" you cross your arms.

"We're not five year olds!" Hope exclaims, Lizzie agreeing with her. "Do you guys want the pancakes? Yes? Then one hand on the buggy at all times" Josie raises an eyebrow.

"Fine" they both mumble, taking a hold of the cart on either side.

You guys walk out to your car with the shopping bags in your arms. Once you place everything in the trunk, Lizze and Hope start to have an argument. Over what? You and Josie have no idea.

"I'm starting to feel like more of a babysitter than a personal shopper now" you sigh. "Glad I'm not the only one" Josie closes the trunk. You open one of the back doors to the car. "Okay you two, shut up and get in or no pancakes and I mean it. And if you're really good during the forty minute drive, then maybe we can watch Harry Potter" you nod for ghem to get it.

"Okay, Mom" lizzie says jokingly, and Hope nods her head. They both climb in the back and start doing up their seat belts when you close the door.

"Remind me to never have kids" you groan. Josie chuckles, "Same here" she says, making you chuckle as well.

You both get in the car, and the drive back was surprisingly peaceful.

Once you get back, you guys bring all the groceries inside and to the slightly charred kitchen. "And you guys paid for it using the card I gave?" Alaric asks, stepping into the kitchen.

"Sure we did" you roll your eyes, sliding things onto a shelf in the fridge. "What did I say about compulsion" he grits his teeth.

"Oh fuck off about that, compulsion is way easier, plus no money was spent, you're saving money" you throw the credit card to him.

"Don't fall into the trap, Dad, we both know you'll lose" Josie says, closing one of the pantry doors. Alaric groans and leaves the four girls alone again.

"Hey! Why did you get to go against the rules and not get in trouble?" Hope asks from where her and lizzie are sitting on one of the counters. "Because I'm older then all of you, and Jackass" you answer them. "...fair enough" Hope mumbles.

"Pancakes?" Lizzie perks up. "Of course, you two weren't horrible, so it wasn't that bad" you get all of the ingredients and materials onto the counter you and Josie are standing at.

"All you guys have to do, is stay there and don't touch or try to help with anything" Josie says, getting a mixing spoon from a drawer. Hope and Lizzie can't cook for the life of them, so it's best to keep them far away as possible whenever you and/or Josie are cooking or baking.

"Alright, here you guys go" You and Josie hand Hope and Lizzie their plates, the opening credits of Harry Potter playing on the screen. "Thanks" they both say, already entranced into the movie.

The pancakes all have a smiley face out of blueberries, and vampire teeth made from the whipped cream. Something you annoyed Damon with until he gave up and then he started annoying Bonnje with eventually in the prison world. (Yes, you teased him endlessly when Bonnie told you about it).

"You know, we're a pretty good team" Josie sits beside you. You wrap am around her shoulders, your plate in your lap. "Hell yeah we are" you kiss her on the cheek, playfully.

"Gross" lizzie icks. "Yeah, we're right here" Hope swallows some pancake.

"Yep, never having kids" you mutter under your breath. Josie hears and chuckles, making you smirk.

#hope mikaelson #josie saltzman #lizzie saltzman #hope #hope mikaelson x reader #hope mikaelson x female reader #hope mikaelson x fem reader #hope mikaelson x best friend reader #cute hope mikaelson #josie saltzman x reader #josie saltzman x female reader #josie saltzman x fem reader #josie saltzman x best friend reader #lizzie saltzman x reader #lizzie saltzman x best friend reader #lizzie saltzman x female reader #lizzie saltzman x fem reader #lizzie and hope #lizzie saltzman x vampire reader #hope mikaelson x vampire reader #josie saltzman x vampire reader #vampire reader #cute lizzie #cute hope and lizzie #cute #fluff #imagines #thevampirediaries #fanfic #writing

[subtitledink13]

I'm hoping someone else might find this interesting, because I still can't believe it and it brings me joy.

I want to preface this by saying I'm not very good with plants. They usually don't last long in my care.

I've had an orchid I've managed to keep alive since 2019. It's one of the big white fluffy ones and I had just finished Good Omens season 1 when I got it so I named it Aziraphale.

Aziraphale hasn't had flowers since 2019. I tried and tried, but I couldn't get it happy enough to bloom.

Around the end of June or the beginning of July I noticed a new flower spike.

A few days before season 2 dropped, it had flowers again.

I know it's all a coincidence, but it's funny to me how it all lined up.

Update: Firstly I want to say thank you to everyone who has liked and reblogged this so far because wow I've never posted anything that's gotten more than a handful of likes so thank you very much.

I got Aziraphale a companion recently.

I'm hesitant to call it Crowley just yet, because it is another bromeliad and if you've read the tags you know the first one didn't end well... but we're remaining optimistic.

I did learn after I brought it home and did some research that this type of bromeliad is known as a flaming sword, because of course it is, so it has that going for it.

Also I'm still relatively new to tumblr so I'm not sure if this is the best way to update a post or not...

#plants are weird #there was a Crowley that came with it but it didnt make it #it was a bromeliad if anyone's curious #i don't even know who will read this #thank you for your time if you've made it this far #good omens #good omens season 2 #aziraphale and crowley #weird coincidence #gif not mine

[thedirtybeanlife]

Soft Touches || Simon 'Ghost' Riley x reader

Summary: Simon does your skin care routine for you.

warnings: cursing

very full of fluff and soft simon

no mentions of y/n or gender specifications <3

enjoy!!

——————————————————————————

I sat on the floor of Simon and I's shared bedroom, rummaging through the small basket that held most of my hair and skin care products. I preferred doing both in the bedroom because of the giant mirror we had next to our dresser. Its length stretched from the floor to the ceiling and had an LED ring around the trim, giving off the perfect amount of light. Indie music played quietly from the speaker of my phone next to me as I quietly hummed along and nodded my head. Grabbing the products I would need, I placed them in a line in front of me; in application order. Just as my hand reached to grab the cleanser, Simon walked into the room, a soft smile reaching his face as his eyes met mine.

“Well don't you look adorable,” he joked, taking in my fluffy bathrobe and fuzzy headband keeping the hair from my face.

I playfully rolled my eyes and started opening the cleanser bottle and dabbing some onto a cotton round, gently scrubbing away the grime and makeup from today. Simon’s voice sounded once again stopped me in my tracks.

“Can I do it?” I had never heard his voice go so soft and timid in the entire ten years I'd known the burly man.

“Of course you can, Baby. C’mere.” my smile and voice were warm and welcoming as I nodded for him to come join me.

He got up, slowly making his way over to me. Sitting down next to me, I watched as his eyes scanned the various bottles and jars of product. His face was contorted in visible confusion and wonder which caused me to let out a small laugh.

“What’re you laughin’ for, Love? Something funny?” he asked, eyebrow cocked with a small smirk resting on his lips.

“You look so lost. It’s cute.” I teased, lightly bumping my shoulder into his.

“I’ll show you cute…” and with that he gently grabbed a hold of my ankles, suddenly pulling me across the short distance on the hardwood floor to sit between his legs.

My legs were over top his thighs, resting on the floor behind him while our noses were practically touching. His eyes bored into mine, making my face flush at the close proximity.

“We've been married for seven years, and I can still make you freeze up and blush.” he teased back, lips ghosting over my own.

With my breath being ripped away from me at his intense stare and playful words, the only thing I could think to do was close the gap between us. Our lips met, his rough ones slowly moving against my softer ones, the passion just as alive as it was during our first kiss. It was always like that. Every kiss from Simon was searing hot in the best way possible. Pulling away, my forehead rested against his, smiles on both our faces.

“Can we get back to what we're supposed to be doing before we get side tracked and ruin my skin care routine?” I joked, hands grabbing his much larger ones and lacing our fingers together.

“What’s first?” Simon asks, thumbs rubbing circles on the backs of my hands.

“Well since I just cleaned everything off, toner.” I declared, grabbing the small bottle and handing it to him as well as another cotton round,” All you do is pour a little on there and wipe it around my face. Just watch the eyes, please.”

He nodded, flipping the lid open and squeezing some of the liquid onto the cotton. Ever so slowly, he dragged the pad across my face, careful to avoid my eyes. After a few more seconds he pulled away, eyes scanning my face.

“Now what?” he asked with excitement in his voice, eyes darting to the array of skin care products beside us.

“Serum, but be careful. This shit will run in your eyes so fast if you aren't careful. You can’t use too much or it’ll make me look oily too. Two or three drops should be more than enough. Maybe just on my cheeks and one on my forehead to be safe, yeah?”

He nodded as I handed him the bottle. He spun the small glass bottle in his hand, examining the label before twisting and pulling out the dropper. Simon’s thumb and forefinger softly gripped my chin, leaning my head back some so he could get a better angle. He was careful to avoid my eyes and mouth as he squeezed the handle of the dropper, letting a drip fall on each cheek and my forehead.

“Do I just rub it in?” he asked quietly, hand still holding my head back.

I let out a small hum, letting him know he was right. My eyes immediately fluttered shut as his calloused hands rubbed soft circles into my skin. He chuckled at how pliant I became at his touch, placing a kiss to the top of my head. He spent a few extra minutes (definitely more than he needed to) rubbing the serum into my skin before pulling away and grabbing the second to last item.

Simon grabbed the small sample jar of my night time eye mask, the jar comically small in his hands. Watching me apply this multiple times before, he swiftly opened the jar and applied two small dots of it under each eye. He closed the jar and sat it back in the basket with my other stuff before using his middle finger to gently rub the cream into the skin under and around my eyes. Once finished, he grabbed my bottle of moisturizer, squirting some into his hand and dotting it around my face. Using three of his fingers, Simon rubbed the lotion into my skin just as gently as he had everything else, if not more. A content sigh left my lips as he finished, placing a kiss on my temple.

“And done. Let's get you dressed and into bed, beautiful.” he allowed me to un-straddle him and scoot back some before he stood, offering a hand to help me up.

I of course took it and followed him over to our closet where he grabbed one of his shirts and playfully tossed it over my head making me giggle loudly. Quickly discarding my robe, I threw the shirt over my head and turned to look at Simon who was gawking at me like he had never seen me in his clothes before. Rolling my eyes at his behavior, I grabbed his hand and dragged him with me to our bed. We both climbed in, Simon immediately pulling me into his chest, our legs intertwining.

“Try and get some sleep tonight, yeah?” I spoke into his chest, fingers playing with the hem of his shirt.

“Only if you do the same, Love.” he whispered, thumb stroking my exposed hip.

“Mm only for you, Si.”

#xreader #fanfiction #call of duty mw2 #oneshot #simon ghost riley x reader #call of duty #fanfic #ghost x reader #mw2022 #simon riley x reader #x reader

[modelbus]

Another day another flufftober…

Pairing: Cc!Wilbur x Gn!Reader

Flufftober 2 - We Meet Again (Childhood Home)

The feeling of being back was disorientating.

A small house, crammed between other equally as small houses loomed behind you as you locked the door. The key always took a few tries to work, no matter how your father tried to fix it. How long had it been since you’ve been home? Five years, six?

You had left England ages ago to get a fresh start in life. Accepted into an American college, your original plan was only to get a degree there. Instead, that morphed into a life of your own.

If it was up to you, you wouldn’t have come back. Not because you dislike England or your parents, but because there was simply no reason to. In fact, the only reason you’re back now is because it was your mothers birthday. And you desperately needed to go find flowers.

That was one good thing about being back here at least. You, from some deep recess of your brain, knew exactly where everything was. Including the tiny flower shop a few blocks away. They used to give you and your childhood best friend free flowers; a worker tucking a flower being your ear for you, and your friend presenting you with his flower.

As your feet instinctively make turns, avoiding uneven cracks in the sidewalk without a thought, you can't help but smile to yourself. It felt like, if you breathed in just right, you were 9 again.

The bell above the door jingles as you enter, and you have to pull up short a foot from the door. The store hasn't changed at all. With vines creeping up the wall, and wooden tables housing vases of vibrant flowers, it was the exact same as you remembered. There was something so sweet about it having stayed. Like it was frozen in time, just waiting for you to enter.

A few moments pass as you just take it all in. You definitely missed this part of home and didn't even know it until now.

Behind you, the bell that had announced your arrival sounds again. Something crashes into your back, making you gasp in surprise.

"Woah!" Someone exclaims, hands on your shoulders to keep you from being bowled over. "My bad! I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were right in front of the door."

You turn, ready to assure the person it was most certainly your fault, only to have your eyes catch on them. Brown fluffy hair, taller than you, familiar eyes.

Wilbur is the exact same, but oh so different.

"Wilbur?" You breathe, and his eyes light up with familiarity.

Before you know it, he's hugging you tightly. Pressing you into him, laughing with joy. "Oh my God! It's you!"

"Wil- Wilbur- let me breathe!" You giggle, pushing on his chest until he lets you go.

He grins down at you, lips quirked in a way you haven't seen in forever. You'd still know that smile though, no matter the length of time.

"You're taller."

"So are you." You point out. "Then again, you were always a green bean."

"Rude." It doesn't take the smile off his face. "What are you doing here? Where have you been? I need to know everything."

"I'm back for my mom's birthday, I thought-"

"Hang on." He interrupts, eyes widening. "You... you sound American. You've been in America? You actually went there?"

You nod eagerly. "Yeah! I went to college, and I have a degree and a job."

"You did it." Wilbur says softly. "You chased your dreams."

"Did you?" You ask, scanning his expression. Funny how a face doesn't change that much over the years. "You were so good with your guitar, where did that go?"

He flushes, looking off to the side before down at you. "I, uh, have a band now. Lovejoy. We're doing well. Like, really fucking well."

"That's amazing!" At this point, you were almost giddy for him. Music was his passion when you two were younger, and to hear he was able to follow that...

"I can't even believe it most days." He laughs, throwing an arm around your shoulders. "So, you're here for your mother's birthday?"

"Yeah. Just for the week. I thought I'd buy her flowers, those ones she always liked. The-"

"Pink carnations." He finishes for you. "And you liked daisies more."

"I forgot how well you know me."

The present-tense is purposeful, and he doesn't correct you.

"I'll get to hear you play with your band sometime, right?" You ask, partially teasing. In all honesty, you really want to. Wilbur's made it to his dream, and that's something you'd kill to see.

"Only if I get to visit you in America some time." He responds, equally as teasing.

"Is that who I think it is?" Someone asks, making both of you look. Miss Susan, aged since you last saw her. She owns this shop, practically watched you and Wilbur grow up.

There's white streaking her hair, which is pulled up in a bun atop her head. Deep smile lines crease her face, empathized as she smiles softly at you two. Older, yes, but still the flower-loving lady you recall.

"That it is." Wilbur answers. "It's nice to see you again, Susan."

"Nice to see you again." You echo.

"Wait, wait!" She exclaims, hustling to grab two daisies. One she hands to Wilbur, and the other she tucks carefully behind your ear. "Just like old times."

You smile, reaching up to brush your fingers along the delicate petals. Wilbur, next to you, holds his daisy out for you.

"Just like old times."

#dsmp #mcyt #mcyt imagine #wilbur soot x reader #wilbur soot x you #wilbur soot #wilbur x reader #wilbur imagine #wilbur

[intimacyequalsdeath]

Bubz's 12 Days of Ficmas: Day 12 Christmas Eve (Otis Driftwood)

Here we are! The final day of Ficmas 2023!. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas, Happy holidays or if you don't celebrate anything have an amazing next couple days <3

Notes: Minors DNI, SFW, Fluffy, No specific descriptions or pronouns used for reader.

The firefly house was abuzz with the energy and festivities from the impending holiday. The fireflies loved Halloween sure, but since her babies were kids Mama firefly had also wanted to ensure that no matter what her babies had the most "normal" Christmas they could manage.

Even a family of psychopathic murderers deserved to have magical moments during the holidays, she had once said when Spaulding had bitched about going and getting a tree.

You were in the kitchen helping mama make some of the Christmas dinner dishes early so the workload for tomorrow would be a lot less. Mama adored you from the moment Otis had found you and brought you home. You were easily enveloped into the family dynamic were just as much one of her babies as everyone else was.

"Sweetie can you go get Otis to go get me more firewood? We're supposed to get a freeze tonight and I wanna be sure we have enough in case the pipes go"

"Yeah mama"

You replied with a smile before wiping off your hands and heading upstairs to the room you shared with Otis. Hoping to just find him there and that he wasn't already out.

"Otis? you in there?"

You called coming to a halt outside the door. Even though it was your bedroom too, you had learned very quickly to always let Otis know you were coming in. You had made the mistake of not letting him know just once, and he ended up nearly taking your head off.

"Yeah"

You heard him grumble from the other side of the door. Otis never had liked Christmas, no matter how hard Mama tried to keep everyone included in the Christmas spirit. It was always too cheery for him.

You opened the door to the bedroom and poked your head in. You noticed him sitting on the side of the shared bed and fiddling with some sort of wood that was for a future project.

"Mama wants you to go and get some more firewood. There's gonna be a freeze tonight and she wants to make sure we have backup in case any of the pipes bust"

Otis sighed and looked up at you from what he was working on.

"I mean hey out of all the Christmas stuff, going to get firewood is like the least Christmas thing you could do. Would you rather help baby finish decorating?"

His eyes widened and then he rolled them at you.

"Very funny, C'mon"

He said motioning for you to follow him as he got up. You followed him down the stairs and out of the house. If he had to collect firewood you were going to at least help him do so.

"Ya know it would make Mama real happy if you at least, tried to act happy during the holidays"

"Yeah and it would make me happy to get left the fuck alone. But that's not gonna happen is it?"

He simply said with not a hint of attitude in his voice. You gave him a small smile as the two of you approached the wood pile.

"Well it's just she tries so hard to make this a happy time for everyone, it wouldn't hurt you to at least try"

"Christmas just isn't my thing. Never has been, never will be. It's too goddamn happy and bright"

"Not everyday can be Halloween Otis. People gotta be "Happy and bright" sometime during the year"

"Sugar, Halloween makes me perfectly merry and bright"

You gave him a smile as he placed a few pieces on firewood into your arms. Once your arms were full he picked up an armful himself before the two of you began heading back to the house.

"Yeah and Halloween is why we still have that human spine in our fucking bedroom "

Otis laughed at this.

"I didn't have anywhere else to put it sugar"

"Yeah well you didn't have to hang it over our bed as if its tinsel"

"You said you wanted me to decorate our bedroom and make it more "festive" that's exactly what I did"

You rolled your eyes at him.

"You know that's not the type of decorating I meant Otis"

"Well when your with Otis Driftwood, It's the type of decorating you get"

He shot you a big smile as he opened the back door for the two of you to make your way back inside.

"Here's the firewood Mama"

You said rounding the corner to the living room to set it down by the fireplace. The tree Baby decorated was standing tall in the corner of the room adorned with all sorts of mismatch ornaments and garland. Once you set the firewood into the holder by the fireplace you turned to fully take in the tree.

"It looks like Baby just took all the junk out of her room and slapped it on there"

Otis said from behind you, you laughed at his comment.

"Be nice Otis, Baby was up nearly all night decorating this tree"

"That was nice, i could've said it looked like shit"

You smiled and scanned the tree until your eye caught one ornament in particular. The ornament in question was a little picture frame that you could slide a small photo into and hang it on the tree.

The photo that Mama had carefully slid into the small frame ornament was a photo of you and Otis. It was taken a few months after you had been fully accepted as a member of the family by Baby in the kitchen.

Baby had always told you how you somehow managed to melt her brother's cold dead heart and make him actually care about something besides himself but you never fully knew what she meant until she snapped the picture and showed it to you.

There you were, in the middle of Mama's kitchen, making dinner for the family. Otis had his arms wrapped around your waist from behind as you stood at the stove as he thought the two of you were the only two around to see it, not knowing Baby was there with the camera.

Most people would argue that a simple cuddle from behind didn't show anything to do with a person changing. But the fireflies would all know that Otis showing any kind of affection at all wasn't something to just scoff at. Otis showing any emotion other then just plain mean to anyone was almost miraculous. When you had announced you and the white haired killer were "going steady" as Mama put it, you could've sworn half the family almost fell out at the prospect that Otis Driftwood had managed to find himself a partner.

"Why do they still have that fuckin picture?"

Otis said from behind you, snapping you out of your thoughts while you still gazed at the photo.

"I think it's adorable. It's my favorite picture of us to be honest"

You told him truthfully. You adored the photo and were so happy Mama did too, enough to put it in a little ornament for Christmas.

You heard Otis huff behind you, before one of his lanky arms wrapped itself around your shoulders. You allowed him to bring you into his side as you wrapped your arms around his torso as the two of you stood there in front of the tree.

"I really gave you hell the first few months I was here didn't I?"

Otis snorted

"Yeah you and Baby were one in the same, no wonder the two of you were friends before she even brought you here"

A few beats of silence fell between the two of you before you spoke again.

"Merry Christmas Otis. I love you"

"I love you too...Merry Christmas"

#slasher x reader #slasher fandom #otis driftwood #otis driftwood oneshot #otis driftwood x reader #house of 1000 corpses #3 from hell #12 days of ficmas #ficmas #ficmas23 #ficmas 2023

[oneforthemunny]

Can we have something for older!dilf!eddie where bunny is finally bonding with bri and they’re really getting along, watching a movie together at home, painting their nails, gossiping etc and Eddie gets home and hears them from the hall and gets emotional bc this is all he wanted since he had bri

I’m in a fluffy mood and it is dilf eddie day after all <3

Eddie hadn't meant to work so late. Really, he hadn't. But the holidays were always brutal, the fourth coming up, and every car in the world needed their tires rotated and oil changed before traveling. Which wouldn't be so bad, if the heat wasn't so brutal.

Eddie was tired, beyond exhausted. He longed for a hot shower to wash the grime of the dirt off, a beer maybe even sneak a blunt out in the shed, and his bed. His bed with you in it. He'd worried when he told you he'd be working late, that you'd be upset, that you'd cancel or huff at him angrily.

Instead, there you were. In your sweat pants, hair pulled back in one of those funny headbands Brielle was always wearing. Brielle beside you in a similar state, eyes glued to the TV.

"Oh my God, Brandi is insane." You gawked at one of the screaming figures on TV.

"Right? She's fucking unhinged, but you know what? Kinda iconic of her." Brielle shrugged, swirling the polish around the small bottle.

You snorted, shaking your head, eyes rolling before cutting back over to Eddie, his frozen, looming figure in the doorway. "Hey, Ed," You smirked, a bright teal face mask covering your skin. Brielle had a matching one, muttering her own greeting towards him.

"Hi girls," Eddie watched carefully, approaching the two of you with all the caution you would a wild animal.

"How was work?" You hummed, eyes still glued to the TV.

"Long." Eddie sighed, leaning over to press a kiss to the top of Brielle's head, another to yours.

"I'm sorry." You grimaced lightly in sympathy. "Brielle and I ordered pizza if you want any. There's some on the counter. I can heat it up for you."

Eddie smiled lightly, squeezing your shoulder lovingly. "Thank you, bunny, but I'm just gonna go take a shower real quick." He was mesmerized, eyes darting back from you to Brielle like he might be dreaming.

"Ok," You nodded, squeezing his hand sweetly. "Just let me know if you want me to heat it up."

"I will." Eddie nodded. He started towards the hall, pausing at the door frame. "Are you two sure you're ok?"

Brielle looked at him like he'd grown three heads, an annoyed snarl that she could have only inherited from Gina. "What?" She asked, brow raising.

"We're fine." You nodded gently. "Just watching the Real Housewives."

Eddie scoffed playfully, rolling his eyes at the two of you. "Oh, well, don't let me keep you." He grinned.

Padding down the hallway, Eddie could hear your muffled voices, excited and cordial for once, not biting or defensive. Brielle's giggles mixing with your own, the sound of the TV washing out the rest of their chatter. Eddie smiled to himself, twisting the shower knob on with a satisfied smirk. Suddenly, he felt better, a little more relaxed and content now that his two favorite girls were finally starting to get along.

#vivisblurbgame #oneforthemunny #older!dilf!eddie munson

[thatdeadaquarius]

Theres a lot of cuss words in this one so be warned lol

Bro i just had this-- insane fucking idea when i saw your "flowery words" post and i just-- omg I just had to shareee

So reader right? Very blunt, straight to the point sentences that dont dance around the bushes for 6 hours trying to tell you "oh no your house is on fire" or something, yeah? Well-- what if it turns the OPPOSITE when they start to SWEAR--

Because like-- i know myself. Me and like, so many people i know speak like that (blunt and straight to the point) but like-- when i get even MILDLY inconvenienced, i will start swearing like i have a masters degree in cursing out you and your entire flippity flappity bloodline

So id imagine the contrast to be like--

Reader, chill: aether, we're supposed to be going that way, this is literally the wrong direction

Reader, stubbing their toe: oW FUCK SHIT TITS-- WHY HAVE THE GODS FORSAKEN ME SO-- I CAME OUT HERE, TO THIS POINT, TO THIS PLACE, HOPING AGAINST ALL HOPE AND DESPITE SIGNS AND PORTENDS SUGGESTING OTHERWISE THAT I MIGHT, SOMEHOW, FIND MYSELF HAVING A PLEASANT EXPERIENCE, AND YET, HERE I STAND, ALONE AGAINST THE WORLD, FEELING ASSAULTED, ATTACKED ON ALL FRONTS, NOT KNOWING MY ENEMY'S NAME NOR HIS FACE NOR WHETHER OUR BATTLE IS DONE--

(Yes this is the "i came out here to have a good time and im honestly feeling so attacked rn" post)

I can just imagjne the sHEER WHIPLASH-- like, this dude has been speaking in the "divine tongue" or whatever and then suddenly theyre immediately reverted to their "lowly mortal jargon" or something-- AHAHA

Or like-- if it just turns into a reeeeeally long string of curse words, everyone would probably be so scandalized or something lolllll

YES YESS PSPSPSPSPSPSSS COME TO ME ASKS, COME TO MY INBOX COME ! !

Anyway, with our sponsor's message out of the way,

Bless you for this 🙏 my pets are fed, my crops are watered, my skin is clear

✨️This is gorgeous, just a gorgeous idea ✨️

I LIVE for Teyvat being scandalized maidens from the Victorian era, gOD BLESS ITD BE WONDERFUL

Like our modern music?? Absolutely would give heart attacks, not even the most stoic of them would escape the blush

Esp with cussing pretty please i wish i could see the looks on their faces, they'd also probably blush at how creative it can get lmao

(daresay, maybe even impressed?)

oh the whiplash, its be so funny, every time. No one can keep up with you, you've got Teyvat linguists stumbling, the older beings cant understand you sometimes, the newer ones only understand you SOME of the time, and apparently most often? Only when you're cursing??

(I think various characters would find an ancient deity only deigning to speak their lang. when they gotta cuss smth out the funniest shit ever, like Venti, Itto, Cyno?, Diona, Hu Tao, Kaeya, maybe Kazuha, Lisa, Nahida probably would get a giggle, Rosaria, Heizou, Childe, Tighnari might like, be trying desperately to hold back a laugh but it's not working, Scaramouche/Wanderer, Xingqiu, Yae Miko would def commission a light novel for this, and Yelan - im so sorry i listed who exactly, this is so long ill stop, i just thought someone would like to see it 😭😭)

(I CAME OUT HERE TO HAVE A GOOD TIME AND IM HONESTLY FEELING SO ATTACKED RN LMAO U MADE IT SO LONG AND FLUFFY THAT WAS PERFECT)

THANK YOU!! FOR THE ASK!! WHAT A LOVELY TIME!! COME BACK AGAIN!! WHENEVER!! :DD!!

Cheers,

🌒🌊🌧Aquarius♒️🌌🌘

#my asks #ask box open #please send asks #everyone #i would love to hear ur rambles or essays abt this topic #pls share with the class #genshin sagau ideas #genshin imagines #genshin impact #sagau #gender neutral reader

[candied-cae]

We're All Going Home, No One Left Behind - There She Is

Here's Part 1 <- This is Part 2 of Our Family

Chapter 6/? - - - Read it on AO3

[1] [2] [3] [4] [5] <- Previous Chapters - - - Next Chapters -> ...

Word Count : 4,856

Summary : With The Kingston brimming with pirates, they all begin the hunt for Stede and his crew's home. As they make that journey, it's time for them to bond with their temporary shipmates, and get put to work. Though... those from The Revenge have never been that receptive to just completing duties simply or efficiently. There might be room for some shenanigans and distractions with these new friends before they do what they must to return to their usual day-to-day.

More OMFD Fics

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The next morning aboard The Kingston, they began their chase after The Revenge. The crew raised anchor and attached The Reckoning to the back end so they could tug it along as they properly set sail. From there, it seemed that their host, Captain Bonney, had decided to put them to work! Told them to roll up their sleeves and make use of themselves in the meantime.

Xi and Emilio were on 'badass-ing' Stede duty. He’d grown a fair bit since he began his time as a captain, but he knew that his training was far from complete. And if they end up having to fight their way to Edward, he does not want to be a burden or simply in the way. He was expecting the continued training in combat, what he wasn’t expecting, was all the commentary on his manner of appearance. They said his outfit looked too romantic and gentle for a raider, he argued that it was quite the step down from the other options he’d left behind in his wardrobe. They, however, continued to question how they could make him look more ‘piratey’. They had to have offered to pierce one of his ears at least four times already and threatened to get a needle and ink for a tattoo immediately after.

Of course, those sorts of changes were fine by them, but when he asked about finding a razor to shave his face? Oh, no, no, they said, they couldn’t let him do that. The scruff at least made him look a little rough and tougher. Not that he’d even had a chance to look in a proper mirror and see it for himself. But they insisted it was to stay, above all else.

On another side of mentorship, Oluwande was whisked away by Captain Bonney. They told him Lucius spoke highly on their shared time on The Revenge, and mentioned the fact he was even elected as Captain in the wake of Izzy Hands’ terrible job as one. She wanted to know all about it. And Oluwande wasn’t resistant to the idea of seeing how another, well-respected Captain, ran her crew. He did intend to be in charge one day, after all. He could stay to hear a few stories.

Roach ended up running off with Burns. Who, it turns out, was nicknamed not only for the sunburns but also for his apparent bad luck in the kitchen. Good food, according to the crew. But he always ended up getting singed, charred, or a little scarred somewhere in the preparation. He said he’d been intrigued by Roach’s chance to work with high-class ingredients. He’d also wondered how it was Roach kept loose hair and a beard from catching when he worked. Then Roach spoke of his travels and the wide range of recipes he’d picked up, and Burns knew exactly how he wanted to spend the rest of their time until they returned him to The Revenge. Roach clapped him on the shoulder and leaned in, causing Burns to keep a wary eye on the closeness of the lit cigarette he waved around between his fingers, as he said,” First, I will show you tapas. Next, I will show you sandwiches!”

Wee John was pulled along with Sabine and Victory to resupply their cannon fodder crates from the lower deck storage. It seemed that Wee John and Sabine were easily the strongest of the crew for all that weight lifting, and Victory was Sabine’s favorite member of the company. When Sabine found herself feeling particularly competitive in the company of the large man, she wanted to make a show of it. Now, Wee John was a clear winner when it came to height, but there aren’t many who could hope to best him in that respect. But Sabine was not shrimpy by any stretch of the imagination, and, so, she proposed a challenge between them after they completed their chore. To see who could hold a cannonball in each hand, arms stretched out in front of them, the longest. Victory would serve as an impartial judge, as she swore across her heart to not do her closest friend the injustice of swinging the game in her favor.

Swede had gotten roped together with Ward, Quinn, and Lloyd as they managed all the rigging and sails. Though, it looked like the twins were looking to play some mischief on the Swede and his evidential clumsiness. They sent him up and down the masts, while they tried to discreetly get him tangled in the netting. At one point it looked like Quinn was about to get his foot in a loop to sling him upside down. He really wasn't the most observant nor careful, so it wasn’t a difficult task. If it weren’t for Lloyd close behind, righting their less than truthful directions, she might’ve succeeded. It seemed like the whole day turned into a game of cat and mouse. If the mouse had a cat of his own who felt bad for him.

Buttons seated himself by Reed at the helm of the ship. Charlotte ended up next to him - she was the ship’s self-proclaimed hopeless romantic - to ask about Karl and Olivia. Though the whole seagull marriage idea was still undeniably strange, she couldn’t keep herself from wanting to know every inch of the whimsical life between the two. It was the most interesting love story she’d had access to in such a long time. The chatter about Olivia’s previous divorces, the scandal that Karl’s advances were originally resisted, and the fact that Karl's family never even approved of his betrothed until the wedding ceremony... In truth, it might’ve not been Mark’s first idea for what he’d like to listen to while they were steering the ship away from Barbados and into what was surely a mess of trade out west. But, similarly to Anne, it seems they rather enjoy a good story, no matter how ridiculous the subject matter might be. Plus, Buttons said he was keeping an eye out for foes, so there wasn’t any excuse to send him elsewhere.

Lucius and Pete were making a spectacularly ineffective team mopping the top deck. Sure, Lucius always found that a talent of his was avoiding work despite his quite unconvincing pantomime. But it didn’t even seem like either were really trying to fool anyone this time. They were flitting around each other like a pair of courting swans more than they were completing their tasks. But no one made any plans to spoil it for them.

They had continued on with their flirting for a few hours until something about Dez going under deck caught Pete’s eye. He excused himself less than casually, but Lucius couldn’t exactly pin what it was that drew his attention. He wasn’t worked up over it, mind you. Just curious. But he had not even a moment to contemplate it when he saw Stede pass by the hallway that led to the top deck. He was sneaking around and darting his eyes around like he was hiding from someone. And dear Lucius couldn’t pretend that didn’t pique his interest.

He meandered over behind him and whispered,“ Snuck away and stolen yourself a break, Captain?”

“Lucius!” Stede gasped at his sudden appearance before asserting,“ Yes, I did. As long as you aren’t plotting to turn me back over to my torturers.”

The man makes a face like he was considering his options, but Lucius relents rather quickly to tell him,“ No. You look like you’ve earned a minute given the state of…” he waves a hand to Stede’s disheveled hair before crossing his arms,” …all that. These guys are pretty ruthless, not sure how they’re always finding work to do. Looking forward to getting on our ship so I can get back to how I like to spend my time.”

“Doing nothing?”

“Exactly,” he says, looking quite satisfied with himself to imagine such lazing about.

But Stede can’t help but chuckle,“ It’s really good to have you back.”

“I’d say the same to you.” he says with a lean over to bump Stede’s shoulder with his own,” Speaking of, while I’ve got you for a minute… where'd you go?"

"Hm?"

"You were gone for a bit. He came back, and you didn't. Where were you?" Lucius asks.

"Oh. Well..." Stede hesitates.

He’s not exactly used to talking about himself. Not in any sort of intimate manner. His whole life, nobody ever asked him anything. Or if they did, it was just a part of customary small talk, and he knew they didn’t care about the answer. But his crew asks. They sincerely ask and look at him like they really wanted to hear what he had to say. And each time, he has brushed them off. He told Roach and Oluwande nothing when they questioned. Even further back, he was never all that open with Ed, even when Ed was open with him… The only person Stede feels like he’s ever been honest with was Mary. And he was only forthcoming once there, at the very end, because… well he hadn’t really had another choice at the time. She was ready to kill him.

But maybe he was truly safe to speak to his crew. They felt like family, after all. He’s thought so many times. Maybe, he didn’t have to do it all on his own anymore. Maybe, he really could start trusting the people around him with bits of himself. And maybe, he’d feel a bit better.

And as if he’d been summoned by Stede considering true vulnerability, Oluwande was exiting Captain Anne’s cabin at just that very moment and turned around to find the other two imparting on a rather interesting conversation.

“What’s all this here?” he asked at the sight of them obviously trying to stand out of sight, leaning in together.

Lucius answered with a nod to the man between them,“ I was just asking where our previously departed captain had, well, departed to.”

Stede took another deep breath and looked between the two of them," I went back home."

Oluwande stood silent, having known that much from before, while Lucius snapped his head to Stede in surprise," You went back home?"

"Bridgetown, Barbados. To my estate, the aristocracy, the high society," he admits with a tired roll of his eyes.

"Oh...”

But neither of them were really all that sure what to do with that answer, so Oluwande moved for more context,” And how did that go?"

Stede can’t help but shake his head and huff at the question, given what happened," Well, I faked my death to renounce the whole thing and escape it, if that answers your query."

"So, wait - you dropped all claim to your fortune? Like the whole thing? And not temporarily?" Lucius asks.

"Aside from everything I'd already taken from it? Yes. All of it."

"Huh.” Lucius leans back as he ponders the news for a second.

He wasn’t all that worried about not getting a salary, obviously what Stede already had on the ship was still a ridiculous amount. And it seemed like he was more intent on gaining further riches through classic pirating means and such... But the money wasn’t all that Stede left behind.

”Isn't it weird?” he asks,” I mean, it's sort of like you can really never go home now. Before, you had the choice to one day return, if it ever struck you to. But now, you’ve killed a whole version of who you used to be."

"Well, that part of me has been ready to die since my wedding day." Stede comments in a bitter tone. Oluwande was slightly taken aback by Stede’s hostility towards his past," Jeez, that's a little harsh to the missus, don’t you think?"

"No, I don't mean-” Stede begins collecting his thoughts to clarify,” Mary was... she was many lovely things, but she just wasn't for me. We didn't choose our union, and we always resented one another for having played a part in it."

They didn’t seem to know what to say, so Stede continued with a rhetorical," Do you know what my grandmother gifted Mary and me after we'd taken our vows to one another?"

Lucius just looked at him and, with a gentle shake of his head, bid him to provide the answer.

"Graves.” Stede said, eyes distant like he was watching the scene unfold in front of him again,” Dear Mother Bonnet, as we called her, gave us matching headstones. So that, even when the day came that we'd both be dead, the world would lay our rotting corpses to rest side-by-side. Forever."

"That's... sweet...?" Lucius tried to suggest optimism.

Stede shook his head at that indication though.

"Yeah, no. That's pretty dark," he concedes.

"It was morbid! On our wedding day, Lucius! Just seconds after we've bound ourselves to one another - not even of our own will, mind you - and they were all parading around us, declaring that we would never be free. Not even in death! And they were celebrating that fact! It was…" Stede struggled to find the phrase.

Oluwande offered,“ Like being trapped?”

“Like being trapped! It was like I’d been cornered, and was suffocating in the duty I owed them all to fulfill. I would never want to imply that Mary wasn't a wonderful person in her own right, just not the kind for me. We were just never going to be right for one another. She deserved better than I could honestly provide. And, with my trip back home, we were able to finally admit it to one another.” Stede smiled to himself thoughtfully,” She has a new man who can love her as she should’ve always been, and now we can both move on to the things we actually want from this life."

"Doesn't sound as sad when you put it that way, I guess." Lucius ponders.

"The way I'm looking at it is... I've been ready to kill that version of myself since they gifted us those graves. At the very least, this way, I'll be able to enjoy myself while mine’s put to work. It gave me an out from that world. One that I’d been looking for since I was quite young."

“In that case," Oluwande smiles at him," I’m glad you’re out of it.”

“Better to see you out here than in that corner,” Lucius adds

“Yeah, I think so too. Thank you both.”

“Course. It’s fascinating, really,” Lucius commented,” I think this is the most I’ve heard you talk about anything besides pirating.”

“Trying to grow. Trying to… turn over a new leaf,” Stede disclosed.

Lucius paused a moment like he was studying him before taking a step to ask,“ And, where’s this new leaf sitting on the whole Bla-”

“There you are! You can’t just walk away.” Xi exclaimed from the bottom of the stairs, having found their escaped ward.

“But-”

But before he could argue, Emilio emerged from right behind them and continued,“ You’re the one who said you wanted to work at being a better pirate!”

The two of them came up the stairs towards him.

“I know, but it’s only been a few minutes-”

They each grabbed him by his shoulders and pulled him from between Oluwande and Lucius. Quickly, they began pushing him down the stairs, back to the room they’d been training in before he ran off.

“Then it sounds like you’ve enjoyed your reprieve long enough.” Emilio declared,” Time to get back to it. We have yet to even get a knife in your hands!”

“But I know how to use a sword well enough! A knife is-”

Xi interrupted to finish,“ -is actually more important! If your sword gets knocked out of your hand and all you have is the blade at your hip and your wits, you better pray you know how to use it ‘well enough’ to escape with your life.”

“Come on then!” Emilio pulled the struggling man away from his salvation. Stede looked to Oluwande and Lucius for mercy, but they had only waves and smiles to offer him in return.

“Traitors!” He called them as he was dragged out of view.

Stede fell victim to their determination, and the three continued their work. Xi and Emilio - aside from critique on his looks - emphasized being able to move around quickly and easily in a squabble. As the day passed by, Stede supposed he was a bit more limber. But he didn’t feel all that much improvement. The following days continued on in a similar fashion. Stede’s men worked alongside Bonney’s crew in whatever chores they could find for themselves while he was subject to training that quickly seemed to serve the others' entertainment more than his own betterment.

Then, on one of the evenings they spent relaxing on the deck, Pete presented Lucius with a new wooden finger. Given that the other had been lost during the whole being-thrown-overboard thing, he'd been needing a new one. This one was more slender and finely whittled, he even included ridges on the knuckle, a fingernail indention, and a spiral where the finger pad would’ve been. Turns out he’d seen Dez carving his own wooden trinkets and asked him for spare wood to use and a little advice on making it. Of course, Lucius would’ve adored it had it resembled an inarticulate blob, but the fact that it was indeed quite well done was rather nice, too.

“I love it,” he’d declared with another impassioned kiss, as he’d done for the first. They disappeared together shortly after, and it was no one’s question as to what they’d run off to do.

Later that evening, they start seeing wreckage in the water again. Broken wooden boards, floating bottles, bits of sails that hadn’t sunk. It was another spot of hope that they were headed in the right direction, hopefully, it would just be a little bit longer to narrow down where The Revenge was.

It was two days then that Wee John asked the captain a question. He’d taken it upon himself to put together scrap fabrics into a flag. Most of it came from the kitchen storage Burns said he didn't need, and sewing supplies Victory had hidden away. It took him a while to get it just right, but he’d arranged and sewn the black silhouette of a cat on it. This one had its back raised, tail shooting straight up, and mouth open with pointed teeth like it were hissing. A similar style to the one they flew on their own mast during the good ol’ days, thought maybe a bit more threatening in its pose. He wanted to ask if Anne and Mary would be receptive to them raising this flag instead of their own when they saw The Revenge.

“I want to let Frenchie know it’s us. That we’ve come back. That we’re going to set everything right again.” he'd said.

Maybe it was a smarter plan strategy-wise to say no. To decide not to let the people on their ship know who was approaching as they came for it. But there was something about the way he asked, the way he’d spent days gathering up any spare material he could find to put it together, the way he looked at them like he needed to send this message perhaps more than Frenchie needed to receive it… And so they agreed.

To be safe, they wouldn’t fly it yet. Just in case they were to run across someone who would connect it to the only pirate who’s ever raised a cat flag and make more trouble for them. But when they got close enough to see the Revenge, they would pull down their own and hoist his up. This was happy news for John. But, really, who could possibly say no to him? As darling as he can be, it’s a wonder he ever needed to fight for anything he wanted.

It was the second day after that, the eighth since they’d boarded The Kingston, when they saw her on the horizon: The Revenge.

She still looked so beautiful, and it finally felt right to come back to her. They had Lucius, they knew Jim and Frenchie were waiting for them, and while Stede still wasn’t sure of exactly what he was going to say… he wanted to get there and find his footing while he figured it out.

In contrast to what they’d been expecting when they sighted her, she was going from their right to the left. She was charging back to Barbados, following a distance behind Ed’s blackened ship. As they watched them float across the edge of the world, Mary adjusted their course after The Revenge. And they were all quite suddenly struck with the gravity of the feat before them. They had to reclaim The Revenge from right out of Ed's hands, and, either remain under the radar enough that the other ship didn't notice, or somehow convince them not to fire on them and take it back again themselves. It was two ships versus one. Two crews versus one. A team of Blackbeard’s experienced raiders who have probably spent years fighting together, versus The Kingston’s momentary alliance with the Gentleman Pirate’s crew for the sake of a story. For bragging rights. For perhaps holding a place in history.

For a story.

Their odds were nervous to consider, to say the least.

And yet, they sailed steadily forward. There isn’t much of a way to be sneaky when it’s a large ship on the water, after all. No point in being anything but direct.

And then the day Stede and Ed met came to his mind. He spoke of boredom. Of ships retreating and surrendering at the very sight of his flag. He wondered what he was thinking right now, seeing someone come right at him, challenging him, for the first time in years. Was he excited? Was he happy? At least a little? He wondered as they got into position.

Stede’s men remained crouched out of sight, while the crew of The Kingston waited expectantly. Anne kept their eye trained through the scope at the vessel of interest, explaining her vision of what the opposing crew was doing to the best she could see.

“There’s a big one with a white beard at the helm” she described.

”Fang,” Lucius supplied.

“There’s one next to him, just a bit smaller, long black hair, half shaved.”

“Ivan,” Roach said.

“That one seems to have spotted us. He’s pointing over, and now this Fang is looking our way.”

“Right. We’re not really sure where they were at with the whole marooning thing. They’re probably not on our side, though, if we had to guess.” Oluwande thought remorsefully.

“Ivan rowed us out so…” Pete commented.

“Sh!” Anne snipped,” The big one’s yelling, I’m trying to read his lips.”

“You can read lips at this distance?” Stede asked, surprised.

“Not really,” she admitted.

Their partner, Mary, asked the captain,“ Should we slow down?”

“No, keep pressing forward. Oh - someone else is coming out now.”

“Is it…”

Ed?

Stede wanted to ask if it was Ed, but the name wouldn’t leave his lips.

“Blackbeard?” Anne guessed,” Definitely not. It’s a short guy, light-skinned with a mostly gray goatee.”

Stede’s expression dropped, and he answered flatly,“ Izzy.”

“Alright, he’s squinting at us… pulling out his telescope… The crew of the Kingston, why don’t we greet them with a polite wave? Sound good to you, Gentleman Pirate?”

He didn’t need to answer, they’d already decided on this teasing course of nature. Most of them waved at the vessel, though the twins curtseyed, and Burns struck a particularly stiff bow. And that’s got to be one of the most bizarre greetings to occur between pirates preceding a clash.

Anne was holding back giggles, clearly very amused by her show,” Alright, he’s pulled his telescope away... and he’s gaping at us now. Shaking his head at the other two, probably wondering what the fuck-”

“Yes, yes,” Stede interrupted,” But do you see anyone else?”

“Umm… not yet. Oh, I think there’s someone in the top on the mainmast.”

“Who?” Wee John was the next to ask.

“They’re pretty thin, looks like shoulder-length brown hair under a brimmed hat.”

“Jim.” Oluwande breathed out their name like he’d been holding it since the maroon. He wanted so badly to throw himself up and look. To see them, finally see them, after so long…

“They’re calling down to the others now. Little one’s yelling again.”

“Keep going?” Mary asked again, feeling less and less steady about their plan as they grew closer to the ship that’s been ripping the trade to ribbons for the past few weeks.

“Keep going.” Anne asserted again before they muttered to themself,” Where is Blackbeard…?” Another moment passed before she added,“ Alright, they’ve got another one. Lanky guy with big, curly hair and beard.”

Wee John clasped his hands together tightly,“ Frenchie”

“It looks like he’s prepping one of the top deck cannons.”

“Keep going?” Mary asked again.

“Keep going,” Anne insisted,” I want that Captain to come out.”

But then, Anne said,“ The little one is raising his hand? I- I think he’s going to signal for a warning shot. And without his captain present?”

Mary looked at their own cannons and dared to ask,“ Should we…?”

“No. I don’t want a firefight before we can get close. Plus, the plan is to put these lot back on that thing.” she looked down at Stede for a moment,” I doubt you want it blown full of holes, good sir.”

He gave an anxious nod,“ Right. If we could leave her unharmed, that’d be preferable.”

Anne pulled out her commanding yell,“ Alright, crew! I want mine at attention behind our cannons. Look serious about it, yeah? I want two of them to be loaded, so they think we mean business. Quinn, take down our flag. Slowly.”

“Now?” She asked, unsure if it was too soon.

“Now. This Izzy calling the shots should assume that we’ve seen Blackbeard’s flag and will put up our white. We’ll stall for time to get in closer. Keep pressing forward, Mary.”

They followed their instructions, two teams loading a pair of cannons while Quinn stood at the base of the main mast, slowly bringing down their banner from the top.

It was minutes of agonizing minutes as the ships came closer together.

“Alright, ours is down,” Quinn called, the only voice breaking the quiet.

“He’s kept his arm raised... He’s undoubtedly waiting for our signal of surrender.” Anne assured.

“Are we going to give him one?” Mary asked.

And Anne shook their head as a determined smile found her lips,“ Absolutely not. Quinn! I want you to visibly fuss about with some of the folded spare sails like you’re finding a white flag.

Buy us just a bit more time. And, when I tell you, I want you to get that cat flag up in the sky as fast as you can.”

“Got it, Cap’n”

Mary was tough. They were tough, no doubt. But despite their strength, her teeth worried their bottom lip as their ship pressed forward. They were risking so much. All their fight against the world and to live how they wished. All the things they survived despite. It all brought them to this scene. Coming to a head with Blackbeard…

“You sure about this?” Mary had to ask.

”Hardly,” Anne answered honestly. Pulling the scope from her face to look their partner in eye for a moment,” But it’ll be a damn good story if we pull it off.”

Mary nodded back, setting her brows and holding firm on the wheel.

As Anne returned her gaze to Izzy she said,“ Okay, he’s looking rather frustrated now.”

There’s a beat between her sentences. A moment before their next move. A moment before they can't take it back and walk away anymore. She breathes, and she declares,“ It’s now or never. Quinn! Get it up!”

There’s a feeling in the air that springs through the sound of rope slinging against the pulley. An expectation that something will certainly happen, but without knowing what it is. And then, as the sudden silence settled over them when their symbol reached the peak, there was a stillness. Like standing in the eye of a hurricane and dipping one’s hand into the swirling storm.

They were tempting fate and shoving a middle finger in the face of living legend. And yet, there was that stillness. They were all frozen, waiting. Anne was watching, silent, as she watched for something to report.

“What’s happening?” Stede was desperate to know.

“Nothing. He’s looking at it. He hasn’t even-” the words died in their throat, and Stede felt his heart drop.

“Why’d you stop? What- What do you see?”

“I think you want to see this yourself,” she answers simply. Their expression was unreadable as they held the spyglass out for him to stand and take.

#My Fic: Our Family <3 #Ayyyyyeeee! The Ship! It's so close again! #I hope the interactions in this chapter were fun #I wanted to give Stede a little time to address some of his feelings with his closest confidantes: Oluwande and Lucius #But bc we can't have him fix all of his problems... they got interrupted. #Gotta leave some stuff for him to stress about for now #There will be emotional angst #and everything that comes with that #but we're going to keep this funny and fluffy as well #Our Flag Means Death #Our Flag Means Death Spoilers #ofmd #ofmd spoilers #hbo #Stede Bonnet #Edward Teach #The Revenge #Gentleman Pirate #Blackbeard #blackbeard x stede #gentlebeard #Stedward #stedebeard #blackbonnet #Our Flag Means Death Fanfic #OMFD Fanfic

[fluffyhare]

Like Real People Do, Part 6! ♡ (Casper x Avery)

☁️ Summary: Casper prepares for the second part of Avery's tickle session, but Avery has other plans!

☁️ Warnings: Lee!Casper, Ler!Avery. Pretty foot-focused (full disclosure, I'm not really a feet person, but I can get into it as a tickle spot sometimes!). Lots of teasing as usual, plus clinical teasing. Very fluffy and emotionally intimate. A bit emotional at the end.

☁️ Author's Note: I wrote this in an unexpected fit of passion, and I'm feeling a lot of things right now. Sorry if the tone is unpredictable, and sorry if it isn't enjoyable to read. I wasn't expecting to write one of these today.

This is a series now!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6 *you are here

Part 7

If you just got here and want to know more about my characters, you can read my comic starting right here!

“Here. Don't wear your voice out, okay? Gotta stay hydrated if we're gonna keep going.” I handed Avery a strawberry La Croix.

“Thanks. I never knew laughing could be so tiring! Then again, I don't think I've ever laughed so much at once,” he mused, taking a small sip of his drink. 

“It can be a workout, for sure. Especially if you're super ticklish in a lot of different places. Sometimes I don't realize how thirsty I am until I get a break.” 

“Where are your tickle spots, Casper?” 

I froze as Avery leveled that same intense, innocent gaze at me that he did at the top of the Ferris wheel, when he asked me if we were on a date. This time, though, there was something challenging about him – something impish and expectant. 

I cleared my throat. “Ahh- well, um… you've already found a few of them,” I offered, not meeting Avery's eyes. It was through no small effort that I sometimes managed to say the word out loud, but I was NOT discussing spots. No way, no how. 

“Hmm… I did get quite a nice reaction from your ribs and neck, it's true… but I get the feeling those aren't your favorite spots. I want to know the spots you really like.”

I was starting to turn red again. 

“Even if I could tell you, I wouldn't!”

“Hehe… are you suggesting that I should find out for myself?” He lilted, grinning deviously now. 

“N-no! Look, this is your session, not mine. You're the lee, I'm the ler, you can't just-” 

“Ah ah ah… but I thought you said you were a switch? And, what is power if it's never challenged~?” He set his soda can on the nightstand. 

“WAIT! Avery dohohon’t- ahhhh!” I tried to back away from him, just for him to grab my ankle and drag me back to the top of the bed. In one swift motion, he turned and trapped my leg under his arm, one hand gripping my ankle. I couldn't see what his other hand was doing, but I had a few guesses. 

“WAHAHAIT!” I squealed, squirming uselessly. He was so strong, I might as well have been strapped down. My fingers dug into the bed. No amount of struggling was going to save me, now. 

“Why are you laughing, Casper? Is something funny? I haven't even touched you, yet. Surely you're not laughing at me… because that would end very badly for you.”

“No, I wahahasn’t!”

“Hmm… human feet have more nerve endings than most other places on the body, did you know that? Your soles are so rarely touched with any kind of precision – I wonder what would happen if I just…” He stroked one of his ultra-plush fingertips down the length of my socked sole. 

“Pffffhehehehe!” I covered my face as I laughed up at the ceiling. 

“Oh, I see… very sensitive. Ticklish, even.” Avery giggled, and even though I couldn't see his face, I could feel him smirking. My ears burned, but the urge to fight back surged forward.

“Oooh, when I get out of this, you are so fucked, cloud boy.” I regretted it before the words had even left my mouth. 

“Tsk, such language!” He admonished, and without warning, scribbled all five fingertips up and down my trapped sole. 

“AHAHAHA STAAHAHAHAHAP!” I cried, trying to brace my other foot against the bed and push myself free. It was no use. 

“I don't hear any tapping, sunshine. You know what to do if you want it to stop,” he taunted. “I've never seen human feet up close. Let's take this sock off, shall we?” Avery grabbed the toe of my sock, slowly pulling it off my foot. 

“No no no NO AVERYYY don't take my sock off pleheheheaase!”

“Why not? Is your little human foot too ticklish without– Oooh–! Your toes are so cute…” He trailed off, genuine fascination in his voice. He began to pinch, pull, and gently wiggle my toes, examining them with his damnably soft fingers. I squeaked through my laughter; my feet had never been a particularly bad spot for me, or so I thought, until that moment. 

“DOHOHON'T- AHAHAhahaha!” I squealed, curling my toes as tightly as I could. I kicked my free foot against the bed, channeling my ticklish energy. 

“Oh, don't curl them up, I barely got to look at them! Your nails are blue as the sky, they're so pretty… is it paint? Do you paint them yourself?” He'd stopped tickling, and his curiosity was so sweet, I couldn't help but indulge him. 

“Aheh… yes… I paint them myself.” I doubted Avery had ever seen himself blush, otherwise he might have known that I painted my toenails the same color as his flushed face.  

“I’d like to look a bit longer… will you uncurl your toes for me, please?” 

“Oh, god, stop being so sincere… you're killing me,” I groaned, reluctantly relaxing my foot. 

I felt Avery inspecting my toes again, moving them back and forth, then side to side as I endured the uncontrollable giggles. When I focused, I was pretty good at staying still while being tickled, even while laughing. Unexpectedly, though, he wiggled his fingertips under my toes, scritching in the delicate valleys beneath and between them. I curled again; I couldn't help it. 

“PFFF hahahahaha! Nohohot thehehehere!” I laughed, instinctively trying to pull my foot back. 

“Hehe, sorry… they looked so soft there, I just couldn't resist.” He finally let me go. I immediately pounced on him, wrapping my arms around his body. 

“Hehehey!” He laughed as I squeezed him, nuzzling my head against his chest. “Aww! What happened to all that fire from earlier, dewdrop? I thought I was in sooooo much trouble?” He chuckled, stroking my short hair. 

Perhaps it was overstimulation, or simply the basic need for a quiet moment, but I didn't respond – and I could tell Avery understood. A comfortable silence fell between us as I laid against him, listening to the rush of wind and gentle rainfall beneath his chest. 

Avery's fingers gently twirled locks of my hair. 

The AC unit hummed, the humidifier whispered. 

Far-off crickets chirped in the night, and a bit farther, the sound of waves breaking on the shore. 

I closed my eyes. 

Sea glass glittering, reflecting the moon beneath the waves. 

Immobile, silent fish sleeping in their schools beneath the harbor. 

Palm leaves waving their long fingers in the gentle night breeze. 

I inhaled. 

Lavender, books, rain, stone. 

In. 

Out. 

In. 

Out. 

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

“Casper?” 

“Yeah?”

“Are you falling asleep?” 

“I don't know. Maybe.” 

Avery pulled the blanket over us, sinking down to lay his head on my pillow. 

“You can sleep right here if you want, sunshine. I don't mind.” 

There was a faint electrical buzz, and the light in the room went out. 

“Heh… neat trick.”

“Being a cloud comes in handy, sometimes.”

.

.

.

.

.

“I love you, Avery.” My voice cracked. 

“Oh, dewdrop.” He pulled me closer. “I love you, too.” 

#tickle fic #tickle fluff #tickling community #casper and avery #like real people do #fluffylore #writing #my fic #romance #tickling #ocs #my ocs

[pedroschka]

Hi! May I request Joe proposing?

It's quite vague but I trust you how you'll write it. Your writing is amazing!

The marriage proposal(s)

Joseph Quinn x reader

words: 1,1k

A/n: MORE FLUFF

big thanks to @icallhimjoey for helping out, again <3

"so I brought a wig " your muffled voice informs him, Joe furrowed his brows as he leaned against the wall beside the closed bedroom door, waiting

"ok?" He answered

"And then I brought a complete outfit to match the vibe of it "

"of course you did " he chuckles and drags his hand over his face

"so I don't know where to wear this so you have to be the judge for it, are you ready ?"

"don't know if I'm the best choice to judge your clothes babe when you criticize nearly all of mine, but I'll try my best "

It was nearly ten in the evening and Joe just came back from filming and was greeted with a locked bedroom door and your off-key singing behind it before you told him to wait there because you have something to show him.

The lock of the door clicked and you slowly opened the door before going into a dramatic model pose, leaning with one hand against the doorframe and the other placed on your hip, legs crossed

"wow" he breathed, it was a lot. His eyes trailed over your body, trying to take it all in, from the big fluffy wig on top of your head, the deep red lipstick to the floor length nearly shear dress, high slit showing off your leg, and your feet clad in high heels.

You watched in satisfaction as his eyes grew bigger and his lip parted, tongue poking out before dragging his hand over his mouth again and muttering a" bloody hell " before taking your hand and dragging you to the front door " I have to take you out to dinner now"

" we're not going out now you just came home from work " you giggled and slapped him jokingly on his shoulder

" I can't have you looking like this and not do something special for you! " he exclaimed and gestured with his arms at your outfit to get his point across

"well...I could still eat" you shrugged at him

A few minutes later you and Joe sat opposite to each other at the dinner table, candlelight flickering in the middle, illuminating both of your plates with the leftovers from lunch, spaghetti with simple tomato sauce and beside it, on Joe's insistence, fresh garlic bread

Except for the wig, which Joe snatched right off your head again saying he liked your own hair better, you still wore your 'blame insomnia, 2am online shopping spree' dress, now covered with napkins so you still had the opportunity to return it again.

to match your fancy appearance Joe insisted on changing too and now wore his most expensive suit, the only thing that busted the whole play-along were the fluffy slippers dangling from both of your feet.

Joe watches as you picked up a chunk of bread before covering it with the spaghetti and taking a huge bite, ending with one sticking on your chin and tomato sauce covering your cheek and he's suddenly overflowed with a wave of adoration and love for you and the absurdity of your appearance mixed with your questionable eating habits, like a toddler in disguise.

"Please marry me "

You furrow your brows at him, looking at him like he's crazy and if he needs his glasses again. Taking it as a joke you answered him mid-chew

"Can I eat first?"

—

The next time, he sits beside you on the sofa, giving you a side eye when you keep snickering collectively with the fake laughing on the sitcom, which is currently playing on the tv after he lost the battle of which show you're gonna watch today

You on the other hand realized after a few minutes that it just wasn't as funny when you don't have someone to share it with and the fake laughing every two minutes started to become annoying, you looked over at Joe who looked equally bored so you paused the show and turned fully to him " let`s watch your show instead "

he looked at you surprised but then lit up and an exciting smile spread across his lips as he quickly searched for his show of choice

you cuddled up into his side and his arm wrapped around you, hand stroking your back, both of your attention on the screen in front of you, laughing together.

"We should get married" you looked up at Joe, not the answer you expected after you made a comment about the acting in one scene

"Let me think about it" you joked again

"How long?"

"Maybe two years" you laughed as he pushed a pillow in your face, annoyed with your sassiness

—

It quickly turned into an inside joke between you two, him fake proposing after the most mundane things you did and you jokingly rejecting him, confusing your friends and family when he asked you at a family celebration after you were able to bring the whole table in roaring laughter over a funny story you told and answered on his "I really think we should get married" with a " no thank you" or when you were cooking with a friend together and the jar of sauce went around and you were the only one able to open it with a bang on the kitchen counter, impressing both your friend and Joe

"Please marry me" and you looked at him with a glimmer in your eyes "what's in it for me?"

The downside of it was that you didn't take the question seriously anymore, doesn't matter how serious he meant it, so he has to make it extra special for you to believe him.

—

You sit with a frown beside Joe in the car after he talked you into it for a surprise, refusing to give you any hint with a cheeky smile

"you know I hate surprises, I like to be prepared" you whined after another failed attempt to get some information out of him

"I do know you and I know you're gonna love this one" you huffed but trusted him for now, closing your eyes and slowly drifting off

the bumpy and sudden halt jolted you out of your nap and your sleep-clouded mind needed a minute to recognize your location before jumping out of the car and running up the sand dunes, perfect view of the sea

Joe took your hand and led you to the beach before spreading out a picnic blanket and laying out fairy lights around it and you watch him in horror

" shit did I miss our anniversary again? "

he snorted and shook his head in amusement "Nope, not this time" before padding the space beside him "come on, sit"

you plopped down, eyes on the sea again " should've told me to bring my bathing suit, now I have to flash every-" you turned to Joe again and stopped abruptly as he kneels beside you, holding a ring between his shaking fingers

"Do you want to marry me?"

you blinked at him, face blank before leaning forward and examining the ring

"I think we should stay friends"

Joe looked at you annoyed and you started to cackle

"just kidding! of course!" and hold out your hand excited

"I hate you so much" he chuckled relieved before sliding the ring on your finger and kissing you so hard that you both fall over, laughing

"so about the skinny dipping?"

(reblogs and comments are very appreciated additional to your likes)

#joseph quinn #joseph quinn x reader #joe quinn #joseph quinn fanfiction #joe quinn fanfic #fanfiction #joseph quinn fluff #marriage proposal #joe quinn fluff

[sickiesope]

Hello!! Huge fan of your work! Thanks for all the amazing stories:)

Could I request a sick Yoongi and Hoseok who came down with a sneezy cold after a photoshoot in the rain. It is autumn and both are feeling cold. They kind of take care of each other. Yoongi wakes up with a fever as Hoseok slips under his blankets. He welcomes the younger warmly.

Omgg this request is soo cute! 🥰 I'm uhhh, still not that good at writing snz but I tried my best here! 😅

Autumn night

Sickies: Yoongi and Hoseok

Caretakers: Yoongi and Hoseok

Hoseok and Yoongi stand in front of the trees with orange and yellow leaves. They're wearing all black and sporting long wool coats. They both embrace each other and the photographer loves their acting. "Yes, that's perfect! Take a few more like that!"

But Hoseok and Yoongi aren't acting; they're actually getting cold and huddling together. But if it also fits the theme of their photos, then that's a nice bonus. The rain came down more than predicted and they just did a fall themed photoshoot.

"Alright, that's a wrap! It's coming down pretty hard."

Yoongi and Hoseok both sigh in relief but also can't wait to see how the pictures turn out. It's been a long day but that's the life of an idol.

****

"Well my hair got wetter than I wanted" Yoongi sighs. "But it was still fun!"

Hoseok takes off his wool coat that's now quite damp. He's feeling cold and that wasn't helping. His voice sounds a bit funny "I think my nose is kinda stuffed." *sniffle*

"Yeah, I'm not feeling so hot either" Yoongi is also sniffling to his own dismay.

"I think we were outside for a little too long.. I can't believe we did that in the rain!"

Hoseok and Yoongi help dry each other off. Hoseok pat dries Yoongi's head with a soft fluffy towel, careful not to mess up his hair more. Yoongi gently pat dries Hobi's face. The younger kept looking up and getting rain in his eyes, which Yoongi found hilarious. After a long day outside they're both ready to hit the hay.

****

Yoongi is trying to get comfortable in bed but having great difficulty. He keeps randomly waking up and his head feels warm. He's certain that he's catching some kind of cold. He also keeps sneezing and blowing his stuffed up nose, which has been quite annoying.

Hoseok lightly knocks on Yoongi's door that's ajar. "Hyung?" he murmurs.

Yoongi gets startled at the sudden noise but once he sees it's Hoseok he relaxes his shoulders. "Hoba, you're still up too?"

"Yeah, I'm sorry hyung but I can't sleep..and I'm not feeling too well.." the younger says in a small voice.

Yoongi looks at him understanding "awwh, I know what you mean Hoba. Come lay in bed with me, I'm so cold." Yoongi lifts up the blankets and shifts over a bit. Hoseok smiles happily taking the invite. He joins Yoongi in bed and they cuddle together for warmth.

"Hyung, I think you have a slight fever" Hoseok notices. "I think--" he's cut off by a loud messy sneeze. "Ugh, oh my god" Hoseok takes several tissues, not wanting to be seen. Hoseok lost count of how much he's blown his nose. "My nose is a runny faucet. We're gonna need another box!"

When Hoseok gets up to find a new one he's tiptoeing and trying hard not to sneeze too loud. He feels another one coming and tries to muffle it hiding in his arm but doesn't go too well. Hoseok looks at his other members' doors, worried that they'll come out and scold him for making too much noise. But surprisingly no one does to his relief.

While he's up Hoseok makes them both chamomile tea. "Here, hyung" the dancer hands him his mug. "This should help warm us up."

"Ah, thank you Hoba" Yoongi murmurs, smiling cordially. He takes small sips and likes the warmth of it going down.

"I took out the extra blanket. Its fleece so it's soft and comfortable." Yoongi wraps it around Hoseok and himself and they snuggle. "I hope we didn't wake anyone with our sneezing."

#bts sickfic #sick!yoongi #sick!hoseok #caretaker!yoongi #caretaker!hoseok #request #bts snz

[sweaterkittensahoy]

Hi! For the reverse prompts:

Accidentally kidnapping a mafia boss for jackharding sounds sooo funny bc jack genuinely does not mean to and does not care while chick just follows him around avoiding his responsibilities.

Bonus his men knowing damn well what chick is doing and where he is and just letting him be (like imagine blakely and douglass walking into a random diner and seeing chick tucked in a booth and the three just staring at each other for a beat before dougley walking right back out) while the other families are spitting mad asking where he is

Jack's new-ish at this, but he's not a fucking idiot. When his boys bring him back a man who matches the general description, he holds out his hand. "Wallet."

"What? You need one?" the guy asks. He stares at Jack, and Jack stares back. The man snorts after a moment and takes out his wallet. He holds it out. "Say please."

"Fuck you," Jack replies and takes the wallet. He opens it and finds the driver's license. "Neil Harding," he reads. He looks at his boys.

"He goes by Chuck," says Winks.

"I go by Chick," says Neil Harding.

"Why?" asks Lemmons.

"Who cares," Jack says before Neil Harding can say anything else. "Winks, Lemmons, get fucked until I'm no longer mad at you."

"So, we're fired?" Lemmons asks, all cheeky grin.

Jack wishes he could threaten it, but Rosie's his best lieutenant, and he's desperately in love with Lemmons, and Lemmons and Winks are both actually competent most of the time. They just don't understand how you do a kidnap properly. Jack hopes Hambone and Brady are having a good time on their honeymoon, but he also needs them to get back sooner rather than later.

Winks and Lemmons leave Jack's office. Neil Harding looks around, then sits on the leather couch along the left wall. He reaches inside his suit jacket and pulls out a cigar.

"You mind?"

"You care?" Jack asks.

"Not really," Neil Harding says.

Jack picks up the pewter ashtray he keeps on the windowsill. He carries it over and sets it on the side table next to Neil Harding's elbow. He pulls out his cigarettes as Neil Harding lights his cigar and takes a long drag.

"So, you're the Irish Fox," he says, snapping his lighter closed and tucking it back in his pocket.

"And you're not Chuck Harding," Jack replies. He sits in the chair across from the couch. "Am I gonna get the Moose after me?"

Neil Harding's smile falls away and is replaced by a sharp smirk and a sharper gaze. Jack's known his name for years. Everyone in the business does. He'd been Slick Chick when he'd been younger, able to talk his way into any room despite his low connections and fluffy hair the color of a backyard hen. It's been shortened to Chick in the two decades since, though Jack doesn't know how or why. If his father knew the lore, he hadn't written it down or said it out loud before getting shot in the back of the head by Chuck Harding.

"I believe you mean the Bucks," Chick says. He takes another draw off his cigar, then taps the ash into the ashtray. "You're, what? Third generation? Your grandfather got your family going, then your father moved you up the ranks--my sympathies, by the way. He was always willing to listen and made choices based on facts."

"Appreciate hearing that," Jack says. "But I'm still worried your guard dogs are going to snap at my heels."

Chick glances at his watch, then at the phone on Jack's desk. "Egan and Cleven will hold still for three hours before striking. But it's been about an hour, which means they know it's you."

"No doubt," Jack agrees. He nods towards his phone. "Feel free to call them and give them the okay. Or you can let yourself out."

"You don't seem worried I'm going to get revenge for this," Chick says.

Jack stands and flicks his own ash into the ashtray. "You could have done that when they grabbed you, but you let them walk you in here without touching them."

"They're boys," Chick says. "And besides, I wanted to be the first man to say he'd met the elusive fox."

Jack snorts and shakes his head. "I've got the same name as my father. What's elusive about that?"

"You don't go to the shows. You don't see pictures. You don't go out to eat. No one's spotted you out and about in a year."

Jack stubs out his cigarette and meets Chick's eyes. Chick's watching him with that same sharp gaze, but the smirk is gone. His face is sincere and serious. "I wasn't supposed to take this job until I was thirty," he says. "And there are some fellas who like to take out the young ones."

"Chuck Harding's a big fan of that," Chick says. "Your father's the eldest he's ever taken out."

"Which I'd like to pay him back for," Jack replies, the anger rising up in the sudden wave it always appears. "By taking everything he has and leaving him poor and alone and friendless."

"Your boys were nothing but polite," Chick says as he stands. "And I know they're not your usual snatch team."

"They're on their honeymoon," Jack says.

Chick huffs a laugh. "Disgusting. What kind of mob man shits where he eats?"

"From what I hear, your Elks."

"Bucks," Chick corrects, and there's a smirk on his face again, but it's softer this time, almost a smile. "What about you, Jack Kidd, Irish Fox. You like to shit where you eat?"

Jack shakes his head. "I suppose I am your type," he says. "Half your age and blonde."

"And leggy," Chick adds, and now it really is a smile, and it's a hell of a smile. "But before we decide on the wedding china, how about I call the Bucks and get them on Chuck Harding? They've been working an angle to make him think he's made a new friend who actually works for me."

"You'll hand me Chuck Harding when you've put a guy in already?"

"I want him out of the way because he's sloppy and rude. You want him ruined because he took your father. Your reasons are better and get me the result I want."

Jack considers the option. He licks the corner of his mouth when he catches Chick staring. "And however will I thank you?" he asks.

Chick outright beams. "Wrap your legs around my waist one time, and we'll call it even."

Jack meets that sharp, confident grin and feels a grin of his own. "If you think you can keep up."

#jackharding #mob au #jack kidd #chick harding #lemmons and winks are kings at chop shop work and taking bets #terrible kidnappers #masters of the air