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songbirdseung · 9 months

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my secret / lee heeseung

wc: 7k

It may not be all fans dream but it was certainly yours. to be noticed by your favorite idol, even if it only was the acknowledgement of your comment on their weverse lives or a reply on your post. Something so simple could have brighten up your day and mood. But you wanted to be remembered, not just seen. To make a long-lasting impression.

The first time you felt like the luckiest girl in the world when your best friend came into your room and showed you two tickets for enhypen's fan meet. You asked no questions but jumped out and went to hug her. The next following days were filled with anticipation and excitement, but then again it was like the days led on and went by so slowly.

The countdown on your calendar seemed to move at a snail's pace, each day dragging on as you and your best friend eagerly awaited the fan meet with ENHYPEN. You spent hours watching their music videos, practicing the fan chants, and discussing what you would say if you got the chance to talk to your bias. Your heart raced with excitement every time you thought about finally meeting them in person.

As the day of the fan meet drew nearer, your best friend surprised you with an envelope. Inside, there was a handwritten letter that read, "To my partner in ENHYPEN crime, I couldn't have asked for a better friend to share this adventure with. This is just a little something to make our day even more special." Inside the envelope, you found matching ENHYPEN-themed shirts, and your eyes welled up with tears of gratitude.

On the day of the fan meet, you and your best friend got ready together, helping each other choose the perfect outfits and doing each other's makeup. You couldn't believe how lucky you were to have a friend who understood your love for ENHYPEN so deeply. The excitement was palpable as you headed to the venue, clutching your tickets and wearing your matching shirts proudly.

Little did you know that this fan meet would be the beginning of an unforgettable journey filled with laughter, tears, and cherished memories.

You were seated two rows behind the main stage where the members were. The site in front of you was something you never thought you'd actually see and experience. you have gotten so used to see your favorite artist through a screen but now, they were in front of you. Slowly, your eyes land on your bias, lee heeseung.

As the music and their voices filled the venue, the vibrant stage lights illuminated heeseung's face, casting a surreal glow upon his features. He was every bit as mesmerizing as you had imagined, even more so in person. The energy and charisma he exuded were magnetic, drawing you deeper into the moment.

As Heeseung started to sing, his voice washed over the audience like a soothing wave, carrying with it the emotions and passion that had initially captured your heart. His every note seemed to resonate with your soul, and you couldn't help but be moved by the raw talent and dedication that had brought him to this stage.

Lost in the music and the enchantment of the moment, you found yourself swaying to the rhythm, your heart pounding in time with the music. It was as if the distance that had once separated you from your favorite artist had vanished, and for those fleeting moments, you felt a connection stronger than any screen could ever convey.

"Looks like your about to cry" min jee nudges you from the side. you both chuckle and you explain how surreal the feeling is, the feeling is mutual, and the conversation eventually ends as min jee squeals as she made eye contact with her bias.

After the small performance of their songs, the boys sit down to converse with their fans. You and Min Jee still feel excitement bubbling in your veins from the earlier exchange. Heeseung, who had noticed your emotional reaction earlier, spots you among the crowd and offers a warm smile.

As the Q&A session begins, fans eagerly raise their hands, and Heeseung points to you first, saying, "I saw you earlier during the performance. You seemed really moved. Would you like to share what touched you the most?"

Feeling a mixture of nervousness and gratitude, you stand up and take the microphone. "Well," you start, your voice trembling slightly, "it's just that… your music has always been a source of comfort for me. When I listen to your songs, it's like escaping into another world, a world filled with hope and happiness. Seeing you perform those songs live, it's like a dream come true."

Heeseung's eyes light up as he listens to your heartfelt words. "Thank you so much for sharing that," he replies sincerely. "We put a lot of love and dedication into our music, and it means the world to us to know that it touches you in such a profound way."

As the conversation continues, the members engage with fans on various topics, from their favorite memories to their future aspirations. You and Min Jee find yourselves caught up in the lively atmosphere, sharing laughter and stories with fellow fans.

And in the midst of it all, you can't help but notice the occasional glances from Heeseung, his smile never fading as he chats with the audience. The surreal feeling from earlier has transformed into a beautiful memory, one you'll carry with you forever as you continue to support and cherish the connection you share with ENHYPEN.

"The next portion of the fan meet came along, the one-on-one talk with each member. As you approached Heeseung, your heart raced with excitement. He greeted you with a warm smile, making you feel instantly at ease. The way he focused all his attention on you, as if you were the only person in the room, was both surprising and heartwarming.

You had prepared a list of questions in your mind, but as Heeseung looked into your eyes, all words seemed to escape you. Instead, you found yourselves engaged in a spontaneous and genuine conversation. Heeseung shared stories about his life, dreams, and the journey of ENHYPEN so far.

His humility and sincerity touched your heart deeply, and you couldn't help but admire him even more. Before you knew it, your allotted time was over, but not without Heeseung promising to remember your face and your support, a promise that filled you with an indescribable joy.

As you moved on to speak with the other members, each interaction was just as magical and unforgettable as the last. Sunghoon's playfulness, Sunoo's infectious laughter, and Jake's thoughtful words all left a lasting impression.

The memories you had created during those precious moments were indeed treasures that would always bring a smile to your face, and you knew you would cherish them for a lifetime. Eventually and unfortunately, the event had come to an end. On the car ride home, you and Min jee had nothing but good things to say, already reminiscing on the fan meet you both just experienced.

"you girls are so smitten for those boys" your dad offered to pick you both up but what he didn't expect was you two in the backseat love crying over the members and the event. when you reached home, after washing up, changing into your pajamas. Min jee hands you your now signed album, you both scan the newly signed album with the messages each member wrote.

Laughing, you looked at Min jee with tear-streaked cheeks, your voices still trembling with excitement. "I can't believe we actually met them," you admitted, holding the album close to your heart. "And they were so sweet!"

Min jee nodded vigorously, "I know, right? Sunghoon even gave me his signature heart!" She pointed to a heart-shaped doodle next to his autograph, making you giggle.

As you both continued to flip through the album, you couldn't help but relive the moments you had shared with ENHYPEN. Each message from the members felt like a cherished treasure, a reminder of the special bond you had formed during the fan meet.

"Look what Jungwon wrote," you said, showing Min jee the message from Jungwon. 'He said he hopes we keep supporting them forever.'

Min jee smiled warmly. 'We will, won't we?'

You nodded enthusiastically. 'Absolutely. We're their fans for life.'

Continuing, y/n spots numbers written on Heeseung's page, she stops and looks at the numbers that happen to be a phone number, written by side it "keep this a secret, yeah? text me whenever". eyes widen and followed by a scream by Min jee, she begins to hold your shoulders and shakes you. "Omg, excuse me! Heeseung gave you his number!!"

Eyes still locked onto Heeseung's phone number, you felt your heart race with excitement and disbelief. His message was clear - he wanted you to reach out to him. It was a secret connection, just between you and Heeseung.

Min jee's second scream brought you back to reality, and her enthusiastic reaction mirrored the excitement bubbling up inside you. She shook you, and you couldn't help but giggle at her infectious enthusiasm.

"This is incredible! You have to text him right now!" Min jee exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with delight.

Your mind raced with a mix of emotions. Should you really text him?

Min jee seemed to read your thoughts and grinned mischievously. "Come on, y/n! You'll never know unless you try. Besides, it's a secret, right? So, even if it's just friendly, you won't embarrass yourself."

With a deep breath and a smile, you nodded, determined to seize the opportunity. "You're right. I'll send him a message tomorrow. But for now, let's keep this our little secret."

The two of you shared a knowing look, sealing your pact of secrecy with a mischievous grin. The excitement of the day, combined with the secret connection you now shared with Heeseung, made it difficult to sleep that night. Little did you know that this phone number would be the start of an unexpected and incredible journey that would bring you even closer to your favorite ENHYPEN member.

As the morning sun filtered through your curtains, you tiptoed out of the bedroom, careful not to wake the still-sleeping Min jee. You couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and nervousness about texting Heeseung.

In the kitchen, you decided to whip up a special breakfast to share with your family and Min jee. You prepared pancakes with a side of fresh fruit and brewed a pot of coffee. The aroma of breakfast soon filled the air, and you couldn't help but feel proud of your cooking skills.

Meanwhile, an hour away, Heeseung stirred in his sleep. He had fallen asleep with his phone clutched in his hand, eagerly waiting for your text. His heart raced as he dreamt of the possibility of hearing from you, and when he woke up and realized no message had arrived, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of disappointment.

Heeseung rubbed his eyes, setting his phone aside for a moment. He decided to get up and start his day, not wanting to dwell on the anticipation. Little did he know that the message he had been waiting for would soon make its way to his phone, bringing a bright smile to his face.

Back at your place, the delicious smell of breakfast soon roused Min jee from her slumber. She wandered into the kitchen, her eyes still half-closed, and a sleepy smile tugging at her lips. "What's that amazing smell?" she mumbled.

You turned to her with a grin, holding up a plate of pancakes. "Breakfast is ready, Min jee! But first, let's have some coffee, and then I have something exciting to tell you."

Min jee's curiosity piqued, and she eagerly accepted the coffee you poured for her. As you both sat down to enjoy the meal, you couldn't help but feel a sense of warmth and excitement for the day ahead.

"so, i sent him a message, just a simple good morning" your bestfriend almost spits out her coffee.

As you nonchalantly mentioned sending Heeseung a message, Min jee's reaction was anything but subtle. She nearly choked on her coffee, her eyes widening in shock as she tried to process what you had just said.

"What?! You sent him a message?!" Min jee exclaimed, her voice a mixture of excitement and disbelief. "Just like that? A 'good morning'? Are you serious?"

You couldn't help but chuckle at her reaction. "Yes, Min jee, I did! I mean, he did give me his number, and it's a secret, right?"

Min jee recovered from her coffee mishap and leaned in eagerly. "What did he say? Did he reply?"

You checked your phone, but there was still no response from Heeseung. "Not yet. Maybe he's still sleeping or busy with something. It's okay; I'm not expecting an immediate reply."

Min jee sighed dramatically, her eyes gleaming with excitement. "I can't believe this is happening! You have Heeseung's number, and you sent him a message! What if he replies with something super sweet?"

You blushed at the thought, but you tried to keep your expectations in check. "Well, let's not get ahead of ourselves. We'll see what happens. For now, let's finish our breakfast and enjoy our day. Who knows what surprises are in store for us?"

With that, you both continued to savor your breakfast, the anticipation of Heeseung's reply adding an extra layer of excitement to your already memorable weekend.

As the day progressed, you and Min jee went about your errands, trying to keep busy to distract yourselves from the anticipation of Heeseung's reply. You two shopped, enjoyed a leisurely lunch, and even visited a nearby park to relax and take in the beautiful weather.

Meanwhile, Heeseung's schedule was jam-packed with idol duties, from interviews to rehearsals and meetings. He hadn't had a chance to check his phone, which lay forgotten in his dressing room.

It wasn't until late in the afternoon that Heeseung finally had a moment to himself. He picked up his phone and noticed a notification indicating a new message. His heart skipped a beat as he saw your name on the screen. He quickly opened the message and read your simple "good morning., it's y/n for the fan meet yesterday"

A warm smile spread across Heeseung's face as he composed a reply: "Good afternoon! Sorry for the late reply. How's your day going?" He hit send and waited anxiously for your response.

Back at your place, you felt your phone buzz with a notification. Your heart raced as you saw Heeseung's name on the screen. Min jee, who was sitting beside you, leaned in eagerly to see your reaction.

You read Heeseung's message and couldn't help but smile. "He replied!" you exclaimed, showing Min jee the message.

She squealed with excitement and leaned closer to read it. "What are you waiting for? Reply, reply!"

With Min jee's encouragement, you quickly typed out a response, sharing details about your day and how much you enjoyed the fan meet. As you sent the message, you couldn't help but wonder what this unexpected connection with Heeseung might lead to.

"Gosh, you're so lucky, why didn't sunghoon give me his number" min jee laughs as she looks at the smile you hold as you text heeseung

You chuckled at Min jee's playful jealousy. "Well, Min jee, maybe next time we'll both get lucky, and Sunghoon will give you his number!" you teased, a mischievous glint in your eyes.

Min jee grinned and shook her head. "I can only hope! But seriously, this is amazing. I'm so happy for you, y/n. Who would've thought that a simple fan meet could lead to this?"

You nodded, your smile reflecting your own amazement. "I know, right? Life is full of surprises. And the best part is, it's just the beginning."

With that, you resumed your texting conversation with Heeseung, and the excitement of your newfound connection with the ENHYPEN member filled the room.

As the days turned into weeks, and those weeks into months, your online friendship with Heeseung continued to flourish in secret. You found yourselves texting, calling, and video chatting regularly, sharing details about your lives, dreams, and everything in between. Your connection deepened, and you both cherished the bond you had built.

However, the reality of your respective lives and responsibilities remained a significant barrier to meeting in person. Heeseung's demanding schedule as an idol and your own commitments made it challenging to find a suitable time and place to meet. The fear of getting caught, the potential impact on Heeseung's career, and the invasion of your privacy by fans added to the complexity of your situation.

Despite these challenges, your friendship remained strong. You found solace in knowing that you had someone to confide in, someone who truly understood you. Your secret connection became a source of joy and support for both of you.

You often wondered what the future held for your friendship, whether you'd ever find the right moment to meet in person and openly share your connection with the world. But for now, you both treasured the special bond you had, a secret friendship that continued to grow stronger with each passing day.

"How's you and Loverboy?" Your best friend hands you your snack and sits by you. "Loverboy? we are just friends" Min jee looks at you disappointed and crosses her arms "just friends? y/n you are fumbling the bag" she jokes. "Will my ship ever start sailing?" she continues to tease you.

You couldn't help but chuckle at Min jee's teasing. You took the snack she handed you and shrugged playfully. "Min jee, you and your ship fantasies. We're genuinely just friends, I promise."

She pouted in mock disappointment, giving you an exaggerated sigh. "Well, fine, but I'm still holding out hope for that ship to set sail someday."

As you chatted with Min jee, little did you know that Heeseung's fellow ENHYPEN members had also noticed a significant change in their oldest hyung. During a break from their busy schedule, Sunghoon couldn't help but comment, "Heeseung, you've been in a great mood lately. Anything special going on?"

Heeseung tried to hide his smile but failed miserably. "Oh, just some good conversations with a friend," he replied casually, not wanting to give away too much.

Sunghoon raised an eyebrow, his curiosity piqued. "A friend, huh? Is there something you're not telling us, Heeseung?"

The other members joined in, exchanging knowing glances and teasing smiles. They had become experts at reading each other over time, and Heeseung's change in behavior had not gone unnoticed.

Heeseung chuckled, realizing that he couldn't keep it a secret from his bandmates much longer. "Okay, okay, maybe there's someone I've been talking to."

The ENHYPEN members erupted in excitement, bombarding Heeseung with questions and playful teasing. He couldn't help but laugh at their enthusiasm, all the while wondering if someday, he would introduce you to his bandmates, officially blending his two worlds together.

"Is y/n the one that came with that pretty friend? what was her name...Min jee?" Sunghoon starts thinking deeply. "I should've gaven her my number as well" Sunghoon whines. "wow, you both found someone within ENGENEs at the fanmeet" Jay says.

Heeseung couldn't help but chuckle at Sunghoon's lament. "Well, you can always ask her for her number next time," he suggested with a teasing grin.

Sunghoon sighed dramatically, leaning back in his chair. "I guess you're right. Missed opportunities, man."

Meanwhile, Jay added his own perspective. "It's pretty cool, though, that you both found someone within ENGENEs at the fan meet. Who would've thought?"

Heeseung nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's been quite an unexpected journey."

The conversation continued, with the ENHYPEN members sharing their own experiences and stories from fan meets and interactions with fans. As they reminisced and talked about the unique connections they had formed with their supporters, Heeseung couldn't help but think about the special bond he had with you, a connection that had grown beyond the typical idol-fan relationship and had become something truly meaningful in his life.

When you thought the moment would never come again, you met heeseung once again just by a coincidence. You and min jee were roaming the street of Seoul and spontaneously took it upon yourselves to go to an amusement park. It was a weekday, so there wasn't as much people as the weekends would have.

As you walked around the park, Min jee's eyes landed on cameras and staff. Heart stopping, Min jee pulls you to the side and whispers in your ear. Your own eyes then travel to find the site she mentions, then it hits you. it's heeseung, ni-ki, jake, and sunghoon filming something at the amusement park.

You and Min jee exchanged wide-eyed glances, barely able to contain your excitement and nervousness. It felt like fate had intervened once again, bringing you face to face with Heeseung and the ENHYPEN members in the most unexpected way.

"Do you think it's for an EN o' clock episode?" Min jee whispered, her eyes sparkling with excitement.

You hesitated for a moment, your heart pounding in your chest. The fear of causing a scene or disrupting their work crossed your mind. "or a En Log" you whispered back.

With cautious steps, you and Min jee made your way farther to where the ENHYPEN members were filming. You couldn't help but smile as you watched them work, appreciating their dedication to their craft. As you stopped watching from a far, you and Min jee failed to notice that certain eyes had finally landed on you. Unbeknownst to you, Heeseung had a sudden urge to look around and see if anyone familiar was in the vicinity. As his gaze swept the area, his eyes widened in surprise when he locked eyes with you.

Time seemed to stand still as Heeseung's gaze met yours. For a moment, he couldn't believe his eyes. It felt like a scene from a romantic movie, the world fading away as you and Heeseung locked eyes in the middle of the bustling amusement park.

A warm smile crept across Heeseung's face, and he subtly nodded in your direction, acknowledging your presence without drawing too much attention. It was a silent but meaningful greeting, a secret shared between the two of you.

Min jee noticed the exchange and nudged you excitedly. "Y/n, he's looking at you! Heeseung is looking at you!"

You turned to Min jee with wide eyes, heart pounding even faster. It was a moment you had never expected to happen again, a chance encounter that felt like destiny was at play once more.

Seeing that you and Heeseung couldn't do much more than exchange smiles and subtle nods in a crowded public space, you turned to Min jee and suggested that you should head somewhere else. However, it appeared that your best friend was equally captivated by the attention of Sunghoon, who had also taken notice of her.

You chuckled at the sight of Min jee being distracted by Sunghoon, realizing that fate had its own plans for your friend. With a knowing look, you decided to let her have her moment and turned your attention back to Heeseung.

Heeseung was now laughing at something Sunghoon had said, and the camaraderie between the ENHYPEN members was heartwarming to witness. Despite the distance and the limitations of the situation, it felt like a small, beautiful moment that you shared with Heeseung.

As the day continued at the amusement park, you and Min jee enjoyed the excitement of the rides and attractions, all while stealing glances at the ENHYPEN members whenever you could. It was a day filled with unexpected encounters, secret smiles, and the joy of being in the presence of your favorite K-pop idols.

As you and Min jee chatted and enjoyed your time on the viking ride, you remained blissfully unaware of the surprise waiting behind you. The ride was half-filled with other people, creating a lively atmosphere as the ride swung back and forth.

Little did you know that Heeseung, Ni-ki, Jake, and Sunghoon had purposely chosen to sit behind you both. They exchanged excited glances, their plan to surprise you and Min jee carefully orchestrated.

As the ride began its swinging motion, you and Min jee laughed and held onto your seats, completely engrossed in the experience. You could feel the wind in your hair and the adrenaline rush as the ride reached its peak and then swung back down.

Meanwhile, Heeseung and the others watched your reactions with eager anticipation. They couldn't wait to see your surprise when they revealed themselves. It was a daring move, but they couldn't resist the chance to make your day even more memorable.

As the viking ride came to an end and the safety bar released, Sunghoon couldn't help but voice his complaint. "Ni-ki, why did you drag me into this?" he exclaimed, causing Min jee to turn around in shock.

Min jee's eyes widened as she realized who was behind her, and a surprised but delighted smile graced her face. "Oh, hi," Sunghoon greeted her shyly, offering a polite bow.

You couldn't help but chuckle at the playful exchange between Sunghoon and Ni-ki. Turning around, you greeted the other three members who had sat behind you, your cheeks slightly flushed with shyness.

"Hey, it's nice to see you all again," you said, trying to maintain your composure.

Heeseung, too, had a faint blush on his cheeks as he met your gaze. "Yeah, it's been a while," he replied, his smile warm and friendly.

The unexpected reunion in a public setting made your hearts race, but it also filled you with joy.

As the day continued, you found yourselves in a more private area with Min jee and the four ENHYPEN members. It was a situation you hadn't anticipated when you set out for the amusement park, and yet, here you were, sharing a more intimate moment with your favorite K-pop idols.

The setting allowed for more relaxed and personal conversations. You and Min jee exchanged stories and laughter with Heeseung, Ni-ki, Jake, and Sunghoon. It was as if you were all old friends catching up, despite the initial shyness that had marked your encounter.

Heeseung, in particular, seemed genuinely happy to see you again and was eager to hear about your experiences since the fan meet. He asked about your favorite ENHYPEN songs and moments, and you shared your thoughts and feelings with enthusiasm.

Min jee, too, was having a lively conversation with Sunghoon, who had a knack for making her laugh. The atmosphere was filled with a sense of camaraderie and warmth that you had never expected to experience in such a private setting.

As the day drew to a close, you couldn't help but reflect on the unexpected turns of fate that had brought you here. Meeting Heeseung and the others again, in a more private and personal context, was a memory you would treasure forever.

Min jee's curiosity got the best of her, and she couldn't help but ask Heeseung and the others about what they were filming for and why only four of them were present.

Heeseung smiled warmly, appreciating her interest. "It's actually a special project we're working on, but we can't reveal all the details just yet," he explained. "And as for the four of us, sometimes we split up for various activities to keep things interesting."

Ni-ki nodded in agreement. "Yeah, it's a surprise for our fans, so we have to be a little secretive."

Jake chimed in, adding, "But we're glad you asked! We're always excited to share our work with ENGENEs."

Sunghoon couldn't resist teasing Min jee a bit, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. "Don't worry, it's not a top-secret mission or anything. We just like to keep things mysterious."

Min jee blushed at Sunghoon's playful teasing but couldn't help but smile. "Well, I can't wait to see what you guys have in store for us."

Heeseung couldn't resist the opportunity to tease Sunghoon further. With a mischievous grin, he turned to Sunghoon and said, "Speaking of secrets, I remember someone here wanted to get Min jee's number earlier."

Sunghoon's eyes widened in surprise, and he sputtered, "Wha—Heeseung, why are you bringing that up?"

The other members laughed, thoroughly enjoying the playful banter. Heeseung continued to tease Sunghoon, "Come on, Sunghoon, don't be shy. You thought Min jee was interesting enough to want her number, right?"

Min jee's face turned a bright shade of red as she tried to hide her embarrassment, while you couldn't help but chuckle at the amusing turn of events.

Sunghoon, in his good-natured way, finally relented, "Okay, fine, maybe I was curious, but it was just friendly curiosity, I swear!"

The teasing continued, creating a lighthearted and enjoyable atmosphere among all of you.

As the day began to wind down, responsibilities and schedules started calling for both you and the ENHYPEN members. It was time to say goodbye.

Heeseung, with a warm and reassuring smile, stepped forward and said, "I know we have to go, but this won't be the last time we meet, I promise. We'll have more chances to spend time together."

His words filled you with hope and happiness, and you nodded in agreement. "I'll be looking forward to that, Heeseung."

Min jee chimed in, her heart full of gratitude and excitement. "Thank you all for making this day so memorable. We'll be cheering for you, as always."

With heartfelt goodbyes and promises to meet again, you and Min jee watched as Heeseung, Ni-ki, Jake, and Sunghoon headed off to their next destination. As you left the amusement park, you couldn't help but reflect on the incredible day you had shared with your favorite idols and the newfound certainty that your paths would cross once more in the future.

The months continued to pass, and your beautiful secret friendship with Heeseung and the ENHYPEN members only grew stronger. You cherished the moments you spent talking, sharing stories, and getting to know each other on a deeper level. It was a unique and cherished connection that you considered yourself incredibly fortunate to have.

Your friendship with Heeseung had become a cornerstone of your life, a bond that brought you happiness and comfort. The more you got to know him, the more you realized how wonderful he was, both as an idol and as a person.

Meanwhile, it seemed that Min jee and Sunghoon's connection had evolved into something more than just friendship. Their budding romance brought a new layer of excitement and happiness to your circle. You couldn't help but smile at the sweet moments they shared and how their feelings for each other had blossomed.

Heeseung's feelings for you had deepened over time, evolving from a mere crush into something more profound. He had been planning to confess his feelings for a while now, and the moment had finally arrived. However, his fellow ENHYPEN members were quick to notice his distraction and teasingly referred to him as "lover boy."

As Heeseung stepped into the recording booth, Jay couldn't resist the opportunity to tease him. "Okay, lover boy, stop texting y/n and record your part," Jay quipped, earning a round of laughter from the other members.

Heeseung playfully rolled his eyes and replied, "Why don't you tease Sunghoon as well? He's the one who wanted Min jee's number."

The members continued to laugh, but they also shared knowing glances. They could tell that Heeseung was genuinely smitten, and his confession had been a long time coming. They respected his feelings and knew that, ultimately, it was a beautiful part of his life.

As Heeseung put on his headphones and began recording, he couldn't help but feel a mix of nervousness and excitement about what lay ahead. The possibility of sharing his true feelings with you filled him with hope and anticipation, and he hoped that, just maybe, you felt the same way.

Receiving Heeseung's text around 5 PM, your heart raced as you read his message. The anticipation of what he had to say filled you with excitement and a touch of nervousness. Heeseung's words conveyed urgency, and you couldn't help but wonder what was so important.

You quickly replied, agreeing to meet him at the location he mentioned. As you got ready and headed out, your thoughts were consumed by what Heeseung might want to discuss. The evening air was cool, and the city buzzed with life as you made your way to the designated meeting place, your heart pounding with anticipation.

Arriving at the private restaurant, you were greeted by a guard and a staff member who had been expecting your arrival. You exchanged polite greetings and engaged in some pleasant conversation as they led you to a private room within the restaurant.

As you entered the room, your heart skipped a beat when you saw Heeseung standing there, a bouquet of flowers in his hand. The warm and inviting ambiance of the room, coupled with Heeseung's presence, made the moment feel incredibly special.

A smile spread across your face as you approached him, your heart filled with a mixture of excitement and curiosity about what he had to tell you. The sight of Heeseung waiting with flowers added an extra layer of romance to the evening, and you couldn't wait to hear what he had in store.

Heeseung smiled warmly as he handed you the bouquet of flowers, the colorful blooms a vibrant contrast against the dimly lit room. He took a deep breath, his eyes locked onto yours, and he began to speak with a sincerity that melted your heart.

"Y/n," he began, his voice filled with a mixture of nervousness and determination, "the reason I asked you to meet me here tonight is because there's something I've been wanting to tell you for a long time, something that's been on my mind ever since we first met at that fan meet."

Heeseung paused for a moment, searching for the right words. "I've come to realize that my feelings for you go beyond friendship. Y/n, I care about you deeply, and I can't help but have these strong feelings for you."

His confession hung in the air, and Heeseung's gaze never left yours. He had bared his heart and soul to you, revealing the depth of his emotions. Now, all that remained was your response to his heartfelt confession.

You didn't want to keep him waiting longer, so you responded in a way that left you in shock as your own body took over. You leaned over and kissed him on the cheek before replying "I like you too Heeseung"

The room seemed to hold its breath for a moment as you leaned in and pressed a gentle, affectionate kiss on Heeseung's cheek. It was a gesture that conveyed your feelings more than words ever could, and it left him pleasantly surprised.

A warm, radiant smile lit up Heeseung's face as he heard your words. "I'm so glad to hear that, Y/n," he replied, his voice filled with happiness. "I've been wanting to hear those words for a long time."

The atmosphere in the room shifted, and the connection between you and Heeseung felt even more special. It was a moment of shared feelings, unspoken emotions, and the promise of a new chapter in your relationship. The beautiful secret you had shared was now a beautiful reality, and you couldn't wait to see where this journey would lead you both.

Around 9pm the date had ti end and now you were heading home. The ride home was nothing but solace and peace. You admired the city lights and the ngiht sky through the window, not noticing Heeseung admiring you. With a smile on his face and a camera in his hand. Documenting the start of something new.

As the car pulled up in front of your home, the warm and romantic date came to an end, and you found yourself in Heeseung's company car.

"Okay, lovers, time to say goodbye for now," the manager joked, earning a laugh from both you and Heeseung. His manager, with a playful grin, decided to give you both some privacy and stepped out of the car.

You turned to Heeseung, and there was a comfortable silence for a moment as you cherished the memory of the evening. Heeseung reached out and gently held your hand, his eyes filled with affection and gratitude.

"Thank you for being here with me tonight," he said softly. "I can't wait to see where this journey takes us."

With that, you exchanged a sweet, lingering goodnight kiss, and Heeseung watched as you entered your home, the promise of a new chapter in your relationship filling your heart with joy and anticipation.

The following month reminded you that this was not all sunshine and rainbows, yes you were very content and happy with what you and heeseung had but now you had more worry about getting caught since you have been meeting up more.

Sharing your concerns about the increasing risk of getting caught with Min Jee was a relief. It felt good to confide in your best friend, especially since she was experiencing a similar situation with Sunghoon. As you sat together, you both found comfort in knowing you weren't alone in facing the challenges of your secret relationships with the ENHYPEN members.

Min Jee nodded sympathetically as you voiced your worries. "I know what you mean, y/n. It's tough to balance our feelings and the need for privacy, especially when we want to support them and enjoy our time together."

She continued, "But remember, we've been managing it well so far. And Heeseung and Sunghoon, they're both understanding and careful about it too. We just have to be cautious and trust that things will work out."

You felt reassured by Min Jee's words, and the bond between you and your best friend grew stronger as you navigated the challenges of your secret relationships with the ENHYPEN members together.

You both shared a laugh, finding humor in the series of events that had led to your secret relationships with Heeseung and Sunghoon.

Min Jee playfully flipped her hair back and grinned. "I guess we must be incredibly good looking to catch their attention," she said with a playful wink. "But hey, it's not just about looks, it's about the connection we share with them."

You nodded in agreement, still amused by the twists and turns of fate that had brought you to this point. "Absolutely, it's the connection that matters the most. And it's been a beautiful journey so far."

You and Min Jee shifted your focus from romance to more pressing matters, like finishing your thesis paper. With determination, you handed Min Jee your laptop, and together, you dove back into your academic work.

As you worked side by side, tackling your research and writing, you couldn't help but appreciate the balance in your life. While your secret romance with Heeseung was a beautiful and cherished part of your journey, your academic goals and friendships were equally important. It was the blend of all these aspects that made your life rich and fulfilling, and you were determined to succeed in every aspect, both in love and in your studies.

You thought back and mentioned how Heeseung proved to be a loving and supportive boyfriend, and his presence in your life was a constant source of reassurance and comfort. He never let you bear the stress of the situation alone and was always there to uplift your spirits.

Whenever you felt overwhelmed by the pressure and expectations of keeping your relationship a secret, Heeseung would be the calm in the storm. He would hold your hand, look into your eyes, and tell you, "We'll get through this together, Y/n. Our love is worth it, and I'm here for you every step of the way."

His words and actions were a reminder that your relationship was built on trust, understanding, and unwavering support. Heeseung's love gave you the strength to face the challenges and uncertainties of your unique situation, and you cherished every moment you spent together, no matter how secret or hidden it had to be.

the end~

(extra: Underneath a starry night sky, you found yourselves on a quiet rooftop. Heeseung had planned a surprise for you, a romantic evening that would create unforgettable memories.

As you both stood there, the soft glow of city lights surrounding you, Heeseung took your hand in his, his fingers gently interlacing with yours. He pulled you closer, and you felt the warmth of his touch as he wrapped his arms around you, enveloping you in a tender embrace.

"Y/n," he whispered, his voice soft and filled with love, "being with you is like finding my own little piece of paradise. I cherish every moment we spend together, and I can't imagine my life without you."

Your heart swelled with emotion as you looked up into Heeseung's eyes, the moonlight reflecting in them like a sea of stars. "Heeseung," you replied, your voice filled with affection, "you are my light in the darkness, my anchor in the storm. I'm so grateful to have you in my life."

As the night breeze rustled your hair and the world seemed to fade away, Heeseung leaned in, his lips gently meeting yours in a sweet, lingering kiss. It was a kiss filled with all the love and tenderness you both felt for each other, a moment of pure connection beneath the starry sky.

In that moment, you both knew that no matter the challenges or secrets that life may bring, your love would always shine brightly, just like the stars above, guiding your hearts together.)

#enhypen #enhypen imagines #enhypen au #engene #enha #enhypen x reader #lee heeseung #lee heesung x reader #heeseung #heeseung fluff #heeseung imagines #enhypen heeseung

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cmmdrkote · 10 months

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codywan reverse bang team #13: i should tell him i love him

The words fell away as Obi-Wan raised his head. He had been expecting another visit from Cetius only to find his Commander standing in the doorway. He blinked a few times, fearing he was merely hallucinating. “Cody?” “General.” The Commander stared for a moment, trying to think of what to say. I’m glad I found you in time. I’m glad you’re alive. I missed you. I was worried about you. I think I love you. “Did you need a rescue?” “Do you know, Commander?” Obi-Wan tried for a smile and a laugh that turned into a groan as his broken ribs made themselves known. “I just think I might.”

So, I'm unfortunately late (life and death happened) but here is 2/3 of my piece for CWRB '23! Obi-Wan has gotten himself into a situation, and Cody is annoyed and using that to cover up how worried he is.

i would like to thank the mods of @codywanreversebang Serie and Anon for their endless patience, my friends for getting me through a difficult time, and of course my amazing writers Kay @foreverchangingfandomsao3 and Mia who have written a fantastic story for this prompt that you can read here.

I'll see you all soon for Part 3....a Keldabe kiss is imminent 👀 Notes and close-ups sans shadows under the cut:

A consistent light source? Who? I've never heard of her in my entire life.

I swear I didn't mean for there to be Christ-like undertones (I'm not even Christian) but once I had Obi's pose laid out and the light focused on him, I was like "fuck I gotta commit to the space Jesus now".

I originally intended for this to have a much more cartoony style, but the shading on Cody's face got away from me and then I needed to match that level of realism for his whole body, which drastically increased the time taken and I had to scrap all my plans for Obi.

The pose/prompt and Obi's outfit are inspired by Crossfire by Brandon Flowers, a whumper's dream of a music video and also a bop. I had sketched something out about two years ago and ended up adapting it for this idea.

Obi is wearing suspenders and a dress shirt because 1. I hate drawing clothing and knew robes would suck 2. Brandon is wearing that outfit in the video which made an easier reference 3. Suspenders are hot 4. I needed to show the hairy chest

Clip Studio Paint can eat my ass, I'm never upgrading to their bs subscription model.

Ewan and Temuera are some of the most handsome men I've seen in my entire life and no I will not be taking questions.

Here are some close-ups because I want to show off what I did before covering it up with dramatic ass shadows:

#codywan #star wars #the clone wars #star wars art #obi wan kenobi #commander cody #obi wan whump #my art #my post #tw blood #tw implied torture #tw injury #i dedicate this art to the codywan reddit refugee and the user who called obi wan the pillow princess of warfare

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4ce-of-2pades · 2 months

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I see you're into PJO. If you had to assign yourself and your mutuals a Greek/Roman God/Goddess, who would it be and why?

(Mutuals, don’t feel left out if I… leave you out. This is just who I happened to get ideas for.)

Myself: My instinct is to answer Hephaestus, because he’s really cool and I love steampunk, or Hecate, because magic is awesome, or even Apollo, because I’m both an artist and a singer. But I think I’d be a/be a demigod of a wind god. For starters, my moods often shift quickly and dramatically enough, but I love the wind itself, and will always say so aloud whenever it’s windy. Wind fills me with life, the way touching water energizes Percy. Plus, I really really want to be able to fly, Jason-style. (I had a very vivid dream as a kid that I did fly once, and I believed it for years. Perfect backstory.)

@lexiconic-light: I associate you with Hestia, ‘cause you’ve got that same kind, welcoming personality. If we’re talking demigods though, Hestia doesn’t have kids, so maybe you’d be a plant nymph or a child of Demeter, because you have a lot of plants and take care of them very well. Or maybe a child of Calliope, because of your writing and love of stories.

@many-gay-magpies: Either somebody artsy, or somebody nature-ey. One of the Muses, Demeter, a nymph, a satyr, etc. Though I also get Hecate vibes from you, so maybe her. You’re mysterious and magic-y. And you like birds. And draw/paint really freaking well. Something along those lines. I feel like I’m missing some obvious connection.

@disneyautistic: Maybe it’s just because you were really into Pirates of the Caribbean the last time we saw each other, but I diagnose you with Posideon. You’d decorate everything with shells and bits of sea glass, and paint ocean creatures on your walls, and wear a sea captain’s coat everywhere. Plus, I think you’d enjoy shapeshifting powers, if you could have them (I know it’s rare for Poseidon demigods, but you never know).

@linklog: Based purely on vibes, I assign you Hermes. No solid evidence for that, I just think you have a good personality for a trickster. Or maybe you’d embody the theatrical side of Apollo or Dionysus. Is there a Greek god of fashion and cosplay? Because I’ve always admired the creativity of your outfits.

@whosectype: Both Hecate and something nature-ey, no question. Maybe a satyr that is also a student of Hecate, learning magic like Hazel was? You’d cast dark spells involving bird bones and fungi and lots and lots of teeth, to increase the growth of moss or make something rot faster. You’d draw your spell-circles-on-the-floor™ in fresh mud. You’d enjoy being a little unnerving to the other satyrs, who prefer frolicking in sunlit fields to lurking in the shadowed areas of the forest and watching trees get overtaken by parasitic bugs.

@cupid-shortcake: Between your username and your pastel pink aesthetic, assigning you Cupid or Aphrodite seems like such an easy answer that it can’t possibly be right. I think it actually works though. On one hand, you show a lot of love and kindness to your friends, lifting them up and making them feel supported and appreciated. But you’ve also got that evil streak where you’ll make an endless series of terrible things happen to your characters because it makes a better story (as most writers do). If you applied that evil streak to real people’s lives and relationships, then you’d make an excellent Greek goddess of love.

(Actually, I think assigning the whole @cupheadocscasino crew gods from the Greek pantheon would make a REALLY COOL AU. I just don’t have ideas for all fifteen, and the characters themselves would probably be different gods than their creators would, so even the three here aren’t set in stone.)

#percy jackson #greek mythology #riordanverse

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caspira-writes-fanfiction · 17 days

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Finding Family (Fizz's Found Family)-Chapter 8

Flying (pt. 2)

“You’ve never been to Gluttony before?” Asmodeus was sitting opposite Fizzarolli in the back of his blue limousine, smiling to himself about the way Fizzarolli was looking over each detail of his outfit for the evening as if he didn’t come up with half of the ideas himself. It was almost as if he didn’t believe he was wearing it. Fizzarolli seemed to be determined to catalog each hand sewn bead to memory. It made Asmodeus happy, he’d made the correct decision in ordering a second custom outfit for Fizzarolli. “Enjoying your sparkles?”

Ozzie’s foot nudging against his own was enough to rouse Fizzarolli from his trance. Winning Mammon’s contest a little over a week ago had changed more for him than he imagined it would. When Fizzarolli went to meet with Mammon the day after winning, he was greeted with five new costumes and a whole new set of Mammon branded props! When he returned to the penthouse after his workday that day, he was received with a sparkly invitation to one of Queen Bee-Lzebub’s parties. That’s where they were headed to now, that’s what this new outfit was for.

“There’s so many of them. More than the showgirls costumes used to have.”

Asmodeus chuckled. “It’s Gluttony, you’re supposed to be excessive.” Asmodeus was also dressed up for the occasion. His outfit was like nothing Fizzarolli had ever seen Lust wear before. He remained in his boots, halfway up his legs and drawing the eye even higher. He opted for shorts on the bottom, tight and made of leather, with a jeweled belt buckle in all of Ozzie’s colors. His blazer was also made of leather and underneath he wore a body chain that hung like the most intricate and commanding necklace down his whole chest. Fizzarolli knew the piece of jewelry also hooked around Ozzie’s shoulders under his arms and chained itself halfway down Ozzie’s back.

“This is a new outfit for you, too. I’ve never seen you dress like this in Lust.” It wasn’t a bad thing, though Fizzarolli found himself worrying about how much he was allowed to stare before it became weird. That’s part of the reason why he’d been studying the hand beaded corset (that also worked as a battery pack if he wanted it to) and teal silk shirt with balloon sleeves and intricate embroidered details. Even his pants and ruff had extra details sewn onto them. For the second time in the span of a fortnight Asmodeus had managed to create an outfit for Fizzarolli right out of his dreams.

“It’s Gluttony, you’re supposed to be excessive” Lust repeated. Fizzarolli blushed. He still wasn’t comfortable with excess, Asmodeus noted. He wasn’t so averse to it that he’d refused the outfit, though. He’d gotten quite excited when he saw Ozzie’s sketches. He’d made design tweaks to the outfit himself and he still seemed amazed when the outfit arrived at the penthouse yesterday. Asmodeus was happy he was amazed, though. He deserved to shine tonight, this party was for him after all.

“Before we get there, a few ground rules” Asmodeus continued.

Fizzarolli interrupted. “Oh, there’s rules tonight?”

“You’ve never been to Gluttony before. Do you want to walk into your party unprepared?” Fizzarolli stayed quiet. “You have nothing to worry about, first of all. Bee is going to love you.”

Asmodeus talked about Bee-Lzebub like they were close. Ozzie didn’t talk about his friends often.

“She throws a great party, she knows how to keep the energy high.” sort of like someone else I know, Ozzie thought. “But she talks before she thinks sometimes. Nothing she says is mean spirited. You’ll know if you’ve made her angry.” Asmodeus knew that Fizzarolli could take a punch. He could give one right back and play it off most of the time too. But this was Fizzarolli’s first time out in public with his new stretchy limbs, and his first big public appearance without Mammon attached to him since he won the pageant. He knew Fizzarolli was excited, but he was also worried that someone would say something that would get Fizz’s feelings hurt.

“Don’t piss off the Queen Bee, don’t take offense. Understood. Any other rules?”

“No Beezlejuice” Fizzarolli stuck his tongue out in a teasing pout. He already knew that, he was on too many medications, it wasn’t safe. “I already told her about that, though. She won’t push it on you.”

Fizzarolli wondered how many deadly Sins knew about his personal business. Mammon did, Belphegor did, Asmodeus did, and to some extent Bee’Lzebub now did as well. He was only three away from collecting them all. Pretty impressive for a scrappy little imp from the Greed Ring.

“Her food is good enough, I think I’ll be able to have a good time without the booze.” The two of them nodded. “This isn’t my party though.”

“You’re the excuse for her to throw one.” Asmodeus laughed to himself. “Well, she doesn’t really need an excuse to throw a party. But she saw your show, she was impressed. You’re the guest of honor.”

“Is that why you’re dressed so nicely?” Fizzarolli’s hand reached out and his finger curled around the smooth gold chain.

“Maybe I was jealous, maybe I wanted to sparkle tonight too!” Asmodeus liked the way he could make Fizzarolli blush almost as much as he liked the confidence that this past week has given Fizzarolli. Asmodeus also liked the way Fizzarolli’s knuckle danced across his nipple. That had to be intentional.

“Oh, you wanted to compete with this?” Fizzarolli’s hand slid back to his corset, which was a kaleidoscope of beadwork. Gold shimmered in flecks between magenta and aqua; violet, olive, fuscia, and cerulean collided in fireworks all along Fizzarolli’s body. Fuck glitter, he’d never been shinier.

Both of them had a laugh together before the car slowed to a halt. The guest of honor had arrived.

The skies were yellow like honey, and the honeycomb imagery didn’t fall short on Fizzarolli. He chuckled as he looked up at Queen Bee-Lzebub’s castle after stepping out of the limo.

“Queen Bee” he laughed, looking up at Asmodeus as he got out of the limo as well. “This is her hive.” Asmodeus chuckled and nodded.

“Are you ready?”

The Hive was huge. A towering atrium with hoops and….lava? No. Beezlejuice decorated the outer parameters of the room. The biggest disco ball Fizzarolli had ever seen towered over the center of the atrium, sending glittering flecks along the room as light hit off it. Large swaths of fabric swagged from the ball’s pole outwards to the upper balconies alternating blue and pink. It almost looked like a circus tent. Fizzarolli wondered if it looked like this all the time, or if this really was all for him. The lights went dark shortly after the two walked in. For a moment, Fizzarolli felt like a kid at the circus again. He felt the same excitement forming in his chest that he did the first night he saw a circus show.

“Awoo Awoo!” Atop the disco ball appeared a mane of golden plasmic light. It reminded Fizzarolli of the beautiful horses from his circus, but this was even better. It was lighter, and more colorful than horses were. It was golden, a deep honey with flashes of orange and cyan and watermelon swirling throughout. It was glorious. The lights raised and Fizzarolli could see the rest of Bee-Lzebub standing atop the globe.

“Kings, Queens, and Rotyal In-Between’s are we having a good time to-night?!” Fizzarolli heard the room howl and cheer in response. Fizzarolli decided to howl, it made Asmodeus chuckle. “Good, good. I am your host, the Queen Bee of Gluttony and I’m ready to get fucking wild!”

More cheering. The energy was electric. Fizzarolli was buzzing. He still couldn’t comprehend that he was here, that this was apparently for him.

“But first, I need all you freaky little bastards to give your warmest, loudest, freakiest welcome to our guests of honor. Coming all the way from the Lust Ring…..The King of Kink, The Lord of Lube, the Duke of Dicktown: Lust himself…...King Ozzie!” More cheering. A spotlight flashed onto the two of them. Fizzarolli howled again and clapped for Asmodeus. The two exchanged a glance.

“And our real king tonight…...the comeback kid from Greed. Hell’s favorite tie breaking champion, the King Clown himself...the one...the only…...Fiz-a-Rolli!” Bee was distinct with every syllable as she said Fizzarolli’s name. Confetti burst from everywhere and rained down on the crowd as Bee-Lzebub dove from her position above everyone else and into a hole nearly as narrow as her, into a golden vat of her bub.

She would do well in the circus, Fizzarolli thought.

Queen Bee appeared from another hole in the ground, the golden liquid following her and swirling around the room. Fizzarolli hadn’t even noticed the cheering, he’d been so mesmerized by Bee-Lzebub’s performance. The way that gold seemed to float in the air with her, swirl into a big cloud, and explode into….cotton candy?! Fizz was full belly laughing by the time the Queen had come to greet them.

“Ozzie! Baby!” Bee-Lzebub flew towards the Sin, stopping short to nuzzle Ram and Bull. She was buzzing, flying so that she hovered at Asmodeus’s eye level. “The energy is crazy good tonight. And fuck! What is this tasty little snack?” Bee flew up and around Ozzie, inspecting both him and the clown next to him from every angle.

It could have been inferred that Bee-Lzebub was referring to Fizzarolli as the snack, or the way Asmodeus’s ass fit in his pants. Maybe even the both of them were the treat she was referring to. It wasn’t, though. Bee could taste energy on people and she’d known Lust since the beginning of Hell. She knew what Lust tasted like happy, mad, sad, and everywhere in between. There was a hint of sweetness on him tonight that she hasn’t ever tasted on the Sin. It was faint enough that she knew not to make a fuss out of it, strong enough that she knew she’d made the right decision by naming Fizzarolli the king tonight.

“Bee, babe. You’ve outdone yourself again.”

Bee-Lzebub’s attention turned Fizzarolli a moment later, but not before Fizz had already extended a hand up to her height. She was still buzzing.

“Holy Shit!”

“Fizzarolli. Nice to make your acquaintance, your highness.” Fizzarolli retracted his arm as he extended his legs so that he was nearly eye level with both of the Sins. He stayed a few inches shorter out of respect.

“Holy Shit!” The Queen repeated. She took Fizz’s hand in two of hers and shook it vigorously. “You were not able to do that a week ago! What the fuck have you been up to?”

Fizzarolli and Asmodeus smiled at each other. “You like my dildo arms? They’re new.” Fizzarolli’s tongue stuck out of the side of his mouth.

Asmodeus tried to hold it in, but couldn’t contain his burst of laughter.

This moment was sweet, like honey. Bee-Lzebub smiled, she laughed too. “O-okay! You are a little freak. I like you.”

Fizzarolli didn’t like the word freak in any context, much let alone when applied to him but the burn of being called a freak was softened by being told he was liked. It didn’t feel hollow when she said it. The way she looked excited about his new telescopic abilities almost mirrored Fizz’s own feelings about them.

Bee-Lzebub, still holding Fizzarolli’s hand, pulled back and twirled him around. She howled once more. “King Jester is in the house!” A few more hounds near them howled, but not nearly as many from a moment ago. The party had started. “Come on, you twisty little thing. Let’s see what these dildo arms can do!”

Fizzarolli didn’t have much time to think about it. Queen Bee had his hand and she was flying up. The arms only extended so far. Fizzarolli did as was natural to do in this sort of situation. He took a deep breath and counted to three (quickly).

He crouched, he jumped.

Fizz was flying.

It was like the circus again. The swaths of fabric draped around the ceiling in alternating colors mirrored the tent of the Big Top. Fizzarolli was high in the sky and laughing his ass off. Bee-Lzebub had let go of her grip on him as he flew into the air, Fizzarolli did a flip. Bee caught him as he started falling and did that three more times before putting Fizz on her back and heading straight for a stack of hoops in the middle of the atrium. Both of their eyes narrowed. Bee was laser focused on making it through the middle hoop. Meanwhile, Fizzarolli was concentrating on his timing.

Three, two, one. The clown jumped and landed on top of the top hoop. He bent backwards, wrapped his tail around the hoop, turned himself into a ball, and fell back through the hoop. He managed enough force to swing back up and land on his feet, just barely. He held his arms out in victory but only for a moment before they were grabbed again and Fizz was being carried up to the ceiling. Bee’s top set of arms were holding Fizz’s, she was flying upside down as they ascended. It felt like the trapeze, when he was little. This could have been anyone from his circus family holding him right now. The two of them were laughing as they floated.

When they were high enough, Fizzarolli was being thrown again. This time his objective was clear, he was reaching the pole that the disco ball hung from. Fizz stretched his arms out but purposefully missed. His legs hooked around the pole instead and Fizz spun from the top, all the way down. Just before he reached the bottom, Fizzarolli’s hands caught the pole and Fizz flipped so that he was right side up. He ended up landing on his butt, straddling the pole on top of the disco ball. He couldn’t stop laughing. He hadn’t had this much fun in years.

“Everybody, your king for the night!” Bee’s voice was loud, but the cheering was louder. Fizzarolli felt the energy in the room, it was electric. Had he done that? He could get drunk off of this feeling alone, he was on top of the world right now. The spotlight shining on him lit him up like the mirror ball he was sitting atop of. If ever there was a time for Fizzarolli to shine, it was now.

Fizzarolli ended his performance by standing again, falling backwards, and doing a back flip. It had been a long time since he’d done one of those, but he was feeling confident. Besides, he trusted that his aerial partner wouldn’t let him fall. That would really hurt the energy of the night. Fizzarolli had guessed right. After a third flip mid air he landed on something soft. When he looked up, Bee was laughing at him, he was cradled in her arms. Fizzarolli laughed too and jumped down from a much safer height.

“Well shit, little man. You really do know how to put on a show. You are welcome here any time.”

Fizzarolli beamed with pride.

“Let me get you a drink” Bee-Lzebub was already ushering Fizzarolli over to a lounge area off of the atrium on the first floor.

“Oh, I can’t-” Fizzarolli was cut off by the Queen’s laugh.

“Yeah, I know. Oz already gave me the whole lecture. And hey, I respect it. So if you’re thirsty tonight come to me or Vortex, okay honey?”

Fizzarolli had no idea who Vortex was, but he wasn’t going to argue. His question was answered soon enough when he was walked over the bar where Asmodeus was chatting with a large gray and black hellhound.

“Tex!” Bee flew over to the hound and gave him a quick nuzzle before dropping behind the bar next to him. “You found Ozzie, good! Can we get a fruity little drink in the clown’s hand please?” Bee, a natural hostess turned to Asmodeus and gave him her full attention next. “Have we gotten you a fruity little drink yet?”

“Not yet, we were just-” A large hurricane glass appeared in Ozzie’s hand, orange and red with a little umbrella on top.

“Sex on the Beach, bitch!” She winked at Asmodeus.

Fizzarolli made his way to the bar with enough time to hear that. A moment later, Tex was handing him a drin. It looked pretty similar to Ozzie’s drink, but more his size. He started to question what it was but Bee-Lzebub interrupted him next.

“It’s your night to shine, baby. You need to sparkle inside and out!” The queen rubbed three of her fingers together over his drink and glitter rained down and into the glass. She waited for him to try it, and groaned when Fizz hesitated. “It’s safe, I promise. I just told you about the lecture Ozzie gave me.” Her tone lightened. “Go on. It’s just orange juice and grenadine.”

“And magical glitter” Fizzarolli replied. Bee laughed, it was light and carefree.

“Yeah”

Nobody did anything, so Fizz took a sip of his drink. It was sweet, and Bee was right. It did just taste like orange juice and cherry syrup, but it sparkled. He felt great! When he gave Bee-Lzebub the thumbs up, she took that as a sign to continue with the house tour.

“Sweets and eats are over here. Get your fill, enjoy enjoy. There are no rules here tonight. Oh!” She stopped and turned back to Fizz who was following in tow. “The brownies. They’re safe for you. Actually……..they might help with some of that pain Oz is always complaining about. Loosen you up a little, get elevated.”

Fizzarolli turned behind him when Bee’s attention flew over his head and she gave a pointed “What?!” Asmodeus was giving her a look. “It’s safe! I asked Bell last week. Don’t be lame, Asmodeus.” Bee snapped her fingers and grabbed a bottle of bub out of thin air.

“You’re trying to get me high” Fizzarolli asserted.

“Hey, that’s your choice. I’m simply giving you the option. Don’t say I didn’t warn ya” Bee-Lzebub took a drink. “Anyway, get your party on, baby. Have some treats, have some eats, get your dance on. You’re in good company tonight.” And just like that, Queen Bee-Lzebub was off flitting around the crowd checking in on everybody.

Asmodeus hadn’t been lying when he’d made the joke about Ozzie having Bee’s order over a year ago. The buffet table was organized appetizers and finger foods first, then the meaty stuff at the end. Desserts had their own spread farther down. Chips with at least 12 different types of dips lay on a large lazy susan. Next to it were fruits, mini weenies, shrimps and cocktail sauce, crackers and cheeses, sandwiches, dumplings, and walking tacos. There was also a taco bar, a mountain of chicken wings, pizza, gyros, and burgers. The dessert bar was just as crowded with options.

All of it was delicious. Fizzarolli did his best to sample as much as he could. There were dips with flavors he couldn’t even describe. He hadn’t been wrong when he’d assumed he would be more than happy with the food tonight.

The brownies were fucking delicious.

“They’re safe Ozzie. Belphegor said. You trust Belphegor. I hear you say it all the time.” It was a little over an hour later and Fizzarolli had just finished his second brownie. Bee was right about it loosening things up. He was fuzzy and excited and happily sitting in Asmodeus’s lap, starting in on his sixth chicken leg of the evening.

“Just because it’s not going to interact with your medications doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be supervised.” When Fizzarolli pouted, Asmodeus clarified. “You’re slippy.”

The laugh started deep in Fizzarolli’s chest and erupted in a croak. Asmodeus could only smile at the clown. He was glad Fizz was having a good time.

“I’m just saying, you don’t have to babysit me. You’re a guest of honor too. You should be enjoying yourself!”

Asmodeus chuckled. “Who says I’m not?”

The moment was interrupted by another booming voice approaching them. “Little Jester!” Fizzarolli was very confused, but when he turned to the large imp calling out to him, his eyes lit up. “Well, you’re not so little anymore, are you? You’re the clown now.”

“Buttons?” He hadn’t seen Buttons in years. He’d visited Fizzarolli while he was in the hospital recovering. Him and his brother, Patches, had made his first pair of horns. But things had gotten busy, he hadn’t even realized how much he’d missed the man until he was standing right in front of him. How did he even get here?

“You put on quite a show, kid. How does it feel to be living the dream?” Fizzarolli scrambled out of Lust’s lap and extended his leg closer to Buttons. He wrapped the man in a large hug, his arms wrapping twice around them.

“You’re here!”

Buttons laughed. “I’m here, kid. Yeah. Patches too, and Sloppy Joe. Few others.”

“How?” For a second time, the former clown laughed at Fizz’s responses.

“When the Queen comes to your shop and asks to invite as many circus people as possible for tonight, you listen.”

This had to be a dream. Or a drug. The brownies were making him hallucinate. Fizzarolli turned back to Asmodeus. “Is this real?” he mouthed. Fizz turned back to Buttons when the king confirmed that he was, in fact, real.

“Do you want to come back and see them? I know they’re all dying to see you.”

Fizzarolli’s head shook eagerly. He smiled and turned back to Ozzie. “Go have fun! I’m visiting family!”

There were only a handful of his circus family waiting for him on the other side of the atrium, near one of the bars. Most of them were much older than the average demographic here, but they were just as energetic when they heard Fizz jingling towards them. They whooped and hollered for him, a few pulling him into a hug while another blew an air horn for him.

Barb should be here.

Fizzarolli had largely been a child while in the family circus, only in his last handful of years did he get to participate in any of the adult gossip flitting between tents. But Fizzarolli was grown now, and the adults had all been drinking for a few hours already. Fizzarolli happily listened as he got caught up with everybody. Buttons and Patches lived in Gluttony now. They owned a tailoring business. They’d acted surprised when Fizzarolli hadn’t realized his corset was made by them, as if anybody else could be as whimsically opulent. Sloppy Joe, the old cook, also worked in Gluttony. He still cooked. One of the old horse performers, Wendy, moved to Wrath and works on a ranch. She gives horse riding lessons on the side. Ariel, one of the aerialists that worked with Barb was in Pride now. She’d always thought sinners were interesting.

Everyone was interested in Fizz's noodle limbs. Everyone was interested in learning about Fizzarolli being cozied up in Lust’s lap.

Another hour and a half later, everyone was interested in learning how Fizzarolli managed to get Asmodeus out onto the dance floor with him.

The attention and support from his family had given Fizzarolli one hell of a confidence boost.

Many many snacks, sparkly drinks, and dances later everyone’s eyes were on Fizzarolli once more. How he’d managed to convince Bee-Lzebub he didn’t know, but he was warm and tingly and so fucking excited. He’d liked when the eyes were on him, he was feeling good, he wanted a challenge.

“Alright, Jingles. On your signal.”

Fizzarolli nodded at Queen Bee. The lights dimmed again. Bee took Fizz’s hands and for the second time tonight they were flying. They started much like the last time, with Bee throwing Fizz into the air, letting him flip, then catching him. Then, when Fizzarolli was firmly planted atop the mirror ball, Bee clapped and two long silks dropped from the ceiling for him.

Fizzarolli was no aerialist by training, but this past year had made him delusional enough to try. After Asmodeus had managed to convince him to try and work towards acrobatics, Fizzarolli managed to convince Mammon to put silks in the Little Top so he could practice after hours. Or well, so Barb could practice. Fizz had only done this once, but he’d watched Barbie do it a million times. He was stronger now with these new limbs, and he had a metric fuck ton more confidence. Bee promised she wouldn’t let him fall.

The room went quiet and the music changed. Fizzarolli grabbed the silks and like he knew how to do, he worked one around his foot, shimmied up, and began to climb. He wasn’t the most graceful at it, or the most consistent. Barb would probably be laughing at him, but he managed to climb to top of the silks. His tongue stuck out with determination as he remembered how Barb wrapped one silk around his leg, an extra catch for when he fell. He’d confirmed the sequence just minutes ago with Ariel.

One deep breath.

The music swelled, Fizzarolli let go of his grip on the silks, the audience gasped, and Fizzarolli fell. His body stopped, dangling upside down and hanging on by his knees at the height of the disco ball. The crowd erupted with cheering. Fizzarolli was dizzy, but giddy. He looked down below him and saw Asmodeus looking up at him.

“And you said you’d never do aerials” Ozzie chuckled. Fizz’s grin grew three sizes. His arms outstretched down towards the other.

“Catch me!” He called, letting go of the hold on his legs and plummeting down straight into Lust’s arms.

“Are you having fun tonight?” Oz asked once Fizzarolli had opened his eyes again. Fizzarolli didn’t need to respond for Asmodeus to know the answer. That look of wonder had been on Fizz’s face all night and Asmodeus just couldn’t look away.

Fizzarolli thought the plush fabric of the seats in Asmodeus’s car were soft and nice to lay on. He said goodbye to the skies yellow as honey, as sweet as Queen Bee. He liked Bee-Lzebub. She knew how to throw a party, that was the best time he’d had in a long time. Maybe ever. And how she managed to find his circus family? People he’d long since thought had forgot about him…..it was so sweet he could cry. Fizzarolli’s leg extended across the car and hooked around Asmodeus’s. He then retracted his leg, pulling himself right into the Sin’s lap.

He wouldn’t be so bold sober. While they’d definitely grown closer in the ten or so days since winning Mammon’s competition, but they were far away from having anything close to a label. Fizzarolli had spent more than one night in Asmodeus’s bed since then, but not every single night. Tonight though, he was hoping he would get to.

“Hello” Asmodeus looked down at Fizz with amusement.

“Hi.” Fizzarolli looped his hand up and around Asmodeus’s shoulder, catching his other hand and pulling himself into the other’s side but only for a moment. The beautiful and intricate not-a-necklace was keeping Fizz from being able to properly cuddle into the other’s side. His hands started trying to work at one of the clasps he knew was in the back.

“Can we take this off please? It’s beautiful to look at, not comfortable to settle next to.” Fizzarolli’s whole body relaxed just a bit more as he felt a hum reverberate through Ozzie’s chest.

“Oh, I see. You need a cuddle.”

Asmodeus obliged when Fizzarolli nodded, finding himself oddly comfortable with the way Fizzarolli curled up against him and settled against his chest. When Fizz let out a content sigh, Asmodeus felt pride.

“I had a really good night, Oz.” Asmodeus placed his hand against Fizzarolli’s back, to keep him close and safe. Fizzarolli’s hand rested against Ozzie’s chest in agreement.

“I’m glad. I had a feeling you and Bee would get along.”

“She’s soooooooo nice and her food was so good. Fuck, Oz. I could cry. It was beautiful. There was so much to choose from.” Asmodeus rubbed Fizzarolli’s back and let the jingly little demon in his lap ramble on. “And she found Buttons! And Patches! Did you know they made this?” Fizzarolli pulled away from Ozzie’s chest to run his hand down the corset.

Asmodeus chuckled. Fuck, he was cute. “I did know.”

Fizzarolli continued. “They live in Gluttony now, they run a shop. Ozzie I have to go there someday, I bet it’s magnificent. Their tents were always filled with the most glittery things. They were so good at mending. They made me my horns! My very first horns. I still have them, but they’re old. Made out of scraps! And-and Wendy. She has a ranch! Out in Wrath! She saw one of my tour shows, I didn’t even know!” Asmodeus continued to rub Fizz’s back. He was adorable. “And Ariel helped me with the silks.”

“Amazing performance, by the way. You never told me you knew how to do that.”

“I didn’t.” Asmodeus’s expression turned to confusion. “When you convinced me to try the acrobatics, I convinced Mammon to put silks in the little top. After hours, Barbie would practice, she’d show me.”

“But tonight was your first time actually doing it?” Lust was amazed.

Fizzarolli shook his head. “Did it once before….hmpf.” Fizz pouted. “I did it once.” He waited for Asmodeus to say something, but he didn’t. Fizz felt compelled to fill the silence. “I know that’s probably pretty reckless, but Bee promised me she wouldn’t let me fall. But I didn’t need her promise, I didn’t fall.”

“It was a very compelling show.” Asmodeus agreed. It had been more than that. He couldn’t have taken his eyes off of Fizzarolli in that moment if he had wanted to.

“Oh you liked my performance, did you?”

Asmodeus smiled. “I did. Very much so.”

“Do you think the silks draped over your bed would hold me? I could try again tonight” Fizzarolli was now sitting more upright than he had been before. One of his hands was wandering up Asmodeus’s chest, Asmodeus stopped the other one before it could reach past his belt buckle.

“I don’t think the bed is rigged for trapezing. Not tonight.” Though Ozzie would make a note to look into that for the future.

Fizzarolli pouted. “We can still have some fun tonight though, right?” Fizz’s hand brushed against Asmodeus’s cheek. His other hand tried once again to get below the Sin’s belt. The sin smiled down at him and shook his head. He placed his hand over Fizz’s gently.

“Not tonight, Fizzy.”

Fizz’s pout was larger than ever. “But why not?”

“How many brownies did you have tonight?” Fizzarolli’s laugh should have been answer enough.

“Fuck if I know.”

“Exactly.” The silence rang loud and Fizz had to accept it. He sighed and curled back up against Asmodeus.

“Can I still stay in your bed?”

How could Asmodeus say no to a face that cute? He was more than happy to keep Fizzarolli close for the night. “Of course.”

The two of them stay seated in comfortable silence for the remainder of their ride. Oz had assumed that Fizzarolli had fallen asleep by the time they’d arrive back at the palace, he happily carried him. Fizzarolli liked the feeling of being carried.

“Hey Oz?” Fizzarolli asked as they reached the elevator. The Sin blinked in surprise and looked down at the other.

“Yeah, Fizz?”

“Why does everyone think I should wear glitter around you?”

Lust was confused. “Who thinks that?”

“Fucking everybody.” Fizzarolli leaned back in Ozzie’s arms so far that Oz was afraid he’d fall. The sin had to reposition the lanky noodle of a clown in his care.

“Specifically around me?” Fizz nodded. Ozzie paused and thought about it. “I thought you wore glitter because you liked it. You like to jingle, you like to shine.”

Fizzarolli giggled. Fuck, that’s cute.

“Do you like to wear glitter, Fizzarolli?”

Fizzarolli had never really thought about it, he had never really considered the choice. He’d had a fair amount of say with his outfits in the circus, but he’d never been completely in control. He’d never worn much of it either, outside of experimenting with some of the other performers on off days.

“I guess I just want to know if it’s me that gives off glittery energy, or if you’re like, known to have a kink for it and I’m just unaware? It’s just….it’s come up multiple times. And then there was the magic glitter tonight and….am I supposed to be in glitter? Do you like me in glitter?”

Fizzarolli loved to hear Asmodeus’s deep laugh with his ear pressed to his chest. Asmodeus took a moment to think.

“I think you shine with or without glitter.” It was faint, but Asmodeus could feel the way Fizz’s energy shifted. He was blushing, wasn’t he? “But-” Ozzie’s hand traced a line along the boning of Fizz’s corset. “It is a nice touch.”

A shiver ran down Fizzarolli’s spine as Asmodeus ran a finger down his torso. He’d never given much thought to his opinion on glitter before. Maybe it would be a topic he would have to revisit. He definitely liked this corset, and he really liked the attention Ozzie was giving him while he was in it.

“Don’t do that when you won’t sleep with me tonight.” Fizz’s hand is in Asmodeus’s face. The Sin chuckled.

“I literally will be! You asked to sleep in my bed tonight.” Asmodeus’s took Fizz’s hand in his own.

Fizzarolli’s tongue is long, and it stuck out halfway to the Sin’s face. “Don’t get literal with me, Duke of Dicktown.”

Ozzie’s expression remained light, his tone always edging on a laugh with Fizzarolli keeping him in good spirits. “Well, I could still help you out of these clothes…..if you’d be so agreeable?”

Fizzarolli’s laughter was the only real answer they needed.

For a second time this week, Fizzarolli had flown higher than he’d ever dreamed possible.

#fizzarolli #fizzmodeus #fizzarozzie #asmodeus #ao3 fanfic #found family fizziverse #ao3 link in title #helluva boss fanfiction #asmodeus x fizzarolli #beelzebub #bee-lzebub #helluva boss #found family ocs

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placeinthemiddleofnowhere · 2 years

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Do you think the Corinthian would use “cupcake” as another petname for the reader? Because of the whole sweets and baked goods theme she has going on?

Oooh yes! I definitley feel like he'd have all kinds of bakery related nicknames for our reader 💕

A brief interlude: Cupcake

Series Masterlist

-🍰-

“Hey there, sugar. What’re you working on?”

You glanced up from your icing bag to see a grinning Corinthian surveying your day's work. Even behind his shades he looked focused as he gazed over your sugar cookies, his eyebrows drawn in and hands hovering on the counter. He was wearing his tan coat and white jumper that day, an outfit that wouldn’t fare well against all the icing that splattered across the metal surfaces.

You were in the local community kitchen way after hours. A habit that was becoming increasingly common as your volunteering would come to a stop. You couldn’t help but take advantage of the generous space, not when it boasted a range of different equipment and plenty of oven space for your big ideas. It could only be so rewarding to teach kids how to make simple recipes, the real prize for you was having the keys to the proverbial kitchen kingdom.

“I’m making sugar cookies for Casey’s bake sale at the office,” you hummed, finishing off your latest creation. “And what is it you think that you’re doing, hmm?”

You caught him as his hand drifted over to one of the gingerbread man shaped cookies. The reflection of the cheerfully iced little office worker shone back on Corinthian’s glasses. You fixed your gaze on him and crossed your arms, that was one of the ones you were particularly proud of. His pinstripe suit and little tie took you some time to ice.

“I thought you said you were going to let me try some of your baking one of these days?” He sulked, drawing his hand away slowly.

“I did say that, didn’t I?”

He tilted his head at your tone and you grinned conspiratorially at him, quickly turning behind you to the little foil container you’d stowed away. You passed the cool aluminium over to him, sliding it along the counter with a wink. It was a delight to see his intrigue, his eyebrows raising as he gazed down at the little box.

“Did you make something just for me?”

“Maybe I did, you’ll have to open it and see,” you smirked.

He bit his lip and immediately got to work unfolding the flaps from the cardboard on top and plucked it out to reveal his prize. You couldn’t help but stand with bated breath, waiting to see his reaction.

Recognition flared in his face, his mouth formed an o and then he chuckled deeply. He looked from the cookie and to you, grinning wider as he stared back at the confection. You’d iced a mini Corinthian, grinning away behind his glasses and wearing his signature tan coat. It had taken you a little while, a little longer than the others you’d made because you wanted it to be accurate, but you couldn’t resist. And judging by the way he was looking at you it was worth it.

“I love it!,” he said, holding it up and bringing it close to his face. “You must’ve worked hard on this, it’s detailed.”

“I’m not surprised you like it so much,” you teased, “it is you after all.”

“Mhmm, and it was made by my favourite baker as well,” he grinned, bringing the cookie back to eye level so he could look at it a little more.

“You’ve never even tried my baking yet!” You protested, growing bashful at the compliment.

Despite you knowing exactly how charming The Corinthian was, it still didn’t prepare you for a lot of his compliments. Even in the dreaming you’d never been rewarded with so much praise. It made the back of your neck tingle. Not to mention the effect it had on your fluttery heart.

“Why don’t we change that then?” Corinthian finally said, content that he’d taken in his own visage enough.

This was it. You bit your lip, waiting to hear his verdict, clenching your palms as you waited to hear what he said. Would he feel the powers of your gift? Would he be taken to a place full of clouds and pale skies and contentment? You had no idea, you knew exactly how your gift worked on humans, but never other dreams. You’d kept far too busy on your work to ever bother anyone else before.

Corinthian, being who he was, bit straight into the head. He took a few thoughtful chews, tilting his head ever so slightly before he paused, the sound of cookie crunches dying. You widened your eyes worried that he didn’t like it. Oh god, what if he hated it? What if your cookies were like poison to nightmares?

“Huh,” was all he said at first, slowly and quietly.

You breathed out and frowned, wondering what that meant? Huh? Was it a good huh, or a bad huh? How was that all he had to say?

You couldn’t take not knowing for much longer than a few seconds.

“That’s not the reaction I usually get,” you bristled. “Does that mean you hate it?”

Corinthian took a few more seconds before he answered, his eyebrows growing heavy with thought. His features looked like they were struggling to rest on an expression. Like he was somewhere far away. Then all of a sudden he was back in the room, almost giving himself a light shake before turning to you, grinning more madly than ever.

“Sugar…that was…it tastes amazing! How do you do that? I felt like I was getting taken somewhere else, like when the humans talk about heaven, it felt like I was floating in the sky! How did you do that?” He asked, looking between you and the cookie once more.

You giggled, overtaken by his response and felt relief wash through your body. Well it was safe to say that he liked it then! And apparently your powers were far more potent on those from the dreaming than they were on mortals. It sounded like Corinthian had been on a trip or something. You hadn't expected that reaction at all.

“Im glad you liked it so much,” you smiled, feeling your cheeks heat up. “I actually don’t know specifically what makes them do that. I just know that every time I make something, I think of places and feelings that make me happy and then it winds up in the recipe somehow.”

He considered your response and glanced down at the cookie again, licking his lips. If you didn’t know better you’d have said he’d just eaten the finest meal he’d had in his life. There was a wash of calm and warmth that seemed to rush off of him in waves. It was as if his whole aura changed.

“Well this blows the water off of what I bought for you,” he said finally, returning the remainder of the decapitated cookie back into the foil box.

“You got me something?” You squeaked, not expecting him to have come with a gift.

He nodded, making your whole body light up with glee. You loved when he brought you things, he always knew exactly what you’d like. Always something sweet, sourced from bakeries all over the city. He’d gifted you slices of pie, rich chunks of gateaux, little puff pastries and of course; boxes of marshmallows from the café you loved.

You wondered what he could’ve brought you this time, thinking back to the conversations you’d been having the last few times you’d seen him. Though, like always, it just made your heart race more as you thought about all his flirtations and touches. Made you conjure up images of all the kisses and handholding you’d been doing, which would have been downright scandalous to your previous self only months before.

“Do I get a clue for what you got me?” You asked, giving him your best puppy eyes.

“Mm… I suppose I could do that. But you’ll have to give me something in return,” he smiled, balancing his hands on the edge of the counter as he leaned in toward you.

“I already made you a cookie!”

“That doesn’t count, that was a gift given freely,” he reminded, shaking his head. “I want you to come around to this side of the counter, sugar.”

You bit your lip, not able to hold back your smile. At least that was something easy. And you were pretty sure you knew what he wanted. Something that you found yourself doing more and more. You swore you could recognise him with your eyes closed now, if only he’d graze your lips with his.

You wandered around the counter and toward his towering frame. You were sure he was watching you like a hawk underneath his glasses, tracking every movement, you could always feel his heavy gaze on you in moments like these. Could feel his desire.

“And what now?” You asked innocently.

“And now this.”

His lips pressed onto yours in a gentle kiss, more chaste than he’d normally be. He was soft that night, slowly taking his time and moving his tongue like it was made of rich honey. You moaned at the sensation and held onto him, grasping on for dear life and feeling your body buzz pleasantly as you felt his solid frame supporting you.

You ran your hands along his shoulders and eventually found them trialling up to his hair. You loved to feel his silky blonde locks underneath your fingers, loved to mess it up a little. He indulged you as well, tilting his head for easier access. You knew he liked the feel of your hands on him, and you knew that he was especially eager to feel them wander elsewhere as well.

Though, you knew that the community centre kitchen was no such place for that kind of thing and so you ended the kiss first. You broke away from him and drew a soft breath in, fluttering your eyes and letting yourself adjust to the harsh kitchen lights again. You could practically feel your entire body lighting up with that pleasant glow that always followed one of Corinthian’s advances.

“So what’s my clue?” You asked, first to break the silence.

Corinthian laughed quietly and shook his head, cupping your face and running his thumb across your cheek. He looked like he wanted seconds. And then even more of you after that. His face was trained on you, jaw clenching ever so slightly.

“Why don’t you clean up here and then I’ll show you in the car, cupcake,” he said softly.

You gasped at first, thinking he’d tricked you, until you’d noted the new nickname and realised that must be what was waiting for you. You could only imagine how good it would taste, he always found the nicest of treats for you, the thought alone had you simpering. He returned a knowing smile to you, easily sure of what you were thinking, and began to draw away, making sure to pick up the box you’d gifted him. He held it like a prize.

“Is that going to stick?” You asked, folding your arms as you thought about his growing list of nicknames for you. “Are you going to call me cupcake all the time?”

“Mm, we’ll see,” he shrugged, turning around. “People do say you are what you eat!”

-💕-

Tag List

@ravenous-says-stuf @jvybirrd @padawansubscription @pinkybee926 @heurimariquinha @the-corinthian-og-begay-docrimes @autistic-dream @heartache97 @juniebugg @mischiefmanaged71 @loonylunalovegood77 @suzubeans @proximateez @aureliel @belle643 @seraferna @anotherromanticpoet @pinkcyclewitch @nebulastarr @terzoskaz0o @hollybell51 @dahliassins @toastedside @strawberrysunsets @katerinavalentine1922 @ananananama @scarlettmoon98 @humongousapricottrashskeleton

#bring me a dream #ask #the corinthian #the corinthian x reader #sandman

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cao-the-dreamer · 10 months

Text

@artsy-hobbitses Here is he, the boy, the gremlin, the feral critter, I named... Cliffjumper!

If Ben and Claude decided to swap their clothes, nobody would notice the difference… until Claude starts spouting Cajun insults and charging through the enemy lines with a gun three times his size. Claude is often defined by his urge to fight, his stubbornness, his daredevil personality, and his habit of literally jumping off cliffs (giving numerous heart attacks to his teammates), hence the nickname “Cliffjumper”.

Hanley/Hot Rod: Yeah, you’re definitely related. Claude/Cliff & Ben/Bee: Cause we look like each other? Hanley: *raises an eyebrow since he saw Ben knee someone in the balls and Claude bite someone else’s nose* Sure. That.

Having grown up in an all female household, he finds it pretty normal to wear skirts (and they’re waaaaay more comfortable and practical). During his calmer moments, he likes to settle down and mend his clothes (often torn because of his running and climbing), just like his grannies taught him. People meeting him for the first time often mistake him for a girl, which he absolutely adores and he decides to see how long before they actually realize on their own; it took a whole week for the rebellion to notice and he finds it hilarious (he could simply tell them but… nah).

He’s also a very good bait.

Starscream: What the hell are you wearing. Cliffjumper, with a very frilly, glittery, neon-colored dress: It’s my ass-kicking outfit, BITCH *effectively acts as a distraction, drawing fire away from the rest of the troops*

Although he pretends to be annoyed when people mistake him for Bee, he will go feral if anyone threatens his half-brother and, over time, starts to view him as the sibling he never had.

(He also definitely encourages Bee to release his inner gremlin)

More of his story below!

Jean Claude Frugé, or simply Claude for his friends and family, was born of a Cajun mother — as for his sperm donor, he is an “holiday souvenir”, and the one thing he shares with Benjamin/Bumblebee, making them half-brothers.

When his mother, Lucienne, discovered she was pregnant, she dropped her dream studies so she could keep the baby. To this day, Claude still feels like he wasted his mother’s life, and tries to “make it up” for her, no matter how much she told him it was unnecessary.

Claude was raised between the bayou, the rice fields and the farms of Louisiana by an army of aunts, grandmothers, grandaunts, and great-grandmothers. He learned English at school and French at home. At a young age, he was already a wild child and spent his free time running through the swamp and fishing all by himself, so he could bring food to his maman. Imagine an eight-year-old absolutely caked with mud, his clothes dripping swamp water and holding out a fish that’s half his size, while grinning despite the face covered in dirt. Lucienne couldn’t be mad at him when he looked so proud of himself, and the grannies encouraged this behavior by showing him the best fishing spots.

The town folks got quickly used to the child walking barefoot through the bayou, but it didn’t stop the whispers about Lucienne’s broken dreams; she had lost the opportunity to get out of here and study in a renowned university/city, which was a pity in their eyes.

The whispers were quiet, but Claude heard them nonetheless.

He didn’t know if his penchant from fighting came from the hurt these whispers caused, or from the paternal genes, but his fists and sharp teeth ostracized him from the other children. Although he belonged in the bayou, he didn’t belong with the people living here. At least he had his family and their gentle love.

But sometimes love wasn’t enough.

Thus he began to leave more and more frequently, going deeper in the bayou, learning how to avoid quicksands and recognize alligators in the water, spending time with the birds and climbing trees until he was so high he felt he could touch the sky.

Sometimes, he wondered if his family’s life would have been easier in the city; he thought he would probably be less lonely with a nuclear, intact family, and he cursed his faceless sperm donor for “running away”. The spite prompted him to look for any information about his progenitor.

He was surprised to discover his progenitor had made a family in one of the big cities, and quite disgusted he was a cop. He was unable to know how to feel about the existence of a brother, and decided to drop the research.

He didn’t want to shatter the peace of this family; they seemed happy like that.

He had never been so wrong in his entire life.

As time passed and unrest began to grow through the United States, the Frugé family took on an activist side; the house became a safe haven for protesters who needed to hide from the police, and the older women wrote down their testimonies, which they then hid in the walls.

They told Claude how powerful memories could be.

When the Clampdown started and more people hit the road, Claude used his knowledge of the bayou to guide refugees through and to Mexico, stopping at his house so the Frugé women could feed and clothe the Cold Constructs, Beast Men and other refugees. More testimonies filled the walls.

One night, as he was guiding three Cold Constructs who had fled from Texas, they made a remark about his uncanny resemblance with one of their previous helpers. He would have brushed the words aside were it not for them mentioning the other one’s name.

His half-brother’s name was the last thing he expected to hear.

Knowing he was risking his life for a stranger, he nonetheless decided to look for Benjamin/Bumblebee, with whom he shared a fight. At only 19, he joined the rebellion created by Omar Parvez (Optimus Prime), Jace Zayden (Jazz) and Preston Wan (Prowl); while it was a good outlet for his chaotic energy and thirst for danger, his true reason was still Bumblebee, but he didn’t dare approach him, fearing the anger shimmering within him would scare Ben away, like it has scared so many children before.

But at some point he had to stop running away.

Time only will tell whether or not the revelation of the lineage between Bumblebee and Cliffjumper will bring pain, as both boys have their demons and misconceptions about each other, but there is no denying a tentative bond is starting to grow.

(Bonus: His color palette)

#tttb #the ties that bind #artsy hobbitses #transformers #humanformers #my art

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livebeginning · 4 months

Text

Ok I wanna talk more about my OC Mio from my fic Pretty Little Pet where I ship him with Raphael. So under the cut I'll put:

Art!! (mostly picrews and one drawing by me)

Mio's life before Raphael bought him

Raphael buying Mio

How Raphael treats Mio and his motivations

About Mio being Raphael's pet

Art

First of, I intentionally never described Mio's appearance in the fic, because I kinda wanted the reader to imagine their own version of Mio. So if you read my fic and are now going "Wow I thought Mio looked really different!" That's totally valid! He can look however you want! (Also please tell me how you imagined him, I'd love to hear about it!)

The first picture I drew myself, but it's heavily referenced off of the picrew in the second picture.

The second and third pic are basically a timeline of how Mio changes throughout the story (and the different outfits he wears). The other picrews are random outfits and based on vibes haha

Picrew for the second pic

Picrew for the third pic

Picrew for the fourth pic

Picrew for the fifth pic

Picrew for the sixth pic (lost the link, will add later)

Picrew for the seventh pic (lost the link, will add later)

And the 8th pic is my attempt at making him in BG3, he's a half-elf here because I didn't like any of the male elf faces ^^'

Before Raphael

Mio is a male high elf in his 30s, living with his parents. Mio is his child name, as his parents have not yet given him an adult name.

His parents are criminals, although Mio isn’t aware of that, thinking they also work regular jobs. They mostly commit petty crimes but still dream of one day running a criminal empire. Every time something goes wrong they just skip town. The few times one of them gets caught and released for [money] they blame it on their lack of finances, making Mio feel guilty for not working enough.

Mio was definitely not planned and he often feels unwanted. His parents treat him like a child and while they aren’t physically abusive, they will berate him for the slightest mistakes, send him to bed or work without letting him eat and are just generally pretty shitty.

His parents make him work regular jobs like waiting tables, cleaning and other work that requires little education. He’s their only reliant source of income. Despite this, he has no control over their finances, all money going directly to his parents.

He has little contact with other people, working most of the time and leaving town before he could make meaningful relationships with his coworkers.

Mio is generally shy but polite, pretty much in customer service mode at all times. He has learned to just do whatever his parents tell him to, to avoid getting yelled at or going hungry yet again. Since his parents often tell him that he’s still a child by elf standards, his only real aspiration is to reach elven adulthood (generally around 100 years) and receive his adult name, so that he may leave his parent’s household and become independent. (Most elves in his position, living in mixed society and working, would have already left their parent’s household. Mio’s parents intentionally keep this false worldview around him so that he’ll stay and keep working for them.)

Raphael buys Mio

Mio’s parents have the brilliant idea to get the money they need to start their criminal empire by selling their son. They seek out various options until Raphael answers. They sell their son for just a few hundred gold coins (Mio is unaware of this). We know from the game that Raphael has bought people before, so it’s not OOC for him. Mio is still considered a child by elf standards so that’s why his parents are able to legally sell him. (Also Gortash could sell Karlach to Zariel no problem and she just worked for him, so the rules on who can sell people are a bit weird anyways.)

Raphael doesn’t really need Mio, he mostly accepts the offer to see how his parents will fail spectacularly at trying to make a criminal empire and have a bit of fun with that, maybe even profit from the chaos they cause doing this or make another deal for their souls down the line.

Raphael still wants to put his new purchase to work and tries to determine how Mio could be useful for him. While they talk in his office Raphael shows Mio his cambion form. Mio is enamored by his form, and Raphael is not immune to flattery. Raphael also notices that Mio is easily flustered, blushes a lot and is very touch starved.

Raphael enjoys all of these reactions Mio has for him and decides to have some fun with that. He makes Mio the offer to become his pet, with the caveat that only Raphael is allowed to touch him.

Mio is aware he’s dealing with a devil here, who literally owns him and could just decide to torture him instead, so of course he accepts. Generally Mio knows that he has to do what Raphael tells him to and keep him happy, or risk making Raphael angry and getting killed or tortured. While their relationship gets more relaxed later on, Mio is always aware that Raphael is the one in control and he often has anxiety over accidentally doing something that might upset Raphael.

At this point, Raphael doesn’t have any concrete plans for what he’s going to do with Mio, he just thinks he’s cute and wants to see if he can turn him into a loyal and obedient pet by just showing him a bit of kindness. And if that doesn’t work out, it’d probably be still fun to just torture him.

Raphael’s treatment of Mio

Raphael treats Mio generally pretty well, because I believe Raphael can be a reasonable person. Korilla says she likes working for Raphael and the archivist and Nubaldin seem to be at least content working for him. Devils are also lawful evil, so I think they appreciate it when their rules are being followed. Of course, rules can also be intentionally set up to be impossible to follow, so they have an excuse to punish those who break them.

When Mio breaks the “Only Raphael can touch him” rule, it’s mostly because someone else touched him without his consent. He still gets punished for it and Raphael enjoys making Mio suffer, although he only hurts Mio to an extent he knows he can handle, not wanting to actually break him. Raphael praises Mio for accepting his punishment willingly, which gives Mio conflicting feelings about these punishments. He doesn’t enjoy being tortured, but he likes the praise and attention he receives afterwards and he knows that Raphael enjoys hurting him and wants Raphael to be happy.

By Mio’s standards, Raphael treats him pretty well. He gets his own room and new clothes, much better quality and style than his old clothes. He gets access to the servant’s baths and kitchen (I’m making the HoH way bigger than it is in the game btw) and he can eat as much as he wants. Raphael even tells him to eat at least three meals per day (Mio is used to less so he only eats two when he first arrives).

Raphael makes him work at first, telling him to clean the archive. He does this in part because he wants Mio to keep busy but also because he wants to know if Mio is the kind of person who would try to take a look at his things without permission. The archivist has secret instructions to keep an eye on Mio and report to Raphael on his behavior. Mio isn’t really aware of this test and just cleans the archive as instructed. Later, Raphael has him clean the halls and eventually Mio doesn’t have to do any work anymore, as he has other stuff to keep him busy.

Mio being a pet

Raphael is a devil (technically a half devil but whatever) and I think devils generally see mortals as beneath them. So it’s not uncommon for devils to treat mortals similar to how we would treat cats or dogs (though devils tend to be a lot less nice to their pets).

As his pet, Raphael has Mio sit by his side while he reads or works and strokes his hair or touches his skin. Mio enjoys being pet because he received very little affection before. He also can just relax during these petting sessions, he’s technically not doing anything but he’s still being useful, so he doesn’t have to feel guilty about doing nothing.

Raphael enjoys these petting sessions because he likes how receptive Mio is to him, Mio makes a lot of little noises and leans into Raphael’s touch. Also he has something to occupy himself that isn’t too distracting from his reading/work. Mio essentially functions as a fidget toy for Raphael. Also, petting your pet is just nice!!

Occasionally, Raphael will take Mio to parties or meetings. He likes to dress him up for these events, which Mio also enjoys. It’s a way for Raphael to show off his wealth and style, Mio is essentially an accessory in these moments. Raphael will also sometimes ask Mio to do things just to amuse himself or others, to show how obedient his pet is.

___

Ok I ended up writing a lot more than I intended and I didn't even get to talk about Haarlep and Mio's relationship with sex yet!! Guess that'll have to wait for another post. If anyone has questions or wants to talk about Mio or Raphael, my ask is always open :)

#bg3 #bg3 raphael #baldur's gate 3 #bg3 oc #baldurs gate 3 oc #raphael bg3 #raphael x oc #plp #oc #mio

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s0methingmoonlit · 10 months

Text

So what if O!Sky was soft?

Ah, the brainrot just won’t go away. I think FNF Soft is wonderful! Mostly because the concept and aesthetic, and Grace! She’s my favorite of the bunch. Oh, I could ramble on and on about her, but we’re focusing on the Skyverse, especially O!Sky! This is my design for her! I tried my best to imitate Alex’s style, I think it’s pretty good. A little wonky on the limbs though.

Madison has a unique sense of fashion, I mean she wants to look stylish so makes sense. She’s a part time hair stylist, but dreams of becoming a fashion designer. She dyed parts of her hair blue because that was her second favorite color. She loves purple the most, and it’s pretty much 99% of her closet. Madison is not too short, only 5”2. But there are many more people taller than her, which is why she wears platform shoes. I was originally going to make her similar to her sister, but I think it’s better not to do that since that wouldn’t make much sense, mostly because of her backstory. If you wanna read it, just click or tap the magic button (aka keep reading LOL)

The two photos above are two other outfits. Madison’s outfit on her reference sheet is very similar to the second image, only that in the traditional drawing, the skirt is flowing, while in the one above, is a tight skirt, like the one in the third image.

Now let’s get into the backstory…

Madison wasn’t abused in her past like Benjamin was, but instead she heavily bullied someone. Specifically her younger sister. Yes, I do mean the Soft Sky we all know and love.

The Sky Siblings used to live in “The city of Stars” together with their parents. The father worked very busy as a Tailor, so they didn’t suffer too much financially. When they were young, Madison was always the one doing better at… pretty much anything. Sports, art, singing…whatever you name. At least their mom’s eyes. Mom would always give her older daughter attention and neglects her younger daughter. Because of that, Madison liked to treat her sister like crap, always bragging about herself and how she was better while Sky couldn’t “do anything” or was just “stupid and talentless.” She said lots mean things every single time she had a chance to. Their mother always just brushed it off as playful teasing because they were just kids! Kids don’t know morals. Same thing happened with the dad, but unlike mom, he actually started to slowly catch on to Madison’s hateful behavior. He then constantly reminds her to be more nicer to her younger sister, but that didn’t seem to work. He also began noticing that his wife was actually neglecting Sky. Before the siblings started middle school, the parents had a discussion with each other, which then turned into an argument, which lead to them getting a divorce. Sky and their father stayed at home, while Madison and their mother moved to another city. And that’s when Madison slowly starts to realize her behavior that past years. The less she was with her sister, the more days that went on, the more she felt guilty for her past actions. Her superiority complex slowly turned into an inferiority complex.

Nowadays, she’s much more mature, but isn’t very open to others. In other words, she’s very mysterious. She has a nice facade in order to please customers at her job, but in college she’s very avoidant of others. Like I said before, she strives to become a fashion designer, but also mustn’t reveal too much of herself. So yeah the reason Mother Mairest reminds Madison so much of herself is because she acted too much like her younger self. Also she only sees herself in Marilyn and not Frank is because 1) He’s ugly (at least Marilyn has a decent fashion sense) and 2) Madison never physically hurt Sky, at all. Even as a child she would never go far to physical harm. So no, Madison couldnt have caused that to Sky’s left eye.

Unfortunately, Mama Sky is a not a good mom in this AU. Actually, we know absolutely nothing about O!Sky’s mom OG universe, but I’ve always assumed she’s a good mother! But despite this, Madison still maintains a good relationship with mom. I mean, Mama Sky isn’t manipulative or abusive towards her, just was playing the favorite game in the worst way possible. I know many parents play favorites but this mother just takes it too far

“Ok, but what about Benjamin Fairest? What does Madison think of him?” Good question! You see… I actually didn’t think that far. Well, this is literally called the soft AU so the characters should seem less rambunctious and more calm. I guess Madison would just be neutral towards him. Like she wouldn’t care about his existence, she only wants his parents to get a good well deserved punishment. So yeah, he’s just okay in her eyes.

“What about Grace/Pico?” She has no idea who either of them are. Actually she knows the latter, but that’s only because a bunch of people made jokes about him in her high school.

“Wait, Sky Sky Curls?” I headcanon Soft Sky’s real name would be “Libby” but again, it’s only canon in my head, so I tend to stay away from using that.

I went on several different baby name websites for names that meant “heart.” Yes that is a reference to Old O!Sky’s sister being named Hearts. I kinda sorta gave up because I was doing this late at night. I chose Libby, or Libi, because it meant “my heart” or “girl” which isn’t exactly what I wanted, but I guess it was good enough.

Basically Libby was what I personally thought was most fitting for Soft Sky. If you read the small crossed out text, ok then.

Hmm… I guess that’s about all I could say! If you have any more questions, then the ask box is open! I think even people who don’t have a Tumblr and only came from my insta can use the ask box. You can ask anonymously or not.

#Madison doesn’t relate to ugly people /j #took me 3 days but it was worth it #fnf #friday night funkin #fnf art #fnf fanart #fnf soft mod #fnf AU #fnf soft au #fnf sky #Sky fnf #skyverse #fnf skyverse #Skyverse fnf #my art #artists on tumblr #art #fanart #tw child neglect

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faerieyuri · 1 month

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6, 7 - Kristoph, 12, 13, 18

Should I be doing them separately? Oh, well, too late haha

YAYYY thanks for asking about my #specialguy ^_^

6. Show us a bit of a WIP!

Kristoph Gavin never dreamed he'd luck out with an assistant like Apollo Justice.

Justice had come recommended by an old friend, a law professor at UCLA. Without her recommendation, he never would have taken on a mentor to begin with--he didn't have the patience for their sloppy mistakes.

"You'll like him, Gavin," she'd said over the phone. "He's bright, professional and eager."

Little did Kristoph know just how eager Apollo Justice was. The morning the young lawyer strode through his doors, his eyes practically glimmered with excitement. His red vest and pants were perfectly creased, his watch poised for him to make sure he wasn't even a second late, his hair slicked back with just two strands perked up like bunny ears.

"Apollo Justice, sir," he'd introduced himself, shaking Kristoph's hand with a quiver in his voice. Not a nervous quiver--it was reminiscent of a dog straining against his leash to greet his owner.

7. Is there a piece of clothing you think [Kristoph] is particularly fond of/that you imagine them wearing a lot or like to draw them in?

I think a lot about Kristoph and clothing! He's a dainty man, or at least he appears that way on the outside, so I love to think what a "casual" outfit for him would look like.....at MOST he'll dress down to a sweater, collared shirt, and slacks. Still loafers, you will never see that man in tennis shoes.

12. What's the funniest or craziest AU idea you've ever come up with?

I was talking with some friends about a crossover AU with my OG special interest since childhood - Yugioh. I imagine the AA characters would be isekai'd away into a world where problems are solved with card games and magic items instead of courts (because in yugioh world, no one gets sued or prosecuted for anything?? Kazuki Takahashi said fuck cops ig).

Maybe there's a new court system and Phoenix and Maya have to defend Yugi for murder? Apollo gets stuck defending Kaibacorp against all the injury lawsuits Kaiba must get from his gaming technology that causes Actual Pain when you take damage? The possibilities are endless.

(Also, interesting crossover lore with two series involving spirit possession/magic items!)

13. What's a character or ship you haven't written/drawn yet but would like to some day?

FRADRIAN!! Fradrian my absolute beloved. I haven't gotten around to writing them yet but I will.

18. Type [charater]'s name and tell us what the autocomplete suggests as the next word

I have autocomplete turned off, sorry! No one tells me what to write /j

Source game here!

#krisposting #ace attorney #ygo

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gabessquishytum · 1 year

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Gabe my friend, I was just rereading your more domestic Dreamling fics, and I was just struck by how much of a malewife Hob is. This isn't anything new, I think everyone can agree Hob would totally be the kind of wife that cooks and cleans for you, never complaining about how much you work. Soooo, naturally, my mind immediately went to horny mode with this 🤣🤣

This could totally work with the sugar baby au btw or a separate au. But the main catalyst is maybe Hob saw a show or anime once and saw the wife trope, you know the one, "Welcome home dear, would you like a bath, or dinner, or.... me?" And thought, "OMG that's totally me with Dream, let me kick it up a notch."

So one night, Dream goes to Hob's place, goes through the front door for once, and Hob is there wearing only an apron, being sweet and asking him about his day, how was work etc etc. Hob is taking off his coat, ushering him to sit down, serving him drinks.

Hshdehsjshbs I'm getting excited by my own prompt 🤣🤣

Dream is astounded in the best way, and he is so freaking hard, looking at Hob with only an apron, flitting about the apartment, acting like his wife. This is totally unprecedented, and Dream is considering punishing Hob for being so freaking sexy. And then Hob delivers the finishing blow, the line from before. I can't decide if I want him straddling Dream's lap, grinding on the raging hard on or he's bending over and showing off the ruby plug while he's saying it. Either way, Dream ends up throwing his drink aside. After that, well, let's just say Hob had to call off work for a week due to leg issues.

I'm not sure if I've said this before, but all are welcome to write fics based on my prompts. I'm working on multiple fics rn, the more slut Hob fics the better, I say.

-Love Yan Anon <3

My beloved Yan Anon, once again you've knocked it out of the park!!!! I looove this. Malewife/house husband Hob is a VIBE.

Like, obviously Dream doesn't have an "office" but he does usually come to Hob’s flat around the same each day. And sometimes Hob is waiting for him, either dressed up in some demure little wifey outfit that Dream got for him (like a pretty sheer blouse and a velvet skirt, or some skinny low waisted jeans and a cropped t-shirt) OR just the apron. Either way he practically throws himself at Dream when he comes through the door, asking about his day and pouring a nice glass of wine. Hob will rub his shoulders and scold him for being so tense, offering to run a bath and get out the massage oil... but he knows the whole time Dream just wants to fuck him over the kitchen table. Hob just loves teasing him, drawing the evening out and telling him all about the errands he ran and the new dessert he wants Dream to try. Until Dream snaps, grabs him by his waist and pins him up against a kitchen counter. The thing is, Dream never knows if he's coming home to a normal Hob (who is very sexy but also very... normal. He generally waits at least until after dinner to seduce Dream) OR wifey Hob, who absolutely melts Dream’s brain every single time with his sweet smiles and that fucking apron.

Anyway, they almost always end up fucking in the kitchen when Hob is being Dream’s little wife. Dream can't stop himself. He's had to replace to apron at least three times already because he usually ends up tearing it right off Hob’s body <3 he just loves his Hobwife too much hehe.

#yan anon #the sandman #dreamling #nsft #i am also loving the hobwife agenda tbh

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thepaintedlady00 · 1 year

Text

Nightshade

Chapter 6 | Chapter 8

Outfit Inspo for this chapter

Chapter 7: Topsy-Turvy

TW: mentions of nudity if you squint really really hard, language, Simone sucks (y'all already know the drill), some cancer mentions & a pinch of dark humor, vague mentions of drinking and smoking, a bit of jealousy 👀, a little brotherly threatening, some close quarters flirting, laser tag, panic attacks. This chapter is the longest so far of this series, so enjoy y'all!

Jake felt light, almost weightless, as he lay in the warm bed basking in the rays of sunlight. The air around him was laced with the sweet smell of perfume, cherry with hints of rose, and light woodsy leather. It was intoxicating, and the more he breathed it in, the more he found himself craving the smell. A weight was comfortably settled onto his chest as his fingers ran through silky strands of hair. His blunt nails scratched her head, drawing out soft noises of contentment. He chuckled, an odd sense of joy rushing through his veins.

“What’s funny?” She asked, lifting her head off his chest.

Opening his eyes, he smiled up at the sunlit halo of red hair and sparkling green eyes that stared down at him. “Nothing at all.”

Her eyebrows lifted as amusement made her face even more beautiful. “Nothing at all? Why do I not believe you?”

“Calling me a liar?” He teased, his hands running along her smooth skin, tracing the curved shape of her snake tattoo up her spine. “In my own bed, that’s rather inconsiderate.”

“You weren’t complaining earlier,” she teased back, leaning into him, her fingers tracing his lips. Jake watched her face slowly soften, looking at him like he was everything to her. “You never thought you’d get this attached, did you?”

Cold weight started creeping back into his body as his mind recognized the dream. He still clung to her, clung to her soft skin beneath his fingers, the loving gaze she gave him, the smell of her perfume. Jake still closed his eyes when she leaned in to kiss him, and he hesitated to pull away even though he couldn’t feel her lips against his.

When he opened his eyes again, she was gone, and he was alone. He set his hand against his chest, taking deep breaths to escape the sudden slight feeling of breathlessness. Then, rolling onto his side, he looked at the empty space beside him, quietly recalling the sight of her bare back and that damn tattoo that he now knew painted her skin. Jake forced himself up and followed his shitty routine to prepare for another long night of service. It was starting to get ridiculous the never-changing nature of bartending at 22West.

He found himself thinking about what would have happened if he had gone through with his plans with Scott. Would he have his own restaurant? A bar that wasn’t constantly surrounded by rich assholes with more money than god and still stingy with their tips? Would he get to wear what he wanted and throw people out when they’d had enough? No. He reminded himself. It was a dumb idea, rushed and poorly thought out. It would have failed before it even started. Simone was right; all that was just a pipedream meant to help keep him from going insane with the mundane normalcy of life.

It was a fine day, not too hot but not cold either, as he rode his bike through the crowded sidewalks of people and even more crowded streets of cars and noise. Simone stood in the kitchen with a sweet smile as she fixed the collar of some girl. For a second, he thought she was Tess; they looked similar enough with the same bangs, brown hair, and big nervous eyes. He moved past them, an unsettling feeling of repressed emotion churning his stomach. “You’re late, my love,” Simone called to him.

“Not later than usual,” he replied, looking over his shoulder.

“I saved a plate for you.”

“Whatever,” he grumbled, starting up the stairs.

“Comb your hair!” She hollered.

“Fuck off, Simone!” He yelled back with a tiny smirk.

Her nagging was annoying, but it made him feel like the two of them were slowly beginning to find their normal again. She cared, even after all the bit of a bender he’d put her through in the months after Tess left. Simone always cared and always took care of him. After Etienne’s visit and Jake’s near business endeavor and Tess, Simone had kept him at arm’s length. She’d said she needed space and didn’t know if she could count on him. Now he just hoped her sober appearance and mother-hen nature meant they were both on the right track.

As he sat down at the table across from Sasha and the others, he was reminded that today was one of Lena’s days off. That was good. It’d give him time to get the image of her looking down at him, kissing him, out of his head. Sitting at another table, quietly polishing the salt shakers with a nervous glint in her eyes, the girl Simone was with took in her surroundings. She was cute, innocent, and scared shitless in the new environment.

The rowdy friends talked about her quietly before giving her the usual welcome of a pile of dishes and the order of washing them. She jumped up and did it without hesitation, looking like some lost animal for a second before she jogged to the back. It reminded him of Lena’s first day. She hadn’t even flinched when they dropped their dishes in front of her, finishing her before speaking Russian to Sasha and confidently carrying their dishes to the back. But, of course, not everyone could be like Lena, he reminded himself, eating his food with a smirk.

Most newbies were like Tess at the start. Timid, innocent, and easy. It was why he’d always had his way with the newcomers. It was easy and uncommitted. And as the night continued, the more obvious the new girls’ doe-eyed stares became. She was enthralled with him, and he hadn’t even spoken to her. God, was it always this easy? He thought after catching her staring for the third time.

Simone stopped by the bar, quietly instructing the girl to get a bottle of wine from the cellar. “So you’ve got a trail?”

She laughed. “Yes, it appears Will is now too important for such things.”

“She seems clumsy,” he replied with a smile. “You’ll have fun with that.”

“Olive is new to this. So, of course, she will be a bit clumsy.”

Jake laughed. “Her name is Olive?”

“It’s a beautiful name,” Simone scolded. “She’s sweet.”

“I’m sure she is,” he replied.

“It seems she already has a bit of a crush on you.”

Jake made a face. “That so?”

Simone merely smiled. “You’re handsome and mysterious. Of course, a girl like her will be drawn to you.”

Something in her tone made that unsettled feeling creep back up. “She looks like Tess.”

“Does she?” Simone asked with a hum. “I hadn’t noticed.”

Jake watched her for a minute, quietly recognizing the lie and thinking about what to do. Simone wouldn’t lie to him. She had no reason to, yet there was no way she didn’t see the similarities between Olive and Tess. Her eyes filled with a gleam of something as she held his gaze… An unspoken expectation, one that Jake wasn’t quite sure he understood.

“We need more ice,” Nicky said over Jake’s shoulder.

“I’ll get it,” he answered, turning away from Simone to grab the bucket.

Olive hurried back to Simone’s side, glancing at him with a pink blush, tucking her hair behind her ear as he moved past her. Behind the safety of the walls, Jake tried to keep his breath even. Simone was lying for whatever reason. This new Tess, his dream, all of it was becoming too much. The harder it became to breathe, the more he was sucked into the dark pit holding specific memories of all the times he’d spent holding his breath under the water in the bath. He remembered the crushing weight that stole his breath when Simone had told him his mother’s death was no accident. He had to steady himself on the wall as he remembered seeing Lena disappear beneath the water.

Pull yourself together, he cursed. He harshly forced breath into his lungs and shoveled the ice into his bucket until the numbness took over, and everything was pushed down where it belonged. He walked back through the kitchen doors and faltered at the sight before him. Lena always stood out with her vibrant hair, but this was something else.

The black dress was simple and elegant, unlike what he would have pictured her wearing on a night out. Her hair looked soft, cascading in waves down her freckled shoulders, and if possible, her eyes were even brighter tonight. Maybe it was the lights or how she smiled, but he was enchanted. He refocused quickly, forcing the question to come out as calm and disinterested as he could muster, “The hell are you doin’ here?”

“Our little Red is a guest tonight,” Nicky replied, giving him a light nudge as he passed by.

“A guest?” He repeated, busying himself with refilling the ice to keep his eyes off her.

Lena scoffed at his disbelief. “I could be a guest.”

“So, who’s the lucky guy?” Nicky’s innocent question made Jake freeze for a fraction of a second. Was she here with someone? He wondered swiftly before bitterly forcing the angry thoughts to cover it. Why do I fucking care? He wasn’t going to get into this, not tonight, not here.

“No one,” she said simply. “I’m here for a family dinner.”

He chuckled, imagining her loud and leather-clad family sitting at one of the tables eating fancy food like rich people. “Family dinner? I’m dyin’ to see what your family comes in lookin like.”

“Me too. I told them it was upscale, but Ozzy’s version of that makes him look like an old victorian count, and Patrick...” She made a face and sighed, “Patrick is going to show up in something fucking hideous. So, I guess I should apologize in advance for you guys having to look at them all night.”

“Well, I don’t know about Nicky, but their outfits won’t bother me,” he insisted, failing to keep his attention from drifting to her exposed skin and soft curves.

“Oh?”

“I’ll be too busy looking at yours.” He winked, watching in absolute delight as she turned her head away from him, blushing almost as red as her hair. Seeing her smile because of his flirtatious banter made him remember the dream in even more detail. In an instant, that smell… That damn sweet cherry made his brain feel foggy… foggy with her and her alone.

“What the fuck are you wearing?”

Patrick spread his arms wide, revealing more of the hideous orange-colored suit, covered head to toe in bright bedazzled jewels. His copper hair was practically glowing from the amount of gel he’d used to slick it back. “It’s pretty good, right?”

“Oh my god, you look like a cartoon character,” I whined. “I told you this place was fancy!”

“This,” he gestured to his suit again. “Is fancy!”

Turning back to Jake and Nicky, who stood frozen, wide-eyed at the horror of my brother’s suit, I sighed, “It can’t get worse than this, can it?”

Nicky’s eyebrows shot up as the door opened and closed again. “Oh, I wouldn’t say that.”

“Oh god,” I turned and instantly covered my mouth at seeing Ozzy’s outfit. “Ozzy!”

He was dressed in a fine black overcoat that hugged his shoulders tightly and flared into a rounded tail. His neck was adorned with a simple red necktie, and an old watch hung from his buttoned chest. His leather gloves squeaked as he brought the ornate cane forward, clacking it against the floor. He tipped the tall hat to me and smiled, “It’s brilliant, isn’t it?”

“I said no hats!”

Peter rolled himself in through the door, stopping the wheelchair off to the side and giving me a knowing look. “I told them it was too much.”

He wore a very loosely fitting suit and a simple black face mask to protect him from airborne threats. I smiled, gesturing to his outfit. “At least you tried to blend in.”

“Don’t thank me yet, sis. This thing is one wrong move away from sliding right off me.”

Ozzy ran a hand through his hair as he looked around. “So this is the place, huh? I thought it would be a bit more… colorful.”

“People are staring,” I pointed out, looking at the large dining room full of people.

Patrick scoffed and turned to the restaurant with a smile. “Eat yer hearts out, you rich a-”

I slapped my hand over his mouth and dragged him back to my side. “Shut up! You can’t just waltz into my workplace and call these assholes assholes.”

“Oh, lighten up, girly,” Patrick teased.

“I could get fired!”

Peter rolled his eyes. “Howard wouldn’t fire you.”

“Relax and try to have some fun, tight ass,” Patrick added.

Jake and Nicky stifled their laughter from behind the bar. “Your ass is the one that’s gonna feel tight with my foot shoved up it.”

Peter looked behind the bar and nodded to the two men there. “Nice to finally meet some of Lee’s coworkers.”

“You must be her brother,” Nicky smiled. “I’m Nicky. This asshole is Jake.”

“Jake,” he repeated, looking him up and down. Then, finally, he looked at me with gleaming eyes. “He certainly is your type.” He said in Irish.

“Good lord, not you too.”

Patrick threw an arm over my shoulder. “Lighten up! Tonight is going to be fun!”

Howard walked briskly toward us, trying to mask how his brows rose at the sight of my group. “You must be the Harrow party.”

Ozzy grinned. “That’s right. Nice place you’ve got here.”

Howard nodded, looking past Patrick to Peter. “It’s a pleasure to have our paths cross again, Peter. I’m glad to see you’re doing well.”

“Always a pleasure, Howard,” my brother said in a tense tone.

“Be nice,” I quickly signed to him.

“I’m always nice,” he signed back. Then, with a grunt, he pulled himself out of the wheelchair. Patrick’s hand on my arm was the only thing keeping me from rushing forward to help him. Peter struggled a bit but steadily himself, rising to meet Howard’s height. “Where are we dining tonight?”

With a tight smile, he gestured to the closest table. “Right this way.” Patrick discreetly helped Peter down the stairs as they headed toward the neatly made table. “Everything has been freshly placed, so it’s perfectly sterilized.”

“Thank you, Howard.” I shook my head. “I apologize for the disruption to your evening.”

He waved me off. “Nonsense. You’re Glovers, maybe not in name but in blood. Besides, this place is as much yours as it is mine at this point. So please, enjoy your night Lena.”

The table was right in front of the bar, front and center of the whole dining room. Howard pulled out my seat for me as Sasha stepped beside him, winking at me before showcasing his skills in service by presenting the wine he’d selected and filling each of our glasses while he talked about it. He poured Peter’s water and stroked his cheek with a smile. “Good to see you, little sick boy.”

“Good to see you too, exotic cheater,” Peter replied, taking a sip of his water.

“Do you know what you’d like to order this evening?” Sasha asked after giving us a minute to mull over the menu.

I gave him my selection, knowing full well the quality of the meat and Scott’s perfect technique. Ozzy ordered what sounded the fanciest, which turned out to be one of the more straightforward dishes on the menu, and then there was Patrick, who hummed some jaunty Irish tune as he mulled over his options. “It all sounds so… pretentious.”

Sasha nodded. “I recommend the Dukkah-crusted salmon with quinoa and arugula salad. It’s one of our less pretentious dishes.”

Patrick chuckled and tipped his glass to Sasha. “Sounds perfect.”

Peter ordered a relatively simple dish, one I knew would likely make him feel sicker after the fact. I waited until Sasha returned to the kitchen to quietly excuse myself and follow him. The doors swung open, and Sasha smirked at me. “I knew you’d be following, sneaky bitch.”

“I’ve gotta make sure he can handle the meal,” I answered him before turning to address Scott.

“Oooh,” Isaac cooed as he turned. “Somebody looks hot tonight!”

The cooks all joined in, of course. Finally, Scott rolled his eyes and shouted, “Everybody shut the fuck up! She knows she looks good. Spill it Red; what do you need?”

“Sorry to slow down service Chef,” I started. “I just wanted to hand deliver my brother’s order. He’s… He’s got some dietary stuff.”

“Better safe than sorry,” he replied, grabbing a piece of paper and a pen. “Give me the list of what he can’t have, and we’ll accommodate, won’t we?”

“Yes, Chef!”

I smiled, accepting the rare sight of Scott’s good side. “Okay, so all meat needs to be cooked through, nothing unpasteurized, no raw sprouts, and he’ll need toned-down spice. Ummm, also, any alcohol needs to be reduced and cooked down fully.”

Scott nodded, double-checking the paper before nodding. “Did everyone get that?”

“Heard, Chef!” The kitchen answered.

He nodded to the kitchen door and smiled, quick and thin. “Don’t sweat it, Red. We’re professionals back here.”

“Thanks, Scott, you’re the best!” I replied quietly, slipping out the kitchen door and making my way back to the table where Patrick was laughing as loud as possible, and Ozzy was struggling to grab hold of the small appetizer on his plate. Again, I giggled, sitting next to Peter. “Having trouble, Oz?”

“Why do they make these things so damn small?” He asked, holding his hands up. “Do these look like dainty baby fingers to you?”

“No,” we all answered.

“No!” He reaffirmed with a shake of his head as he grabbed his fork and stabbed into the small food item. “Fuck manners.”

Peter smiled at me. “Did you get the menu off your chest?”

With a nod, I sighed. “Sorry, I know I’m being extra about it all, but-”

“But you just want to make sure I get to enjoy this,” he finished. “I know, Lee, and I appreciate it. I appreciate all of you making tonight happen.”

“It’s the least we could give you,” Ozzy assured him. “Besides, I know how badly you’ve wanted to meet our girl’s work friends.”

Patrick lifted his wine to his lips. “Jake,” he muttered before tipping the glass back and sloppily sucking up the rich liquid.

I kicked his shin. “Shut up. And stop chugging the wine, you animal.”

While we waited for our food, Peter watched the dining room, the servers specifically. Though his eyes always seemed to follow one in particular. Simone smiled at us as she passed by, dropping off her plates of food and making polite small talk with her table, doing everything to earn those tips. Peter leaned over after she’d disappeared through the kitchen doors. “She’s the one that reminds you of mom?”

“Yeah,” I answered. “How’d you know?”

“She reminds me of her too.” Peter laughed. “It’s weird seeing another person like her just out and about.”

“We’ll keep our distance,” I assured him.

The food was terrific, though I’d expected no less from Scott. Peter cleared his plate, a sight I was glad to see after months of half-eaten food and hearing him vomit from the other room. He was really here, a bit pale and skinny but eating… But getting better. For a minute, all I could do was stare at him, thanking whatever gods or beings I could that my brother was still here.

Ozzy and Patrick blew through the wine, happily grumbling about how delicious the food was and how stuffed they were. Patrick unbuttoned his pants, “Feels like I just spent an hour with Nana.”

“Stop that!” I hissed, trying not to laugh.

“Sorry, sis, gotta make some room, or I’ll bust.”

Peter tapped my arm. “Hey, do me a favor?”

“No booze.”

“I know,” he insisted. “I just want to sniff it. Come on, Lee, let me live through you.”

“Fine,” I caved. “Which one?”

“Irish whiskey.”

“Of course,” I groaned, turning and making my way to the bar. Jake smiled, polishing a glass. “Got any Irish whiskey?”

He nodded. “Course. Didn’t take you for a whiskey, lady.”

“I’m not.” I nodded to Peter. “He loves it, though.”

My brother took his time, opting to listen to a story Ozzy started telling before meeting me at that bar. “So,” Jake started. “I knew you had a brother, but I didn’t know he was sick.”

I sloshed my drink around for a few seconds. “Yeah. He’ll pull through. Pete’s a fighter.”

“Why keep it a secret?”

“Didn’t want the pity.” I looked at him and chuckled. “Admit it, you pitied me a little when you realized he was sick.”

“Alright, fair point.”

“It just… Never sits well with me how everyone pities me and apologizes when I’m not sick.” I shook my head. “Peter is the one that has to live with it, that has to fight. He deserves respect and pity and everything in between.”

Peter sat down next to me, pulling the drink from my hand, lifting the glass to his nose, and inhaling deeply. “Ahh, that’s the good stuff.”

I put my hand on the glass when he pressed his lips to it. “No.”

“Just a little sip?” He begged.

“A tiny one,” I relented, loosening my hold on the glass only for him to tip it almost all the way back. “Peter!”

He chuckled, swallowing the rich liquid with a wince. “Sorry, sis, I couldn’t help myself.”

“Asshole,” I grumbled, pulling what remained in the glass away from him. Nicky chuckled. “Don’t encourage him!”

Patrick sat down on the opposite side of me and sighed. “Loosen up. One little drink won’t kill him.”

“No, but I might.”

“I’ve got to get back to the bar,” Ozzy said, pressing a kiss to my head and giving the boys a clap on the shoulder. “See you, kids, tomorrow! Try not to stay out too late. You make sure they rest, Lena.”

“When did she get put in charge?” Patrick complained.

“Since you chugged the wine!” Ozzy replied.

“Goodnight, Oz,” the three of us called after him.

With the last guests gone, everyone slowly began filtering down from the locker room. They all approached Peter with smiles and friendly handshakes. Sasha finally got to tell his story of meeting my sickly brother, and I introduced them all as best I could until I got to an unfamiliar face.

“And this is…” I looked more carefully at the girl standing in front of me. Dark hair, a round face, and a nervous smile. “I don’t actually know this one.”

“Olive,” she said with a giggle. “I just started.”

Smiling back, I offered her my hand. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Lena. I usually work in the kitchen.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” she said quietly. “You must be pretty good to be working in the kitchen.”

Laughing, I shrugged. “I don’t know about that, but I’m sure you’ll pick things up quickly.”

She looked around with awe in her eyes. “I hope so. This place is amazing.”

“That it is,” Simone said, smiling at Peter and holding her hand out. “It’s a pleasure to meet Lena’s family.” Her eyes trailed down his ill-fitting suit. “Though judging by the attire, it was last minute.”

Peter shook his head. “Not last minute. These idiots had their outfits picked out last week.”

Simone’s eyebrows rose slightly. “Oh, forgive me. I just assumed since it seems you hadn’t had the time to tailor the suit.”

Here we go, I thought to myself as Peter hid a smirk. “Oh, this used to fit me great. I lost quite a bit of weight recently. Leukemia is a bitch like that.”

Her face fell as she scrambled to apologize. I slapped his arm lightly and spoke to him in Irish, “Don’t make jokes like that.”

“It was funny,” He insisted. “Plus, she’s a bitch.”

I rolled my eyes. “No more cancer jokes, asshole.”

“Alright, alright,” he chuckled. “Sorry, my humor can be a bit… abrasive.”

Simone cleared her throat and nodded. “It’s quite alright.” She caught Howard’s gaze and smiled. “Walk me home, Howard?”

The tall manager nodded. “Of course, goodnight changelings!”

“Now that the boring ones are gone,” Sasha began with a wide smirk. “Let’s give our guests a true party!”

Nicky rolled his eyes. “You hooligans forget I don’t have all night to sit around and clean up after you.”

I stood, downing the rest of my whisky, and headed around the bar. “Get outta here, Nicky, Jake, and I will clean up and close it all down.”

“Oh, will we?” Jake questioned with raised brows.

“Yep,” I answered sweetly as I kissed Nicky’s cheek. “Go on.”

Nicky looked over at Jake, who shook his head and shrugged. “You heard her. We got it.”

“Thanks,” he replied, giving me a pat on the shoulder. “Don’t break anything!”

I tied half my hair up to keep it out of my face and smiled over the bar at Sasha. “What do you want, prince Sasha?”

He beamed. “God, I love you!”

Jake and I worked side by side for a while, though he spent most of his time behind the bar answering the slew of questions the new girl asked him. She leaned over the side of the bar closest to the kitchen, showing off her cleavage and batting her eyes at him whenever he glanced her way. I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the high-pitched praises she lamented to him, clearly looking to stroke more than his ego. Patrick wiggled his eyebrows at my slightly irritated face while Peter’s smile thinned into a straight line as he watched me from the other side of the bar.

Prue skipped through the front door before I could ask him what was wrong. She happily tracked Will down and pressed a kiss to his cheek before running to Peter and pulling him into her arms for a tight hug. Quinn smirked as she tossed something over the bar before giving my brother an equally loving hug. I caught the peach with relative ease. My brows furrowed. “No. Quinn, come on!”

“Yep!” Quinn said smugly, sitting down across from me. “I decree that The Peach Soiree will be held in one week’s time. Payback for not returning my calls when you left.”

Everyone looked at us like we were crazy, but Scott was the one to ask it outright, “What the hell is The Peach Soiree?”

I sighed, setting the peach down on the counter. “It’s a party kind of. We each get to be in charge of one every year.”

“Mine is The Peach Soiree,” Quinn said with glee winking at Ari. “I’m an ass girl.”

“Prue’s is The Melon Matinee,” I continued. “She throws hers at the beginning of the year because she’s impatient.”

Prue made a noise and quickly signed, “Fuck you.”

Quinn said, laughing, “And our lovely little Lena’s is The Cherry Gala.”

“Why cherry?” Jake asked, looking over at me with a sly grin. “Let me guess, the hair?”

“Nope,” I replied, making sure to pop the P.

“Wait, have they not seen what you can do with cherry stems?” Quinn asked with a shocked and delighted face.

I groaned and threw the peach at her. “You’re the worst! You know that, right?”

Jake turned with that devilish air of absolute curiosity that told me he wouldn’t let this go anytime soon. “Cherry stems, huh?”

“Yeah,” I answered, sliding Sasha his drink. “It’s not that impressive.”

“Let’s just say she’s good with her tongue,” Quinn teased. “She’d make a great lesbian.”

I pointed at her with a poorly concealed grin. “One more word, and I won’t offer to get your little soiree a reservation.”

Her mouth hung open, and her eyes shifted to large puppy dog eyes. “OH PLEASE!!! It would be so perfect, Lena! Pleasepleasepleaseplease!”

“Yeah, yeah, I’ll do it if you shut up!”

“My lips are sealed,” she answered, dragging her long, manicured nail over her lips.

Jake leaned on the bartop. “So when’s your party?”

“Next year.”

“She used hers a few months ago,” Quinn said before remembering her promise.

“Was it any fun?”

I rolled my eyes and shrugged. “I thought it was.”

He sighed, “Come on, princess. You gotta give me more than that.”

Quinn’s eyes grew wide at the nickname. I ignored her and Prue, looking at Jake with a smug smile. “I don’t, though.”

“That’s just cruel.” His eyes slid down to my lips. “You at least gonna show me that cherry trick?”

“It’s really not that impressive.”

Sasha rolled his eyes, reaching over the bar and clamoring around for the cherry jar. “Enough foreplay!” He set the jar in my hand and winked. “Show us what that talented tongue does, sassy Tiger!”

I shook my head, opening the jar and ignoring the hoops and hollers that filled the bar. I pulled two cherries free of the stems and showed them to everyone before popping them into my mouth. My tongue worked the top into a knot with ease before I turned it and did the same to the bottom, finishing the not-so-impressive heart shape by shoving my tongue between the two stems and bending the top with a tiny bit of pressure. Pulling it out of my mouth, I showed the group the little cherry stem heart and set it down on the bar top. “There. Like I said, not very impressive.”

Ari gave me a look as she fanned herself. “That was so hot.”

Quinn shot her a teasing look and laughed as Ari pinched her arm. Sasha clapped loudly. “Tiger Bitch you never fail!”

Jake picked the cherry stem heart up and looked at it for a minute before he turned to tease me. “That’s cute.”

“Shut up,” I groaned, trying to flick it out between his fingers. But instead, he moved it out of the way and laughed as I shoved him toward the kitchen. “Go get changed, loser.”

He squeezed past the busty, doe-eyed girl as she smiled, batting her eyelashes at him, and went upstairs to follow Lena’s advice and change. When he opened his locker to find the familiar sleek black leather of his jacket, Jake smiled. How the hell did she even get this up here? Her perfume was all over it, covering up the boozy musk he’d been so used to the old thing reeking of. God, he wanted to keep it to his nose and burn that smell into his sinuses.

After he changed into a simple T-shirt and jeans, he slid the jacket over his shoulders and put the cherry stem heart in his pocket, already thinking of how much fun he’d have pulling it out to randomly tease his little redhead. The doorway filled with the familiar copper-haired brute and the thinner bald man. Patrick and Peter looked around for a minute before they looked at each other. “You wanna start, or should I?

Peter scoffed, “I’m the oldest. I’ll start.”

“There a problem?” Jake asked calmly. If they’d wanted to kick his ass, Patrick certainly would have done it by now.

“Not yet,” Patrick replied, keeping his arm out as Peter took a step forward.

“I’ve heard a lot about you,” the brother said with a grin. “Oz and Pat have been pretty good at keeping me in the loop regarding you and my little sister.”

Jake shook his head, leaning back against his locker. “There’s not much to tell. We’re friends.”

Patrick rolled his eyes, mumbling something in a different language that made Peter chuckle. “Friends is hardly the word I’d use to describe you two. But I don’t care what you call it so long as one thing stays the same. You respect her.”

“God knows she’s had enough of dumb little pretty boys taking advantage of her,” Patrick added, giving him a stern look, not unlike the ones he’d been giving him from the start.

“Listen, Jake,” Peter continued. “I know, my sister. I know she comes off as this strong, indestructible force of nature that can kick anyone’s ass, and that doesn’t feel a damn thing.” He winced as he shifted, balancing himself on Patrick’s waiting arm. “Lena is strong… She is one of the strongest people I know, but she’s still human. It still hurts when people she cares about let her down.”

“And you think she cares about me?” He asked, trying to sound amused to cover up the way he genuinely wanted to know.

Patrick nodded, quietly making sure Peter wouldn’t fall. “She doesn’t bring just anyone to the old place, and she’s brought you more than enough times. Even talked about pops.”

“She also shared Cape Cod with you.” Peter nodded. “Yeah, I know about that. If she trusts you with that, then it means something. So, I’ll just cut to the chase to make a long conversation short. You hurt her, and I will kill you. Dom will be on board. He already isn’t too fond of you, so making it look like an accident or some bs will be a breeze.”

Jake looked at the thin, sickly man whose suit hung off him in a way that would typically be comedic. He could take Peter down with one light push if he wanted to. But, instead, he remembered how Lena spoke of him, of the big brother that loved to box and was kind and good. Peter may not have looked like a boxer now, but the rest remained true. So, Jake took his warning with a humble nod. “I’ll keep that in mind.”

A smile spread on his face as he nodded. “Good. Now let’s go before she realizes we’ve been sneaky.”

Patrick helped him back down the stairs sparing Jake a last look over his shoulder. It was a quick and simple look of gratitude as he nodded his head to Jake that made him feel weird. He’d never had someone like Patrick’s approval… never had someone’s big brother treat him with respect instead of just chasing him out of his one-night stands with cuss words and physical threats. Jake held back a minute to sit in the feeling before putting on his black beanie and going back downstairs.

“Where to now, big brother?” I asked when Peter and Patrick returned from the bathroom. “The night is yours.”

Peter shrugged for a minute. “The old arcade?”

Sasha clapped his hands together. “I’ve never been to an American arcade! Is it shit?”

Patrick laughed, “Absolutely!”

“Can we come?” The Russian pleaded, his studded sleeves catching in the light as he brought his hands together to beg. “Please, little sick boy!”

“Everyone is more than welcome to come,” Peter insisted. “The more, the merrier, I always say. Unless the more are doctors, then it’s not as fun.”

Jake strode out from the kitchen, wearing his leather jacket and a simple black beanie. It was stupid how happy seeing him back in the jacket I’d bribed Isaac into sneaking into his locker. I hadn’t noticed before how well it suited him… how good he really looked in it. His lips curled into a smile as he caught my blatant stare. “Arcade?” I blurted out. “You coming with?”

“Aren’t those for kids?” He asked.

“They’re fun,” I insisted. “You coming or not, grumpy?”

Sasha leaned over the counter and tugged on Jake’s hat. “Come on, grumpy Jake! Join us in being children tonight!”

“You’re a child every night, Sasha,” Jake retorted, fixing his hat.

“I have to stop by my place to change,” I told Peter and Patrick as they started heading toward the door. “Please, for the love of god, tell me you two are going to change too.”

They laughed but nodded. Patrick waved his hand at me. “Of course. I wouldn’t want to ruin my suit!”

“See you there?” Peter asked, checking his watch. “Ten minutes?”

“See you in ten.”

Quinn nodded toward Prue and Will. “I’m catching a ride with them.”

“Se you there. Don’t let them fuck in the back of the cab!”

“On it!” She yelled back before disappearing out the door after Will and Prue.

I pointed to the rest of the group. “I can help cover cab fare with anyone that needs it, but I’ve gotta run home first.”

Sasha and Ari quickly raised their hands. “We want to see your apartment!”

“Why?” I asked.

“We have a bit of a bet going,” Ari admitted.

Sasha nodded, smirking. “I think you live like I do, filthy with sex toys and lingerie everywhere!”

Ari rolled her eyes. “And I think you’re a neat freak with drawers dedicated to your dirty sexy little secrets.”

“You two are nuts,” I replied. “But come on.”

“Got room for one more?” Jake asked.

I smiled. “I thought you were above the arcade.”

“I never said that,” he answered. “Can I ride with you or not?”

“Sure, just try not to let us children get on your nerves too much.”

The cab ride was pretty short, and before I knew it, I was leading two loud, obviously, already kind of drunk individuals up my front steps. Jake followed behind them quietly, taking in the sights of my building’s newly painted hallway as I unlocked my front door. Sasha and Ari scurried inside like two hyperactive dogs, quickly looking around to confirm or deny their bets. Once Jake stepped over the thresh hold, I closed the door and flipped on the lights. “Tada. Is it everything you hoped it would be?”

Sasha pouted as he handed Ari a twenty-dollar bill. “I’m disappointed in you, Tiger Bitch. I thought you’d be more of a mess.”

“Sorry to disappoint,” I replied, patting his cheek as I passed. My apartment was nothing special. Most of my essential belongings were in my old bedroom above the gym, safely tucked away with two of the people I trusted most. Jake went straight for the bookshelf, leafing through my collection while Sasha and Ari opened drawers and cabinets randomly, trying to sniff out my secrets. “Make yourselves at home. I’ll just be a minute.”

I closed my bedroom door behind me, quickly fishing out my comfiest pair of jeans and a simple long-sleeved shirt from my drawers. Tossing them onto my bed, along with my comfortable shoes, I started trying to attempt the zipper on my dress. I could barely reach it, but no matter how much I pulled or wiggled the damn thing, it didn’t budge. Finally, with a frustrated sigh, I kicked off my shoes and opened my door.

“Hey,” I called out into the living room, turning my back to the now-open door. “Someone help me with this piece of shit zipper?”

I’d expected Ari or Sasha to come to my aid, but a familiarly rough hand settled on my back, and his smokey smell wafted around me. Jake’s fingers carefully brushed my hair over my shoulder, skimming the strip of exposed skin and causing a ripple of pleasure to shoot down my spine. I held in the unholy noise that threatened to make him even more smug and unbearable in his flirtatious pursuit. He pulled on the zipper a few times before it finally loosened, and the warm pads of his fingers glided down my spine, following the shape of the snake tattooed there until he stopped at the middle of my back. “Think you can get it the rest of the way from here?”

Swallowing the heated lump in my throat, I looked at him over my shoulder, smiling like a dumbass. “Yeah, I can get it. Thanks.”

Jake smirked, his eyes shamelessly drinking in the sight of my bare back. “No problem, princess.”

Damn him and that stupid nickname. I slid back behind the safety of my bedroom door, closing it with a quiet sigh. He’s just a friend. I reminded myself. Don’t be a dummy, you fucking dummy! I double-checked that the door was closed before sliding the dress off and shoving on my less-revealing clothes. I washed the makeup off my face and fixed a few puffed-up sections of my hair, securing the half updo and heading back to my living room.

Sasha and Ari were raccoons, sniffing through my kitchen and pulling my couch apart. Jake leaned against the wall by my door, reading one of the books he’d pulled off my shelf. “Sasha! Put my couch back together!”

“Where are the sex toys?” He whined. “I know they’re here!”

“Leave my sex toys alone, you Russian raccoon. Ari, don’t eat all my crackers.”

“Sorry,” she said with a mouthful of food. “I’m so high right now.”

Jake raised his brow. “What, no scolding for me?”

I shook my head. “I’m just as surprised as you.”

“Hemmingway?” He asked, lifting up the book.

“It’s a classic.” I pulled it out of his hands and set it on the shelf. “Alright, let’s go. The arcade is just a little ways past Ozzy’s.”

Ari groaned. “We’re walking?”

“You walk everywhere,” I reminded her, practically shoving them all out my door and locking it behind me.

“I’m really high, though,” she laughed, leaning against Sasha.

He waved us on. “I’ve got her. Just lead the way.”

Jake and I took up the front, casually tagging one another at random and making small talk about the neighborhood and the arcade. It got easier to ignore the loud remarks Ari and Sasha made about Jake and Is “upcoming fucking" as they liked to call it. Though I could tell they made Jake tense up more each time.

The old arcade light shone brightly across the street, where the rest of our group huddled together, waiting. “There you are!” Heather rolled her eyes and slid beneath Sasha’s waiting arm. “These people are insane!”

“You can say that again,” the Russian agreed.

“Hey, Jake,” Olive chirped with an awkward wave.

His brows furrowed, but he waved back regardless as we made our way inside. It was shitty; old arcades usually were around here. You could practically taste the burnt pizza crust and cheap soda that was always just a little too watered down. Lights were on in every corner, flashing and dashing and everything in between. It was chaos. The chaos screamed with some of my few good memories from childhood.

I’d spent hours here on weeks when I was with my dad and the boys. We’d all spend the day running errands for Nana to earn enough change to buy some coins. Patrick rigged every game he touched, winning hundreds of tokens and ending up with the biggest prizes. Peter worshiped laser tag and got crazy good at it, while I just enjoyed the sounds and the freedom.

Breathing in the shitty air, I smiled. “God, this place is great.”

“It’s interesting,” Jake said quietly, analyzing the don’t room. “You spend a lot of time here?”

“When I was with my dad,” I admitted. “The three of us used to be quite the hit around here. Quinn too.

“I can imagine.”

Nudging him, I gestured to everything. “You ever get to waste time in a shit hole like this?”

He shook his head. “Not really. Simone hates these places, so she always found some excuse to keep me far away.”

The anger I felt toward Simone grew at that moment. Denying Jake so much of his childhood over something as minor as her own opinion was selfish. Though it wasn’t surprising considering the woman’s need for control. My brothers and Will stood by the door to the laser tag arena, their eyes lighting up as they caught mine, waving me over to get me to join their game. “So… You’ve never played laser tag before?”

“Nope,” he said.

They waved me over again, big eyes begging as they shouted please at me. “Come on then. You’re gonna lose your laser tag virginity.”

Jake rolled his eyes and chuckled. “Am I?”

“Come on,” I pleaded. “You’re being such a grump!”

“I’d be far less grumpy if I was drunk.”

“You gotta give this place a real shot. Come on!” I grinned. “I’ll let you be on my team.”

Finally, he gave in and nodded. “Fine, one game. But you owe me.”

I scoffed. “Resorting to extortion? That’s a new low.”

“Low but effective.”

“Alright, I’ll owe you. Now, let's go.”

Olive slipped into the group, evening out the teams. We all stood in the back room, getting fitted into our vests and assigned our guns. Olive, Jake, and I were on the blue team, while my brothers and Will were on the red team. The employees gave a very dull presentation on the game's safety and the rules while Patrick and I made faces at each other and silent threats with our hands.

“Don’t be fooled by Peter’s sickly appearance,” I warned, making sure my vest fit snuggly. “He’s an absolute powerhouse at laser tag.”

Jake smirked, overconfident. “Yeah?”

I slapped his arm. “Yeah, and he’s not gonna go easy on you, first time or not. Don’t even try to go up against Patrick. That asshole is insane, and he’s not afraid to throw a punch or two to win.”

“Sounds like you guys really hate losing.”

“We’re competitive,” I replied. “Especially when losers have to treat.”

“Competitive and cheap,” he said with a laugh. “You Harrows are somethin’ else.”

Rolling my eyes, I stepped forward, tightening one of his straps. Then, looking up at him through my lashes, I smiled, “Try to keep up grumpy.”

Olive cleared her throat and stepped up closer to us. “This is gonna be awesome, right?”

I stepped back and laughed. “Absolutely.”

Patrick narrowed his eyes at me, sticking his tongue out. Then, he shouted in Irish, “Your little boyfriend’s ass is mine, girly!”

“Not if I get your ass first!” I shouted back, flipping him off. “Pete, try not to overdo it!” Peter rolled his eyes, carefully following the employee back to their respective starts.

The laser tag arena was two floors of walls, both large and short, with holes in various spots for aiming. The three of us stood on the far end, against the blue wall. From there, I could see the red wall peaking up over the second floor. The lights dimmed, and the neons glowed brighter, illuminating the shitty pattern on the carpet and casting all of us in a glow of ugly bright colors. Jake didn’t look ugly, though. As I turned to look up at him, I couldn’t ignore how the blue brought out his eyes and how the haze of greens, reds, and yellows made him look like he’d been carved from stone.

He looked down at me with a smile, one of the rare ones that wasn’t some shit-eating smirk that followed his quips or the stiff ones I was convinced he smiled just because it was expected of him. “Better stay close, Red,” he said, tugging on a strand of my slightly luminous hair. I rolled my eyes and waited for the countdown and the vests' buzz, signaling the game's start.

Peter would stay low. He had the energy to play, but that didn’t mean he had the energy to climb to the next level or down when the game ended. Patrick would go high, he always did to try to get some kind of advantage on the other team, and he liked jumping down and scaring people. And then there was Will. Will was the wildcard. I hadn’t played with him before, but he seemed like the type that would be surprisingly good at the game.

It began in earnest when the fog machines kicked in with that familiar hissing sound. We walked forward, and Olive practically curled into Jake’s side, not even bothering to keep her gun up. Peter’s vest peeked out from one of the barricades as he swiftly vanished in the fog. I stopped, quickly aiming and shooting the lit-up red vest just as Patrick jumped down, trying to catch us off-guard. He made a fuss for a moment before he grinned as Peter and Will emerged behind us.

Olive went down easy as Jake and I dodged to the side, squeezing into a little covered half circle. Chest to chest, I could smell his lightly spiced cologne and smoke as I looked up and smiled. “This close enough for you?”

Jake hummed, pressing himself even closer to me. “Not nearly close enough.”

“Peter’s the one to worry about.” I turned my head away from his intense gaze, looking at the little section I could see. “If Will’s smart, he’ll be going up top to try and get a better view.”

“I go high, you go low?” He asked.

“It’s a decent plan,” I answered.

He nodded to the dark foggy arena. “Let’s go then. I’d hate to owe your brothers a drink.”

I slipped out first, going right where Peter had been last. Glancing back at Jake, who headed left toward the upper level, I admired the bright smile on his face and the gleam of a childhood dream being fulfilled. My brother was moving slower than usual, which led us to our stalemate, him behind one of the erect barriers and me behind one of the kneeling ones. “Having fun, Pete?”

“I’m about to kick your ass at laser tag. Of course, I’m having fun!”

With a laugh I stood, aiming my gun at the barrier he should have been behind, only to have him jump out from a different one and hit square on the sensor. “Damn! You’re moving quicker than I thought!”

He shrugged. “I’ll admit I have had to resort to some of Patrick’s trickery.”

His vest flashed as a laser from up top hit the sensor. Jake smirked down at us. “Trickery aside, that was a good game.”

Peter nodded. “Looks like we owe you two a drink.”

“Don’t worry about it tonight,” I said, patting my brother on the back. “We’ll demand payment in two or three business days.”

“How considerate of you.”

In the back room where we removed our gear, Olive chattered about how fun the game was and how amazing Jake did. A heavy pit began to form in my chest as I watched her hop on her feet, drawing Jake’s eyes to the low neckline of her top and the very obvious cleavage that practically spilled out of it. It was a decent move to get a man's attention, one I couldn’t fault her for taking advantage of, but something about it bothered me. I felt… disappointed… disappointed that he looked? No. I shook my head and smiled as Jake turned to look at me. “Good game. You’re now officially no longer a laser tag virgin.”

“It was pretty straightforward,” he answered. “But it was nice having a seasoned vet in my corner.”

The six of us returned to the main lobby, purchasing coins and slowly making our way through various games. Quinn pulled me onto the dance machine next to her the second I tried to slide past. “Dance with me!”

“You dance all night for a living,” I teased. “How can you have the energy for this?”

“I have godly stamina,” she replied, winking at Ari. “You know that, Lee.”

“Alright, bring it on, stamina goddess!”

Both of us bobbed to the music that played over the shitty surround system, barely even looking at the screens before we started moving our feet. Left. Left. Right. Back. Right. Front. It brought me back to when Quinn and I first started hanging out. The wild nights of her and I ripping up the arcade with Patrick and Peter until Dad and Ozzy eventually came to drag us home.

She grabbed my hand, belting out the song's words and urging me to give in to the music. “Move your hips, Lena, just like I taught you!” Through the others gathered around cheering us on, I could feel Jake’s eyes. Unlike the many times before, this time, there was a rush to have captured his gaze. It made my face burn and my heartbeat quicken ever so slightly as I tried to focus on the moves, not him.

Quinn won. She always won; of course, when she did, she was unbearable about it. “HA!” She cheered, jumping up and down, shaking her ass at me. “And that is why stamina is important, kids!”

I slapped her hip and hopped down. Patrick took my place and grinned at her. “Let’s go, Quinny.”

Prue waved me to where she and Will stood next to Jake and Olive at the mini golf course. “Grab a putter and come with us!”

Jake clapped his hands together. “Quite the show you gave us, princess.”

I followed Prue’s instructions and smirked at him. “Never would have pegged you for a golf guy.”

“I’m not,” he admitted. “Prue’s convincing, though.”

“Yeah, she’s good at dragging people to do stuff.” I swung my putter around a little. “What’d she bribe you with?”

“Secrets,” Jake whispered, smacking my putter with his.

I rolled my eyes. “Liar. Prue’s an angel. No amount of golf could convince her to sell my secrets.”

Jake shrugged. “Maybe, but I can be convincing too.”

Prue and Will headed inside, leading the group in the shittiest and shortest mini-golf course. Jake was surprisingly shit at it, which made the whole thing much more fun. Olive was good, clearly coming from that family that always went mini golfing on vacations, but she purposefully stuck back. I bit my lip, watching her stand just a little too close to Jake as he lined up his shot. Prue rubbed my arm and quietly asked, “You good?”

I finished the final hole and smiled at her. “I’m good.”

The employee looked at my card and gave me a string of tickets as I exited and headed toward the ticket counter. I didn’t want to focus on how I felt seeing Olive glued to Jake’s side all night. I didn’t want to admit that maybe… just maybe, the little green monster had bitten my ass while I wasn’t looking. Even worse, I didn’t want to admit that the little green monster was only a symptom of a much larger and much more complicated feeling. So instead, I waited for them to count my tickets and give me whatever shitty prize I’d won.

From the front, I could see everyone laughing with each other as they moved from one game to another. Sasha had his arms around Ari and Heather, pointing out how most game names could be dirty if you said them right. Peter sat in his wheelchair, tossing the small basketballs across the long game toward the hoop. He was good, but I could see the effort it took him now to keep getting the ball through the hoop. Patrick stood beside him, tossing balls, each one missing completely.

Jake strolled out of the mini-golf section and put his gear away before making his way to my side. “Finally finished?”

Leaning against the counter, he replied, “I told you I’m not a golf guy.”

“Yeah, well, a little golf didn’t kill you,” I teased. “Got any tickets to cash in?”

“You actually keep those?” He questioned with a raised brow.

“Hell yeah!” I insisted, nodding to the wall of cheap toys. “I wouldn’t miss out on this goldmine.”

He chuckled, watching the man behind the counter finish counting and pull a little stuffed frog out from beneath the counter. “This is what I’ve got for thirty tickets.”

I giggled, looking at the tiny crooked crown, its angry face, and its too-long limbs. “It’s perfect, thank you.” Then, turning to present the stuffed animal to Jake, I grinned. “See? Who wouldn’t want this?”

He nodded along. “It’s quite the prize for all your hard work. You gonna name it too?”

Humming, I looked at the little angry frog face and laughed. “I think I’ll call him Jake.”

Jake laughed and shook his head. “How creative.”

“He even looks like you,” I replied, showing him the grumpy face and laughing harder.

“Jake!” Olive called out, hurrying from the golf cave with a handful of tickets. “You forgot your tickets.”

With a sigh, he took them from her hands and tossed them over the counter to the employee, who started counting them. “Thanks.”

She tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled at him. “This has been quite a night, hasn’t it?”

“Yeah,” he answered, barely looking at her. “It’s been fun.”

“I thought arcades were too childish for your adult tastes,” I responded. “Is this you admitting that maybe I was right?”

He rolled his eyes. “It is childish, but I guess I liked it more than I thought I would.”

I nodded. “Soooo, I was right?”

Jake laughed and shook his head but relented all the same. “You were right.”

The employee finished counting the tickets and set another frog on the counter. “Here’s your prize.”

Jake looked at the frog with a wide grin before he turned it around to show it to me. His frog had a similar crown but had exaggerated red lips and long eyelashes with little stars in its eyes. “Aww, you got a cute one! You gonna name it?”

“I think I’ll call her Lena,” he replied with a shit-eating grin. “Even looks like you.”

“Oh ha ha,” I answered, swatting his cheek with my frog. “You’re hilarious.”

Olive stood close by us, awkwardly waiting for an opening to show off the simple eraser she’d gotten with her handful of tickets before she politely asked Jake to show her how a game worked. He stuffed his frog into his pocket and walked back into the game section of the arcade as I found a nearby place to sit to give my feet a break. Quinn slid into the seat across from mine, turning to glare at the dark-haired girl across the room. “Are we fucking this bitch up or not?”

“What are you on about?” I asked with a nervous laugh.

“Uhh, the new bitch that’s been glued to your man’s side all night, twirling her hair and touching up on him.” She elaborated as Prue sat beside me.

“That bitch needs to go down,” she signed. “Touching his chest. Putting her dirty hoe ass hands on YOUR jacket!”

I rolled my eyes and swallowed that annoying sense of possessive jealousy that had threatened to overtake me all night. The one I was NOT entitled to feel. “Jake isn’t my man, and the jacket is his. If he wants to flirt with her, he can. He should! We’re just friends.”

Quinn shook her head, pointing to my face. “Ohhh, you’re fuckin pissed!”

“I am not!”

Prue smoothed a finger down the tight crease in between my eyebrows. “Damn, she better back off before you send her to a morgue!”

I rolled my eyes at her and shoved Quinn’s finger down with a sigh. “Listen, Jake is a big boy. He is free to make his own decisions. We’re. Just. Friends.”

The two looked at one another before rolling their eyes. “Right, just friends, whatever you wanna call it, Lee.”

They leaned back, giving me a clear view of Olive giggling at whatever he’d said and tugging on the sleeve of his jacket, pulling him toward some game. This was dumb. Irrational even. Jake was my friend, a friend I liked because friends like each other. It didn’t mean I liked him or had any reason to be angry that someone else liked him too. On the contrary, Jake was fun to be around and fun to flirt with, and I was not the only one entitled to enjoy those things.

After my feet felt a bit less sore, I returned to the fun. Olive now stood with everyone else, watching Sasha and Patrick battle it out on the dance machine. Jake wasn’t with them. I tapped Olive’s shoulder, asking over the noise, “Where’d Jake go?”

She shrugged. “We were over there by the older arcade games. When I turned around to ask him which one he wanted to try, he was gone. I figured he was with you.”

I ignored the snark in her tone and followed her finger over to where she’d said they were when she lost track of him. The annoyingly jaunty tune from the old Swimmer arcade game echoed in my ear as I looked at the group of teenagers attempting to play it. The small figure of the man hit a log before slowly sinking into the water. Game over. Shit. I hurried toward the nearest bathroom, hoping Jake was as easy to predict as I was in moments of panic.

“Jake?” I knocked on the bathroom door before slowly pushing it open just enough that he could hear me. “Jake? It’s Lena.” All I could hear for a minute was the sound of the water running, but the longer I stood in the doorway, the more obvious the uneven sound of his breathing got. “I’m gonna come in… Okay?”

He didn’t speak as I opened the door and quickly shut it behind me. Jake sat on the floor, his face wet and his chest heaving with the effort each sharp breath he sucked in took. I knelt down in front of him, taking up the space between his legs. “Can you tell me what you need?”

Jake shook his head, eyes glossy with tears he refused to let fall. “That’s okay,” I assured him. “Let’s just focus on breathing.” I slowly took hold of his hand and pressed it to my chest, sliding closer to him. “Can you feel my heartbeat?”

He nodded.

“Can you feel my breaths?”

He nodded again.

“Good. Now just try and breathe with me, okay?” I took deep, slow breaths counting quietly out loud to give him some kind of audible distraction. After a few minutes, his breathing began to match my own. “There you go. Just focus on breathing.” Jake’s blue eyes watched me closely, a fear I was familiar with staring back at me. I hadn’t seen this side of him before, and I had no idea what he needed, so I just squeezed his hand and smiled at him, calm and gentle. “You’re here,” I told him, imagining all the times my dad had said the same to me. “You’re safe with me.”

That did something. The fear slowly shifted to a deep look of relief, and then just as quickly, his eyes tore away from me, and his face burned with embarrassment and frustration. I didn’t move, not even when he pulled his hand away from my chest, setting the still, slightly shaking limb on his knee as he flattened his legs out. After a moment of silence, he spoke, voice slightly off. “You can go now. I’m fine.”

“It’s okay not to be okay sometimes,” I said softly. The unspoken message was communicated as I retook hold of his hand. I’m here.

Jake chuckled breathlessly. “Not for me.”

“Why not?” I asked. He didn’t answer, just kept his eyes trained on the wall. For a minute, I just let him catch his breath before I squeezed his hand. “You’re human too, Jake. And after everything that’s happened… That biker asshole punching you and my shit in Cape Cod combined with your own Cape-related stuff. So understandably, you’d be feeling overwhelmed.”

Jake sighed. “It’s so fucking stupid. All this over a dumb arcade game.”

“It’s not stupid.” I stroked my thumb over the back of his hand. “It took me years to get over that shitty fake drowning animation. I still can’t go swimming. No matter how shallow the water is, I always feel like I’m going to sink.” His eyes held the understanding that his face refused to show as he looked at me for a second. “We don’t get to choose what affects us. We just have to do our best to get through it.”

A cold, empty look settled on his face as he retreated back into the safety of his shell with only a quiet mumbled, “Thank you.”

“That’s what friends are for,” I answered, slowly withdrawing. “I’ll give you a few minutes to yourself.”

He didn’t answer, just nodded stiffly.

Coming from a place of absolutely no experience with Jake after a panic attack, I couldn’t offer him much, and it was likely even he didn’t know what he needed. Some space was all I could really give him. And even that didn’t feel like enough. He was my friend, and though he’d opened up to me significantly over the past few months, Jake was still Jake. He was closed off and private about the serious stuff. Even after everything I’d shared with him, he’d given me the bare minimum about himself. That was okay. I was prepared to take the friendship at his pace, given his seemingly limited experience with this sort of thing outside Simone’s well-crafted role.

Jake thought he had to do it all alone, just like I did after moving away from my mother. I was determined to show him he didn’t, just like my dad and Oz and Peter and Patrick had shown me. I didn’t have to suffer alone, and neither did Jake. I kept the group busy while Jake took whatever time he needed, which evidently wasn’t much. It took him all of five minutes to slip out of the bathroom and silently make his way to the door, leaving without a word to anyone. I watched him go, quietly hoping he’d be okay.

The night dragged on, and no one commented on Jake’s absence. He’d done this a lot, I’d gathered. Finally, when the arcade closed for the night, everyone parted ways. Peter was exhausted though he’d never openly admit it, and Patrick had efficiently worn him out too. I helped them get home, opting to stay the night in the old apartment just in case Peter needed anything. The three of us collapsed onto Peter’s old bed, now clean with fresh sheets.

His room was still pretty bare, boxes holding most of his belongings, so none of it got lost while he was away, but the gentle green that painted the walls and the boxing paraphernalia that remained made him smile as he pushed his head into his pillow, fluffing it gently. “I forgot how good real beds feel.”

Patrick rolled onto our legs, trapping us to the bed as he used our limbs to stretch out his back. “Tomorrow, we can continue celebrating, but let’s all just enjoy the peace and quiet for tonight.”

“You enjoy the quiet?” I laughed, lifting my leg to dig my foot into the spot between his shoulders where I knew he held most of his tension. “That’s a good idea, Pat, one of your first!”

“Shut up.”

We laughed for a minute or two before letting the room grow quiet. Outside, the noises of the city were muffled against the sound of Peter’s ceiling fan whirling and the bumping of the old furnace kicking on randomly every few minutes. The sounds of home always helped me drift off, but as I curled into the blankets, Peter mumbled, already half asleep, “I like him.”

“Who?” I asked in a mostly teasing tone. “The arcade guy?”

Peter kicked me. “Jake, you idiot.”

Opening my eyes, I looked at his face, searching for the sarcastic quip that was no doubt coming. Peter was sincere, though, his calm face bathed in the moonlight from his window as he smiled. “You do?”

“He reminds me of you when you still lived with mom.” He shook his head, chuckling. “He seems polite too. Didn’t even laugh when my skinny ass threatened to kill him if he hurt you.”

“When did you do that?”

Patrick groaned from the bottom of the bed. “Did you really think we needed to go to the bathroom?”

I sighed. “You two are idiots. Nothing is happening with Jake and me, so your stupid little threat was pointless.”

Peter just smiled a little wider. “I know you better than anyone, sis. Nothing is going on right now, but you like him.”

“He’s conventionally attractive, but he’s-”

“Your type. Stop pretending you haven’t thought about it.”

“I haven’t,” I insisted. It was a lie, of course, but they didn’t need to hear that.

Patrick laughed, shaking the bed. “Was she always so bad at lying? Or has she just gotten worse over the last few months?”

Peter joined in. “Oh, she’s definitely gotten worse.”

“Fuck both of you,” I replied, trying to kick both of them.

The room grew quiet again, and Peter pulled me into his side, hugging me tightly. “I mean it, though; he seems like an okay guy.”

“Thanks, Pete.” I snuggled into his side, glad to finally have him home again. “Now shut the fuck up and go to sleep. Your sick little ass needs it.”

When my idiot brothers finally closed their eyes and started snoring, I flipped my phone open, scrolling to Jake’s contact and sending a simple message.

Goodnight, Jake.

I lay in bed, watching the hands of the clock until my phone lit up. Relief made the tension I’d been holding onto disappear as I melted into the bed, smiling at his equally simple response.

Goodnight, Lena.

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demetriandelibinaryboyfriends · 8 months

Text

@allvalleyskillschallenge

Prompt: Back to School Pairing: YasMoon More cheer content for Best Lesbians!!!

***

You’re at the mall with your boyfriend, he’s upset He’s yelling at you while completely drenched in sweat He doesn’t get nonviolence like I do

I’m in Marseille, it’s a typical summer night Watching the kind of sissy chick flicks he doesn’t like And he’ll never smell like roses like I do

But she wears short skirts I wear t-shirts She’s cheer captain And I’m on the bleachers

Dreaming about the day when you wake up and find That all that macho shit Won’t keep your chakras aligned!

If you could see that I won’t get a tattoo of you Without asking first because that’s creepy You don’t belong to me And I think you should flee

Walking the halls with you and your lecturing I’m sort of shocked that you still want to hang with me Seeing your laugh and thinking to myself “I’m glad Moon forgives easy”

And I see your ex acting like he’s worth your time After all he ever did was treat you like some prize You said it was love but I know better than that Have some self-respect and don’t you dare take him back!

But she wears high heels I wear sneakers She’s cheer captain And I’m on the bleachers

Know I’m nobody now, and I’m just some tryhard But despite how Hawk’s changed He’s got no clue who you are!

If you could see that I know all your favorite smoke spots Music, movies, outfits down to your bikinis And where you go on shopping sprees

Flying home to see you on the prom night I know they thought that I came for Demetri But he’s only a beard to me And you’re all I see

Oh, I remember you leaving me behind For the school karate gang But you’d end up in a bind ‘Cause mean kids are all the same

And I know that I fucked up And I know I was a bitch But if it meant there’d still be an “us” Then for you I’d make a switch

Do you see it when we’re tanning by the poolside? Do you see it when we’re sitting in the booth and I’m like please Why can’t you see me?

And I know I’ve missed my chance over and over And longing’s not bringing you any closer Even if I have to plead But you belong with me Maybe someday you’ll see

You belong with me And one day I’ll feel free To say what I wish we could be And what you mean to me

***

@karatecaulfield pspsps

After I made this, I...maaaaaay have gotten kinda carried away with the YasMoon cheerleading content and wrote them a dumb little You Belong With Me cover. Whoops ^^;

So You Belong With Me has actually always kinda given me YasMoon vibes, but like...in a roundabout way? Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know that technically Yasmine and Moon BOTH canonically wear short skirts and high heels (which like. Good for them!!! It's such a Look and they slay!!!), but it makes me think of post-S1 YasMoon, where Moon was still one of the most popular girls in school, and Yasmine...definitely was not anymore. And we DO know that Yas started dressing more "modestly" from S3 onwards (as annoying as it was that she had to give up her "evil slut clothes" to undergo character development ig -____-), so it doesn't seem out of the question for Moon to keep the skirts and heels while Yas transitions to more casual, mundane stuff so as not to draw attention to herself. Definitely wouldn't blame her for wanting to stay under the radar after the wedgie video went viral lmao

Also TELL me Yasmine wouldn't look cute as fuck in pink tennis shoes and/or pink converse!!! Like come on!!! Girl would be ADORABLE in bright barbie pink stereotypical "not like the other girls" clothing and the more I think about it, the more I NEED to see this in S6. Also because it would be really funny if Moon just like. Had a thing for mean people in casual sportswear XD

Actually, went a bit apeshit and made this entire thing pink💗💗💗 What can I say!!! They just look so good in bright girly feminine colors!!! I have SUCH a weakness for hyperfemme4hyperfemme lesbians tbh. Same for hypermasc4hypermasc gays, hyperfemme4hyperfemme gays, and hypermasc4hypermasc lesbians 💖 Idk there's just something so special about queer couples who don't give a single flying fuck about The Straights™️trying to impose their "one person MUST be masculine and one person MUST be feminine in all couples!!!" brand of heteronormativity on LGBT folk. Masc4masc pairings that feel 0 desire for any femininity in your romantic relationship I love you, femme4femme pairings that feel desire for any masculinity in your romantic relationship I love you--

Yes I know realistically speaking most LGBT and non-LGBT couples are a pretty solid mix of masc and femme between BOTH people but I'm trying to make a point here akjsdiulfhkdufh

Fun fact: I was reading cheerleader anecdotes while researching how cheer squads work, and I learned the stereotypical pleated cheerleader skirt is...actually considered kind of dated??? At least in the actual cheer community. Which I think is a damn shame, because those skirts are cute as fuck D: But TBH Moon is popular enough that she could wear the most dated pleaty cheer skirt on the market and STILL rock it. Plus make it look "cool" and "retro" XD And we damn well know Yasmine will think she looks hot regardless <3

ALSO idk if I've ever mentioned this before, but it blows my damn mind that Yasmine is practically wearing the lesbian flag during the scene where she signs Demetri's cast :O Take away that blue stripe and she literally would be??? Like that whole but needed to be any more ragingly queer-coded than it already way XD NOT MY GIRL SAYING SHE KNOWS WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE PUBLICLY HUMILIATED TO THE POINT OF BEING OUTCASTED AND OTHERED. WHILE WEARING A GODDAMN LESBIAN SWEATER. AND THEN IMMEDIATELY "STRAIGHTENING" THE HOMOPHOBIC JOKE ON HIS CAST AND COVERING BOTH THEIR GAY ASSES IN ONE FEEL SWOOP AJDIOSUHYFDUG Lesbian queen!!!

Also this subtext is going to make me go fucking INSANE I swear to GOD

Rambles specific to the dumb little song I wrote under the cut!

Basically the scenario I'm imagining here takes place during S3. A recently fallen-from-grace Yasmine is now at the bottom of the school food chain, forced to watch from the sidelines as her ex-best-friend (who STILL gives her the time of day for some reason) remains a popular, universally-loved socialite. And she finds herself in a strange position.

She can't help being a little envious, of course, since she remembers when she was that widely respected. It leaves a sour taste in her mouth that she once ruled the school, and now her second-in-command is blossoming and thriving while she's been reduced to a pathetic laughingstock. And with Moon expanding her circle as Yasmine's shrinks, Yasmine always ends up feeling left behind.

But it's more than that. With Moon soaring high while she's crawling through the dirt trying to catch up, Yasmine believes more and more that she's not worthy of her best friend's time. Like Moon has outgrown her in a way that leaves her feeling desolate and lost.

And yet Moon lets her stick around. Yasmine knows she should spend more time counting her blessings and less ruminating on her newfound status as the school loser.

Because, for some strange reason, Moon doesn't actually seem to care. For now, that's enough.

Unfortunately, her enduring popularity doesn't make Moon immune to the kind of self-interested assholes Yasmine's trying not to emulate anymore. Moon's ex--the subject of many a horror story concerning the Valley in Yasmine's absence--can't seem to leave her alone. Whether it's making passes at her when she's very clearly not interested or wrecking her science project because he can't stand to see her happy without him, the guy cannot for the life of him take a hint.

Moon vents at lunch one day that she loved him, and it broke her heart to watch him turn into such a jerk. Yasmine hopes for the sake of her own sanity that her friend is exaggerating.

Because Moon really, really needs to set her sights higher than some possessive creep who gets her name branded on his skin after a month of dating, and then acts like it cosmically bound them forever. The issue is that Yasmine has no idea how to convey this tactfully enough that Moon will actually listen.

For the most part, Yasmine is grudgingly happy that Moon grew a backbone. But she misses when her opinion had more sway, based on force and conviction alone.

It's times like these she wishes the two of them were on speaking terms over the summer. Then Yasmine could've told Moon to fucking run.

Moon's ex gets better, at least. Stops being a raging ass. Actually steps back and respects Moon's relationship with Piper.

(As sad as that thought makes Yasmine, for whatever reason.)

And yet he still watches her walk by with those big, sad eyes of his, like she's eternally the most tear-jerking scene in some depressing drama. When Moon stops to chat with him--friendly and kind, even after everything--whatever she says flies in one ear and right out the other.

It's so fucking pathetic. Hawk puts her on this shining pedestal of divinity and utter perfection--his own personal angel of salvation. But ask the boy so much as her favorite color or her favorite animal or her favorite store at the goddamn mall, he would bluescreen faster than a Windows Vista.

And frankly, Yasmine doesn't give a shit about his stupid fucking redemption arc. Good for him that he's not acting like a human dumpster every second of every day, but Moon isn't obligated to patiently help him wade through the muck of his own bad decisions. Fix and tidy up his perpetual list of issues.

Moon is more than some trophy to hand out for not being a shithead.

She's a whole human being, with thoughts and dreams and hopes and feelings. She likes turquoise jewelry and yoga and California rolls. She wants to be a massage therapist, but is worried it would pay like shit. She likes spending quiet, thoughtful nights walking around hidden corners of the bustling city. She realized she had a talent for baking and cooking when she made weed brownies to give out at school. She loves decking herself out in glowsticks at raves because it makes her feel like some mystical fairy. She listens to mostly electronic and top 40s bubblegum pop, but every now and again, she craves nothing but a good classical piano piece. She adores trashy romcoms, and has only ever been taught to be ashamed of it. Especially by people like Hawk.

And she's the most incredible person in the world.

She’s the reason Yasmine boards that plane back to LAX, if she’s honest.

Sure, it’s got something to do with her father’s frequent pestering about her love life. The exhaustion of constantly faking enthusiasm for a relationship that has only ever been a cover-up. And she isn’t keen on missing junior prom for a ceremony ushering in a stepmom scarcely better than the one who gave birth to her.

But the moment she sees that blue dress, that curled hair, that euphoric beam when Yasmine walks over…

Nothing else at that dumb dance even registers.

And yes, she dances with Demetri. Grinds on him as much as she’s expected to. Even stays for the afterparty to make out with him for good measure. She has to keep up appearances, after all.

But with Moon tired and headed home, Yasmine excuses herself after 20 minutes, suddenly no longer able to stand Demetri's mouth on hers.

In the coming weeks, Moon seems to buy into Hawk's song and dance hook, line, and sinker. Somehow, sad puppy eyes and pining stares and sob stories about how he's "lost his confidence" are enough to make up for him not knowing any more about her than a stranger of the street. All the conversations they've had and dates they've been on and intimate ways they've entwined their bodies, and Hawk has managed to ask Moon so remarkably little.

He's learned so remarkably little about the girl he's convinced is his soulmate.

And it's beyond frustrating to see Moon worrying herself over Hawk's neverending teen angst and annoying inner demons when Yasmine worked to better herself, too--and all she expected in return was a halfhearted pity friendship. When Yasmine's the one who can make Moon laugh without even trying. When Yasmine knows Moon's brunch order and favorite spa treatment. When Yasmine has seen Moon high and wasted and everything in between. When Yasmine's the one who always held Moon's hair back when she yakked her entire stomach contents into the toilet.

When Yasmine's the one who rarely leaves Moon's side. When Yasmine's the one who sits closer than just friends in every restaurant booth. When Yasmine's the one who sneaks longing glances at Moon not out of some mopey self-pity that she can never get the girl, but because she simply can't help it.

She'd look at Moon forever if she could. She'd gladly spend eternity taking in everything that was Moon--everything she'd ever been and everything she'd ever be--and never expect a damn thing for it.

And again and again and again, Yasmine is overlooked. Nothing but background noise in Moon's solemn duty to take care of a boy who will never deserve her.

And it's pathetic, really. Moon had a girlfriend. Kissed her in front of the whole school. Yasmine saw the instagram pics. It's not like Moon isn't open to being with girls that way.

Yet every time Yasmine wants to finally tell the truth, something stops her. Something holds her back. Something whispers in her ear that Moon would laugh in her face. And perhaps it has less to do with them both being girls, and everything to do with how they feel worlds apart these days.

After all, what hope is there for the cheer captain to love you back when all you are is that joke of a Front Wedgie Girl sitting in the bleachers?

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