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highreevess · 2 years

Text

My Medicine

Warnings: Fluff, soft smut, oral (male receiving), riding, talk of pregnancy.

Summary: Rafe gets into a motorcycle wreck and scares the living shit out of the pogue reader. For many hours, he stays asleep because of the drugs the hospital gave him and isn't waking up, but when he does, he finds the reader right at his side. He finds himself needing her and she finds herself needing him.

Word count: 2,697

"When will he wake up?" I ask the doctor standing beside me as I look at Rafe, who sleeps soundly on the hospital bed he is in.

When I don't get an answer from the doctor, I turn toward her and ask, "He will wake up, right?" There's a small crack in my voice as I ask, but I can't even bring myself to care. All I care about right now is knowing that Rafe will be okay. When Kelce called me from the hospital and told me Rafe had been in an accident, I came over here as fast as I could. And the only thing I could think was please let him be okay.

When the light-haired doctor next to me nods, a breath of relief escapes my lips, and I turn my attention back to Rafe. "Thank God," I mumble so lowly, I can barely hear it.

"He has a broken arm, a broken wrist, a few cuts on his face from the shattered glass of his helmet shield, and a few burns from the road, but he's going to be fine. He should wake up by tomorrow," she tells me, and my eyes water at the knowledge that Rafe is going to be okay. "Thank you," I tell her, my words barely audible.

"Of course," she smiles, turning around. She grabs her clipboard from the clip on the wall before moving to exit Rafe's private hospital room. I stop her before she can and ask, "May I stay here?" I don't want to leave him, and I want to be here when he wakes up.

She turns around so she can face me and nods. "Of course."

When she leaves the room, she closes the door behind her, giving us privacy. Upon hearing the door click shut, I turn around and look back at Rafe.

Though I want to stay awake until he wakes from the drugs, I can't help the exhaustion I feel right now. Rafe had the accident just after midnight, and I got to the hospital about twenty minutes later. Then, it took three hours for a nurse to even speak to me about Rafe's condition. So, it's like three in the morning.

Exhaling a breath, I walk over to the armchair on the opposite side of the room and take a seat in it, curling up into a fetal position. Though it's incredibly uncomfortable, I am too exhausted to care.

It only takes a few moments for my eyes to flutter closed as darkness swallows me whole.

****************************************

"...be here."

"Yes, I'm sure. I want her here."

"But—"

"I said I want her in here. Now leave before you wake her up."

I hear a door close, and that's when my eyes open. It takes a moment for me to adjust to the harsh lighting in the room coming from the sun shining through the window, but when I do, I see Rafe lying on his hospital bed, his eyes very much open.

I gasp when I see him and spring up from my uncomfortable spot on the chair I'm in. I quickly walk over to him, my wide eyes looking at every single part of him so I can make sure that he is real—that he's really okay.

"They said you stayed all night," Rafe tells me, and my eyes shoot to his own. Swallowing, I nod. "I know you never wanted your parents to know about us, but I had to come, Rafe. I'm sorry, but I had to," I whisper, a tear threatening to fall from my eye at the thought of losing him.

His eyebrows furrow, and he takes my hand. "Come here." He scoots over in his hospital bed, leaving just enough room for me to squeeze in beside him. I do so without hesitation and allow him to drape his non-broken arm over my waist. He pulls me into his chest, and a sigh of relief passes my lips when I feel his warmth surrounding me.

"You got here before they did," he tells me. "You stayed all damn night long in the room with me. Not them." He leans over and places a soft kiss on my head. "I don't give a damn what they think anymore."

"You say that until the drugs wear off," I joke, half smiling. I feel Rafe stiffen beside me, and my eyebrows furrow.

Before I can do or say anything, the arm that is around my waist grabs my wrist and hauls me over. I am pulled on top of Rafe, my legs going on either side of him, and when I look down at him, I see that he has a serious expression on his face.

"If you think that it's the drugs making me say this, then you haven't been paying attention," he tells me, and my eyebrows furrow. He can't be serious. He warned me when we started this that his parents could never find out—that no one could. Why would that change overnight?

"But, Rafe, you said—"

"I changed my mind," he says, cutting me off. He places his hand on my back and pushes me down so that I have no choice but to lie on his chest. "When I swerved on the bike, the only thing I could think about was not seeing your face again. The last thing I saw before I crashed was you, and I'll be damned if I lose you."

His words cause my heart to flutter, and tears begin to sting my eyes. "I thought you were going to die," I whisper, so lowly that I barely hear it. "The nurses wouldn't tell me anything because I wasn't family, and so many nurses kept coming in and out of your room." My voice is cracking, and my tears are wetting Rafe's hospital gown, but I barely even notice.

Rafe begins to rub my back with his healthy arm. "I'm right here, Y/N. I'm alive, and I'm not going fucking anywhere." There's a harshness to his voice that makes me believe his words, so I lift my head and look into his eyes—those beautiful blue eyes that I find myself lost in every time I look at him.

Though his promise to not leave me has my heart fluttering, the tears are still in my eyes. And he seems to notice that because his eyebrows furrow. "What's wrong?"

For a moment, I say nothing. I just look into his eyes as if it's my last time seeing them. It's only when Rafe takes my hand in his that I swallow and part my lips to give him an answer. "I'm in love with you, Rafe." I didn't realize why I was so terrified until I saw Rafe lying in this stupid hospital bed last night. The realization that I was in love with him hit me like a fucking semi-truck.

And right now, I'm terrified that he doesn't feel the same.

For a long while, he just stares at me, his blue eyes darting between mine. His mouth is parted in what I hope is shock, and he doesn't say anything. Though him not flat out saying that he doesn't feel the same about me should soothe my anxiety, it doesn't. His silence only makes it worse.

"Please say something," I beg, my tears threatening to fall from my eyes.

When he doesn't say something, a tear slips free from my eye. I go to wipe it away, but Rafe swipes his thumb over my cheek before I can. My breath catches in my throat at the action, and I anxiously meet his gaze.

When I meet his eyes, he leans forward and gently presses his lips to mine. "I wanted to say that first," he says against my lips, and another tear falls from my eye, but this time, it's a tear of joy.

Smiling against his lips, I push him back down on the bed and sit up so that I am straddling him. I then move backward until I am straddling his lower legs and lower my gaze. In his hospital gown, I see a tent that can only mean one thing.

He's hard.

Head tilting, I look up at him and ask, "Was it my tears that turned you on because I don't know how I feel about that?" The corner of his lips kicks up, and he moves so he can sit up. He leans forward and presses a kiss to my lips before saying, "I think my being hard has something to do with you telling me you love me."

A smile breaks out across my face, and I kiss him harder before murmuring against his lips, "Then I should take care of that. It's my fault after all."

"You don't have to—"

"I want to."

I quickly pull up this stupid hospital gown and allow my gaze to fall on the hard cock beneath it. His thick cock stands fully hard and nine inches long. As perfect as it was the last time I saw it.

Smiling, I lean forward and lick a stripe up his cock. The moment I do, his head falls back into the pillow beneath him, and a quiet, "Fuck," escapes his perfect lips.

I lick another stripe up his cock. And another. And another until I've tasted every bit of him. Then, I spit onto the head and wrap my lips around him.

I see Rafe's fist grab the sheets, and I smile around him.

I stop sucking his head and lower my head further onto his cock. I begin to slowly bob my head up and down the first five inches of his cock while fisting the base of him.

I hallow my cheeks as I suck him, and my eyes flutter closed in bliss. Though I don't often suck him because he likes to give more than receive, when he does let me suck his cock, I find myself never wanting to stop.

Rafe lifts his healthy hand and brings it toward my head. For a few moments, I think that he is going to push my head down so he can choke me as he did in the past. But when he makes no move to do that, and instead, begins to stroke my hair, my heart flutters.

"So fucking pretty," he groans, watching me as I suck his cock into my mouth. His words make heat build between my legs, and I find myself needing him. Though I would love to continue sucking him or have him touch me, that's not what I want right now. What I want is him inside of me.

Lifting my head from his cock, I crawl forward until I am hovering above his cock. I don't even bother taking off my skirt. I just move my panties to the side and sink down on him. My mouth falls open, and a moan escapes my lips. The stretch is so much more when I'm on top. I've ridden him before, but only a very few times. Rafe likes to be the one dominating, which is why I rarely get the chance to ride him.

"Fuck, I could get used to this," Rafe groans, grabbing my hip with his healthy hand. I smile and begin slowly bouncing up and down on him. "You better because if you die, you don't get to be inside of me anymore," I tell him, clenching around his cock.

He smiles. "Then I'll stay alive for as long as I can, but I might get hurt a little more often if it means I get to have you like this."

I glare at him and lean down so I can press my lips to his. "Shut up."

He smiles against me. "Whatever you want."

I break our kiss so I can go back to riding him, and when I do, my mouth falls open again. "God," I moan, my head tilting back in absolute pleasure.

I hear Rafe softly chuckle, and a second later, his thumb presses against my clit. "Fuck, I've missed being inside of you."

A small laugh escapes my lips. "You were inside of me two days ago, Rafe."

"Two days too fucking long."

Rafe tightens his grip on my hip and pushes me all the way down on him. "Do it how you like it," he tells me, and I nod. Slowly, I begin to grind back and forth on his cock, no longer bouncing on him. Every time I grind forward, his cock presses directly against that spot inside of me that makes me see stars. "God, Rafe."

I dig my nails into the sheets of Rafe's hospital bed as I grind against him, and little moans escape my lips.

I feel Rafe shift, and when I look down, I see him sitting up. "Rafe, lie down. Your arm—"

"Is fine," he says before smashing his lips to mine. His healthy arm moves to my back, and I feel him bunch my shirt up in his fist. I raise my arms so he can pull it off of me and smile against his lips. He then goes for the clasp of my bra, which he undoes with ease. He throws the lacy material onto the floor before pulling me forward so that my front is flush against his clothed chest. Then, he presses his lips to mine.

"I love you," he breathes against my lips, and my eyes glisten. I pull away and look into his eyes, trying to make sure he is real—that what he just said is real. When I see him looking at me with those infatuated blue eyes, a tear slips free. "I love you," I tell him, and he smiles.

I glance down at his hospital gown before grabbing it with my fists. I then lift it up and over him before pressing my naked chest against his. I then begin kissing him again before starting to slowly bounce up and down on his cock. I wrap my arms around him so I can hang on as I ride him, and he brings his hand between the two of us, his skilled fingers finding my clit. Pleasure begins to coil low in my stomach, and I moan into his mouth.

"Fuck, you're so pretty when you ride me," he groans against my lips.

I smile and bounce a bit faster, my lips never leaving his.

"You know what I want?" Rafe asks against my lips, and I shake my head. "What?"

"For you to cum on my cock," he answers, and I moan. "Then make me," I tell him, and he smirks.

He begins to rub tight circles into my clit, and I begin to whimper. "God, Rafe," I moan, the pleasure coiling in my stomach getting stronger.

"Cum, pretty one," he tells me before smashing his lips to mine again. Those words and the feel of his lips on mine are all it takes for the pressure in my lower stomach to snap. I cum with a cry, which he swallows with a kiss. Shaking against him as pleasure wracks my body, I moan into his mouth.

When I come down from my high, I open my eyes to see Rafe looking at me. His eyes stay on me as he twitches inside of me and releases his cum. I clench when I feel him cum inside of me, and I smile.

When he finishes coming down from his high, he brings his hand up to my face and strokes my cheek. "You're getting the IUD removed."

My eyes widen, and my mouth gapes. "Rafe—"

"You're mine, and everyone is going to know it," he vows, continuing to stroke my cheek with his thumb. "Maybe not today or tomorrow, but soon enough, you'll be swollen with my child." He presses his lips against mine again before I can object to his words, and I immediately kiss him back.

When he pulls away, he brushes my bottom lip with his thumb, but his eyes remain on me. "I love you."

Smiling at him, I say, "I love you too."

Taglist: @phildunphyisadilf

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lovverletters · 6 months

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Ok so I did send a request idea but im also still thinking about the serial killer guy and im just.

Im so love him so so much and just

Sobbing crying and holding his face gently.

Im so gay. Im such a gay lil man for big scary dude

And I just wanna.... dote on him.

Like ok I mean yes he HAS killed people and all and is kinda super scary

But god my dumb ass with a big heart just seeing him covered in blood and maybe hurt somehow and going like "hey... hey uh... let's get you cleaned up and patched up ok?"

And just being so gentle with him, wiping the blood off and maybe even learning to stitch wounds closed just for him.

Ok so what if maybe he has kidnapped me. He means well I think! Hasn't done anything to hurt me so I mean come on maybe he is lonely and needs some kindness ya know? (Totally not delusional ♡♡♡)

I mean sure it was scary at first and all but like he's a person too right? He's got a heart. He needs some gentle care and love.

Making him a flower crown, putting stickers on his mask and arms, holding his hand gently and just feeling his big palms with my smaller lil hands and treating him with such gentle care.

I am so sappy and gay im sorry

I just love him-

♡Bunny (whos a gay lil idiot♡♡♡)

Yandere! Serial Killer part 2

A/N : this was supposed to come out on Halloween but um things happens💟 hope you like it! Sorry for the ending heh🐰

T/W : blood, mentioned of murder, kidnapping, stockholm syndrome(?), the reader lowkey kinda insane too, yandere themes.

«────── « ⋅ʚ💌ɞ⋅ » ──────»

[Name] stared at the screen of the television showcasing a random horror movie absentmindedly, not paying much attention to it as their thoughts were occupied.

It was well past midnight and they were still wide awake.

They were unable to sleep due to the loud thundering sounds of the storm outside and decided to watch a movie instead and hopefully fall asleep to it.

It didn't work obviously as they were currently staring blankly at the scene of a man being brutally murdered by an axe-wielding killer in the movie. It was concerning how they barely reacted to the grotesque scene.

They've seen real horrors before.

[Name] has essentially been desensitised of seeing blood and gore. The sight being far too common nowadays after they met him.

Their ears perked up at the sound of a jingling keys and the doorknob twisting open. He's home. [Name] turned their gaze from the movie to the man who's currently standing at their front door.

"You're back and.. bloodied as usual" They greeted him, eyes trailing over his current state.

Lorn was covered in blood from head to toe, both his and his victim's they presumed. Cuts and scratches littered his muscled arms, some look fairly deep ones as it bled. The killer stood still as a statue all the while [Name] inspected him, he knew [Name] will be angry at him for walking around bathed in blood so he remained glued to his spot.

"Found a tough one. Scratched and sliced me once with a knife. That's why m'so bloodied, had to cut their limbs off f'touching me" He explained, staring at [Name] who were grabbing the items they had kept in the supply closet.

If they had not known better, they would've thought he was innocent, incapable of harm as he stared at them through his red horned mask with those adoring eyes. Who would've thought that the infamous Lovelorn killer was a small puppy towards his object of affection.

"Come here, let's get you cleaned and patched up. Wouldn't want you to bleed everywhere, blood is hard to get out of carpet okay?" They motioned him to strip his clothes off and dump it in the basin of clothes to be washed separately.

As they wiped the blood off of Lorn, stitched and wrapped him up in bandages they were overcome by a realisation. Something feels off about themselves. A normal person would've screamed bloody murder and ran to the police but here they are pampering a serial killer who they are living with.

'I might be insane myself' they thought to themselves, chuckling humourlessly.

It had been months since they were locked inside this house with only Lorn as a company. They were protesting at first, demanding to be freed but even then deep down they didn't really care. [Name] only did it because it's what they thought a sane person would do.

Maybe they and Lorn aren't that different.

[Name] snapped out of their thoughts when a rough hand were placed on their jaw, the touch so gentle they barely feel it.

"What's wrong?" Lorn was looking at them with those eyes again.

They shook their head and smiled, continuing their work of stitching up closed a cut on his arm. After they were done, Lorn stood up and englufed them in a hug, their sizes difference were apparent as he towers over them with his muscular built.

"Thank you. I love you so much, [Name]" He said, burying his face on their hair.

They pat his back and suddenly a thought crept up in their mind. They bit their lip as they contemplate on wether to ask him or not.

Fuck it.

"Hey, Lorn?" He hummed in reply, too busy mooching off their warmth.

"Why don't I join you the next time you went out for a kill?"

«────── « ⋅ʚ💌ɞ⋅ » ──────»

#yandere x reader #yandere x darling #yandere x y/n #yandere x you #yandere oc #tw: yandere #yandere #gender neutral reader #yandere male #yandere headcanons

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pearlywritings · 1 year

Text

The birth of the Dawn and the Dusk

synopsis: You planned your husband’s birthday months ago and even so something happens to not go according to the script.

pairing and characters: Diluc x fem!reader, your twin sons Rufus and Lucas, Alberich family (Kaeya, his wife and daughter Callie), Adelinde

tw: established relatioships, domestic moment, pregnancy stuff, fluff, a little bit hurt/comfort

word count: 10.8k+ words

author’s note: so late for my man’s birthday,,, But I am happy this one is finally out! Also there is a surprise at the end of the fic~ Hope you’ll enjoy everything!!!

Family AU masterlist

You feel so tired. Body aches and eyes hurt - you barely managed to fall asleep tonight, keeping your husband awake too to coax you into a state of slumber. This also added emotional stress, the clawing guilt for depriving him of sleep right before such a meaningful and happy day, but the man kept lovingly reassuring you that he didn't mind and would support and comfort you always, especially now, when you are so vulnerable, just days away from welcoming your baby into this world.

Diluc was nothing but a saint throughout both of your pregnancies. However, while the first one was challenging for him too, because he was worried about the new role he'd have to fulfill and if he'd do it successfully, this one was easier on his end, so he channeled all his energy to you, being there for every step and every time you got overwhelmed, which, at first, happened way too often. Your other two kids used to be all over you asking questions about their unborn sibling, and while you love your angels to death, you truly do, - your hormones and their vigor sometimes created a bad mix. Luckily, it quickly got better, because Diluc took his time to explain to your boys why their mommy might be emotional or look really really tired, and that she isn't upset with them and they need to be more careful around her. After that, the three of them became your anchor, with boys cuddling to you quietly to soothe and console you every opportunity they had, and Diluc arranging everything for your utmost comfort.

With all of this you were determined to make this year's celebration of his birthday as amazing as every other you two shared. You weren't sure if you would have given birth already or still heavily pregnant when the 30th of April came, but you knew that in any outcome you'd be too exhausted to arrange anything. That is why you started your meticulous planning half-way into your pregnancy. Everything was a secret from Diluc, just as always, and he oh so tenderly smiled, whenever you tried to hide the notes you were making, only teasing you by stepping closer and hugging you from behind. But he was a fair man, he never glanced at your scribbles and plans, only burying his face in your hair and asking to stay like this with you and the baby for a little bit. It actually helped you to concentrate a little bit better.

In March the final version of your plan was already passed to the maids who'd be responsible for organizing and decorating, and you couldn't help but feel pride when they giggled and excitedly murmured upon checking your instructions. You did a great job.

But you must've also done something bad, if whatever gods of fertility above made it their goal to mess with your sleep schedule - the baby is way too active, keeping you awake at an ungodly hour, just like tonight. So exhausting…

You can feel movements behind your back and a moment later a pleasant warmth is spreading all over your stomach and back. A soft whine escapes your lips, but it’s quickly shushed by a quiet murmur next to your ear.

“Shh… My flame, it’s okay, I got you…” You hug a pillow in front of you tighter, burying your face in it, letting your husband cuddle to your back, keeping his palm spread over your bump. He always knows when the baby gets cranky, sometimes even before you feel it, ready to calm down both of you with the help of his presence and vision.

Pretty soon you feel comfy again, surrounded by pillows and a literal heater of a man, who peppers soft kisses along your bare shoulder. His heavy bangs tickle your skin, prompting the corner of your lips to twitch in a shadow of a smile; an arm, wrapped around your middle, doesn’t put any weight on your waist, perfectly controlled by sheer strength of its owner; his whole body becomes support to your back instead of a long pillow he removed previously to take its place and he playfully nudges your feet when you attempt to tangle your legs with his.. Oh, you love this man.

Suddenly a loud noise from the outside worms its way into your lulled conscience, and you flinch. Slowly your eyelids slide open and you groan quietly, ears catching a dissatisfied huff from the male beside you.

“I told them to be careful…” Diluc grumbles under his breath, but doesn’t leave his spot next to you, only lifting his hand slightly and starting to rub your stomach in soothing circles.

“Mmm… What time is it?” Pushing the pillow away you rub at your eyes, yawning. Your husband cranes his neck to look at the wall behind and hums.

“A little past ten.”

“Ten..? Oh no…” With a pout you kick some other pillows (and accidentally his legs) too, stifling another yawn with your hand. “I was supposed to wake up earlier for your special day… I am sorry I slept for so long.”

“Nonsense,” he digs his elbow in a mattress and lifts his upper body to reach for your cheek, smothering it with pecks. “You are nine months pregnant, my love. I would’ve let you sleep all day long, if I didn’t know you worked hard to make today exceptional for me.”

“Oh…” You sigh, finally blinking the sleep, that was clinging to your eyelids, off and throw an arm behind you, rolling your back a little, practically placing yourself on your husband, stretching with a content noise. Diluc sees an opportunity to wrap both arms around you, and carefully draw you even more on top of himself, face hidden in the side of your neck.

“Archons, you are pretty,” the heat engulfs your heart, born from his adoring tone, and spreads in tender waves through your whole being.

“Don’t you dare say having me in your arms is enough of a present for you,” your chiding makes him smile and shake his head.

“As much as that’s true, I won’t, for your sake,” you squint like a cat under the sun, when he places a kiss under your jaw. “Are you ready to get out of bed? Half an hour ago when I came downstairs, and immediately got kicked out by Adelinde, I managed to catch a glimpse of Kaeya and our sons. I am sure Callie and her mom have joined them by now too.”

“Oh, that’s great!” You widely smile, sleep forgotten as if the need in it was always non-existent. “Yes, I want to start getting ready. Please, help me, ‘luc.”

“With greatest pleasure.”

Letting the Alberich family spend the night was one of your greatest decisions made in preparations for Diluc’s birthday. There is no way to guess when throughout the day you might feel light-headed or tired, so them being at the Winery from the very morning till the very evening increases the chances to get an opportunity when all of you can enjoy the celebration together.

When you descend down the stairs, with Diluc practically glued to your sight, holding your arm to support, Kaeya’s face is the first one you spot among the others. He looks absolutely cozy with his pajama-like-looking pants, matching shirt and a knee-long robe, hanging on his shoulders untied. His face lights up with a smile, when his eye lands on you two, and he hands one of the maids nearby the box he’s been holding previously.

“Aren’t these our dear birthday boy and his lovely wife?” His voice is smooth, never lacking his ever-present teasing lilt, as he makes his way to you.

“Don’t make it look like you see me for the first time today,” Diluc grumbles, letting go of your hand, so you could give your brother-in-law a side hug.

“Oh? I am sorry, Diluc, but could I really tell Adelinde not to kick you out? My charms do not work on this amazing woman.”

“Because this woman raised you and is immune to said charms,” the woman in question appears behind the Cavalry Captain, with a sweet smile plastered on her face. “Come on, go help your wife - I don’t doubt she is skilled, but three kids are still a handful.”

“Haha, aren’t you subtle? If I didn’t know how much you adore me, I’d say you are kicking me out,” the star-shaped pupil twinkles with concealed merit, to which the head maid tenderly scoffs.

“Gotta make it even between the brothers,” she teases him back, and he gasps in pretense hurt, to which Diluc rolls his eyes, but a smug-looking smile doesn’t escape your sight.

“Sure, sure,” Kaeya jerks his chin up, still faking the offense, and turns around to leave. The woman shakes her head at his antics, short blond hair gently swaying, complimenting the fond look on her face. With one of her boys gone, she devotes her attention to the other, smiling apologetically.

“I am sorry for shoving you out the way I did, Master Diluc, but Lady Y/n really wanted to be here when you came to witness what she had planned for you. I hope you can forgive me for forbidding you from the first floor of your own house.”

“I can never be mad at you,” Diluc’s lips form a small smile as well, and he steps closer, gingerly embracing her. “After all, you raised me too.”

The older woman chuckles, patting his back, and your gaze softens. Every year you get lucky to see this display of special motherly affection, the one where you get sad a little, because your child grows older, further and further from the little boy you used to know and take care of, but you still are so happy for how far he managed to come. That’s what Adlinde’s face tells you every single year, those are the tears of joy that are brimming her summer-green eyes.

“Adelinde,” you softly call and she glances at you, with her arms still wrapped around her master’s, her kid’s broad back. “I haven’t had an opportunity to congratulate my husband yet, would you like to be the first this year?”

Vibrant eyes slightly widen, and then unspoken affection swirls in them.

“Thank you,” your heart skips a beat, crumbling under the sincerest gratitude the woman offers you for simply giving her such an opportunity.

She turns to Diluc again, and a small, delicate hand reaches up to brush away the fiery bangs that got even wilder as the man got older. A thumb runs over his cheekbone, feeling a small scar underneath, remembering, comparing to the pouty rosy cheek of a little boy, who used to cling to her skirt and seek her attention and advice, with that adorable sparkle in his warm ruby eyes and a wide grin with a tooth missing. Now a tall man is standing in front of her, who suffered many losses and hardships she couldn’t possibly protect him from, but who eventually found his happiness and found it in himself to fully enjoy it.

And that’s all she ever wished for him.

“Happy birthday, my boy,” her voice trembles with emotions, but she manages to get a hold of herself. The other hand comes to cup his other cheek and tilt his head down, so, standing on her toes, she could place a lingering kiss to his forehead. “Happy thirty eighth year of your life, my dawn. I am so proud of how far you’ve come and I wish for nothing more, but for your happiness to grow. I know your father would tell you the same.”

Oh, Archons. That last phrase made you emotional, hitting your poor heart even harder than the tender exchange between the two. And seeing the look on your husband’s face, the quiet hitch of his breath, the slight tremble of his lower lip and unspoken yearning in his flaming eyes, you have to silently excuse yourself from the scene, too scared to ruin the moment by your very possible waterworks. You’ll let the two have their moment, meanwhile you can see what your sons and brother-in-law’s family is up to.

You find the five of them in a separate room, which was long ago reconstructed and redecorated into something akin to a living room (additional wall was added to divide the hall part from this space to grant you and kids privacy if any partner of Diluc stopped by to discuss the matters with either him or Elzer). Both boys and the girl are sitting on the carpet-covered floor, vigorously discussing something - you even catch the pieces of the argument they’ve been having for months. Ever since the twins’ father agreed to consider getting them a dog, they and their older cousin could not shut up about what name the creature should have. At first it was cute, now it’s the reason for a headache, when the three of them cannot reach an agreement.

But the childish debate is quickly tuned out when you recognize the adorable new two-piece indoor outfits you purchased specifically for today. Your older son has the sleeves of his orange pullover rolled while he wildly gesticulates, the usual unruly mass of his untied hair swaying from side to side like a flame turned upside down. Lucas on the other hand has his cheek supported by his fist with an elbow digging in his knee, clad in yellow pants, and watches his brother and cousin with an 'I am so done with them' look, so uncommon for a six-year old, that it almost makes you snort. Callie, wearing similar in style pants and pullover, but sharing a pretty blue color with her father, is actively arguing with Rufus, however there is something different from the redhead's pure decisiveness. There are clearly some hints of Kaeya's mannerism, especially that quirk of her lips. What a cheeky twelve-year old.

“Y/n!”

Your attention is quickly drawn to the smiling woman, who is rising from the couch she’s been sharing with her husband just seconds ago. Mirroring her smile, you swiftly rub your eyes, getting rid of happy tears, caused by a scene at the bottom of the stairs.

“Are you okay?” Concern is laced in your friend’s tone, as she walks to you and puts her palms on your elbows in a comforting gesture. You only shake your head, making a small step closer, so you can give her a hug.

“Yeah, yeah, I am good, don’t worry. Just saw something very heart-warming.”

“Oh, alright,” she sighs in relief. “Are you hungry?"

Good question, actually. You concentrate on what your body feels and craves, softly rubbing your belly. No, still only the aching and ever-present fatigue.

"Not necessarily, but if you all haven't eaten yet, we can do it now. Diluc should soon join us, and after breakfast we can start our stay-inside party."

Your friend nods in agreement, squeezing your elbows affectionately, and then turns to look at the three kids still sitting on the floor, so engrossed in their conversation that they seem to not have even noticed you enter.

"Hey, kids,” only Lucas perks up at his aunt’s call, while Rufus and Callie keep arguing, ignoring everything around them. “Kids,” is said firmer, but still to no avail. As the younger twin gets up from the floor, you share a knowing look with the woman.

“Callie Alberich.”

“Rufus Ragnvindr.”

And as if by magic the conversation is cut short, two sets of worried eyes staring back at the unamused-looking moms.

“Good, we finally have your attention,” Mrs Alberich hums, taking your hand and leading you to the armchair, helping you to sit down. “Now, who’d be a dear and go to the kitchen to let the maids know they can serve breakfast?”

“I will, mom,” the girl says before Rufus can open his mouth and carefully pushes him and his brother in your direction. “You two, go say hi to your mama.”

Kaeya’s eye twinkles, when he easily guesses his daughter’s intentions, but keeps his mouth shut, watching his nephews practically sprint to their mom and climb onto the armrests.

“She went to congratulate uncle Diluc, didn’t she?” His wife quietly asks, taking a seat next to him, and the man only chuckles, wrapping an arm around her waist, bringing her even closer. Yeah, his girl really likes her uncle, adores even, which has been absolutely mutual from the moment the redhead was handed the small baby to hold for the first time. The Dawn Winery owner has always played an important role in the girl’s life, and before his sons were born, the man was absolutely wrapped around his niece’s finger. She doesn’t remember that, of course, but she does remember how she begged for cousins, and feels very proud of the fact, claiming that it’s because of her request uncle and aunt now have two cute boys, whom she really-really loves and enjoys spending time with, despite being twice as old as them.

But uncle is still her favorite out of the whole Ragnvindr family. So getting first to the man and wishing him a happy birthday is an absolute must.

“I am sure she won’t forget about breakfast,” Kaeya hums eventually, focusing on his sister-in-law and nephews, who, in their orange and yellow costumes paired with the color of their hair, remind him of two little candlelights.

“I love the cozy style you decided on for the clothes,” he comments, drawing your attention from twins, who settled against the sides of your stomach, resting their heads on your shoulders.

“Really?” An excited smile worms its way onto your face. “I am glad you think so! I thought they were perfect for spending the day inside."

"They are!" Mrs Alberich claps her hands together. "I adore this pretty dress and yours looks so wonderful too! The fabric is very soft, when I put it on this morning I thought I was hugged by a fluffy cloud. Oh, what color does Diluc have by the way?"

"Papa has gray" Rufus chimes, before reaching out to your stomach to gently pat it. "Mama, did you get the baby one too?"

"I did, Ru," you reassure him, remembering the cute white onesie you decided to purchase on a whim to match the vibe. "Soon she or he will be able to wear it."

"Speaking of the baby, you've never told us the name you picked. Is that a secret?"

"It really isn't,” your tone is soft, and your gaze is tender, as you look down at your belly. “We do have a small list, but our decision was to choose when the baby is born. We agree on every name on that list, and Diluc believes it's just going to click which one is perfect when we see them, just like it happened with these two," you turn your head from side to side, kissing each boy's cheek, making them squeal happily. In reality it was a little bit different.

Obviously you didn't expect to have twins, so your list was created on the basis of eventually picking only one name. But when there appeared to be two babies, two little boys, everything had to be reconsidered. You and your husband (surprisingly more him than you) thought it'd be cute if there was something that would show their twinly bond. That's when it clicked quickly - Diluc came up with Rufus and you did so with Lucas, affectionately calling them Ru and Lu. This time you also considered different kinds of name combinations for possible outcomes, but ultimately decided to let the future tell.

"Okay, that's fair," Kaeya smiles, putting his cheek on top of his wife's head - the woman made herself comfortable on his shoulder, watching you and your sons with a sweet smile of her own. "Promise to invite us over when you feel strong enough to have visitors to meet another member of the Ragnvindr family?"

"Of course, I promise, Kae. And you'll be the first ones to kno- aaah!"

Everyone in the room jumps when a sharp cry of discomfort escapes you. Unwrapping your arms from around the twins, you lean forward and clutch your stomach. Surprised, the boys get down onto the floor and move right in front of you, worry evident on their faces. You mean to reach out to comfort your babies, to reassure him, but another surge of pain prevents you from doing so, and you groan, hands still on the stomach. Kaeya is next on his feet, closely followed by his wife, and just a second later the man scoops both redheads in his arms, while your female friend crouches before you, with both palms on your knees.

"Kaeya, boys - out. I'll handle it."

"But mama is hurt-," Lucas tries, not taking his eyes off of your curled figure, as his brother attempts to wrestle his way out of his uncle’s hold. Both look panicked, and the Cavalry Captain has to gently shush both of them, pressing their bodies even closer to his chest..

“Don’t worry, she is alright and she will be alright when we return, okay? Now, let’s go and find your father-”

“Oh.”

The man stumbles over his words, hearing a surprised noise, and immediately glances up at you, met with an expression of total disbelief.

“Archons, what is it? Y/n, please, don’t scare us like tha-”

“I think my water just broke.”

He barely holds himself back from cursing in front of his little nephews. His wife, on the other hand, is as cool as a cucumber, absolutely unphased, with not even an ounce of worry present on her face or in her actions. She rises from her crouched position and turns to look at her husband, who in a second became an anxious wreck, as if it is his beloved who is having contractions.

“Love,” she speaks calmly, “take the boys, find Callie and Diluc and get the kids ready to go out for a walk. Also ask someone to inform the midwife that Y/n has possibly gone into labor. And for the Seven’s sake, don’t dump this information onto your brother as if someone is dying, we don’t need a panicked dad right now.”

“Got it,” his legs start moving even before he thinks about it, and with two boys held in a death grip, Kaeya runs out of the room. He startles a couple of maids in the hall, along with Diluc, who’s just walked out of the kitchen, holding his niece’s hand. The hero of today’s occasion lifts his eyebrows, staring at the disheveled form of his brother, and an uneasy feeling starts rising in his chest when he notices the barely concealed panic in his periwinkle eye.

“Kaeya, what’s going on?”

“Okay, birthday boy, I need you to stay calm no matter what I tell you now, alright?"

"Are you sure you are the one to tell me to stay calm?" Red brows meet together in an alarmed manner. "What's gotten into you? Where are our wives?"

Another sharp cry, easily recognised as yours, is heard from the living room, and in a quieted hall everyone is finally becoming aware of something going on, something very unplanned.

"Um, so, as I said, stay calm, 'luc. However hard it is to believe, your wife might’ve gone into labor.”

“What!?”

Loud gasps of the maids fall almost deaf to Diluc’s ears when he hears the news. Immediately one of the girls chirps that she’ll go find the midwife and quickly scurries away, while two more run upstairs to go and check the room specifically prepared for such an occasion. Someone steps up and takes Callie, bringing her with Kaeya and twins somewhere else, but honestly, the redhead doesn’t notice it. The only thing his mind keeps repeating is that his wife needs him.

When he bursts into the living room you’ve already gotten onto your feet, one hand gripping Mrs Alberich’s shoulder and the other pressed to your stomach. The grimace on your face and heavy breathing is an evidence itself of your state, and Diluc appears at your side in a flash of gray and crimson, wrapping an arm around your back.

“My flame, keep breathing. Everything is alright,” his deep voice is comforting and you lean your forehead into his chest, whimpering.

You nod, letting go of your friend’s shoulder, and Diluc takes it as an opportunity to lift you in his arms - there is no way he’s making you walk, especially when the point of your destination is the second floor. You do not even complain, instead focusing on trying to relax the best you can, exercising proper breathing and counting.

“I am so sorry, ‘luc. I wanted this day to be special and now I am ruining it…”

“No, you are not,” he says firmly, pressing a kiss to the top of your head. “Rather you are making it even more special. I know you worked hard, but I also know that all of it won’t go anywhere and we’ll have a moment to enjoy it properly afterwards. You are much more important right now, so let’s get you to the bedroom.”

Kaeya was right - it is hard to believe. Of course, it’s not clear yet, it still could be just false labor pains, but never in his entire life could Diluc imagine that one of his kids would be born on the same day he was. When he lays you down onto the bed with pristine white sheets and lets the midwife examine you, the heart in his chest is going absolutely crazy. He can’t bear to see that painful look on your face, how your pretty eyes squint and teeth are gritted, but he will rather fall dead in that same room, than leave it, leave you without his support.

You lift your hand and reach for him. Someone pushes a chair closer and he sits down, grasping your sweating hand with both of his and suddenly a memory flashes before his eyes. It’s been twenty years and he thought he has healed, but the rainy day and a man’s big hand he was clasping in his own come back to haunt him. His mind starts screaming. What if something goes wrong? What if he loses someone dear to him again? What if it’s the last time he feels the warm touch of the person who brought him out of his misery? What if it’s the last time he hears your voice and the distressed tone of it is what he’ll remember you like? Please, no, whoever is listening, don’t do it, don’t take you and the baby away from him, please, don't-

“Diluc,” his eyes snap open and he becomes painfully aware that he is shaking. But it's not about him, despite what day it is today. Right now everything is about you.

Inhaling deeply and sharply exhaling, he blinks away the images of the past and focuses on your face instead. It’s not twisted in pain now, instead you are smiling at him, the adoration in your eyes unmistakable and the squeeze you give his fingers is sobering.

“Did you hear that? It’s actually happening. My water actually broke. Our baby will be here soon. I can’t promise I won’t curse you back and forth like during the first time, but I’ll really try.”

At that moment, pushing the dread aside and leaning forward to press a sweet reassuring kiss to your lips, the man thinks that if it was legally allowed he’d marry you again.

It’s been a couple of hours since the Alberich couple left the Winery with all of the kids. It took Kaeya awhile to calm the boys down, while Callie remained uncharacteristically quiet, glancing at her mom from time to time, because her mother always knows what is going on, but this time, for some reason, isn't telling her.

Eventually both adults managed to persuade the three of them that they are on a mission to get some lovely flowers for Diluc and you - they made sure to pick different kinds that do not grow together for the process to take more time. Fortunately, it brought smiles back onto those cute little faces, and the couple let out a sigh of relief, watching their daughter and nephews, as the group went from one location to another. Lucas, being a dear he is, suggested that mom and dad deserved the biggest bouquets ever and Rufus doubled it, so now they are indeed on a mission to gather as many flowers as they can.

Making a pretty big circle, the five of them returned close to the Winery - but not quite. Settling near the Statue of the Seven, Kaeya stays to watch over the kids picking up windwheel asters and guard the bouquets they’ve already managed to create. The location allows him to oversee the vast grounds that belong to the Ragnvindr family, but also observe his wife’s figure getting smaller and smaller, but closer and closer to the main building. It was decided that soon everyone would get hungry, so she went to bring some food, but also to check on the situation at hand.

The sun hangs high in the sky and Kaeya squints in delight, letting the warm rays caress his face. Ah, what a wonderful day… With a puff of air he sits down and immediately lays his back on the soft ground, cracking his eye open. Not a cloud in sight, only the magnificent blue hues surrounding the brightest star, that’s the sight his brother deserves to have on his birthday - what a pity he can’t see it, stuck inside due to unplanned, though long-awaited, circumstances.

It is a perfect day for the twins’ sibling to be born, and for a brief moment a thought passes the Cavalry Captain’s mind - that maybe it’s the final step for Diluc to heal from all the pain and sorrow that whole 18th birthday situation caused him. Of course, it’s hard to tell, it was a seemingly endless nightmare after all, but he hopes for it, for this bundle of joy that is the redhead's third child to overshadow the loss of their father on this exact date.

Deep in his thoughts he doesn’t notice how Rufus comes closer, dividing equally the amount of flowers he’s gotten, putting one half in his dad’s pile and the other in mom’s one. Then he steps even closer, casting a small shadow across his uncle’s chest. Kaeya snaps out of it only when he feels a soft nudge, head turning and seeing that the boy carefully pushed the tips of his sandal against the lying man’s ribcage.

“What is it, Ru?” His voice sounds a bit lazy, but at least there is not even a hint of his initial panic - worry would only provoke the twins to feel concerned about the scene in the living room all over again, and he doesn't want that, their parents wouldn't want that.

The little flame in front of him watches closely with wide eyes, which in combination with wild red hair makes him look like a fluffed up owlet.

Totally Diluc’s kid.

“We picked a lot of flowers… When are we coming home? I wanna see mama and papa. And also I’m hungry…”

“Yeah, dad, me too,” Callie pops behind her cousin, staring at Kaeya with bright eyes. She’s holding a mix of windwheel asters and sweet flowers, and the keen dark eye spots a small ladybug crawling up one of the stems. Equally small white lie wouldn't hurt.

“Your aunt is setting an additional surprise right now,” yeah, that’s literally the best explanation he can give them, “but this one takes time, and we need to be patient for her, okay?”

“But if it’s a surprise, why did Uncle Diluc stay? Doesn’t make sense,” His daughter is too sharp sometimes, but that’s why he is proud of her.

“This one requires his presence, so she doesn’t have to worry about messing up. I believe you’ll like it, so let’s give them time. As for the lunch - our precious Snowflake will soon bring us something to eat.”

“Don’t call mom that in front of me,” Callie grumbles, kicking his hip, and the man gasps, hand immediately flying to grab the assaulted place.

“But snowflakes are pretty!” Lucas, who appeared somewhen during the conversation, stares at the older girl in confusion. “They are very pretty and have unique forms… Your mom is pretty and unique too!”

“I know she is, but sometimes it’s just argh. Oh! Doesn’t your father call your mother ‘my flame’?”

“Yes, he does,” Rufus confirms with a nod, sitting down onto the ground. Kaeya turns onto his side, ignoring the dull pain and supports his cheek with a fist. Well, this is amusing~

“Don’t you find it a little too much sometimes?” Both twins shake their heads, red bangs bouncing with the motion, and the girl sighs in exasperation. “Wait till you are as old as I am, you’ll realize how cringe it is.”

“What’s ‘cringe’?”

Kaeya snorts. It’s funny when a twelve-year old speaks of her age with such intonation. It never ceases to amaze him how well his daughter adapted in the role of an older sibling to her cousins. She quickly realized her leading position and it was and still is very clear in her attitude, especially right now, as she is educating them on the meaning of the word 'cringe'. She cares for them a lot though, so he can hardly find a situation where she abused her power in the dynamic the three of them have. Besides, both Rufus and Lucas are far from stupid - probably ones of the brightest kids he’s ever had encounters with, and already have their opinions, so despite loving and admiring Callie they still can fight her back verbally. The only difference is that this is Rufus’ style of handling arguments with her, while Lucas prefers more tranquil approaches. Watching the three interact, Kaeya can't help but wonder what kind of personality would the baby develop.

Ah, it’s going to get so much livelier~

It’s another half an hour, during which he sneakily stole the spotlight from his girl and entertained the kids with made-up, but attention-grabbing stories. His wife's arrival catches them all by surprise - just like everything else about her, as she shouts their names and waves at them the best she can with a basket hanging off of her elbow. She is not alone though. With delight overtaking their expressions, kids spot the most loving and kind (obviously favorite) maid at her side holding the rest of the baskets Mrs Alberich couldn’t carry on her own. Kaeya hasn't even sat up yet, and the kids are already speeding in her direction.

“Addieeeee!”

Overjoyed, in an instant they are all over her and the woman gently laughs, settling down the baskets and staying in a crouched position to hug all of them. As she is telling them to help her with unfolding the blanket, Kaeya rises to his feet, right in time to put his arms loosely around his wife's waist to press a kiss to the corner of her mouth.

"Thanks for the food and bringing additional help," he murmurs, smooching her again and taking the baskets away. Freed arms encircle his neck and soft lips press against his in return, stealing the man's breath away.

"Don't mention it. Adelinde figured we might need her, and she is right, personally I am at my wit's end," she sighs, glancing behind to make sure the kids are occupied with the task the head maid gave them. "As for the news - everything is going smoothly so far, but it'll take some more hours. Other maids suggested visiting Springvale or maybe going to the City, and I agree."

"Yes, that sounds reasonable…" Kaeya hums, inwardly admitting that some remaining weight has just been lifted off of his shoulders. "You think we'll have to return in the morning or…?"

"No. Before we left, Adelinde checked in with Diluc - apparently he'll send his falcon to deliver a message once everything is over."

Ah, yes… the falcon his brother personally trained once again just a couple of years ago after the passing of his very first winged companion. And once again Kaeya was that one person the bird will always find, no matter where he is.

"Delightful. Then let us have our lunch. What you've got there, hm?"

"What was supposed to be put for the celebratory breakfast we all missed. It'd be such a pity if the food went to waste, wouldn't it?"

"True," the Cavalry Captain sighs and, adjusting his hold on the baskets, leads both of them to the rest of their little group. “What a chaotic morning…”

The drawn together heavy curtains do not let a ray of a settling sun into the quiet room. The crimson painting the sky is undoubtedly beautiful, mesmerizing even, but no one dares to disturb your rest with a blazing color. The smell of freshly cleaned bedding is appeasing, but the fluffed up pillows that have the scent of your husband clinging to them is your main source of comfort - you faintly remember it, but you are sure of nearly snarling at whoever suggested changing the linen for them too before bringing you to the master’s bedroom. Poor maid must’ve been so scared, you’ll have to apologize to her later…

The slight guilt sparked by the memory is what makes you pass the line between dream and consciousness. You force your heavy eyelids open, but immediately squint a little from the light of the candles on the walls. A soft groan escapes your throat and you drop your head to the side, hiding from the light and blinking to make the eyes adjust. Succeeding in it, you take a quick look around the room, wondering if you were left alone to repose, or someone remained to monitor your condition.

That’s when you spot him. Or rather the gorgeous mane of ruby hair, shiny in the candlelight, thrown in a proper high ponytail, streaming down his upper back. He’s changed his clothes too - there is a hazy recollection of someone telling him to go and do so, and what a nice view it is, to see the gray pajama pants and pullover to be replaced with dark cherry - almost blackish - shirt, carmine vest and dark pants. But that’s not the most pleasing sight. Your heart almost melts, when the standing man turns around and you see a bundle of blankets delicately held in his strong arms. Vibrant eyes show every single emotion Diluc feels, looking at your baby. There is pure joy, happiness, bliss, love, promises to protect, to care, to cherish, to make every single day of life important and special. It’s so similar to the scene of nearly seven years ago, but without your husband bawling his eyes out with both arms occupied by twins. Well, maybe he did, a little, when you were resting, but you’ll never know.

You observe them for a little longer, the picture so perfect, you regret not having a Kamera in your hands right now to imprint a moment in a photo. Though you doubt you’d have strength to lift the thing enough to snap one and not make it blurry, so, just watching would suffice for now.

However Diluc’s senses are sharp, and when someone stares at him for longer than a couple of seconds - he knows. The warmth of the tamed flames seeps right through the eye contact, penetrating every cell in your body with welcomed heat. That may be the trick of the light, but his dark pupils dilate upon looking at you, and the blush creeps to your cheeks. Damn this man and him giving you looks like you are the whole world.

“Hey, love,” you softly call, the sound blending into the tender atmosphere, becoming a part of it, becoming Diluc’s source of oxygen for a brief second.

“Hello, my flame,” his voice can hardly mask the adoration and eagerness, with which he takes his next actions, makes it clear how excited he was for you finally awakening. With light steps he moves to the bed and carefully bends down. The touch of his lips is gentle, yet the feeling hidden behind it steals your breath away and your own lips part. Diluc murmurs something about wanting to give you so many kisses to compensate for the hours you spent in labor, and you breathlessly laugh at his adorable confession.

“It’s alright, ‘luc. Besides you are such a beautiful sight for a sore eye, how can I complain when my husband is all dressed up for me?”

“Oh, my flame,” his tone is oh so silken. “You are the beautiful one here. You looked so serene in your sleep, and now you shine like the brightest star.”

“Oh, stop that, I am sure I look like hell.”

“Not at all,” he shakes his head, long and fluffy bangs barely swaying. “You are wonderful. But how are you feeling? Need anything? Maybe you’d like to rest a bit more? I’ll take care of everything for you.”

You know he will, and this is one of the reasons that make him a great husband and an amazing father.

“No, no, I am fine, I feel better. It’s finally over. Our son is here.”

Yes, your son is here. Are you surprised it’s a boy again? Not really, there always was a gut feeling your older sons would have a little brother as their sibling, and by the red hairs you spotted when the baby was passed to you for the first time there is now a solid confirmation that Ragnvindr genes are insane.

“I want to hold him. May I?”

Without answering your question directly, Diluc carefully places the baby on the free space on the bed and helps you to adjust the pillows and sit up. Then the boy is instantly in your arms and Diluc kicks his shoes off to climb next to you. The sides of your heads touch, and you smile when his big hand is placed under yours, to provide additional support.

Your son is sleeping. So tiny and wrapped in all those blankets he is so peaceful. You swallow harshly to fight the tears back and shakily sigh, rapidly blinking. Rough fingers move your hairs away from your face and lovingly caress your cheek, reminding you that everything is okay.

“You did so well, my love… You are incredible, you know that?”

A choked chuckle erupts from your mouth and you sniffle.

“I am, am I not? But it’s also a miracle that he decided to come out right on your birthday.”

The man presses the firmest kiss he’s given you this evening to your temple and wraps his free arm around your shoulders, bringing you even closer. The thumping of his heart is palpable and makes you want to cry again.

“You know…” lifting your head, you come face to face with your husband, and there is a smile playing on his lips, one that is both bright and a bit melancholic. “Now there is one more reason to look forward to my birthday. To celebrate mine with you all and to celebrate his like that too.”

“Oh, we can have two parties!” You beam, closing your eyes and picturing it in your head. “Yours would be obviously in the morning, and his would be in the evening- oh, Ru and Lu would be so delighted to have two cakes to eat instead of one,” you share a soft laugh. Which actually reminds you…

“Have you sent anyone to notify them they can come home? I feel so bad that they had to spend your birthday away from you…”

“Don’t worry, dear. The message has been delivered and they should soon be here. And there is always tomorrow to start with the party all over again. I believe it was a smart decision to get kids out of the house. You know how protective twins are around you - they would’ve worried themselves out of their minds.”

You have to admit that Diluc is right - no need for your boys and niece to hear you scream and curse whoever was present for hours, and you can trust the Alberich family to keep them safe and entertained.

“Well then, if everything else is settled, my heart and mind are at peace… But we still have one important thing to do. The name. And before we go down the list, may I suggest something, please?”

“You are the mother, you have the most say in it,” his words make you lift an eyebrow at him, yet he only smiles. Shaking your head you poke your nose into his cheek.

“What a gentleman you are…"

"That's what my dad told my mom," he says as if in his defense. "And I agree with him on that one - after all, it's you who carried him for nine months and kept him healthy."

"Alright, alright, I could speak of all the ways you provided for me so I could do that, but I know you won't accept this kind of praise. Okay, I will have a say in it," Diluc scoffs, but you only give him a teasing wink. "Speaking of your parents, remember how you told me that your mother chose the name ‘Diluc’, because you were born in the early hours of dawn?” He nods, fondness reflecting in his eyes. “She also did it, because your father’s name means ‘twilight’, ‘dusk’ and she wanted them to match, right?” He nods again, but this time it’s confusion and a bit of hurt that are hiding behind his crimson pools of fire. Still holding the baby, you do your best to interlace your fingers with his, still supporting your hand, and the redhead takes notice of it, helping you, until there is a nice hold on each other's digits.

Swallowing thickly you take a deep breath to calm your nerves. Diluc would never be mad at you, but what you are going to suggest next is pretty huge.

"It's not on the list, but I took interest in this one when we were researching. The main meaning of this name is 'Sun'. However, there were languages that gave it a slightly different meaning, let's say, time-specific? And now, since our son was born on the 30th of April and almost at sunset, I thought that this one might be perfect. It's… It's Cyrus. And it can have the meaning of 'dusk', 'twilight', just like your father's name does."

The clock on the wall is ticking and that's the only sound in the room. You can barely hear your hearts beating or air entering and leaving your lungs, but your mind is in a race against itself, and you start second-guessing that maybe giving him a big reminder about that day was a mistake. Diluc’s been healing, you know that, you’ve been here all these years to witness his progress and be proud of him, but it still must hurt. His silence is worrying, but despite your own nervousness you give him time to process, to let the thought sink in and register what exactly you are implying.

You spend a few minutes quietly. Your husband never loosens his hold on your shoulders, and it soothes you when his thumb starts rubbing over your knuckles absent-mindedly. His warm breath caresses your skin, lulling your alerted senses to the point of tranquility, and you sigh audibly, lowering your head on his shoulder. And then you finally hear him speak again.

“Cyrus… It’s a lovely name. I… I really like it. No, I love it.”

“Yeah?” A soft murmur of your question sends a wave of delight to the man’s swelling heart. “You do?”

“I do. I think it’s perfect. But…are you really sure you want to honor my father?”

“He meant a lot to you, ‘luc,” you straighten up and turn to have a better view of the redhead. There are unshed tears clinging to his thick lashes and he doesn’t even blink, looking down at your son. “Listen, my love,” carefully sliding one hand from beneath the baby’s body you bring it to Diluc’s cheek, making him face you, making him gulp and lean into your open palm, “I too think it’s perfect, and maybe, just maybe, the birth of our son today is your dad’s sign to move on. Master Crepus would want that for you, I am sure, and passing on a small fracture of him to this boy would close this chapter forever. What do you think?”

“I think that I love you so-so much…”

His lips are scorching, kissing yours with feverish urgency. Tears roll down his flushed cheeks, but you brush them away the best you can, not minding the salty taste of the kiss. Diluc Ragnvindr has his chest open for you, for your hands to hold his beating heart, for them to take care of it. This pure joy that sets his soul aflame is overpowering, all-consuming, and he is more than ready to let it swallow him whole, if only you keep loving him the way you’ve been all these many years.

When he parts from you, the redhead nearly chokes and starts coughing from all the sobs he held back. Your fingers are deft, threading through his thick locks, gently scratching his scalp, as his forehead is pressed to yours. You remind him to breathe.

“And I love you too, Diluc. I always will.”

”Thank you.”

You smile, peppering his face with kisses, whispering the sweetest words of affection. He wants to tell you something, he even opens his mouth, but a sudden knock on the door interrupts him. Your eyes dart to the heavy wood blocking the entrance to your bedroom.

“Master Diluc?” It’s hushed, but still audible. “We spotted young masters, Sir Kaeya’s family and Miss Adelinde from the window. They will be here soon, should we ask them to wait?”

Your husband clears his throat, coughing in his fist, and then glances at your figure to check if you look good enough to receive so many people at once. You simply mouth an “I am fine”. It seems enough to assure him.

“No, Hillie,” your husband speaks louder. “Y/n is awake, so once everyone arrives, please, bring them here. And make arrangements for dinner.”

“Yes, Master!”

Diluc sighs when the hurried steps can no longer be heard and kisses you once more. The baby in your hold starts stirring and you return your free arm back around him, bringing the boy closer to your chest.

“Will you be fine, if I leave you alone with Cyrus for a moment?” Him already using the name reduces your heart to a puddle and you cannot fight the huge grin.

“We will, my love, don’t worry. Go wash your face, I’ll feed him in the meantime.”

With a nod he bends to kiss his son’s forehead and then peck you on the cheek, climbing out of the bed after that and disappearing in the bathroom.

Fortunately, you had a solid half an hour before your sons and guests returned. In that time you managed to feed Cyrus, lull him back to sleep and pass the boy to a much calmer and collected Diluc, who carefully placed him in a crib.

Upon your suggestion, the man steps out of the bedroom to meet everyone downstairs, and warn the kids about being quiet. Every maid he meets on the way beams at him with a smile, congratulating and asking if their Lady is alright and if she needs anything. Their eagerness to assist his wife with anything she might need and excitement they feel for the fact Ragnvindr family has just grown in number is heart-warming, and Diluc allows himself a small smile, as he answers them the best he can.

When he reaches the hall of the first floor it’s just on time to witness Adelinde closing the massive doors and locking them. Two balls of red immediately sprint to him and he barely has time to crouch and catch his elder sons. They start whining and pouting for missing the whole day with their dad and he kisses their round cheeks, promising to hold a proper celebration later.

“Hmph, you better!” Rufus scoffs, lightly punching his father’s shoulder. “But today is not over yet, right?”

Diluc nods, patting their heads affectionately, ruffling crimson locks. Then twins glance at each other and simultaneously inhale.

“Happy birthday, dad! We love you!”

“I love you too, fireflies,” he hums, straightening up and lifting both of them in his arms. “Thank you for your kind words, I appreciate them.”

“We brought you and mom bouquets! Callie helped too,” Lucas chirps, pointing to two big bunches of flowers in Kaeya’s and his wife’s arms. The redhead lifts his eyebrows, to which his brother only shrugs.

“This is wonderful, kids. I love them, and I know your mom would adore them too.”

“Oh, can we go see her?”

“Why isn’t she with you?”

“Dad said she was preparing a surprise, where is it?”

Bombarded with questions, flying from three directions, Diluc is reminded of why he came down here in the first place.

“Kids,” the seriousness in his voice stops the stream of interrogation. Three sets of eyes are glued to his face. “I am going to tell you something very important and I need you to listen, alright? Now we all are going to go to my and mom’s bedroom. There you’ll have to be quiet, okay? No screaming, no squealing, no arguments, no running around, got it? Your mother is very tired, and someone who’s also waiting for you there may start crying if you disturb him.”

Mrs Alberich gasps, widely smiling, and turns to her husband, whispering in his ear.

”It’s another boy!”

Children on the other hand look utterly confused, but they do know when the look on the Dawn Winery owner’s face shows he is not kidding. This sounds so mysterious, and while puzzled they are dying to know what’s going on. And without acting the way their dad/uncle asks they will not find out what it is.

“Okay, we understand. We will be quiet.”

“Thank you,” he bends down again to put his sons back onto the floor and glances behind at his staff. “Someone, take these flowers and put them in vases in the living room. Kids, go wash your hands.”

"Yes, Master Diluc!"

When the door to the bedroom opens, you wave to everyone with a soft smile, cozying among the many pillows again.

"Mama!" Twins exclaim in whispers, tiptoeing to the bed and climbing up to hug you. "We missed you so much… How are you? Why are you in bed?"

"Tired," you simply explain, smooching their cute little noses and hugging them as tightly as you could. Suddenly, Lucas's eyes fall to your stomach - or rather to where it was just hours ago.

"Mom… where is the baby?" He asks, patting around the blanket, and indeed discovering the belly's absence. Rufus lowers his gaze to confirm his brother's words and then looks at you and after that at Diluc, who's just quietly closed the door shut.

"Dad, what did you do to the baby?"

"Nothing."

"When where-?"

He stops when you tap his shoulder and, once both boys' attention is yours again, point to the crib standing close to the side of the bed. Callie, who's been watching all along, has her interest picked, and steps to the little bed from the other side, as her cousins crawl across the mattress. With six hands grabbing at the wooden edges and six eyes glancing inside, the room falls quiet again for a few moments. Kaeya walks to you and gives you a hug, kissing your forehead and congratulating you with a new addition to the family.

"It's funny isn't it?" He murmurs. "Now you don't need to invite us another time to meet the newborn."

You laugh at that. As he moves away your co-sister-in-law is quick to take his place, embracing you and pecking your cheek, also congratulating you and teasing for once again being a boy’s mom. Diluc meanwhile has taken place by his niece’s side, gently smoothing her hair back, observing the kids’ reaction.

It’s Lucas who opens his mouth first.

“So… this is our sibling?”

“Yes, Lu. This is your little brother.”

“He sure is little,” Rufus drawls, “I’d even say tiny. Were we this tiny too?”

“You were,” Callie butts her way in a conversation. “I was your age when I saw you two for the first time. Though I couldn’t hold both of you in my arms, you were heavy. You are still heavy, hehe.”

“We are not-!”

“Shh,” Diluc presses a finger to his lips, and the kids slam their palms over their mouths. “Remember what I asked you about? No fighting, or he will wake up and start crying.”

“Sorry, dad…”

“Sorry, Uncle Diluc…”

You snort at the little exchange, watching your family fondly, thinking that you wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Hey, brother,” Kaeya joins the other man and grabs his shoulder, squeezing in an affectionate gesture, “Congrats. Both with your and your son’s birthday.”

Diluc nods, lifting his own hand, patting the one resting on his shoulder.

“Oh, right!” The older twin’s eyes sparkle at the realization and he stares up at his dad. “Does it mean you share a birthday with him?”

“Yes, I do, Ru. Does it bother you?”

“Are you kidding me? Dad, that’s so cool! Me and Lucas always have each other for our birthday, he would have you for his!”

“Also it means two cakes,” the other six-year old murmurs under his breath, and Diluc nearly chuckles - you do know your boys too well. It also lifts a weight he wasn’t aware of off his chest - it seems like he was a bit worried, if twins would feel jealous of the fact their dad’s and sibling’s birthdays are on the same date. But since they are cool with it - he is more than cool too.

“Speaking of him,” Mrs Alberich manages to take a peek into a crib too, aw-ing at the fact it’s a red-haired baby again, “have you chosen a name already?”

“We did,” scarlet eyes stare right into your soul through yours, and you mirror Diluc’s proud smile. “His name is Cyrus. Cyrus Ragnvindr.”

“Cyrus, hmm…” Kaeya purses his lips in thought, as if examining the name in and out, like some kind of a linguist. “Diluc, Rufus, Lucas and Cyrus… Yeah, fits right in.”

“Not as well as Cherry №3 I bet,” Callie smirks at the twins, to which, keeping in mind the promise they gave their dad, they only stick their tongues at her.

“I told you the name was perfect,” your husband reminds you with a soft chuckle.

“Oh, wait!” The eye-patch wearer snaps his fingers without actually making a snapping sound. “DiLUc and LUcas, RUfus and CyRUs… You now have two Lu’s and two Ru’s!”

“Oh Archons, I didn’t realize that,” with wide eyes you stare back at him. “That’s so cute!”

“Can we call him Cy?” Lucas pulls away from the little bed, and sits back on the mattress properly.

“I think it is indeed a short form for his name,” you nod, feeling so relieved about how smoothly everything has been going. Yeah, surely the birthday party didn’t go as planned, but on the other hand you finally have your boy, and your other boys look pretty happy after meeting their younger brother. So it’s all wonderful.

Or maybe you are too fast to judge.

“Uncle Diluc, Aunt Y/n,” you are surprised, when your niece calls you both, and glance at the oldest kid in the room inquiringly. To your surprise her face is expressionless, or at least she is trying to keep it this way, because your husband can clearly see barely-hidden mischief lighting up her eyes. She waits when her silence draws attention of the rest of the people to her persona and then, with the same straight face, says something that immediately sends her father choking on a silent laughter.

“Next time I want a girl cousin.”

Dumbfounded, Diluc, you and her mother stare at the girl with jaws going slack, while Kaeya is nearly dying from suppressing his violent coughing, bent in half and shaking. Not letting it crack her act, she holds her head high and heads right towards the door, feigning nonchalance with her graceful posture and slow steps.

“I will go and ask about the dinner. That's all.”

And just like that she leaves you all once again under the pretense of checking on with the kitchen staff. Mrs Alberich is the first one to snap out of the collective stupor and, shaking her head, grabs Kaeya’s elbow to drag him out of the room. Diluc is next, inhaling deeply, wondering why he is even surprised by her antics. He notices how the twins kind of lost interest in watching a baby that is doing literally nothing, so he ushers the boys to a very important mission - to make sure that their dad’s favorite meal is cooked, which they take with all seriousness.

And once more it’s only him, you, and little Cyrus, sleeping peacefully in his bed. You watch thick scarred fingers unbutton the vest and peel it off, hanging it on the back of the chair. Same fingers brush his bangs away and he sighs again, making eye contact with you. He smiles and you smile too.

“As much as I love this girl, I’ll have to disappoint her.”

“I agree, love,” the man is at your side again, an arm snaking around your shoulders and pressing you into him. “I admit, I would’ve loved to have a sweet girl looking just like you, but judging by the looks of our sons... Who knows how many attempts it’ll take, and I am not risking your health anymore.”

“You are so sweet,” you swoon, lacing your fingers together and squeezing his hand. “I love you for that. Are you sure that this is enough?”

“It always was enough. From the moment it was just you and me it was already enough. You simply tripled this happiness.”

“We tripled this happiness.”

“We will.”

“Yes, we did. And we will keep it that way.”

You lean close to kiss him, but, before he can reciprocate, start kissing all over his face, wherever your current position allows you to reach. Your partner keens on your affectionate attack, lowering his head on purpose, so you have more skin to cover with your lips, and since it brings you so much satisfaction, you do not stop until a thought, that you are forgetting something, is at the front of your mind.

“I just realized that I am the only one who has not wished you a happy birthday today. So… Happy birthday, Diluc. I love you very-very much. Sorry I am not very creative this year.”

“I think the little boy sleeping over there would beg to differ,” your husband nods at the crib, making you pout, but is quick to kiss it away. “I love you too, Y/n. Thank you for everything. This birthday was as perfect as any other you spent with me.”

“And I will make sure to make it perfect every single year ahead of us, my glorious Dawn. Should we wish a happy birthday to our little Dusk as well? I think I heard Kaeya briefly congratulate him, I want to do it too!”

You are so adorable when excitement is written all over you, and it's hard not to give in to your sparkling eyes, especially when he wants the same thing you do.

“We absolutely should. Let’s do it together, alright?”

The sky is painted black outside, and the second floor of the Winery is quiet, when in the comfort of one of its rooms three sweet words are spoken in two voices with such love and devotion, only parents can have for their child.

“Happy birthday, Cyrus.”

And maybe the winds would pick these words and carry them through the time to the one, and, stroking his short red beard, he would smile and say that the Dawn and the Dusk were always meant to be together.

Diluc and Cyrus

#genshin impact #genshin impact x reader #diluc ragnvindr #diluc x reader #diluc x fem!reader #diluc ragnvindr x reader #dadluc #genshin oc #kaeya alberich #genshin impact fluff #pearly family au

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yxngbxkkie · 1 year

Text

same glasses, different prescriptions (l.y.f)

so, i noticed that felix and i have the same kind of glasses. and so, i wanted to write a cute little fic on how you mix up your glasses! it's super cute, pretty short, but cute nonetheless 💖

feedback is appreciated 🥰

The urge to use the bathroom wakes you from your slumber. A tiny groan leaves your lips as you glance towards your phone, checking the time. 7:33 am. You throw the covers off of you before sliding out of bed.

You stumble out of your bedroom, hearing your boyfriend talking to someone in the other room. You do your business in the bathroom before making your way into the kitchen, seeing Felix sitting at the island.

You wrap your arms around him, resting your head on his shoulder. "Why are you up?" You mumble tiredly, gently rubbing his chest.

Felix lays a hand on top of yours. "I couldn't sleep. Why are you awake, sweetness? You look like you're about to fall asleep on me," he chuckles, pressing a light kiss on the side of your head.

"Had to pee," you giggle, humming afterwards.

"You're adorable. C'mon, let's get you back to bed," he mumbles while standing up.

Felix grabs a hold of your hand, lacing your fingers together before leading you back to your shared bedroom.

"Will you lay with me?" You ask him as you walk into the room.

"Yeah, sweetness," Felix laughs as you crawl back under the covers.

You nuzzle your face into your pillow as the bed dips beside you. Your boyfriend lays beside you before scrolling through his phone again. One of your hands finds his free one and you lace your fingers together again.

"I love you, Lixie," you tiredly mumble, feeling your eyes start to droop shut.

He kisses the top of your head, squeezing your hand in his. "I love you too, sweetness."

You fell back to sleep for a few hours, once again waking up by yourself. You pout and call out Felix's name. Silence fills the space around you as you slip out of bed.

10:53 am. "I guess I can get up now," you mention to yourself after checking the time. You rub your eyes while grabbing your glasses on Felix's nightstand.

You notice how dirty the lenses are and decide to clean them while walking out into the living area. You notice Felix's blurry figure sitting on the couch and you pout.

"You left me again," you playfully whine, walking over to him.

Once you plop down onto the couch beside him, Felix places a hand on your bare thigh. "I'm sorry, sweetness. Chan hyung stopped by earlier," he explains while kissing your cheek.

"It's okay. I forgive you," you laugh and put your glasses on. A surprised noise comes from your lips as you instantly squeeze your eyes shut. "These are not my glasses."

Felix bursts out laughing before gently taking his glasses off of your face. "Silly, I told you to stop putting yours next to mine," he explains with a chuckle.

"I put mine there first," you defend yourself, looking towards your blurry boyfriend.

"Yeah, on my nightstand," he boops your nose, getting up from the couch. "I'll go grab yours, sweetness."

You lean your head against the couch, your heart fluttering in your chest. "Oh, how I love you," you say loud enough for him to hear.

Felix returns with your glasses in hand. His legs are on both sides of yours as he gently slides your glasses on. You grin up at him, removing the hair that's tucked under the arms of your glasses.

"Thank you, honey," you whisper, and Felix leans forward to kiss your lips.

"You're welcome, my sweet," he mumbles against your lips.

You reconnect your lips with his, deepening the kiss he started. His hand rests on your cheek, feeling his thumb gently caressing your cheekbone.

Felix ends up straddling your lap, and you place your hands on his thighs. "I love you so much," you sigh after he pulls away, his forehead resting on yours.

"I'm gonna marry you," he whispers, nudging your nose with his. "I swear to God, I'm going to marry you."

Your cheeks blush as you reach for one of his hands. "Yeah? I'd say yes in a heartbeat," you inform him with a smile.

"Good. You're stuck with me."

You press one last kiss on his lips. "I wouldn't want it any other way, Lixie."

tagging: @thewxntersoldier @reddesert-healourblues @spacegirlstuff @moon0fthenight @foxinnie8

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silvervioletvalentine · 8 months

Text

🖤☠️Sick in love ☠️🖤

Pairing : Max Verstappen x teammate Cherrie!

Word count : 5k

Summary: - @be-your-coffee-pot so i have this little idea where like cherrie is like a driver for redbull right with max and they do not get along because they're both hard headed little shits. but this once before a race shes gets rly sick with high fever and what not and shes almost completely out of it during the interviews and press conferences and max cant help but yk coddle her a little bit. and they're on the couch with the rest of the drivers during the press conference and shes leaning against him and she just falls asleep and max falls in love lmao

Warnings/ AN- just fluff basically. Max and Cherrie are petty little bitches to each other . I hope you like it! @be-your-coffee-pot !! 🦋 I strayed a little tiny bit away from the plot but this is what I came up with in my sleep deprived , who the hell am I, how am I still awake. Oh my god it’s night time , form! So enjoy! It’s not edited because I can’t be bothered and that’s just not me. Lemme know what u think coxo

When Cherrie woke up that morning it was to her skin layered with horrible sweat , feeling like her blood was boiling yet as she wiped at her face with her trembling hand, all she felt was cold and clammy .

Groaning in misery to herself as she sniffled her way through getting ready , only managing to pull on a redbull hoodie before she was stumbling out of her room to see her assistant waiting for her , a look of concern immediately washing over her face at the sight of her driver .

Jenny gasped , taking in cherries pale skin and bright red cheeks.

Looking like a blushing bride despite the fact that Jenny had seen the most hottest of men flirt with her all summer, and not once had her cheeks even tinged with colour .

"You're sick." She stated the obvious in concern , knowing how stubborn Cherrie was and how much she hated being sick.

She liked to go into denial about it whenever she was ill, claiming that she was fine and that the flu and bugs going around never affected her. Like she was some superhero with powers to divert viruses and bugs from kids that never washed their fucking hands before touching things.

It was bound to happen sometime and yet Cherrie refused to admit it, she had work to do after all.

She didn't have time to be sick.

"I am not." She refused to be.

Head feeling heavy and the room spinning slightly as she clutched onto the table , blinking as slowly as she could as she tried to clear her foggy head.

"This is all Max's fault." She croaked out in distain as she let her body fall into one of the chairs heavily , sniffling again. Swearing that she saw the kettle move and dance out of the corner of her eye , but when she glanced over at it again. It had not.

She swallowed dryly , then winced to herself in pain as she felt sharp pin pricks in her throat .

"Fucking bastard." She sniffled again . Sounding like she had out a peg over her nose , barely able to breathe.

Jenny just rolled her eyes, hands on her hips , ready to hear what max had done this time to get the blame. Used to hearing the both of them bitch at eachother and about each other at every chance they got.

You would think that with max and Cherrie being teammates, that they would get along just fine . Both of them world champions and both of them leading nearly every race , always a redbull 1-2. And yet...despite everyone's wishful hopes . That just didn't happen at all.

Instead , Cherrie, with her usual attitude and terrible humour , had taken it up to herself to tell max exactly what she thought of him at the time.

Coming straight from Mercedes , she had not been his biggest fan at all.

But hey, she wanted to be a winner and she knew that redbull was the only way that she would be going fast enough to do so, so when checo was out , she was in without any hesitation.

And it might have went well had she been able to shut herself up. But Cherrie had a problem with keeping every bad thought and opinion in her head, having lacked a filter since the day she could say 'fuck' and 'you' in The same sentence.

Max just happened to be at the end of her target this time around and he was like a walking orange dot for her to focus on, refusing to leave him be. Going out of her way to annoy him, on and off the track.

She just couldn't help herself. It was too easy.

But it wasn't all her fault because max was exactly the same way. Both of them too stubborn and hardheaded , way too blunt with awkward humours that most other people just never understood .

They clashed like the red bulls that they were .

Max gave it back to her just as much as she did. He didn't hesitate in insulting her back, picking at every little thing that she did or said just to see the way she would immediately flare up and glare at him, threatening him creatively each and every time .

It was entertainment to him, he could selfishly admit it to himself . And no matter how much times Christian had tried to force them to bond and just be nice , neither of them would give in. Much too prideful to admit that they were both at wrong and that they were both just bullying each other for the fun of it now.

And maybe max wouldn't have been so bitter and upset if Cherrie hadn't started dating the biggest prick around after a particularly nasty fight they had.

Max , at the time, had stupidly took a low shot at her lack of relationships , telling her meanly that 'no man would ever want to put up with her bullshit'. When what he wanted to say was 'I want to put up with your bullshit but we can't stop bullshitting each other enough to even have a conversation.'

And he should have known that he hasn't won that argument when she just levelled him with a cold look and walked up . He had naively forgotten how petty she was . Because she had taken it up a extra level and come straight back with a brand new boyfriend to shove in his face , far too smug and pleased with herself as she watched the look of anger and annoyance on his face when she brought him to the garage , kissing him right in front of max until he stormed off in a rage .

He had dnf'd that race and things hadn't ever been the same since then. Their bickering and fighting had only gotten worse to the point where her assistant tried to pull her away from max as much as possible.

But only so much was possible at the end of the day . He was literally her teammate , it was in her contract to work with him and be around him. And that included doing videos and joint interviews together , she barely ever not go to see his stupid face. It was irritating.

"Where the ghost?" Cherrie croaked out , head pounding as she looked blearily down at the plate of food in front of her that jenny had made.

Her assistant paused, then blinked slowly "ghost?" She repeated in disbelief "what the hell are you talking about?" She looked around the room with worry as though an actual ghost was going to pop up and scare them.

But Cherrie just frowned back at her, looking equally as confused. "My toast. Jenny." She whined .

Jenny sighed loudly , hand on her face with worry . "You are so sick! Are you sure you're going to be well enough for today?" She worried .

Cherrie sniffled "but I didn't say that." She denied , slowly blinking . "I'm fine."

She then began to slowly eat her breakfast , toast included , in silence . Barely able to keep her eyes open.

Yet she still managed to let out a loud groan of misery when Jenny told her just who she was paired up with in interview today.

"No!" She whined , practically pouting. "Why are you torturing me like this Jenny? Don't you like me?" She turned into a baby when she was sick. Looking like she might cry as she peered over at her with wide eyes.

Jenny just sighed , used to her shit by now. rubbing at her head in stress. "Just play nice okay? Don't make this harder for yourself Cherrie. You're already sick, don't let max give you an even bigger headache than you have ."

Cherrie just groaned again.

Max actually paused what he was doing when he saw her sluggishly walk into the room, his brows furrowing deeply as he scanned her from head to toe. Worry tugging at his chest as he took in her dropped eyes and pale face , looking like a absolute mess.

He told her so "you look terrible ." He stated , shocked .

"What the hell is wrong?" He demanded to know coming over to her .

Cherrie just huffed tiredly , smiling a little because she has taken some strong pain meds right before they left the hotel and she could already feel them kicking in. Her head felt like it was floating away and her chest tickling like she was going to giggle.

But max was there, standing in front of her and looking at her like she had grown an extra head.

So she frowned back at him while scowling . "So lovely." She sarcastically replied "it's a surprise that you're not a virgin if that's how you speak to ladies." She said bluntly .

Max rolled his eyes , crossing his arms over his chest. Not taking his eyes away from her .

"It's a Surprise that you're not single. What kind of boyfriend lets you leave like this, when you're clearly not well?" He threw back at her, annoyed and hating that he felt so damn concerned in the first place.

He shouldn't care at all. She was a pain in his ass and practically loved to annoy him. So why did he want to carry her back to the hotel, wrap her in a blanket and cuddle her like a baby until she was well again?

That was a weird thought . He swallowed a little . Quickly pushing it away.

"I am single now." She let him know blandly as she pushed past him to head over to the couch set up for their interview .

"So I'm going to fuck all your closest friends." She told him with a grin, practically throwing herself down onto the couch. Yawning and sniffling , coughing too.

Max's frown deepened "you are not." Then he realised what she had said and had to fight back a smile . "He dumped you?" He sounded gleeful even to his own ears.

Cherrie glared at him for it "no!" She groaned out "I dumped him. He just wasn't scratching that itch anymore." She complained, giggling. Looped from the meds.

Max paused, then said "get a back scratcher then." Smartly like the ass that he was.

Cherrie just snorted "the itch is not on my back it's in my-"

Max let out a high pitched noise and quickly shut her up. Sitting down next to her. "Shut up! I didn't care. I don't want to hear it." He exclaimed , face flushing.

He then smacked his palm over her forehead , startling her . But his face was cold with concentration .

"You burning up! What is wrong with you?!" He exclaimed , worried. Brushing her hair away from her sweaty face without even thinking about it.

Cherrie slapped his hand away without missing a beat , "it's 'cause I'm so sexy. Like a fire ball. I am fire- so I'm hot- like- like.."she was looped and max didn't know whether to be endeared or scared by her behaviour . "Like the sun." She finished off , sneezing .

Max groaned a little , still frowning at her . Then the interviewer came in and he wiped the Worry from his face , not wanting the cameras to see him looking at her like that.

So he stared straight ahead instead , crossing his arms over his chest so he wouldn't do something as stupid as hold her hand.

"If you get me sick, I will kill you." He muttered.

Cherrie just snorted , coughing. "No you won't. You're too soft to kill me. You'd cry." She replied simply . Believing it .

Max just huffed but didn't bother to deny it. He may have enjoyed winding her up but murdering her was a little too far .

Maybe giving her a good shake when she was acting up.

"Fuck you." He mumbled instead. Lamely.

Cherrie laughed "you wish. Grow balls first , i like sucking em." She joked.

Max went red , gasping and smacking her leg , flustered by her lack of filter. She had No shame at all. Giggling at the look on his face.

"There's something wrong with you Cherrie." Be hissed at her. Placing his hand over his cheek so that she couldn't see him blush. How embarrassing.

But come on. Hearing a beautiful woman tell you that she liked to suck balls was going to make any straight man squirm.

He was just a man after all. He wasn't immune to her beauty , just intimidated by her lack of charm, it was like dealing with the devil.

"Yeah." She looked at him like he was stupid "I'm sick."

He groaned. "So you admit it! You are sick!" He smugly responded .

But Cherrie just shook her head , sniffling agin. "I didn't say that."

"Yes you did!" He looked incredulously at her, mouth dropping open.

She blinked "no I didn't. Don't lie max. Your Pants can't take anymore fire."

He groaned.

By the time dinner time came around, Cherrie was well and truly sick of max verstappen. And Baffled and so fucking confused. Because he wouldn't leave her the hell alone.

He had taken to taking her temperature every fifteen minutes. Mumbling underneath his breath and forcing her to drink cold water when it didn't go down quick enough for his liking .

Then he was forcing her to tell him what she had been eating and if she had been anywhere that she could have gotten a deadly virus from. Hand cupped over her forehead in her worry , having followed her back around . Like a needy puppy looking for it's owner , Cherrie was exasperated.

She looked up at him in disbelief "I've only been where you've been max! What's wrong with you?" She moaned moodily . Head pounding.

She shoved his hand off her head , again, and stomped straight to the couch, laying on it. Closing her eyes and ignoring him.

He placed his hands on hips and glared down at her . Almost biting his nails out of worry the whole morning . She was clearly out of it , otherwise she wouldn't have even let him into her motor home in the first place.

It literally had 'no max fartstappen allowed' written in marker on the front . Yet here he was, and he was worried and trying to deny why he was so worried for in the first place.

It wasn't going very well.

And now he was making her honey tea and wondering if he could call out a doctor without her realising he had done so.

"Cherrie! You've called me maxie twice!" He exclaimed like that was enough evidence for Him

to be like this. Coddling her like a Damsel in distress.

She just shoved her face further into the pillow, frowning tiredly . "So?" She mumbled.

He huffed "so?" He scoffed while gently pulling her body up so that she would sit up right.

Ignoring her complaining and her glare, he lifted the teacup to her lips. Glaring back at her just as hard when she refused to take a sip.

"drink it Cher. It'll help your thirst. It has

honey In it ." He told her sternly , tapping it against her lips, not giving up.

She eventually gave in with a another stubborn groan, sipping at it while he held the cup up to her lips. Hand on the back of her hand to keep her steady so she didn't spill it. Like it was a totally normal thing for him to do.

It was not.

He continued in quietly "you've called me maxie and you usually call me asshole. So you're clearly dying." He stated. Serious as shit.

Cherrie sniffled, side eyeing him judgmentally . Heart pinching a little as she saw the way he was looking at her , his thumb rubbing soft circles in the back of her stiff neck without even realising it. Trying to make her feel better .

"Why do you even care? This is your fault anyways!" She accused him. Coughing.

He groaned, side eyeing her straight back. He should have known she would rope him into the blame somehow .

"how?!" He raised his voice a little then winced to himself when she winced in pain , quickly lowering his voice again . "How?"

She turned her stuffed nose up at him "you covered me in cold champagne in the rain!"

Max glared at her "because you won! Lando did it too!" He was incredulous .

She just huffed stubbornly, because when In doubt blame a man . "But you did it with Cruel intention' you wanted me to get sick so you could win!"

He glared at her, taking the now empty cup away from her lips. Then flicking at her chin with his fingers making her flinch , wide eyed .

"I can win with you not sick, thank you! You think that I want to hear you whine about like chewbacca?!" He shot back at her. Annoyed at her stupid accusations. She was just grasping at straws, wanting someone to be annoyed at .

She gasped then , insulted . Wide eyes glaring at him "I do not sound like chewbacca!" She cried out.

He smirked "you kinda look like him too." He said. Then laughed as she hauled a cushion at his head.

"Get out asshole!" She snapped. Too tired to shout.

Max just rolled his eyes playfully , watching as she laid back down. He placed a pillow in his lap, patting it. Casually

She ignored him.

"No. I'm not leaving." He stated seriously . Patting his lap again.

She side eyed him "I'll Hurt you." She threatened him. Sniffling loudly .

Her nose was red and eyes droopy, max felt his heart soften. She was always beautiful but now she just looked cute.

He stifled a grin. Knowing how much she would hate being called cute.

"What you gonna do? Sneeze on me?" He responded smugly . "Shut up. Come here." He patted his lap again, impatiently this time.

She let out a mocking laugh "fuckoff. I'm Not lying I'm your lap." She muttered, yawning, blinking and seeing three Max's.

She blinked hard again, and saw just one max looking down at her , sighing loudly at her stubbornness .

"I'll fuck off after you've had a nap." He promised her.

"You'll smother Me In My sleep." She let him pull her up and position her so that her head was in his lap instead. Too tired and head hurting too much to fight him on it physically , but her mouth did.

"Bastard." She huffed.

Max just rolled his eyes , tapping his fingers gently against her forehead . "I'll smother you for real if you keep arguing with me. Just shut your fucking eyes so I can leave you sooner. You're getting on my nerves." He told her, twirling her hair around his finger. In awe by how soft it was.

She punched his thigh, he gently tugged her hair . She closed her eyes, huffing tiredly.

She was asleeep in minutes. And max didn't leave.

Hours later and she was still so sick and so tired and max was coddling her, it was weird and strange and they were getting looks from everybody that saw them together .

But she was too sick too care , just giving in and letting him baby her. She couldn't find it in herself to complain this time.

Maybe when she could finish a sentence without coughing her guts up , she would tease him for his level 100 clinger personality that had suddenly appeared .

The way he wouldn't leave her side, holding a flask of soup in his hand that he had made just for her after searching up a recipe on his phone when she was sleeping . He made her drink it from the small cup as they waited for their next press conference.

"You look like you're dying." He winced as she coughed horribly again "sound like it too." He added unhelpfully .

She groaned a little, leaning into his side and sipping the soup slowly . Barely able to keep her eyes open.

"You loook like that all the time. What's your excuse maxie?" She weakly resorted back.

She missed the way his cheeks flushed at the nickname falling so easily from her lips, clearing

his throat and placing his hand on her arm to steady her. Just as Daniel saddled up to them, looking far too amused for his liking .

Cherrie paid him no mind but max saw the teasing look on his face and sighed long and hard ,

Knowing just what was coming.

He flushed bright red "what?" He defensively snapped at him already .

Daniel just laughed loudly "nothing!" He grinned smugly , then watched as max made her take some more painkillers. Taking her temperature again like a worried mother hen.

"You a doctor now?" He teased him.

Max just huffed "shut up." He muttered . "She's sick and I don't want to get sick too." He said.

Daniel giggled "then maybe you shouldn't be standing so close to her then. I'm surprised you're not giving mouth to mouth yet." He joked.

Then dodged the empty flask cup flying at his head. Laughing the whole time.

Cherrie was completely out if by the time the press conference was happening, body sagging against Max's on the couch. Not paying any attention and just mumbling her barely there answers , max answering most of them for her without missing a single beat . His media training kicking in perfectly .

Then she eventually went quite and he glanced down at her for a moment , feeling a heavy weight falling on-top of his shoulder. His eyes widening in surprise and cheeks flushing bright red as he noticed that she had drifted off too sleep on him, lips parted with small breaths. Frowning a little still in her sleep.

He gently smoothed the frown from her pretty face away with his thumb. Smiling a little to himself at the grumble she let out, squeezing his arm between her own as she cuddled up against him. Out if it, mumbling nonsense beneath her breath.

Then he looked up and caught Daniels eye,

His friend smirking at him as he held up his phone to take a picture for evidence . The other drivers looking between the two teammates that 'hated' each other in shock.

Charles was blinking at him In disbelief "but she called you a dirty, two faced, lying sloth last week." He was gaping, gobsmacked by the sudden change.

Max just flushed a even darker shade of red . Not answering .

Then lando was giggling at him Knowingly "-and you said that she was the most annoying person you had ever met. That you wouldn't touch her even if someone paid you." He pointedly glanced down at his arm around her shoulders and the way he was placing his hand Gently on Her forhead to check her temperature again.

He quickly dropped his hand and cleared his throat awkwardly "that was last week." He muttered , swallowing audibly .

Embarrassed to be caught acting like this in front of his friends. "And I don't need to be paid to touch her." I'd do it for free . Beg if I had to. He thought.

The sudden realisation was shocking and he actually flinched in shock to himself , hissing a little beneath his breath as he froze up just as she startled awake. Glaring up at him dazedly , hair sticking up and face sweaty. Delirious and sick.

"Max! For Fucks sake!" She whined , still

half asleep.

Pushing at his shoulder weakly . "Have you got worms you asshole?" She sniffled. Rubbing at her tired eyes like a child .

Max blushed , heart pounding in his chest as he just Looked at her with wide eyes, mouth gaping open a little bit.

Because what the fuck was this?

"Shut up." He weakly replied. Catching Daniels eyes again, his friends wiggling His brows teasingly .

He was So completely fucked. Oh my god.

The only problem with realising his feelings was that max had a problem with keeping his Mouth shut. The words were practically tearing at his lips as he carefully led her back to her hotel room, not taking no for an answer .

He made her another hot tea , placed a wet flannel over her head and tucked her into her bed without even blinking . Like this was normal, like he did this all the time.

He did not. But he wanted to.

He swallowed thickly as he looked down at Cherrie then , taking in her drooping eyes and red rosy cheeks, hair a mess on the top of her head. He felt his heart pound in his chest.

A year of being teammates and it was just hitting him now ? Jesus Christ! What the fuck?

His mind raced just as fast as his heart was and he couldn't hold it in. He felt like his brain was going to explode.

"Cherrie?" He spoke up quietly after Clearing his throat awkwardly . Stood by the end of her bed still , hands shoved into his pockets as he looked down at her tired frame in the soft sheets.

She hummed, coughing a little . "Yeah?" She didn't even Open her eyes.

He took a deep breath and then without even thinking about it , his heart opened straight up.

"I love you." He blurted it out bluntly . Cringing deeply to himself as he did so . Face a permanent bright red as he tensed up, eyes wide and feeling like he was a bit to have a heartattack and keel over right in front of her.

His nerves got the better of him and he started rambling . "I mean- it's weird but I am so in love with you and that's why I was so mad when you got a boyfriend. Because I wanted to be your boyfriend and thats stupid because we hate each other-"

"We don't hate eachother." Cherrie simply

muttered. Still not opening her heavy eyes, but there was smile tugging at her lips.

Max swallowed thickly "yeah _ well-I love you. Okay?" He finished up weakly. Feeling sick to his stomach .

He watched as she took a deep Breath , shaking her head a little with a small smile on her face, cracking open one eye to look at him.

She hummed a little "max?"

He exhaled shakily "yeah?"

"Can you tell Me that you love when I can breathe through both nostrils again?" She casually replied. Smiling softly at him. Fondly.

Max rapidly nodded his head, laughing nervously . Biting down on his bottom lip as he felt a rush of hope and excitement fill him.

"Yeah of course! Sounds good. Sounds like a plan. I like plans. Okay." He nodded his head again. Smiling widely at her.

Then he thumbed over his shoulder and awkwardly shuffled to the door "I should go. You need to rest." He stated , still grinning happily .

He opened the door, heart pounding in his chest. His head quick to snap back over to her when she quietly called to him

"Max??"

"Yeah?"

"I love you." She told him easily , yawning. Then coughed again. Ruining the sweetness but it was more than enough for him.

Max smiled giddily, laughing a little nervously . "Cool. Cool. Yeah okay! That's good- thank you." He rambled on. Giving her a thumbs up.

Cherrie laughed. Then coughed.

Max grimaced to himself at how lame that was , face a dark red by now. He hesitated at the door, about to leave.

"Can I-" he took a deep breath to gather his courage "can I kiss you when You feel better please ?" He asked her quietly, face hopeful.

His grin filling his face when she sleepily nodded her head. "Sounds like a plan maxie."

He sighed happily "cool."

"Now get out. Come tell me you love me tomorrow." She croaked . Already falling asleep again. The meds kicking in.

Max nodded excitedly . Feeling like a teenager in love all over again.

"Cool. Love you." He blurted out , happy. Then he slammed the door shut behind him, fist bumping the air as he laughed gleefully too himself .

Exhaling loudly , he then held his hand over his pounding chest.

He sighed shakily "holy shit. She loves me." He breathed out. Grinning like a maniac .

Who thought that it would only take her getting sick to get them to admit it?

#max verstappen oneshot #max verstappen imagine #f1 imagine #max verstappen fic #f1 oneshot #formula one imagine #f1 fic

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wayfayrr · 7 months

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This is based on @sketchyspook's Mask - the hero of terminal! he's a lil gremlin who in this decided to pull a sky and break out of his game. He just wants a sibling though so can you blame him?

“Hey we were thinking about going out tonight [name], you want to join us?”

“Nah, I’ll be honest I was planning to stay in tonight. Just want a rest you know, got some old games I’ve been planning to replay.” “Fair, if I hadn’t promised someone I’d join them I’d probably be doing the same. See you around sometime [name].”

After how hectic everything has been recently it’ll be nice to have a night in where I can just zone out and do next to nothing; really what better way is there to do that than by playing through Majora’s mask for the, what 50th time? It’s such a nostalgic game to me that it can’t be anything other than my go-to relaxing game. Besides that though, really it’s just fun to fish using the fierce deity mask. Something about an ancient war god going fishing like that? It’s a fun break from the rest of the game.

Something feels different this time though. I can’t quite pinpoint what but even the opening cutscene feels different. There’s more static than there should be, it just feels wrong. There’s also this feeling, I’m probably just being paranoid, but I swear someone’s watching me. Judging me even. Like they’re trying to evaluate me for something, I just can’t tell what. It’s nothing I’m sure. Just need to shake it off and carry on playing.

Saving it after getting the deity mask feels like a good point to leave it off for the evening, how long have I even been playing? I could’ve sworn it wasn’t that long but - It’s past 2?? It’s never taken me this long to get to this point before, maybe it’s been glitching way more than I thought. I mean it felt like every few minutes I lost control over Link, oddly enough it was only when his model was facing the screen. My controller must just be acting up, I knew buying the cheapest one on eBay would’ve been a bad idea, of course, it’s gonna have some issues. Just turn off the game and go to bed, it’s that easy [name]. Your bed’s comfortable anyway, you’ll fall asleep in no time.

What’s that sound? It’s barely enough to wake me up, am I hearing things? What’s gotten into you tonight [name], first being paranoid while playing, now hearing things? Am I coming down with something? Just try to go back to sleep and deal with this in the morning.

Okay, I can’t just be feeling things now, did something fall on me during the night?

No, it feels far too much like a person, but then who is lying on me? And how did they get here? Opening my eyes to a blonde kid who looks suspiciously like Link doesn’t feel quite real, maybe I’m still asleep and something fell on me and affected my dream? Oh, what am I kidding myself? I’m awake. I’ll just try to gently wake him up to get some answers, if he doesn’t wake up then at least I can move him so I can get a look at just how he got here.

“Bewegen Sie mich nicht, ich fühle mich hier wohl.”

So he didn’t like that then, my german is rusty but even then it’s clear enough what he meant by how he’s trying to get closer to me in his half-asleep state. He’s going to be staying right where he is for as long as he can get away with it. All I can hope for in the meantime is to try and find out he got in here without moving. There isn’t any broken glass or windows so he didn’t get in that way, it would be insane for a kid to break in just for hugs as well so that rules out that possibility.

There is broken glass though… by my laptop… what?Of all the - my laptop is shattered. How did that - did he? My laptop is broken and there is a game character in my arms, that has to be related, doesn't it?

There are tiny cuts and fresh burns on his arms, ones that look like they could be - did he?

That would explain how my laptop broke. There are more questions from that though. Such as how did a video game character get out of my laptop and into my arms?? And why? Answers aren’t going to show themselves and theres only one person who knows why he did this.

“Kid? I know you don’t want to move, but can you tell me what’s going on? How you got here at least?” That seems to have woken him up a little, enough for him to look at me now even though he looks very bitter he’s had to move. Now that I’m getting a better look at his face though, he’s certainly link but he looks a little different to how he does in the game. White streaks in the front of his hair, paler eyes and far too many scars for someone his age. It’s like he’s picked up traits of the fierce deity mask, you know what if he’s here in my room real like this why couldn’t he look different from in game?

“Ich kann, ich tue es nicht - I don’t want to be in the game any more, so I got out.”

“Can I ask how you got out?”

Alright no answer for that besides a quick look at his hair, must be a sore point for him. I won’t press him on that until he feels more alright to talk about it.

“Is there any reason you wanted to well, be like this link?”

With a gesture to how he’s decided to lay on me, he has at least a little bit of shame as he looks away from me before mumbling something just loud enough that I could hear.

“After you playing through it for so long, you uh, you feel like an older sibling to me. So I’ll stay here with you [name]?”

It’s either he can stay with me or he’ll go out to the street, not that I have the heart to throw him out, after everything I know he’s been through. That I’m partly responsible for putting him through? If I didn’t play his game, he - he wouldn’t have had to go through that would he. It’s my fault.

“[name]? You aren’t upset at me are you? I didn’t - I didn’t mean to make you cry, I can - Nun, ich denke, ich kann - if you don’t want me here I can go back.”

“No I don’t - of course I don’t think that. I’m sorry link, I made you keep reliving all of that. I never even knew that you were - oh god I’m so sorry link.”

He paused at that to think things over for a second, most likely about to say something although I can’t tell what from his body language. Is he crying now? Shaking slightly while leaning towards me like he wants a hug, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was crying after everythin-

“AUGH! WHAT WAS THAT FOR?”

“You wouldn’t stop crying because you were blaming yourself for ‘hurting’ me. Now we’re even so you can stop crying about it.”

As much as I hate it he is right, somewhat, one single bite doesn’t exactly make up for everything that I put him through but I’m not going to say that aloud incase he bites me again. Inspecting my arm there is a neat mark from his teeth, kid’s got a strong jaw I’ll give him that.

“Alright [name] I’ve seen a few things of your world when you were playing, but um would you mind showing me what it’s like? You’re my big sibling now so I think that’s just what you have to do.”

“Oh about that, why do you see me as a sibling?”

A shrug with yet another glance at his hair like it holds the answer.

“I’m not the only one who sees you as my sibling, I know the deity has kinda unofficially adopted you as well.”

“Huh? The deity? Like the mask, the thing you use in game? Has adopted me?”

“Mhm, he’s the one who encouraged me to get out, it’s a little complicated but basically I wore the mask a bit too much.”

Just another thing I’ve done wrong then, or maybe not seeing as he seems to be fine with what is happening and the fact that it’s gotten him out of the game.

“You gonna explain what you mean by that?”

“Nah not yet, gotta come to terms with it myself as well before any of that.”

#hope he comes across as the lil shit he is <3 #linked universe x reader #yandere linked universe x reader #yandere linked universe #link x reader #mask gremlin child #platonic yandere #moss✦writes

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desert-fern · 6 months

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A Gun Amongst Daggers - Jake “Hangman” Seresin X Fem!Navy Seal Reader

Part 24: (Sun)Kissed

Summary: When Jake meets a woman at the Hard Deck, the last thing he expects is for her to be a Navy Seal. And not just any Seal, the Commander of Seal Team 3. She’s beautiful, smart, dangerous, and everything about her just makes him want to get close. Her name? Bear. When the Seals need backup, Cyclone puts the Daggers on their radar and now, Jake has to work with Bear and her team, all the while trying to stay professional. Can he do it? Or will he end up falling for the Navy sniper and mission Commander?

MINORS DO NOT ENGAGE! 18+ ONLY. MINORS & BLOGS WITH NO AGE/EMPTY BLOGS WILL BE BLOCKED.

Warnings: sweet, sweet fluffy fun, sneaky beach handjob, hiding a relationship, teasing

Word Count: 5.6k

Masterlist >> Part 23 >> Epilogue

===

Bear stirred awake at the feeling of gentle kisses being pressed to her shoulder. She groaned, batting her hand back at sensation, trying to rid herself of it in her half asleep state. “Ow!”

The deep sound of a voice next to her ear startled her into sudden wakefulness, twisting in Jake’s arms so quickly that she bonked her head against his chin. “What the fuck?” Bear moaned, eyes blinking open to look at the man beside her. She still wasn’t 100% awake, trying and failing to cover her eyes against the sunlight streaming in from the crack in the curtains. “Ugh. It’s too bright.”

“Well, we were a little busy to shut them all the way last night,” Jake mused aloud, chuckling as Bear slapped his chest.

“That means most of my neighborhood probably saw your ass last night,” she countered, sitting up. The blankets slid down from her shoulders, pooling around her bare middle and Bear felt Jake move before she saw him.

A large hand brushed her hair over a shoulder before he leaned over to press a few kisses across her back. “So?” Jake said, pausing to meet her gaze. “Half the Navy’s seen it, what’s a few more?”

Bear didn’t say anything, chewing on her lip. “Teddy, what’s going on?”

She blew out a breath, her hands twisting the sheet tight. “It’s stupid.”

Jake gave her an incredulous look. “Bear, come on. It’s you, it’s not going to be stupid.”

“I just- I’m waiting for the other shoe to drop. I know that we are home, that we are safe. I know that I love you. But the last time…” she trailed off, her voice quiet. “I should be happy that I’m waking up beside you in my bed, but instead I’m scared that someone will take you from me.”

Jake sat up and wrapped her in a tight side hug. “Hey. What did you say to me? ‘Something, something, I fought terrorists for you’? No one is taking me anywhere unless you know where I am. Okay?”

Bear nodded, giving him a wry smile. “God, I fucking love you.”

He grinned, pressing a kiss to the side of her head. “I love you more.”

“Oh don’t you dare start with that!” Bear said, her voice pitching in mock horror. “We discussed this. I love you more.”

“I don’t remember ever agreeing to that, Teddy.” The grin on his face was playful and his tone filling with a rich humor that was addicting to listen to. “I think I got the upper hand last night.”

An eyebrow rose. “Is that so?”

“Yup.” The sound of the ‘p’ popping made Bear abandon the feigned angry look in favor of biting back a smile.

“Dork.”

Jake grinned, flopping back on the bed. He pulled Bear down next to him, wrapping her in his arms. “I’m your dork though.”

“Whoever let me make that mistake needs to be fired,” she grumbled into his shoulder, trying to hide the smile that threatened to break free at any moment.

Jake let out a full laugh, his chest shaking under Bear’s cheek. “Oh come on. I’m not that bad, am I?”

Bear hummed, letting her wide smile break free as she propped herself up on an elbow to meet Jake’s eyes. “You could be worse,” she teased. “But I’d love you regardless.”

He turned over to face her, kissing the top of her nose before rolling Bear onto her back and kissing her soundly. Their lips met over and over, Jake simply trying to pour everything he felt for Bear into the gesture. Bear didn’t challenge him either, content to just lay there and let her hands cradle Jake’s face, keeping him close.

Bear was the first to pull away, resting her forehead against his. She said nothing, just enjoying the moment that the two of them were in. Everything seemed to slow down as they shared a breath, thanking every god out there that they had been allowed to have this moment together. That they had made it.

Laying there in the silence of the early morning, Bear let her fingers wander over his chest, tracing and mapping out the scars that now marked his skin. They trailed a little lower, following the ridges of his abs, dipping down into the divot that marked itself near the diaphragm. The muscles tensed under her ministrations, flexing and unflexing as her fingers trailed lightly over his skin. “Teddy…”

“Sorry,” she whispered, too afraid to speak louder lest she burst the bubble that they seemed to be in.

Jake’s ringing phone cut through the stillness in the room, making him grunt as he rolled over Bear to grab it off the nightstand. “Hello? No, I didn't forget about the beach.”

The person on the other end spouted off into a rant that Bear only half heard as she threw the covers off her naked body and walked into the bathroom. She could feel Jake’s eyes on her, staring shamelessly. “Sorry, what? The Seals are meeting us?”

Bear turned to look at him, her face a little confused as she mouthed “Daggers are coming with us?” from where she stood in the bathroom doorway, arms folded over her chest. Jake gave her a nod, half listening as he watched her shift her weight onto one leg, unashamedly staring at the bruises that had bloomed since last night.

“Okay. Okay. Yeah, so 11?”

Bear tuned out the rest of the conversation and started to get ready, running a brush through her hair as she slowly took in the marks Jake had left all over her torso. “Fucking hell. Did I fuck an octopus?” She mumbled to herself, staring at the vaguely hand shaped ones on her hips.

Distantly she heard Jake start to argue with whoever was on the other end of the phone. “Does it really matter if I’m literally at her place?”

She leaned back, peeking her head out around the door frame and made a back and forth motion in front of her neck. “Don’t tell them it’s me,” Bear hissed at him, watching as the words registered.

Jake gave her a cheeky grin and nodded. “Why do you care ma- no I haven’t seen Bear yet.” A pause and he rolled his eyes as Rooster continued to yammer on and on. “Dude, a hot chick is literally waiting for me to shower with her. This can wait a few hours, right?”

Another short pause, and the annoyed look on his face made Bear start to laugh, having to stifle it in her elbow. “Yeah. Okay. See ya.” He threw his phone on the bed with a groan. “Teddy. He warned me that we are trauma bonded and he’s still on that bullshit.”

Bear made a sympathetic sound. “But at least he cares enough to warn you about it. He’s trying to be a good friend and haven’t you two made progress since that mission you can’t talk about?” She’d stepped out of the bathroom, reaching to pluck Jake’s shirt off the floor and pull it on, grinning a little at the way his eyes narrowed in her direction.

“I guess, but he’s fucking wrong and I know that we can’t disclose any of this right now, which makes it so much harder.” There was a whine in his tone and he made grabby hands at Bear from his seated spot on the edge of the bed.

Bear walked into his grasp, smiling to herself as Jake’s hands immediately crept under her stolen shirt. “It is, but it does mean that I’m not your direct superior anymore, so it isn’t completely forbidden,” she reasoned softly, kissing Jake’s forehead. A hand combed through his messy blonde hair, trying to return some sense of order to it, but failing miserably.

“Thank God for that,” Jake replied, squeezing her ass playfully and ducking when Bear swatted at his head. “Means I can still do you, but we just have to be sneaky.”

She scoffed at the crudeness of his words. “They’re all gonna know the second we turn up at the beach. I mean, look at me.” Bear raised the lower hem of Jake’s shirt just a smidge to show the finger-shaped bruises blooming a bright purple on her hips. “It’s like I lost a fight to an octopus.”

“A very handsome, talented, skilled octopus though.”

Bear chuckled, bending a little to kiss his face. “Whatever you have to tell yourself, Flyboy” she whispered before slipping out of his grip and out of the room.

Jake sat there smiling to himself like an idiot for a little while, basking in the moment that this was all his now. He could be with her, could love her, could take her out on dates, and Jake was so thrilled for it all. There was no one like his Teddy and he had known since she’d let him in that he was hers forever.

===

After a quick breakfast, Jake kissed Bear soundly and headed back upstairs to grab his jeans and a different shirt for Bear to wear so he could have his back. Just so he could go home and get his stuff ready for the beach day that he had been roped into. Not that he minded of course, but it was still annoying to have to leave the warm bed and Bear to hangout with people he saw everyday.

If anything, Jake just wanted to bury himself in Bear and fuck her on and off, as many times as he could. The three times during the night had been amazing, but he would be lying if Jake said he wasn’t a little ticked off that his Saturday had to be spent with pants on.

Granted, he didn’t have to wear underwear, but still. It was the principle of the matter. Jake threw his shit in a bag, uncaring of if it made it in there. He just wanted to be near Bear again and if that sounded clingy, well fuck whoever decided to judge. They had been through hell and back too many times for anyone and now, now they were safe.

So yeah. Fuck that thought.

A pair of black trunks later and a white tank thrown on over top, Jake tossed his backpack in the passenger seat of his truck and headed out to meet everyone. It would be a large group; all the Daggers and a few partners, plus a large number of Seals. Hopefully football wasn’t a bad choice.

The drive passed quickly and Jake pulled into the lot, spotting Phoenix and her fiancée pulled into the lot not long after he parked a little too close to the bright blue Bronco, just to be an ass.

“You made it!” Javy yelled, as he saw Jake approach. “I thought you would have been balls deep in whoever you ran off to see last night.”

Jake flipped him off. “Fuck you man. Bradshaw already ruined any chance at morning sex so don’t start.” He threw his bag in the sand next to someone’s cooler, tossing his hat on top of the bag.

Coyote started laughing. “Aww, is wittle Jakey upset dat his date was intewupted?” The baby voice only made Payback start laughing as he walked by, joining in the teasing at Jake’s expense.

“Okay, okay. Fuck off.” Jake groaned, rolling his eyes at his friends. “You are like the opposite of helpful right now.” He watched Rooster and Phoenix’s fiancée, Reaper, get into a shoving match, chuckling as she knocked Rooster on his ass before jumping on Fanboy, who just flopped to the ground like dead weight. Reaper fell with a screech, laughter erupting from that end of the beach as she and Mickey spat out sand.

“Guys, c’mon!” Phoenix yelled over at his group, waving them over. “Is this Mav’s fucked up football or the normal kind?”

Reaper bounded up to her fiancée, slinging an arm around her shoulders. “Obviously the fucked up Mav version. We have to have some sort of advantage over these Seals.”

Nods from the rest of the pilots followed her words and Bob grabbed the second football from the pile of beach stuff the Daggers had just tossed aside. “There’s also going to be like twice as many of them, so I’m thinking we split up?”

“Who’s splitting up?” A voice yelled from behind the little group. “I’m not going to be responsible for ruining another marriage!”

Jake blinked in surprise as he watched the group of Seals file onto the beach. At the front of the pack was Bear, clad in a two piece black bathing suit, toned arms and legs on display. But his handiwork from the night before was also visible and unlike some of the other girls Jake had been with, Bear wore them with pride. She shoved Fireball for his comment, prompting him to yell “Sorry! That was a joke!” as he wobbled from the force of Bear’s shove.

“Hangman.” He was shaken from his reverie by Rooster pinching him.

“Sorry what?”

“You do that a lot,” Rooster replied with a smirk. “Stare at her.”

Bear nearly stopped dead in her tracks on her approach as she took in Jake. The sunlight seemed to pale in comparison to the glow that seemed to come from Jake. Despite the tank top he had on, Bear had to bite her lip at the shape and definition of his muscles on display. Last night, well, she’d been too caught up in other things to fully appreciate the work that had gone into making his body the way it was.

“No I don’t.” Jake was seriously hoping that the heat from the sun hid his blush, but quickly realized it didn’t after Fanboy ran by yelling “Nice sunburn, Bagman!”

A snort from his side made him turn. Bear stood next to him, hands on her hips as she watched Coyote and Payback wrestle over a football. “Forgot sunscreen?” she asked, looking up at him.

He swallowed. “No, but I should probably get some before I finish cooking,” he joked, walking over to his bag.

“That’s definitely a good idea. Wouldn’t want our Flyboy to become the Lobster Boy,” she teased, her grin wide as she watched him tug his shirt off and toss it at her. Bear snatched it out of the air, slinging the shirt over her shoulder before watching him dig through his bag.

“Rude,” Jake said, looking up from where he’d crouched in the sand. “I’m actually offended, Teddy.” The look on his face was pure glee, white teeth on full display, and Bear had to push away her thoughts about kissing that stupid look right off his face in front of everyone. “Guess I forgot sunblock. You have any?”

Bear shook her head at him before replying. “I do. I figured,” she lowered her voice, “that you would be too busy thinking about how our reunion was cut short this morning to pack it.” She walked off, swaying her hips a little as she headed across the sand to grab her bag from where FAK was sitting.

A few seconds later, a bottle of sunscreen was hurled across the short distance separating the two of them, nearly smacking Jake in the face. He hadn’t moved from his crouched position, still in a sort of shock after Bear’s little comment. “There you go, Flyboy! Try not to burn up today!” She yelled across to him.

Jake stuck his tongue out at her, grabbing the sunblock and standing up. He made short work of applying it to his body, very aware of Bear’s eyes on him before they were drawn away from him as Reaper approached.

“Hi. Are you Bear?”

Bear stood up. “I am, yeah. Reaper, right?”

The brunette grinned widely. “Yup. Just wanted to introduce myself and say thank you for making sure everyone got home safely. I used to fly with them but wound up getting promoted elsewhere, so I’m glad that someone was looking out for them.” Reaper finished her sentence, biting at her lip. “These guys are my family, so yeah. Thank you.”

“It was no trouble at all,” Bear replied, smiling widely. “They were better behaved than some of my own people!” She said the last part loudly, sparking up a chorus of ‘heys’ across the beach. “It’s good to meet you.”

“You as well.” Reaper walked off, yelling something at Fanboy who just flipped her off.

Rooster sidled up to Bear, hands on his hips as he watched Reaper run off. “So.”

“So?” She looked up at him in confusion. “Did you need something? Cause Jake has my sunscreen.”

Bradley chewed on his lip, glancing down at Bear. “I’m pretty sure Jake told you but-”

“You think the two of us trauma bonded,” Bear cut him off with a flat tone. “I appreciate you looking out for him, but neither of us know exactly what this thing is. Not that you needed to know that.”

He nodded. “I know. Just take it easy?”

“On him?” Bear asked, and a wolfish grin spread on her face when Bradley nodded. “Listen, if it happens, I’m not taking anything easy. And that man would have chosen me for a reason, so I’ll leave the rest to your imagination.” She patted his chest and walked past the mustached man to pluck her sunblock from Jake’s hands.

“What’d he want?”

Bear looked at him over her sunglasses. “Just the same thing he told you. I told him that we’re figuring it all out.” She’d lowered her voice just enough that Coyote, who was standing maybe 10 feet away, couldn’t hear her.

“Oh yeah? Pretty sure we figured it all out when I was on my knees in your hallway,” Jake commented casually, a laugh breaking up the calm demeanor when Bear smacked him. Hard. “Ow!”

“Don’t just say that shit. We agreed on keeping this on the down low. No one else has to know.” Bear’s face was hiding a laugh, trying to stay serious but failing.

Jake’s grin widened as he spoke. “We know who was also down low, now don’t we?”

Bear groaned and rolled her eyes at him, turning to walk off but his hand gripped her shoulder. She froze slightly, turning around and coming face to face with Jake’s chest. “Glad to see that my marks are still visible, darlin’.”

“Glad to see you’re still wearing mine,” she quipped back, shooting him a wink over the sunglasses that had fallen down her nose.

He opened his mouth to reply, but quickly didn’t when Phoenix came up to them. “Jesus Christ you two. Bagman, you look like you got into a fight with a wolverine,” she told him, pulling a face at the healing scratches on his back and shoulders. “And don’t get me started on you, Bear. Those better not be handprints on your hips.”

“And if they were?” The Seal was just glad that Phoenix had her back to Jake, the pride on his face was enough to give them both away. “Last time I checked, it’s a good thing that I got laid. Apparently, I’m un-bear-able,” she finished with a smirk at her pun.

Phoenix shook her head. “Stop it. It’s too early for bad jokes.”

“I seriously hope that you gave whoever manhandled you shit because holy hell Bear. That poor guy,” Coyote interjected. “He might have a stroke when he sees his handiwork.” Bear didn’t see it, but Javy was giving Jake a knowing look over her head.

Bear exaggerated a grimace. “God I hope not. He was actually half decent,” she said to no one in particular.

“Okay. No thanks.” Phoenix pulled a face at her words, the expression so comedic it made Bear start giggling. The pilot opened her mouth to say something else, but was cut off by Fireball’s shout. Everyone came together, forming a large group of nearly 40 people all mingling as Payback loudly explained the rules to Mav’s dogfight football.

“Wait! I think that Marshmallow and Raptor both brought footballs too!” FAK said loudly after the explanation was over. “We could run two games?”

Mutters broke out, everyone talking over one another before Bear strode forwards. “Okay!” The whispers quieted immediately and Bear had to laugh a little. “Two games, there’s like 13 pilots who know how to play this shit so they should divide up into the four teams and we’ll go from there?”

A few joking “Yes ma’am’s” rose up from the assembled Seals, causing laughter to erupt among the whole group.

And that’s exactly what they did. Shouts echoed across the two ‘fields’ as Seals and pilots tackled one another into the sand. “Bear! Run!” Fanboy yelled as the ball fell into her hands and she took off down the beach, two of her Seals hot on her heels.

Raptor lunged, his hand grabbing her shoulder, but Bear shook him off. She kept running, spiking the ball into the sound with a loud whoop. Halo ran up with a cheer, high fiving the Seal for her touchdown. The ball was brought back and they lined up again, hearing Rooster yell that Fireball had fouled someone.

Over and over, they lined up, swapping teams every so often just to liven it up a bit. The last game Bear and Fanboy’s team played was Jake and FAK’s and it was close. Too close. The scores were tied right as Bob’s timer went off, so naturally they went straight into ‘next point wins’.

Five minutes passed and no one had managed to score. Jake threw the green football to Finch, who tossed it at FAK. FAK was waylaid by Halo and the ball rolled away towards the ocean.

Fanboy had just decided to book it up the beach, trying desperately for a point. He was almost successful. Phoenix had nearly close-lined him in her attempt to tackle him and the football slipped out of his grasp. Bear snatched it and tried to go around Reaper, but it didn’t work. The smaller woman was somehow a bigger defensive problem than Marshmallow, and he was a big man.

Jake had started laughing as he watched Bear duck and dodge around his team, only to be foiled by Reaper. He ran at her, laughing as she tried to get away from him. Bear had slipped past Jake, purposefully sliding a hand across his lower abs, teasing him as she moved and threw the ball blindly to Halo, who caught it in the end zone.

The crowd burst into life, screaming wildly as Halo yelled in victory. “Fuck yeah! That’s how you do it!” The woman was swarmed by the Seals, who toted her around on their shoulders in celebration, the group of them somehow louder than those who stood laughing at the scene before them.

Bear was breathing hard, but she turned to look up at Jake and shot him a wink. “So easily distracted,” she cooed, mischief burning bright in her eyes. “I would have tried this earlier if I knew how easy it was to mess with you.”

Jake leaned down to whisper in her ear. “My truck. 5 minutes. You hear me?” His voice was deep and if Bear could see his green eyes, she would have seen that his pupils had blown wide, the green almost completely gone.

But Bear didn’t see his eyes, and she wasn’t keen on being ordered around, so she shrugged and stepped back. “Oh yeah? And if I didn’t?” She didn’t stick around to hear his response, running off after FAK and struck up a conversation about some inane thing.

Jake blew out a breath as he watched Bear take off. He was tempted to run after her, grab her and show her exactly what happened if she didn’t, but he knew that Bear had to willingly give it up. And if the night before had been proof, Bear could and would take control if he teased too long. “Damn dude. You fuck her once and she somehow has your brain along with your balls?” Javy teased, startling Jake from his thoughts.

“It wasn’t just once, okay?”

“Either way. She take your brain too?”

Jake gave his best friend a flat look. “No.”

“I think she did. Her little “And if I didn’t?” took that last brain cell, didn’t it?” Javy egged on, bumping Jake’s shoulder. “T took mine, you already know that. So I know what it looks like, man.”

“Javy?”

“Sup?”

“Fuck you man.”

Coyote broke out in peals of laughter that made a few other people join in. His laugh was infectious and if the Seals around them were any indication, nothing had changed. “I’m jus’ sayin’.”

Jake said nothing. He took a few steps back from Javy before running at him and tackling him into the sand. The two started wrestling as Jake seemed intent on getting Javy into a headlock, while the other man tried to escape his grasp. Both of them were laughing too hard to feign anger for long and soon dissolved into laughter, flopping back on the sand.

Halo and Bear approached as silently as they could with cold water bottles in hand. As the two men laughed, they poured the water all over them, turning the giggles into shrieks as ice cold water made contact with their sandy skin. “Run!” Halo yelled as she and Bear booked it back towards the bags.

“Fuck!” Bear screeched when a hand closed on her wrist, tugging her backwards to the sand below her. “Run Callie!”

Looking up, she saw Jake standing over her and the look on his face could only be described as mischievous. He picked her up with no issue, grunting as she flailed around in his arms. Wading out into water, Jake made sure he was above his knees before tossing Bear in with a splash. “You fucker!” She spluttered, wiping water off her face and pulling Jake’s arm forwards so he toppled into the water next to her.

He surfaced with a wide grin and shook his hair out, spraying Bear with droplets to which she tried to avoid by diving back under the water and swimming out a little ways off, only to stand up and push her hair out of her face. She gave him a wink, having caught the lust burning bright in his eyes as she walked closer. “That was uncalled for.”

“So was that little show.” Jake’s smirk was out and prominent once again as he caught one of Bear’s hands. Hidden from the view of the others on the beach and out of earshot, Jake spoke, his voice deep and dark like it had been so many times the night previous, “I did warn you though, Teddy. I did say my truck in five minutes. You didn’t listen.”

Bear’s eyes flicked up to his from where they had been focusing on their interlocked hands. “And I told you, Flyboy, that I have a hard time taking orders from someone I outrank.” She kept her tone light and casual, pretending that she didn’t see his eyes darken, that she didn’t feel his hand squeeze hers tighter.

Jake didn’t say a word, just tugged her closer by her hand until they stood nearly chest to chest. His trunks had been growing tighter and tighter since she’d teased him on the sand and now, now he was halfway to bursting, so hard that he was worried that a simple touch from Bear would set him off.

“Are you okay?” Bear asked, her voice lower than it had been moments earlier. Jake’s silence only happened when he’d found himself stuck back in the memory where he’d learned about her fate, so here and now was concerning. “Jake?”

He turned his hand in hers, slowly lowering it to the front of his shorts. “I’d be better if you in that bathing suit didn’t make me hard enough to pound nails.”

His brutal honesty made her snort, the concern quickly flooding out of her eyes as it was replaced by a look of pride. “This old thing?” Bear hummed, shaking his hand off of hers and walking her fingers over the bulge in his trunks. “Did this to you? We can’t have that, now can we?”

Jake let out a strangled sound when Bear’s hand came and cupped his cock through the thin material, squeezing just enough to make him bite down his lip. “Teddy…”

“Shh. I know.” Bear said softly, glancing around at the rest of the people near them. No one from their group was close. Hell, Fanboy was the most in the water and he was only up to his ankles. She led him deeper into the water, just up to her mid thigh before slipping her hand down the front of his shorts. Her touch was light, teasing, and Jake had to refrain from grabbing her hand.

She didn’t have much room to work his cock, not with his soaked trunks but Bear made it work. She wrapped her hand around him, giving him a gentle tug before teasing at the slit. Precome leaked against her fingers at the motion and Jake let out a low groan as she glided her hand up and down this cock, twisting her hand just right as his tip passed into her hand. “Fuck…”

Bear grinned a little. The weight of him in hand, the near satiny feel, had her thighs clenching together. Especially when Jake let out a soft moan, his eyes flying to meet her own. “Yeah?” Hidden from view, she took a sick pleasure in knowing that Jake was coming undone under her touch in a place so public.

It felt like both hours and seconds had passed as Bear brought him closer and closer to cumming. Her touch was addicting, soft and firm, teasing and not; it had taken all Jake had to not come the second she gripped him through his shorts. But he couldn’t hold off for long, each pass of her hand nearly shattered his resolve until one last twist of her hand snapped the rope that had been pulled tighter and tighter in his gut.

Jake came into her hand, blonde head dropping to bury his face in her neck as he bit back a groan. Bear felt his breath warming her already heated skin and she had to chuckle as she coaxed him through his orgasm, drawing it out for as long as she could. “Better?”

He nodded, still unable to fully speak. Bear had both knowingly and unknowingly teased him all day and now it was nearing the evening, and he simply hadn’t been able to control himself. God help him once he had a lifetime supply of Bear. Deployments would be hell, but as he had known since their first kiss back in Riyadh, as long as he had Bear, he was unstoppable. “Yeah,” he managed to say.

Bear pulled her hand from his shorts, doing her best to resituate him before meeting his gaze and catching the moment he saw her hand. Jake swallowed back another groan at the sight of her cum covered hand, a groan that turned into a shout when Coyote whipped a football at his back, knocking him into the water.

Bear ducked under the water when he did, swimming a ways off before reappearing some 10 feet from Jake when he resurfaced. “What the fuck, dude?”

“You were just standing there, I had to make sure you weren’t dead!”

Jake charged out of the water at him with the football in hand and chased his best friend across the sand with an intensity that surprised Bear. He was acting like he hadn’t been temporarily sapped of his ability to speak, but whatever. She was ready to pack it up, and it seemed that most of the group had had that idea as well.

Bob waved to her as he, Reaper, and Phoenix headed off towards their respective cars and Bear watched Jake finally nail Javy in the back with the football, whooping in glee. It made her shake her head, grabbing her clothing up and heading for the bathrooms to change.

She took her time, in no real hurry to leave given that she could still hear some of the Daggers still yelling as they chased each other around. Bear found Jake standing next to her bag, looking almost lost, on her approach and she couldn’t help but laugh. “You look like a puppy.”

“A cute one?”

Bear shook her head, a wide smile on her face. “Nah, like one of those hairless ones. Kinda creepy but kinda still cute.”

His mock offended look made her giggle and soon they were both laughing at nothing in particular. Maybe the sun had finally gotten to them or maybe, just maybe, Jake thought to himself, “This is what forever is going to look like.”

Jake didn’t know how right he would be as he and Bear walked back up to the parking lot and into their own cars with plans to meet at her place. All either of them knew was that they had found their person completely by chance and time and pain had only proved just how much they truly cared for one another.

===

“Hey Teddy?” Jake asked as they sat on her porch late that night. “Did you ever think it would end up like this?”

“Like what, Honey?”

Jake pulled her onto his lap, her knees landing on either side of his hips. He could feel the warmth of her sun kissed skin through her stolen shirt and nothing in his life had ever prepared him for this moment. “Like this. Us together, having survived what we have.”

Bear hummed, toying with his necklace as she thought. “I think deep down I did. But when we first started out, I think I would have been too scared to even give this a chance. You changed something in me, Jake Seresin and I never want it to go back to how it was.” Her voice was quiet, nearly eclipsed by the chirping crickets and the thud of her heart in her ears. “I promised that I would love you forever back in Riyadh. Through everything.”

Jake kissed her with what could only be described as tenderness. Everything had worked out and here he was, months down the line from who he had been back when they had first met.

His reply was just as soft, whispered against her lips after he pulled back “To the bitter end and back again.”

===

A/N: I can’t believe that AGAD is almost over! Thank you so much to everyone that has continued to read and follow the adventures of Bear and Jake. You made this experience just so much better than I ever thought it could be! I have to thank @startrekfangirl2233 @sarahsmi13s and @dakotakazansky for being there for all of the plotting and for screaming at me the whole way through as I wrote this over 10 months. Next week is the epilogue and I cannot wait to share their ending with you. So thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Taglist: @horseshoegirl @roosters-girl @lovinglyeternal @lavenderbradshaw @roosterforme @bobby-r2d2-floyd @bradleybeachbabe @footprintsinthesxnd @twsssmlmaa @fandomxpreferences @dempy @gizmodear @fighterpilothoe @chaoticassidy @eli2447 @iwantmyredvelvetcupcake @djs8891 @rhirhikingston @sisterslytherinog @impossiblebagelcowboyfreak @sgt-barnesveins @taytaylala12 @urmom-999 @formulapierre @pinkpantheris @havlindzk @a-beaverhausen @killcomet @buxkybarnez @topgunruinedme @hangmanscoming @smoothdogsgirl @a-court-of-roscoe-and-baby

#fern writes #a gun amonst daggers #jake hangman seresin x reader #bear and hangman #jake seresin imagine #jake seresin x reader #top gun maverick #jake hangman seresin #jake seresin #jake seresin series #jake hangman x reader #jake seresin x oc

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legostars · 1 month

Text

DOGDAY X READER

PART 4

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Summative: After you have arrived home. You can feel your face heat up thinking about him. But as you were walking to your bed, you tripped over something making your head the hard wooden floor. Well, everything be alright? What's going to happen?

Warning: coma, Curse words, worried puppy, Happy family, rush asap, ???

Romance: 7/10

Fluff: 100/10

Platonic: ?/10

Smut: 0/10

Note from Author: I got some ideas from my bestie from discord. And then my discord acc password was reset by someone for some reason... So... I can't log back in anymore.. I miss my bestie:( I hope she sees this...

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After encountering the kissing situation back at playtime co. You slammed the door of your apartment but it was not too loud to wake your neighbours. You slide down the back of the door as you wrap your arms around your knees. With sigh, you can still feel the heat of your face just.. thinking about him.

"God... I'm such a mess right now..." You mumbled silently. You just stood up and started walking towards your bedroom and head to bed.

You walk towards your bed but only to trip over something and fall, causing your head to hit the hard wooden floor. Everything went black... Blood flowing through the wooden floor as you laid there unconscious. The only thing that you heard was someone shouting and screaming your name, you barely hear it. It sounded like you were under water, but you know that you weren't.

It has been two weeks since your incident. You fell from a coma for two weeks unknowingly. Your parents are right by your hospital bed, your mother holding your hand... Pure worry was only you can tell feeling your mother's touch. But not a while when you decide to open your eyes, lights glimmer down on you. You look to the side to see your mother still holding your hand, your father who was fast asleep hm.. he's still the same old man, huh? You thought to yourself.

Seeing your mother holding your hand tightly. You decided to speak up, your voice was weak due to your dried up throat.

"Mom?" Your voice sounded like a grown old woman but you didn't care much.

Upon hearing your voice. Your mother flinched and lifted her head immediately to look at you. You smiled as your mom began to tear up.

"My sweet baby girl!!!" She cried out hugging you instantly. Upon she screamed, your father flinched up awake from his slumber and looked towards the noise just to see you and your mother squeezing you tightly.

Your father sighed in relief upon seeing you finally awake from your coma. A smile was curled up to his face, as he went towards your mother to pull her away from you, so you won't have a difficulty breathing. Your mother who was worried sick and over protective of you continued to cry seeing her sweet baby girl awake from her coma.

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~TWO WEEKS AGO~

Dogday being a good dog, waited for his angel to come in through her office door. He wants to tease his angel about what happened yesterday. Yet, He waited there from 5:00 Am to 6:00 Am, Yet no sign of you coming in. He sighed and waited a bit longer, yet you didn't come. Here he was worried sick about you.

It was time to open the playcare. Yet no sign of you. Dogday got more worried and decided to ask one of your friends, he then soon found out that you fell into a coma. Aw, the poor puppy is getting worried. He sighed as he continued his daily tasks without you, but he tried his best to smile towards others so he could hide the sadness inside him. He was worried about a bit too much, he began to overthink lately. One of his friends saw this and asked if he was alright. The only reply that came out of his mouth was, "Oh! It's nothing necessary!" He replies with the same sentence to all of them except for catnap.

A week without his angel, made him miss you more! He misses your smile, your eyes, your sound of laughter, and your face. It made him even sadder day by day! Yet he tries to smile bright like the sun for the children and the others. Having a hard time dealing with his depression but he pretends that he was fine. But shit! It was for two goddamn weeks! He would sleep in your office every night! And it made the other critters worry about him more!

The poor puppy is worried sick about you!

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After a day of you getting checked up just in case. You were finally out of the hospital and of course! Your mother starts rambling lectures about you to be more careful. But fuck! You were a twenty two year old lady and yet getting lectures from your mother at this age?! Oh, ho! ho! ho! Nope! You weren't having it!

"Mom.. I'm not your little girl anymore! Look! I'm twenty two years old! TWENTY TWO!"

Your mom's pov: A sweet innocent 5 year old child version of angel In front of her.

"That's practically an adult! But you still treat me like I'm a little kid!" You huffed out.

Your mother couldn't help but sigh with tears in her eyes.

"I can't believe children grow up too fast.." your mom sniffled and wiped her tears around the corner of her eyes.

Your dad sighs and just nodded at your mom that she had to let you go. Your mother inhaled some deep air and exhaled looking at you with her gaze.

"Fine.. But will you promise to be more careful? I don't want to lose my baby girl." Your mom tries to hold her tears because just seeing you in front of her makes her proud because she raises such a wonderful daughter.

You sighed and nodded and gave your parents a huge hug. Your parents returned the hug and kissed your forehead. You rode a taxi and waved goodbye to your parents as your taxi set off. "I should probably get ready for work... Wait... Work! Oh my lord! I forgot about dogday! Shit! Shit! Shit! I hope he's not mad at me!!" You thought to yourself as your driver finally stopped at your destination. You gave him a tip and ran to your building and to your apartment door and hurriedly got changed to get back to work once for all.

You rode your motorbike and drove. You quickly got in the elevator or smth idk. And finally rushed to your office door. You sighed as you slowly turned the door knob making dogday raises his head from the couch and his gaze towards the door, You came in with a big sigh. Dogday's eyes widened as his tail wags.

"Angel!" He shouted as he got up and ran to you. He holds you by the waist and lifts you up in the air, seeing his happy smile you couldn't help but smile. "I guess.. he did miss me.." you thought to yourself.

"I'm sorry for.. making you worried.." you apologise as an intense awkwardness lingers in the air.

It was silent for a moment... You then hear sniffles coming from dogday, you look down to see him tearing up. Your eyes widened "did he really worry about me a bit too much?"

You thought to yourself.

Dogday then hugged you to his chest as he began to breakdown. You couldn't help but smile seeing him make you smile. You patted his back and started to hum a song, he continued to whimper while crying. You wiped his tears away and gave a kiss on the forehead as you hummed a song.

One hour passed by. You and dogday fell asleep in each of your embraces, hearing dogday's soothing snores as his chest rises and lowers. Hearing his heartbeat as you slept peacefully, nuzzling your head to his chest fur getting comfortable. Your office was filled in silence only yours and dogday's breathing filled the room.

Both of you were sleeping peacefully. Till dogday heard a knock on the door. You were still asleep on his arms snuggling your head against his chest, he couldn't help but blush slightly at you. He slowly got up and put you on the couch as he walked towards your office door to see who was knocking.

He opened the door to see all of his friends standing in front of him with a concerned look on their faces. Dogday tilted his head a little in confusion, till Bobby handed up a basket with food and flowers and a happy smiling card. His eyes widened and then turned his gaze to his friends. I guess he was so gloomy lately that it made his friends worry about him.

He smiled but then his eyes landed on catnap at the back. Looks like he was worried too.

"What's all this?" He asked with a light chuckle.

"You've been down and gloomy lately, dude!" Kickin said as he rested his arm on dogday's shoulder.

"Catnap has to tell us the real reason why you were all so gloomy! But we didn't think that you would have a heart for an angel~" bobby smirked. She smells love in the air.

"Catnap told you guys?" Dogday asked.

"Duh! Sugar cube! He was also worried about you! So he told all of us about the reason for your sudden depression!" Picky piggy stands next to dogday munching on an apple.

Dogday's eyes were wide in surprise as he saw catnap not meeting his gaze and just looked down on the floor embarrassed. His best friend was worried about him? Ain't that cute!

Dogday walks towards catnap. Catnap looked towards dogday as he was suddenly pulled into an embrace. Catnap was still adjusting but he gave in and hugged dogday back. The others followed behind them and pulled in a big group hug. What a happy family<3

"Well, well, well! What a cute family of friends!" You chuckled behind them as you leaned on the door frame of your office.

The critters turned around to you, they saw you chuckling leaning on the door frame.

"Angel? You're awake!" Dogday said with a happy doggy smile.

"I never slept! I just pretend to sleep just to wait for this family of friends to get into a big family hug!" You chuckled.

They all laughed together with you. Dogday finally feels his sunny happy beam from his heart seeing all of his loving Friends laughing and being happy. He just wishes this moment of life will last forever feeling the happiness.

...

You... your poppy's Angel...

...

Angel...

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Note from Author: My classmates sided eye me while doing this and then complimented me about how good my English was. But I said nah it looks shit. Well that's all, hope you all enjoyed the food💅✨

#poppy playtime #dogday x reader #part 4 #smilling critters #dogday #x reader

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cc-cobalt-1043 · 2 months

Text

Heading home:

Set after the final battle, Tom and Maddie are excited they have more kids, Sonic is happy to finally find friends like him, Knuckles is worried and Tails is just tired.

After taking down Robotnik and helping clear some of the damage done to Green Hills the Wachowski family headed home.

Tom and Maddie were upfront in the car and Knuckles, Sonic and Tails were in the back.

Knuckles was firmly clutching the Master emerald in his hands as though frightened if he let it go it would disappear, Tails was squashed comfortably between Sonic and Knuckles, fast asleep having been worn out by the chaos of the battle, and Sonic was sitting with an arm wrapped around Tails, letting the Fox snuggle into him as much as the car seat allowed him, Sonic was thinking about everything that happened over the last two days.

Robotnik had returned and was defeated, the master emerald was both real and in their possession, and now Knuckles and Tails were here.

Mind you Sonic was certainly grateful they were here, not cause they helped him and literally saved his life, but because of the company.

As much as he'd loved being an only child, it could be lonely sometimes, with Tails and Knuckles, that was Likely gonna change.

Sonic was brought out of his thoughts by the sound of Tails stirring next to him.

"Sonic, where are we going?" Tails mumbled, the Kit's voice laced heavily with sleep and he looked ready to konk out again any moment.

"We're going home pal." Sonic simply said gently stroking the Kit behind his ears.

"Home, tha' sounds nice." Tails mumbled before yawning and falling right back to sleep.

Sonic chuckled then looked over at Knuckles who was still stone silent.

"You okay there Knucklehead?" Sonic asked.

Knuckles nodded.

"I am fine hedgehog, I am just...thinking." Knuckles said.

"If it's about Egghead, don't worry we won't see him again, or at least for a while." Sonic said.

"I'm aware, but that is not what is on my mind." Knuckles said.

"Then what is it?" Sonic asked curious.

"I helped Robotnik to acquire the emerald and also hurt you, this town and the Fox, will I truly be accepted into your...family?" Knuckles asked.

"Course you will, Eggman manipulated you and used you into doing those things." Sonic said.

"Besides this family always seems to meet in some weird way." He added.

"It's true, when I first met Sonic I shot him with a bear tranquilliser." Tom said.

"And the Fox hit me with a car on our first meeting." Knuckles added casually.

Tom and Maddie both gaped at Knuckles then at Tails.

"Oh my God, are you OK?" Maddie asked him worriedly.

"I am fine, I have quite a strong body so the car didn't do anything serious, besides he was saving Sonic?" Knuckles said.

"Yeah, he even drove it off a cliff to save me." Sonic added.

"I was wondering where that went." Tom muttered under his breath.

He looked at Tails.

"Remind me not to get on his bad side." He chuckled.

He looked back at Knuckles.

"But don't worry about anything Knuckles, you're part of this family now and if GUN or Robotnik want you back they'll have to step over my cold, dead body." Tom said.

"Same here." Maddie nodded.

For the first time since meeting him Sonic thought he saw a smile on the Echnida's face.

"I certainly hope it doesn't come to that, but I appreciate the sentiment behind it." Knuckles said nodding.

After a while of driving in silence they finally arrived home.

Tom, Maddie and Knuckles all climbed out while Sonic coaxed a deep asleep Tails awake.

"Huh, wh're we." Tails yawned not looking too pleased to be woken up and clearly wanting to go back to sleep.

"We're home pal, but I need you to get up." Sonic said.

Tails grumbled slightly from tiredness but with some assistance from Sonic he climbed out the car.

Sonic took in the kit and saw just how exhausted he really looked, his tails and ears dropped slightly and he could barely keep his eyes open.

"Tired bud?" Sonic asked slightly teasingly.

Tails just yawned his tails flicking slightly as he tried to stifle said yawn behind his hand.

"Yeah." Tails added after a moment.

"I can tell." Sonic chuckled giving Tails a scratch behind the ear before taking ahold of the Kit's hand.

"C'mon bud, let's get you some shut eye." Sonic smiled and Tails nodded too tired to reply.

Meanwhile Tom, Maddie and Knuckles were inspecting the damage.

"All in all it's not too bad, we can definitely stay tonight, but we should probably have this fixed soon." Maddie asked.

"I'll get started then." Knuckles said.

"What do you mean pal?" Tom asked confused.

"I have inflicted this damage upon your home and I should be the one to fix it." Knuckles said.

"Honey, that wasn't your fault, that horrible man manipulated you into doing those things." Maddie said.

"But I need to attone for my actions." Knuckles said.

"You already have Knuckles by saving the town, that's more than enough." Tom said.

Knuckles nodded, though he didn't seem fully convinced.

"Now, let's show you guys where you'll be staying for the night." Maddie said.

"We can stay?" A tiny voice asked.

The others turned to see Sonic and Tails behind her, Tails was looking at her curiously.

"Of course Baby, we'd love you to stay with us." Maddie said.

"Yeah kid, you're more than welcome." Tom nodded.

Tails nodded and yawned heavily leaning into Sonic's side.

"Okay, I think that's the signal for bedtime, come on guys." Tom said.

They went inside the house and after being greeted (and licked) by Ozzie they went up to Sonic's room.

Tails gaped in awe as they went into the room.

"Wow, it's so cool in here." Tails said looking around the room in awe.

"Okay guys, get yourselves ready for bed, it's been a long day." Tom said.

Sonic climbed into his bed and Tails went over to the beanbag chair and climbed onto it, humming contently as he lay down on it, apparently finding it comfortable enough.

"We've got a spare sleeping bag in the garage Knuckles, if you'd like it, looks like Miles has already claimed the bean bag.

Knuckles looked over and indeed Tails was stretched out on the bean bag in a ball, mumbling contently as he slept.

Nearby Sonic looked over with a very fond look, Knuckles couldn't help but feel the same.

Knuckles looked back at Maddie.

"Yes please, that would be very nice." Knuckles nodded.

Maddie nodded and soon returned with said sleeping bag, as well as a blanket which she gently draped over Tails.

Maddie then set up the sleeping bag for Knuckles who after thanking her climbed in.

"Goodnight boys, sleep well." Maddie said.

She kissed each of the boys on their foreheads before leaving for Tom's room.

Sonic yawned and stretched out on his bed.

"Night Knux, I hope you like it here." Sonic said.

"Goodnight." Knuckles replied.

Knuckles looked at Sonic, then Tails and with a small smile closed his eyes.

"I think I will." Knuckles mumbled to himself.

#sonic the hedgehog #sonic wachowski #knuckles the echidna #knuckles wachowski #miles tails prower #Tails Wachowski #tom wachowski #maddie wachowski #Knuckles needs a hug #Tails needs a nap #Sonic is happy to have siblings #They're a family your honour

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athanasius-symposium-of-writings · 3 months

Text

The Bird And The Man

Chapter Eight

Rated: Explicit | Warnings: mixed feelings

Ao3

Chapter Seven | Chapter Nine

You have been trying for weeks to write another book, the drafts are uh… Questionable. The last book, a standalone, was a normal book, with a bit of romance and a bit of adventure. This one is straight debauchery, if anyone read this they would think you are sex-crazed!

Are you?

You have been thinking about your night with Orpheus a lot, sometimes you write about the things. Naughty things. Those papers are hidden away in your wooden wardrobe. Agh, it plagues your thoughts! And though it has been three days since he touched you… You swear you still feel his hands all over you.

“Damn it!” Whispering to yourself as three papers of paper is literally all sex. Or how you imagine sex would be like. Nightmare gave you a taste with only his finger, you wonder what it would be like if he…

You rub your eyes and lean back against your chair to scratch your back. What time is it? Then you look at the time and see you should have slept hours ago. Three in the morning! You cannot believe you wrote so much debauchery, oh no. Worse is the mess of crumbled pieces of paper around you, other attempts at lust written down.

You groan, maybe you should go to bed! Yet, the bed feels empty these days. A loneliness has settled in as your sheets are cold, you want him here to warm you.

It is funny how needy you feel, after that day you are more physically affectionate with him. You are affectionate naturally but it feels more needed on your side. He enjoys it though, like holding you or sharing his coat with you. You thank God every day for the creature who holds your heart in his hands and his in your hands.

Just thinking about it makes you feel warm, fuzzy, and eager.

“No! Go to sleep!” Scolding yourself. When you close your eyes, your body turns over to lie on your side. Your eyes stared at the wall, the slight cracks in the wall as your eyes followed meaningless patterns. You pull the blankets closer to your body, curling up in a ball as your hand wanders between your legs.

You squeeze your eyes shut picturing Orpheus’ claws between your legs a few days ago. The second you touch your clothed crotch you jerk and pull your hand away, it feels weird— Odd? God, bury your face in the pillow and let out a long whine of despair.

At some point, you fell asleep and woke up to a gentle but sharp knock at the door. You groan, blinking several times, burying your head in the pillow that begs you to sleep some more.

“Hypnos,” Orpheus’ voice calls out to you, “Are you well?”

This makes you check the times. Your eyes are blurry then they focus to see… Oh no, it is twelve in the afternoon!

“Hypnos?” Hearing stumbling and something fall before you open the door slightly, “Good afternoon, no one saw you most of the day and I grew worried.” A gentle voice as his eyes take in the details of your barely awake form. Cute.

You yawn behind your hand then nod, “Sorry,” Rubbing your eyes, “Had to a burst of inspiration last night.”

“Understandable, I have had my share of those. Glad to see you are well. Lunch is ready but I am sure the kitchen staff can make you breakfast if you wish.”

You nod again.

“Also,” He clears his throat as he adjusts his monocle, “If you are free in the afternoon, might you join me in the smoking room?”

“Sure! Hope you do not mind that I do not smoke.”

“Not at all. All I wish for is your company.”

You smile, “Of course, anything for a friend.”

Orpheus finds that endearing, disappointing, and a pang of sadness. You should be careful who you call friends here; quickly calling those in the same situation as your friend does not mean friendship blooms.

Sure, Eli has said some are easier to befriend and can be called friends. He, Emma, Lucky Guy, Tracy, and Luca; to name a few. But everyone has their own motivations and Orpheus knows none of them are to be trusted.

Himself included though he would prefer your trust to be with him, he will not backstab you— If he must stab you it will be quick and with him looking into your eyes apologetically.

“Take your time. I will be there shortly.” Leaving as you close the door.

Mealtimes are usually social time for some of the survivors. The non-social ones might take their meals to their rooms or other places where it is quiet.

When you first arrived here, you had accidentally sat in Norton’s seat as you were anxious and shaking like a leaf. The man had terrified you to the point you left without eating and did not return for dinner.

You would sneak out of your room to eat or hoard food in your room. It was bad until… Orpheus spoke to you when he caught you taking out dishes from your room.

That day you felt like a bird that just flew out of the nest, him there beside you as Eli had encouraged you to join them during dinnertime.

Turns out Norton is not bad, still intimidating but he is true to his word about watching your back.

Being at this dining table watching the others is like being around family. Sure it is probably only a feeling Emma will understand but you imagine what a big family is like.

Busy, busy, a few laughs and conversations. You eat your lunch in peace, a few times greeting those who pass by you. A normal afternoon in the manor.

Upstairs there is a smoking room.

Not many use it as not everyone smokes but few do like Orpheus. You find the man standing in the middle of the room facing the left wall which is decorated with paintings. A smoking pipe in his mouth as he takes a few puffs before taking it out of his mouth and holding it in his hand. His gaze is focused, another puff, and he lets out a sigh shaking his head. There is something very distinguished about him, there he stands in more casual clothing with rolled-up sleeves. His monocle switched for small circular glasses, the picturesque sight of a high society man in leisure.

There is no denying Orpheus is not a handsome man, the type who probably had many ladies around him vying for his attention. From what you heard he never had a partner, he was focusing on his writing but never was unwilling to entertain a lady.

When he looks upon you there is a shift from his intense gaze to a gentle look, a practiced smile the second you smile at him. You wonder how many have ever seen him actually smile, a true smile that reaches his eyes.

“Penny for your thoughts?” Speaking up after realizing you might have been staring for too long.

“Heh,” A small chuckle from him as his head turns in your direction, “Musing.” His gaze goes back to the painting on the wall, “The days after Christmas are always the oddest.”

“How so?” You move beside him until he gestures to you to take a seat. There are a few chairs around with small tables with ashtrays. He sits across from you and facing him you realize his shirt is a bit open, just a few buttons but enough to further show he is relaxing right now.

“Two days of celebrating, sometimes three if you know where to look for more parties,” Lean back against his seat with one leg over the other, “A calm before the storm effect. After those few days, New Year's parties start the year with a bang.”

“Sounds like you enjoy those parties.”

“Occasionally,” Taking a smoke, “Did you?”

You shook your head, “I was at one but that was it.”

“The announcement party.”

“You saw me?”

“In passing. The son you ghostwrote for doesn't hold his liquor well. The man flaunting about you during the private party. You have my condolences for dealing with him.”

“Did you… Read those books?” You once read Orpheus' rare review of books. He word making or breaking an author.

“I did.” He gazes slightly to the left, “You have grown since then. The maturity of a writer is fascinating to witness.” Those dark brown eyes back on you, “Has the manor provided you inspiration?”

You think about the question before answering, “Ma always told me to write what I know, and research what I don't.” Speaking your train of thought out loud, “The people here, all from different walks of life with different reasons for being here. Hmm, maybe, I never thought about it.”

There is a chuckle from the author, a look of you wonder if it is adoration, “Such is the lot of a writer. Art often imitates life, we write what we see then alter it into a new world on paper.”

You nod in agreement, “Do you still write?”

“I do.” Taking a smoke then blowing the smoke away from your direction, “Call of the Abyss takes time but the first draft is complete.” Then he leans forward with his feet on the ground and his arms resting on his thighs, “You? Are you going to continue your book?”

You shrug, “Right now, I'm not sure. My mind isn't cooperating, hah.”

“Writer's block?”

“Oh, nothing like that just…” You look away, “New inspiration.” Nervous laugh.

“There is no shame in switching projects. Perhaps a fresh idea will inspire you to continue your previous book.”

You nod then look at him with a questioning expression, “Have you ever written something… uh… Questionable?”

“Hypnos, my genre of literature is dark fiction,” Raising an eyebrow, “Questionable is often what most use to describe my work.”

“I mean… but what if it was really questionable and yet you are proud of it?”

“There is nothing wrong with pushing the boundaries of our society through literature. Many great works we enjoy had to break out of those limited spaces and flourish by being true to reality through fiction.”

“Even the sexual kind?”

“Especially the sexual kind.” He stands up and you follow as he goes over to the serving cart by the wall with the pool table in the middle. The smoke room is barely used but is very fancy to you. “Does that help?” He twists open the bottle of you guess is bourbon and pours a glass.

“A bit. I doubt I could let this one see the light of day, however.” You shake your head at the offer of a drink, “How can you drink that?”

“As you get used to it.” Drink a small sip of it, “Try it.” Offer his few sips of alcohol in the glass. You take it, smelling it makes your face scrunch up making him smile then your drinking makes him laugh at the way you make sounds of disgust. “Perhaps a bit too harsh for you.”

You socialize with Orpheus the rest of the day, being in his company is like living a dream the young you would be so happy to have.

“Here I will show you.”

High society always seemed like a dream, the glamour and what seemed to be the only way to be happy is with money. To a degree, the latter is true to a point. Watching Orpheus explain billiards, watching him bend over slightly as he breaks the triangle of colored and striped balls. You grip your cue as he tells you it is your turn. You chose stripes.

“This is not easy at all!”

“Hah, take your time,” Standing to the side as he watches you attempt to get the solid white ball to hit a stripe ball, “Pull back slightly.” He advises as he saw you had pulled the cue too far back and knows already that will make the ball bounce off the table. “Now tap it.”

The white ball hits the other ball but does not go into the hole.

“Orpheus,” Speaking as he prepares for his turn.

“Hm?” His eyes are on the table seeing where to strike and the angle.

“Can you do the thing with the stick behind your back?”

He raises an eyebrow at you then makes a ‘oh’ sound, “Yes.” You stand back watching him move the cue behind his back and strike the white ball as one colored ball is stuck and falls into one of the pockets.

You give him a little clap, “Wow!”

“If you know where and how you are going to strike, tricks like that are easy for show.”

“You make it show easy, Mr. Detective.” Laughing a bit, “My turn!” He hands you the chalk to use on your cue and you do with vigorous twisting at the tip with excitement. The Novelist watching with amusement but a bit of worry, what are you doing?

Then he sees you bend and nearly lay across the table with your leg hooked over it.

At the position he is behind you, the sight is well, as a gentleman he will not let his gaze linger for too long. You strike the ball but still no win, “Damn it.” Getting off the table and standing there scratching your head.

“Here let me help you.” Placing his cue down on the edge of the pool table, “Hold it like this.” Slipping behind you as if he a piece of your puzzle. Suddenly you are aware of how he smells of cologne and tobacco, his hands are soft but not as nimble as you thought, they brush down your hands as he adjusts not only your positioning but your arm placements. “Now strike.” His voice is so low and close to your ear.

The ball strikes true and removes himself from your person before it can be considered any more inappropriate the move he just made.

“Well done.”

You nod looking away, strange how you miss those few seconds of his warmth, “Thank you!” Standing there trying to hide how flustered you are. That was… Familiar like when Nightmare held you close for the first time, minus the scent of fresh tobacco. The game goes on and your mind wanders to his counterpart, Nightmare, and how different they are. Yet, the same. You can see it because you know Nightmare intimately… Thus you know Orpheus perhaps on the same level? No, you just know a part of him, the part of him that is hidden behind smoke and mirrors.

“Looks like you win, hah!” It is a good game and one you would not mind playing again, “Hm?” The way he looks at you lingers, his gaze as intense as the one you saw when you entered the room.

“What does he have that I do not?”

#idv #idv x reader #identity v #identity v x you #orpheus x you #idv orpheus x you #orpheus x reader #nightmare x reader #idv nightmare #nightmare x you #identity v x reader #idv reader insert #idv orpheus #idv novelist #reader insert #idv x you

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