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#if it could just rain this migraine could go away and i could dress in drag and do the hula
leaderintitleonly · 2 years
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I’m in total agony but I’m back online. Had to stop to get fuel and be told to stop being a moron and take pain medication. Because... sometimes even the most seasoned of us disabled people forget. Anyway: Go with me on this wild thought, Doc and Grumpy are just Ryan and Shane from Buzzfeed/Watcher and you can’t convince me otherwise. It’s just Grumpy hopping on a bridge yelling it’s his bridge now. And Doc apologizing to the goat man who probably is in fear of Grumpy right now. Do I have other personalities in mind for other muses and their friends/SECRET LOOOOOVERS/etc? Yeah of course I do. But Hey There Demons It’s Me, Ya Boi
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brightgnosis · 1 year
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Hagging Out 🧹 I Came As A Cat — Or, At Least ... I Tried To.
I've been looking forward to my dual celebration of Walpurgisnacht and Maifest since I put them on the calendar last year- though they have slightly different intents in my tradition not altogether unlike their traditional forms. Just a little to the left, as is typical with the way I like to do things.
🔮 Walpurgisnacht is the Oneiric celebration of the Witch Spirit: The great connection to the Wellspring Eternal which makes my magic flow, and ties me to the Ancestors of the Work.
🌸 Maifest celebrates the local Genii Locorum by greeting their fully awakened forms in Spring. But more importantly, it uses water gathered all the way back in March at Lá Céadamh to tie my space (my Garden) to my magical place of Power and Pilgrimage and the specific Spirits over there.
As time grew closer, though, I started to panic a little; I had a bunch of stuff planned, but I overworked myself leading up to the day- plus time just got away from me and I wound up with less time to prepare than I meant to leave myself.
I wound up making a few concessions and compromises- like not making herbed Sima like I'd originally wanted to, and instead just purchasing a couple shooters of Moonshine instead (one 'Java Mountain' for Walpurgisnacht, and a 'White Chocolate Strawberry Cream' for Maifest). I did manage to make a couple Incenses, however, which I was really proud of.
🔮 Walpurgisnacht ⤖ Mugwort leaf ⬩ «homegrown» Periwinkle blossoms ❴Vinca Major + V. Minor❵ ⬩ A Special «locally grown» Something ⬩ Fennel seed ⬩ «homegrown» Sage leaf ❴Salvia Officinalis + S. Leucophylla❵ ⬩ «homegrown» Rue leaf ⬩ «homegrown» Rosemary leaf ⬩ «locally foraged» Austrian Pine resin ⬩ Benzoin resin ⬩ crystalized Linden Honey
🌸 Maifest ⤖ «homegrown» Japanese Honeysuckle blossom ⬩ «homegrown» Eastern Redbud blossom ⬩ «homegrown» Apple blossom ⬩ Jasmine blossom ⬩ Rose petals ⬩ «homegrown» Korean Lilac blossom ⬩ «homegrown» French Marigold blossom ⬩ «locally foraged» Austrian Pine resin ⬩ Myrrh resin ⬩ crystalized Linden Honey
I spent the whole day on Walpurgisnacht in the Garden cleaning, repotting a few things, and getting the rest of the seeds planted so that I could do everything the next two days would entail; the whole weekend had been busy, actually- spent between the Garden and socializing with a childhood friend I was reconnecting with. Plus I'd been fighting a Migraine from several days of rain.
In a full blow Fibro flair by that point, finally done, I went in and started getting everything together for the rites later in the night. Then my phone decided to take its own break and do a system update, which put a giant pause on my prep and forced me to wait because I couldn't take any photos while it was going.
When it was finally finished I took a couple hour long soak in a mixture of my usual blend of ½ my ’Chronic Pain and Fatigue’ and ½ my ’Joint Health’ Bath Salts- plus the last remaining dredges of my Lustral Water I made for cleansing ages ago.
💧 Lustral Water ⤖ Rosemary, Jasmine, Bay Leaf, Kosher Sea Salt, Spring Water
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After it was sufficiently dark-ish I finally dressed in my outfit for the night (consisting of the nightgown my mother wore on her Wedding Night with my Father all the way back in the 1980's, a black lacey-armed and ample-tittied Boudoir Robe I picked up from a Vintage shop but have never bothered to date, and a Bob Mackie Barbie Brooch from the 1990's) and hauled my box of supplies outside to the Garden.
Unfortunately I never actually achieved anything significant during my Walpurgisnacht rite, thanks to the fact I live cattycorner to one giant, obnoxious doufus our household calls Jr, who, for some reason, decided to have every equally annoying friend of his over that night. And instead of staying inside where they would be less noticeable at 10 o'clock at night ... They decided to proceed to loudly play musical cars in the driveway, the street, and even their yard for three solid hours straight.
Why? I have no idea. But it meant I was stuck very firmly in my body the entire time I was out there, no matter what substance I imbibed to aid my travel: Aminata Oil, Moonshine, Delta-8 THC "Tincture" (really an Oil) and Gummy both, Mugwort and Wormwood Leaf, CBD Oil, and even inhaling the incense I made. Because Out-of-Bodying About is hard enough for me as is without any kind of distractions- and it becomes outright impossible for me with them.
Though there was finally a 30 minute period where they were quiet enough I nearly made it while kneading my Cat Skull, it just wasn't quite enough to make it.
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Eventually I gave up, snuffed everything out, packed my stuff up, and went inside ... Only to be repeatedly awoken throughout the night by our youngest Cat- Echo- using me as a launching bad / spring board for her Zoomies 🤦‍♀️ It's really just what I get for trying to "Go As A Cat", I guess.
The next morning I woke to my body in full out rebellion and I seriously considered not finishing the celebrations at all. But after another bath- and a solid round of Tylenol Extra Strength, Excedrin Extra Strength, and a Ketorolac- I decided to force myself out into the garden to finish it anyways; I'd already started it, and I was already in a flair regardless, so I figured I should get it done. So I gathered up my stuff and got dressed again (this time in a brightly floral patterned "80's does 60's" wrap dress that's honestly way too large for me)
The second (Maifest) rite went a lot smoother and faster than the first- mostly because the neighborhood actually stayed quiet and largely distraction free; I was able to bless all of the garden statues I had (save for my 1950's style Lawn Flamingo), and use the water gathered from my Place of Power to bless all of the garden beds and plants I currently have growing (save for the new Nasturtiums I plan on planting soon). Then I sat and meditated in a cloud of the Maifest incense with my Deer Leg Bone for a bit.
Eventually my Brother in Law came home and I had to quickly snuff everything out and put it all away before he saw what I was up to; my Garden's unfortunately very visible from the driveway and the road both, and I'm technically utilizing a couple of loopholes to do any of my stuff while living here. I don't want Questions™, and frankly it's none of their business what I do, anyways (especially if I'm not technically breaking the agreed-upon rules).
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Overall, it really wasn't that bad all things considering. there's certainly some kinks that need to be worked out. But for what it was (a spontaneous, un-circled set of intuitive rituals), and for what I'm capable of putting together here with the limitations I have? It went better than expected. And honestly, given how my Madrona ritual went (or, rather, didn't go at all) after all the planning and work I put into it last year? It could've been a lot worse.
Obligatory ping for @graveyarddirt / @msgraveyarddirt
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dxefillz · 10 months
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LET THE RAIN COME DOWN ↳ accor stadium, sydney austrailia; july 6th 
self para; dae spreading herself too thin, and only realizing it in their final set of the tour so when it counts. (tw: blood, usage of pain killers like ibuprofen)  
each swell of exhaustion felt like her body had been sitting in a constant sway of water on a shore. each throb dissipating and swelling like unpredictable and dangerous waves. she’s been stuck in that heavy current for months- and usually, turbulent weather was comforting for dae, healing even. living in the chaotic spiral of a hurricane's eye though? was eating away at her stamina. 
-and it fucking sucked. 
dae thought so while two inked fingers faintly tapped out a rhythm on her lap. it served as a fidget but also, a search for reassurance that tonight's set would go as planned. the only differences between a regular show day, and the pressure for tonight- her migraine was still as dominant even after pain meds. this wasn’t too unusual for her, especially this concert leg; but it was also concerning that her body felt as heavy as her mind… and Ibuprofen doesn’t remedy everything. even in her makeup chair, with her eyes closed and a pair of hands running through her hair she couldn’t feel relaxed. maybe if her head wasn’t beginning to spin then, the cold sensation of hair gel would’ve been soothing. all her mind could latch onto was the beat she’d been tapping to, running through the show in preparation. 
“dae, i’m finished-...”cut through to her, and suddenly was back in the dressing room- staring at her reflection with a concentrated pain behind her eyes. 
“sick-”
insincerity left her mouth, but only because finishing meant showtime was vastly approaching; and still there was fatigue. still, there was an ache. the show goes on though right? 
dae probably can’t remember the moments leading up to crouching next to the backstage sound cart. she’d hadn’t left a yellow sticky there since around the time she’d started dating malachi seriously. he’d secretly been her antidote since then; a saving grace for her random thoughts and minor worries. this though was tough to admit to, to him… to ren, danbi…. dahye. they’d tell her to rest, and would scold her for trying to be the hero. they’d assume she’d wanna go on for their sake, and then she’d have to admit that doing this for her own selfish needs- and dae would rather live with the headache. 
dae walked away from the post it, thinking exactly what she’d etched into the note.  ‘I’m fucking exhausted from trying to be stronger than I feel.’
without being able to truly process the moment, dae’s gaze darted from mouth to mouth. one being the stage manager telling them it’s places, more being ren then danbi as they check one another’s mic packs. dae could’ve sworn dahye had said something to her but the drummer just nodded, a forced smile pretending to hear before she’d touched her ear piece and walked out on stage. 
blinding lights swallowed her expression immediately. dae found a way to push a smize to the surface though, twisting her sticks in the between her rough but nibble fingers. ‘the show must go on.’ the crowd arose in a roar directly triggering a faint bell to chime through them. it was quick, but didn’t worry her any less. the real fun started once she’d hit her first tom. 
a sore soaked fatigue trembled up from her grip to her shoulders, and settled in her back. dae expected it and still the impact drained her. the drummer kept in time, kept in rhythm just trusting that each arm would left after the other. the crashes hurt the most, but she still lifted her arms and striked them down like thunder how she’d practiced. In and out, she could hear everyone’s voices streaming through to her cochlear, but half way through the song she’d realized that the sound started to become so overwhelming for her that she was losing a bit of her awareness and presence. 
typically, this is where her body shifted into a comfortable ease of auto pilot. she could let loose, and enjoy her drum thrown beaming with their sound streaming through to her cochlear. but, her mind had became too aware. dae could feel the wood of her sticks shifting in her calloused palms, along with the specific vibrations of danbi’s and ren’s guitars. dahye’s voice added to the swell, and suddenly dae’s head was turning each musical progression into a pain wave. It pulsed through her as she tried to keep up, however each strike sent an ongoing ring to her ears and dae was sure she couldn’t hear a thing. 
there was internal panic then, it seemed controlled and professional for only a few moments. For the rest of that song she’d followed the beat of the bass vibration under her to keep time, ‘ta, ta ta..’ instantaneously her brain translated each of their foot taps into measures, and each time they’d open their mouths as a verification of where they were. her sanity latched on to them tight, hoped her muscle memory didn’t dare to fail her now. for the rest of that song, it just barely did her good. 
now, she’d just had one more. 
one more and she could breathe.
she’s told herself that as she’d sipped on her water bottle, quietly pretending to grin at her members as they bantered to introduce the last song of the set. dae offered a ‘rock on’ hand gesture, and swiftly lifted her sticks before huffing into a ‘let’s go’. her low voice cut through just moments before, ‘TRAUMA’ starts drifting into her headset. 
‘falling into the depths of the sea-..’ leaves danbi’s mouth with a clean tone, and dae starts keeping time from then. slow, and heavy on her beat dae finds herself just barely catching her first symbol.
‘too slow, dae’ 
at the attempt to keep herself together she closes her eyes and leans into the beat, her brows furrowed for her occasional hits until the first music break, then her arms tried to fly but she started to loose to the fatigue. ‘fuck..’ dae huffed, ‘alittle more, just a little.’ if anyone was watching her closely you can see the pain surfacing into her expression, but her fight with this song wasn’t over until she’d continued through the final bridge. dae could only make it unscathed until ren’s vocals crashed through her consciousness. then, her fills were too short- some too long, crashes weren’t in the right places and her mind couldn’t balance in the right place. after each fuck up, dae spiraled in her thrown and soon she was cursing herself for not being able to keep up for one more. 
‘why? am i not keeping rhythm- are they going too fast….’ dae huffed to catch her breath, her sound dimming with her arms feeling weighted to her lap. ‘or am i going too slow… fuck- my head hurts- my body is fucking tired.’ her thoughts took hold of her and her drums stopped, and her sticks fell to the floor. 
in that moment, everything went quiet and her body felt a strange wave of relief when she’d stopped moving despite tidals instruments still ringing through her. there was a wet sensation dribbling down from her nose but she couldn’t acknowledge it until she felt it stream down her lips and past her chin to kiss the drum cap. with her squinted gaze, dae realized her nose had begun exposing a secret she’d kept from many. her nose bleeds. the crimson couldn’t even frighten her, all dae could do was lean into the drum set to give her posture a break. it infuriated her more that her eyes began to water, cause the last thing dae ever wanted to do was cry. ever. she wasn’t that childish, she wasn’t a wimp. 
-but her body felt so relieved seeing a crew member sneak out to urger her off stage. her breath was shaky, and hands trembled out of character once she’d made it to the wings. someone lifted her chin, ready with a handful of tissues to catch the blood- but dae found it hard to stand up straight when her head felt so heavy. a woozy sensation pumped through her veins, and dae took that chance to grip anyone near her to stay standing. she couldn’t remember standing for too long since a familiar voice started to take charge over the rushed and panicked stage hands. she’d dipped her head for just a second to see han leaded their attention to a quiet corner, and grabbing hold her arm to help sit her down once they’d walked her over. for some disgusting reason, she felt like crying knowing he was there. it brought her back to the moments where her uncle wouldn’t question why she came home with bruises and cuts and would just sit her down with the first aid kit. seeing han spring into action comforted her more than she was able to show.
dae let her mind waver above the heads of those around her; not yet wanting to face the serious expressions they may be trying to hide. she just let her head rest on the wall so she could speculate through her disorientation if she’d heard han giving orders to bring over water and to get the medic. she’d seen him pull out his phone and pull it to his ear- and moments later she’d seen the top of malachi’s head hastily weave through the curious eyes until he’d found her. dae didn’t mean to hold his gaze but she did, nervous to see his expression too worried. that's the whole reason why she never said anything about her fatigue. she didn’t want anyone to worry. 
too late now. 
malachi with gentle hands had replaced whoever held the tissue to her nose without saying much after quickly communicating with han. the silence of them waiting as her leg bounced in agitation burned, so she reached out for his hand and he didn’t hesitate to latch onto it. “i got so tired, kai.” she could’ve broke into tears right then, but she tried to squeeze his hand to fight it. soon she’d lost the battle, and sniffles followed after. “i couldn't keep up..”  
ren, danbi and dahye joined the circle of familiar faces but only for a second, by time they’d been able to get off stage- the medic had been walking her back to a van to the nearest acute care. 
dae hadn’t made it back to the hotel until the next afternoon.  
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elaine4queen · 2 years
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Moaning Pages
I did take her to the dog show in the afternoon, but although she loved all the people there there were a lot of dogs and it was challenging for her. And for me, somehow. It was sunny and friendly but I was too hot having dressed for the chill of the morning which had long passed. When Lola was snarly with a friendly dog and then wanted to walk away from the throng I didn’t take much persuasion. The other thing is my foot is really sore, so I made sure to book a RoodDogs walk for this morning, and now I’m back in bed with tea having sent Lola off to have a roaring time with her pack. She’s fine with other dogs in that context - no me, no standing around, just pack, and all in the same direction.
It’s been raining in the night and the view of the sky outside is soft and damp. My bedroom faces out over the basement’s yard which is just flagstones and a drain, and nearly all of the water for the building is conducted out into this amplifier, so ablutions and rain can be very loud and actually awful. If I had double glazing it’d be better, but I don’t. Still, now it sounds like the fight has gone out of it - the water noises are a trickle. A lot of the concrete round here is painted, but my view is mostly very old cement - the back of a building, the mews behind here, and the high walls. It’s a warm grey with lots of pink in it, and wet it’s a sort of burnt umber. The scene is dominated by the tree that’s for the chop. I don’t know what it’ll be like without it, but it’s too late to change my mind, if it was ever really my decision. Before you plant a tree have a look at what it’s near and consider how big it’s going to get. The poplars in the park are massive.
I can hear Bert downstairs talking on the phone. God, his voice is loud. Still, it could be worse. He’s deaf so his sonic landscape is always loud. He gets up very early and puts his radio on. Luckily for me it’s not pop music or whatever might be worse than that, but although I can’t hear specific words I recognise the cadence of Radio 4. If I ever listen to radio myself, which I only do very briefly now, having been an all day listener in the past, it’s my default channel. Sometimes I listen online to German stations on Radio Garden, but mostly live radio is for tidying the kitchen, and R4 will do. Hearing it this way, without content, is actually better.
I’ve been PMing with Justin and he says he’s re-read Kristeva recently. I don’t read much with my eyes. Despite the migraine being well managed, and despite my eye operations and despite the tint on my glasses making things less harsh I still rarely read with my eyes. Knowing that nothing like this ever makes it to audiobook I search out the next best thing and pull up a ton of YouTube talks by her. That’ll do me for now, and takes the sting out of my envy.
Years ago I used to do something I got from the Artists Way - the practice of what she called Morning Pages. This was years before I got into Buddhism and I wasn’t in a group or anything, and although I wrote them regularly nothing good came from doing it. I used to call it the Moaning Pages, and that is what they were. Instead of writing from the present like I do now, or even having any idea of writing as a creative practice I just complained about my life like a teenager. I was in my 30s. I used to go to Paperchase and get cloth bound inch thick books to write in, and by the end I had several. At one point I threw them all in the bin, though. They were useless to me. They weren’t even what a tutor on my writing course called ‘throat clearing’. They provided nothing transformative, just a space to complain but without the useful questions a therapist might provide.
Tomorrow is a gym day and I’m already wondering where I’ll write. If it’s like this I might go to Rockwater again. Now that I know if I go early enough on a weekday it’s quiet in there and the dog settles easily and they’re friendly I reckon I can cope with the shocking state of the piped music. In a way the music makes it more like a corporate hotel than an achingly hip hang out. I expect they have better music later on. 
When I was at Goldsmiths’, years ago, no idea what it’s like now, the canteen there was like a service station. It seemed appropriate in a way, because as students we were all on our different journeys. Rockwater is nothing like that of course, but somehow, going there in the morning when perhaps not properly awake really is like being in a hotel, when you have to go to breakfast at the time when they say so or you’ll miss it, so you throw clothes on and go down to eat and are thrown into being with other people when you wouldn’t normally be. Because I get up so early in the morning I often have that out of hours feeling. For years I mainly had what historians call ‘split sleep’ which was popular before industrialisation in this country. People would have their first sleep then in the night they’d wake up and either have sex, pray, or even visit neighbours. I might wake up and go online and find other insomniacs were around and maybe message with, for instance, a fashion designer I know who would be awake and in his studio setting up in the dark.
I learned recently that people also used to think that lying down to sleep was unhealthy and that they not only often shared beds with their families and maybe strangers when travelling but also used to sit to sleep. This makes better sense of the strangely short beds you see in stately homes. 
I sometimes think I would like to change to single beds in here - like, have two instead of one big one. I’m pretty sure this wouldn’t work with a Staffie in the house, though. They like to be touching you ideally, and under the covers. At night time Lola gets out of bed when she’s too hot then wakes me up to let her back under the covers. I’m like her butler.
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katelfiredemon · 2 years
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I’ve been having a bit of a rough time the past couple weeks so I’ve decided to make a self care post of things I do when I’m feeling crappy for other people going through a rough time!
If you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious then breathe in slowly and deeply for 4 seconds, hold it for 7 seconds, then breathe out slowly for 8 seconds and repeat til you feel calmer. I’ve been told this way of breathing makes your heart rate slow down. It’s helped me not have panic attacks before
Drink water drink water DRINK WATER!!! Honestly a lot of the time when my body is feeling crappy, I just have been drinking enough water (if you struggle getting yourself to drink water then try getting flavor packets to put in it, it’ll make you more likely to want to drink it if it tastes good)
If you’re stuck in one of those vicious cycles of feeling sick because you haven’t eaten and then not eating because you feel sick, then seriously just force yourself to eat a piece of bread or toast or saltine crackers, even if it’s just a few bites. It’ll seriously help you feel just better enough to stomach eating more things a little bit later
Sprite helps settle upset stomachs (this is my go to method for car sickness)
Coca Cola can help with migraines
If you’re congested take hot showers or boil some water, place a towel over your head and lean over the pot breathing in the steam
If you have phlegm in your throat, gargle salt water, it can help clear it out. Doing this consistently for a few days is really helpful
If you’re feeling under the weather at all then drink orange juice or take vitamin c tablets or gummies, vitamin c boosts your immune system
If you’re about to have a panic attack find something physical to focus on or ask someone to bring you something if you can’t yourself. Something that you can feel is a very good option like an icecube to hold or a cold water bottle to press against your face
Drinking cold water when on the verge of a panic attack or coming away from one is helpful too, the sensation of cold water going down your throat can be very calming
If you don’t have anything like those around you then try to list things you can hear or see. Also physical movements can keep you grounded, this is especially helpful if you have someone to talk you through it. Start by rolling your wrists, then flex and unflex your fingers, try doing this with individual fingers, and alternate between these, even adding in more things like rolling your head or shoulders
If you’re feeling lightheaded, especially if you think you might pass out then sit down and put your head between your knees for a while
If you’re going through a depressive episode, if you can’t muster up their energy or motivation for anything else, at least go outside for a few minutes even if you’re in your pajamas. The sunlight and fresh air will help immensely. If you can’t then at least open your window
Open your windows periodically to freshen the air in your room
When you’re feeling crappy take showers! Even if you have to drag yourself in there and just sit in the tub with the water raining down on you, even if you can’t find the motivation to wash your hair (you can even just tie it up and out of the way) just get yourself in there, it’ll do you a world of good to feel at least a little more hygienic
Along these same lines, brush your teeth! Even if that means doing it for half the time you should or even without toothpaste. One of my roommates even just kept a toothbrush on her nightstand and on bad depression days she’d brush with that, where she could do it in bed
Get dressed! Don’t spend all day in your pjs! Even if it’s just changing into sweats or other comfy clothes! Do it! And take the time to dress up nice for yourself once in a while!
If you have any motivation at all for it, clean your room!!! Even if this means just picking up one item of clothing or throwing something on the floor away, it’s a million times better than nothing and you’ll feel better for it even if just a bit
Anyways, I love you all! Take care of yourselves! If you ever need advice or someone to talk to I’m here for you! I love and appreciate all of you! I’m proud of you for everything you’ve accomplished even if it’s just getting yourself out of bed!
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omg-just-peachy · 3 years
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if all else goes wrong, i'll be alright | stevetony
5 times Steve hugs Tony and 1 time Tony hugs Steve | 2.1k
this is for the "hugs" square of my @tonystarkbingo ngo card!
also on AO3
****
1. “Steve? What are you doing here, you hate these things,” Tony asks, eyes wide and soft in surprise at the sight of him standing in front of him.
“So do you,” Steve reminds him, smiling lightly as he fidgets with his tie. It’s a black silk bow tie, and Tony knows, like he knows so many of Steve’s other likes and dislikes, that Steve hates it, not just the outfit but bow ties in particular, for some reason. Tony, though, can’t help but enjoy the sight of his boyfriend all dressed up and dapper like he is now. It’s a rare thing, and Tony drinks it in, Steve, here, at a gala, decked out in a deep navy suit, blond hair slicked carefully back save for one determined strand that falls charmingly over his forehead.
“Well, yeah, but I kinda have to be here. Name’s on the building and all,” Tony gestures in the direction of the floor to ceiling windows, the Stark logo reflecting brightly against the rain-spattered windows. Tony puts his hands over Steve’s, stilling his nervous fidgeting with his own.
He really couldn’t be happier to see him.
“Ah, so you’re a pretty big deal then” Steve says, nodding sagely as if he'd just now learned Tony's identity.
Tony grins. “Guess that depends who you ask. You know how inflated my ego gets,” he teases
Steve rolls his eyes. “Yeah, yeah.”
“Huge. Massive, even,” Tony continues, enjoying the way Steve throws his head back, the way his eyes brighten when he laughs.
“Can we go back to you being happy to see me?” Steve asks, wrapping his arms around Tony’s waist. “I missed you today,” he murmurs into Tony’s neck. He keeps his face buried there for a long minute, and Tony lets himself enjoy the closeness, this rare moment of PDA that Steve’s allowing himself, and hugs him back tightly.
The rest of the evening will be long, he knows, but nowhere near as bad now, not with Steve here, right as his side like always.
2. Tony’s head feels like it’s in a vise.
It’s nothing new, not really, but knowing what it is doesn’t necessarily make it any better. Tony had gotten his first migraine while he was at MIT. Not incredibly young, but still, it had thrown him for a loop back then, the sudden inability to see or think clearly followed by the pulsing, painful headache that lasted nearly two full days.
Now he knows what triggers them, tries to avoid red wine, certain cheeses, and chocolate if he can help it. Some things, like the weather, the air pressure, are, obviously, impossible to control, which is how Tony ends up here, in bed in the middle of the day, cursing the sun and the weather and everything in between as his head throbs in a way that immobilizes him.
Really, on days like this the only thing he can do is lay down in the dark and hope that sleep will consume him, that the pain in his head won’t be so much that he can’t doze off. It’s easier when he’s not alone, though, but he hadn't wanted to bother Steve.
He images the soft, slow dip of the mattress as Steve joins him, filling the other half of the bed. He can almost feel the soft tug of Steve’s fingers through his hair, gentle and soothing as they lay there. He’s done this before, of course, tried to convince himself that Steve really was there, rather than seven floors away. Stupid, really, when Tony could have the real thing. Steve would never begrudge him that, he knows, but…
He’s never been the best at asking for what he wants. What he needs, really.
“Hey, J, where’s Steve right now?” He asks despite himself. His words come out almost slurred, his tongue feeling almost too big for his mouth.
“Captain Rogers is in the kitchen, sir,” JARVIS informs him. “Shall I get him for you?”
“Please,” Tony sighs.
Before long, he hears the door open, a short, painful strip of light entering the room for a fraction of a second before disappearing again. Then the soft pad of Steve’s feet on the carpet, walking with practiced expertise through the dark room and over to Tony’s bed.
“Hey,” Steve says, his voice hushed but not quite whispering; whispering makes everything worse, and it always makes something in Tony’s chest ache, that Steve remembers this small thing.
“Hi,” Tony says, more of a groan than a greeting.
Steve doesn’t say anything else, just slides onto the bed beside Tony, rolling over towards him and scooping him up, his hands huge and soft against Tony’s back. Tony feels himself let out a long-held breath as he settles in against Steve, warm and comforting and familiar beside him.
“Thanks,” Tony manages to mutter as Steve threads his fingers through Tony’s hair, soothing him enough to finally sleep.
3. “What are you making?” Steve asks when he finds Tony in the kitchen. They’d had conflicting schedules for the better part of a week now, and Tony would be lying if he said the sound of Steve’s voice didn’t send a bright spark of joy right through him.
“It’s supposed to be a surprise, darling,” Tony tells him, smiling when he feels Steve’s arms come around him from behind, wrapping around Tony’s waist as Steve buries his face in the crook of his neck, breath tickling the fine hairs along Tony’s nape.
“Consider me surprised,” Steve smiles, still not lifting his head from Tony’s shoulder.
“Mmm. Did Erskine ever mention you being part koala? I have a theory,” Tony says, setting down a spoon and turning in Steve’s arms.
“Do you?” Steve smiles down at him, reaching up to wipe something from Tony’s cheek. “Soup?”
“It’s a surprise, but fine, yes, soup for my over-tired, part-time koala super soldier.”
Tony wouldn’t have thought it possible, but Steve’s smile only grows. “You didn’t have to do that.”
“Sure didn’t,” Tony nods. “But you’ve been all over the place this week. And if this fall is anything like last year, you’ll be down for the count with a cold in a matter of days.”
Steve’s eyes narrow a fraction. “How could you possibly remember that? You know you can’t prevent a cold with soup, though, right? And plus, by that logic I shouldn’t be doing this,” Steve gestures between them, bodies still entwined. “Since according to you I’m all germs.”
“Well, I could be wrong,” Tony hedges, not wanting to pull away from the embrace just yet. “Plus, I’ve barely seen you this week, it’d be cruel to leave me here all alone.” He pulls his face into an exaggerated pout.
“Fair enough,” Steve agrees, pulling away and peering over Tony’s shoulder again. “Hey, does that have to simmer for a while?”
Steve nods at Tony’s hum of agreement, then lifts Tony up and into his arms, as easily as if he weighs nothing at all, and carries him to the couch in the common room, depositing them both onto the couch. “Just for a little while,” Steve promises, as if Tony could possibly argue.
(Steve does get sick a week later. Tony gloats about being right, but only a little, and only with more soup.)
4. Tony’s looking through an ancient family photo album when Steve finds him on Saturday afternoon. He almost never lets himself come up here. The Tower doesn’t technically have an attic, but Tony has a room, a floor just below the pent house where he keeps things — boxes, photos, memories — he’d rather not have to see every day.
But this morning, the anniversary of his parents’ death, he’d gotten swept up in the news coverage. The 20th anniversary of their death — murder — and Tony, well.
He isn’t coping entirely well. He isn’t drinking, though, and he counts that as a win in and of itself.
Tony and Howard had no shortage of problems, that much was public knowledge, but all that really means, twenty years on, is that Tony is left with a whole lot of room in his chest and his head for regrets, especially on days like today.
He sifts through another pile of photos, polaroids his mother had taken at some point, and stops when he comes to one of himself on Christmas. He’s sitting by a plastic workbench, a gummy grin on his face. Howard’s just out of frame, a half-smile on his face, because of Tony or something else entirely, he would never know.
Tony heaves a sigh; he can’t bring himself to cry, at least not right now. Instead he just feels… empty.
Hollowed out.
There’s a creak, and the gently snick of a door closing, and when Tony looks up again, Steve’s there, looking down at Tony and his mess of photographs and keepsakes with the world’s most tender look on his face.
That’s when Tony thinks he might just lose it and cry. Just for the fact of Steve Rogers, here in this dark, lonely room with him on the darkest of days.
“Hi,” Steve says. “JARVIS told me where you were. I hope that’s okay,” Steve says quietly.
Tony nods. “’S’always okay if it’s you,” he hears himself say. He’d never imagined this, that he’d be able to let someone in like this, really, all the the way in, the way he has with Steve. But it’s nice, and he realizes a little more every day just how much he was missing all those years he spent pushing people away.
“Is that you?” Steve grins, looking down at the photo still in Tony’s hands. “You started the whole genius thing pretty early, huh?”
“Apparently,” Tony says, smiling wanly at him.
“Do you want to—“ Steve starts, but Tony shakes his head.
“Do you mind it we don’t? At least not right now?” Tony amends. “We can just…” He trails off and gestures at the pictures; he can start by sharing this much with Steve, at least. Talking can come later.
“Of course,” Steve agrees, lowering himself to the floor beside Tony and wrapping an arm around Tony’s shoulder, pulling him into a warm half-hug, and doesn’t pull his away as Tony points out Christmases, newspaper clippings, pieces of a splintered family.
5. Tony’s brushing his teeth, idly wondering when Steve would be back from his run, when he looks up and sees him striding through their room and coming up behind him for a hug.
“What’s that for?” Tony asks, smiling around his toothbrush and a mouthful of toothpaste.
Steve shrugs, smiling at him in the mirror. “Just because. Saying good morning.” He shrugs again as his smile widens, and Tony shakes his head.
“Koala,” Tony reminds him. “Now I’m all sweaty,” he points out, though he’s not at all put off by Steve’s hugs, even if he is sweaty from his run.
“Hmm, can’t have that,” Steve agrees, a wrinkle appearing between his eyebrows. “You’re Tony Stark. Appearances myst be kept up.”
Tony’s eyes narrow.
Steve lifts his shirt over his head and tugs at Tony’s own shirt. “I have a solution,” Steve says, turning the shower on and pulling Tony along with him, laughing as they stumble into the running water.
+1 “You give the best hugs in the world, you know that? You should have an award or something. I’m going to create one. Gold star hugs,” Tony murmurs, wrapping his arms around Steve.
He just got back from his most recent mission, and Tony’s up on the balls of his feet, reaching up and pulling Steve to him, hugging him tight as he peppers his face with lazy kisses. Steve knows he must look every bit as exhausted as he feels, but Tony doesn’t seem to mind. And besides, Steve’s currently one-hundred percent sure he’s never been happier to see another person in his life.
“Yeah?”
��Yep,” Tony nods. “Or do you prefer red, white, and blue stars, more on brand…” He contemplates, then tightens his hold on Steve, like he’s trying to eliminate even the tiniest fraction of space between them.
Steve laughs, so relieved to be home he feels it down deep, a sharp sense a relief that seems to go all the way down to his bones. “I missed you, too,” Steve says into Tony’s hair.
“You were gone entirely too long, Steven. I’m going to have to stand here like this for at least twenty-four hours,” Tony warns him. “Hope you didn’t make any plans.”
“That sounds reasonable,” Steve says easily. “No plans.” Steve smiles, lifting a hand up and stroking it through Tony’s hair. He’d missed this while he was gone, the ability to just reach out and touch Tony whenever he wanted. He wants to breathe him in, make up for lost time.
“Good,” Tony sighs into him, still holding him tight, and Steve can’t help but nod his agreement. Good.
157 notes · View notes
fanfic-me-up · 4 years
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Capture This! || Kaminari Denki
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Synopsis: You walk in on Denki, your best friend of five years, getting off. Two questions: Why is there a picture of you? And why do you want him to take more? 
Pairing: Kaminari Denki x fem!reader
Warnings: M/E+, 18+, explicit sexual content
Word Count: 6k+
A/N: This is for the @bnhabookclub​ bingo event! Thank you @shoutogepi​ and @im-here-for-the-heroes​ for beta reading. Shout out to @whats-her-quirk​ this fic was born from me poppin in during your thirst hours lol
“Lotion? Check. Tissues? Check. Pictures?” 
Denki swallows. 
“Check.”
It’s routine for Denki, really the only ritual he sticks to in his otherwise scatterbrained schedule of kickin’ ass, chilling with friends, and playing Fortnite till ungodly hours of the morning.
But he can’t help it. You’re fucking gorgeous, and Denki has needs - his brain programmed to get off at least three times a day else he can’t function. The first time it happened, he felt a deep sense of shame, twisting his gut, disgusted with himself that he defiled your image. He couldn’t look you in the eye for a week until you had enough and demanded to know what was up. It was the first time he lied to you. 
But one time became two, and three, and suddenly Denki needed an image of you all the time. The one of you looking all pretty in that stupid summer dress was his favorite. You bought it that one time you dragged him to the mall because you needed a “guy’s opinion.” He rushed to the bathroom because if he didn’t get out fast, he was gonna drag you back into the changing room and rip that dress off himself.
You’re adorable, hot, sexy, and absolutely terrifying, wrapped up in one perfect package.
Oh, and did he forget to mention?
Totally off-limits.
This is why Denki has to resort to hanging out with you, listening to you vent about your boy problems, and how you just want to meet “the one” already. Denki’s heart breaks a little more every time you shove him deeper into the friend zone, all the while pretending like he didn’t just jerk it to you a couple hours before.
He works his hand up and down his shaft, growing harder by the second with each stroke. It doesn’t take much to get him going, not when it’s you. You’re wearing his hoodie, toes buried in the sand, roasting a marshmallow in front of a bonfire. You’re smiling at something Kirishima said, Denki doesn’t remember what, because all he could see was the light in your eyes. A genuine spark lit only when the cameras were off, and you were unaware of anyone watching. Denki loved witnessing these rare moments; wanted to commit it to memory, so he did. When you posted the picture on Instagram, Denki was more than surprised; you had scrunched your nose when he showed you the picture, displeased with how you looked.
This should not be happening. Any normal person would feel ashamed when staring at a picture of their best friend and touching themselves. No one knew about it, and Denki was surprised he was able to keep it a secret for this long considering he’s friends with fucking Mina of all people.
Enough pre-cum bubbles at the tip that he doesn’t even need the lotion. Staring at you on the screen, wearing his hoodie that’s way too big it covers your thighs completely, makes his mind wander to all sorts of ways he wishes he could get you out of that hoodie. He leans back into the chair, spreading his legs with his eyes half-lidded, imagining what your lips might look like wrapped around his cock. 
“Fuck yeah...”
Groaning at the image of you on your knees, lips bruised and slicked with spit from fucking your pretty little mouth has Denki tightening his fist, hips fucking into his hand in a continuous rhythm. 
He’s on the verge of coming when the door swings open - the first and last person Denki wants to walk in is standing there in front of him.
“Hey, I called, but you didn’t - ah!” You squeak, throwing the box you’re holding. A sea of random knick-knacks and hero merch rains over you. You hear a thump when the yellow polaroid camera you bought for Denki at a thrift shop hits the floor. 
“Fuck!” Denki jumps from his chair, an array of pens fall in a heap to the floor. 
You whip your head away, heat spikes your body, embarrassed that you saw your best friend in such a compromising position. 
Denki mutters a repeated “shit shit shit” to himself for a good minute before he finally addresses you; his voice rising with each word.
“How did you get in here!?”
“Spare key, dumbass!” 
“That’s for emergencies only!”
“Are you talking to me with your dick out!?”
Silence.
“No?”
You huff at the uncertainty in his tone. It’s only two o’clock, and you can already feel a migraine coming on.
“Denki, if I turn around and you’re not covered, so help me god I will-”
“Okay, okay, I got it. Pants are zipped.” 
You don’t move until you hear the confirming “zip” before slowly opening your eyes (you have no idea why your eyes were closed in the first place), and you turn around to find Denki leaning against the desk. He’s trying his best to appear casual, but the flush on his face and frazzled hair give away what he was doing moments before you walked in. You don’t know where it comes from, but the thought alone stirs something inside you.
The confusing emotion is replaced by hot-blooded anger when you lock eyes on the screen behind him.
“Is that my face!?” 
Denki’s smile drops as he turns around. Dammit. Of course, he forgot to close the tab.
“Uhhh…”
He has no words, none, not when you’re standing there with that intense look in your eyes you get when you’re about to rip someone a new one. Your anger could rival Bakugou’s, and Denki has unfortunately been in the middle of one too many screaming matches. He’s surprised his eardrums aren’t blown out by now.
He clicks to exit out, or at least he thinks he does until he comes to the dumb realization that he’s clicking the zoom button instead. 
“Ho-hold on, let me just…” 
With each click, it zooms a little more into your face until only your nose is in the frame. Denki sheepishly looks up at you.
“Oops?”
Denki’s had a good life. He’s already come farther than most ever dream in their career when becoming a pro-hero, and he’s made some amazing friends most spend years trying to find. The only regret of his is not confessing his true feelings to you, but really what’s one regret? He’s totally a-okay with saying goodbye to this cruel, cruel world if it meant not being subjected to this torture any longer. 
“Denki Kaminari.”
Denki gulps. Oh no. You only say his full name when you mean business. 
“Explain right this instant or I will walk out this door and tell the whole world how you and grape boy took body shots off cardboard cutouts of each other!”
“Hey! We were really fuckin’ drunk and thought it might score us some pity sex with the ladies!” 
“In what world would you licking fuckin’ Mineta equal oh yeah, fuck me, Denki?”
Denki cowers with each step you take, gulping down the lump in his throat when your face is close enough to hold in his hands. He’s never been more simultaneously turned on and terrified in his life. Especially when he just heard the words “fuck me, Denki” escape your lips.
Don’t look down. Don’t look down. Whatever you do. Don’t. Look. Down.
The last thing he wants is you flinging him out the window because he couldn’t keep his eyes on your face. Don’t get him wrong; he could look at your face forever, even when you look like your one move away from killing him. But… he’s a dude, and there’s boobs in front of him, not to mention your boobs.
“Hello? Earth to Denki?” You wave your hand in his face.
“You may wanna sit down for this.” 
“I’m fine where I am, thank you very much.” 
He huffs out a breath, annoyed you didn’t take the bait. The suggestion was more for his sanity than yours. With you standing so close, his brain is going haywire; the tantalizing scent of strawberries and cream short-circuiting his brain quicker than when he overuses his quirk. It never fails to make his mouth water, if only he could bend down and bury his nose in the crook of your neck, god, he’d never let you go.
How does he even begin to work through the feelings he has for you when they’ve been bottled up since the moment he knew he was in deep? Where does he start?
The fact he’s been in love with you for the past five years? 
Or that he’s been getting off to you for half that time? 
Denki’s mind is running a mile a minute, like a computer in overdrive. He can’t make enough sense of his emotions to convert into words. But, instead of waiting to open his mouth, like a normal person, Denki spews out embarrassing word vomit that connects his two thoughts.
“I love getting off to you.”
A pin could drop, and it’d be as loud as a freaking hurricane. 
Denki groans in frustration, facepalming his forehead. What the hell did he just say, and can he take it back? How long would it take for him to hack into a database and find someone with a time manipulation quirk? He doesn’t even know how to hack, but he’d wrangle his one brain cell and fucking learn if that’s what it takes.
He’s usually good at reading you. You’re one of the few people he cares enough to pick up on how you’re feeling. The myriad of emotions that pass on your face from shock to confusion to a hint of amusement lets Denki know he can breathe easy. At least you’re not trying to kill him anymore.
“Oh-kay that’s not what I - what I meant to say was - hold on, lemme just, rewind.”
He makes some weird, loopy gesture with his arms. His brain was firing a million synapses at once, each connected to a different thought, some deep like the fear of losing you and some not so deep - like he’s really excited to eat the cheeseburgers Bakugou promised he’d grill tonight. 
But he tries his best to reign in the million and one thoughts to focus on you, who’s waiting for an explanation. He takes a deep breath to steady his heart that’s about to beat out of his chest. He only hopes you don’t stomp on it after what he’s about to say.
“I’m in love with you, Y/N. I have been since our first year at U.A. I wanted to tell you for the longest time, but then you got with Bakugou. Then you broke up, and you needed a friend more than ever, and how could I say no to being ‘your best bro’ when you were crying on my shoulder? It was just never the right time.”
The more he rambled, the more uncomfortable he felt. Out of all the scenarios he imagined of how he’d confess to you, this one was at the bottom of his list to be prepared for. He never expected to be forced into confessing because you caught him masturbating to pictures of you. He rubs the back of his neck and gives an awkward laugh when you stay silent.
“I get it if you wanna, like, shun me forever or something. I deserve it for being such a creep.” 
Denki lowers his head to the floor, the clutter of fallen pens and knick-knacks looks way less intimidating than staring into your eyes. A soft hand touches his chin, lifting his face to meet yours.
“Hey, look at me, it’s okay.” 
Your voice does wonders for soothing the nerves shaking him up.
“I guess it’s not that creepy when you put it like that, and for some weird reason, you’re like the one person I can catch jacking off to my pictures, and I don’t feel the need to report you as a registered sex offender.”
It’s meant to be reassuring, but Denki’s heart drops at the idea of you labeling him as the neighborhood perv.
“Please, don’t do that,” he squeaks before clearing his throat, “But for real, Y/N, I’m so sorry. It’s wrong to disrespect you like that, and I promise I won’t do it again.”
Denki has no idea how he’s gonna get off now, but that’s his future self’s problem.
“I can’t help it, you’re gorgeous, and I love ya, and I don’t remember the last time I got laid.”
Fuck. He didn’t mean to say that last part, but it’s the truth. You’re the reason he couldn’t even look at another girl, because they weren’t you, and that’s why he had to resort to pulling up pictures of you. Pictures that aren’t normally deemed “sexy” and of you dressed modestly, without much skin showing.
That doesn’t stop Denki from coming in record time with your name rolling off his lips every time.
“How bad do you want me?”
You’d be lying if you said you weren’t the least bit curious about what sex with your best friend would be like. You heard he wasn’t a bad lay from a couple girls back at U.A. 
You’d also be lying if you didn’t say you were just as horny as said best friend.
It’s difficult finding time to date as a pro-hero. When you do, it doesn’t last very long anyway - the other person growing tired of always coming second to your career. Don’t even get you started on one night stands. They’re practically impossible to uphold as once the media gets wind of it, you’re slapped on the cover of “Hero Times Magazine,” and everyone and their mother is calling for you to “spill the tea.” This is why pro-heroes either end up with other pro-heroes or end up alone. 
Denki’s eyebrows shoot straight to his hairline. If someone were to tell him you were attracted to him in any sense of the word, his heart would double-time it, but he’d ultimately brush it off. He knew your type, and he could not be farther from it. The aggressive, beefy, gym rat who could match you move for move in a heated spar of harsh words and hot-blooded passion. You dated Bakugou for fuck’s sake! There was no hope for Denki after that.
But he’ll be damned if he doesn’t take what he can get. The words pour out of him like the dam’s been broken and the unforgiving flood rushes.
“I want you so bad, Y/N, fuck, I’ve waited so long, so fucking long, you don’t know how crazy you make me.” 
Your breath catches. His words have an unexpected effect on you, but your heart drums in anticipation. If you listen close enough, you can hear Denki’s beating at the same rate, waiting for what you’re going to say next. Power surges through you. In your past relationships, sex was always seen as this competition. Your exes never wanted to relinquish their pride or control, but Denki is nothing like your exes. He’s laid-back, always cracking jokes, and never dwelling too much on the past, always moving forward to the next moment. He’s perfectly fine with letting you take the reins most of the time. You determine what will happen next.
“You love getting off to me?”
It’s a rhetorical question, but he answers in earnest.
“You’re the only one I get off to.”
You slide your dress off, and it falls to the floor.
“Show me.”
Denki’s eyes travel over your body, his mouth slightly open in disbelief at your undressed state. He wants to capture this moment in case this is as much as he gets, even if he can never use this mental picture because he promised you he wouldn’t. His fingers itch to brush along the lace trim of your bra, to graze along your nipple, and watch your reaction. Are you sensitive enough where you’d full on moan, or would he have to strain to catch the small hitch of breath? Denki was never top of his class. He preferred to wing it and hope for the best, but for you, he’d take his time to study every inch and crevice of your body until he could read you cover to cover with his eyes closed. His gaze travels down to the matching lace panties you wear, a cute little bow in the front waiting to be untied with his teeth. 
Did you plan to get fucked today? Or do you usually wear matching sets on the regular? 
Your skin looks so soft and supple, he’s aching to dig his fingers, but before he can, you step away. Denki cocks his head. Have you changed your mind? But any doubt leaves Denki when you make your way across the room to sit down on the edge of the bed. 
You start with feather-light touches dancing along your collarbone. Your eyes are locked on Denki, getting high on the way he drinks in your every move. Your touches are teasing, especially when your finger dips down to your cleavage. Still, instead of giving Denki what he wants, you change course, making your way back to your shoulders. Denki exhales a breath at your teasing, but says nothing, too afraid he’ll ruin the mood if he says something stupid. 
When you make your way down again, you don’t disappoint; you pinch your nipple through your bra, and the way Denki swipes his tongue over his lip has heat rushing to your core. You slide your hand down your stomach, stopping when you reach your clothed slit. Denki stares, hungry and buzzing in anticipation for what you’ll do next. Smirking in victory, you spread your legs open and pull your panties to the side, giving him the view to capture the perfect picture of your dripping pussy.
“Take a picture, it’ll last longer.” 
You taunt breathlessly, tracing your folds with your fingers.
Oh shit. Were you for real? Please, tell him you were for real because he legit might cry if this was some elaborate prank. Where are the fucking cameras? 
“You don’t want to?” You bite your lip, insecurity seeping through the confident smile you wore just a moment ago.
“No! I mean - yes! Yes, I do, holy shit, let me find - where the fuck is…” Denki whips around, trying to find his phone. Fuck! Out of all the times to misplace it, it has to be now. But then he spots the yellow polaroid camera sitting on the floor, and before he can think, he’s picking it up and praying it has film. He kneels, so he’s eye level with your pussy, but also making sure the angle gets your whole body in the frame. The light streaming in gives you an ethereal look, your skin glowing, and adding to the cute flush on your cheeks. The camera clicks, and a second later, the picture slides out. You giggle at Denki’s impatience. He’s waving the picture frantically in the air, so the color comes through faster. He completely stills when he can finally take a good look at the beauty he’s captured.
“Fuck, Y/N, you look…” 
Denki can’t control the groan that escapes. He looks back up at you, eyes darkened with lust before he’s ripping his shorts off so fast, his foot gets caught, and he almost trips in the process. Once he’s out of them, he plops back down in the chair across the room. You’re surprised when all you feel is pure, unadulterated lust. You expected to be at least a little bit weirded out staring at your best friend’s cock, but all you want is to put it in your mouth and explore all the different ways you can make him come. The tip is oozing pre-cum already, and the way he works his hand with a sense of urgency suggests he’s been hard for a while. It doesn’t take long before you hear Denki grunt.
“Fuck, I’m close.”
You look so pretty spread out for him. For the last five years, he wanted nothing more than to see you like this. His hips jerk up, and he throws his head back, but he makes sure to keep his eyes open like his life depended on it; he didn’t want to miss a second of this. You, with your legs wide open giving him a view of your perfect little pussy. Your panties soaked by you rubbing your clit mercilessly, and your pupils blown wide as you watch your best friend get off to the show you’re giving him. It’s erotic as hell, completely different from the pictures Denki has of you. This one easily tops all the others. He tightens his fist - he doesn’t want it to end without feeling your skin on his at least once.
“Let me touch you, Y/N, please, I just wanna touch you, need to feel you.” 
Denki doesn’t give a fuck that he’s begging at this point. He’s waited too damn long to care about pride or dignity, not when the chance to fuck you is placed in his shaking hands. You bite your lip to suppress a moan, but it comes out anyway.
“Touch me.” 
That’s all Denki needs. Before you know it, you’re pushed down on the bed, and lips smash against yours. He’s eager, a little too eager, shoving his tongue in your mouth and touching everywhere that he can. You don’t have much room to breathe, so you gently push at his chest.
“Chill, Denki.”
He huffs out a breath, muscles shaking like he’s restraining himself from overwhelming you.
“Sorry, sorry, sorry,” 
He mumbles, peppering kisses into your neck before making his way back to your lips. It’s much smoother this time, his tongue sliding out to tease your bottom lip, asking for permission this time. He groans when you open up for him, your tongue meeting his. Hands trail up until they reach around, resting on the clasp of your bra. Honey eyes meet yours, but you cut off his question.
“I’ll stop you if I need to, but you asking me if it’s okay every time you try something is gonna seriously kill the mood.” 
You reach around to place your hands on top of his, unclasping your bra along with him. His eyes darken at the sight of your bare chest. You try not to squirm at the intensity of his gaze. It becomes near impossible when he dips down to flick his tongue over your nipple before biting with his teeth. He pays the same attention to the other one before kissing his way down your stomach. You arch your back when he spreads your legs and positions himself between them. He makes his way around, avoiding your dripping pussy, teasing your thighs with soft kisses. You huff in annoyance, and he smirks up at you, biting into the flesh of your thigh. This time he places a kiss to your heated center, enjoying the way you squirm under his touch. 
“Is it everything you imagined?” You ask.
He looks up at you, with such a serious expression, one you’ve only seen a couple times since knowing him.
“Everything and more.”
Your heart flutters, and you know you’re going to say something you’ll regret if you don’t stop counting the different shades of gold in his eyes. You clear your throat before throwing your hair back.
“You gonna fuck me, or am I gonna have to do it myself?”
You pull his head in for a demanding kiss, biting on his lip to distract yourself from the rush of bubbling emotions threatening to surface.
“One sec,” Denki whispers, placing one last kiss to your lips, before getting up.
You gape at the giant box of condoms he casually pulls out. It hasn’t been opened, and oh my god, you didn’t even know they made huge boxes like this. There were at least a hundred in there. What person thinks to buy a big box of condoms if their plans don’t include… fucking a whole ass army? 
“What the fuck, Denki?” 
People usually have one, maybe two condoms in their wallet at most. Some guys don’t have any at all, which kills the mood when you’re in the heat of the moment, so I guess you can be thankful that Denki is... extra prepared?
“What?” 
He pulls a condom out and drops the box. It thumps when it hits the floor. You’re taken aback by how nonchalant he’s being about this.
“I- you- wha- How many times do you think we’re gonna do it!?” 
Denki slides the condom on, smirking at your shocked expression.  
“Till we finish this box,” he says as he slides into you. 
You gasp at the stretch. He pushes to the hilt, and stays there when he notices the slight furrow of your brow. It has been a while since you’ve fucked, but soon enough, you crave more so you roll your hips, but he doesn’t move.
“Denki?” 
His head is pressed into your neck, warm breath tickling your skin, and the stuttering heartbeat matches to the beat of your own. 
“Just… gimme a minute, don’t wanna ruin it by coming in two seconds.” 
His words are muffled, voice raspy with desire, and you can only imagine what his face looks like. It makes you want him all the more. Finally, someone who doesn’t see sex as an opportunity to one-up you or to put you in your place. It’s scary how the last twenty minutes have changed five years of friendship.
“Hey,” you hold his face in between your palms. He already looks completely fucked out with his face flushed and eyes glazed. You place a tender kiss to his lips, unlike the previous kisses you shared. 
“You couldn’t ruin it even if you did come right now.”
You caress his hair in an attempt to reassure him.
“You’d just have to make it up to me,” you wink.
His smile is so pure, lighting up his eyes that’s unique to Denki; it makes your heart do somersaults in your chest. But the moment passes as the previous heat between you two spikes when Denki circles his hips, taking his time to feel you inside and out. He’s touching and kissing you wherever he can, your cheek, neck, chest, thighs, like it’s the first and last time he’ll experience you like this. It might very well be. 
This thought doesn’t sit well with you.
Once he’s mapped out your sweet spots, he digs his fingers into your thighs and pulls your hips flush towards his. He pulls out of you until only the tip is brushing your opening and pounds back into you, taking your breath away. He pumps in and out of you faster, and you cry out when he hits that special spot deep inside of you.
“Denki,” you moan. He grunts and spreads your legs even wider, grabbing one and hauling it over his shoulder to pound into you deeper.
He’s getting close, hell, he’s been close even before you walked in. 
“F-fuck…” Denki groans, thrusting at an uneven pace and feeling the familiar tightening in his groin.
Wrapping your legs around his waist, you flip him over and begin bouncing on his cock in a much more steady rhythm. Denki’s staring up at you, eyes wide in admiration.
You’re a goddess. An absolute fucking masterpiece that needs to be put in a museum for his eyes only. God, when did he get so fucking mushy? You always brought out different sides that Denki, himself, didn’t even know he had. He can’t keep his hands off you, grabbing your boobs, sliding down the curves of your thighs, gripping your ass. He wants to commit it all to memory in case he never gets to know this pleasure again. 
“Y/N, ah, shit, I’m gonna...” he trails off, unable to finish his sentence.
He’s holding on to that sweet release for as long as he can. He’s been craving it since he met you on the first day of class at U.A. His balls tighten, unable to hold it in any longer, before he gives in to the long overdue orgasm. It hits him hard - his entire body tingling from head to toe like 1000 volts of electricity bolt through him. Denki had no idea he could come for this long, but he doesn’t want it to end - it feels so fucking good inside you. He rides it out for a couple more thrusts before he relaxes, completely sated. You try to pull off him, but he grabs your hips and forces you back down. You squeak, clearly not expecting him to care enough to help you out after he finished.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
The tone of his voice sounds foreign in his ears, too gruff and too deep, but you seem to have no problems with it as you moan in response, working yourself on top of him. Your thighs crush his hips, shaking with need as you seek a release of your own. You’re tired from bouncing, so you resort to grinding, swirling your hips deliciously around his cock. Denki squeezes your ass in appreciation.
“You close?” 
“Close, so close, Denki, please…”
Your eyes well up with tears, desperate to finish; the coil in your stomach wound too tight that you might burst any second. Denki helps you by thrusting his hips to meet yours, his hand rubbing your clit. You jolt at the sudden zap to your clit, you look down to see a small spark leave Denki’s fingertip. He does it again, and you cry out, your pussy fluttering from the electrifying touch.
“C’mon, baby, you can do it, come for me.” 
Fuck. Denki didn’t mean for the pet name to slip out, but then you’re moaning louder than before that Denki would’ve had to quiet you if you weren’t alone. Words are tumbling out before you can stop them.
“Oh, fuck, Denki, I love this so much, I love you, I-” 
You slap your hand over your mouth. Denki’s eyes widen for a second before a dangerous glint takes over, and he wretches your hand away from your mouth.
“Lemme hear you. C’mon, Y/N, show me how much you love this.”
You hardly recognize the scream as your own; you flush at how loud you are, but Denki doesn’t seem to mind. It seems to spur him on. He sits up so your chest to chest before he bends down to tug at your nipple with his teeth. You throw your head back in pleasure, your hands coming around to grab at his hair. Golden eyes look up at you from your chest, a slight smirk curving his lips.
“I’m no photographer, baby girl, but I can sure as hell picture us together.”
Leave it to Denki Kaminari to make you come with a cheesy pickup line. 
He gives one final thrust, balls slapping against your ass and hitting the spot deep inside you just right. Your thighs quiver from the pleasure wracking your body, a scream lodging out of your throat so loud that the people next door bang on the wall. You’re overwhelmed to the point that all you can do is rest your head on his shoulder, whispering his name in a broken whimper as you finish. 
You fall next to him on the bed, sweaty and completely wiped, both of you trying to catch your breath. Denki tosses the condom in the trash while you stare at the ceiling, watching the fan swirl round and round. Your mind is no different at the moment, going round in circles, and you’re trying to catch up. Your body feels weightless, tingling all over and loving the high you didn’t think was possible. The bed shifts, and suddenly you’re faced with your best friend of five years. Before he can get a word out, the front door slams shut, and two very familiar, very masculine voices are down the hall, getting closer by the second. 
“Kaminari, you lazy shit, get the fuck down here!”
“Shit!” Denki jumps from the bed, ruffling through the mess to find his pants.
“Denki, just lock the door! Hurry!”
It’s too late as the door swings open, and yeah… if today taught Denki anything, it’s that he really needs to lock his door more often. He doesn’t have time to think as he hops back into bed with you to avoid flashing any of his other friends today. Bakugou would probably threaten to chop his dick off and… yeah, Denki doesn’t wanna think about the rest.
You squeak and cover yourself with the blanket when you’re met with two sets of equally shocked crimson eyes.
Kirishima drops the bag of chips he’s holding. It seems like dropping things when walking into Denki’s room was a common theme today, and he’s sure as hell not looking forward to the cleanup. Denki regrets chancing a glance at Bakugou; nostrils flaring like a rabid predator on the loose and Denki’s his target.
The four of you stare at each other for who knows how long before Kirishima breaks out into a full-on grin.
“About time, bro, congrats!” 
“Congrats?” You turn to Denki, confused.
“The fuck!? You bangin’ my ex, dunceface!?” Bakugou shouts.
“Please don’t hurt me!” Denki squeaks, hiding underneath the covers.
“Oi! You fuck like a man, you better fight like one, too!”
You roll your eyes, hardly affected by Bakugou’s exploding presence, unlike Denki, who is literally shaking beside you.
“Oh fuck off, Katsuki, listen to yourself. Keyword ex-girlfriend.”
Bakugou sputters, and Kirishima drags him by the shoulder.
“Don’t listen to him. He’s been in a mood since he found out he’s gonna be the next star of the Bachelor.” 
“You wanna die too, shitty hair!?” 
You and Denki burst out laughing at the absurdity of Katsuki forced to act like a gentleman on live TV. The image of Katsuki in a suit and tie, holding a rose and actually smiling, is comedic gold to you.
“C’mon, bro, let’s give ’em some space.” 
“Oi! You’re on my shit list now! All of you! Aye! Get the fuck off me!”
Kirishima drags Bakugou the rest of the way, giving you a quick thumbs up on the way out.
You and Denki are still cracking up, but your laughter dies when they leave, and you’re faced with the tension from before. Denki sinks lower into the sheets, hating that he keeps getting walked in on. Who decided it was ‘make a fool out of Denki day’ anyway?
“So…” you start.
“So…” Denki finishes. 
You both stare straight ahead at nothing. 
“Did you mean it?” 
You raise an eyebrow, clearly asking him to elaborate.
“What you said, when you... you know...” he makes a clicking noise with his mouth like that’s universal code for fucking, “Or was it just a heat of the moment thing?” 
You take a moment to think before you give your response. You want to be as honest as possible, and not lead Denki on in any way. Of course, you loved him, he’s your best friend, but did you love him? 
You think back on your friendship, and suddenly a supercut of all the times he was there for you flashes before your eyes. He was there when you needed someone to drive you when you had your wisdom teeth pulled out. You didn’t expect Denki to stay with you the whole weekend, buying you ice cream and watching your favorite movies, but he did. 
He was there when you and Bakugou became an item, always listening to you swoon over how amazing a boyfriend he was. Denki would always respond with “But can he do this?” and would proceed to overuse his quirk like an overpowered Pikachu just to make you laugh. It sends a knife through your heart, knowing Denki was in love with you while you were talking about how great of a boyfriend his friend was. Not to mention how he was there when you and Bakugou broke up, heart-broken and vowing to swear off boys for good. Denki held you in his arms while you cried, staying silent the entire time, which you knew was against his nature. Denki was always there for you as a friend. There’s no doubt he’d be there for you as a lover.
“I meant it,” you say.
Tears threaten to spill, and your heart might burst out of your chest and land right into his hands. You hope he holds on to it forever. He squishes your cheeks and leans down to plant the softest kiss on your lips. This is what you’ve been missing - more like who you’ve been missing. You open your mouth to deepen the kiss, and he meets you move for move. He pulls away, hands still on your cheeks, grazing your cheekbones with his fingertips as he stares into your eyes. 
“Denki, I…” You bite your lip, overcome with emotion. You desperately want to say the words to capture this picture-perfect moment forever. 
Until you feel something poking your thigh.
“Denki!” 
You yell, affronted he popped a boner in the middle of what was supposed to be a romantic moment.
“Sorry!”
“Ugh! Worst timing ever!” You slap his shoulder.
“Ow! I said I’m sorry!”
You wiggle out of his embrace. Silence eats at the room, and you can feel Denki’s energy radiating in uncomfortable frequencies. The last moment had been thoroughly ruined.
But you have all the time in the world to make more.
“... round two?” 
Just seeing Denki’s face light up like Christmas is enough to promise the birth of a new moment. He bends over to grab his box of condoms, some spilling on the floor and adding more to the mess, before saying, “hell yeah!”
You roll your eyes with affection. What a weirdo, you think. But he’s your weirdo.
That night, or rather the next day since it was currently three in the morning, Denki plops down on his bed exhausted from the day. He’s fluffing his pillow, trying to get comfortable, when he feels something underneath. His eyes widen when he takes in the picture he’s holding. You must’ve taken it when he was downstairs and snuck it under his pillow. You’re bent over with that same damn lacy bra that sends him for a loop. Your cleavage deliciously on display as you bite your lip and stare at the camera with those innocent eyes. Denki can’t help it, his hand sliding down on instinct and cupping himself through his boxers. He turns the picture around and smiles at the cute little message written on the back.
“To add to your collection 😉”
5K notes · View notes
echo-of-sounds · 3 years
Text
who cares if it’s cliche?
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-Aizawa x gn!reader-
cute gif
This was a commission for @seraphicghost​! They asked for a fluffy/sweet scenario with the reader confessing in the rain plus a kiss. Thank you so much for the commission! This was super cute to write!
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“Here’s your beer, boys!” Nemuri set the bottles down for Hizashi and Aizawa. She scooted in beside you, chirping, “And here’s your Sex in the Driveway.”
“Thanks,” you droned, choosing to ignore her suggestive eyebrow wiggle. She wasn’t one to let anyone live anything down, and now that she noticed, it has only gotten worse.
Hizashi chugged his beer, then slammed it rather loudly. “Alright! Sho, I’ve shown up at work high, I’ve had a one-night stand with Nemuri, and I’ve never been on a rollercoaster.”
“The former.”
“What? How’d you figure that out so quickly?!”
“Hizashi,” both you and Aizawa said, telling him to control his volume. Aizawa finished flatly, “You can’t not talk about everything you do. You’d tell me something like that. Not to mention how useless you are high. The entire school would’ve noticed.”
You hid your smile behind your drink. The faint smirk that lifted Aizawa’s lips fluttered your chest, spinning into your stomach. If only he let himself smile more, experience happiness more, then you could see his handsome smile more. Dark eyes flicked to yours, flustering your heated heart further.
You had to look away and drink some water. You were an adult. He shouldn’t be making you flashback to high school crushes and wistful, young romance.
The game continued for a few more rounds, eventually petering out. Nemuri leaned against you. Alcohol swarmed from her sigh. Pink flushed her cheeks, sticking hair to skin. She mumbled into her glass before finishing it, “I think it’s time to head home.”
“I’ll get a ride.” You clicked on your phone, and it wasn’t long till it beeped: “Car’s here.”
Sooner than you could even move a leg, Hizashi jumped up, swooping an arm around Nemuri’s waist. “I’ll bring her home. You two have fun.”
“Hizashi,” you called after him. He didn’t acknowledge you as he escorted her outside.
They just abandoned you with Aizawa, who was already looking at you when you glanced over. You went to take a drink. The empty glass prevented that. Lemon slices and ice taunted you, laughing that your last barrier between you two was gone. You set the cup down with a sigh.
Shouta nodded at it, “Want another drink?”
“Sure.”
You were once again beaten to your feet; He stood and took the glass. “Same thing?”
“Yeah, another Sex-” Your voice flatlined upon meeting his eyes. Despite the shadow under them, the red in them, and the heavy brow above, their sudden sharpness took your breath, completely unlike their usual dull and dry tone. The change nailed your brain useless.
“More sex?” His lips lifted ever so slightly. When no sound escaped your hanging mouth, he goaded, “More sex then.”
You slumped in the chair, holding your too-fast heart, replaying the bumbling. Saying ‘sex’ while being within two feet of his face, able to discern the bristles of his beard, a crack in his bottom lip, how attractive- Stop. If you couldn’t grow up and say something to him, then don’t bother thinking it.
A blue drink was placed in front of you. It was only your second, yet combined with the tickling in your neck and the bite in your chest, it felt like you were four or five in.
Shouta retook his seat across from you. Whatever you were feeling, anxiety or infatuation, that weighed your heart, lightened with his soft smile. It reached up to a soar when he asked about your most recent patrol.
Thankfully, the conversation from there flowed smoothly. You could keep up with no fumbling and simply enjoy your time with him. And you even got to see a couple more smiles, though they were faint. Every single one made thoughts echo inside: Just ask. It’s not that hard. Just ask! It made it difficult to focus on his words.
Once you finished your drink, your body, while light, lagged tired. You spoke through a yawn, “I’m gonna head out, Sho.”
“Need a cab?”
“No. I actually think I’m going to walk. It’s a pleasant night.” You stood and zipped up your sweatshirt.
He mirrored you and fixed his scarf. It wasn’t his Hero one, just a simple dark gray one, still allowing him ample room to nuzzle into it. Plus, it made him look reasonably fashionable compared to how he typically dressed. He grabbed your wallet from the table, holding it out for you, “I paid for the drink upfront.”
“Shouta, you didn’t need to do that.”
“No big deal,” he shrugged it off.
Yes, it was. If the others were here, you doubted- No. You knew he wouldn’t have done that.
You accepted your wallet and his kindness, muttering on the way out, “Thank you.”
The stroll home started quietly. Gusts blew your hood around. Shouta maneuvered to the outside of the sidewalk, so he was between you and traffic. Your elbows bumped every few steps. Neither of you commented or changed positions, letting it keep happening. If anything, you wanted to step closer to feel the emitting from his body.
Water dripped down the back of your sweatshirt, startling you. The single droplet increased to a steady rain in seconds. You hugged your hood and yourself. He nudged your arm and nodded to a nearby drugstore. It wasn’t much. But it was shelter.
Inside, Shouta slicked his hair back. Pale fingers combed through thick black, unveiling a sharp jaw and lovely scruff; too stunning to always hide under a mess of hair. The wet strands struggled to fit into an elastic. With enough finagling, they finally pulled into place, leaving room for the darkened line on his cheekbone to stick out. Just like his eyes did…
Which were staring at you. Dammit. You turned into an aisle, searching for anything interesting that wasn’t him. All it would take was a handful of sentences then he would know. If he reciprocated, all would be grand; your worry was for naught. However, if he didn’t, the plague of dread that’s accompanied the crush would crash. Never knowing felt like the better option.
You walked the main aisle. There were pool toys, makeup, hygiene, sex toys that you vehemently avoided, fearing Shouta would see the smallest glance towards them. A pair of fleece socks got your attention. The inside was incredibly fluffy and thick. The outside had kitty pawprints designed all over them.
“These are cute,” you smiled and showed them to the approaching Shouta.
He grunted and continued. It didn’t hide the fact you knew he thought them cute as well. Cats were the only things he gave into.
You combed the rest of the rows of items. Not one thing piqued your interest enough to buy. You searched for Shouta, finding him at the checkout, buying a pack of gum and some migraine relief pills. He lifted his brow.
You answered the silent question, “Didn’t see anything special.”
“Not even the cat socks?”
“If I’m still thinking about them in a few days, I’ll come back for them,” you smiled.
After thanking the cashier, your walk home resumed. The rain had stopped, leaving everything glossy and smelling of the earth. It lifted the air between yours and his shoulders.
Thick fingers extended a piece of gum. His eyes remained on the sidewalk when you took it and thanked him. The fresh mint sent a little chill down your back, frosting your mouth as you watched him, thinking, ‘Now was a perfect time. No one’s around. You just need to say it. A few sentences and you’re done.’
The instant your mouth opened, rain poured, loud and heavy. Your hood provided sparse protection.
Shouta grumbled into his scarf, “So much for a nice night.”
“Sorry… But you didn’t have to walk with me, you know? You could’ve called for a ride.”
His eyebrows scrunched with a groan.
“Here’s your turn, anyway. Get home fast,” you called over the pattering, nodding towards the left turnoff. The top of his apartment peaked out over the smaller buildings.
“It’s late. I’ll walk you home,” he grumbled again. His voice carried much less complaint this time and more concern.
Both of you picked up the pace, fast-walking down the sidewalks and hustling across the streets.
Only at your door did you face Shouta, not caring about being soaking wet anymore. He was closer than you expected, nearly bumping into his chest. You looked to his mouth, unable to make it to his eyes, unsure if you wanted to see them this close. You surprised yourself with how steady your voice sounded, “Do you want to come inside? Drink something warm?”
“I’m alright. Just wanted to make sure you got home alright.”
“I did. Thank you.” Your legs didn’t move. It’d be a whole lot warmer, calmer, dryer inside. “I know Hizashi drags you out to these things, but I still hope you had fun tonight.”
“I did.” His flat face gave you no emotional indicators.
“Good, I’m glad.” You said your goodbyes, yet your feet stayed put. Water soaked through all of your clothing. Goosebumps pricked down your arms. The rain vaguely obscured the handsome features you’ve been ogling at, wishing to call them yours.
He spun and took five steps away before you mustered, “Shouta?”
He faced you, waiting, half scowling, probably, hopefully, due to the rain.
“There’s something I’d like- There’s something I want- I want you to know. It’s okay if you don’t- If you’re not on the same page as me. I just- just…” Just say it. It was only a few words. You sucked in, preparing yourself mentally, emotionally, and physically for the absolute worst outcome, then spoke as confident as you could, “I just think you’re- I wanted to tell you that I’m-” Your heart heated as you finished, “I’m interested in you… more than a friend.”
The downpour built. You could no longer see his face. His mouth mumbled something. Unable to hear, you shuffled close, wiped water from your face, and asked him to repeat himself.
Shouta closed the tiny gap between your chests. You could only look at his mouth. This time though, you wanted to meet his eyes. It was the damn rain preventing that.
A finger lifted your chin. Instinct lowered your eyelids. The rain ceased on your face as lips connected to yours. They pressed unexpectedly sweetly, only to curl into a smirk and pull away.
You matched his smile, struggling to hold in the laugh, “A kiss in the rain, Shouta? Don’t you think it’s kinda cliche?”
“Who cares?” The hold on your chin tightened a bit and guided you back to him. All the anxiety bubbled up, popping and releasing as a giggle. Weight freed from your shoulders. You cupped his cheeks, kissing back with new excitement.
291 notes · View notes
cryptiql · 3 years
Text
smoke signals
pairing: dabi/m!reader
warnings: smoking, mentions of anxiety and abuse, but otherwise okay. please do not read forward if any of the listed warnings might trigger you in any way, and stay safe <3
words: 6.5k
a/n: this is my first ever mha fic and the fact that i decided to do dabi first shows i have some massive balls but i'm giving it a try! if he seems ooc at all or i get some facts wrong, please lmk and i'll fix them. (heavily inspired by smoke signals by phoebe bridgers—would recommend listening to it or any of her other songs while reading)
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dabi found the meaning of life in a simple strum of chords; a melody twisted by melancholy tunes that resonated deep within the gates of his mind. they haunt him—either by breaking his conscious from a much needed rest to bring him tossing and turning in the damp air of the loft, or making sure that he stayed wide awake during the late hours of the night and well into the creeping day. the lyrics are so surreal that he has to sit down and contemplate their meaning like an english teacher would to the color red, but they're painted saccharine and drip with honey flowing from the mouth that sings them and he hates it. he hates that he's wasted moments better spent wrecking havoc just to understand that stupid little ditty that clings to his heart like a leech. but this song did not come from his own craft—no.
dabi had known the putrid stench of sweat and vermillion blood when the flames licked at his skin, breaching the coarse flesh of his palms to rain hellfire upon all those who dared oppress him. he could weave lies with knots that would take years to unravel, and set whole cities ablaze with a mere finger. clawing oneself from a well built to drown them in their trauma does tend to leave scars on ones hands, and dabi's body was practically a canvas for mutilation, so he could consider himself an expert on the matter. he could attempt to make such a song by strapping in with his many hours of free time and diligent persona, but his hands were not made for music; neither delicate, sonorous tunes or dark, grating strains. they were made for war.
so if anyone had asks, "no" is his answer. "i don't play." and yes, it is while he's drumming a rhythmic beat that he claims this to be true, but the last thing he thinks about is donning a set of drums during his free time. he's far too distracted by the image of your taper fingers curled around the neck of your guitar to consider anything else.
the gentle but keen plucking of chords startles him from yet another ridiculously long-winded spiel by shigaraki, and dabi swallows a strangled groan behind his grinding teeth. it's in his head, now, and so far the only thing that has succeeded in reaping it from his memory—if only for a few minutes—is the blood stained battlefield that he's found himself fighting on far too many times this month alone.
what's he complaining about, though? it's not as though he minds getting down in the dirt. in fact, he's ecstatic to dig his claws into any gruesome ordeal so long as it benefits him in some way, so why is he so invested in this little to and fro game of twenty questions with the likes of you; someone as significant in the world as a paperclip without paper to hold? why come back, despite there being nothing in it for him besides a series of migraines?
not from you, a voice answers from inside. you're an absolute pleasure.
dabi nearly snarls at the confirmation that his own mind is turning against him, and as he does this, a plume of smoke erupts from his lips, billowing and curving to create intricate patters before dissipating into the atmosphere. a second time. a third. a fourth drag from the cigarette has completely obscured his face from anyone's view, and he relishes in the instant of privacy it gives him. however, it has also blocked him from seeing everyone else in the room, and while he normally would have considered that a blessing, it appears tomura has had enough of it.
you get headaches because you smoke too much, comes a second voice; yours, scolding in a way he'd only expect from a worried mother. dabi only has a split second to register it before shigaraki's head pokes through the fumes, red eyes alight with rage and lips pulled back into a snarl.
"would you quit doing that inside? it's fogging up my brain and i can't think straight." he grates.
"strange—i assumed there wasn't a brain in there to fog up in the first place." tomura's nostrils flare and dabi's pride spikes.
"besides, you came in here and looked directly at me as i was smoking—why didn't you ask me to stop then?"
"i was telling you with my eyes, idiot. you should know when it's time to either take it outside or put the damn thing out. there are ashtrays for a reason, and not everyone here wants to inhale that shit." he interrupts their intense staring contest only to wave his hand to clear the smog. now he can see the rest of the league clearly (oh joy, he thinks) and gives an indignant grunt when spotting toga at the bar table, covering her mouth and nose as a pitiful aim to block her lungs from the smoke. twice, who had unfortunately used up the last pack of his own cigarettes that morning, leans forward to take a whiff, exhaling soon after with satisfaction.
kurogiri stands at his usual spot behind the bar, seemingly unaffected as he idly scrubs away at grime infested glasses, while sako lounges at the opposite end of the room. his mask is on, leaving dabi to wonder if it's been like that all day, or if he just recently put it on to better fend off the fumes. he doesn't really care, whatever the case.
after a beat of silence, dabi wets his lips to respond, a lopsided smirk growing on his features.
"oh, i'm sorry your frail body hasn't adapted to a bit of vapor in the air. and with that flakey skin of yours, it's no wonder you're extra sensitive—"
shigaraki's hands come flying through the next waft to slam against the tabletop where dabi's feet lie, causing it to wobble and creak in protest. the ravenette doesn't even flinch as the harsh, raspy words are spat in his face.
"if you're not going to pay attention, then leave. actually, i'd prefer you do that either way."
and dabi would have happily disregarded his request if not for the faint ringing in his ears, rising higher and higher before receding back into his skull like the tide. a scowl morphs its way onto his once vacant expression as he puts pressure on his temple, rubbing softly where his eyebrows knit together. just for today, he'll indulge his so-called boss's whims. the piercing screech that emits from below when he pushes his chair back does nothing to help with the ever-growing headache, but it hardly matters now that he's headed out the exit. he's able to catch the last fragments of shigaraki's raving before the door closes, leaving him to stand amid the tumult of the city in all of its glory.
the alleyway is dark with looming shadows, but people are still milling about, so dabi considers himself lucky for already being dressed in his disguise. he flips his hood up, pulls the surgical mask over his nose and quickly slides on his sunglasses for good measure before slipping out into the traffic, sometimes going with the flow and then weaving past those moving too slow for his liking.
right now, his patience is a mere thread; hair thin and on the edge of snapping whenever someone bumps his shoulder. their negligence is infuriating, and he's tempted to roast them into a charred, mangled mess then and there—the consequences of blowing his cover be damned—but by some miracle, he manages to refrain from doing so. it takes about five minutes for his temper to shorten to the length of a matchstick, and he knows that one more shove will be what strikes it. dabi pauses for a moment to crane his neck, allowing the sea of people to flow around him like a stream to a rock as he searches for an alternative route. it appears as though he'll have to take his chances with the crowd until he hears the repetitive ringing of a bell and a man's voice calling for passengers to board. public transport was risky, what with him being a menace to society, but he can't possibly be the single most shady dressing person on the train, right?
he wouldn't bother answering his own question when daylight was burning, so dabi pushes himself from the swarm and leaps for the streetcar just as it begins pulling away from the stop. there's a shuddering jolt before the passengers settle in for their departure, and as his palms squeeze the metal railing in response, he notices the peeling red paint clinging to the car's exterior and finds himself staring at it for a ludicrous amount of time, not thinking about anything in particular.
the rickety trolley is semi-packed with civilians, none of whom regard his presence with anything more than a noncommittal glance. good—that makes his job ten times easier. to his chagrin, it runs over more than a few opposing train tracks or crudely paved bumps in the road, and this causes the whole cart to jostle before stilling completely, the process repeating itself over and over.
the knowledge that his trip to the outskirts of town is a short one is the only thing that calms his nerves.
when dabi finally arrives at his destination, the sun is gradually descending from its peak in the sky, and the clouds are more like wispy tufts than the luscious, cotton candy lumps they were just hours earlier. overhead, the baby blue hues turn to shades of opal; a forewarning of rain. the feelings of irritation and malice from earlier are still bound to him like chains that threaten to snap him in half when drawn too tight. the crippling weight causes his feet to drag along the gravel path at a sluggish pace, his own hot breaths fanning against his face from behind the mask. if anyone actually lived out here and they were to see him, their first impression would be that a living corpse had just waltzed onto their property. it was just his luck, then, that you were the only person out here, and by extent, the only one not deterred by his appearance.
even so, dabi's mind kicks into gear. was this a good idea? he doesn't even know why he came here—he just needed a place to blow off steam and his body had already made the choice on its own. this isn't any different from all the other times, though, and he can't ignore the fact when it sits in the pit of his stomach like an anchor. you're always the first person he goes to at times like these (dabi subconsciously rules out the man working at the local 7/11 who sells his liquor cheap, though he's still appreciative of the bottle to numb his thoughts). that tells him more than he wants to know.
your house is quaint, like those old country cottages he sometimes sees pictures of, and squats on a large, grassy mound of earth surrounded by heaps of rocks and sand from the neighboring beach. it merges with a towering lighthouse, and dabi notes that there must not be any sailors due to make port yet, otherwise the light would be on. the second thing he takes in are the flowerbeds sitting under your two front windows, and how they look withered and close to death.
"i wanted to add some color, but i can't keep plants alive for shit." you had said, huffing in amusement to yourself as you tended to the weeping alliums. "succulents are the only exception."
a small pot of them sits on the windowsill, but they seem to have gotten to big for it; the rubbery leaves spilling over the cracked rim. he hardly registers how much of a stalker he must look like until he stands on your welcome mat, peering through the dirty glass panes to find you nowhere in sight. the lights aren't on, so he can only see the outlines of furniture when bands of light stream in to reveal them.
sitting back on the balls of his feet, dabi curses under his breath. it's not like he was expecting anything. how was he supposed to know whether or not you were home when you had no way of telling him?
"jesus, patch!" a shout startles him from his brooding, but he doesn't let it show as he looks towards to ocean. you're hauling yourself over a large rock to wave him over, wearing a familiar grin. so that's why he couldn't see you. dabi makes careful work of leaping over jagged stones and threatening to bake any nosy seagulls as he makes his way to where you sit, with your favored instrument slung over your shoulder. the ghost of a smile graces his lips when he recalls how you would have scolded him for being mean to the birds, but that was before last week.
"pesky fucking bastards—they keep shitting on my music sheets!" another seagull waddles into your vicinity, only to squawk in distress as you shoo it away with your foot. "i wonder if this is natures way of telling me to quit while i'm behind. . ."
after breaching the treacherous terrain and nearly scraping himself in the process, dabi squats on the stone beside yours, looking up at you with hooded eyes. you meet his gaze with nothing short of merriment and a shake of your head.
"if someone had seen you, you would have been arrested on the spot for being a peeping tom." you chuckle, combing a hand through your hair with a smirk. "what? you lookin' you catch me in the nude or something?"
dabi scowls, choosing to ignore the question rather than give into the bait. as if i would be satisfied by looking at anyone but you in that state. he swats the air as if it would drive the notion from his mind like a bothersome fly.
"in the middle of fuck-ass nowhere? i'd never get caught."
"aw, don't be like that. if you really wanted a peek you could've just asked." the mocking tone in your voice spurs him to smack your thigh, which earns a hearty laugh in reply.
"ooh, don't treat me so roughly, or i might begin to like it!"
dabi has had more than enough experience with your flirtatious tendencies, and he feels he should have gotten used to it by now, but his heart still clenches every damn time. the worse part? he can't say that he minds. you don't give him a chance to respond, but dabi hasn't a clue what he would have said, so he lets you continue, watching intently as you rifle through your bag to fish out a guitar pick. shifting into a crisscross position, you perch the guitar on your lap and begin tuning the strings, idly talking about how uneventful the past days have been. dabi pretends not to have heard that it was because he wasn't there to visit, and instead gives his attention to the lighthouse in hopes that you won't see the faintest of reds dusting his ears.
five minutes pass before you actually start playing, and even then, it's only a few experimental notes here and there that help you build towards the perfected melody.
it's too sweet for his taste; dabi swears that's why his stomach turns so ferociously and prompts him to lean against the boulder to his right for some sort of stability. he won't even humor the idea that it's because of the way your lips twitch into a near half-smile before melding back into a concentrated frown the moment you strike a wrong cord. an embarrassed flush captures your cheeks as you study the music sheets, briefly pressing down on them when a sudden breeze flutters the pages. the pencil that was once tucked behind your ear now sticks out from one corner of your mouth, a flash of pink and orange melding together when you go to absentmindedly gnaw on the wood.
many more minutes fly by, and you've long since abandoned the new tune just to pick up an old one. dabi's back straightens at the first set of strings you pluck, and he recognizes them as the same ones that have been playing on repeat in his head since the day you met.
dabi's heart hammers in tune with every footfall that slaps against the pavement, tearing through the small pools of water that grow with every second. it hasn't stopped raining since the chase began, and there isn't an inch of him that hasn't been soaked through. still, something good must come from this little dilemma—the burning sensation that clings to his arms has almost settled down. the silhouettes of trees merge with inky blackness when he blinks, and he reaches with trembling hands to wipe the droplets of water clinging to his eyelashes.
a yellow square of what assumes to be light shines in the distance, contrasting wildly adverse to the darkness that sweeps him up from under his feet and pushes him forward. the sound of police sirens has been reduced to a mere memory in the time that was running, but he isn't about to risk going back to the league's base in fear of a stakeout waiting to get the jump on them. besides, why stop there when the possibility of shelter awaits him?
the bottoms of dabi's shoes are slick with mud, and blades of grass have snuck their way under the cuffs of his jeans to scratch at his skin. the sensations paired with the numbing cold are beyond uncomfortable, but he won't have to worry about that once he gets inside—that being if the person inside doesn't put up a fight.
he'd expect them to be mad if they did anything except that, no matter how welcoming the house looked. dabi's instincts tell him that someone out this far from the city doesn't a have a lot of connections, and thus killing them wouldn't cause an uprising if it were needed, but the minute he grips the doorknob, a thought occurs. if they have a quirk, its power could level my own or even surpass it. . . he grits his teeth. but like hell i'm going to let them win.
the hesitation vanishes in an instant as dabi turns the knob and thrusts himself inside, wielding a blue flame in his dominant hand to further illuminate the room. the wind is so fierce that it pulls the door shut for him, and the villain finds himself staring down the unperturbed figure of another man, perhaps around his age, hunched over a stove and glaring at a steaming kettle. they lock gazes, and almost immediately, the kettle gives a high pitched whistle. you look away first, lifting the pot and turning the burner off whilst opening the cupboard overhead to pull out two mugs, both of which adorn ugly christmas-themed patterns that dabi wishes he could forget ever seeing.
his glare hardens when you move to the table in the far corner and begin pouring what he assumes to be tea, taking one cup into your own grasp and leaving the other at his own disposal. your one mistake is grabbing your phone from the counter, but when dabi's flame enlarges, you hold your arms up in defense. then, before he can even formulate a proper threat, you toss the phone to him. he catches it easily and observes the dark screen, masking his astonishment with a more sinister expression.
the only other move you make is to drape yourself across a cushion on the window seat with an acoustic guitar in hand. you look more relaxed by the second despite being cornered by a dangerous criminal, and dabi has to refrain from voicing his shock when you address him with an almost bored tone.
"if the tea isn't to your taste, there's more in the cabinet. shower is down the hall to your left, and there's a spare bedroom upstairs to the right. do whatever the hell you want, just don't burn the place down or touch my freddie mercury records."
dabi is stuck to the spot for one of three reasons, he determines. one, your attitude has surprised him into a stupor that not even hiw own will can break. two, his refusal to believe that you're handling this situation in a calm manner is really just his defense mechanism kicking in, and he won't move until proven that you won't do anything when his back is turned. and three, you're quirk is similar to that of madusa's and you've successfully turned him into a fleshy mannequin.
"if you're worried about me calling the cops, what you're holding is the only working phone here. the power is out due to the storm, so my landline is dead, and the nearest form of help is a crippled old widow five miles west. i'm not going to risk running when i'm up against someone with a quirk."
dabi considers everything said, but never once allows his fire to dim. he took the surrounding area into account while making his escape, and he can see the landline is in fact out of service, so the male's assurances checked out. hell, the light source that guided him here was nothing but an old-timey oil lamp. the fact that you're quirkless does him a great amount of good as well.
with cautious steps, dabi makes a beeline for the bathroom, but he stops halfway to stare at you again. you respond by quirking a brow and kicking your feet up, something akin to mischief in your guise.
"i can take the shower with you since you're so afraid i'll make a break for it." you drawl, and dabi snarls, a fowl cuss bubbling in his throat as heat crawls its way up his neck.
"why, with a blush like that you might not need any drying off~."
dabi decides that he's had enough and storms down the hall, already peeling off his dripping clothes and and silently promising that he'll burn the guy to a crisp if he so much as tries to catch a peek. he can hear you calling out in hilarity even as he slinks into the shower and attempts to drown you out with the static-filled haze that captures his senses.
"the name's, y/n, by the way!"
try as he might, dabi had never been able to keep from coming back. now the reason why has been revealed to him on a silver platter, and he won't even spare it a glance.
your soft singing snaps him from his reminiscing as he stretches his legs, stifling a groan when something pops as not to disturb you. while digging through his pockets for a cigarette, he stops momentarily for fear of forgetting how to breathe when he lays his sights on you. you're in your own little world; everything else—him included— seems to have disappeared as you play from the heart. you need no standing ovation, no adoring fans or fantastic lightshows. you've said it once, that fame and glory mean nothing to you, and that you have all you could ever want or need right here, nestled in the beachside view of what you call home.
"and i have you." a cool breeze ruffles your dirt stained overalls as you reach up to wipe a bead of sweat from your forehead. the sun beats down on you, never shining half as bright as your smile, and the shore kisses the boulders with waxing and waning waves of aquamarine; frothy, foamy masses washing up with it to carry lone strands of seaweed. "otherwise i'd go mad without your company."
okay, that was lie. the truth is right there, practically spitting in his face how much of an idiot he is for trying to deny it, and dabi is glaring right back at it. he feels like an impatient kid on christmas eve, sneaking glimpses of gifts under the tree and feeling like he's committed a felony after getting caught. and you do catch him.
"penny for your thoughts, patch?" there it is—that stupid nickname. it's always been laced with mirth when you call him as such, but now it's replaced by genuine curiosity. and is that a hit of concern he hears? you study him with pursed lips and stony features that gradually morphs into that of concern when the silence stretches on. dabi forces himself to sneer at you, and something stirs inside his chest when you don't flinch.
he hates it. he hates you.
dabi nods to the sky, a guarded noise building in the back of his throat as he tugs on his earlobe.
"s'gonna rain." your jaw visibly clenches, but you humor his evasive habits just like you always have, looking to the clouds, which have darkened considerably in the last hour or so. it's around this time that the weather patterns become more unpredictable, but you've noticed the distinct lack of rainfall in spite of the gathering storm brewing overhead. you could sit out here for a while longer without much activity in the sky, and it would take more than a little shower to drive you inside, especially when you finally had the chance to enjoy some quality time with dabi. you notice the way his shoulders droop and the tension from his facial muscles all but disappears when he sits amidst the smell of fresh salt water and unpolluted air—the weight of his past slowly but surely ebbing away. you'd like to hope you have some part in that. oh god, do you ever hope.
you plead to whatever omnipresent being above that he's not just here to hit a blunt without getting reprimanded for it, or that he's making these daily visits out of pity.
"nah. it's been like this for a little while—looks like a storm will hit, but then it passes before it even begins." you sling the guitar back over your shoulder and gather up your music sheets, eyeing dabi from your perch. you're challenging him now, and normally you would never dare force him to speak if he didn't want to, but something about his aura is off. you can sense it in his words; the very air he breathes; and it compels you to hold him close, if only he would let you.
"so, you gonna tell me why you're avoiding the ques—" a deep rumble interrupts you, and dabi lets out a sigh of relief that you're thankfully too distracted to hear. a single drop of water hits your nose, followed by another, and another, and—
"you were saying?"
"oh shut it." you don't get to finish speaking, for a crack of lightning strikes the far end of the beach, scattering sand in every direction. you just barely manage to scoop up your belongings before sliding from the rock, but your footing betrays you and send you stumbling to the ground. dabi is there to catch you, wasting no more time in hauling you to your feet and rushing you as carefully as possible through the jagged maze. he can't refrain from smiling when you splutter a string of profanities pass poorly hidden laughter, an unmistakable "FUCK ME!" spilling into the cold evening when you accidentally stub your toe on a particularly sharp stone. it's pouring within seconds, and no sooner do you reach the doorstep do you both realize how sopping wet you are.
the last thing you think of is your chattering teeth, however, when you see dabi's spiky tufts of hair dripping with residue and his electric blue eyes gazing into yours. what you do think is that for the first time in your painfully ordinary life; your twenty three years of mediocrity and progressive isolation from the world around you; you have found the single person who understands your struggles and has chosen—for some unfathomable reason—not to abandon you. you wish you could say your parents were the same, but you also have scars from a distant childhood that brought you to this place.
this old lighthouse is your home, yes, but dabi is your sanctuary. he might as well be a god by how often you worship him from afar, wondering if ever you'd be so lucky; so eternally blessed; as to call him yours.
you don't register that he's opened the door to let you both inside until a cozy warmth envelopes you. no, wait, that's dabi's fire. it should terrify you that the same man who threatened you with those flames is now at arms length, but you trust him not to hurt you in any way, and so you lean into the gentle licking of heat on your skin, humming in content as your shivering comes to a halt.
dabi's fear of burning you diminishes when you flash him a grateful smile, a whisper of thanks echoing across the walls and pummeling his heart without resistance. he averts his eyes with a curt nod, a feeling like molasses weighing down his tongue and drowning the words he wants to say.
"you're welcome." is all he can muster.
half an hour later, your guitar is drying by the hearth and the two of you are huddled on the window seat, nursing cups of coffee and watching the storm in a comfortable silence. you haven't blinked in a while, meaning you've wandered off the tracks of consciousness as suspected, and pretty soon, you start singing quietly to yourself; the deep crooning used as background noise to your aimless meditation. dabi nudges your calf with his foot and is rewarded with a brief quirk of your lips and a nudge back. he doesn't have the patience nor the brain power to decipher how long this goes on for, but it doesn't matter.
this is fine. the image of red hair and a tall, intimidating figure invades his train of thought, and dabi curls inwards on himself. this is fine.
but it's not.
trembling, he places his mug on the table before retracting back into his seat, clasping his hands together. he tries visualizing the ties of his life coming together to form a rope. the fingers on his left—memories from his past—linking together with those from his right—memories made with you. his palms connect, bringing instant relief with the knowledge that he's here now, practically nestled between your legs, out of harms way. you're both fine.
dabi takes the swelling anxiety and pretends to crush it within his fist; clenching and unclenching it until his peace of mind returns.
"penny for your thoughts, patch?" you ask again, still in somewhat of a trance. this time, dabi answers.
"why do you call me that?"
you're caught of guard, half expecting him to ask why you haven't turned him in to the authorities. you've seen him without his disguise, you know his name, and for the past eight months you've been socializing with him like normal human beings do. that's more than both of you could have said in the past. of all the burning questions, he chose that one? "i've heard 'patchwork' and 'staples' and just about everything in between. why shorten it to patch?"
you gape at him, opening your mouth, then closing it, and so on. the pitter patter of rain against the window has ascended into relentless pelting. it sounds like gunfire to dabi; assaulting his ears in floods; but to you, it's nothing more than a waterfall hindering your view of the ocean. the deep breath you take seems to put more suspense in the atmosphere than needed, and it makes dabi's heartrate quicken for an entirely different reason, yet he makes no sign of stopping you.
"because my first thought whenever i see you is how much you remind me of a doll." oh. what?
you can tell by dabi's reaction that that wasn't what he was expecting, so you gesture for him to wait. he isn't sure he likes the forlorn expression you're wearing.
"typically, when kids first get a doll, they treat it like glass and make sure to tend to it with love. other times, doll owners are reckless and tear them apart just to stitch them back together like nothing happened. you use that camouflaged to blend in with the public, and i'm lucky enough to see what's under it. . .but sometimes i wish you'd keep the mask on so i don't have to see you upset."
upset? a fizzing sound erupts from his palms that he struggles to put out. he's not upset.
"don't try to hide it. you're always scowling when you think i'm not looking, or when you forget i'm even here, and i know it's because someone broke you without the intent of fixing you up."
once more, red clouds dabi's vision, and he moves to stand up.
"you had to clean up after their mistakes because no one else would, but instead of reusing the bits and pieces of your old self, you burned them. you destroyed any and all evidence of who you used to be and now you're patching yourself together with parts that aren't your own, because you don't want to hold onto what happened. though, something tells me you still haven't let go, otherwise you wouldn't be so angry."
"you don't know that!" he snaps, but he knows it's not true.
your hand closes around his wrist, and dabi recoils with such strength that it yanks you from your seat. dabi doesn't want you to let go, no matter how much he thrashes in place, because the sensation of your skin on his grounds him. somehow you know this, and you give a comforting squeeze to his pulse.
"but that's not all i see. because dolls are beautiful, and it's the ones who still love them after they're broken that they need the most. no one's told you they think you're beautiful, have they?"
dabi shakes his head, refusing to meet your gaze even when you cup his cheek with your free hand tilt it towards you. every touch is filled with hesitancy; feather light and more intimate than anything dabi has ever witnessed, let alone experienced personally. with the way you hold him like he's water in your hands, your eyes overflowing with a love he hasn't known in forever, dabi knows he won't find another feeling like it. you're not the embodiment of good—at least not by society's strict standards—but at least you can sit there and say you've committed a crime. you've never bloodied your hands by hurting others, much less gotten a thrill from doing so, and that's why he pulls away. he has to, because dabi is a harbinger of war, and if he holds you any closer it will only be to kill you.
he says something; a snarl mixed with a broken plea that he prays will make you stop; and you do. his silent victory doesn't last for long, though, because then you're using both hands to cradle his face and fuck, the pads of your thumbs grazing his scars feel like heaven. "won't you let me be the first?" how could he say no? how, when the taste of honey and whiskey is so addictive that he's already drooling into the kiss and willing to beg for more; when your mouth slots perfectly with his and dabi begins to wonder if he's stumbled right into the scene of a cliché wattpad story. the idea causes him to huff out a growl, and although neither of you can talk, he can imagine how strongly you must want to poke fun at him for the action. he can feel you smirking—the smug little bastard you are—and dabi ponders how long it will take to reduce that attitude of yours until you're submitting to him.
not yet. he chastises himself, completely unaware that you're currently thinking the same thing. dabi kneads the flesh of your hips through your jeans while you comb your fingers through his hair, gasping sharply between bruising, wet kisses and keening when he leans down to nurse your lips with soft pecks afterword. you're still trying to process the fact that you've coerced this devious criminal into making out with you in the pale glow of your seaside residence, but for the moment, you need not concern yourself with the details. you've forgotten all about dabi's ego and how this whole situation is no doubt feeding its flames. his grip on your waist is making you too delirious to care.
"fuck." dabi's breath is staggering when you finally pull back, an aura of clarity and desire hanging between the two of you.
"y-yeah. . .that was. . ." you can't produce a word, or even a paragraph to describe it. you know you're going to hit yourself later for admitting such a banal phrase in the midst of what could be classified as your very first kiss, but that is neither here nor there, and you would rather suffer an agonizing death than let dabi find out that he stole your first. you're too preoccupied envisioning all the other firsts to come, so you don't notice the way he stares at you like some precious jewel, but his fingertips brushing your bottom lip succeed in snapping you out of it.
"hm?"
dabi goes quiet, contemplating what to say as the thunder moves abroad and the rain comes to an end, leaving the house in a numbing state of tranquility.
"why not call me doll, then? it'd be easier."
you chuckle in response, playing with the hairs at the base of dabi's neck and making sure not to miss the way he melts into the affection. "i thought that'd be moving too fast." and dabi; still drugged from your kiss and what he can only hope is love; rasps out a genuine laugh, cupping your jaw with a tenderness that makes your knees weak.
"you offered to take a shower with me the night we met, and you think a nickname is moving too fast?"
you stick your tongue out at him, and dabi resists the urge to grab it, even if it's just a bluff.
"would you have let me call you that anyways?" you ask, something hopeful ridden in your tone. dabi feigns consideration as he looks to the ceiling, snickering when you smack his chest. eventually, he murmurs what you audibly hear as "brat" before resting his forehead on yours, an impish glint in his gaze.
"no."
you turn your chin up at him, giggling when he nips at the skin. dabi knows just as well that your attempts at escaping him are halfhearted, so he encircles his arms around your waist tighter, delighting in the flush that paints your cheeks.
"then i think i'll settle for my love, or darling, if that's alright with you."
dabi can't fend off the blush for his life, but he's not afraid if you acknowledge it. he can get you back easily, and he plans to. "fine by me, doll."
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Subtitles: Episode 3, Now in Color
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Summary: Things are going well between [Y/N] and their new partners but what shenanigans will ensue as the Maximoff baby’s arrival quickly approaches and they’re pulled into the throughs of building a nursery and… child delivery?
Word count: 10,640
Warnings: Cotton candy fluff, chaos, baby. So the usual, plus babies.
Tag list: @madamevirgo​ @ravennight41​ @multifandomgirl16 (It won’t tage you for some reason, I’m sorry ;-; ) @cyanide-mustard​ @badasspolygenderfriend​
~~~
    You huffed and sat back on your heels, slipping a sore finger into your mouth. “Stupid bird.”
    The bird in question, a pink flamingo made of plastic and wire, seemed to sneer at you from its position sticking a few inches farther out of the grass than it should be. Because of this, you could still see the main stake sticking out of the bottom of the bird’s standing foot, which, much to your distaste, made the pink plastic-feathered creature look like it was trapped on a piece of wood impaled in its foot rather than lounging on one foot in the lush green grass of your yard. 
    You had spent a good portion of today working on your yard and garden and waiting for a member of the household across the street to step outside and beckon you over. Dressed in overalls stained by grass and dirt, a brightly colored T-shirt, a sun hat, and working shoes, you forced yourself to keep busy by planting new flora and putting down new garden fences and decor while Vision and Wanda were tucked away indoors, preparing for a baby. You were the only one so far to know about the Maximoff bun in the oven outside of the parents and although it seemed like just last week that Wanda had gotten pregnant, the baby had finally big enough that the couple had to involve a doctor to make sure all was going well.
    It also felt like not long ago that the couple had asked you out for the first time. Both of them. At the same time. It was news to you that they had felt even remotely felt the same way about you as you had about them but the rest of that conversation had gone swimmingly with you being too nervous and dumbstruck to do much more than blubber questions. The first date and then the second went a similar way, with you not being completely sure that you were on a three-person date or even awake. Luckily, your new partners were just as unnerved as you were and the three of you agreed to simply play it by ear and communicate a lot. 
Some time and a few sporadic dates later and things were going smoothly. Almost every bit of free time was spent at either their place or yours; if it wasn’t free time, you were giving Vision rides to work and leaving cute messages in the files you left at his desk—you always hoped they were cute, anyway, and not annoying, only to be reassured when you got a smiley back or your favorite treat from the breakroom left with the file when it was returned—or trying to help Wanda clean or cook or take a break despite her stubborn fussing against it. Vision was the first to give you a pet name, Wanda was the first to hold you in place when you attempted to pull away from a normally quick handhold or hug, and you were the first to press kisses to both their cheeks after walking them home from dinner. Wanda fell asleep on your couch first, you on theirs second, and Vision went ahead and turned cheek pecks into lip kisses. You weren’t quite ready to initiate them yourself yet but you hadn’t been complaining when Vision caught you on your porch steps and kissed you on the mouth; the rain that had just started had either been just a bonus or his initial inspiration.
    As nice as everything has been, though, you were still worried about overstepping boundaries with the married couple so when Vision invited you over to be a part of the doctor visit, you politely declined. Instead, after the doctor left, you were to head over and bring your tools to help set up the nursery; it was also your joint job with Vision, who was now a baby book reading master but also increasingly bugged out about Wanda and the baby’s health, to try and convince said woman to relax for once in her life—a task difficult enough to be on the list of Hercules’ Twelve Labors, you were convinced at this point.
    For now, though, you were sitting with your feet beginning to cramp and your knees getting damp and most likely more grass-stained, glaring at the devil in pink whose foot-stake had left your finger with a prick from a splinter and whose one visible dark eye stared at you with sadistic mirth.
    “Oh, you wanna go, Bernard?” you scoffed at the bird-shaped plastic, dropping your hand from your mouth and pushing yourself up into a squat. “I’ll call you out. Let’s go!” You raised your hands in a fighting stance and bounced on the balls of your feet as you prepared to strike.
    The sound of a chainsaw starting up caught you off guard mid-bounce and you lost your balance but what caught your eye when you twisted around while rubbing your now-bruised tailbone was Vision walking outside his front door with an older gentleman, presumably the doctor. However, you paid very little attention to said other man as you laid in the middle of your yard, twisted into what was probably a partial yoga pose, resting your chin on your arm and making lovey-dovey eyes at the former.
    Not that it was surprising at all, Vision looked very nice today. He was wearing dark blue pants and a similarly colored sweater over a collared shirt and tie, with a honey-brown jacket topping everything off; you couldn’t imagine wearing a shirt plus two outerwear items in the heat of the day but you certainly didn’t mind seeing him all dressed up. His hair was somewhere between jaw and shoulder length and wavy as ever and while you weren’t a fan of the popular 70s cut, he not only pulled it off but made it look incredibly attractive. He greeted his next-door neighbor Herb, who started up the chainsaw, then spoke animatedly, as he always did, to the doctor. Talking about keeping the baby news to themselves, no doubt.
    Vision watched as the doctor walked off down the sidewalk and as he happened to pass in your direction, Vision’s gaze refocused to settle on you instead. The expression on his face changed from purely friendly to something deeper and you felt the familiar flutter of butterflies in your stomach as he waved over to you.
    “Hello, perfectly platonic neighbor!” he hollered, to which you responded in kind after snorting and then disentangling yourself from your strange position.
    No response from Herb about the odd greeting. The cul-de-sac, and in Westview in general, people didn’t seem concerned with your trio’s out-of-place shenanigans as long as it didn’t directly affect them, you had noticed over time. You could have probably walked over and planted a brazen smooch on Vision’s perfect mouth while out in the open, with other neighbors milling about, and no one would bat an eye.
    But that’s exactly what we’re not going to do, you thought stubbornly as you stood and brushed yourself off. Not yet, anyway. I want to make sure they’re both comfortable with it first. 
    Vision seemed to grasp what your plan was because he waited for you as you gave Bernard the flamingo a fight postpone notice and then a light kick before walking across your yard and heading across the street. If you had been more rational, you would have grabbed your tools so you could have just come inside when you reached the Maximoff house but your brain, muddled with the pink mist of freshly requited affections, could only think of getting closer to the man, maybe even holding hands or nuzzling noses. 
    A sound that was equal parts loud and awful caught both your and Vision’s attention as you reached the sidewalk on the other side of the street. Looking over, you both saw Herb cutting away with his chainsaw, only now he wasn’t cutting through bushes but the stone wall separating his and Wanda and Vision’s homes. The stone blocks of the wall weren’t super heavy-duty, you supposed, but the sound made you cringe, and the sight was a little jarring. Herb didn’t seem to realize was he was doing despite the lack of hedges in his path.
    “Hey Herb,” Vision yelled over the noise, “think you might’ve taken the hedge trimming a little too far there, old chum!” As he spoke, he glanced over at you and, seeing you nearby, instinctively shifted in your direction; you moved to meet him halfway and you each gave the other’s hand a quick affectionate squeeze, though both pairs of eyes were trained on Herb.
    Herb, who looked up, smiled, and responded, “So I have! Thanks, buddy.” Despite saying this, he continued to cut through the bordering wall and stare glassily ahead as if none the wiser. 
    The expression gave you an unnerving sense of familiarity but you couldn’t quite put a name to the vague memory of a person you’d seen wearing it. Acquiring a migraine medication and forcing yourself to not look too hard into every strange thing that happened in this town helped but your headaches appeared to never quite go away. This was proven by the muted throb across one side of your head that came with looking at the bizarre scene.
    “Yeah,” Vision said a little quieter, “don’t mention it.”
    The action only happened briefly but when you caught him chewing his lower lip, you felt your innards tie themselves in knots and had a particularly hard time tearing your gaze away. Now that you were closer, you also noticed that the blue and brown ensemble he wore perfectly matched his hair and eyes. That hair that you always desperately wanted to brush your fingers through.
Fingers carefully slipping around your hand, like if they held you any tighter your own would break, managed to catch your attention as Vision turned to lead you inside.
    “Oh,” you chirped, tugging your hand back to point a thumb over your shoulder, “I forgot my tools. Meet you in a minute?”
    Vision seemed persistent to bring you inside, even going so far as to catch both your arms and doing a playful series of shimmies and sways to dance the two of you closer to the front door. Now that you were out of Herb’s frozen line of sight, the two of your found yourselves standing so close together that there wasn’t a single pocket of space between your bodies. When you inhaled, you smell cologne that wasn’t too light or too heavy and a scent that you could only describe as the heat of a warm, sunny day. Thinking as he would only smell sweat and dirt and grass if he did the same, you blushed and made a note to change before you came back over.
    Whatever Vision thought about how you smelled or the clothes you wore, he didn’t seem to care enough, if at all. He took advantage of being out of sight to move his hands from your hours to your waist—a much more convincing position indeed—and nuzzled his nose to your hairline, now exposed as your hat rested farther back on your head.
    “You know very well that you can use ours,” he said.
    You felt his warm breath on your forehead. If you weren’t standing up and didn’t have the nagging feeling that you were getting dirt on his nice sweater, you would have been perfectly comfortable simply hugging him and dozing off in the cozy embrace right there.
    Vision continued in a lilting voice and with an added shimmy that brought the two of you directly to the front door. “They’d love to see you, you know.”
    They? Your brows furrowed a bit, then rolled your eyes. Oh, Wanda plus baby.
    Still, you steeled your resolve and leaned away from him. He looked at you like he was a puppy that had been kicked, to which you responded with a faux scowl. “Mr. Vision Maximoff, I said I was going bring my tools, and [Y/N] is no flake. Besides,” you paused as your scowl melted into a smile, “I don’t want to get dirt and grime all over the new room. It’ll only take a minute; you act like we can’t see each other through our living room windows if we wanted to.”
    Making his last attempt, Vision leaned into your arms, which were now around his own, and pressed his cheek against your temple. Still pouting, he muttered, “It only took Wanda and I going around a few times before we moved in together.”
    The idea of you living under the same roof as your couple and their new baby made you giddy as much as it made you feel like you wanted to throw yourself into a lit fire pit to save yourself from embarrassment. 
    “Ah, yes, a spectacle to behold,” you said as you leaned away again, “A new baby and a new roommate!” You saw Vision open his mouth to speak, no doubt to respond with a quip, and quickly continued, disentangling yourself from him as you did, “Gotta skitty, I’ll be back momentarily!”
    “Well,” Vision replied, dragging out the last consonant as if you were going to change your mind if he did so long enough; when you didn’t, he huffed a bit. “Alright then. Hurry back!”
    You gave him a smile and two-fingered salute then bounded down the steps and back across the street. You only stopped once on the quick trip back home and that was to give Bernard another swift kick, which somehow lodged the bird the rest of the way into the ground, and a “Fuck you, Bernard!” You heard sputtering laughter from across the street that made you grin as you marched inside to change and grab your toolkit. 
    The tools were the easy part; they had been sitting out on the table in your dining area since last night when you’d originally suggested the idea so you were sure to not forget them. It took a bit longer to struggle your way out of your clothes, especially while simultaneously trotting to the bathroom to wash your hands and splash water on your face. It took longer still to jog back to your bedroom without slamming yourself into an end table or plant along the way and then also go through every piece of clothes you owned; when bright colors and eccentric outfits came into style, you were, for once, ahead of the fashion game with your regular closet, and your wardrobe only continued to grow as the rest of the country’s interest in the style did. You were particularly interested in peacock fashion and it showed in your array of ruffled, brightly colored, and loudly patterned shirts and blouses. 
Of these blouses, you threw on one in a burnt orange and yellow paisley pattern, choosing one without ruffles in fear of ripping them while working. You paired the shirt with matching yellow walk-shorts that ended just above your knees and a pair of honey-brown clog sandals whose color made you think of Vision’s outfit. Thinking about this further, you decided to accent your ensemble with a touch of blue, wrapping your hair that was still damp with sweat back with a satin scarf that was a vibrant blue and some handmade jewelry pieces in the same color to match. Finally, you added a woven belt and, after looking in the mirror for a moment, decided to tie your blouse off an inch above the waist of your shorts instead of tucking it in before booking it back across the street.
    Standing at the door of your couple’s house, you took a final glance at yourself in the reflection of one of their windows before knocking. You let yourself in after Wanda invited you with a holler through the door and you were greeted with the interesting sight of Wanda, in all her stunning, colorful, mother-to-be glory standing by the long dark-wood dining table; Vision, half-hidden behind her belly that seemed significantly larger than the last time you saw her, was taking an awkward knee while holding up a variety of fruits.
    “I’m never not uniquely surprised when I walk into this house,” you said mostly to yourself and you made your way over. Reaching Wanda, you sat your bag of tools on the floor by her feet and gave her a gentle hug. “Hey, sunshine, you’re looking foxy.”
    You certainly had gotten a lot more comfortable with them recently. 
    Wanda visibly blushed, giving you one of her signature fake irritated looks—a tilted head with tight-knit brows and tight lips that broke into a smile less than a second later��and lightly swatted your arm before carefully returning the hug. “Hey sunshine yourself. Look at you, you’re glowing! And those threads, you’re a regular Casanova.”
    She made a point of eyeing your partially exposed midriff and you almost blushed—but not quite.
    “Glowing,” you repeated, playfully patting your face, “I’m not even the pregnant one! Thank you, though. Some of the colors were inspired.” You took your turn eyeing her, particularly the bright red of her striped dress that was a common color in her palette, then you caught Vision’s bright blue gaze as he stood and placed a couple of fruits back in their rightful place in the basket on the table. You moved to Wanda’s other side to help him. “Why the fruit?”
    “Oh, well, the doctor said it helps the mothers keep track of the baby’s progress.” Vision explained. He added another fruit to the basket’s tower, although he was giving the last one in his hand an odd look.
    “What he actually said was,” Wanda added, grasping your shoulder and tugging you over two put an arm around your waist and give you mildly strained look, “it helps make things ‘simple’ for us ‘little ladies.’”
    You recognized the glint in her eye and nodded understandingly. “Well that’s mildly condescending, must’ve been just groovy.”
    “Out of sight,” Wanda agreed in the same tone. She then looked in Vision’s direction with raised brows; you followed her gaze and saw the man toying with the large green fruit in his hand. “Hey, honey? What’cha doin’?”
    Vision met both of your equally puzzled gazes with barely contained glee. Voice tight from holding back a giggle, he raised the fruit and pointed at it. “I can’t wait… to be… a proud… papa-ya.”
    Wanda looked amused at the future father’s pun and Vision grinned, clearly happy with the reaction. You actually laughed before quickly throwing up a hand to cover the titter.
    “Well, that just proves it,” you said after composing yourself even though your company seemed perfectly pleased with your reaction to the joke, “you’re going to be a wonderful one. Look at you, turning into a proper one already.”
    Vision went from smiling to flusteredly chewing at his lip quite quickly; he would always get easily flustered but never enough to blush. Instead, he’d twist his head a certain way and rub his neck and shoulder, maybe even avoid eye contact if he was embarrassed enough. He’d always tug his bottom lip between his teeth too, something you couldn’t help finding just a touch more endearing than the other mannerisms; at least it gave you a much more rational reason to stare at his lips for longer than generally accepted.
    “You really think so?” he asked.
    You scoffed as you moved to pick up your tools again. “Of course, you and Wanda will make absolutely stellar parents. The two of you are more prepared now than I’ve seen some people after they’ve already had the kids. Now,” you paused as you stood up straight and looked at your couple with a cheerful smile, “shall we head to the nursery?”
    You were partially convinced that you had been invited solely to help Vision wrangle his wife. You certainly hadn’t been invited to help decorate; even pregnant, Wanda made faster work of your tools than you did. You were huffing while maneuvering a rocking chair in the room and by the time you got it settled in the corner, Wanda had already pieced together the changing stand that was to sit next to it. You turned to grab a tool to open the cans of paint only to turn back around and see all of them opened and Wanda with a brush in hand, painting away. You managed to get the crib up before she could get her hands on it but when you looked around for the yellow mattress and bumper cushions, you looked up to find Wanda already putting on the finishing touches.
    Now, you were kneeling on the ground by the crib and painting a delicately rendered stork while Vision was getting to his feet after reading all the reasons Wanda should be resting instead of doing what she was doing, which was pulling a mobile of colorful plastic butterflies out of a box and shifting ever so closer to a stool so she could hang it.
    “Darling,” Vision tried, shifting ever so closer to her, “you should probably sit down.”
    “You really should,” you offered your help, almost half-heartedly because you already knew the outcome before she said it.
    “Don’t be silly,” Wanda assured him, “all I feel is excitement, happiness, and— huhnf! Oh!”
    You were on your feet and spun around to give her a wide-eyed stare before her gasp even finished, but instead of pain or worry, Wanda’s face was lit up with wonder as the hand not grasping a plate fluttered around her stomach. Vision also moved quickly, to step forward and pressed his hand on her stomach.
    He breathed, “Kicking already?” and they shared an excited stare.
    You stared awkwardly from the side with a paintbrush in hand, feeling more out of place you’ve ever had in your life.
    Until Wanda, without missing a single beat, turned her head in your direction and grinned. “[Y/N], you have to feel this!” Then she spoke to Vision, “Oh, it’s such a strange sensation, it’s kinda fluttery!”
    She was breathtaking. Then her nose scrunched up and she giggled in a way that could also be described as fluttery, and you were wondering in which states polygamy was legal and where was the best jeweler to get a ring.
    Still, you were trying to refrain from overstepping boundaries.
    “Oh, I don’t know…” you mumbled, shifting your weight from foot to foot and glancing around the room. You noticed the mobile she had been retrieving the last time you’d looked at her was already hung up above the crib; of course, it was.
    Wanda scoffed and made a gesture at Vision, then he was walking over and coaxing you to her side with an encouraging nuzzle to your temple.
    “I just don’t want—” you started.
    “To overstep, we know,” Wanda finished, the giddy look on her face replaced with a scowl. “Trust me, this is probably the one and only time I’ll ask for someone to feel my stomach while everyone else in the town just does it willy-nilly and besides, you are a part of— Oh!” 
    Her gasp and glance over your shoulder, combined with the sound of movement behind you was enough to make you turn your head, only for Vision to catch your attention in the opposite direction.
    “Another kick!” he exclaimed, just a little too loud. You thought you caught his gaze flitting over in the same direction as Wanda’s but then he was grasping your wrist and placing your hand against Wanda’s stomach. At the same time, his arm that was hovering politely around your back pressed against the naked small of your back as he pulled you closer into the little triangle of space you, Wanda, and he made; the sudden heat there made your blood boil in the best way and when his hand accidentally caught on the hem of your shorts and dipped a little lower over the fabric, you choked while sucking in a breath.
    Vision’s hands flew up to the sky and he scrambled away, apologizing profusely. Out of the corner of your eye, you could see his hands fluttering around, could imagine his eyes doing the same, and you were vaguely aware of Wanda moving at your other side, the fabric of her sleeve brushing against yours as she waved her arm. You also heard a sound that you chalked up to being a breeze coming from the open window and rustling the drawn curtains. You, usually the final piece of the chaotic puzzle, were instead staring down and softly gasping as the sudden tap against your palm. 
    “I felt it,” you whispered and the chaos that was happening around you seemed to still in the same moment as Wanda and Vision settled back around you to feel themselves. You repeated the phrase, brushing your thumb across the patch of clothed skin, and the baby responded with another kick a moment later. You couldn’t help looking up at Wanda a face frozen in almost childish wonder, and state the obvious, “You’re gonna have a baby.”
    Wanda nodded at you with shining eyes and a wet smile. She wrapped her free arm around her midsection and looked back down on her belly. The expression on her face radiated an intense, loving tenderness and you felt a billion non-plastic butterflies make a comfortable home in your chest.
    You followed her gaze and felt your face break into a grin so wide that your cheeks started to hurt almost immediately. Your hand, along with Wanda’s own and Vision’s, created a loose but ever so protective triangular shield over the place where you had felt your first baby kick, promising to move the universe for them should it ever be required. Despite the overlapping mess of fingers, you noticed how Vision’s hand was the perfect size to envelop your own and that even with a ring on one of them, Wanda’s fingers fit perfectly in the spaces between yours.
    The nervousness and insecurities that seemed to bounce around your head whenever you observed your couple, in their perfect world with their perfect dynamics, melted away in the comfortable warmth that came from your trio’s cozy huddle. This wasn’t a story about you or them separately but the three of you together and it was a wonderful one in the making.
    Then, “Oh.”
    Wanda looked up at her husband and echoed, “Oh.”
    You looked up second, adding your own questioning “Oh?” before your gaze settled on the butterfly lightly perched on the tip of Vision’s nose. “Oh!” Watching the monarch’s delicate wings fluttering, you were surprised he hadn’t already sneezed. 
    “Hello, little fella,” Vision softly said. He was the first to separate your group, stepping away and leaning down a bit for your and Wanda’s better viewing. His smile was blinding for the brief moment you caught it, before tilting your head away to snicker at the way his eyes were crossing to view his insect passenger.
    Wanda gently coaxed the butterfly onto her fingertip and walked over to the window to release it. That’s when you noticed a group of the bug type coalesced around the same area; the sudden visit from Mother Nature must have been what she had seen earlier.
    “Oh, my,” you said, “that’s something you don’t see every day.”
    The smile on Wanda’s face tightened for just a moment as her gaze jumped around the baby room, then relaxed as she maneuvered the various colorful butterflies outside. “Bringing good vibes, hopefully. They must have been enticed by the mobile; why, they even tried to free their plastic friends!”
    You looked towards the crib curiously and saw that the mobile hanging above it was only a series of transparent hanging strings. Walking over, you found the butterflies that had once been attached to it scattered around the mattress. You picked a couple of them up and carefully pinched the thin material between your fingers. “Hm, strong butterflies.”
    “Clearly,” Vision agreed. He walked over to the rocking chair he had been sitting and reading baby books earlier and picked up his most recent read.
    Meanwhile, you began gathering up the scattered butterflies, then climbed up the nearby stool to retrieve the rest of the mobile. “You wouldn’t happen to have a good adhesive laying around, would you? I can have this fixed up and rehung lickity-split.”
    “Not laying around but I’m sure there’s one in the cabinet under the sink.” Vision seemed to find the page he was looking for. He glanced over the words, tensed up immediately after, and paced over to Wanda’s side as she shut the window. “If that was first kick, that puts you at about six months! Why I can’t keep up!”
    Has it been that long already? You silently wondered as you made your way over to the exit, careful not to crush any of the delicate pieces you were holding. While Vision was thinking in terms of babies, you were surprised that you had already been dating him and his wife for almost half of a year.
    In a signature dad-to-be fashion, Vision waggled his head down to give Wanda and the baby a kiss. Then he said in an equally identifiable dad’s voice, “Please don’t misinterpret. I can’t wait you meet you, little Billy!”
    You leaned against the doorframe as you offered Wanda an amused look; you had been previously graced with the conversation of baby names and Billy wasn’t exactly on her roster.
    “Billy?” she questioned, to which Vision gave a smile and an affirming noise. Wanda continued, “Well I was thinking Tommy. Just a nice, classic American name.”
    Vision gave an exaggerated, head tilting nod that suggested a mild disagreement. Then the higher-pitched tone he took when he replied confirmed it. “Hm, Tommy! Hm, mm… then there’s Billy, isn’t there? Named after William Shakespeare, all the world’s a stage, all the men and women many players!”
    Wanda went to speak but you beat her to it. “You’re sure it’s a boy, then?”
    Your partner seemed mildly embarrassed as she turned her attention to you. “Strong intuition?”
    You offered casually, not thinking about your lack of say in the matter, “What about Victor? Vin? Little Vinny’s certainly a cute nickname.” Almost immediately after you finished, it was your turn to be the embarrassed one. You stumbled over your words a bit as you started to apologize, only to falter when you saw both Vision and Wanda’s gleeful stares.
    “Well, those are wonderful names too,” Wanda assured you, clearly pleased you had chimed in, “but I’m not hoping for quadruplets. I guess we’ll need the next best thing— A girl.”
    Your shoulders relaxed from their hunched places that you hadn’t noticed they took. You chuckled and strolled out the door, throwing a couple more ideas over your shoulder, “Vivian! Virginia! Nadia!”
    Vision’s voice floated after you as you walked to the kitchen. “Ooh, Vivian’s quite good…”
    When you returned to the bedroom with good-as-new mobile in hand, only final touches needed to be added to the nursery, and Wanda and Vision’s excitement over the baby’s coming was suddenly amped up to eleven. The two were pacing around and frantically listing off the all things that they had left to do or buy. It was a very drastic change from the casual playfulness that you had experienced between them earlier, as the new parents were keeping themselves—and you—busy with a thousand new tasks. Eventually, Vision had a list about as long as he was tall of every bottle, diaper, blanky, binky, children’s book, and stuffed animal that they had yet to get.
    Deciding you were now the more sane member of the group, you decided to take the list and go shopping for them; if you didn’t, Vision may have been swept up in the baby section of a clothing store and never return. That’s how you ended up where you were now, at the front of an ever-growing line of department store customers, waiting anxiously as the workers tried to get the lights back on and the cash register back in working order.
    You rapped your fingernails on the countertop—not intentionally, just out of worry about how your parents-to-be were managing at home—and glanced from your bloated shopping cart to the cashier, who was talking quietly with a manager then back several times. You were antsy about being stuck in a store when you were much useful elsewhere and being concerned about whether you were making the cashier uncomfortable with your mannerisms, for they were probably three times as unsettled as you were, wasn’t doing anything but adding on to the stress.
    Finally, the cashier turned back to you and the rest of the shoppers and announced, “Good news, everybody! The register is still down but it’s a quick switch to manual; we’ll have each and every one of you checked out and on your ways home soon!”
    A cheer erupted around you but you were too frazzled to join in.
    “Unfortunately,” the cashier continued as the noise died down, “we’re not the only store experiencing this. It’s the whole town.”
    While the crowd’s disappointed “Aww” only appeared mildly disgruntled, you went rigid and your mind began racing, all thoughts revolving around a particular household.
    One random thought of wondering What if Wanda went into labor right now? had the hair on your arms sticking straight up.
    You slammed your hand down on the counter, spooking both the cashier and yourself.
    “Ma’am,” you started, then paused to quickly apologize for your rudeness before continuing, “I need you to check me out as fast as humanly possible; I think my—” Wife seemed way out of line but girlfriend felt too out of place. “—pah-art-ner’s having a baby.”
    You were struggling to your car with a small mountain of baby items in the arms in a matter of minutes, mentally kicking yourself for being bad at talking the entire way there. You threw your bags in the back, scrambled into the driver’s seat, and were getting ready to pull away from the curb when a ringing from your mobile phone sounded.
    “Goddammit,” you huffed. One hand was pulling up an antenna and pressing the technological brick to your ear while the other gripped your steering wheel so hard that your knuckles turned three skin tones lighter. “Yeah, hello?”
    “[Y/N]?” Agnes’s voice was a welcome surprise but her worried tone wasn’t.
    “No, it’s your husband, I’m on my way home now, dear,” you snarked, then mentally kicked yourself again. “Sorry, that was rude, I’m in a rush. What’s crackin’? Besides the town going into blackout, that is.”
    “The neighborhood’s flooded,” Agnes said simply.
    You blanched. “I’m sorry?”
    “The cul-de-sac? Something’s happened and all the pipes have burst. Mine, Herb’s, Dotty’s, everyone’s!”
    How on earth the day’s mood has changed so quickly, you had no idea. What you did know is that you desperately had to get back to Wanda’s side, your house be damned.
    “Thanks, ‘Nes, good to know,” you hissed through clenched teeth. You rested your phone between your ear and shoulder as you put both hands on the wheel and started driving.
    “Do you want me to do anything?” Agnes asked; her voice sounded as frazzled as you and the rest of Westview looked. “Go over to your place, grab anything important?”
    You huffed out a sigh as your car flew around a corner. “Agnes, you know I adore you, but I really, really have to go.” 
    “[Y/N]—”
    You hung up and tossed the shoe-sized device in the passenger’s seat.
    Vision met you on the curb as you were parking your car and he had the doctor from earlier that day in tow, now dressed in vacationing attire and very seeming very underprepared. Within a few words and as if you had accidentally wished it into existence back at the department store, you were informed that Wanda was in fact about to have little Billy or Tommy or who-have-you. Of course, this messy day would come to a peak in such a way.
    The taller man was half-escorting, half-hauling both you and the doctor to the door, and the bags in the backseat of your car were completely forgotten as concern chewed away at your insides. Loud, strained sounds coming from inside only added onto it.
    As the three of you reached the front door, Vision flung it open and pressed the doctor inside. Then he grabbed your wrist and began tugging you in after himself.
    You couldn’t help your feet freezing to the concrete. “Vis, are you sure?”
    The distress on his face softened just slightly and he pressed the back of your hand to his lips. “Of course we are.” Then he wrapped an arm around you and properly, albeit quickly, brought you into his and Wanda’s home—
    —where Wanda was laying on the floor, panting and shimmering with sweat and holding a baby wrapped in a blue and white dishtowel while Geraldine perched awkwardly over her.
    You and Vision shared a bug-eyed look before Vision’s turned into one of sadness. You wanted so badly to hug him and tell him it was alright but he was already releasing you and slowly walking over; you trailed a couple of steps after him.
    “Oh no,” he murmured, “I missed it?” However, when he took a look at Wanda’s softly smiling face and their happily cooing baby, whatever brief grief he was experiencing was replaced by a proud smile and new fatherly glow.
    “Hey, doc,” Geraldine spoke suddenly, “why don’t you help me out in the kitchen there?” She nodded in your direction as well.
    You wondered why she was there, in Wanda’s home or Westview, at all. The idea made your stomach flip but you just couldn’t place why.
    The only response the doctor gave was blubbering about speeding as she took his arm and led him away. You began to follow when Vision stopped you with a gentle tug on your arm.
    “No, [Y/N],” he said, “it’s alright. Stay and come see.”
    You didn’t even think as you smiled and took his hand. You took a glance towards the kitchen to make sure the other company was occupied, then kissed the back of his hand as he had done only a moment earlier. Squeezing it and letting it drop, you responded, “Go say hello to your baby. I’ll always be here.”
    Given the current situation, Vision wasn’t up for arguing much. He gave you a quick peck on the temple before gingerly making his way over to where Wanda rested happily on the living room floor.
    You made your way to the kitchen, where you slumped against the kitchen counter as exhaustion overtook you. You were close enough to both parties to hear Geraldine’s blatant attempts at distracting the doctor to your left and Vision and Wanda’s cozy rumblings to your right, but too out of sorts to make out anything tangible. You didn’t realize until now how badly your feet ached from the combination of gardening, decorating, and running around and how your outfit had lost its cute playfulness in place of wrinkles and feeling slightly damp from sweat. You were sure you were looking more worse for wear than Wanda, despite Wanda having had a baby, but when you thought about it for more than a second or two, you felt like you wouldn’t trade the day for any other in the world. 
    Especially when thinking about that cutie patootie, you thought with a tired smile. He’s gonna have such good parents. Such a good life.
    Suddenly, your train of thought was stopped by the sound of Wanda yelling and your whole body jerked in her direction, energetic as ever.
    Wanda was going into labor a second time, you could see easily see. Something somehow more surprising was going on in the living area, though, and that something was Vision’s skin. While he still wore his regular clothes, that was the only normal thing about him. Instead of light skin, his flesh was a deep red and you weren’t even sure it could be called skin; it looked more… mechanical than that, with symmetrical lines etched into some places and silver plating covering others. Instead of a full head of wavy hair, he had none, and his ears and parts of his bald skull were also covered in silver. Silver came to a peak at the top of his forehead and at the end of it was a golden gem.
    Vision was holding his baby and yelling along with Wanda as she began pushing a second time. He happened to glance up and catch your bewildered eye and then he started yelling because of you.
    You stood frozen in place, not sure what to do until you heard a commotion behind you.
    “Well, what’s going on now?” Geraldine started.
    Your brain kicked back into full gear and thinking quickly and somewhat stupidly, you yelled and pointed in the opposite direction, “Jeepers creepers, is that a stork?” You couldn’t imagine why your poor attempt at a distraction worked but you considered it a success as Geraldine and the still-disoriented doctor’s attention settled elsewhere. Not missing a beat, you grabbed another cloth from the kitchen and raced to Wanda and Vision’s aid, skidding to a halt on your knees.
    “[Y/N],” Vision said, though nothing else followed. He stared at you in pure shock, mouth flapping and the bright blue irises of his eyes twisting and shifting like a camera lens as he looked at you. Still, his body worked despite his befuddled mind as he took the cloth you handed him and offered you a newborn baby to hold instead. 
    “[Y/N],” Wanda gasped through her current endeavor. When you dragged your head to look at her, she was staring at you with a clenched jaw and equally wide eyes, which were filled with a mixture of surprise, horror, and… relief? Then she was screaming and pushing again, eyes squeezed shut, and her hand flew to your own.
    You grabbed it and held on tight, even when her fingernails dug in enough to leave marks for days. While a red and silver-skinned Vision handled the delivery like a champ—a bugged out, stammering, robotic champ who couldn’t figure out whether he should be looking at you, his wife, or the baby he was helping into the world but a champ nonetheless—you switched between offering encouraging words to the tiring new mother and cooing calmly at the newborn swaddled and resting cozily in the crook of your arm. Soon enough, Wanda was slumping back into the pillow behind her head and Vision was sitting back on his haunches with another quiet baby snuggled against his chest; your taut muscles sagged and the exhaustion you hit in the kitchen came rushing back. 
    You made sure Wanda was lucid enough to take her baby back and carefully transferred from your arms to hers. It was only after he was safely in his mother’s grasp that you were able to fully relax, tossing an arm around Vision’s shoulders and leaning heavily against him while you shook out your other hand, which was red and covered in deep, crescent moon-shaped marks.
    “So,” you puffed, “Billy and Tommy?”
    Wanda’s tired face lit up as she nodded her head towards her baby. “Tommy.”
    Vision, who was leaning on you as much as you were on him—something in the back of your head noted that the two of you held each other very well and that something sent a little pang of affection straight to your pounding heart—used his turn to nuzzle the forehead of the baby he held and grumble in a half British, half baby-talk accent, “Billy.”
    You hummed while stretching a hand down to give Billy a very ginger boop on the nose; he didn’t seem to mind. Then you said, “Vinny and Vivian will just have to be next time.”
    Your group shuddered with a mess of tired, soft laughter. Then you began to relax further but as the excitement of childbirth began to wear off, you a new variation of tension settling into your couple. The new parents were sharing increasingly worried looks and if they were communicating telepathically, and it was then that you remembered that the man sitting next to you was for less human than you’d previously made him out to be.
    The realization seemed to hit him at almost the same time because his head swung to look at you just as you had turned to observe his new appearance. On his robotic face—was robotic even the word; was he a robot?—was an expression of outright fear but also something that looked like he was mentally being torn in two different directions. He went to speak several times—his mouth and teeth looked the same, perfect and familiar—only to verbally scramble and backtrack, shaking his head and shrugging his shoulders since his hands were too occupied to scratch his neck. Finally, he appeared to get himself in order and he started, “[Y/N], I can— we can explain—”
    You ran your hand over his scalp and down to rest at the base of his neck; the silver plating felt like metal, while the thick red epidermis was warm and softer to the touch. Not only warm but damp from exertion, and pulsing softly to some form of a heartbeat where you ran a finger over a common pulse point. 
    While your mental energy was rapidly declining, you still managed to quip at the man, “As much as loved the idea of running my fingers through your hair, I think I prefer this over that awful cut that’s in style right now.”
    That left Vision dumbfounded and silent, his mouth flopping open and closed like a fish out of water. On your other side, who had been otherwise quiet and already snoozing as far as you were concerned, broke into a burst of loud laughter that was music to your ears.
    You grinned in response but your muscles were too tired to make it reach your eyes. You shifted over slightly to be closer to Wanda now and brushed your thumb over little Tommy’s cheek before resting doing a similar action to his mother’s. Wanda relaxed her head against your palm and the way she looked up at you from under her lashes made you do mental gymnastics about the ethics of blurting out the L-word then and there.
    Unfortunately, the moment didn’t last much longer because then Geraldine’s voice floated over from the kitchen, getting louder as she and the doctor made their way back from the wild stork chase you sent them on. You quickly looked to Vision, only to see him looking as human as the day you first met him, and noted the sad little string you got from seeing simple blue irises instead of the intricately shifting blue ones that swirled mechanically as he focused on something. It only lasted a moment, though, before you and your trio were busy readjusting yourselves into what you considered normal poses but in reality, probably made the three of you look much more awkward than you previously had.
    You’d just finished settling as Geraldine and her companion walked into the living room and, thinking tiredly and definitely stupidly, you blurted, “Jeepers creepers, another baby!”
    “Twenty fingers and twenty toes, you’ve got two healthy baby boys on your hands.”
    “Thank you, doctor,” Wanda responded as the man handed Billy back to her. Vision stood watchfully next to her, holding Tommy.
    You poked your head up from behind the second crib you were finishing assembling and as the doctor turned to thank Geraldine for her delivery help, you said to the Maximoff couple, “And a second crib all ready to go. If they’re not fans of sleeping separately, let me know and we can exchange the ones you have for one big one.”
    Wanda held out her hand to you as you stood and you walked over to hold it only briefly as she thanked you before leaning over and crooning at Billy and Tommy in turn. You were in the company of others, after all, and there had been enough excitement for one day without revealing your polyamorous relationship to a neighbor and a random doctor.
    It was weird how different the energy felt standing with them now than it had earlier just that day alone. Things still felt new and strange but you no longer felt like a separate unit from the household you were standing in or the people standing and smiling oh so sweetly at you. Then again, maybe that’s just what being involved in the arrival of an unexpected set of twins and making a superhuman discovery about one of your partners did to all blossoming romantic triads in the seventies. 
    Speaking of the doctor, as he began to finish up chatting with Geraldine, Vision beckoned you closer, and after getting an okay to do so, he carefully laid the baby he held in your arms. He gave Tommy a nuzzle and a light tap on the nose, then straightened up and headed towards the door.
    He said to the other man, “Allow me to walk you out, doctor.”
    “Oh, alright,” the doctor responded with an odd quiver in his voice. Said quiver was confirmed to be restlessness, which you had no doubt was attached to some sort of superhuman business Vision had involved him in when picking him up, when he continued, “As long as we actually walk this time?”
    You would definitely have to delve into the mystery of Vision’s sometimes inhuman appearance at a later date but at that moment you were remembering how the entire neighborhood’s pipes had burst. The neighborhood of which your house was a part of and an event you were sure you hadn’t been lucky enough to avoid.
    “Oh, shi—oot,” you stammered, “I should probably get back to my own pad and save what I can from getting water damage. I haven’t even been home to see how bad everything is.” You provided Tommy with a very important explanation in very serious baby babble terms before placing him in his crib. “I’ll just leave my car on this side of the street and bring the other stuff in sometime later this evening if that’s alright with you, Wanda?”
    When you looked at her, she was giving you a confused head tilt. She blinked, then her eyes shot wide open. “Oh, the pipes!” She paused and turned her gaze to the far wall of the living room as if she could see your house through it, then looked back at you with a smile. “Your house should be fine. In fact, I think the entire neighborhood is back intact!”
    Something about the way she looked at you assured you that she was right. You wondered whether Vision wasn’t the only one with a unique secret under this roof and if all the strange happenings that had gone on today couldn’t be traced back to Wanda herself.
    Not that any of that really mattered in the grand scheme of things.
    “I should still go,” you insisted, “You should really rest for a while, and I am a mess for the second time today. Maybe I can pop back over in a little bit?”
    Wanda pursed her lips in a subtle doubt before giving in. She nodded and after taking a glance around to make sure the company was occupied, she grasped your hand and leaned in closer. “Come over for dinner tonight. Stay and help us get the babies settled in? We can talk about today.”
    “Wanda, you need rest—”
    The woman interrupted, a teasing look making her eyes glitter. “Which is why either you or Vision will be doing the cooking! And you know how much I love the man but there’s a reason the only thing he handles in the kitchen is water from the faucet.”
    You had to nod in somber agreement at that statement, then sighed and gave Wanda a pout of your own. “Fine. Now, is anyone looking?”
    Wanda was smiling triumphantly. She took another quick look around, then shook her head; her silky hair fanned out slightly from its position perfectly framing her head as she did.
    You shuffled a little closer and slipped an arm around her waist in an intimate hug. Leaning in, you gave her one quick smooch on the cheek and another on the forehead then mumbled against her skin, “You did amazing.” Another kiss. “And you’re going to be a wonderful mother. Please, though, promise me that you’ll rest, at least for a little bit. The world will not crumble around you if you take one break.”
    Wanda, who had immediately leaned into your embrace and giggled as you kissed her, scoffed slightly. She gave you a tight squeeze and murmured back, “I suppose you’re right. Fine, but only because you promised to cook.”
    “Well, technically,” you said as you broke away from her, “I only said I’d come over. I can’t wait for Vision to make us burnt water and boiled bacon!”
    Wanda stared after you, frozen in a mock gasp. “[Y/N]!”
    You grinned and waved before spinning on your heels and trotting over to where Vision was perched, holding the door. “Bye!”
    When you got to the door, Vision’s hand played lightly down your back as he followed you outside after the doctor. 
    “Well, Dr. Nielson,” Vision said, “I hope you’re still able to make your trip.”
    The doctor, apparently Dr. Nielson, slowed as he stepped off the porch and onto the sidewalk. He turned towards Vision with a glassy look in his eye that he hadn’t had before but you’ve been seeing more and more often in Westview residents these days. When he talked, his speech became slower as well. 
    “Ah, yes, about my trip,” he drawled, “I don’t think we’ll get away after all. Small towns, you know. So hard to… escape.” 
    You frowned, suddenly uneasy. Glancing at Vision, the man just looked confused.
    Dr. Nielson’s glassy gaze shifted from Vision to you. He spoke deliberately to you, “Don’t you think, [Y/N]?” Then he blinked, turned, and walked off down the sidewalk.
    You weren’t sure exactly why, but you flinched and reeled back. You would have tripped and fallen up the porch if it weren’t for Vision catching you. Then the two of you stood gripping each other and staring as the doctor disappeared around the corner. 
    You didn’t even realize that your ears had started ringing until the sound began to fade. You started, “Well, that was…”
    “Yeah,” Vision said with a slow nod. “Very. Are you alright?”
    “Fine, I think.”
    “No migraines?”
    “No migraines.”
    The two of you stood holding each other for a moment longer before you forced your fingers to loosen their death grip on Vision’s jacket. As the two of you relaxed slightly and readjusted yourselves, several questions rushed through your head, like why was that so unnerving and why did the doctor speak directly to you.
    How had he known your name?
    A particularly sharp pain made your vision swim temporarily but it was gone as soon as it came. Before you think any further on the subject, other voices floated into your range of hearing.
    “What is she doing in there?”
    “I don’t know.”
    You followed the voices with your eyes and found Agnes and Herb talking quietly by the wall Herb had been cutting into earlier; actually, Herb looked like he’d barely moved an inch, still standing in the gap between his wall of shrubs. At least he appeared more lucid, but now he and Agnes were huddled together like they were having a secret meeting. Neither of them noticed you yet.
    Vision decided to change that by throwing up a hand and hollering, “Howdy neighbors!”
    Agnes spun around so quickly you were wonder if she’d given herself whiplash, but the strained greetings and even more strained expressions that both she and Herb gave were what really piqued your interest.
    Well, not so much piqued your interest than their actions gave you a second dose of uneasiness that made your head spin and filled you with a sense of somewhat morbid curiosity.
    Then they stuck their heads back together and continued muttering.
    “Did you see her go inside?” Agnes questioned.
    Herb responded, “She went right in.”
    Vision leaned his head closer to yours; he didn’t seem to catch what they were saying. “Do they seem… a little off to you?”
    “Just a tad.”
    You silently deliberated with each other before casually strolling over.
    “Remarkable day we’re having, no?” Vision tried again.
    Agnes and Herb looked up again, also trying to look casual but there was something definitely worrisome about their equally strained smiles.
    Vision continued, “Did you lose power too?”
    You snapped your fingers, joining in. “That’s right! Agnes, you called me about the pipes bursting. I hope nothing got too damaged?”
    “Oh, sure did,” Agnes said to Vision, “but Ralph looks better in the dark, so I’m not complaining. And you’re right, I did, [Y/N]! Luckily, everything’s just fine.”
    There was an awkward pause and even though you were out in open air, you felt like you were struggling to breathe in a sauna.
    Vision said, “Hi, Herb.”
    Herb responded, “Heya, buddy.”
    More awkward silence. 
    “Well,” Vision said slowly, lightly clapping his hands together, “I’ll get back to Wanda. [Y/N], you’re heading home?”
    “Right,” you affirmed, a little too quickly.
    What is going on?
    Vision placing his hand on your back brought back some sense of normalcy as he began escorting you to the curb.
    “Vision,” Agnes abruptly said halting your exit. You and your partner turned back to her and Herb and she continued after a long-winded pause and adjusting her awkward stance leaning against the low wall, “Is Geraldine inside with Wanda?”
    “Yes. Why?”
    Herb piped up, “She’s new to town. Brand new.”
    Wait, that’s not right. Your brows furrowed and you felt the sting of your own bite as you chewed your bottom lip. You felt pressure in your skull as you tried to recall where you’d previously met the woman, because you knew you had, but trying to do so had a similar feeling to trying to grip water as it rushed through your fingers.
    Agnes went on, “There’s no family. No husband.”
    You would have scowled, said something in defense of your circumstances of moving to Westview without a family or marriage, but you were too busy trying to clear away the fog that quickly encroaching your headspace. Vision, on the other hand, was able to say something, “Well there’s nothing wrong with that.”
    Agnes hummed, gave a half-hearted nod, then steadily met his gaze. “No home.”
    Come to think of it, you knew very little about Geraldine. While you were positive that you’d met her before today, you couldn’t for the life of you place what she did for work, when she first appeared in Westview, what house in the cul-de-sac she lived in—
    You could list off the names of everyone who lived in your neighborhood. Geraldine wasn’t one of them.
    Your brain felt like it could expand and explode from the intense pressure at any moment but the dread pooling in the pit of your stomach from the idea of not being able to retrieve memories bothered you far more. You couldn’t bring yourself to push the thoughts away and instead mentally leaned into the pain. The harder you pushed, the more pressure pushed back, as if you were fighting against an invisible barrier that was barring you from your own memories. 
    At the same time, you attempted to keep yourself grounded by staying tuned into the conversation at hand. Vision asked Agnes what she meant by Geraldine having no home and Herb kept stumbling over the same beginning of a sentence—She came here because… She came here because… She came here because we’re all…—like he was a record on a broken player that just wouldn’t let him get out what he wanted to say. 
    Vision tried to urge him on. “She came here because what? What are trying to tell me?”
    With Agnes and Herb bickering briefly about whether or not to tell Vision whatever it was they had been speaking about, Vision completely tuned into them, and you fighting to remember things without succumbing to your migraines, you had an underlying feeling of being out of place. You’ve felt out of place before, of course, but this was something different and weird and wrong. Your entire perfect—but not so much, you were gradually learning—little town suddenly seemed like it was out of place in its state, its country, its world, its reality. Out of nowhere, Westview felt like it was trapped in a claustrophobic little bubble that wouldn’t let anyone escape and the longer anyone was here, the warped things would become—
    A memory came rushing back of a black and white talent show and a smashed mirror and an arm oozing blood and color and Geraldine was there but she was an eerie Geraldine, out of place and time and reality and asking if you knew who she was or who you were and you didn’t know the answer and then Wanda and Vision appeared and everything was okay again, and now the name Monica throbbed against the base of your neck and the air around you radiated electricity and it was itchy and no one around you was noticing anything and instead of darkness, a weird bright light was tinging the edges of your vision white and—
    There was a crash coming from the house and none of the people standing next to you were any the wiser but even though you felt like you were swimming through honey while doing it, you turned just in time to see a portion of a nearby wall explode as something shot out from inside and continued flying until it disappeared into the distance. Then there was a sound similar to a sonic boom that followed and a wave of nausea crashed over you as the electric air rippled and distorted right before your eyes, and then you could see the dome of TV static-looking energy that encapsulated your town and the dome seemed to peak directly above the Maximoff house.
    Your ears rang. Your mouth flapped open closed but you couldn’t force a single word out. You looked around and everyone else in your group seemed trapped in a strained conversation that they couldn’t escape from if they wanted to.
    You didn’t so much walk as you floated over to the gaping hole in the side of your couple’s house, or at least, that’s what it felt like as the ground grew soft and wobbly under your feet and you swayed as you moved. You reached the hole and peered through it, then waved aimlessly when you saw Wanda staring wide-eyed at you from a couple of demolished rooms away. She said or mouthed something—she’s sorry? Why?—but you couldn’t tell which it was over the thrumming of your own pulse in your ears. You cocked your head, more out of curiosity than confusion, then blinked and stared glassy-eyed as the hole in the house reversed itself.
    “Huh,” you said dumbly as the last brick fell back into place. “Cool.”
    Then your body felt as if it were slammed back onto very hard, solid ground and that’s because it was. You weren’t sure if you whined or groaned or screamed as you collapsed to the ground, succumbing to your worst migraine yet. 
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Coffee and a Muffin on a Monday Morning (Indiana Jones x Plus Size History Professor)
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Plot: The students have a betting pool on when you're going to get together with Professor Jones, some decide to 'motivate' the two of you.
Character: Indiana Jones x Plus Size Reader
Requested by @hufflepuffing-all-day-long​
Note: this is part of my Plus Size Reader x Character Series and also, it’s a part of the Plus Size History Professor Reader x Indiana Jones series because Charlotte sent in a bunch of great requests for it and i love Indiana Jones so... :)
It was a well known fact around the college that many of the students thought that you and Professor Jones should be together. It was an amusing thought that so many students, not only in your class but in Indiana’s - Professor Jones’s - thought that you two would be perfect for each other.
It had started months ago when Professor Jones came into your classroom as you were giving a lesson. He had brought you coffee and a muffin, “How did you know?” You asked with a smile.
“It’s Monday, usually you’re running late and miss breakfast.” You could feel the heat on your cheeks as a few of your students began to giggle. You and Indiana were friends - just friends... I mean, sure, he was the most handsome man you’d ever met. He had a charm to him, a charm that you’d never seen before; a charm so strong that he’d be able to make anyone swoon and he knew it. He always wore that stupid cocky grin but he was just so cool with it. Since starting your job as a History Professor at the college last year, you and Indiana immediately clicked and became friends. Course you would, he was an Archaeology Professor and you taught History; match made in heaven! Indiana helped you with all sorts; grading papers, planning lessons... hell, he even drove you home and cooked you dinner when you had a really bad migraine. Maybe there was some truth to the gossip that swirled saying he had feelings for you? No. You wouldn’t let a silly crush ruin your friendship with him, unless he wanted to ruin the friendship for something more.
“Professor?” Someone asked, snapping you out of your thoughts.
You looked up to see one of your students, “Yes, Sarah?”
“Professor Jones asked that I give this to you.” Sarah smiled, handing you a cup of what looked like coffee and a muffin, “He’s sorry that he couldn’t deliver it to you himself, he got pulled away to a meeting.”
You frowned as you accepted the mug and the muffin, “I wonder why-”
“Have you forgotten?” Another of your students laughed before several said in chorus, “It’s Monday.”
“Oh.” Once more, your cheeks were hot as you realised that your own students knew the script now, “Take a couple of minutes to yourselves.” You took a sip of the coffee trying to make the bitter liquid drown your embarrassment. Your students could see the embarrassment radiating from you.
Sarah decided to speak up, “You know, I think it’s nice.”
“What’s nice?” Your favourite thing about your class was that you and your students felt free to just chat. There weren’t the usual formalities with you and your class like other Professors; you wanted your students to know that they could just come and chat to you and you wouldn’t judge them for it.
“That he brings you coffee and a muffin every Monday.”
“-and that he waits on you at lunchtime so you can sit in his office and talk History together.”
“-don’t forget that he brought in that really old artefact because he knew how much you loved Egyptian history and he got in so much trouble because it shouldn’t have been taken out of where it was kept.”
Your students continued to chime out things that Professor Jones had done for you. Mulling over what they were saying, you gulped the rest of your coffee before standing up and clearing your throat, “Enough chit chat about Professor Jones. I don’t know how many times I have to tell you that we’re just friends.” You turned away from your students, grabbing the textbook and fiddling with the pages as a couple of students began to whisper about how to get you and Professor Jones together.
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The morning went by quite fast, you’d managed to get the class off the topic of Professor Jones and onto Ancient History. You were in your element when teaching, you knew exactly what you were talking about and could answer almost every question that the students threw at you. If you didn’t know the answer, you and the students would try and figure it out together.
All too soon, the bell was ringing signalling lunch. You’d been too busy erasing the chalkboard that you never realised Sarah swiped the key from your desk. As the class emptied, you could hear them say ‘hi’ to someone waiting outside. You looked to your right and smiled, “Professor Jones.”
Indiana strode into your classroom with a wide smile, “How are you today, (y/n)?” He asked as he sat on one of the students desks.
You opened your mouth to respond when all of a sudden your classroom door swung shut and Sarah turned the key in the door, “What the- Sarah?” You could see the girl through the frosted glass. You walked towards the door, turning the knob but it wouldn’t open, “Sarah, what the- let us out!”
“Oh no, I can’t hear you! I guess you’ll have to stay in there all lunch break with Professor Jones!” Sarah called, you could hear the laughter in her voice before she rushed off, leaving you calling her from the other side of the locked door.
“Damn these stupid door that lock from the outside.” You turned back to look at Indiana who was trying to hold back a laugh, “Guess we’re having lunch in here.”
“Can I ask why your students are locking us in your own classroom?” Indiana asked as you grabbed your bag to get your lunch out of it.
“Sandwich?” You offered him, knowing that his lunch would be in his own classroom. He gladly took the half you offered, “My students are convinced that... oh, it’ll sound silly.”
“They’re convinced we should date?” Indiana smirked as he took a bite of the sandwich.
Your cheeks burned again, “Yes... How did you know?”
“Funnily enough, my students say the same thing... They started a while ago when I brought you-”
“-coffee and a muffin on a Monday,” you smiled, lifting your eyes to meet his,  “Mine too. They’re locking us in so that we’ll finally admit defeat and go on a date, I think.”
“Well?” Indiana asked, taking another bite of the sandwich.
“Well, what?” 
“I thought I was being too obvious,” Indiana chuckled, “but my students thought you just thought I was being friendly.”
“I’m confused,” you frowned, “What are you trying to say?”
“For months, I’ve been trying to show you that I have true, genuine feelings for you. Why else would I make two cups of coffee and stop off at the café every morning to get you a muffin? Why would I risk losing my job to bring in artefacts to show you specifically? I have feelings for you, (y/n).” Whoa. You stared at Indiana like a fish out of water, eyes wide and mouth moving but no sound coming out. He laughed at your reaction, “You really didn’t know?”
“Are you being serious?” You asked incredulously, “Sarah didn’t put you up to this, did she?”
Indiana held up his hand, “Scout’s honour.” He leaned in closer, so close that you could smell his cologne and see his muscled arms tense underneath that crisp white shirt, “So, what do you say? Let me take you out for dinner tonight. I know it’s Monday and I know that’s when you like to plan lessons but-”
“Yes.”
“-but let me take you - wait, what?” Now it was his turn to be shocked.
You laughed at his reaction, “I’ve been waiting for you to ask me out since that first Monday morning.” The two of you laughed together before the laugh subsided and you found yourselves staring at one another with stupid grins.
Indiana’s eyes glimpsed to your lips and you found yourself leaning in slowly. Usually, you wouldn’t have been this forward but there was something about him; something about this wonderfully handsome and charming man that you couldn’t help but want to kiss that stupid grin off his face. Your eyes fluttered closed as he was mere centimetres from your face but, of course, the college bell had other plans.
It rang loud and sharp and stopped you and Indiana dead in your tracks. Indiana huffed out a ‘ugh’ while you pulled back, flustered, “Rain check on that,” he laughed as he stood up, brushing any crumbs off of his trousers.
You stood up, smiling, brushing your own trousers off too. To be honest, you felt like you were dreaming. As silly as it sounded, you thought Indiana to be miles out of your league; he was handsome and funny and that smile could’ve melted the Ice Age and you... You thought you were just average but Indiana thought differently. The way he looked at you when you weren’t paying attention was full of awe. He liked the way your glasses slipped down your nose as you read and how you scrunched your nose to keep them falling further before pushing them up with a pointed finger and a huff. He liked the way you dressed, that you didn’t hide your body away; you were curvy, you were a bigger girl and loved it; you had stomach rolls and big hips and wobbly arms and you wore it so well. He loved your smile and the way your eyes lit up when you spoke about something that interested you. Sure, you didn’t know that then but you would soon learn how much he admired you.
You walked with him to the door, “So, dinner tonight, yeah?” You asked him quietly.
Indiana tried to hide his smile, “We’ll go straight from work, I don’t want to waste any more time.”
The lock clicked and the door swung open to reveal Sarah and a few other students. Sarah smiled proudly, key in hand, as she saw the closeness of the two of you, “Oops,” she said innocently.
“I’ll see you later,” Indiana said, throwing a wink in your direction. He leaned in and kissed your cheek softly, “We have to give the kids something they went to the effort of locking us in here!” He teased, breath tickling your cheek, as giggles erupted from behind him. He pulled back and as soon as he did, you missed his lips on your skin, before turning and leaving.
The students grinned at you, “I take it that it went well?” Sarah smiled. You faintly heard someone say ‘you owe me five bucks’.
“I hope you know that you’ll be getting double homework for the next week for that stunt,” you said, crossing your arms over your chest trying your best to look intimidating.
Sarah laughed, “My pleasure!” As the students piled back into your classroom, you found yourself to be awful distracted by that lingering scent of cologne and the lingering sensation of those lips pressing softly against your cheek. Tonight couldn’t come fast enough.
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itsamejin · 4 years
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goodbye || part 2 (finale) || yoongi angst/fluff
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Part 1
Summary: Yoongi watched silently as you exited the car and out of his life, but he can’t help but feel a sense of panic at the thought of you leaving him for good.
Warning: cursing, fighting (verbal), pining
Genre: angst
Premise: Yoongi drives off without you after a heated argument and now you’re gone.
Commission Request: @queenoftheuniverseandmyroom​
Word Count: 5,354 words
Yoongi paces back and forth as he calls the police to file a missing persons report. Yoongi was on the street he last saw you in and he had scoured through the neighborhood to figure out where you were- even knocking down on a few doors. 
He didn’t want to escalate the situation and post about you going missing on social media-  that would be too risky. It would hurt his career and possibly put your life in more danger with crazy fans and flashing cameras looming the streets to get a glimpse of you. Lord knows that’s the last thing either of you need at the moment.
“Yeah I was in my car and she left after we got into an argument,” he repeats for what felt like the eleventh time. The dispatch caller kept asking him the same questions. “She was wearing a red dress and I think black heels. Oh, and she had a pearl necklace!”
The dispatcher took note of his descriptions and assured him that patrolling police officers in the area would let him know where you were. After he hung up the phone, his shaky hands brushed his hair back out of exasperation. 
It was already two o’clock in the morning by now and everything in his body screamed to be in bed, but he knew he couldn’t bring himself to rest without finding you.
Yoongi had driven from the street he last saw you on and to your shared apartment, hoping that you’d somehow shown up between those short intervals of time. His palms were damp from the sweat and he sat on the hood of his car to gain composure. It just felt like the whole world was against him at that moment.
He couldn’t do much by himself, especially being an idol, and it felt like he had no control over the situation. Yoongi risked calling the cops, aware that they’d know of his identity eventually- that he was Suga from BTS. 
Yoongi doesn’t know if he could handle the consequences that came with revealing he was in a relationship and what his company would do if the whole world found out that Yoongi let his girlfriend walk out on him in the middle of the night.
That wasn’t what concerned Yoongi the most, though. All he wanted to do was find you and take you home- maybe even give a proper apology. He never expected to file a missing persons report on the one person he thought would stay constant in his life. He felt his heart rate increase at the thought of you being hurt and that made him grip the hood of the car harder.
Red dress. Pearl necklace. Recently heartbroken.
A perfect description.
Walking barefoot on concrete, you held your black pumps in one hand and cringed at the crunching sounds underneath your toes. You were still walking. Towards what? You don’t really know.
You were sure, though, that you were closer to a downtown area when the city lights became more luminescent as you walked. The clouds in the sky were graying and a storm was ready to start. If you didn’t find shelter soon then you’d risk getting caught up in rain at a dangerous time of night.
Truthfully, you were frightened. Walking alone at night in an unfamiliar part of town would always incite some sort of paranoia, especially as a girl, but the idea of Yoongi finding you more than anything else is what frightened you the most. You knew he’d be angry with you for storming off and you weren’t ready to face him quite yet.
You winced as you felt a sharp pebble dig into your big toe and you could only walk it off to make the pain go away just a little. A hotel room seemed like the best option at that point, but you left your wallet back in the car. You sighed to yourself. This really was the worst way to make a dramatic exit from a relationship. Yoongi was probably having the time of his life back at the apartment and here you were, picking off tiny rocks from your feet.
Suddenly, you came to a halt. 
Crescent Motel: You Pay After Your Stay!
A motel that would let you pay the next day. It was dingy and the beds were most likely infested with bedbugs, but it would have to do for the night. You’ll get yourself out of this rotten dress at the very least. Plus, you could just ask the front desk to call a friend in the morning. 
You walk into the lobby, a cozy sort of room with a television on one side of the wall. You wondered if it even really worked.
“Can I get your name?” the receptionist asks. He was a grimy old man that smelled too much of alcohol and smoke. He kind of reminded you of Yoongi in that he never looked at you directly. His eyes were always somewhere else.
“Do you really need my name?” you ask condescendingly. The least the guy could do was make eye-contact. You’ve had a rough day as it is.
He still refuses to look up and slides the room key onto your side of the desk.
“Don’t tell me if you want to,” he grumbles. “I just need something to put down in the records.”
You scoff, taking the keys off the table, and hiking up your dress slightly to walk past him. You pause for a bit and turn back around.
“Put down Yoongi,” you say, a certain conviction in your voice. “And if a guy who looks like a celebrity comes, don’t tell him that I’m here. Got it?”
He gives you a slight glance before he goes back to filing paperwork and chewing his own spit or whatever was in that old mouth of his.
“Is that even your name?” he asks nonchalantly, quickly penning it onto his records before closing the folder. You shake your head.
“It’s my ex-boyfriend’s,” you say, slightly cringing at the sound of it. Ex.
“Thought so,” the man muttered and you can’t help but laugh. Like Yoongi indeed. 
The room key had B28 etched very finely on it and so you ventured on to find the room you’d be staying in for the night. Despite your assumptions, it was actually quite a nice room- dated at most. There was a single bed with light bedding, enough to get you through the night. You shed yourself of the red dress and put on the robe provided by the motel.
Lightning struck outside and you could hear the first drops of rainfall. You sit on the bed with shaky hands, slightly startled at the sound. Almost suddenly, you feel a sense of sadness overcome you. 
Yoongi was probably at home, sleeping without much thought, while you had to struggle through an hour of walking to find a place to stay. It made your blood boil, knowing that he was probably fine without you in his life.
If you were a little smarter in your decision-making than maybe Yoongi would have dropped you off somewhere closer to home or maybe you would have gotten enough time to gather your belongings from the apartment. Now you were just in an unfamiliar room, wearing an unfamiliar robe, staring at an unfamiliar wall.
Yoongi sits inside as the rain pours heavily on his car windows. The cops are searching through the streets and yet not a sign of you has appeared. Big Hit was informed and now the whole Gangnam Police Force was forced to keep everything under wraps to keep his situation as discreet as possible. This meant, though, that there would be no large-scale search parties and less of a chance to find you. 
As the rain poured outside, Yoongi grows restless in his car. There was too much on his mind and yet not enough of his thoughts were fleshed out enough to even act on them. He needed to clear his thoughts.
Yoongi opens the door and walks out of the car, allowing the droplets of water to hit him. It served as a good distraction for the ache in his chest and pretty soon, his hair was practically soaked. He feels a tap on his shoulder. 
It’s a police officer.
“Someone reported seeing a woman who matches Ms. [Y/N] at the downtown area,” he informs. “We have reason to believe that she might have taken shelter in a nearby building.”
Yoongi nods, still quite out of it. What would he even do if he actually sees you? What could he possibly say?
‘Hey, I admit I fucked up, can we go back to normal again?’ didn’t quite cut it and he knew you wanted more from him than just a simple apology. You wanted a change in the relationship, an indication that you were more than just a secret to him. He just doesn’t know where to start without completely ruining his future.
“We’ll search around that strip. For now, you should go back home,” the cop suggests. Yoongi shakes his head.
“I’ll do my own search,” he says lowly. Yoongi turns back to his car and sits in the driver’s seat, wincing at the feeling of his wet clothes on the leather seats. He takes a look at the handbag on the passenger seat and feels a lump form at his throat. You couldn’t have gone far... right?
He drove in the dead of night, water splashing across the windows of his car. It was hard to drive with such a big migraine, but the thought of you being out there stranded left him restless.
It’s not like he’ll be able to sleep without you by his side anyway.
You laid on the bed, listening to the droplets of water hit the roof of the motel. It was soothing in a way, to know that the world was crying just as much as you were. It felt useless to try and close your eyes and ignore the aching in your heart and so it only made sense to wallow in your own sadness.
You search for your phone, but remember that it’s not with you. You sigh to yourself, using your elbow to cover your eyes but to no avail. Just sleep and forget his existence. Sounds easier said than done, doesn’t it?
You adjust yourself on the bed and try to imagine Yoongi sleeping next to you. It’s a common practice of yours. Even when you were angry, even when you hated his guts, you could not sleep peacefully without Yoongi by your side.
He was a constant presence and when he’d be gone for tours and business trips, you were left fatigued and worn out because of your lack of sleep. It wasn’t healthy, for sure, but that’s what happens when you get into relationships. You grow dependent.
You imagine the Yoongi in front of you humming a lullaby. You imagine that he’s stroking your hair wistfully and whispering that everything will be okay. You imagine that this Yoongi would never dream of hurting you, never dream to even try. 
For a second, it worked, but you were left with a deeper feeling of emptiness. That Yoongi didn’t seem to exist.
Yoongi finds a place, a little worn down but suitable enough to assume that you’d probably settle for it. Plus, it was the only nearby motel that would let you pay after staying- he had your handbag and phone with him after all. He walks in, soaked and worry etched all over his face. It was a strange sight indeed. A guy with dyed hair, soaked and carrying a woman’s handbag- not exactly the most ideal sight for a motel manager.
The man at the counter gives him a glare, not even bothering to hide his disdainful expression.
“Listen, kid, if you’re gonna rent a room-”
“I’m here to look for someone,” Yoongi cuts him off, a certain urgency in his voice that catches the elder man off-guard. ‘A guy who certainly looked like a celebrity,’ he thought to himself.
“Her name’s [Y/N],” Yoongi continues, “and she was wearing a red dress and had black heels on. She was probably distressed or seemed angry. Have you seen her?”
The old man just sighs, looking Yoongi dead straight in the eye.
“No,” he replies, too stern for the younger boy to truly believe.
Yoongi clenches his teeth. This run down, poor excuse of a motel was his only shot at finding you. Now, it felt like there were no other options but to wait. And he hated waiting.
Yoongi’s eyelids were growing heavy and he felt about ready to collapse from the coldness of his wet skin. This is not how he wanted to end the day off, with mild hypothermia and a broken heart.
“Then can I stay here,” Yoongi pleads, taking another step forward much to the old man’s dismay. “Just for tonight.”
He grunts in response.
“I’ll pay extra. It’s just...”
He trails off, not quite knowing how much he should reveal to a total stranger. There was still a possibility this guy would know he is, but judging from the lack of interest, Yoongi assumed it was safe to just confide in someone. Anyone.
“My girlfriend walked out on me and I need to stay in this area just in case the police find her around here,” he says in a single breath. “Then why this place?” the old man sighs. “There’s plenty of high-end hotels on this street you could stay at.”
He takes a look once more at Yoongi’s feet.
“And you’re ruining the carpet,” he grumbled.
Yoongi bites his lip, now in front of the secretarial desk. This man was pissing him off. Yoongi digs into the pocket of his jeans and takes out his wallet. He smacks a wad of cash onto it, staring at the man dead in the eye.
“Is this enough?” he asks through gritted teeth. The man scoffs and pushes the money away.
Your girlfriend isn’t here, kid. Now get lost before I call the cops on you.”
Yoongi pulls out more, his eyes now getting teary-eyed. The man stares at Yoongi’s shaking fingers. He was quite persistent, wasn't he?
“I just need a place to fucking stay,” Yoongi repeats with more of a timber in his voice. The old man stares at Yoongi directly, the first time he's met eyes with another person in a while.
“You’re the type to think money fixes everything- aren’t you?”
The man glares at him. Yoongi’s mouth opens slightly. You had said those words to him just earlier in the night. He pulls his hand back but leaves the money on the counter.
“N-no,” he says through bated breaths. “I’m not usually like this, I’m so sorry.”
Yoongi ruffles his hair and wipes a stray tear out of his eye.
“I’m just really desperate to find her,” he continues. “I’ve just been acting like a fucking dumbass for the past few hours.”
The old man sucked in a deep breath before exhaling loudly. ‘This was a pitiful sight indeed,’ he thought to himself. 
“What’s your name, kid?”
Yoongi wanted to introduce himself as Suga by instinct, but he knew it probably would not have occurred to the old man who you were.
“Yoongi,” he says slowly. “Min Yoongi.”
The old man looks at his list and sure enough, the name you had given him was right there. Your ex. It wasn’t any of his business to help fix a broken couple, but it was in his best interest to get this weeping boy out of his lobby. He takes a pair of keys from under the table. 
“I’m not letting you stay because all the rooms are booked,” he states throwing the keys to Yoongi who was caught off-guard. “I’ll let you take this one, but you better not bring the feds here. I’m not ready for this place to shut down again.”
Yoongi nods, slightly confused about why he would hold back giving him a room in the first place. He muttered a small thanks before bowing to the older male.
“Now get out of the lobby,” he scolded, glaring at the wet footprints Yoongi left behind.
He took a look at the keys to see the room number. B28. 
You were ready to drift off into sleep but it seems the world has a way of wanting you to fear for your life.
You heard a jingling noise at your door, the doorknob turning as if a key was inserted. You held your breath, afraid for your life. You stood up quietly, grabbing the rather large lampshade next to your bed. ‘This motel was shady for a reason,’ you thought to yourself.
“Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck,” you repeat under your breath. You got ready into a tackling stance, the lampshade in hand. You took enough self-defense classes to know what you’re doing. When it swung open, the door almost hit you on the face. That didn't deter you though and so you charged at the stranger with all your might.
“Woah,” Yoongi shouts as he just missed your swing, pivoting to the side as you stumbled past him. You recognized that voice in an instant and you locked eyes with Yoongi who was noticeably soaked and carrying your handbag. It was embarrassing, how badly you missed, and he would’ve laughed if it weren’t for the context of the situation. 
You stood up straight and give him a glare. Somehow, it made you angrier seeing his face, but you couldn’t quite express that anger when Yoongi brought you into his arms almost immediately. The lampshade and bag fell onto the rug with a thud and you were engulfed by his body.
“[Y/N],” he sighed into your hair, the anxiety of losing you now gone from his mind. He pulls away, examining your body.
“What are you doing here?” Yoongi says, panic laced in his voice. “I was so fucking worried something happened. You left your stuff in the car and I brought them with me just in case and-”
You push him away, annoyed with the wet droplets that now stained your robe.
“What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” you yelled. “How the hell did you get in here?”
“The old man let me in,” Yoongi swallowed. “I guess he knew that I needed to see you.” You roll your eyes. You knew that old fart couldn’t be trusted.
“Well get out,” you say frankly. “I don’t want to see you.”
Yoongi shakes his head.
“I’m not going anywhere. I’m taking you back home.”
You take a step back from him.
“Yoongi,” you say, scarily slow. “Give me my bag and leave. I’m not going to say it again.”
You try to reach for the bag that was on the floor next to him, but he pulled it away.
“I thought I fucking lost you, you know that?” his voice was shaking. “I thought you’d be gone and I couldn’t do anything about it.”
Yoongi looked at you with pleading eyes and it almost made you want to comfort him. Almost.
“Well you did,” you reply sternly.
Yoongi pursed his lips.
“I’m tired [Y/N],” he admits sadly, dropping the wet bag onto the bed. “I don’t know what else to do besides apologize.”
You grit your teeth.
“Leave.”
Yoongi shakes his head and you cringe as he sits down, the bed getting wet because of him. It would’ve made you even more pissed if it weren’t for the tears spilling from your eyes.
“I thought I fucking lost you,” he sighs into his hands. You could hear a shakiness in his voice that wasn’t there before. Yoongi was always quieter in how he expressed his feelings. He isn’t the type to just cry outright.
“I thought I wouldn’t be able to apologize in the morning,” he tried to say, but you could tell he was a bit choked up, “that I fucked everything up and you’d still be missing or you’d wound up dead or something.” He grounds his face into his palms and it genuinely made you feel sorry for him. You did kind of leave without a trace.
“And its fucking raining,” he says a little more calmly, looking up at you with red eyes. “You hate when you get stuck in the rain.”
It broke your heart, the way he chuckled sadly at his own statement. For the first time ever, it felt like he was the broken one and not you.
“Yoongi,” you whisper, setting aside his wet bangs. You were calmer now. “Go home.”
He shakes his head and leans into your touch.
“I can’t sleep without you by my side,” he whispers and you swear you could hear your heart crack. You weren’t the only one to feel that way too...
You didn’t have the heart to forgive him, but you couldn’t let him go back out in the pouring rain.
“You can stay here,” you say. “I’ll find another room.”
He grabs your wrists and intertwines his hands into yours.
“Please,” he pleads. “Just stay with me. I’ll leave before you wake up.”
You wanted so desperately to say no, but it was clear now that Yoongi was just as hurt as you were. It was in the way he held your hands as if he couldn’t bear to let you go. His fingers were shaky and you could do nothing but comply.
You nod despite it all and detach yourself from him to close the door. You walk over to the closet and take out a spare robe. You hand it to him without a second glance, moving to the other side of the bed.
“Tell the police to stop searching,” you say as you lay underneath the sheets that weren’t dampened by Yoongi. “You found me.”
The words, strangely, were enough to comfort him. He called the head officer and with much difficulty, got everything to be cleared out. He’d have to suffer the consequences tomorrow, but for now, he just wanted to search for comfort in your presence.
Pretty soon he laid next to you in his new robe. You turn to face away from him, afraid of making eye-contact. You were always too forgiving when you looked him in the eyes. Yoongi didn’t make any movement to get closer, he just watched your slowing breaths and wondered to himself.
“You are good enough,” he says into the night. It came out of nowhere and it makes your heart stop momentarily.
“Earlier when you said you didn’t feel good enough to be with me,” he starts off with his voice incredibly low. “You are good enough.”
You take a deep breath to prevent yourself from being too emotional. You turn to face him, about to speak, but he beats you to it.
“I’m not going to apologize again, don’t worry,” he swallows. “I just wanted to let you know that you mean much more to me than I show.”
He closes his eyes for a second before continuing on.
“I’m bad at keeping relationships,” he says honestly, “but I want to stay with you... as long as you would let me.”
You laugh through the sadness of it all. You two were far too tired to have a screaming match with one another and it felt good to just talk rather than yell.
“Yoongi, why did you tell Hoseok you didn’t want to be with me?” you ask, no ill intent in your voice. “I want a genuine answer.”
You could feel him shuffle around in the bed out of discomfort. 
“I was mad at you,” he said as nicely as he could put it. “I was frustrated that you kept asking me to reveal our relationship to the public.”
You stay still, worried about what he would say next. It would be the final blow to your already crumbled pride.
“It’s stupid to even admit it and I don’t have any real excuses, but...”
He somehow couldn’t finish his sentence.
“But what?”
He sighs and turns the other way. Now he was the one ignoring confrontation.
“I liked that we were our own little secret you know?” he starts and you feel your blood boil a little at his words, but he continued. “So much of my life is broadcasted to the world and I feel like nothing is really mine anymore. Every single moment is dedicated to my fans and whenever you ask me to let that go, it just feels like I’m losing a part of myself more and more. The part that isn’t an idol.”
You understood what he meant, but at the same time, you felt like it was oddly selfish of him.
“I don’t like being a secret, Yoongi,” you say to him. No anger in your voice, just disappointment. He clenches his fist.
“Yeah, I understand that,” he whispers back. “I’m sorry.”
You reach out a hand towards him and he shivers at your touch. You pull into him, laying your head on his shoulder blade.
“You said you wouldn’t say it anymore,” you mutter into his body. 
He shrugs.
“I don’t think I’ve said it enough,” he admits, holding your hand in his. This was how he wanted to end the day off- with you by his side.
“I’m sorry too,” you say and he feels himself crumble at your words. He turns around slowly and engulfs you in his arms.
“Moments like this,” he sighs, nuzzling into your hair. “I want it to be between us.”
“It would still be you and me, no matter what,” you reply.
“I know,” he says solemnly. “But people will try to get between us and I doubt want to hurt you more than I already have.”
You nod along, but you could feel tears start to prick in your eyes.
“I just don’t want to feel like you’re hiding me from everyone,” you admit. “Being with you should be enough, but somehow it isn’t.”
He strokes your head and the two of you don’t speak any longer. 
“I’m sorry.”
You find yourself unable to cry at his words. It seems like he had given up and to you, that’s what frightened you the most. You clench onto him as if he’d disappear at any moment. A few minutes ago, that’s all you would have wanted, but now it seemed like you’d die without him by your side. He eases your panic by rubbing your back and you find yourself drifting off to sleep. He stares off into the darkness of the motel room, whispering to no one in particular.
“I’ll do better.”
You find yourself alone the next morning, sprawled out on the bed. Your phone and bag were left on the nightstand and the lampshade went back to its proper place. He left you in the room as if he wasn’t there in the first place. You take a look at the closet and see that he laid out clothes for you from home. Tears start to fall. It was over, wasn’t it?
Last night felt like a goodbye, like a last farewell. Maybe you were asking for it in the way you shouted at him the night before, but your heart was still heavy at the thought of him leaving. You didn’t hate him, you could never hate him, but both of you said so many horrible things last night that you wonder if it could ever be taken back.
You get yourself dressed and walk down to the lobby where the wet footprints of last night no longer stained the carpet. You lock eyes with the old man and slide the keys to him. You take out your wallet, prepared to pay until he stops you.
“He covered it already.”
Your jaw drops slightly and you clutch the cash in your fingers.
“You let him into my room,” you accuse. “I told you to tell him I wasn’t here.”
He ignores your watchful gaze, arranging some stuff on his desk that was already quite pristine.
“You got the closure you wanted, didn’t you?” he grumbled. 
“That’s not the point. He could’ve been a serial killer for all you know and you-”
“But he wasn’t,” the old man rolled his eyes. “He was your ex that fucking paid twice the amount you pulled out. I promise you, your safety was a passing thought to me.”
You sigh angrily, scrounging through your purse. Your phone was charged, presumably from Yoongi, and so you called a friend to get you out of this dingy motel. You’d report this crusty old man later. Surprisingly she picked up quite quickly.
“Hey-”
“[Y/N]!” she screeched through the other line. “Look at the news! Oh my fucking god, Yoongi just-”
Your hands were shaking, not paying attention to the rest of her words. Nothing bad could have happened from last night, could it? You hung up before she could screech in your ears once again. 
You couldn’t type out his name on your phone fast enough from how shaky your hands were until you heard the sound of the lobby television turn on. The old man had the remote in his hand and he gave you a smirk. You turn your attention away from him and toward the screen instead.
“BigHit Entertainment confirms that BTS’s Suga is in a relationship,” the announcer states with a stern voice. “He asks for people not pry on the identity of his non-celebrity girlfriend and any malicious comments or rumors will be legally dealt with by his agency. More updates soon.”
You felt your eyes tear up, happiness swelling on your chest. You couldn’t believe it. You couldn’t believe he actually did it.
“You’re welcome, you know,” the old man said slyly. You ignore his words, slapping a rather large sum of money on the desk before rushing outside. You call him this time, happy tears streaming down your face. Yoongi didn’t even have a chance to say hello before you started talking.
“I love you,” you scream into your phone. You repeat the words so much that you could hear your own echo. 
“Babe, I’m getting scolded right now,” he laughed. “I’ll talk to you later okay? No celebrations yet.”
You nod, slightly worried about his statement.
“You’re going to be okay, right?” you ask worriedly. “They’re not planning to kick you out or anything?”
He scoffs.
“And lose one of their best songwriters? Not a chance.”
You shake your head.
“Still cocky as always though,” you tease.
“I’ll be fine,” he assures. “It’s the least I could do for you.”
You purse your lips. He had to make a lot of sacrifices too.
“I love you,” he says lowly. “And I’m not gonna make you ever doubt that again.”
You close your eyes at the sound of his confession. It felt genuine like he didn’t say it just to end an argument. It felt real.
“I love you too.”
He gives a toothy grin, knowing full well that you aren’t able to see how stupidly satisfied his face is. The managers looked at him with watchful gazes and he nervously coughed, wiping the smile off of his.
“We’ll talk more about this later,” he replies, “You know, in our home.”
You smile lightly.
“Okay, see you later then,” you say, already listing all the complications that come with going public, but you’re much happier nonetheless. There’d be no more rumors of him dating other girls or random idols trying to set themselves up with him. Maybe there’d still be doubts, but in the end, you’d figure out a way to work it out. That’s how relationships are after all. “Goodbye,” he said cheerily through the receiver, trying to ignore the staff members telling him to hang up the phone. “I love you [Y/N].”
“Goodbye, Yoongi,” you giggle at his repeated confession. “I love you too.”
A/N: I didn’t want to end this off on a bad note but I didn’t want to end it off on a super good note either. Of course, problems will still arise in a relationship so I left it off kind of bittersweet (more sweet in this case) but yeah. Thanks again to @queenoftheuniverseandmyroom​ for being so amazing and so patient with this, I hope you enjoyed it. Let me know how you guys feel!! Leave me any comments, criticism, anything! 
I know some of you guys wanted an angst ending but I do too many angst endings and I just feel like I wanted to switch things up you know?? Also... keep an eye out for my drabble game that I’ll post in a few days. I will accept the first ten requests ;)
PS: I don’t respond to comments on my stories because this is my side blog so if I reply back it’ll be on my main blog :((( I’ll try to figure out a way so that I can respond to you guys because I really want to be more interactive. Let me know if you guys have loopholes for this problem thank youuu
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lovelylou · 3 years
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female larry fic recommendations 
pink like the paradise found by @disgruntledkittenface disgruntledkittenface
“So what brings you all the way here on this fine Monday night, Harold?”
“It’s just Harry, actually,” Harry replies, biting back a smile. “And we’re celebrating.”
“Celebrating? Celebrating what?”
It takes Harry longer than it should to answer because Louis’ tongue darts out to wet her pale pink lips, which is just unfair honestly. She stares at Louis’ mouth until she realizes that a smile is tugging at the corners of Louis’ lips.
“I’m gay,” she blurts out, clapping a hand over her mouth as Louis’ face brightens. “I mean, um, fuck, no… well, yes, I am gay, like so gay, but that’s not… I meant–”
Harry's friends take her out to the local lesbian bar to celebrate after she comes out. They joke about getting her laid, but the way the hot bartender is looking at her makes her think it might actually happen.
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Must be the Season of the Witch by @evilovesyou 4ureyesonly28
Harry desperately needs a new coat. Louise has a feeling she should donate the old coat that she bought on a whim years ago to her favourite charity shop.
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reckless serenade by @thepolourryexpress thepolourryexpress
Harry’s not too sure how she’s gotten to this point either. So, she understands where the incredulous look on Liam’s face is coming from.
“You mean to tell me you’ve been dating Louis for three years and she doesn’t know it?” Liam raises an eyebrow, blinking.
Or, Harry's Google search history may or may not look like 'my girlfriend doesn't know we're dating.'
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at the end of the day by @captivekinqs sky_reid
if harry dies with her head between louis' legs, she'll die a happy woman.
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Tell Me This Is Paradise by @becomeawendybird QuickedWeen
Harry Styles has been lucky in love but unlucky in the bedroom with all of her previous boyfriends. When her best friend Niall finds out that she's never had an orgasm, she knows just what Harry needs: Louis Tomlinson. Niall sets Harry up to get sorted out.
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it's your flawless soul that bleeds my stone by @loveonwallstour sunflowergolden
“I think you have to see this for yourself. Look at the girl that just walked in.”
Everyone turned their heads towards the door. And. Harry was going to faint. She was sure of that. The girl that just walked in, looked like an actual angel. The sunlight was streaming in through the windows, and she looked gorgeous. Her hair was long, her make-up was done, and she was wearing a dress. Not just a regular dress, but a wedding dress. Which… was wet. When Harry took a good look at her, she could see that the girl was also soaking wet. Huh, guess it was raining outside. So, she also looked like a drowning cat, but honestly, Harry could look past that.
or, the one where louis runs away from her wedding, harry lets her stay with her, and there's not a universe where they don't fall in love
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daydream about me by @adoreontour louistomlinsons
“Anything else going on for you at the moment?” she asks, leaning forward on her elbows across the table, mindful of the radio equipment in front of her. “What about you and that Louis Tomlinson?” Harry sputters, mouth moving but no words coming out. She can feel her cheeks heat up, darkening with embarrassment. “It’s not, Louis and I, we don’t—” Harry can’t finish the sentence, tongue heavy in her mouth. She takes a deep breath, thankful they’re not being videoed, and tries again, “We’ve never even met, actually.” alternatively titled 'harry styles does not have a crush on louis tomlinson and other lies she tells liam payne'
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Sugar by @missyoutoosweetcheeks missyoutoosweetcheeks
Her solemn thoughts came to a halt when soft giggling reached her ears.
Now, Harry wasn't that much of an uptight twat who poked around in someone else's business, but she knew that giggle. That mischievous sweet giggle that usually led to a myriad of migraines, for Harry had to deal with the aftermath of them.
Louisah Tomlinson. The very bane of Harry's existence. The one who constantly got into trouble: vandalising, pranking the teachers, breaking rules, the whole lot.
So you see, Harry had to investigate.
OR
In which Harry finds Lou in the staff bathrooms.
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tempted by the fruit of another by @disgruntledkittenface disgruntledkittenface
Zayn didn’t mean to look. And she certainly didn’t mean to watch.
It’s just that Louis and Harry are the worst hosts in the world; they’re in their bedroom, clearly fucking (again), and so loud that Zayn can’t concentrate on her game of Among Us in the living room. Liam has killed her twice. Liam. So she just went down the hallway to make sure their bedroom door was at least closed.
It wasn’t.
Zayn stumbles into a world of possibility when she stays with Harry and Louis for a few weeks.
(note: this last fic is a zourry fic)
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sarahpaulsonsoftie · 4 years
Text
You’re my equal
Wilhelmina Venable X reader
You are Ms. Venable’s assistant. Months of crushing on her and trying to get close. One night she calls you asking for you help but when you get to her house, you are glad you did.
*
You rushed into her office with coffee, which was burning your hand by the way you are holding it. You placed it onto her desk and organised a few of her paper when you looked up and noticed her walking in, she was walking tensely. She looked hurt but you decided that you maybe were only overanalysing her. Working months with someone who you had a crush on made you do that
“Good morning, Ms. Venable.” You greeted, pulling her chair out and stepping back slightly. You watched her roll her eyes in distain before taking a seat and you noticed the slight tightening of her lips.
“Good morning, Ms. Y/L/N.” She responded and looked up at you, “What is it?” She asked and you shook your head.
“Nothing… Well, I mean, I hope I am not speaking out of turn, Ms. Venable, but you seem as you are in pain. Is there anything I can do?” You asked, concerned and you knew you had said the wrong thing because when her jaw tightened, she stared at you viciously.
“The only pain I am feeling is the migraine your presence brings me. So, you would do well to leave before I fire you.” Ms. Venable said and you nodded slightly, trying to figure out how to help her.
*
You had taken your lunch break to run to a pharmacy, making sure to grab a hot water bottle, some painkillers and an orthopaedic back pillow. You paid, the total coming to 37. 58 and you smiled at the cashier as she bagged it up.
When you had gotten back to your workplace, you ran to heat up the hot water bottle, leaving the rest of your supplies at your desk. You had also decided to grab your boss a cup of coffee and a glass of water.
You watched and waited until she had left the office before rushing in. Wilhelmina Venable would not take to kindly if she had thought you were pitying her. You were not but you were concerned, and you had be damned if you were not going to take care of the woman you had been falling in love with.
You placed the Coffee, water and painkillers next to each other on the desk as well as fixing the pillow onto her desk chair. You looked at the desk again, unsure of where to place the hot water bottle before deciding just to place it on her desk too.
You grabbed some paper, writing a note, ‘Meeting on the 25th!’ Just to let her know it was you.
You left her office and took a seat at your desk, watching as Ms. Venable entered again. You could see the shocked expression her face and watched her face ease as she sat down. She took 2 painkillers and positioned the hot water bottle against her upper back.
Her eyes met you after she had read the note and she nodded, a tight smile on her lips. You nodded back before looking down at your work, occasionally looking up to check on her. You noticed after 30 minutes, she began relaxing a lot more and you were glad your boss was in less pain. She may never be your girlfriend, but at least she knows you care.
*
When you woke in the middle of Friday night, preparing for your two-day weekend break, to a call from Wilhelmina, you knew something was wrong. You picked it up and sat up.
“Ms. Venable, a-are you okay, it’s 9:30pm?” You asked sleepily, before rubbing your eyes. You heard her shaky breath.
“I need your help at my house—Please, Y/N. I can’t get up.”  You heard the emotion in her voice and knew it must have been bad if your boss was calling you now. You jumped out of bed, grabbing your keys and some money before speaking.
“I’m on my way. I’m on my way.” You muttered before Wilhelmina had ended the call. You were panicked as you tied your shoes. You ran out to your car, speeding in the direction of Wilhelmina’s house.
-
When you had opened the door to Wilhelmina’s house, you shut the door and turned on a light.
“Ms. Venable?” You called, looking from room to room. You heard her call your name from upstairs and you ran up into the room you heard your name. The door was now wide open, and you saw Wilhelmina on her shower floor, her arms wrapped around her knee. You saw her phone and realised she must have always taken it to showers with her. You grabbed a towel before opening the shower door, covering your eyes with one hand and feeling around with the other and placing the towel over her shoulder.
You heard her shuffle, “Is it on you okay?” You asked and Wilhelmina responded with a quiet yes. You opened you eyes and saw the resigned look on her face. You placed you hand under her armpits and helped her up, once she was upright, you wrapped your arms around her and began walking out.
“Where to, Ms. Venable?” You asked, softly bur loud enough for her to hear. She pointed to a room.
“There.” She muttered and you could hear the humiliation in her voice. You rubbed her lower back slightly, walking over to her bedroom and opened the door. Her clothes and underwear were laying on the bed and you sat her down, kneeling in front of her.
“Can I dress you?” You asked, she looked away from you before nodding. You gently moved her wet fiery red hair out of her face. You wanted nothing more than to place a tender kiss on her forehead or to cuddle her and let her know you were there for her. But you were her assistant and she was your boss.
You grabbed her panties before putting her feet through gently before pulling them up, the towel hiding everything. You stood as you pulled them up fully and your head fell between her shoulder and head. Once you had pulled her underwear up properly, you placed your hand gently on her shoulders looking in her eyes.
“What are you thinking?” You asked, softly. Her eyes flickered away quickly before looking back in your eyes.
“You shouldn’t have to see me like this.” She stated, tears brimming her eyes. She looked down, avoiding your gaze. “Like a cripple. People don’t look at me the same after this.”
“Hey, now, everyone needs help sometimes. I mean, just last week I had to ask for help for something that’s really embarrassing.” You responded. Her eyes met yours.
“Really?” She asked and you nodded. “W-what was it?”
Her curiosity and need to be distracted made you sit beside on the bed, your left hand resting on her lower back again, her eyes locked with yours.
“It’s embarrassing but because it’s you, I’ll indulge. Last week, my car broke down and I had to take the train to work. But I was wearing a backpack and faced away from the door. The door squashed my bag and wet all the papers I had for you.” You confided, watching as she smiled. Before realisation hit her face.
“That’s when you said you had dropped them in a puddle? I knew that it did not make sense. It hadn’t rained.” You saw her smile grow and you oh so desperately wanted to lean in. You smiled in return.
“I’m never taking the train again, out of fear the know who I am.” You laughed. You both laughed for a moment before looking at her. “Can I finish getting you ready?”
Wilhelmina grew quiet for a moment before nodding. You got up from the bed and stood in front of her. You watched as she anxiously began to unwind her towel. You picked up her top and closed your eyes just before her towel was open. You felt for her shoulders and her hands grabbed yours.
“Open your eyes please, Y/N.” You kept them shut and moved your hands away.  
“Ms. Venable, I—” You were cut off by her.
“Call me Wilhelmina.” She said and you nodded slightly.
“Wilhelmina, I don’t want to cross too many boundaries. You’re vulnerable right now and you’re still my boss.” You responded and her hands left yours and you moved yours away.
“I see.” She said tensely. You were about to speak when you heard her shuffling. You assumed she had put her towel back on and opened your eyes. She looked up at you with a clenched jaw. “Well, I didn’t realise you only came her because I’m your boss.”
“What—No- No. Wilhelmina, I’m here because I care about you not because you’re my boss. But I don’t want anything to happen that you regret.” You stumbled for an explanation, but Wilhelmina’s expression did not ease up.
“And what, pray tell, would I regret? You seeing my back?” She looked hurt and you sat beside her, trying to place your hand on her lower back again but as soon as you did, her hand grabbed yours and pushed it away.
“You really think I care about seeing your back? Me seeing your back will not change how I feel about you, is that what you think? If anything, it will only strength how I feel about you because you’re such a strong and powerful woman especially for someone who—” She cut you off again
“Has a disability?” She supplied with a tight-lipped expression. You shook your head.
“Stop cutting me off, Wilhelmina. I was going to say, someone who has been told that they cannot do it, cannot make it. But look at where you are now. You are HR at a multi-million-dollar robotics company! I do not think of you as some lesser being. I think of you as my equal, maybe even my superior because you are so smart, beautiful, powerful. I did not close my eyes because of your back. I closed them because you’re naked without that towel.” You muttered; Wilhelmina eyed you trying to see if you were bluffing.
“If you meant that, you’d look at my back and tell me it again.” Wilhelmina deadpanned and you nodded.
“Okay, show me then.” You said, placing your hand on her lower back. Wilhelmina looked at you to see if you were bluffing but you stared at her expectantly. She moved to the side slightly so you could have a better view before dropping the towel entirely.
Her spine at her lower back was fine but when it came to the top, it began bulging and had discoloured skin around it. Your heart ached for Wilhelmina and it didn’t make you disgusted. It only made you want to kiss her more.
Your hand reached up and gently glided against the skin, hearing Wilhelmina take in a deep breath, “Does it hurt?”
“A little bit. But I can cope. But sometimes it gets really tense.” She muttered, with the same humiliated voice as earlier. “What do you think?”
“I think…” You trailed off, before moving your hands to her shoulders and leaning in even closer. “I love you even more.” Your lips brushed against her ear, she turned again, to face you. Not realising her chest was bare. You however, kept your gaze strictly on her face.
“You love me?” She asked and you nodded, she leaned in to kiss you. It was soft, sweet and it made Wilhelmina forget her insecurities. She moved closer to you and you felt her chest rub against yours. You pulled back just as she wanted to heat it up more.
“Although kissing you is wonderful, I feel maybe a top is in order.” You looked at her chest and she nodded, cheeks heating up.
You stood again and moved away the towel before letting Wilhelmina lifting her arms and getting her head in. You pulled down her top below her stomach and looked at her before placing a kiss to her forehead.
“I love you too.” She murmured and you smiled against her.
She was your equal.
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timextoxhajima · 4 years
Audio
Playlist Feels: SHORT SERIES PART 3
PART 1 / PART 2
Member: Juyeon
Genre: angst, drama, SOME smut ????
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“you lie but i don’t let it define you.”
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it is snowing when you reach your office, a team of stylists and make up artists running past you to the studio where you were scheduled to meet a guest for the next issue of your magazine.
being the editor and, occasionally, the chief photographer of such a renowned name placed more pressure on you that you liked. sometimes it put you off, the way it showed you the true colors of celebrities and people who were supposed to be respected in their fields of profession was never a job secret you could get used to.
“filming in three hours, y/n! guest’s coming in about an hour’s time,” the interviewer strides past you with a file in her arms, following closely behind another makeup artist.
“got it, will be in the studio in ten,” you pull off your scarf and get the door of your office open, ready to get your computer on so you could check who was in the studio for the interview and photo-shoot today.
but an interruption in the form of a knock on your door warrants your attention, and your boss pokes his head in without waiting for you to respond.
“can i get you into the studio right now? photographer’s having some trouble setting up the lighting.”
“but i--”
“our guest today’s easy-going and candid so he should be alright with waiting.”
a nod shakes your head before you could process his words, and he pulls back out into the hallways. you put your computer to sleep mode and pat down the creases of your clothes after pulling off your coat. 
the snow outside catches your attention for a few seconds, the large christmas tree sitting right at the entrance of the shopping mall opposite your office building makes you warm with nostalgia. 
white looked so pretty on green and red and gold decorations; people were leaving footprints in the snow on the pavement and couples were holding hands on the way to wherever they were. 
you remember the first year you saw snow with juyeon. he fell sick because he thought jumping into the snow and making a snow angel with no coat was a good idea.
the memory plants a small smile on your lips, and it that takes you awhile to notice. you look away from the world outside, hurriedly pressing your hands into your cheeks to rub the smile off your face.
you get the day’s schedule into a file and make your way to the studio in the basement of the building. the lift opens to a familiarly dark space surrounding the brightly lit studio area where all the lights were, the bustling in the area telling you that something was wrong and the photographer was panicking.
“okay, kevin,” you teasingly call out with a little impatience. “fill me in.” the file in your hand gets tossed onto the table where the screens connected to the camera. 
kevin has his hands in his hair with his eyes wide open.
“the left one isn’t responding with the same amount of sensitivity as the right one and the camera sends pictures back to the screen that look underexposed,” your instincts bring you to wherever he was pointing to, and you start fiddling with the equipment to check for any damages. 
“have you tried shutting them off and turning them on again?”
“three times.”
“hmm,” you hum to yourself, returning to the monitors and comparing the picture on the screen on the DSLR and the monitor. “we might need to use the other set then, send this one for repairing. can’t you use another camera?”
“i think we can replace the equipment but if our guest comes earlier or even on time, we’re going to start the photoshoot late.”
“huh,” you rub your chin, the makeup artists and stylists making a fuss in the dressing room while they set up the clothes and make up products. “i’ll give him a call--”
“good morning!”
kevin turns around first to the lift, and you follow suit only by instinct. the light coming from behind you must’ve turned you into a silhouette because you could see his face clearly.
lee juyeon was carrying a box of donuts, and he was walking in with someone else, presumably his agent or a manager.
“mr lee, you’re extremely early!” kevin reaches out to shake his hand, and your fingers curl up against the mouse connected to the monitor.
“i don’t like missing out,” he grins and hands kevin the box of donuts. “just call me juyeon. last i checked, we are the same age.”
then your back is turned on them, head hanging low and your eyes glued to the table. you reach for the file that belonged to kevin leaning on the CPU, and you flip it open with such aggression, the whole studio would’ve heard it had it not been bustling with activity.
GUEST: LEE JUYEON
OCCUPATION: CHOREOGRAPHER
DATE: DECEMBER ISSUE
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS: TO BE PREPARED AND VERIFIED -- VERIFIED
the flap of the file hides the name from your view, and you finally realise kevin’s been calling out to you for awhile now.
“y/n!”
your temples tighten and your jaws should’ve cracked under the pressure when you turn around. juyeon’s smile shrinks but never really disappears when he sees you again after about two weeks. 
his hair looks less stiff from when you saw him at the club, and he was in a striped top and jeans. 
“hi, it’s nice to meet you,” his voice is warm but fake. he extends a hand out to you, and your need to remain professional cues you to take it with grace. his grip on your hand was rough and tight, sending shocks of anxiety up your hand and into your lungs. 
“likewise.”
the sight of juyeon looking like he just got out of bed and thrown on some barely presentable clothes tugs you back in time, and you remember watching him change into less shabby clothes for school.
this strange feeling is filling your lungs like pneumonia, and you didn’t like it.
you notice kevin’s flitting eyes between the two of you and something inside tells you he was going to sit you down and interrogate you about this awkward encounter with the guest.
but he smiles and reaches over to pat juyeon on his shoulder.
“anyway, the makeup artists and the stylists are in that room,” kevin gently pushes juyeon into the respective direction after juyeon releases your hand. “we have a little trouble with the equipment now so we might start late.”
“oh, that’s fine,” juyeon is disappearing into the room, the view of his polite smile igniting a small flame of confusion in your stomach. 
the night at the strip club becomes a silent movie in your head, but the words you remember spitting in his face about him not doing anything related to his education rings in your ears like an mocking alarm. 
juyeon never denied it nor confirmed it, so you just assumed he wasn’t. 
choreographers design and create sequences and performances that most of the time, they don’t perform themselves. 
this was why he said he couldn’t perform in his day job. 
“take as much time as you need, we’ll need more time to set up the studio!” kevin calls behind him to the stylists and makeup artists as he exits the dressing room, strolling towards you.
your attention resumes to the equipment and you start dismantling the defective studio lights, carefully placing them into the large bags as someone else brings over a new set. 
“are we having this conversation now or later?” kevin queries with wide, curious eyes. 
“we’re not having this conversation ever,” you lift the tripod bag and hand it to one of the production crew members. 
“we’ll do it after he leaves. you’re not going anywhere without telling me what that was.”
kevin shoots you the kind of look that you’d gladly slap off his face, and you would, but you wouldn’t want to make a scene in front of your guest. 
the interviewer runs you through the questions, but your attention refused to sit itself down and absorb the words running off her tongue.
all you could think of how being in the same room as juyeon was so antagonising.
his scent was wafting about in the air like waffles to a child; his smile stuck itself in the retinal memory like someone pasted a sticker into your eyes -- god, those eyes.
the same eyes he used to look at you when he caught you half-naked in bed with sangyeon. 
something must’ve crushed your spirit and it is a reminder that you’re not the best at hiding your emotions when the interview abruptly stops.
“y/n,” she is looking at you like you were sick, and that wasn’t very far from the truth. “are you okay? you’re zoning out and you look a little pale.”
the low volume of commotion trailing from the dressing room forces you to realise your forehead was between your fingers, like you were having a migraine. it takes you awhile to process her question, but you sit back upright and suck in a deep breath, forcing a smile out at the interviewer.
“i’m alright. sorry, i just... thinking about something else unimportant. go on.”
whoever thought creating mankind with the capacity to feel so much love and pain for one person should’ve been banished from all eternity, for all eternity. 
the kinaesthetic memory of his touch on your chin when he first kissed you in the rain drives waves of nauseating nostalgia through you.
the flutters in your stomach because he loved to pull you closer by your waist when you stood too far away from him in a queue or on an escalator; they were always too difficult to ignore.
when he hummed melodies in your ear when you couldn’t sleep or when you cried from the stress you had to swallow in school. 
but you threw all that away when you lost to your need for affection and love; when juyeon chose work over you.
the guest exits the dressing room in the horrid, familiar costume he had on at the stripper club. under the studio lighting, it is more striking on his skin. the lights made him look whiter than snow and the shadows cast under his jaw and ears and face by his hair sharpens his every feature.
some of the production crew were already feasting their eyes on juyeon, and you couldn’t blame them, not when he was a physically fine man on his own.
juyeon notices your eyes widening when you process his costume for the interview and the first part of the filming portion, so he deliberately rubs his left collar bone, exposing the skin on his upper chest and lower neck with the intention of driving you into a corner in your own head. 
kevin watches on with slight entertainment, but also a pinch of concern when he is able to see how much discomfort you were in. there was a look of pain and loss in your eyes which he doesn’t recognise, which he has not seen before. 
usually his editor was professionally emotional, but right now, you were zoning out. you were letting the guest, someone whom you’ve obviously had some kind of history with, puppeteer your heart around in your chest like it didn’t belong to you. 
kevin grabs your attention by resting his warm palm on your shoulder, nodding his head backwards to where the camera monitor was. he was holding a DSLR in his free hand, and you could tell from his eyes that he was trying to understand you just by reading your face.
how you wished you paid attention to the interviewer when she was running through the questions with you.
she was about seven questions in when she popped that fateful query. you couldn’t decide if it was the way she asked the question with such genuine curiosity or if it was the way juyeon froze slightly that made you panic. 
“tell us more about your time in the most prestigious performing arts academy in the country? we heard you sacrificed a great deal of things to... reach your maximum potential. of course, same rule applies: if you’re uncomfortable, you’re very welcome to sound out to us.”
the monitor loses your attention because your eyes were now focused on juyeon straight. in the camera’s view, he was sitting on the left with his right profile angled towards the interviewer, and the monitor was just about a few feet from the interviewer.
so it is absolutely shattering when he looks dead straight at you, though he was under the beams of the studio lights and you were sitting in the dark behind the monitor.
please say you’re uncomfortable, please say you’re uncomfortable, please say you’re uncomfortable, please say you’re uncomfortable, please say you’re uncomfortable, please say you’re uncomfor--
“it was a very fulfilling four years, even for me. and yeah, you’re right, i did lose and sacrifice many things when i was a student there.”
kevin steals a quick glance at you after he lowers his camera, noticing that juyeon was also taking fleeting looks at you past the interviewer when he is answering. 
“i lost time that should’ve been spent with my famlly, and right now i’m trying to make up for the time i lost with them then. i also lost friends i made in the institution i was in prior to enrolling in the academy, and...”
oh, god. 
please... don’t.
“i lost someone i loved very much.”
there was an awkward, almost murderous silence in the air. the interviewer was taking a side-glance at kevin who had the camera angled at juyeon, and juyeon had this contorted, sad smile plastered on his face as he said that last line.
“is this a family member or a partner?”
juyeon looks up through his gelled hair and glances at you, the purple box he was sitting on making you feel like ripping your hair off your scalp and shoving it down your own throat.
“a partner.”
a hesitant pause. 
juyeon seems to be contemplating with himself if he should continue, and he loses the battle to himself.
“she was my everything, then i made a mistake by taking her for granted and choosing my work over her. the day i lost her was the day i realised that i was terrible at time management, that i needed to learn how to prioritise the things i needed in life.”
another pause. 
kevin looks at you, but your eyes were beginning to glisten with a layer of tears. tears of hurt, sadness, loss, grief, maybe even anger, you weren’t sure anymore.
was he just saying this now because you were in the room?
“i didn’t know i needed her until i lost her, and i lost her to another man. it was the biggest mistake then, and it’ll probably be the biggest mistake i’ll ever make.”
slightly stunned at the sudden emotional confession caught on film, she turns to kevin, who gestures for a time out.
“right, thank you for your honesty, mr lee. we’ll be taking a short break here and we’ll have you back here in five, is that alright?”
your feet shove the chair backwards, and you turn away from the monitor, hands flying up to your eyes and gently dabbing away the tears threatening to fall. 
“yes, five,” you hear juyeon respond, but your feet bring you to the equipment room and the automatic light flickers on when you step in, the heavy door shutting loudly behind you. 
the ghost staring back at you in one of the dry cabinets used to store the cameras begins to fish out all your emotions one by one, and you struggle to contain it. 
he’s a liar and he does not prioritise you. 
he is only saying this because you are in the room.
he does not love you anymore.
the door clicks open, and you immediately look up upon the realisation that kevin’s voice was ringing somewhere far away from the equipment room. 
you wouldn’t consider juyeon as threatening or intimidating, but you were scared of him. not because of his anger or hurt, but because he was capable of leaving scars on you in places that nobody else has ever been able to before. 
your soul, your heart, your belief in love. 
juyeon watches you back away with every step he takes towards you, the fluorescent light stuck on the ceiling making his eyes look darker in the shadows of his hair on his face. 
your hand flies up into the air unconsciously, and your palm is opened to him. it was trembling like you were out in the snow without a coat, and the tears return to your eyes as the sour in your nose gets harder to ignore. 
“stop.”
it sounds more like a plead than a command, because of how shaky and terribly heartbreaking it was.
“please, don’t come any closer.”
something cracks in juyeon, and the sight alone breaks you further.
“y/n--”
“no, don’t--”
“i just--”
“please, just stop talki--”
one large step was enough for him to reach you, and he completely disregards the palm you have in the air between you when he presses his lips into yours.
the impact jerks your tears over your lids and more dribble out when you shut your eyes instinctively, tasting the familiar sweetness on your tongue when he willingly parts his lips. 
your cheeks were cupped in his warm hands, and your hands were balled into fists against his chest.
the automatic light flickers off when there was a lack of movement, and the darkness only fuels this intoxicating moment. 
it was a still, long kiss, but your heart felt like it was being thrashed about in a cage. 
it feels like someone was driving the tip of a shoe into your muscles, stepping and shoving clenched fists into your bones and cracking them into pieces like twigs. 
his fingers were digging into the hair behind your ear as you feel yourself involuntarily melting into his hands, then this feeling of missing him overwhelms you like you were drowning in sorrow. 
juyeon pulls away, eyes frantically searching yours for any sign of hatred or anger or any loaded emotions.
but seeing him look at you with immeasurable amounts of detriment only reminds you of the second he realised you spent the night with another man.
guilt fills you like someone stuffed a pipe down your throat and your tears collect in the corners of your eyes when you manage to find the strength to writhe out of his hold.
“y/n--”
“no,” you shake your head and snap yourself away from him, backing yourself to the door so you could run.
run like you have for the last five years, because of mistakes you both made and neither of you refused to admit -- no, admitted but cannot forgive each other for.
“i still love you, and i don’t want to break you again... so please don’t break me anymore, juyeon.”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
to be continued
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Text
Thunderstorm
So....i got carried away with this one and manged to get it all done WAY before i said i would!
This was a request from my babes @the-baby-bookworm​
<<Hey lovey! Could I pretty please have a Rafael Barba x reader one shot where reader gets crazy migraines and Rafi does his best to look after her?? ❤️ Thank you in advance, love you 🥰 >>
Love you heaps and hope this is what you were looking for- so sorry for the poor excuse of a mood board, I was going to ask you to do one but I wanted to keep it as a surprise! 
Warnings: All the fluff 
WC: 1722
Enjoy x
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You had been at the DA’s office for almost 3 years. Carmen was one of your childhood best friends. You guys had been walking beside each other most of your lives, and you were one of her bridesmaids when she got married. She knew at your previous law firm you were far from happy, so when a paralegal position came up she told you to apply.  So naturally when the time came for her to go on maternity leave she wanted you to take her position while she was off with her new little family member.
You had always been friendly with Rafael on the times when you covered for Carmen when she was sick or on holidays. So when her 24 month maternity leave position came up you jumped at the chance to work with one of the best Assistant District Attorneys in Manhattan. It helped that he was easy on the eye and smelt amazing. You had watched him a couple of times during trials and were in awe of how he controlled the court room and wondered if he would be like that in the bedroom. You had come to know some of the SVU Detectives as they were always in and out of the office.  
As soon as you seen the weather forecast on the news that night, you knew what kind of day you were going to have the next day. You had always suffered from blinding migraines, but for some reason the ones where the pressure from thunderstorms stuck around, they were the worst. You knew you couldn’t take the day off. Rafael was in the middle of a massive rape trial and he needed you there at his beck and call.
As soon as you opened your eyes to turn off your alarm the tension behind your eyes was almost blinding and your head was aching. You quickly showered pining your hair back in a neat bun with pins not too tight to cause more tension in your head. You slipped on a pink and white paisley pattern button down long sleeved blouse and a black pair of bootleg dress pants and choosing flats for comfort, you didn’t need sore feet as well as a sore head. You decided no makeup and walked into the kitchen popping some paracetamol in hopes for some ease to kick in before you got to the office.
From the moment you walked to your desk it was non-stop. Email’s, messages even a trip to the file room. Rafael had messaged and asked for some files and one of his law books from his shelf, asking you to bring them to him in the room next to the court room. 
Nothing had helped settle your aching head, even the two iced coffee’s you had. By this point your vision was blurry, you couldn’t see straight and you felt like you were going to be sick.  You rode the lift down to the court room level and made your way to the room Rafael was working in knocking waiting for him to answer. You finally heard him say “Come in” you turned the knob to a mess. Case files everywhere and scrunched up pieces of yellow pad paper everywhere, even on the floor.
You walked over to the table placing what he needed next him, tisking at the state of the room and then walking around tiding up around him. Putting papers back in the folders they belonged in and throwing rubbish in the bin. You hadn’t notice Rafael watching you,
“Y/N are you ok? You don’t look well”
You looked over at him with a small nod and a smile,
“Yes Mr Barba”
As if on Que you felt like your head was cracking open and your eyes went all blurry making you lose your balance. Lucky Rafael had seen your face go a horrible shade of white, standing to get to your side before you lost your balance. He had one arm around your waist and had grabbed your bent elbow with his other hand, your hands hiding your eyes trying to block the light. You melted into Rafael resting your head on his shoulder.
“You have a migraine don’t you?” He asked just above a whisper
The door swung open Amanda and Liv rushed in,
“Barba, the perp has been rushed to hospital- he got into a fight in custody, your cross will have to wait till next week” Liv said breathless.
Rafael moved to sit you down on a chair at the table. You were in so much pain you had taken no notice of what was going on or the fact Liv and Amanda walked in with his arms wrapped around you. Rafael started to rub circles in the middle of your shoulders with his open hand,
“Works out well then. Let me tidy up here and go to my office, can you walk Y/N to your car and then take us to my place?”
“Is she ok?” Amanda looked slightly worried looking down at you
“Migraine- give me 10 minutes”
Rafael moved around the table picking up all the flies and books, grabbing his jacket and rushing off to his office. Liv and Amanda walked over helping you stand. Amanda wrapped an arm around her shoulder, hers around your middle, Liv holding your arm and the walked you to the car, sitting you in the back.
You were sitting in the back seat with your head between your knees, pleading for some relief when Rafael slid in next to you. He reached over and started to rub up and down your back again as you felt the car take off.
You weren't sure how, but you were standing in Rafael’s shower letting the water run over your head. The water landing on you was giving the tiniest bit of relief so you could open your eyes not having double or blurry vision the first time all day. Slowly you got out of the shower and dressed in a pair of Rafael’s track pants and a t shirt he had left there for you. When you walked out into the kitchen area, your blurry vision back after your shower, it was one of the most attractive scenes you had ever seen.
Rafael was standing in the kitchen pouring hot water from the jug into a mug. No shoes on showing off his white polka dot socks, his dress pants and under shirt still tucked into his pants. He heard your foot steps on the tiles and turned to look at you,
“I have just made you some ginger tea. Go get into bed and I’ll put an ice pack on your neck, then take one of these and rest” he gifted you a small smile “Go, I’ll bring it all in”
You nodded, in too much pain to talk or argue, making your way to the bed room that was quite dim sitting down on the edge of his bed. Rafael walked in hands full putting everything on the bedside table. He made his way to sit down right next to you, his body resting next to yours. He had wrapped the ice pack in a hand towel, moved your hair to the side, his finger tips brushing along your skin and placed it on your neck. He started to rub your back again, you melting into his side, resting your head onto his shoulder again, your eyes closed. Rafael kissed you on top of the head.  
After a very long moment, Rafael pulled away taking the ice pack off your neck standing to reach for the medication and ginger tea that was now cooled. He handed them both to you,
“Have this now and rest”
You put the tablet in your mouth and swallowed it down with the cool ginger tea, sitting the mug back on the bedside table. You laid down and shut your eyes.
“I’ll be in my office if you need me” he went to walk out.
“Please don’t go” you reached your hand out for his.
Rafael took your hand in his, kissing the top of it. He let go and made his way around to the other side of the bed getting in behind you, spooning you. Rafael’s arm was wrapped around you, his hand resting on your tummy, you placed your hand on top of his pushing your fingers between his.
****
You slowly opened your eyes to rain crashing on the window, the pain in your head finally gone and a soft glow in the room. As your eyes adjusted you moved back slightly, your eyes opened wide as you noticed red plaid material close to your face, you lifted your head to see Rafael sitting next to you in his plaid pajama pants and black t shirt. You had been snuggling into his leg and hip while he sat on the bed leaning on his head board working on his question tree for next week. You locked eyes with him, pure horror all over your face,
“Mr Barba I’ am so sorry” You sprung up to sit.
“Please call me Rafael and don’t be sorry. Are you feeling better?”
“Ah yeah, how long have I been asleep?”
“About 4 hours” Rafael put all his paper work on his bedside table.
“I should get out of your hair, thank you for taking care of me” You smiled and went to stand up from the bed.
“No wait” Rafael grabbed your hand before you had moved off the bed, pulling you back slightly to face him “You can’t leave, it’s raining so heavy outside and- I don’t want you to go” He lifted your hand he was holding, kissing the top of it.
You pulled your hand out of his grip and adjusted yourself to face him more. You cupped his cheek and ran your thumb over his cheek bone. A small smile coming to his face, him leaning into your hand. You closed the gap between you, your lips landing on his for a soft kiss. Both your lips massaging each other’s. Rafael wrapping his long fingers around your wrist of the hand that was on his cheek. You pulled back and rested your forehead to his,
“I liked looking after you” Rafael ran his thumb along your arm were it had been resting.
“I liked you looking after me. Can I take you for breakfast tomorrow to say thank you?”
“Are you asking me on a date Y/N?” he chuckled leaning back kissing your forehead
“Yes” Your cheeks going bright red. Rafael laughed softly and kissed both your cheeks and then lightly on the lips, pulling you into his arms leaning back, you resting your head on his chest.
“I would love to go on the date with you- I wished you asked me sooner”    
Tags: @dianilaws​ @beccabarba​ @detective-giggles​
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