#insane how innocent and hopeful he looks in chapter one

[rainydayscore]

I love positive character development

#insane how innocent and hopeful he looks in chapter one #shounen no abyss #boy's abyss

[leviathanleva]

Daisy

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Pairing: Cooper Howard/The Ghoul x Fem Reader

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Description: Cooper Howard was not a kind man, he cared for nobody, but himself. Then he found you, a lost little dove, barefoot and crying, torn dress and big innocent eyes staring at him like he was a hero. He knew you’d be a burden, he knew you couldn’t survive in the wasteland, he was doing you a favor.

But he couldn’t pull the fucking trigger...

🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼🌼

Chapter 1 "The Savior"

Since the day you were born, there was something horribly wrong with you.

You had no immune system, your skin was paper-thin, you couldn’t exercise without collapsing, and every nerve in your body was in constant pain. There was no use for you aside from being a measly archive keeper and book transcriber. Your father was a weak man, despite your disabilities and how costly it was for the rest of your Vault, he kept you alive, consumed by the idea of finally finding a cure for his little girl.

Every single moment since your birth, you had spent in this squeaky clean, insanity-inducing, paper-ridden medical room. Everything was plagued by the stench of medicine and spirit, disinfected down to the core. The floor and walls and even the ceiling were covered in a leather cushioned layer to prevent any injuries, sparkling white, of course. Who needed color when the stench of new paint might cause you a migraine?

In honesty, you’d give away half of your miserable life just to see color outside of the packaged book covers stacked neatly on the floor. You built a makeshift city out of them, following the pictures drawn in an old magazine you’d read ages ago and kept hidden under your pillow. With time, you learned how to make paper flowers out of some stray files that nobody would miss. You had to find some solace, something to keep you from crying your delicate heart out every night because this was no way for anyone to live.

You weren’t just isolated from the world above, but from everything, only getting glimpses of the bright metal vault corridor and bustling dwellers whenever your father would open that wretched vacuum-sealed door to give you medicine. You knew people’s names and faces, everyone in your vault was memorized to the letter, but you’d never met them and probably never would.

You were never given your own Pip-boy, never assigned as a potential marriage candidate, and you’d never have children or any family once your parents passed away. A small part of you knew that you wouldn’t even outlive them, frail and genetically inferior as you were. You’d die within the next few years and you’d take the burden of your existence off the shoulders of everyone who worked tirelessly to find a solution to your illness.

You waited for that day with hope, dreaming of the end of the torture and solitude.

You had pleaded with your father that night with angry tears in your eyes to at least bring you coloring pencils or crayons or a radio to chat with the rest of the residents and make friends. But, as usual, he had refused gently while rocking you in his arms, cooing at you with a regretful tone and pain carving deep wrinkles in his features. Then he’d smiled at you, melting away your worry and frustration and misery, and he’d kissed your forehead tenderly. He still treated you like a little girl and to him, you’d always be one. He wiped your tears away and hope shone in his eyes, they looked exactly like yours, that was the only thing you’d taken from him. Everything else was a gift from your mother and you often looked in the mirror just to remember what she resembled.

She’d stopped visiting a long time ago, months, maybe even years, you weren’t sure. The passing of time was a fickle matter when you were caged in a cushioned prison every single day.

Your father hummed softly, lulling you while he gently tucked you into the nursing bed and secured the oxygen mask over your mouth. He was your angel, your only salvation, your only source of conversation and comfort and interaction and love. He adjusted the catheter back into your vein before fluffing up your pillow.

“This might be it, sweetheart.” he whispered while watching you doze off slowly, his gaze held such affection for you. He placed a new IV bag to drain into your arm, one you’d not seen before, but you trusted him. This was nothing new. He came up with a new medicine recipe every month, without fail. “This might just be the cure. You’ll tell me how you feel tomorrow.”

You can only sigh and give your best smile, unable to share his enthusiasm after so many failed attempts. He rubbed a thumb over your sickly-colored cheek, his skin like sandpaper against yours, worn and calloused from spending a lifetime in the vault’s field.

“Have some faith in your old man.”

“I do, dad…I’m just so tired of this…”you bite into your tongue to keep more tears from spilling, and your bottom lip trembles despite your best efforts to tame it. Watching his face falter breaks your heart and you suck it up, push your tantrum down and pout instead. “And you’re not old.”

He laughs at your whiney remark, the first laugh he’d had in a long time, and he slicks back your hair, taking note that he needed to trim it soon before it got too long. Maybe when he had the energy, he’d sit down for more than a few minutes and braid it like he used to when you were just a child.

“I know you are, baby girl, I know.” he shushes you with the utmost care and stands. “Just a little longer and you’ll be strong enough to help your pop pick out the tatoes. Get your pretty hands all dirty and then have a big plate of spam for a job well done.” he gazed at you, masking his sorrow and bitterness at the cruelty life had forced upon you. His hand hovered over the lamp switch and he glanced one last time at the brand-new IV bag slowly emptying in your bloodstream. “Night, sweetheart. Love you.”

Too stricken with grief over your miserable lifestyle, you didn’t return his tender words, hoping he understood and knew that you loved him just as much if not more. When the lights went out, your eyelids closed, squeezing out a few lonely tears in the darkness before you begrudgingly drifted off to sleep. A dreamless slumber when you were gently rocked through the foggy confines of your subconsciousness.

Your one wish was to see the world outside, uncaring if it were a wasteland or a paradise, ignorant of the dangers and naïve towards the people who potentially lived up there. You just wanted to be free, even if it would cost you your life, you wanted to see the sky just once, wanted to prove to yourself that no, it looked better than any picture your father had shown you. You wanted to swim in the ocean and see fishes and see a whale, a creature so big it was unfathomable to imagine, you wanted to taste the salty sea water and become sick and just be happy to be alive for once. You wanted to feel the grass beneath your feet, to touch snow and dance in the rain until you slipped and fell in a puddle only to splash in it because you’d never seen or felt any nature.

You just wanted to live…

The hours ticked by in a hazy blur as you lay lifelessly on your bed. Your room was partly sound-proof, you heard nothing of the ruckus slowly brewing beyond your medicinal prison. Sleepy soundly, you didn’t hear the slaughter, the begging and pleading voice on the brink of crying before the sickening cracks of broken bones. You didn’t hear the crazed ramblings of the raiders stalking your fellow vault dwellers like it was a game of cat and mouse. Your vault was slowly succumbing to chaos and rampage and it was only when the electricity went out and your door unlatched that you were startled awake.

You bolt up with wide eyes and in a panic, gaze averting to the door and heart skipping a beat when you realize it’s open. With a small grunt and a relieved inhale once the oxygen mask is ripped from your face and tossed on your pillow, you scramble to stand. The IV is disconnected from your arm with an expert touch, replaced by a cotton ball to obscure any heavy bleeding from the open puncture wound. Your bare feet shuffle over the soft floor, slippery against the white leather because you’d unknowingly started to sweat from anticipation.

Was this just another cruel dream?

You walked to the exit with timid footsteps before opening the door wide enough to stick your head out. An incessant voice kept repeating how disappointed your father would be if he saw you sticking your nose out and potentially catching an infection from the unsterile air. That voice was dismissed promptly, this was your first chance at seeing anything beyond the medical room and you’d rather die than miss it.

Had the power gone out? But that was impossible. The power never went out, there had always been a steady flow of electricity for as long as you could remember.

The lights flickered, most were broken, letting the eerie darkness overwhelm all corridors except for one.

“Hello?” you call out hesitantly, shaky voice hoarse with sleep and anxiety both. Looking around, you couldn’t see much, there wasn’t a soul in sight and the silence was deafening. “Dad?”

Nothing. Nothing and no one.

A hand clutched at the door to support your buckling knees and you breathed deeply, encouraging yourself to be brave, that this was your chance. After dutifully gnawing on the inside of your cheek you stepped forth into the crossroads of corridors, letting go of the door and leaving everything familiar and safe behind. Your head whirled so much your neck popped multiple times as you frantically looked around in the scarce light and as terrifying as all of this was, it was also heaven unknown. You had never seen so many things – plant pots, plants, all bright green and juicy, you’d stuck your nail in a particular one only to feel a strange gooey discharge on your finger. It was a succulent, you’d read about those somewhere, very sturdy indeed, very pretty, but had no smell. You liked them already.

The further you went, the more a nagging thought kept creeping up your spine like a chill.

Where was everybody?

You kept looking, following the corridor and under the guidance of blinking lamps. You knew the Vault like the back of your hand after spending countless hours studying its diagrams, having nothing better to do. Now you were experiencing it in person. No longer needing to strain your imagination to picture every nook and cranny, you could see it with your own eyes. The floor was so cold under your feet, but you didn’t care, too high on adrenaline and pure joy to notice such a small inconvenience. A hand glided absentmindedly against the wall, tracing over pipes and posters and glass windows until you prickled your finger on a jagged edge and winced away.

You stuck the winger in your mouth with a pained scowl and glared up, searching for the source of your misfortune.

You froze.

Blood, everywhere, oozing down the wide hole in the window and silently gushing out of the disemboweled corpse of a human being, still warm. And even through the liters of blood and the sickening feeling of nausea that had your eyes dart to the floor, you immediately noticed the dark blue suit they were wearing. A dead vault dweller tossed through the window so hard they’d broken through and gotten impaled on the glass.

A vault dweller.

Dead…

DEAD!!!

You stumbled back and wretched, stuffing your mouth in the crook of your elbow and sputtering saliva as your stomach churned with bile. You bumped into a metal cabinet in your stupor, scraping for purchase as your legs lost all function, knocking over a clock and a radio that came to life as soon as it hit the floor. The sound echoed through the Vault, like a haunting melody to the arrival of a new victim, lured out and ready for slaughter. You.

Horror. A massacre, as the light flickered your eyes feasted on more marred flesh and ripped skin and so much blood. Crimson splatter and trails of handprints were strewn over the walls, the echoes of an dire struggle which ended in vein, trails of violence were etched into the hallway. You couldn’t hold it in anymore, you threw up, clutching at your stomach as you let out the traumatizing sight the only way your body knew how. Doubled over and twitching as the shock was replaced by such a raw feeling that you nearly lost your mind.

Corpses littered the floor beyond, caked in their own entrails, skulls bashed in, unrecognizable and still and…

“Hi there, princess.”

A chill went up your spine as you realized that the frilly white dress you wore wasn’t enough to keep you warm beyond your room. Your skin littered with goosebumps, thin hairs standing up in fear as you stiffly craned your neck and looked back to the other end of the corridor. What little color was left in your face dissipated at the sight.

A man, disfigured and disgusting, with wild hair and wilder eyes and a grin that shook you to the bone stood there. He was shirtless, showing off a large hairy belly and covered in stick-poke tattoos, one of his legs was replaced by what you made out was a metal stick of sorts. He was three times your size…and he looked at you with such perverse intent that you nearly screamed. A vile creature, not even human anymore.

“Don’t be scared, pretty.” he leered, chapped lips and rotting teeth and a foul blackened tongue, and raised a large palm in front of him to halt you from moving. “It’s okay…Come here. Come to me.”

Instinct took over and you automatically stepped back, not daring to take your eyes off him.

“Ah, don’t do that now.” he warned sweetly and slowly began walking towards you, creeping closer every time the lights flickered off. “You’ll just make this harder for you, yeah? Come to Eddie, sweetheart. I’ll take care of you.”

Everything about him screamed evil. He looked deranged and capable of things you’d never even begin to imagine.

A surface dweller. A survivor. A killer. A monster.

The moment his boot sunk in a pool of blood and squeaked against the floor realization hit you like a speeding truck. The grim expression should have been his sign to catch you, but you were already leaping over corpses with a blood-curdling screech. Your mind raced as you tried to orientate yourself through the corridors, bolting over shattered glass and spoiled food and so many dead bodies.

You needed to get out. Leave. Escape.

OUT!

His hollars bellowed behind you, alerting the rest of his friends because of course there were more and now they were aware of you and hunting you down like a deer in the forest. You let the tears run down your cheeks, forced the questions of your parents’ whereabouts and health because you already knew the answers, but you let them sink you’d end up like them or worse.

A horde of footsteps nipped at your bare heels and you sprinted and begged your weak little legs to go faster. Sucking in air as adrenaline pumped through your veins like poison, you jumped and ducked and whirled and assured yourself that you had the upper hand here, you knew the vault better than them. You stood a chance, you’d survive.

When the elevator came into view after you rounded a corner you nearly cried out in delirium. A roar nearly deafened you and you flinched, but your pace only increased as you pleaded and struggled not to trip over your feet. They were desperate, clawing at the air to try and reach you before it was too late. Your lungs burned with strain, your muscles felt like they’d tear any moment, but you kept pushing, high on horror and anger and a newfound zest for self-preservation

Salvation. Your only chance to live.

Your shoulder screamed in pain when you slammed against the metal walls of the elevator and thrusted your fist against the button vigorously.

“Come on. Come on. COME ON!”

“Get back here you little whore!”

“Please!” you wailed, screaming and stumbling back when a rusty axe collided with the shutting doors and made sparks fly with an ear-piercing screech. A hand flew up to cover your squinted eyes, sneering and sobbing as the raiders banged on the outside of the elevator and shot conniving curses at your crumbling form. You were slammed down on your arse by gravity as the elevator finally moved, taking you away from certain death as a slew of grim promises were expelled at you from below.

They’d find you, rip you apart, and make you wish you’d just died like the rest of your pathetic vault dwellers. You balled your eyes out, choking on spit and tears and gulping down air as your body shook violently. Clutching at your face, you stared down at your bloody feet with wide, unblinking eyes.

What was this nightmare…

When the elevator came to a halt and the doors reopened you barely managed to stand, the numbness in your limbs proving too much to handle and your upset stomach only contributing. But you had to keep moving, you had to run.

“Daddy…”

With ugly sobs and meek noises of strain and discomfort and utter distaste for your cruel fate, you tumbled towards the ajar vault entrance. Pressing down the button timidly before taking the discarded Pip-boy from the severed hand, you lock your tormentors into their grave and hurriedly tread towards the slowly closing vault exit.

The sun nearly blinds you and the hot desert sun knocks you to your knees as your hands sink to the wrists in sand. You gasp, squeezing your eyes shut before blinking rapidly and shielding your sensitive pupils from the blaring light.

It’s…barren.

A desert, stretching as far as your sight could reach, heated enough for the air to wiggle and dance in the distance, a decrepit city can be seen nestled not too far. A plethora of buildings crumbled to their bases hide away the sealed entrance to your vault, bones are scattered through the coarse sand, human shapes frozen in time, hinting towards a previous era of life on Earth, an era you’d only read about. Again, there wasn’t a soul around no matter how many times you circled your vision.

A wasteland. Painted yellow and orange and contrasting so beautifully with the clear blue sky.

You wanted to marvel and swoon and you would have given any other circumstance, but now, after everything you’d seen, after your mind had been so brutally defiled with images of slaughter, you were incapable. You stood, resisting the harsh breeze and angry sun, clad in nothing but a Pip-boy and a thin summer dress that was everything but white.

You had to walk, seek help, do…something. Anything.

And so you did. Trudging through the sea of sand and stepping hastily as the heat beneath your delicate feet nipped uncomfortably at your skin. Sweat clung to you like a protective layer, washing away any trace of the sensitive lavender shampoo you had used the previous night. Strands of hair clung to your flushed face as you fought a silent and unfair battle against the burning sunrays, one step at a time, with the wind as your only companion. Your nostrils struggled to breathe in enough air, but you didn’t dare open your mouth despite the temptation, fearing dehydration and death as it loomed over you like a shadow.

You walked for what felt like miles, accompanied by your thoughts and nothing else, until the Vault was hidden behind the golden dunes and your feet felt raw. The city was so close now, yet you were so tired, sucked dry by a heat you’d never experienced before, if it hadn’t been for your Pip-boy crackling to life you would have collapsed, too burdened and weak to continue.

You raised your wrist and looked down and were met by a familiar meter.

Radiation.

Something around you was radioactive enough for the device to pick up easily, but there was nothing but waves of yellow hell and you doubted the ground itself was emitting it. Then you heard it. That strange, high-pitched chirping, an alien sound that made your skin crawl and scraped at the back of your head tauntingly.

A scream loud enough to shatter glass ripped through your throat as a sharp sting pierced your ankle. You hit the soft sand with a whimper and rushed to turn on your back before kicking blindly at your assaultant. An ambush from below. Blood trickled from the gash, painting your skin a deep ruby red and spilling over the ground, luring out your predators like moths to a flame.

Insects, roaches too big to be real and too much for your fickle mind to comprehend crawled out of the sand. You’d fallen right into their trap, an unsuspecting victim, a banquet they’d probably not seen since they’d hatched.

Your heart pounded frantically, pulse thumping in the side of your neck as you flailed and screeched, chucking sand at them as they circled you. You wanted to run, every cell in your body fought for you to stand, but you couldn’t, you had no fight left. You’d die here, alone in this decrepit desert and eaten by giant cockroaches and this was going to be the story of your life. You sobbed so pitifully, so angry and bitter and bratty that after everything, this was to be your end. The world spun painfully fast and you wanted to vomit, but your stomach was empty and you only gagged.

With one last scream, you curled in a ball, covering your head with your arms and your legs protecting your belly, as one of the insects lunged forward.

When the gunshot rang in your ears you froze in place and time stopped. The roach flew back, slimy green entrails covering your form like a canvas. The other two hissed and you revolted at the noise, but they were shot a second later, blown to bits, dainty skittish legs twitching as the last few beats of life escaped them. The shadow of your savior dwarfed you completely, giving you respite from the cruel sun.

You roll over and sit up on your knees within a blink only to be met with the barrel of a gun too ratchet and rusted to belong to anyone but a wastelander. You recoil and blink through tear-heavy lashes before roughly adjusting your dress to try and cover your bare thighs from what you presumed was another man. The tip of the gun slid under your chin and guided your eyes up to feast upon your hero. You gulped and whimpered.

He was grotesque, like a man skinned alive and somehow survived, melted skin deformed his features and you’d bet your dinner there wasn’t a strand of hair under that worn cowboy hat. He had no nose, no eyebrows or even lashes, not a spec of hair. He grinned something awful down at you, looking at you like you were a fresh piece of meat, a delicacy among a table covered with rotten food. His stance was wide, torn dark cloth swaying dangerously in the breeze, he seemed almost aetherial in his own twisted and rugged way. You mewled softly as he turned your head from side to side with his gun, gently, mockingly, drinking you in from every angle as if you’d disappear if he so much as blinked.

Your hands clutched at the edge of your dress when he finally spoke and his voice made you inhale sharply and clench your jaw in anticipation.

“Well…Aren’t you a pretty little thing…”

(Listen, it's 7AM and I need sleep, but this mother trucker didn't want to leave me alone so have a chapter from my hastily strewn-together upcoming story. I'll post it on AO3 and probably here if it even happens. I'll fix mistakes later, don't eat me please.)

Chapter 2 >>>

🌼 Masterlist 🌼

#the ghoul x reader #the ghoul x you #cooper howard x reader #cooper howard x you #fallout tv series #the ghoul fanfic #cooper howard #wtf am i doing with my life #x reader #the ghoul

[andvys]

Dancing with our hands tied | S.H.

Chapter seven ⭐︎ Got a feeling your electric touch, could fill this ghost town up with life

Warnings: 18+, minors don't interact. mentions of sex, mentions of unrequited feelings, sexual tension, reader teasing Steve sexually, not giving away anything else

Pairing: Steve Harrington x fem!reader

Summary: After you and Steve cross a line, you are the one to take things to a whole new level — driving Steve insane with your never ending teasing.

Word count: 7.4k+

Author’s note: I know you keep yelling at me but anyways -- shoutout to @hellfire--cult for helping me with this, especially the uh last part hehe.

Also, @prettyboyeddiemunson talked about a little crossover thing, and I love her girl in gods & monsters so she's making a little appearance here for Eddie hehe, all credits go to my bestie of course, the character belongs to her! If you haven't read the story yet, go check it out, it's one of my faves!

Series Masterlist ⭐︎ Previous Chapter ⭐︎ Next Chapter

♡

Staring up at the ceiling, Steve sinks deeper into his pillows, finding more comfort in his bed than usual, he takes a deep breath as he runs his hand over his face. He should feel content, knowing that he’s got the day off but instead he feels tense and frustrated in a way he had never felt before. 

His mind could be anywhere right now, he could think about the new tapes he stacked up at work last night, he could think about the show he watched before he went to bed, he could think about the mixtape Eddie had made for him, he could think about the girl that so obviously tried to flirt with him at work the other day, his mind could take him to any place, his imagination could be limitless but no, his mind is somewhere it shouldn’t be, his mind is with you. 

Nothing he does, nothing he tries to think about can drag his thoughts away from you. You occupy every space of his mind, reminding him of how much control you had taken over him ever since you both crossed a line that changed things between you both. 

Steve may have been the one who started it at all, but you are the one who took the game to a whole new level. 

The little accident in his kitchen that happened weeks ago, was only the start of it all. 

Steve wasn’t exactly subtle when he kept checking you out before the fiasco with the broken lever, and he wasn’t subtle with his touches either. He was treading on thin ice, he knew that, he knew that his slight teasing could have easily backfired if you reacted differently but it didn’t, and your reactions were everything that he was hoping for. You grew flustered, you started blushing, you stuttered and you looked at him the way he was hoping you would. 

But, what he didn’t expect was for you to tease him back, especially in a way that had him blushing, stuttering, and staring at you in shock. 

You were so innocent and shy at first, doing everything as subtly as possible. It started with gentle touches on his arm or his hand, soft whispers during dinner whenever he sat beside you, or long eye contact. Then, you realized just how much power you had over him and things quickly developed into something more, something so much deeper.

Your teasing was no longer innocent and your shyness seemed to have slipped away more and more, little by little. 

The look in your eyes was no longer a shy one whenever you looked at each other. There was a fire behind your eyes that he had never seen before. The smirk that tugged at your lips wasn’t the same one you usually looked at him with, it was different, mischievous, and very suggestive – a little too suggestive for someone like you because if someone else had looked at him the way you do, he’d think that they’re flirting but you don’t do that and certainly not with him. 

The only explanation for your behavior is that you are teasing him, playing with him just the way he did with you but not because you want him. He started something that night when Hopper and Joyce announced their engagement. It was harmless at first, his teasing was light and playful, he loved to see those sweet reactions of yours but Steve didn’t know that it was a dangerous game that he had started, he didn’t know that he’d be playing with fire the moment he’d touch you. 

Because you are far from harmless, and your teasing is not light and playful in the slightest. If it was, he wouldn’t be feeling like this right now; frustrated, agitated and filled with pent up emotions that he can’t even make out in his own head. 

He closes his eyes again as a groan falls from his lips, he shakes his head at himself, cursing inwardly for thinking about no one other than you. 

Has it always been that way? 

Have you always been on his mind? 

Or is it something new?

An unspoken deal was made between the both of you when you two started this. There are no rules, just a winner and a loser – whoever breaks first loses and so far, it seems like Steve won’t even get close to winning, even though he was the one to start it all so confidently. 

You clearly have taken over, because the moment you looked at him with innocent big eyes and a pout on your lips while pressing your chest against his arm when you tried to squeeze past him, your boobs nearly spilling over your cute little top, your voice sounding raspy from all the weed you had smoked that night, he was done for. 

It wasn’t the first time that a girl had done something like this to him, plenty of girls have given him those innocent eyes, have pressed their boobs against him, in much less clothing… but something about you drives him especially crazy. Maybe it’s the fact that you both hate or dislike each other or maybe it’s the fact that he is just extremely frustrated – sexually frustrated. Maybe that is the only reason why you get to him in that way… why he feels the want to continue this little game or why he feels the intense need to fuck you and get you out of his mind, once and for all. 

Another groan falls from his lips when he remembers that Robin bailed on him after she called him in the middle of the night, telling him that she wouldn’t make it to lunch today, meaning that it will be just Eddie, you and him. 

A part of him even looks forward to seeing you, the other part doesn’t because he already knows how he will feel afterwards, while you will probably go home feeling satisfied after teasing the hell out of him. 

Every time before you leave, you look at him as though you had done nothing wrong, which sometimes leads him to believe that you’re not even aware of all the teasing you torture him with and that he was the only one playing this game, all this time. 

Steve drags himself out of bed and into the bathroom, turning on the shower so the water can heat up while he brushes his teeth. He looks at his reflection in the mirror, rolling his eyes at the mess on his head, he brings his hand up to his hair, running his fingers through it. 

As he thinks about what to wear, he gets lost in his thoughts, thinking about you, wondering what you will wear. Are you going to wear a dress? Another short skirt to drive him crazy with? 

He rolls his eyes, cursing inwardly at himself for thinking about you again. 

He needs to get this out of his system. 

He needs to get you out of his system. 

And there is only one way to do it and he knows it, but he’s not even sure where your feelings stand, if you’d be down for what he’s longing for or if you’d laugh in his face if he even tried to suggest something like it. – Your reaction would probably be the latter, and just the thought of it is enough to bring the grumpiness out in him. 

He begrudgingly starts getting ready, all while his mind keeps him occupied with thoughts about you. 

He doesn’t know what caused all of this, he doesn’t know how it happened, how his mind is incapable of thinking about anything or anyone but you these days. 

He feels as though he had been cursed. You are haunting him, in his mind and even in his dreams, and seeing you all the time doesn't help at all… and yet, he wouldn’t want it any other way because this little thing between you both makes him feel a thrill that has been missing in his life. 

By the time Steve pulls up into the parking lot at the diner, you and Eddie are already there.

You’re sitting on the hood of his car, hands folded in your lap, sunglasses low on your nose, a smile on your lips as you’re nodding along to whatever Eddie is telling you. You look good… too good for just a simple breakfast at the diner. 

He parks the car and after a few deep breaths, he pulls out the keys and gets out, trying not to stare at you as he walks towards the two of you. 

“Hey guys.”

Eddie turns around, a mocking smile on his face, he crosses his arms over his chest, “took you long enough, big boy.”

Steve chuckles, scratching the back of his neck as he eyes you from the side, “yeah uh, I missed my alarm this morning and Robin woke me up in the middle of the night to bail on us, took me a while to fall back asleep after that.” 

You groan at his words, sliding off the car, you smooth down your jean shorts and push your sunglasses up into your hair, “so she keeps ditching us.” 

“She’s in love, Sweetheart,” Eddie winks at you, wiggling his brows, “she’s got better things to do.” 

You roll your eyes at his words and look over Eddie’s shoulder, meeting his eyes for the first time today. You lick your lips as your eyes move down up and down his body. 

“Hey, Lego head.”

Lego head. The silly nickname doesn’t quite suit the look in your eyes. 

“Blondie,” he nods. 

Eddie chuckles, playing with the keys in his hand as he nudges his head into the direction of the diner, “let’s go eat, I’m starving.” 

“You’re always starving, Eddie,” you snort as you are the first to start walking. 

“Yeah man, you’re always eating and you’re still starving,” Steve chuckles, walking beside Eddie, “you’re like a raccoon or something.” 

You look over your shoulder, a smile on your lips, “oh he’s definitely a little raccoon.” 

Eddie’s lips part in surprise, he looks between you both, “did you just… agree on something?” 

You scoff at his words, turning back around without another word while Steve looks down, shaking his head. The weight of Eddie’s arm around his shoulder makes him look back up, though not at you, but at Eddie, whose eyes are filled with amusement. 

“You’re not trying to steal my girl are you?” 

Steve doesn’t know what is about the words ‘my girl’ but he feels himself clenching his jaw and gritting his teeth. By the tone in Eddie’s voice, he should know that he is only teasing, but apparently his mind isn’t able to comprehend that right now. 

He feels a fire in his chest that he can’t even explain, one that only grows even more intense a few moments later, when a guy who was just leaving the diner, steps aside for you after opening the door. 

Steve can’t see your face or the looks you are giving to the man who is staring you up and down with nothing but hunger in his eyes, but by the way you walk past him without even turning your head or looking back, he knows that you’re giving him nothing. And yet, it doesn’t stop his anger when the guy keeps checking you out, shamelessly, following you with his eyes, a smirk tugging at his lips as he looks at your ass. You’re not even aware of it as it seems and it wouldn’t be the first time. 

Steve saw you at Big Buy’s the other day, you were strolling around the aisles in your cute little dress, throwing food items into your basket, completely unaware of his eyes on you. He couldn’t look away from you… even when everything you did was riling him up, whether it was the way you bend down to reach for something on the lowest shelf, the way you touched your hair or the way your dress was moving by your sides as you walked. As he caught himself staring at you, at your effortless beauty, he knew that he couldn’t be the only one – and his suspicions were confirmed, when he looked into the other aisle only to see another guy, not past his 30s staring at you, something that you weren’t aware of in the slightest. He also caught himself rolling his eyes and clenching his fists… but that’s something that he easily ignored. 

Unlike today, he can’t even help it when he passes the guy who can’t seem to tear his eyes away from you with a deathly glare on his features, feeling anger for how shameless and disrespectful his ogling is, it’s disgusting. 

“Perv,” Eddie mumbles under his breath, glaring the same way Steve does. 

The guy doesn’t even spare them a single glance, moving past them after taking another long… too long look at you before he walks out of the diner. 

Steve and Eddie roll their eyes, following you to the table that you have already picked, completely unaware of what just happened. 

You sit down in the booth, sliding over to the window. You put your sunglasses down on the table and instantly reach for the menu. 

Eddie sits down beside you, while Steve takes the seat across from you. He tries not to look at you, sinking deeper into the leather seats as he reaches for the menu, as well. 

“What are you guys doing afterwards?” Eddie asks. 

“Nothing, just gonna go back home and watch movies or something,” Steve mumbles, peeking over his menu and at you, to find you looking at him already. 

“Perfect, why don’t you two have a little bonding moment and have a movie day together?” Eddie grins, wiggling his brows at the both of you. 

Steve sees the way you scrunch your nose up at his words, scoffing and shaking your head at him like it’s the most ridiculous thing that you have ever heard, like it’s something that you don’t even want to think about. 

“We’re getting along just fine, no need for bonding time.” 

Right. Steve had been so focused on all your teasing, he almost forgot about how much you two are supposed to dislike each other. 

“Exactly,” Steve winks at Eddie, “Blondie and I are doing just fine.”

He looks back at you, his eyes meet yours, you raise your brows at him, smirking as you tilt your head. 

“Are we?” You ask softly as you blink at him. 

Steve leans closer, licking his lips, he opens his mouth to speak but Eddie cuts him off, clapping his hands. 

“Yeah, you are getting along! Now shut your mouths before you start a fight.”

You both snort at the metalhead, leaning back in your seats, neither of you saying a word, you both just look back at your menu’s, focusing on that… for now. 

The busy waitress stops by your table, telling you that she will be back to take your order in a minute, seemingly catching Eddie off guard after placing her hand on his shoulder before she scurries away again. 

He no longer looks at the menu, he finds something more interesting to look at. 

Steve’s eyes flash with amusement as he looks over at his friend, whose eyes are wide and cheeks are red, an awestruck expression all over his face. He can’t help but nudge your foot under the table, tilting his head towards Eddie when you look up with a frown.

You turn to your best friend. Your features soften, eyes flashing with surprise, you bump your shoulder into his, clearing your throat, “hey Ed’s, before you fuck this up again, don’t you want to tell Lego head about what happened?” You ask, snickering. 

Eddie blinks, turning back to you, “h-huh?” 

“You have a man to give you his opinion of what you did wrong.” 

Steve furrows his brows, looking between your amused face and his confused one, when Eddie’s eyes flash with realization and he groans in annoyance. 

“Sweetheart, he’s gonna be on my side.”

“What opinion?” Steve asks. 

You turn back to your menu, scoffing at Eddie and rolling your eyes before you glance at him, “you’ll want to kill him.”

Eddie groans, shaking his head, his curls bouncing a little. 

“You’ll understand, Harrington. You’re a man. She is… looking at it from a feminine side of things.”

Steve gives you a quizzical look, almost laughing at the exasperated look on your face. 

“Alright shoot,” he says to his friend.

Eddie presses his lips together, taking a deep breath before he folds his hand on the table and looks at him with squinted eyes, “okay so, I saw this girl at the hideout yesterday, Jeff told me to go talk to her, you know… so I did. We started talking, she was funny and all that, and you know, I always like to be a little mysterious.” 

You snort, making Eddie roll his eyes again, “shut it, Sweetheart.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“Anyways,” Eddie sighs, glaring at you, “so, when she asked me if I was there with a girl, I just said ‘wouldn’t you like to know?’” 

Steve draws back a little, raising his brows and pursing his lips, looking perplexed. 

“Uh huh..” You murmur, keeping your eyes on Steve. 

“Eddie,” Steve shakes his head, “just uh… did it… what happened then?”

Eddie sighs again, “well, she rolled her eyes and left, but you know, she may not have a sense of humor so… it’s whatever.” 

“Munson, that girl had a sense of humor, you just have a lack of fucking tact,” Steve says, shaking his head at his friend, in pure disbelief. 

Eddie’s jaw drops at his words, while a laugh falls from your lips as you turn to look at your best friend with nothing but satisfaction on your face. 

“Told you.”

“Seriously!?” Eddie gasps, frowning. “Harrington, you were always mean to girls in the past, and you still slept with them!” 

Steve scoffs, shaking his head. 

“That was in high school, Munson! You are a grown up now, why the hell would you do that? Just tell her you were there alone or with friends!” 

Eddie’s jaw drops again, he slumps back in his seat, throwing his hands up. 

“I just thought that a mysterious persona would work better than… you know… bubbly, happy, go lucky guy, desperate to get his dick wet persona…” He whines, “no one wants to fuck me.” 

You giggle, hiding your face behind the menu. 

Steve’s lips curl into a smile, he points a finger at you, “I’m gonna have to agree with Blondie, again, you’re a fucking idiot.” 

“Don’t worry, Eds. I’ll help you,” you say, smiling, “I’ll teach you how to flirt.” 

“How are you gonna do that, Blondie? Do you even know how to flirt?” Steve snorts. 

You may be a tease, a good one at that, but a flirt? No. You’re too rough, too mean, too harsh to be a flirtatious person, you can barely hold a conversation with someone without going off at them about something, you wouldn’t even know where to begin with, unlike him. 

He is a flirty person, he has charm, he knows how to wrap a girl around his finger with just a few simple words. 

He doesn’t know what to expect, but he surely didn’t expect for you to smile at him, to shrug and give him nothing more than a glance that tells him how wrong he is. 

After the waitress comes back to take your order, leaving Eddie a blushing mess, you excuse yourself to the bathroom, only to come back with your hair now free from the scrunchie that kept it together and another coat of gloss on your lips, something that instantly catches Steve’s eyes. 

You place your elbows on the table, putting your chin into your palm, blinking at him innocently. 

The look in your eyes tells him that you’re up to no good, but he can’t look away. He leans closer to the table, licking his lips as he raises his brows at you. Both of you are unaware of Eddie, who is basically drooling over the pretty waitress, too distracted to notice the looks you are giving to each other.

“The waitress, is she from Hawkins? Never seen her in my fucking life,” Eddie murmurs in awe. 

Steve turns his head to look at the woman, a gasp nearly tears from his lips when he feels your foot on his calf and you pull his attention back on you, he stares at you with wide eyes. 

Smirking in satisfaction, you pull your foot back and look down at your nails.

“I-I don’t know, Munson, not familiar.” He stutters without looking away. 

Steve knew that this would happen, that you would tease him in one way or another, but he didn’t know yet, just where you would take this today. 

When your milkshakes arrive at the table, both you and Steve watch Eddie with amusement as he stares up at the blonde waitress, eyes moving back and forth between her face and her chest, not knowing what to look at first. 

His eyes get stuck on the dainty cross necklace around her neck, seemingly growing more intrigued by her, his dark eyes meeting her blue ones. 

Steve narrows his eyes at you, almost laughing when you look at him, at the same time. 

Eddie’s cheeks are even more flushed than before now, his eyes wide, lips parted. The girl presses her lips together, trying not to giggle at the look on his face. 

“Your food will come right up,” she says, looking between you all before her eyes meet Eddie’s again as she takes the last milkshake off the tray, putting it on the table and sliding it towards him. 

He clears his throat, wrapping his fingers around the glass before she can even let go. 

Both you and Steve watch the way she smiles down at Eddie and at the fingers brushing against hers. 

“Thanks, Sweetheart,” he smirks at her, surprising both you and Steve with the confidence in his voice. 

The girl smiles in surprise, before she turns around, walking away from the table but not without giving Eddie another glance, his lips curl into a bigger smirk and he waves his fingers at her.

Your mouth drops and so does Steve’s, both of you, looking at each other again, with stunned and puzzled expressions on your faces.

“Dude,” Steve mumbles, slowly turning to face his friend, “tell me… how did you fuck this up again… at the hideout, I mean?” 

Eddie only looks back when the girl disappears into the kitchen, “the girl at the hideout just wasn’t the right one.”

“Oh, and this one is?” Steve chuckles, pointing his thumb to where the waitress walked off to. 

“Yeah,” Eddie says, dreamily. “She’s so…”

“Hot?” You ask as you reach for your milkshake, grabbing the red and white straw between your thumb and your pointer finger.

“Gorgeous,” he blushes. 

Your lips tug into a smile, you bring your hand up to his face, pinching his cheek, “aw, look at you.” 

He swats your hand away, snorting. 

“I thought you didn’t know how to flirt, you’re doing such a good job, keep it up, Eds.” 

“What can I say, I’m full of surprises,” Eddie winks at you before he looks away, eyes searching for the waitress again. 

“He doesn’t need your help after all,” Steve laughs, tilting his head, “not that you’d be much of a help anyways.” 

You squint your eyes at him, shrugging at his words, and you surprise him with your silence. 

He watches the way you lean forward, placing your elbow on the table as you finally wrap your lips around the straw. Your eyelashes flutter and you tap your red fingernails against the glass, a moan falling from your lips. 

“Mmmh, that’s so good.” 

Steve nearly jumps from his seat, the sound making his stomach flutter, he clenches his fists, staring at you with wide eyes. 

There’s no smirk on your lips, no mischief behind your eyes, nothing but innocence is etched into your features – you’re not even teasing him, it was nothing but a genuine reaction to the sweet drink. And it’s something that frustrates him even more. 

You reach for the maraschino cherry next, popping it into your mouth before you lick the whipped cream off your finger. 

Steve’s breath hitches in his throat, he shifts in his seat, trying to look away from your lips… that are still wrapped around your finger but he can’t, his eyes are stuck, his body is stuck, he can’t move, all that he can do is watch you.

And then, you look towards him, eyes flashing with surprise when you find him staring. He hopes to see you blushing but instead, a smirk tugs at your lips as you release your finger, scooping up some more whipped cream before you bring it up to your lips. 

And this is where the real teasing begins. 

Steve nearly gasps when you hold eye contact this time as you lick the cream off your fingers, letting out another, softer moan. 

Holy fuck. 

Steve’s eyes darken, he swallows harshly, clenching his jaw in anger. 

Eddie is too busy with his own milkshake, ogling the waitress as she talks to customers at the bar, completely unaware of how you both eyefuck each other, the way Steve can’t take his eyes off of you. 

By the look in your eyes, Steve knows how much fun you’re having with this, you know how much it frustrates him, you know what you’re doing to him. 

And as though, all of this wasn’t bad enough already. You then accidentally drop some of the whipped cream on your chest. 

“Oops,” you purr, giving him an innocent look through your lashes. 

The warmth in his chest only grows more intense, spreading across his whole body, filling him up with need and a deep hunger that keeps growing and growing, one that can only be satiated in one way – he needs you, just once, he needs to have you, he needs to taste you, he needs to fuck you, he needs you out of his system for good. 

He had enough of this, of all this teasing. 

He would fuck you right there on this table if he could.

But, despite your teasing, despite the look in your eyes, despite your little act, he is still not sure about where you stand. He knows how you react to his touches, to his teasing, but a part of him fears rejection if he does make a move. 

You are barely even friends, and the thought of making a fool of himself, in front of you, makes him want to crawl into a hole. 

You are both playing this game, but while he knows what he wants, he doesn’t know what you want. 

Maybe you just enjoy this little back and forth, waiting for him to break first before you move along and pretend like nothing ever happened. Maybe you don’t even expect anything to come out of this. Maybe you don’t even want him the way he wants you. Maybe you just like to tease him because you know that it's riling him up. 

So what is left for him to do? 

Stop this game and move on? Or… keep going and wait for something more to happen? 

He’s had enough of your teasing, but he’s far from losing, there is still some power left in him… some. 

He won’t sit here and let you get away with this. 

So despite the uncomfortable strain in his pants, despite the burning in his skin, he plasters a smirk on his blushing face and reaches forward, keeping his eyes locked with yours as he mimics you, he grabs his glass and he reaches for the cherry on his milkshake, purposely dropping some whipped cream on the table as he puts the cherry in his mouth. He chews slowly, licking his finger tips while he watches you slowly, the way your smile slowly falls, the way your eyes widen a little. 

He bites back the smirk as he scoops up the whipped cream off the table, with both his middle finger and ring finger, bringing them up to his lips, he looks back into your wide eyes as he places them into his mouth, watching the way you break eye contact to look at his lips. 

Your throat bobs as you swallow, tightening your grip on your glass as you watch the way he licks his fingers slowly. 

He can see the way you shift in your seat, the way your breathing gets heavier and your eyes darken, the way you lick your lips and how flustered you get as you look back into his eyes. 

You are pressing your thighs together, he just knows you are. 

He pulls his fingers out of his mouth, smirking at you in satisfaction while you still sit there, frozen in place. He breaks eye contact, looking down at his vanilla milkshake as though nothing happened.

“You gotta give this one a ride home, Harrington,” Eddie mumbles, pointing at you without tearing his eyes away from the bar, “I think I’m gonna stay here a little longer.”

You clear your throat. 

Steve expects you to be more… nervous, to hear your voice wavering, but instead, it sounds confident, filled with yet more teasing as you open your mouth to speak. 

“Oh, I would love a ride home with Stevie,” you smile at him innocently as your foot touches his calf again, but this time, it doesn’t just stay there, you move it up, just a little, but enough to nearly make him choke on his drink. 

“So you can keep getting on his nerves?” Eddie chuckles. 

You lick your lips, smirking as you nod your head slowly, “exactly.”

Yeah, you don’t really do this anymore, getting on each other’s nerves, you both have found something so much better and much more interesting to do to one another. 

“You know I always win, Blondie,” Steve says so very confidently, like he isn’t slowly losing his mind because his want for you is beginning to consume him entirely. 

You tilt your head at him as you bite your lip, the sleeve of your blouse slowly sliding down your shoulder, making him gulp. 

“Do you?” You ask, batting your lashes at him, provoking him with the look on your face. 

He bites the insides of his cheeks, nodding at your words, “mhmm.”

A breathy chuckle falls from your lips, you shrug and lean back, “we’ll see.”

Eddie doesn’t know that you’re talking about something entirely else now, but he couldn’t care less, when he’s got his eyes set on someone that stole his breath away. 

He uses every second he gets with the pretty waitress to flirt, whether it’s through glances when she passes by or through his charming words when she delivers the food to the table. 

He happily eats his burger and his fries, eyes following the blonde wherever she goes, completely blind to what’s happening right next to and in front of him. 

You and Steve keep staring at one another, eyes filled with intense need, hands itching to reach out to the other. 

Steve feels the longing inside his chest, intensifying as the minutes go by, driving him insane. It gets to a point where he can’t wait to get the hell out of this diner so he can go home and take care of himself. He is not sure if he had ever felt this desperate before – he surely never had to rush home to jerk off, but that’s what he feels like now, like he’s going to explode if he sits here any longer. 

The moment you decide on leaving, Steve nearly throws himself out of his seat, feeling no patience left inside of him. 

“I got this covered,” Eddie announces, pulling out his wallet as he gets out of the booth so you can get out, “you two can go.” 

You grab your sunglasses and get up, putting your hand on Eddie’s shoulder, “I see what you’re trying to do, you wanna get rid of us so you can flirt with the hot blonde.” 

He wiggles his brows, smirking at you proudly, “gotta score a date with my dream girl.” 

Steve chuckles, grabbing the car keys from his pocket, he smirks at Eddie, “just don’t mess it up again.” 

Eddie shakes his head, “nah never.” 

“Alright casanova, call me and tell me how it went.” 

“Call you?” He frowns, “I’ll be there to raid your kitchen tonight, sweets.” 

You step away from him, brushing past Steve, “alright raccoon, I’ll see you later then.” 

“See ya,” he chuckles. 

With a sigh, Steve looks at Eddie, playing with his keys and giving him a nod. 

“Good luck, man.”

“Thanks,” Eddie winks, “and don’t kill each other!” He jokes, ignoring the weird looks he’s given from an older couple two booths away. 

“Don’t worry, we’re not at that point anymore.” 

You’re at a whole different point now, one that doesn’t make him angry, not exactly, just one that drives him up the wall. 

Steve stares at your hips, at the way your shorts hug your body so nicely, the way your ass looks so good in them. He forces his eyes away, feeling a little startled when you turn around to face him before you open the door, a friendly smile appears on your face and he realizes that you aren’t looking at him, but at Eddie’s ‘dream girl’, waving goodbye at the girl before you step out. 

He feels the sudden need to talk, hoping that you won’t tease him any further in the car, because if you do, he isn’t sure if he will manage to control himself the way he did, the whole time at the diner. 

He rubs the back of his neck, walking down the steps, he clears his throat. 

“Do you think he will manage to score a date?”

You slow down as you put your sunglasses on, “yeah, I’m pretty sure he will.”

Steve chuckles, nodding. 

“She seems nice, and she’s pretty,” you say.

So are you. Steve thinks to himself. 

“She’s got the kind of blonde hair you wanted when you ruined your hair with the blonde dye, huh?”

Steve can’t see your eyes behind your sunglasses, but he can see the amused look on your features as your lips curl into a smile. 

He ignores the way it feels when you step closer to him, when your hand brushes against his knuckles, sending chills throughout his whole body. 

“Actually, I wanted it even lighter, and how would I know that the pictures on the box dye were lies, it said it lightens up any hair color to that specific color!” 

Steve laughs at you, “what color were you hoping for?” 

You shrug, stepping away from him again when you walk around his car to the passenger side. 

“I wanted like a Dolly Parton or uh… Heather Locklear kind of blonde.” 

He unlocks the car and opens his door, raising his brows at you, “wow, you should have gone to a hair salon, Blondie.”

You lift your sunglasses, rolling your eyes at him, “it was a spontaneous decision, I thought I could handle that myself, I’m definitely never touching hair dye again.”

“Just call me, next time,” he winks at you as he gets into the car, “I’m a pro at doing hair.” 

You laugh at him as you get in as well, “didn’t know you were a hairdresser, Harrington.” 

“They don’t call me ‘the hair’ for nothing.” 

“Oh wow. I wouldn’t trust you with my hair, who knows what color you’d dye my hair to.”

“Maybe I’d get it to the Dolly Parton blonde that you wanted.” 

“Yeah, right!” You scoff at him, “cause you’re such an expert!” 

A smile tugs at his lips, it almost feels normal, sitting here in his car with you, talking like this, it almost distracts him enough from the strong tension between you both, from the pull that is dragging him towards you, more and more. 

Despite the frustration that he feels from all your teasing, he cannot help but want to keep playing the little game. 

The sun is shining brightly, pulling down the sun visor won’t be enough – how convenient it is that he keeps his sunglasses in the glove compartment. He could ask you to get them but instead, he moves closer, “I’m sorry,” he murmurs before he places his hand on your knee as he reaches forward so he can get his ray-ban’s. 

Satisfaction rushes through him when he hears you sucking in a sharp breath. 

But, his longing intensifies when he gets a whiff of your perfume and feels how soft your skin actually is. 

He clearly never thinks things through, his little plans always backfire. 

The want to wrap his hand around your thigh and keep it there is so strong… so goddamn strong, but he pulls away begrudgingly, holding back the smirk when he feels your eyes on him. He puts the sunglasses on, and finally starts the car. 

Your silence surprises him, but he knows that it’s something that won’t stay for long. 

Hungry Like The Wolf by Duran Duran starts playing and Steve almost wants to laugh at the irony, this is exactly what he feels like right now, hungry like a fucking wolf, hungry for you. 

If you had been any other girl, he would’ve made a move on you, a long long time ago. He would have flirted more obviously, he would’ve taken your hand in his, he would’ve brushed your hair out of your face before leaning in to kiss you.

But you’re not just any girl, you’re… you. 

You love this little game, and no matter how flustered you get, no matter the looks you are giving him, he still struggles to read you, he still struggles to figure out whether you want what he wants or not. 

He is waiting for a sign, but it’s almost like he’s blind to anything you give to him. 

He holds the steering wheel tightly, keeping his other hand on the gearstick, dangerously close to your thigh. He keeps sneaking glances at you, at your soft skin, at the way you press your legs together, at the way your fingers play with the loose string on your shorts. 

Steve’s face grows hot, his heart beating faster in his chest. 

He almost feels relieved when your house comes into view, and he pulls up into your driveway. 

“So… what are you doing today?” You ask as you unbuckle your seatbelt, “besides having a movie day by yourself.” 

You turn your body towards him, not making any moves to get out of the car yet. 

“Uh… I don’t know,” he lies, his cheeks glowing red. 

He already knows what he’s gonna do the moment he walks through his front door. 

You take your sunglasses off, biting your lip as your eyes move up and down his body, making him shift uncomfortably, yet again. 

“Well, I’m going to lay out in the sun, in my new red bikini.” 

Steve’s eyes widen, and he almost starts drooling at the images that start forming in his mind. 

Images of you… half naked. 

“We should have a pool party at some point,” you smile, blinking at him as you start inching closer to him, looking down at his lips. 

“Uh huh…”

“But anyways, I should get going,” you sigh, catching him by surprise when you place your hand on his thigh, so dangerously close to where he needs you the most, “thanks for the ride, Stevie.” 

And as though that wasn’t bad enough. 

You almost cause his heart to stop beating, when your face is only inches away from him now, and you press your lips against his cheek, kissing him, completely shocking him, leaving him a stuttering mess. 

He lost all ability to speak, all he can do is stare at you, as his skin tingles and his heart races. 

You smirk at him, eying his red cheeks. 

“Who would’ve thought that Steve Harrington would ever blush for me,” you say smugly, before you pull away and get out of the car, giggles falling from your lips. Without another word, you close the door and walk away, looking over your shoulder one more time, still giggling. 

Fuck. 

His frustration turns into anger when the realization starts creeping in slowly. 

The smug look on your face, the smirk and your stupid giggles prove his point, that you did all of this not because you wanted him, but because you wanted to win this fucking game. 

That’s all it is, that’s all it ever was. 

A game. 

He doesn’t know what the feeling in his chest is, whether it’s the feeling of annoyance or rejection, but it only irritates him even further, especially when all he can think about is still you. 

You in your stupid red bikini, lying under the sun, looking pretty and hot… looking like someone he can never have, not even for a single night. 

He is angry, angry at himself for still wanting you, for needing you, for wishing that he could feel your bare body underneath him, for wishing to hear your moans, your voice calling out his name, your hands clinging to his body, fingers tugging at his hair. 

Despite the rejection, he feels his stupid jeans getting tighter, his dick straining against the fabric, making him feel uncomfortable and so needy to a point that the moment he gets home, he rushes upstairs and into the bathroom. 

He slams the door shut and presses his back against it, hastily unbuckling his belt, the clinking and his heavy breathing being the only sounds to fill the room… for now. He pushes down his boxers and his pants, just enough so he can pull his dick out – his tip is an angry red, already leaking with pre cum, he spits into his hand before he wraps his hand around his aching cock. 

That is all that it takes for a needy whimper to fall from his lips. 

He closes his eyes, throwing his head back against the door as he starts jerking off slowly. 

Images of you curse and bless his mind at the same time. 

He wonders what it would be like to feel your hand around his dick or what it would be like to feel your lips on his neck, your whispers in his ear as you take care of him. 

He furrows his brows, lips parting as his moans get louder and he begins to move his hand faster and faster, squeezing his eyes shut. 

He pictures you on your knees for him, your hands replaced by your lips as he shuts you up with his cock in your mouth, silencing you once and for all, while tears stream down your cheeks.

“Oh fuck…” Steve whimpers, getting lost in pleasure. 

He wanted nothing more than to bend you over the table when you started teasing him with the stupid whipped cream, but all he can think about now is you on your knees worshiping him. 

His muscles tighten as he increases the tempo, using his thumb to rub the slit as he imagines it being the tip of your tongue as you look at him with big and teary eyes. 

And he doesn’t know for how long he was imagining you like this, but it doesn’t matter because he is soon spilling in his hand, a loud groan escaping his lips as well as a shaky breath, the back of his head hitting the door as he tries to ease his breathing. 

Maybe three minutes passed, or twenty, but it didn’t matter. His cum is already on his hand and in your honor. 

But this didn’t satiate his hunger, nor his lust for you in the slightest. 

Nothing that he could possibly do will. 

He can imagine you and take care of himself all he wants, but it won’t change the way he wants you, the way he craves you. 

He knows that there is only one way to get rid of this.

Tomorrow he will put his frustration away. That’s all it is, frustration. He just needs to let it out. He needs to fucking breathe again. 

Yeah. Tomorrow. 

♡

tagging friends and mutuals

@taintedcigs @mysticmunson @wroteclassicaly @maroon-cardigan @munson-mjstan @sherrylyn628 @munsonlore @ibellcipem @joekeerysmoles

#steve harrington #steve harrington x reader #steve harrington x you #steve harrington imagine #steve harrington fanfic #steve harrington fluff #steve harrington smut #steve harrington angst #stranger things angst

[sihtricfedaraaahvicius]

Hi. I was wondering if you'd be willing to write an kind of AU where Sihtric can actually hear people's thoughts. Something like telepathy. And he meets Reader and he can hear all her thoughts also about himself. That would be kind of scary 😂 but also I'm sure you'd make it super fun. I don't care if you make it medieval or modern,anything you'd like.

Note: giving u all a break from my Halloween fic as I edit the next chapters. And oh my god, this idea was so cute! I could've made this SUCH a long fic, but I got too much going on already, so I kept it simple. hope you like it!

Warnings: suggestive, lots of curse words...

pairing: Modern!Sihtric x you (f)

Summary: Sihtric noticed a new library employee, and you certainly had loud thoughts about him.

Word count: 1,8k 

Masterlist

'I just can't focus on the words anymore.'

Sihtric worked from home, as it was the only way he could keep a job. And to prevent himself from isolating, he goes to the library every day, when his work was done. He had been going to the library ever since he recently moved, and by now he already knew all the employees by face, and thoughts. But today, as he had to return a book he had borrowed, he saw someone new behind the service desk. Someone seemingly innocent who took his breath away at first glance.

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

Sihtric was blessed with a curse. He was one of the very few who was able to hear other people's thoughts. It had driven him insane when he grew up. But as he got older, he learned how to deal with it. He could almost tune it out, so to speak, but it was still always there. He was sick and tired of the people in his hometown, so he had recently moved. He found the library in his new city a lovely place, as it was quiet and with little people around, and those who were around usually had no thoughts going on, because they were reading or writing in peace.

'Hi,' you looked up from your computer, 'how can I help you?' Holy shit, you thought, which Sihtric heard.

'Hey,' Sihtric smiled, 'eh, I'd like to return this book.'

'Sure thing, you got your library card?' what the fuck…

'Of course, hold on, it's somewhere in my backpack,' Sihtric said and started rummaging around in the bag.

Where did this guy come from? Oh my god… what a babe. That jawline, that accent, those arms- wait, are those scars on his face? Oh my… I sure like a bad boy. And that hair! Oh, sweet Jesus, the wild hair. Wait, what book is he returning… you glanced at the book on your desk, damn, A Brief History of Time? Okay… pretty boy got the brains too...

Sihtric smirked as he looked for his library card. He usually didn't enjoy hearing what people thought of him, but you had to be the prettiest lady he had ever seen. And he was happy to hear you thought he wasn't bad himself.

'Here,' he handed you the card and looked into your eyes.

What the fuck, he has two different coloured eyes? IS THAT EYELINER? Oh my fucking god, I am very unwell right now…

'Thanks,' you smiled as you took his card. 

Are those lines tattooed on his fingers? Jesus fucking christ, I'd let this guy rail me in the backroom right now…

Sihtric suddenly coughed and tried to compose himself as you scanned his card and the book he's returning.

'There you go. Anything else?' you pushed his library card back over your desk and smiled. If you need any help… anything… ANYTHING

'It's taken care of?' he asked while putting the card back in his backpack, trying not to smile.

'Yep, you can borrow another book again if you wish.' do you want me to read you anything? At night? In bed perhaps?

'Thanks,' he smiled, 'not to be nosy, but… are you new here? I've been here daily for a few weeks now, ever since I moved, and I haven't seen you before.'

Aha, new guy in town I see… well, hello...

'Oh, no, I've been working here for years,' you said, 'but I was on holiday, only returning last weekend. So back to work it is.' you are hotter than the temperature on that island I was at…

'I see,' Sihtric chuckled, 'a damn shame time flies when you're on holiday, right?'

'A damn shame,' you smiled. A damn shame you're probably not single…

'I am,' Sihtric blurted out.

'W-what?' you froze. What the fuck?! 

'I mean,' Sihtric cleared his throat, 'I… I am Sihtric,' he saved himself, holding his hand out to you.

'S-Sihtric,' you smiled, 'I'm (y/n),' you said and shook his hand. Fuck, I love a guy with a firm handshake. I wonder what else is firm about him…

'Nice to meet you,' Sihtric tried to suppress a grin, 'I'll be seeing you around.' He winked before he turned his back to you, on his way to pick another book to read.

He did not just wink. Did he wink? Oh my god. OH. MY. GOD. I have to text the girls…

Sihtric chuckled to himself as he heard your thoughts. He scanned his eyes over numerous titles until he found something that seemed interesting, before he purposely went to sit close to the service desk. Close to you. 

You looked up as you saw movements in the corner of your eye, and you found Sihtric smiling at you as he sat down. Sir, the whole library is free… why… why must you sit there. A torture.

'Found a new one to read,' Sihtric said, holding up a book.

'Enjoy,' you chuckled. My god, he is cute. He is ridiculously cute. And hot. That's it, I'm calling the cops. This is a whole crime… I better call the fire brigade too. AND the medics, because someone needs to check my pulse…

Sihtric hid his face behind his book and couldn't stop smiling. He thought you were cute, yet not that innocent though. But Sihtric didn't mind that, because if he was honest; he would totally rail you in the backroom too right now. But he was a gentleman, for now, and you were at work. 

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

Do your job, girl, come on. Stop letting your eyes wander to the insanely hot guy with the strange name- oh, fuck no!

Sihtric looked up from his book.

'Hello, beautiful!' a man said as he walked up to you.

'Shhh! This is a library!' you hissed quietly, 'how many times do I have to tell you?'

'I know, I know,' the man said more quietly now, 'just came here to see you again.'

I know, you fucking creep. You smiled.

'So, you never answered my question the other day… when I was here?' the man said and leaned over the counter, peeking at your legs under your work skirt. I'd make good work of those legs, mhm.

Sihtric grimaced at the unheard interaction. You were clearly creeped out by the guy, and rightfully so, he was old enough to be your grandfather, but he clearly had other ideas than slipping you some money to go and buy an ice cream, you know, the thing grandfathers are supposed to do.

'I'm sorry, but it's a work policy that I cannot go out with customers,' you said politely. This lie better fucking work…

'Oh, come on,' the man said. One night, he thought, that's all I need to ravag-

'Lady?' Sihtric called out to you, 'do you have a moment?'

'Yes!' you rushed away from the old creep. Oh thank god, praise the lord. Wait, better grab that clipboard and hold it behind my back so the creep can't check out my ass…

'Do you need something?' you asked Sihtric.

'Not really,' he whispered, 'but, I couldn't help noticing…' Sihtric cocked his head slightly towards the old man.

Fucking hell, that's how obvious it is? This is so embarrassing…

'Yeah,' you said softly, 'he's been hitting on me for months,' you made a grossed out face, 'I keep telling him no but he keeps coming back.'

'Won't your boss do anything about that?'

'My boss?' you scoffed, 'he doesn't give a shit about the employees.' He only cares about money. He doesn't even care that the creep waits outside until closing time, following me home…

'Can I help you somehow?' Sihtric asked, concerned about the behaviour of the man and the way no one seemed to care.

Oh my god, he's so fucking cute… why can't this guy wait outside for me until closing time...

'No,' you smiled weakly, 'that's…that's really sweet, but there's nothing you can do, I'm afraid.' But you could hold me in those muscular arms…

'Okay,' Sihtric said, 'does he… does he stick around?' he carefully asked.

'Yeah, the creep figured out my shifts… his name is Aethelhelm, by the way, I guess calling "the creep" is a bit rude.'

'No worries,' Sihtric smiled, 'he looks like a creep.'

'He is,' you laughed softly and looked into Sihtric's eyes. Fuck… this guy is so beautiful. Wait, did his eyes just light up?

Sihtric quickly looked away and bit down on his lip.

'Anyway,' you cleared your throat, 'I… I should get back to work. Back to the creep,' you made a face, to which Sihtric smiled. 'But thanks for the distraction.'

'Anytime, lady,' Sihtric said and gave you a small nod. And he couldn't help checking out your ass when you walked back to your desk, and he bit down a smile when he heard your thoughts.

Yeah... I'd totally let him do me in the backroom…

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

'You finished that book already?' you asked about an hour later, when you saw Sihtric got up and was on his way to head out of the library. What kind of question is that, you dumbass. Well done being smooth…

'I guess,' you smiled. I hope so…

'No,' Sihtric smiled and shrugged. He had been glancing at you the whole time when you managed to focus on your work again, and his eyes kept trailing back to you. 

'I just can't focus on the words anymore,' Sihtric continued, 'so that's my signal to go home. I'll see you around.'

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

'No, no, no,' you sighed when you saw Aethelhelm was waiting for you again as you closed the library. Maybe if I'm really fast he won't be able to catch up with me...

You quickly locked the door and almost sprinted around the corner, where you bumped into someone.

'I'm sorry!' you blurted out. Oh my god… oh no…oh no, I'm feeling myself blush!

'Oh, hey,' Sihtric smiled, 'are you okay? You look a little spooked.'

'Yeah, fine,' you lied and glanced back over your shoulder, 'just eager to get home.' 

And get away from that fucking creep! Oh, no. No he's coming over. Oh for fuck sakes.

You looked back at Sihtric. I hope you will forgive me…

You grabbed Sihtric by his shirt and pulled him in for a kiss. It took him a few seconds to adapt to the situation. He already knew you were hiding from Aethelhelm, but didn't quite expect this. Yet he wasn't complaining, and he kissed you back without hesitation.

Fuck he's a good kisser, you thought, and Sihtric smiled against your lips as he pulled you closer. 

Oh my god, you moaned softly against his lips, oh my god, fuck, he's so hot. Wait, what is he doing, you felt Sihtric's hands slide down your lower back, onto your ass. Sihtric knew "the creep" would see it, and he also knew what you had been thinking about earlier that day, so he amusingly squeezed your ass, firmly.

Oh, fuck, those hands… oh dear lord, I will be thinking about him tonight…  

You raked your fingers through his loose hair, kissing him as Sihtric pushed you back towards the library entrance while "the creep" had already turned and left, looking upset. 

Wait… you thought as you were pushed up against the library door, his lips still pressed onto yours, what… what is he doing… the library is closed…

'You wish to be railed in the backroom, lady?' Sihtric grinned

Oh, sweet Jesus, it's like he can read my thoughts, yes, please...

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

taglist: @clairacassidy @finanmoghra @uunotheangel @hb8301 @bathedinheat @neonhairspray @anaeve @bubblyabs @travelingmypassion @sylas-the-grim @heimtathurs @bubbles-for-all-of-us @andakth @chompchompluke @willowbrookesblog @lady-targaryens-world @skyofficialxx @diosademuerte @elle4404 @alexagirlie

[DM to be added to/removed from taglist! & don’t be shy to like, reblog & comment!🖤]

#modern!sihtric #sihtric x reader #sihtric x you #the last kingdom fic #sihtric fic #sihtric kjartansson #the last kingdom #tlk #sihtric

[taegularities]

Riiiiiiid can i have a teeny tiny request when/if you can answer this. When oc was missing, what was going through jk’s head? Like did he thought she left him, got kidnapped by her parents, got into an accident, etc? Just wondering what’s fuelling his fear. Amazing lovely chapter! Srsly chefs kiss 🙌🏻

genre: est. rel. 🥺 fluff, angst wc: 1.3k 🤭 a/n: this turned into a legit drabble LMAO i'd be over the moon if you guys lmk what you think of this lil mess and whether i did a good job? :] not proofread <3

–

if jungkook had the power to undo this, what would he do differently?

hours ago, when you left the apartment.

perhaps he'd handle you with caution. realise that his fret means nothing, and that nobody else defines your relationship but him and you.

maybe he would let you know that he's stuck to you like superglue, no matter what. that he goes insane when you don't show signs of life. and that you're stitched into all crevices of his heart, permanently.

perhaps reacting in such a way could've changed the chain of events today. whatever happened, maybe you could've reached out, rushed to him. instead, you were hidden in a bathroom minutes ago, door locked and a barrier between the two of you.

even now, your mind roams in far distance. waiting for a line to appear or not; and the approaching result fills him with fear. not because he in particular dreads it – but because you do. sniffling, drying your tears, shaking.

jungkook isn't stupid, so he won't tell you how you affect him. how your pain becomes his burden, too, and how he wants the moment to pass, so your tremble stops.

life didn't pain you enough, it seems. something or someone in the skies above is being unfair.

it hurts. it hurts. it fucking hurts.

and on top of everything, jungkook's own ache, courtesy of his overthinking, still lingers. how he wondered if you'd left him. or hoping you weren't hurt. praying that you were unscathed, not a victim of the world's carelessness.

he can't tell you, though. and he doesn't.

not when the minutes pass and jokes are exchanged. not when you explain why you never came home. and not when only one line appears, pushing you into another sobfest that only his arms heal, slowly and carefully. bit by bit.

you're so warm against him. so innocent and relieved, seeking a cure in him to diminish the former pain. you hold onto him so tight, quivering more than ever, crying tear after tear after tear.

jungkook doesn't think he's ever felt such a firm, solid crack splitting his heart. because you don't deserve this.

you're his gentle, enthusiastic girl, aren't you? thrilled about countryside weddings and glued-on stars. you do not deserve this.

your transparent emotions punch him in the guts even when you've bid eun goodbye. and the very next moment, as he comes to a stand in front of the entrance, stalling the drive back home, he feels something stir in him, too.

the same as before when you opened the bathroom door. the same intense yearning clogging up his throat. because when he looks at you now…

tear-stained cheeks. red eyes. yet, a soft smile assuring him that you're okay again…

he knows now. he knows.

"angel..." he voices, and you lift your falling eyelids, endless tenderness in your gaze.

his heart combusts. nervous fear fills his entire being, so worried you might walk away or cry again or be scared off or… or…

tell her.

she might know anyway.

the voice keeps urging him. wants to bare his thoughts, pull them out of his mind.

tell her.

but he doesn't. instead, he calms the brittle organ beneath his chest, eyes blinking his secrets away before he says, "nothing. let's go home."

and he admits now. barely half an hour later, he admits that his choices aren't always well thought out. because how did he manage to pain you again?

crying in front of him, in the middle of the living room, much like… what? a mere month ago. asking him what's wrong; getting back a confused nothing.

he covers his face when you inquire whether he's sure, rubbing it before he responds, "yeah. tired, is all. worn out from the stress."

"i'm sorry."

god. no.

there's no fault in anyone right now. there's no misery, just… realisations. revelations.

"no," he starts, "it's okay."

you swallow, and then argue, "i don't think it is. tell me what you're thinking about."

but how does he tell you? because his words wouldn't suffice. and he doesn't quite know whether the moment's right. how does he unveil something to you that'll never do justice to what he truly feels?

"nothing, baby," he answers; he's being so stupid, "please go to sleep."

but you don't falter. "is it because of the pregnancy scare? or because i didn't call you. i scared you."

"no. it's nothing like that."

he waits.

fuck… he could throw up. you're here, so close, waiting for a response, and he's panicking, nervous, insecure, and… and…

so in fucking love.

"just go change into something comfortable, angel," jungkook gently orders, fuelling the craze in his jumbled mind, "or do you want to eat first? i can get you some food to the bedroom, too."

you shake your head, digging, "i want– you to tell me what's wrong."

but it's not easy. wording feelings has never been easy.

he groans quietly, keeping his foot from tapping the ground. if he told you now… would you react in kind? would you walk away? if he told you now, would you push him away or pull him closer?

shit, shit, shit.

his head falls between his shoulders, fingers grazing his wrinkled forehead, heaviness behind it, "what do i tell you?"

"just. was it… is it seokjin? i won't talk to him if you don't want me to."

god, if you knew…

that seokjin long took a backseat in his head. he would've barely been able to remember his name right now, because his mind is so painfully filled with the same damn things revolving around you.

with the same word, over and over again, repeating in a circle and as a plea.

"that's not it," he promises.

"it's not…?"

"babe… i don't care about him. i stopped caring ten minutes later."

he explains the agitation this morning; explains the far graver evening, how it overshadowed each word uttered in that stupid argument. how you drove him crazy today.

fearing, craving, pining.

wondering if you'd be coming back, if he'd ever get the chance to tell you that you carry his heart with you wherever you go.

and maybe that's exactly what he should do.

right.

enough of this idiocy.

he stands, stepping closer. his voice is unsteady when he calls your name, shaking fingers carding through his hair. he sighs, and then inhales a breath to give his lungs something. to lift the burn.

jungkook prepares his mind for the best and the worst for only a moment before everything goes blank. and then, finally, he realises that, first and foremost, he doesn't need an immediate reaction.

he just needs you to know.

"what is it then?" you still question, tears falling freely, "fuck, just. just say it, please."

your hand curls into a fist, and he rushes to grab your wrist; tugs you into him, a palm on your back. pushing you closer, trying to press his affection into you, and all misery out of you.

he holds your head, holds you right there, lets you cry into his shirt.

and then, he admits, "i'm not good with words, baby. and i don't know how to ever properly verbalise something like this."

"what? verbalise wh–"

then again, does he not know?

no. he does. he just doesn't think it'll ever suffice. ever.

because what he feels doesn't belong to this mundane world. it isn't ordinary; transcends normalcy. no, to him, it appears like something out of a fairytale.

this is what songs are written about; what love stories and novels and movies speak of. the exact rhymes present in poetry. jungkook doesn't have the vocabulary that poets possess.

can't truly explain what you elicit, and what you mean to him, and how insane you make him, and how he wants to hold you and freeze this moment forever, and…

and how he's never been as certain about anything as about–

"i love you."

no… he doesn't need you to answer immediately.

he just needs you to finally know.

–

:'''))))) i have nothing to say except. thank you for this lil request. i am in tears and will go hide in the bathroom now. <3

#*cmi spoiler #kidnapped by her parents had me dying gkjsahfjksaf 😭 #thank you so much for reading and loving it <333 #notes for rid 🌹 #anon #fic: colour me in #jungkook fluff #jungkook angst

[beardedjoel]

closer | part nine

joel x f!reader. non-apocalypse au  

series masterlist | main masterlist | ao3  

chapter summary: your friend sofia is visiting austin, and she drags you out for drinks and dancing, where you have some unexpected surprises in the form of joel. 12.8k words.

chapter warnings: 18+ MDNI, age difference (joel is 42 and reader is 25), soft!dom joel, oral (f receiving), unprotected piv, squirting, dirty talk, praise kink, reader being cute and teasing joel a bunch, joel is so insanely boyfriend this chapter it actually fucking hurts

a/n: this is probably one of my favorite chapters i wrote! it’s a lengthy one too so hope you all enjoy the sofia and joel shenanigans ♡

You’re very deliberately letting Joel come to you tonight. After his promise earlier today, you want to see what he’ll do, how far he’ll go. The thought of all the possibilities alone has your head spinning and heart pounding. 

Now all that’s left to do is wait, to anticipate, unsure of when he’ll make good on his word and come take what he wants from you. You put on a gorgeous, silky lace trimmed powder blue slip that barely covers your ass and tits, leaving practically nothing to the imagination. 

You get in bed, thinking if you just pretend to sleep, it’ll come to you more quickly. You want Joel to come in and see you sleeping innocently, maybe seemingly forgetting about what he promised you today. You bet it would rile him up even more, and the thought makes you laugh and then shiver slightly. But he should know better that you wouldn’t forget that when the promise of his cock being inside you is involved.

You don’t know when you fell asleep, but the next thing you know, your eyes flutter open gently and you know it’s been hours. All night, actually. The pale dawn light is streaming in through your shades, signaling the start of a new day. You stretch a little, rolling over before everything from last night comes back to you, hitting you hard right in the gut.

Joel never came.

The disappointment sinks deep into your stomach, leaving a swirling, nauseous sensation. You try not to get too caught up in it, but your mind is immediately latching onto all the possibilities, most of them making your heart sink further. It’s entirely possible you had read him wrong, that what he said wasn’t a promise to come over at all. You cling onto the hope that it’s something easily explainable that you can hear about the next time you see him. You reach for your phone, seeing he hadn’t messaged you at all last night. Your fingers twitch over your phone screen, feeling desperate to reach out and make sure everything is alright.

A frantic, solid knock on your door gets your attention, and you slide out of bed, rolling your eyes as you catch a glimpse of your slip out in your periphery. You’d even gone so far as to dress up for him, and you feel completely foolish for it. 

You whip open your door, and Joel is standing there, looking haggard. He seems out of breath, like he rushed over here. His mouth is open to speak, but his eyes move back and forth from your face to your slip several times before he shuts it, sighing.

“Oh, sweet girl, I’m so sorry,” he spills out, reaching forward and grabbing your face. You immediately usher him inside, not wanting to accidentally be seen by your parents. You try to fight the urge to completely give in to him the second he touches you, wanting to understand his absence from last night first. His warm, strong hands holding you so desperately is making it so fucking difficult, though. You don’t respond, don’t touch him back, as he pulls you into him.

“It was Tommy, I’m so sorry,” he says.

“Is Tommy okay?” you ask, concerned. The tension in his voice and mention of his brother immediately snaps you out of your frustration at him.

“Yeah, it’s nothin’ like that. He needed to get bailed out… again,” Joel says, sounding exasperated. “That’s why I didn’t come last night, all of it took longer than normal. Fightin’ with the fuckin’ officers since he’s been in more than a few times the last few years. All of it got so… out of hand.” He sighs, melting into you as you finally reach up around him and hug him back.

“I’m sorry, Joel. That sounds like an awful night,” you reply, feeling a wave of relief for yourself rush through you, and one of worry for Tommy. “Everything’s alright now, though?”

“Yeah, bastard’s back home, no thanks to himself,” Joel says, lingering frustration lacing his tone. “Swear, one of these days, he’s gonna have to deal with it on his own. That’s enough about that though,” he says, leaning back to grab the sides of your cheeks and look down at you. His eyes look tired, almost hurt as they search yours for any clue as to how you’re feeling. “I should’ve texted to let you know, too. I was so damn mad I just couldn’t even think straight, if I’m bein’ honest. I’m sorry, darlin’,” Joel adds, as if reading your mind. That question had been on the tip of your tongue, wondering why he hadn’t just messaged you to fill you in.

“That’s okay, Joel, it’s really alright,” you assure him, touching your hand to his. “That’s the only reason you didn’t come, though? All that stuff with Tommy?” you ask, biting the inside of your lip nervously after you ask.

“Of course, baby. Why else wouldn’t I come?” Joel tilts his head in concern, eyes still glued onto yours.

“I just… wasn’t sure. I was worried I’d read too much into it.”

“If you don’t think I'd rather have been here all night doin’ everything I planned to do to you, you’re out of your damn mind,” Joel says, a smirk tugging at the edge of his lips.

“Planned to do to me?” you echo, furrowing your brow with curiosity.

“You have no idea…” he sighs, stroking your cheek. “I have a lot to make up to you.” He leans down and brushes his lips onto yours, kissing you lightly for a few moments.

The confirmation from Joel that he had wanted to be here last night lifts the weight off your chest that had been there since you woke up and realized he wasn’t there with you. You finally crack a little smile, and it looks like his own expression lightens. 

“I don’t think making it up to me will be a problem,” you tease, running a hand lightly down his chest, and Joel chuckles.

“Tonight?” he asks eagerly.

You wince a little, then press your lips together and sigh. “My friend from Chicago is coming today, I have to pick her up in a few hours, and she’ll be here all weekend,” you tell him. 

Joel considers this new information for a few moments, his hands tracing along your hips and back. “You excited to see her?”

You nod, unable to help the smile spreading across your face. “I am, yeah. This is my closest friend for the entire time I lived there. We even lived together for a bit.”

He now seems to be smiling for your sake. “That’s great,” he says, looking excited for you. “I bet you’ll have a good time together, then.”

“She’s practically the opposite of me, totally outgoing and crazy, so we always end up finding something fun to do when she’s in charge,” you say, laughing a little.

“You sayin’ you aint fun?” Joel chides, pulling his brows together. “I think you’re plenty fun,” he says, pulling you close to him again so that your bodies are flush with each other.

“Oh, you think so, huh?” you tease, feeling a flirtatious smile tug at your lips.

Joel nods, bringing his lips close to you, brushing against your cheek, then making his way down to your neck. He places a few light kisses downwards towards your collarbone.

“Can’t make it up to you tonight, but I can certainly give you a little taste right now,” he murmurs close to your ear. You feel your body immediately melt into his, pressing into his solid body, feeling the warmth radiating off of him.

“I was just about to take a shower…” you say as an invitation, your voice going low with the desire suddenly flowing through you. Joel answers by picking you up from underneath, carrying you into your bathroom before setting you on the counter, letting your legs straddle his body as he pushes in between them.

“You even wore all your pretty stuff for me, huh?” he says, looking down at your slip and examining it more closely, running a finger along the lace trim at the top, dangerously close to your nipples. You inhale sharply as he brushes over them in the process, and he catches his eyes on yours. “Such a shame I didn’t get to play with you all night wearin’ this…” he breathes out with a shake of his head. He pushes the slip all the way up your legs and marvels at the matching thong you’re wearing. 

“I’m gonna kill my brother,” he says sternly before hooking his fingers into the straps of your underwear and tugging down - you lift your hips to help him and he promptly tosses your panties on the floor. He tugs your hips to the edge of the counter and kneels before you, sinking his mouth between your legs and tasting you. His tongue licks a stripe up your slit and you push your hips into it, the first few touches of his mouth feeling like absolute heaven. You breathe out a moan and Joel makes an appreciative noise in response to you.

“Fuckin’ wet already, sweet girl,” he says quietly, pulling his mouth off of you for a moment.

“I was waiting for you all night, of course I’m wet,” you say plainly, and Joel smirks up at you, a fire igniting behind his eyes.

“Never gonna hear the end of this, am I?” he asks before leaning down to flick your clit with his tongue in a few, quick strokes. Your hips tense and move into it, but you try to keep your composure to mess with him.

You laugh a little and then shake your head. “We’ll see,” you tease him, “Depends on how well you make it up to me.”

Much to your dismay, Joel stops moving his tongue immediately, then brings his gaze back up to your face, the look in his eyes completely devilish now. “Oh, really? You gonna be a little brat again when I’ve got my mouth between your legs, about to make you come? I could stop at any time, y’know.” He swipes a finger through your slit to tease you, adding to the effect of his words.

You lick your lips and inhale slowly, considering your options. The ache between your legs from his few touches is already almost unbearable, pulsing with need for him to continue.

“N-no, don’t stop,” you say, whisper-quiet, and Joel’s brow arches.

“What was that?” he asks, fingers now teasingly tracing around the outside of your pussy.

“I said don’t stop.” You force your voice a bit louder, closing your eyes as he glides one of his fingers over your clit.

“Good girls say ‘please’, don’t they?” he says, every word laced with the gorgeous, commanding bite that you’ve grown to adore and crave from him.

“P-please,” you say, swallowing hard. “Please don’t stop, Joel.”

“That’s what I thought,” he drawls, teasing your clit once more. “Really needed to teach you that lesson last night, didn’t I?”

His mouth is back on you, and you can only nod in response as he licks in strokes along your cunt, long and drawn out. You whimper, wanting to feel more, and he continues to draw this painful pleasure out of you, dipping his tongue in and out of your entrance and tasting you deeply. His tongue flicks along your slit, landing on your clit before his entire mouth sucks on the bundle of nerves there. You cry out, hands gripping the edge of the counter as he sucks even harder. You almost can’t breathe, the sensation is so strong and he’s not letting up. You grip the back of his head, fingers sinking into his hair, when he releases you and your breath catches in your throat, hips rocking forward with the sudden absence of his mouth. He slides his tongue in tight circles around your clit, bringing out the warm, spreading feeling of a building climax inside your core. Your body is tensing into it already, on the cusp of something so fucking incredible that only Joel can bring out of you, when his lips close again and suck mercilessly.

You cry out loudly, moaning as your grip on his hair tightens, making sure his head doesn’t move an inch from where he’s currently uprooting your entire world. Everything tenses and explodes at once, your hips pushing into his mouth as you tremble, the waves of pleasure hitting you over and over before you can finally relax back slightly, steading your breathing.

Joel stands, placing his hands on your thighs and leaning forward to plant a kiss on your forehead. “”Off to the shower with you,” he says.

“You’re not joining me?” you ask, blinking in your post-orgasm stupor, confusion written on your face now.

“I’m already pushin’ it with time, I gotta get to work, baby,” he says apologetically, and you frown, disappointed that this short time was all you got to spend with him after the let down of last night.

“Oh, alright,” you mumble, biting the inside of your lip again.

“I know you’re upset, I’m sorry, darlin’. I promised I’d make it all up to you, though. You trust me?”

You nod, a small smile cracking through the frustration you’re feeling. “Yeah, I trust you.”

“Good,” he says, kissing your lips quickly. “Give it a few days, and when you’re free again you’ll forget this even happened.” He winks, and you roll your eyes, despite the little flutter it gives you.

When he leaves, you sit on the counter for a few more minutes, silently processing the entirety of this morning and last night. You’re unable to feel anything but warmth for the man who’d rushed over here to apologize to you as soon as he could, and then shown that apology by pulling yet another earth shattering orgasm out of you and promising to do better, to make things up to you. You almost wish you could just be angry at him for anything at all, it would certainly be easier than whatever the hell these emotions you’re having right now are.

“I’m so glad you’re here,” you sigh, hugging Sofia again as you enter your apartment.

She arrived a few hours after Joel left this morning, and you picked her up from the airport, eagerly waiting for her outside her terminal before she ran into your arms like you were two lovers that had been separated for years. She’s always had a flair for the dramatic, but it’s part of what you love about her. Sofia knows how to see the good in most situations, and she’s one of the most loyal people you know. You couldn’t be seeing her at a better time, as you’re starting to get completely consumed by everything going on with Joel. You just really need a friend like her here to help you process the complex feelings that have been swirling through your mind recently.

She returns the hug and chuckles a bit into your ear. “Struggling that bad, huh?” she asks, pulling away from your embrace. You both sit down on your bed, pulling your legs underneath you and getting comfortable. 

“It’s not even that, I’m just like this crazy, obsessed girl, and you know I’m not like that ever,” you tell her. Sofia ponders it with a thoughtful look and then nods her head. 

“I can’t say I’ve ever seen you obsessing over any guy, until now,” she smirks. Sofia loves this kind of thing - she’s absolutely enjoying your escapades with Joel a little too much, you think. She’s usually the one filling you in on her sexual adventures with people, not the other way around. 

“I know, and I hate it. I feel pathetic,” you groan, falling back into the bed dramatically. 

��Okay, pathetic or not, you know I’m here for it. I haven’t heard any updates for a little bit, so…” she trails off, looking over at you expectantly. You haven’t said anything, pressing your lips together tightly, giving her an innocent look. “Come on, you know I’m asking if you guys fucked yet.”

You sit back up and nod slightly, biting your lip, and she goes crazy. “Oh my god! Okay and? Tell me everything.”

“Okay, I’m not giving you every single detail, Jesus. But yeah, it was pretty much the best sex I’ve ever had.”

Sofia groans. “Ughhh, why aren’t I having the best sex ever with my sexy, forbidden, older neighbor? Count your blessings,” she shakes her head, eyes wide. You both start laughing, clutching your bellies. 

“Your time will come, Soph. And I’ll be there to guide you.”

“Okay, so you two have done the deed. And it was amazing? Tell me just a little more. C’mon, I haven’t hardly gotten a peep out of you about this yet.” She crosses her arms, waiting for you to answer. Her light brown eyes bore into yours and you can’t resist the desperate plea for information that’s behind them.

“Fine,” you sigh, and she squeals, clasping her hands together. “We’ve… done it a couple of times. Lots of other hand and mouth stuff before that. He eats me out like it’s his last fucking meal, is known to give a good spanking, uh, what else…” you trail off, trying to overload her with information, and her jaw hangs open, rarely hearing this much brazen information from you about any of your sexual encounters. ”He just makes me do and feel crazy stuff,” you conclude, trying to shrug casually despite knowing the wild knowledge you’re dropping on her.

Sofia simply shakes her head, mouth hanging open as she processes the information. “You two are little fucking freaks, you know that? God, I envy you right now.”

“Sofia, you honestly fuck more than anyone I know, how are you jealous?”

“I’m in a little dry spell, okay? I haven’t had any… relations for over a month.”

“A whole month, heaven forbid,” you tease her, putting the back of your hand to your forehead, acting dramatically faint.

She laughs loudly and pushes you hard. “Shut up, I’m desperate,” she replies. “It’s your turn to be the crazy sexual one now, so wear the crown with honor.”

You roll your eyes but placate her with a regal bow of your head. “Come on, let’s go shopping,” you say, and she perks up immediately, jumping off the bed and completely forgetting about her so-called ‘dry spell’.

Sofia catches up with your parents for a few minutes, having met them when they came to visit you in Chicago, before you let them know where you’re going and head out. Sofia is eyeing Joel’s house curiously as you pull out of the driveway. 

“Yes, that’s his house, the one with the big porch,” you grumble, and she can’t stop smirking at you.

“Hot,” she says.  

“What does that even mean! His house is hot? You don’t even know what he looks like.”

“Yeah, you’re telling me. Ridiculous you still haven’t shown me a photo. Everything you say about him sounds hot, though.” Sofia rolls her eyes. She’s so ridiculous, and you missed her energy since you relocated here. You can’t believe she came all the way here so soon after you moved, and in the middle of a Texas summer, no less. You’re hoping she can keep you anchored a bit while she’s here, but you know for a fact she’s very likely to do the opposite with her blasée personality and encouragement of you being the one to go a little crazy. 

You two shop for a few hours, and of course Sofia ends up with several new outfits, claiming that it’s too hot here for all her clothes she brought. She makes you try on dresses because she’s desperate to have a night out with you while she’s here, and you cringe at first, but find a rather tight black dress with a low cut back and little cutouts on the sides that makes you actually feel like going out. She squeals when she sees it, and you can’t help but immediately wonder what Joel would think of it, but you think you already know the answer. 

“Mr. Hot Neighbor is going to lose his fucking mind if he sees you in that dress you got,” Sofia says on the way home, as if she could read your thoughts. 

“I do… think he’d like it, based on the other clothes he’s liked on me,” you admit a little shyly. 

Sofia sighs. “Ugh, that’s so hot.”

“Stop saying everything about us is hot,” you laugh. 

“But it is! You two are so hot it’s killing me. When am I going to meet him?” She’s bouncing a bit eagerly in her seat now. 

You pause, feeling your eyes widen. You honestly hadn’t really thought about it, assuming you wouldn’t see Joel much for a few days while Sofia was visiting. The thought of introducing them makes you feel a little nauseous, just because it’s like two worlds colliding, and you know Sofia will have something completely insane to say to him. 

“I actually don’t know…” you confess. “Maybe we’ll run into him since he lives right there.”

Sofia eyes you, knowing you are starting to overthink things, so she stays quiet on the matter. When you pull up you see Joel’s truck is in his driveway, eliciting a comment from Sofia that even his truck is sexy, but you don’t see any sign of Joel outside, so the coast seems clear. You two are laughing with your shopping bags, passing through the gate to go back to your apartment, when you see Joel walking out his front door and making his way over to his truck parked in the driveway. You bite back a groan, knowing he’s going to see you and Sofia, and you desperately want to avoid the awkwardness. 

Joel approaches, smiling, and Sofia stops her chattering to turn and see what you’re looking at over her shoulder. “Oh…” she says quietly under her breath. “Oh,” she repeats, with a bit more suggestion behind her voice as she continues to inspect Joel.

“Well hello there,” he says, coming up where you’re now standing and waiting for him. His face looks entertained at the fact that you seem completely uncomfortable and embarrassed about where this is going.

“Joel, this is my friend Sofia. The one I told you about,” you say, trying not to grit your teeth. 

“Pleasure,” Joel says with a thick accent, holding out his hand, and Sofia shakes it with the biggest smile on her face. Joel’s eyebrows twitch at the suspiciously large smile on your friend’s face and he glances at you for confirmation. 

You nod slightly with a slight eye roll, letting him know that yes, Sofia knows all about you two. 

“It’s so great to meet you. Thanks for being such a good neighbor to my friend here,” she says, her tone sweet but the devious implication behind it is not missed on any of you. You snort out a laugh, and it sends Sofia cracking up, Joel shaking his head slightly but laughing along with you two. 

“What’re you ladies up to?” Joel asks, continuing to shake his head a little. 

“Shopping,” Sofia announces excitedly, waving her bags around. “I think you’ll be very pleased with some of our purchases,” she says, and Joel’s eyebrows raise. Jesus, you think to yourself, she’s being so… Sofia right now. 

Joel chuckles, looking to you for confirmation, and you giggle a little bit. “I can’t deny that she’s right,” you tell him, and a look of curiosity flashes across his face. You did also buy a thong that you’re dying to show him, but that’s going to have to wait.

“Well, you two ladies have fun,” he quips, the smile not leaving his face.

“I’m sure I’ll see you around while I’m here,” Sofia winks, and you can’t even be mad at her for it because you know the winking is all on your own behalf. You practically drag her up the stairs, waving to Joel as you go. 

You burst through the door of your apartment, and Sofia immediately pretends to pass out on the floor. So damn dramatic, you think with amusement. 

“Oh my fucking god,” she says, her chest heaving from the laughter. “That man… that is who you’re sleeping with right now? Like, you are fucking that man right there?” Sofia is completely beside herself. 

“Get a grip, Soph. Yes, somehow I’m fucking that man.”

“Listen, I didn’t doubt you when you said he was hot, but this is another level,” she says, propping herself up on her elbows.

“You’re telling me!” you reply. “How the hell did I even end up in this situation?” you ask, more to yourself than anyone, but Sofia shakes her head.

She blows out a breath, getting to her feet. “Good for you, seriously,” she says, gripping you by the shoulders and shaking them. 

“Oh, it’s very good for me,” you quip, and you both start laughing all over again.

The next evening, Sofia has managed to convince you to go out downtown and find a bar or club to blow off some steam. She says that you “need this” since you seem so tightly wound about the Joel situation, and you think she might be right.

You’re sitting on the floor with Sofia across from you while she does your makeup. She’s infinitely better at this than you are, and she makes you look flawless anytime she puts makeup on for you. 

“Okay, so how big is it?” she asks, seemingly out of nowhere as she’s brushing highlighter onto your cheekbones. 

“No way,” you say, shaking your head with a tight lipped smile. 

She pulls back, holding her hands up, makeup brush still held in between her fingers.. “Just stop me when it’s the right size,” she says, expanding her hands outwards, raising her eyebrows. 

“It’s big,” you reply simply, and she throws her hands down in exasperation. 

“Fine, I’ll accept that answer. For now,” she scowls.

Sofia continues on your makeup, until she scoots back a little and gives you a once over. “Perfection,” she comments, giving you a proud smile. You stand up, going to the mirror in the bathroom to inspect her work. She’s done a perfect winged eyeliner with a smoky, sparkly eyeshadow look, blush, highlighter, and given you just the right lipstick color to tie it all together with your new dress. You marvel at how good you look and feel right now, starting to actually look forward to your night out together. 

“Always perfect, Soph,” you say, tousling your hair a bit. She comes over and stands next to you, inspecting the both of you in the mirror together with an excited look on her face.

When you make your way out to the street, you both decide to order a ride so you don’t have to drive after the drinks you plan on having. You’re both standing there at the end of the driveway, waiting for the car that’s still several minutes away when Sofia turns to you. 

“Why don’t you go show Joel your new look?” she suggests, wiggling her eyebrows.

“Wouldn’t that be weird, though? Just knock on his door and be like ‘look at me!’ and then run away in a few minutes when our ride gets here?”

“You said he’d like that dress, and not to toot my own horn but… you just look so good right here too,” she gestures a circle around your face with her hand, and you laugh. “Go,” she pushes you, then checks her phone. “It says this guy is still like 5 minutes away.”

You begrudgingly trot over to Joel’s, feeling a little unsteady on your heels - you haven’t worn shoes like this for a while. You reach your hand up tentatively and knock on his door. There’s no answer for a moment, increasing your anxiety but finally the door opens, and Joel’s eyes scan you, a quick flash of recognition crosses his face and his mouth hangs open, unable to speak for a moment. 

“Shit… now what the hell is goin’ on here?” he smirks, taking you in with slow glances over your entire body, and the way he’s taking you in feels like it’s setting your skin on fire.

“Sofia is dragging me out, and I wanted to show you how I look,” you wring your hands in front of you, trying hard to maintain a confident air about yourself. 

“Christ, that’s a look for sure, baby,” he says, continuing to inspect every inch of your body in this new dress. “Sure you can’t just stay here and let me look at ya all night?”

You giggle a bit. “Tragically, no.”

“S’alright, I’m actually goin’ out tonight too,” he tells you, and you try to shake off the creeping jealous feeling that sneaks in at wondering who he’s going out with. You know it’s hypocritical, but infatuation with Joel doesn’t seem to have any logic.

“Come here real quick,” he says, pulling you by the hand inside and just behind the door, leaving it ajar. His hands immediately go to your ass, pulling you into him and crashing his lips into yours, and both of your mouths open as your tongues slide over each other. One of Joel’s hands threads through your hair, and you’re gripping the back of his neck desperately as you two passionately devour each other for a few moments. 

He pulls away, breathless. “Fuck, I know you gotta go,” he says. You nod, your eyes already filled with unrelenting desire as you look back at him. 

“You’ll see this again, I promise,” you tell him, hesitantly pulling out of his arms and shooting him a wry look.

“I better,” he replies, smirking as he watches you make your way back over to Sofia, who is waving you over into the car. 

You feel your phone buzz in your bag, and Joel is texting you once the car is down the street. 

Joel: You look beautiful, by the way. I didn’t say when you were here. 

You: Thank you  ❤️

Joel: Where are you two going?

You: Some crazy bar downtown. Called Cowgirls? I think?

Joel: Don’t get too wild now  😉

You: I’m always going to be a good girl for you, you know that

Joel: Don’t get me started, baby. The outfit was already too much for me tonight

You: If you’re lucky, I’ll let you take this dress off of me sometime  😘

Joel: Not if I’m lucky

Joel: I will be taking that dress off of you

You start to feel flush, knowing that if this conversation continues you’re going to start getting a little too worked up to handle in the back of this stranger's car, so you breathe out and reign yourself in. Your phone buzzes once more, and you look down at it. 

Joel: Have a great time tonight  🤠

Sofia eyes you curiously with a knowing smile as you have been smiling down at your phone for the last few minutes. 

“I take it he liked the dress?” she asks, a brow arched in curiosity.

“Once again, you were right. He’s dying right now, I just know it,” you laugh.

“As he should be!” Sofia replies. “Don’t think I can’t tell you two just made out behind his door,” she whispers, eyes staring at your mouth. You slowly reach a hand up to touch your lips, and Sofia nods, confirming that your lipstick absolutely needs touching up.

You feel yourself get hot, embarrassed, starting to work on it using your phone camera. “Sorry,” you grumble, and Sofia laughs.

“No need to be sorry. You know I support this, right?” she says, more sincerely now. You glance over at her and catch her eye, smiling gratefully.

“You’ve definitely made that clear,” you tease her, but then sober up a bit. “Thank you,” you tell her, and she returns your beaming smile.

You and Sofia are on your second drink at the bar, plus a shot of tequila when you first got there, so you’re feeling… well, great. This bar is some kind of weird, bar-club hybrid it seems, because they have a small dance floor and music playing, but it seems people are into it, as it’s completely packed. Sofia drags you out and you two dance together, laughing the whole time. You’re feeling fun and alive and sexy and it flows through you with the rhythm of the music. You and Sofia eventually step away for a refill on your drinks and you quickly pull out your phone and open your messages with Joel, knowing it’s a bad idea when slightly inebriated but doing it anyway. 

You: I miss youuuuuuu

You: I like you so muchh

Sofia orders drinks, and a young, attractive guy around your age with dark hair and blue eyes approaches you two and you try not to snort, excited to see Sofia flirting in action. It’s always a highlight of your night to learn some tips from her this way. You pretend to be interested in what he’s saying to you two, but then your phone goes off, vibrating in your bag.

Joel: Oh so we’re having lots of fun already, huh?

You: So fun I love Sofia so much we’re dancing and it’s the best

You: But I haven’t fucked you in two days and I’mm sad  🥺🥺🥺

Joel: We’ll fix that problem soon, baby… Just try to enjoy your night

You: But I’m being your good girl. Some guy is talking to us and I don’t caree cause I like you 

You: Wanna feell you inside me

Joel: That’s all you’re thinking about, huh? Insatiable girl

You: Ignoring him to text you.. Sofia is a better flirt than me anyways and you’re hotter

Joel: Be my good girl and stop taunting me or else I’ll have to come there and fuck you in that sexy dress

You: Then I’m badddddd so you’ll come fuck me

You don’t get a response from Joel, so you sigh and put your phone away, tuning into the conversation at hand. You’re jumping in at a completely random spot, the guy hitting on Soph seems to completely have given up on you, and you don’t blame him as you’ve been on your phone the last few minutes looking completely uninterested. You catch Sofia’s eye and give her a wink before feeling just tipsy enough to get on the dancefloor by yourself. You don’t know how much time has passed but you’re enjoying the hell out of yourself while vaguely keeping an eye on Sofia in case she needs an out from this conversation. Either way, the Gemini in her loves an opportunity to hone her flirting skills, even if it doesn’t lead anywhere. 

You suddenly feel a pair of arms wrap around you, and you almost thrash a little, unable to believe that someone would be so forward with you, but then you remember you are out at a kind of skeevy bar. You know you’re not taken, technically single, you suppose. but you don’t want a random stranger, you want Joel. You blink hard and furrow your brow when you turn to chew this person out but stop short when you see it is Joel. He looks so damn good, a beautiful glow on his skin from all the time he spends outside, his dark hair is brushed off his face and into slightly messy, curling swoops over the top of his head. He has on dark jeans and a white linen button up shirt, sleeves rolled up to his elbows and the first few buttons undone. You can barely believe someone could look so sexy as you ogle him.

“Wh- Joel?” you say, feeling your quickly blinking eyes go wide. You know you’re drunk, but not so drunk you’d imagine him there, right?

“Come here, baby,” he says, leaning down to kiss you, swaying with the beat for a moment as he holds you and slides his tongue into your mouth. You melt into it, feeling everything soften as you bite his lip gently. Joel brushes his fingers through your hair, landing on the back of your head and pulling you even deeper into the kiss.

“What’s goin’ on here mister?” you slur, giggling slightly, and the look Joel gives you makes you stomach flip. He’s amused but turned on, you can see just by the way his eyes are lighting up right now. He leans in close now, his lips right next to your ears, and you breathe in with anticipation for his next words.

“If you haven’t learned by now, baby, I don’t know how to tell you. I don’t say things I don’t mean. So when I say if you don’t stop tauntin’ me then I’m going to come fuck you in this dress, I fuckin’ mean it,” he says, every word charged with pent up desire and lust. You breathe out shakily, and before you can craft a response through your slower, tipsy mind, Joel suddenly threads his fingers through yours, pulling you through the crowd of people. You’re following along blindly, still a bit stunned by his words and the fact that he actually came.

He pulls you into a bathroom, and you open your mouth to say something, but still find that nothing is coming out. A few people eye you from the sinks as he pulls you along and into a stall, and you give them an anxious, apologetic look, despite the fact that they look slightly impressed by what’s going on.

Joel latches the door behind you two and dives in, his lips immediately on yours, then trailing down to your neck. You’re definitely still buzzed, and the haze of it is adding to the moment, feeling like you’re just able to be completely free and let Joel do this to you without any worries. You let out a breathy moan as he flicks his tongue right at the top of your neck, near your ear. 

“I’ve missed you,” you breathe out. Despite it being barely even days since you’d last truly spent any time together, you’d already gotten too used to seeing him as often as you were. 

“So I’ve heard. What’d you miss, sweet thing?” He’s not wasting a moment, his tongue and lips traveling all around your neck and down to your chest now. You arch yourself into him, and one hand reaches up to squeeze your breast while the other squeezes your ass, eliciting a quiet groan from him as he does it.

“Missed being with you,” you say breathless and quiet, trying to keep it as low profile as you can in this very public bathroom. “Missed your big cock inside of me.” You are completely flattened against the wall, leaning your head back while he continues moving his lips over you, using the way you’re exposing your neck more as an opportunity to kiss everywhere he can there.

Joel groans again, pushing his hips into you. “Yeah, I bet you did, my fuckin’ cock hungry girl, wanting to be fucked all hours of the day.”

“Mhm,” you manage to make a noise, and you immediately notice the familiar feeling of your pussy beginning to ache for him, needing exactly what he’s saying. You need to be fucked, and right now. 

“Is that what you want right now, baby? My cock inside of you?” he coos, and you nod, your eyes fluttering shut and head leaning back again as he reaches a hand into the top of your dress and rolls your nipple between his fingers. You try to bite back your moan as his other hand reaches up the bottom of your dress and drags a finger along your cunt outside of your underwear. 

“Yeah…” he groans lightly, feeling your soaked panties. “That’s exactly what you want.” 

You can only continue to nod as he undoes his belt and pants, pulling out his cock. One look at it sends another pulsing wave of desire through you and you press your hips forward towards it. Joel’s hands go underneath your thighs, pulling you up and pressing you even harder against the wall of the bathroom stall, and your breath hitches at how roughly he’s handling you. You help him by pulling your dress all the way up your thighs, and he peers down between the two of you, his already throbbing cock pressing against the fabric of your underwear. Your legs are tightly wrapped around him, pulling his hips in even closer, a silent ask for him to give you what you want.

He grunts, pulling your panties to the side and pushing his hips forward, the head finding your entrance and pushing in hard. You whimper and cry out, trying to bite down the sounds that threaten to come out of you as he slams his cock into you. 

“Had to check that you’re still being a good girl for me tonight,” he says with a thrust of his hips, and you find that you like his obsession, his possession of you. You and him both know that you’d do anything to keep him calling you that, but the fact that he came all the way here because he couldn’t stand the sight of you in that dress without fucking you has your head spinning. You both have your vices, it seems.

“And am I?” you gasp desperately in a hushed tone.

His hips drive into you, sending him deeper and deeper, and you’re falling apart by the second. 

“Oh yeah, look at you, taking all of me like that like the good girl you are,” he answers, looking down between your bodies and watching his cock enter you over and over. You shudder at his praises, wrapping your arms tighter around his neck and bringing your head closer to him. He’s thrusting so hard, the build up of wanting this for the last few days taking over, and it’s no surprise when he starts to hit that spot inside of you that you love and crave. 

“F-fuck Joel, oh my god,” you cry out, feeling yourself already wanting to clench around him. 

“Already gonna come for me, sweet girl? Guess you did miss me,” he says with a smirk, and to devastate you further he reaches in between you two and rubs your clit, sending your hips lurching. 

“Joel, I can’t…” you whimper, feeling a desperation rising up in you, more intense than usual. You claw at his back, trying not to release the loud moans that sit in your throat, so you reach a fist to your mouth and bite down. 

“Oh baby, you can, look at how good you’re taking me, just let it out,” he praises, not letting up on his pace as he breathes and grunts with every single slam into your hips. “Let me feel you come on this cock, c’mon,” he urges you, rubbing your clit furiously as he pounds into you. 

It’s an explosion, the pressure releasing as you shudder onto him, his hand holding you tightly against him and the wall behind you as your cunt squeezes around his cock, sending Joel moaning as well. He’s continuing his thrusts, pressing on your g-spot over and over with each one, and you almost feel like you could die with how intense this feels right now. He grunts, the feeling of you spasming around him sending him over the edge as well, and you feel him coming as his hips press all the way against you, his warmth pouring into you. You’re moaning into your clenched fist, seeing stars behind your closed eyelids and suddenly you feel something else. Like a gushing of something, almost like you’re peeing but not quite. Holy shit, you think with a chuckle as you come down from your climax, breathing heavily onto Joel’s chest. 

“Damn, baby, did you just…squirt?” Joel chuckles, with a deeply satisfied grin on his face. 

“I think so? Oh my god.” You let out a little laugh, still feeling the glow of your orgasm washing over you. He sets you down onto your shaky legs and you feel like a complete mess between your own wetness and Joel’s cum running out of you. Joel hands you some toilet paper with a sly grin and you try and wipe yourself off a bit. 

“Never done that before?” he asks, leaning his forehead on yours.

You shake your head. “Never.”

“Good,” he says simply, tilting your head up for a kiss. “You know I like bein’ the only one.”

“I know,” you whisper, kissing him again. “I always want you to be the only one too.” You quickly realize through your drunken fog that what you’ve said could be completely misconstrued and scare Joel off or something. It’s true, you do want him to be the only one you’re seeing, but you don’t think that’s the agreement. You try to backtrack, slurring your words. “Th- the only one to, y’know, make me squirt in a gross bathroom.”

Joel chuckles, holding your cheek. “It’s okay, baby, I get it.”

You stare for a long moment into his eyes, so unreadable right now. Maybe you’re just imagining things, that he didn’t think the same way about your words as you did. 

“Why don’t you go back out, I’ll be behind ya in a minute,” Joel finally says, and you force a smile to your lips and leave the stall. 

You make your way back to the bar, where Sofia is still flirting with her random guy, sipping on her drink that he likely bought for her. You wrap your arm around her shoulder, squeezing her, and she turns enough to glance over at you. She does a double take, and then quickly excuses herself from her new handsome interest sitting at the bar.

“What’s all this? Did you just fuck someone?” she stares wide eyed, palms out in front of her as if to steady herself. She takes you in with her eyes as they dart to different parts of your body.

“What’re you even talking about?” you slur a little. 

“Um, your hair is insane, your lipstick is… I don’t even want to get into that, and your dress is literally off kilter right now. I know a freshly fucked look when I see one.” She crosses her arms.

“Maybe I was dancing really hard,” you tease, and she smirks at you. You’re about to respond with the truth, when you feel two strong arms come from behind you and wrap around the front of your chest followed by Joel’s body leaning down into you until his chin is resting on your shoulder. The scent and feel of Joel immediately fills your senses and you give a guilty look over to Sofia, who has her mouth hanging open slightly. 

Sofia scolds you, using your full name like an angry mother. “I can’t believe you two!” she says playfully. 

“I didn’t ask him to come, he just…” you try to explain, knowing that you did practically ask him to meet you here in a way.

“Yeah right, I’d hope you asked him to come just now,” she calls out to you, chuckling at her own cleverness. You reach forward and push her, giggling in the way you only do when you’re tipsy. 

“Sorry to interrupt girls night, but I heard you had your own man at the bar, so I figured,” Joel says, leaning even further over your shoulder to project his voice enough for Sofia to hear him. The rumble of his voice next to your ear always ends up sending a little shiver down your spine.

“I can’t even be mad because you two look so sexy together right now. And lord knows my best friend needs to get laid.” Sofia shakes her head, staring between you and Joel. You scoff playfully in disbelief, and Joel seems a little speechless at your friend's forward attitude. 

“Well thanks for understandin’, and the compliment, I think.”

“So, are you some kind of stalker or something? I just need to check, since you showed up here,” Sofia asks suddenly, raising her eyebrows at Joel, resting her elbow on the bartop and placing her cheek in her hand as she looks him over.

“Stalker?” Joel laughs. “Lord, no. Just wanted to check on my girl,” he says, squeezing his arms a little tighter around you. The words ring through your head over and over, and you’re having a hard time focusing. My girl, he’d said, and it makes your heart feel like it’s skipping inside of your chest. 

“Did more than check on her,” Sofia mumbles back, and both you and Joel chuckle.

“Alright, I’ll shoo now, you two have fun.” He squeezes you and kisses the top of your head, but when he pulls away you turn your head, grab the collar of his shirt and pull him back down. You kiss him long and deep, sliding your tongue into his mouth. Joel pulls off, shaking his head with that devilish grin he does when he’s turned on and forces himself to step back. 

“Bye, ladies,” he calls out, and you watch him walk away. You reluctantly turn your head back to Sofia, who you know is going to have so much to say to her. Her expression is pure gold, and you immediately laugh at the way her head is tilted slightly down, mouth hanging open, eyes blinking dramatically. 

“Don’t even say it,” you warn her, lifting a finger in warning, and she presses her lips together. “Yeah yeah, it was hot, I know,” you add with a roll of your eyes. 

“So fucking hot,” she confirms, reaching for her drink again as she shakes her head. 

Sofia turns herself towards you in the dark, her eyes more serious than normal. You two are laying in your bed with the TV on in the background, trying to fall asleep after coming down from your buzz. You’d made several stops after Cowgirls and drank a hell of a lot more, but it’s been a few hours, long enough to still feel pleasant but at least you’ve got some of your wits about you again.

“Can I ask you something?” she says, and you wince a little, having a feeling on what’s coming next.

“Sure,” you say, keeping your eyes glued to the TV.

“Do you have feelings for him?”

You sigh and hold back your answer for a few quiet moments. “I don’t know, maybe…” You look towards her, hoping to convey the confusion you’re feeling in your eyes. “I don’t think he’d feel that way about me, so I’m trying really hard not to.”

“Why the hell wouldn’t he feel that way about you?” she says with a scoff.

“He seemed really quick to agree that things were casual with us. I don’t know. He’s never said anything more about it. We just… fuck, mostly. And hang out sometimes, I guess”

“Hmm,” Sofia thinks for a beat. “He looks at you in a certain way, like more than just lusting after you.”

“What? No he doesn’t. He only came to see me tonight because he wanted to have sex with me. Which is fine, that’s kind of what we agreed to, I think.”

“Or… he could want to fuck you and just want to see you because he likes being around you,” she counters, and you know she’s technically right, but you don’t want to believe it even a tiny percentage for fear of being wrong. So you shrug in response, finding it unlikely. Not that you think Joel doesn’t want to be around you, just that he wouldn’t have much of a reason to if you didn’t like your body, too.

“I know the whole friends with benefits thing can be kind of confusing sometimes,” Sofia says, rolling her entire body so that she’s fully facing you now. You do the same and you look at each other, ignoring the voices coming from the television now. You sigh, feeling a few tears prick behind your eyes. Damn it, Sofia is always good at breaking down your barriers like this, and the alcohol isn’t helping.

“I don’t want to be wrong,” you state simply, and she nods, understanding your meaning. “And I don’t even know what I’d want to do with my feelings. What, are we supposed to be an official couple or something? It feels ridiculous to even think about.”

“I mean, you two wouldn’t be the first people with an age gap to be together like that,” Sofia states plainly.

“I do like him, Soph,” you say quietly, feeling the tears stinging again. Something about being with one of your closest friends, someone so understanding and encouraging, is really turning on the waterworks for you. “Aside from the obvious stuff about him being insanely good at fucking me, he’s so… great. He never made me feel pressured or weird about our age stuff, and he does sweet stuff for me, like paying attention to things I like, treating me so well. What the hell does it all mean from him, you know?” you spill out, unable to stop this need to share all the thoughts that have been tumbling through your head recently. Sofia hums, thinking, and you continue.

“Like, he wanted to see me to have lunch, in a park… just to see me. But then the next moment he’s looking at me like I’m only a fucking meal and I start to doubt myself again… what am I supposed to do?” You groan and run your hands over your face, wanting to scream into your pillow. You had never expected this to go so far - you hadn’t even thought past just getting him to notice you, honestly. It’s been one step at a time with this whole situation, and now you’re feeling like you’re quickly approaching some kind of crossroads with Joel.

“Oh, babe, you really are in deep. And it sounds like he might be too, whether he realizes it or not,” Sofia replies. You chew on your inner lip, wanting her to be wrong because it would just be so much less painful.

“I don’t think I can risk saying any of this to him, though,” you tell her, shaking your head. “I don’t want to lose him, I’m already so… addicted,” you admit, cringing at the last word.

“Addicted or not, I think you should tell him. That, or you have to accept what you two are doing is just that, and nothing more.” Sofia purses her lips and gives you a sympathetic look.

“I hate when you’re right,” you say with a scowl.

“That must be tough, considering I’m right one hundred percent of the time,” she says with a laugh, prompting one from you as well. Sofia reaches over and drapes her arm around you, squeezing you tightly.

“No matter what, I’ll be here. I do hope he’s devastatingly in love with you, though.”

“Okay, don’t put ideas in my head,” you say, smacking her on the arm. The thought of that alone could send you spiraling. Joel loving you in any capacity seems far fetched, as you aren’t even sure what your feelings are for him besides fucking terrifyingly strong. But if someday he did… what then?

“Sorry. You guys would make a cute couple though, honestly. People might freak about the age thing, but if that’s what you both want, then I say why not? Fuck what anyone else thinks,” Sofia says with a defiant look on her face, one you’ve seen many times when she’s dedicated to a cause or idea.

“Easier said than done,” you say with a small shrug.

“Very true. So what do you want, hm?” she asks, trying to coax some finality out of you in this conversation.

“I just want… him. All the time. He’s invaded my fucking brain and I don’t even know anything else anymore. I just want to be with him any chance I can.”

“Good dick will do that to you,” she says, chuckling. “And also feelings,” she adds on more seriously.

“Feelings…”

“Yes, feelings. Feelings that you should definitely confess to him someday if you think he might have them back.”

“I’m too drunk to consider him having real feelings for me,” you say, rolling over and crushing your face into your pillow.

“Want to watch more trashy shit and forget about it for now?” Sofia asks earnestly, and you pop your head up off the pillow and nod at her.

“Yes, please,” you groan, readjusting yourself to face the TV again as Sofia puts on one of your favorite rom-com movies and you two laugh at the predictable drama unfolding in front of you. You’re immensely grateful Sofia knew exactly what you needed in this moment, and wish you could just keep her here in Austin with you for a bit longer to help you figure out what the hell you’re doing.

The next morning, you and Sofia groggily stretch out on your bed with mild hangovers plaguing you both.

“I want a fucking egg sandwich,” Sofia croaks out, the first thing spoken between you two for the day. That’s her go to hangover food - egg, cheese, and bacon on any kind of carb, but preferably a huge bagel.

You laugh, rolling over to check your phone. “We’ll get you your egg sandwich, princess,” you tell her, brushing your tangled hair out of your face as the screen lights up on your phone. “Oh, Joel texted me,” you announce. Sofia perks up a little, placing her head on your shoulder and trying to see your phone screen.

“Aww!” she coos, seeing Joel’s message inviting you both over for breakfast to cure your hangovers. “We’re going, right?” she says, the sleepiness in her voice now replaced with excitement.

“Uh…” you start, thinking for several beats. “Maybe…”

“This is some boyfriend shit right here, I see what you’re talking about. Fucking you in a bathroom and leaving, and then making you and your friend breakfast? That’s mixed signal central right there,” Sofia says, completely ignoring your half-assed protest. She stands up, heading to the bathroom as she’s talking.

“Exactly!” you exclaim. “I have no idea what the hell he wants from me.” You hear Sofia rustling through her things in the bathroom before she starts brushing her teeth. 

“Well we’re going, so get ready,” she tells you, voice muffled from the toothbrush in her mouth. You groan a little, sliding out of the bed and joining her in the bathroom to get ready. You shoot Joel back a confirmation that you’ll be over in a bit, and half regret it, not sure what you’re about to get yourself into. Sure, it was entertaining watching Sofia interact with Joel last night, but in the light of day you don’t know if you can handle her questioning him.

Twenty minutes later, you’ve both brushed your teeth, thrown on your lounge clothes, and combed your hair out, barely able to bother with much else through the pounding headaches that have been creeping up on you. You urge Sofia to quietly head down the stairs with you and around the fence to Joel’s yard, trying to avoid getting in the sight of any larger windows in your parents place. She giggles a little, absolutely loving the drama of it all and you roll your eyes but can’t help but laugh because it really is ridiculous. 

You tap on Joel’s backdoor when you see him in the kitchen beyond. A cocky grin is on his face as he slides the door open and beholds the two of you. 

“Oh, there are some fresh faces,” he quips, pressing his lips together to avoid laughing at your tired looks.

“Watch it, we will bite if prompted,” Sofia says, baring her teeth at him humorously.

Joel’s eyes are completely on you when he says “Hope so,” and Sofia groans immediately.

“Ew, guys, it’s literally too early for that,” she replies, sauntering further into Joel’s kitchen and taking a seat at the counter when he offers up the seats to you two. You sit down next to her and rest your head on her shoulder. You’re beginning to wonder why you thought this was about to be a mild hangover when you first woke up. Joel pours two cups of coffee and slides them over to you and Sofia, then goes to his fridge and pulls out a container of creamer, and your mouth drops open slightly. It’s the type of creamer you’d told him that you like the other morning, and he went and fucking bought it in case you were having coffee here? You give him a knowing smile and soft eyes as he passes the creamer to you, willing him to understand just how much this small moment means to you. 

“Alright, ladies, what’re we having?” Joel asks, leaning on his elbows across from you on the island. 

“What, we get to order like we’re at a restaurant?” You laugh, adding cream to your coffee and stirring it. Sofia does the same and you both take big sips, that first taste of coffee breathing a bit of life back into you. 

“I’ve got pancake mix, eggs, toast, some sausages,” Joel lists off, and Sofia perks up. 

“Do you have bacon and a huge ass bagel?” Sofia asks hopefully, leaning forward in excitement. 

“I do have bacon, but it’s a no on the bagel. How ‘bout an english muffin?”

Sofia puts on a thinking face for a moment with a slight scowl. “Okay, deal.”

“Her favorite hangover food is a breakfast sandwich,” you tell him, and Joel nods in agreement. 

“That’s a good one for a hangover, alright,” he replies, now looking at you. “What about you, darlin’?” Joel asks, and you feel Sofia slap your leg excitedly under the counter at his pet name. You want to slap hers back hard in protest, but you decide not to cause a scene in front of Joel. 

“Same is fine with me. Bacon egg and cheese.”

“Alright, gimme a little bit. In the meantime tell me about your big night,” Joel says. 

“Ugh, so fun,” Sofia begins to answer. “I wish I didn’t have to fly back later today,” she says sadly. 

“Shortest visit ever,” you gripe, leaning your head on her shoulder again. 

“I know, my job literally has me by the balls right now, it’s hard to get any time off,” she rolls her eyes, and you see Joel shoot her an amused look. 

“How about that guy at the bar, huh?” Joel asks playfully. 

“I scared him away from her,” you say, frowning dramatically.

“He wasn’t going to fuck me in the bathroom anyways, so what was the point, you know?” she teases, looking at you with raised eyebrows. You see Joel practically choke on nothing across the room as he’s cracking eggs into a pan and you furrow your brows, looking Sofia in the eyes with a warning look.

“That feels like a personal attack,” you snort. 

“Agreed,” Joel chimes in, not looking over, and something about the way this conversation is flowing tugs at your heart. The way Joel is making you and Sofia breakfast sandwiches like it’s the most convenient thing for him, and how they’re getting along so well, despite you being able to tell Joel thinks Sofia is out of her mind in the best way. You feel like you’re going to burst, you can’t remember the last time you felt so happy in a moment. 

“Thank you so much, Joel, seriously,” Sofia says fifteen minutes later as Joel hands you two plates with a steaming, delicious looking breakfast sandwich, standing there with one of his own. He slides over a bottle of painkillers for your headaches and smirks. “You’re one of the good ones,” she adds, pointing a finger at him. 

You can’t help but smile even wider at her comment being so right before taking a bite of the meal Joel made for you two. It’s so good, just like the other few things he’s cooked for you recently. The man knows how to season his food perfectly, at the very least. 

“Yessss,” Sofia groans out as she takes her first bite. You’ve seen this same reaction many times after a night out together when she finally gets her craving fulfilled. 

“So good, thanks,” you say a bit more shyly than Sofia. Joel looks pleased that you both are enjoying everything so much, and his eyes are soft and kind as they watch you for the rest of your meal together. 

Sofia even dares a hug with Joel when you go to leave a while later, and despite his raised eyebrows, he goes in for the hug, patting her on the back. 

“You’re a little wild, but I like ya. I can tell you take good care of our girl here,” Joel states when they break the hug. There it is again, his words claiming you as his, as part of his life in a significant way. His girl, you ring the words through your head several times to see how they feel. 

Sofia smiles brightly and links her arm in yours, breaking you out of your thoughts. “I could say something so inappropriate about you taking care of her too, but I won’t,” she laughs, and you look over at her as if to say you just did anyways.

“Nice to meet you,” Sofia says, waving to Joel as you leave, and he returns the sentiment. He winks at you when you turn to get one last look before sliding the door shut behind you.

You’re restless now, laying awake after lounging all day. You and Sofia spent the rest of the morning debriefing from your night out, and all the stops you made after Cowgirls, remembering only portions of it. You switched to binge a new drama that you promised to only watch the rest of if you were on the phone together before she had to finish packing up to go to the airport. 

You drop her off, and a few tears are shed with both of you promising to call and text constantly, and once again, you’re alone and friendless in Austin. Having Sofia leave definitely strengthens your resolve to try and make some friends in this new city. 

But now, you’re lying awake, feeling slightly sorry for yourself as you try to read and wind your mind down for the night. But truthfully, you can only think of Joel, and how you wish he were here, even if just to be here while you read. You just want his warm body next to yours, reminding you he’s there for you, holding you close to him. You debate for a few minutes before grabbing your phone and typing out a message. 

You: Come over?

Joel: You come here

You: I asked first 😠

Joel: I have treats

You quirk your brow before receiving a photo of ice cream containers in Joel’s freezer, which makes you laugh. Food is definitely his favorite way of taking care of others, you’ve officially concluded.

You: Fine… be there in 5

You are there in less than five minutes, Joel opening the door and pulling you into his arms immediately. You breathe into his chest, the inviting, comforting scent of him instantly lifting your mood. You’d stay buried in this chest, smelling him forever if you could. He kisses your head and holds you longer, sensing your hesitation to pull away. 

“What’s goin’ on baby, you feelin’ down about Sofia?” He rocks your body a little and you nod. 

“I just love having her around, and I’m tired as hell, but I can’t sleep,” you mumble into his chest. 

“Poor little thing. I’ll take care of ya,” he teases slightly despite meaning it. “C’mon in.” Joel pulls you into the living room, settling you onto the couch before disappearing and then reappearing with the ice cream and two spoons. 

“You like cookie dough?” he asks, showing you the carton with that flavor listed on the front before sitting down next to you. 

“Hell yeah,” you reply, tucking yourself in close to him, your spoon fighting to get into the ice cream. 

“Patience, sweet girl,” he chides, opening the lid and seal of the carton, and you laugh. As soon as it’s open, he offers it to you and you take a large spoonful, a light moan of delight slipping out as it hits your lips. 

“Keep makin’ noises like that and see what happens.” Joel looks at you with lifted brows, taking a spoonful of the ice cream for himself. 

“Ha ha,” you tease back. “Wouldn’t you like that.”

“Wouldn’t you?” he counters.

“I would,” you say plainly, daring him with your lifted eyebrows, sucking on the spoon a little longer than normal as you have another bite of the ice cream. 

Joel laughs and shakes his head. “Swear, you are always pushin’ me, girl,” he says.

“Not my fault everything I do makes you want to fuck me,” you tease confidently.

“Oh, isn’t it?” he quips back, nudging you with his arm.

“Anyway, I’m just here to eat ice cream and watch TV, so…” you tilt your head with a sweet, unassuming smile and then turn your attention towards the TV and grab the remote before Joel can. Joel growls in his throat, half irritated and half amused at your teasing, but he lets it go for now.

“Fine then, don’t come to me beggin’ later,” he smirks, and you roll your eyes.

“Wait. Joel, have you been watching Lover’s Paradise since you saw it at my place?!” you blurt out incredulously, a wide grin on your face as you stifle a laugh. You can see on his most recently streamed shows that he’s a couple episodes deep into one of the seasons.

“W-well, you showed me just a little, and I’m a naturally curious guy, so y’know. One thing leads to another…” he rambles on, looking embarrassed at your discovery.

“This is turning out to be the best night ever, actually,” you reply, loving the sheepish look on his face. For once, for god damned once, he’s the one acting completely tripped up with you, you rather than the other way around. You click on the next episode and set the remote down, leaning back into Joel with the smug smile still plastered on your face.

“Stop it,” he growls when he notices your overly pleased expression.

“Nope,” you counter with a little delighted shake of your head.

“Alright, quiet now so I can see what Victoria and Henry have been up to,” he says, and you double over with laughter before you can even stop yourself. 

“Yes sir,” you say, sitting back again and pinching your lips to try and keep more laughter from slipping out.

It’s not until Victoria throws a drink on Henry and then slaps him that Joel has a reaction and starts speaking again.

“Now that’s just crazy,” he says, stunned. The man has clearly not watched enough reality TV if this kind of behavior is shocking to him. “She slapped him for what again?” he leans forward, pointing his spoon at the screen and holding the ice cream container in the other. His eyes are glued on the TV and brows furrowed, and it’s such an amusing sight it sends you laughing again.

“He was talking about her behind her back, duh. Are you even watching?” you reply with sass.

“I am, there’s just a lot goin’ on, it’s hard to follow.” Joel huffs in response, still avidly watching the screen to piece more of it together. You can’t believe how seriously he’s taking this right now. Here you are, trying to avoid your feelings for him when he pulls adorable things like this and makes you want to smash your lips on his and tell him to watch reality TV with you forever. 

“You sweet, sweet man, you will soon learn the ways of trashy reality TV,” you say with a dramatic flair. Joel tries to shush you again, so you wrap your arm around his chest and angle your head towards the show while it rests on his shoulder, craving closeness with him but not wanting to distract him further. His hand comes up to your arm, tracing back and forth along it to your hand as he watches. When the episode ends, he looks down at you, a questioning look on his face.

“Start the next one,” you say, answering his silent question. He smiles down at you before you two focus back in for another episode. Several hours later, you’re dozing onto his chest while Joel has watched two more episodes of Lover’s Paradise, staying equally invested through each one, and that’s when you know you’ve created a monster.

He nudges you and plants a kiss on your head. “You up, darlin’?” he asks quietly, and you stir, knowing you’ve been half sleeping for the last hour, coming in and out of consciousness trying to follow what was happening on Lover’s Paradise.

“Oh, s-sorry,” you mumble, sitting up and off his chest. Joel puts an arm around you and rubs your back.

“S’alright, glad you got some shut eye. Want to come upstairs with me?” he asks. You blink sleepily at him and nod, slowly standing up from the couch and trailing behind him. Your heart lurches in your chest when you see the bright pink toothbrush you used the last time you slept here is in a little cup by the sink, and you have to fight not to have an overt reaction to its presence. Instead, you grab it and begin brushing your teeth like this is a completely normal occurrence - you having things at Joel’s house.

“For you to sleep in, if ya want,” Joel says as you come out of the bathroom. He hands you one of his shirts to wear, an old looking college football one. You strip your own shirt off, revealing your lack of bra underneath, but you figured Joel had already noticed that much. He sucks in a breath, watching you unabashedly as you’re half naked before tossing his shirt over your head. You strip off your shorts and place all of your clothing on the same chair he had used last time. In the meantime, Joel has gotten into his bed, leaning back on the headboard as he’s been observing you.

“Look so damn good in here, baby, just doin’ your thing,” he says as you approach the free side of the bed and start to climb in.

“Oh stop,” you say, waving him off. Joel reaches up to his bedside lamp and turns it off, and you quickly do the same before laying down.

“Definitely not doing that,” he retorts, and you let out a giggle as he snatches you into his arms as he says it. You lay in the dark, feeling the warmth from Joel’s body seeping into yours. He’s laying in only his briefs now, and you like that you know how he sleeps. You revel in his bare chest underneath your hand as you trace your fingers along it.

“Thanks for everything tonight, I feel way better than I did earlier,” you tell him sincerely, giving his shoulder a quick kiss.

“What I’m here for - makin’ you feel good, baby” Joel replies. “In all kinds of ways.”

Your eyes are already closed, the heaviness of sleep keeping them from opening again despite your desire to look up at Joel. “Is that so?” you mumble into his shoulder.

“It is, but right now, I’m makin’ you feel good by letting you get some sleep,” he says, forgoing the flirty avenue the conversation was about to turn down.

“N-no, need to stay up with you,” you half slur out of sleepiness, attempting to blink your eyes open a few times.

Joel simply shushes you, rubbing his hand along your back in soothing strokes. “Sleep, sweet girl,” he commands in a soft, quiet voice, and as usual, you find yourself doing exactly what he asks of you as you give in to the sleep your tired mind is fighting for.

#joel is so boyfriend in this chapter i'm gonna screaaaaaaam #fic: closer #joel miller fanfiction #joel miller smut #joel miller x reader #joel miller x f!reader #joel miller x female reader #joel miller x you #the last of us fanfiction #tlou fanfiction #pedro pascal character fanfiction #pedro pascal x reader

[nptnewr]

The Dog Days are Over

Simon ‘Ghost’ Riley x Reader Soulmate AU

Chapter 3

a/n: special thanks to @hioreh​ for helping me figure out what to do for this chapter I hope it makes sense 😭 also i was laughing so hard that the acronym in this story ending up being ATE like I am so real for that

Reminder: I do not give permission for my work to be translated or reposted here or on any other site, even if you give me credit. Reblogs, comments, and asks are encouraged! do not follow me unless you are 18+, all ageless or blank blogs will be blocked!

Pronouns Used: They/Them

Summary: It’s a short time off for task force 141 when Ghost bumps into you at your bookshop. It sends a spark through both of you, but Ghost quickly shrugs it off and leaves. However, when he gets back to base, ready to sleep before a new mission he feels a body next to him in bed. He immediately grabs a knife only to find out it’s you with wide eyes and a trembling body.

Word Count: 1.8k

Series Masterlist

Warnings: Typical COD MW2 Dialogue & Violence | Slow Burn | If I have missed any let me know!  

Starting the truck back up, Simon makes his way back to base. He feels a small bead of sweat begins to drip from his brow as he picks up his phone and looks through the contacts. Simon only knows one person whose soulmate is a civilian, and the thought of calling them right now makes him want to puke.

Pulling up Laswell’s contact, Simon takes a deep breath before hitting call. It rings four times before the call is picked up.

“Lieutenant? What are you calling me at six in the morning for? You should be getting suited up right now. The team leaves in twenty.” Simon holds his breath for a few moments before he answers.

“Laswell, with all due respect, I won’t be makin’ it on the mission. There’s been an…incident and I need to speak with you urgently.” Simon grits his teeth as he admits he won’t make the mission. It’s the first time he’s ever said that. 

There is a pause from Laswell’s line before she speaks. “Alright, come to my office as soon as you can.” 

Before Simon can respond the line goes dead and he throws the phone into the passenger seat of his truck. The rest of the drive up to base is silent, only the soft humming coming from the truck reminding Simon he’s still moving. Simon parks the car, slamming the door as he hops down from the driver’s seat. 

Simon walks down the hallways he’s memorized, the ones he’s used for years now. He makes his way straight toward Lazwell’s office. The 141 have been out of the base for almost ten minutes now and Simon feels nothing but anger towards himself for not being there with his team. 

Simon can’t understand why he can’t blame you for what’s happened. He should’ve screamed at you, cursed you for being a weak civilian that’s making him miss a mission. But, Simon can’t blame you, not when he thinks about how innocent you looked when you found the perfect book for him. He’s not even upset that he had to drive you through town to take you home. If anything, it made him feel like he got to spend more time with you.

Simon steps up to Laswell’s office, knocking twice before stepping back to wait for her answer. 

“​​Lieutenant, come in!” Laswell’s voice echoes outside of her office. 

Opening up the door, Simon walks into her office, a rather large space that could be used as a debriefing room if need be. He takes a seat in one of the office chairs closest to Laswell’s desk as he waits for her to speak. Laswell is sitting behind her desk, she moves her hands to clasp in front of her on the desk. 

“I need a hell of a good explanation to tell the higher-ups when they as why one of their best men isn’t out there with his team. Not to mention the fact that the team thinks you’ve gone insane for missing a mission.” Laswell leans closer to Simon, almost trying to read him through his mask. 

“Laswell, I didn’t want to bring the attention of the team to this issue. When I was at the shops around town yesterday, I bumped into a soulmate.” Simon takes a deep breath. “My soulmate. I bumped into my soulmate, who ended up jumping into my quarters last night. I didn’t go on my mission because if they end up in the middle of a battlefield…”

Laswell tries to keep her composure, but her mouth drops open slightly in shock. She thought out of all the 141 men Johnny would be the first to deal with this, maybe even Price at his age, but never Ghost.

“Simon,” Laswell has never spoken to him using his true name. “This is something important that we have to deal with. I know why you came to me, and I’m glad you did. There is not a day where I don’t worry my wife will end up in the middle of a fight or kidnapped if she jumped at me. I understand how terrifying that can be. But, I have good news.” 

Laswell smiles as she pulls what looks to be an earplug from her ear. It’s a solid black device that Simon never noticed was in her ear before. She places the device in Simon’s hand, allowing him to look at the device closely.

“These are called anti-transitional earpieces, or ATEs for short. When you place them in your ear they calm your emotions when they are getting out of hand, allowing you a second to collect yourself before continuing a mission.” Laswell smiles as she watches Simon become less tense at her solution. “The reason why a soulmate jumps is that their other half emotionally needs them. It causes you to yearn to protect and nurture your soulmate without you even knowing it. Once the touch is initiated, your souls are intertwined whether you like it or not.” 

“They said the same thing, that our souls are intertwined. Sounds like some bollocks fairy tale story.” Simon huffs as Laswell chuckles.

“It may sound like that, but it’s something that has been around forever. You need to keep that in mind now that you have a soulmate. If you stay away from them for too long, ATE or not, it will hurt both of you.” Laswell’s face drops.

Simon nods, he knows that Laswell has most likely experienced that firsthand.

“I’ll have your earpiece done by the time the boys get back. I can speak to the captain about your absence, but I can’t vouch for you when it comes to Gaz and Soap. Good luck with that, ​​Lieutenant.” Laswell winks at Simon playfully before he stands up from his chair, walking out of the room.

Simon closes the door to Laswell’s office and begins to walk back outside of the base. He needed a walk or a cigarette, maybe both would be the perfect option. The thought of Price knowing that he had a soulmate was annoying enough, but now he is going to have to find out what to say to Johnny. There were a lot of times when Simon knew exactly what to do, but this was not one of those times. 

Taking long strides towards the door of the base with his head in the clouds, Simon barely notices that he’s no longer walking on concrete. He misses he’s in a different place entirely until he feels a pressure on his chest and a gasp. Looking down, he notices you were staring at him with wide eyes. Your hands were pressed against his chest and he looks around to see he’s in a small flat.

“Okay, we have to stop doing this it hasn’t even been a fucking day.” You laugh looking at Simon who looks incredibly small inside of your flat.

“Sorry,” Simon grumbles, not daring to move any farther into your home.

“It’s okay, I guess we’ve got to get used to it.” You point in the direction of your kitchen. “Would you like some tea while you’re here, Simon?”

Simon freezes for a second when he hears you say his name. The way you say it has his chest hurting, it makes him feel like he’s losing his mind. After a moment he nods his head at your question.

“Earl gray if you have it.” You nod and head towards the kitchen.

“Feel free to sit down on the couch, I’ll be over in a moment.” You walk up towards the kettle, pouring water into it.

“So, how was the rest of your morning,” You try to start a conversation with Simon, hoping to learn something about your soulmate.

“Fine, spoke to my higher-ups, they are giving me a device to keep us from jumping.” Simon watches as you waltz around the kitchen, grabbing tea bags and sugar cubes from the cabinet. 

“I had no idea that was capable. I guess I don’t know a lot about what the military is capable of though.” You frown slightly at the thought of secrecy between you and your soulmate. 

“You have no idea,” Simon grumbles.

You take the tea off of the stove and make two cups placing sugar in yours. Grabbing the two cups, you make your way toward Simon and sit down beside him on the couch. 

“Do you have to go back anytime soon?” You ask, turning towards him. 

“Not today, the guys will be on the mission all day leaving me without a team to train with for the day.” Simon lifts his mask slightly and takes a sip of his tea. You are mesmerized by the bit of skin and beautiful pink lips that appear, but they disappear all too soon for your liking. 

“Can you tell me anything about what you do? I know you’re in the military, but what branch?” You inquire.

“It’s classified, for your safety I’d rather you never know.” Simon hopes the questions stop there, but you aren’t satisfied.

“Okay, well then what about the mask? Can I see your face since I’m your soulmate? Do you have a bad scar or-”

“No. You can’t see my face, if you did I would have to kill you.” You tense up at his statement, but when you look at him you can tell he’s smiling beneath his mask.

“That is so not funny, Simon! What is the real reason?” You can’t help, but smile as you scold him.

“The world isn’t ready for this handsome face yet.” Simon batts his eyelashes at you, causing you to burst out into a fit of giggles.

“You’re an idiot.” You shake your head and place your teacup on the coffee table.

“I’m serious ‘bout the mask though, no one has seen my face except a few people. It’s going to take a lot of time before I feel comfortable enough.” You nod your head, understanding that he just doesn’t know you enough.

You and Simon continue to speak about whatever you can think of, which ends up being mostly your life story. Simon decided to stay quiet about most of his past, making your heart hurt because you wanted to know more about him. Once the sun begins to set Simon sits up from the couch only to stare at you.

“Uh, I didn’t exactly drive here, think you can give me a ride?” Simon places his hands in his pockets.

“I didn’t even think about that! The only issue is that I don’t have a car.” You frown slightly.

Simon sighs knowing there’s one person that would pick him up. However, he isn’t sure how to ask his teammate who he left without explanation this morning to pick him up from your flat. He holds up a hand to you as he grabs his phone out of his pocket.

“I’ve got it. You remember Johnny, right?”

Tag List  ~ @hioreh @vlkyriesgf @sofasoap @chainsawsangel @lazystorycollector @queenofspades403  @allaboutirem0 @cloudyyjanee  @edenstarkk @girlygirlpeepee @v1naco @abbiesxox @cj-theyoungling @ruler-of-fandoms69  @crowbird @tallrock35 @specter319 @konigsleftkidney @lukneetoonz​ @dilfsaremyfavourite​ @greinch​ @writeforfandoms​ @stilllivindue2spite​ @dionboop​

#simon riley #simon riley x reader #ghost #ghost x reader #cod #cod mw2 #cod x reader

[barn-anon]

Gabriel knows he's been overprotective lately. Yet as she snuggles up to him on the couch while some show plays on the tv... He knows he needs to keep himself in check but he can't help it. How could he when his human is so innocent and vulnerable in such a harsh and cruel world? He has to protect her, he has to keep her smiling and laughing. Her mind shouldn't have to worry beyond which outfit she should wear, or what should she cook for dinner.

He cares for his battle brothers. He looks up to his chapter master, captain, chaplain and other more senior Blood Angels. Love? He loves her. Yes that feels right, he loves her, an emotion he thought he could never feel in such a great degree. It should be insanity how she has captured him so entirely. He's not the only one though it seems, other bonded Blood Angels too have described their love for their humans to be similarly overwhelming.

There's no denying that this strange world is scary. It's so different from his original world. Humanity is in it's infancy, only just taking it's first baby steps into the stars. What would the presence of his fellow Space Marines mean? How might it impact humanity? He hopes they could help build humanity into a better version of itself, yet his experiences all tell him that humanity is doomed to struggle. That if humanity wants to carve out a place for itself in the stars, it has to pay with the lives of it's children.

He fears the future that's creeping their way, an unavoidable eventuality. When his hands are idle, his mind drifts, he can see the endless battlefields he had waded through. Corpses that pile higher than he is tall, tragically and fragilely human. He buries his face against the top of his human's head, letting out a purr to soothe her worried inquiry.

Maybe this version of Terra won't be doomed, maybe it will be the gleaming crystal of the galaxy that it should've been in his world. Maybe it would crash and burn, mutating into an even worse hell than the one he once lived in. As long as he can still hold his human in his arms and wipe away any tears that may come, any hell he walks through with her is infinitely more meaningful and precious than any heaven without her.

Tagged: @kit-williams • @egrets-not-regrets • @bleedingichorhearts

#Gabriel the Blood Angel #space marine husbandry sentience #space marine husbandry #warhammer 40k

[ravenxvamp]

Chapter 1: Colter

Unedited

1899 Current Location: Somewhere In Grizzlies West, Ambarino

'A Dangerous Winter Wonder Land'

White was the colour that covered the vast misty mountaintop of the terrain that we travelled in. The wind howled and roared around us dangerously like a predator hunting its injured prey lurking viciously in the thick icy haze waiting to attack and feast on our soft, weak, and debilitated flesh. We held our clothes tight but each other tighter to protect our feeble bodies from the frosty weather hitting us in the faces like a shot to the head with a rusty bullet. I feel my fingers numb as I try to blow on them to stop the sharp knife-stabbing tingling coming from my frost-bitten nerve endings as my body transferred heat to my essential organs to try and survive this weather but it only made my lips dry and crack and the sensation in my now purple fingers worsen.

I painfully listened to the horses' cries out into the 'everlasting void' as the snow melted into their once-warm fur coats as they pushed forward carrying what seemed like the whole world on their backs as they pulled the ancient decaying wagons through the 6-inch snowy blanket that laid comfortably on top of the earthy floor, with another loud agitated sequel they pushed on with only the amber lighting from the lanterns to guide their innocent pure eyes. The void would be the only word to describe this area of abandoned mountain range although it was as white as a Christmas night, snow was all that covered this land along with a couple of twisted, withered, depressed trees that seemed to have disturbing soulless faces seemed to be carved into their bark like they were once wanderers that had once tried to escape the wrath of the storm like ourselves but that could just be a mirage created by the heartless blizzard on my restless eyes. Sleep was the one thing everyone needed right now if the blizzard didn't get us now then exhaustion or starvation will. Everyone had it rough right now if you could only see us now we'd probably all look like the Walking Dead as there wasn't one person in the gang whose face wasn't zombified with exhaustion.

The men had it the hardest being tasked with scouting and hunting in this lethal weather, I could not even move without being disturbed and rattled awake by the harsh weather conditions so I couldn't even begin to imagine being sent off alone into the unknown. It was almost like sending a man to his death, a death so slow and so painful that in your last moments, you'll be singing like a siren with a gleeful glow in your pitiful child-like eyes happy the artic torment is over looking up at the white overcast as you draw your final breath. Nonetheless, I trust that Dutch knew what he was doing despite the 'rumours' about that girl on the ferry and the Pinkertons in Blackwater and how he lost his mind and slipped into the everlasting depths of insanity that slowly rot your brain until you're trapped in your mind, I could it was still fresh in everyone's memories just by looking around you could tell they were starting to question Dutch's intentions.

My three thick layers of clothing seemed to do nothing against the war that swarmed and spiralled around us, I felt naked as if my 'womanhood' was on show for the whole mountain range to see. I was starting to lose hope as was everyone else of ever getting out of the winter wonderland hell hole,

"Still a got your head in that journal of yours I see"

I flinch at the sudden deep buttery southern accent and quickly slam my journal shut causing a small gust of wind to hit me in my painfully rosy cheeks, it seemed like I had gotten to lost in the moment again and started writing like a mad woman, embarrassed I look over at the hunky cowboy riding next to the wagon as we travel through the tundra. He had that stupid smirk painted on his face as he just seemed to love antagonising me in sickness and health he was there just to harass me and make me miserable,

"Arthur, what are you doing here?"

I say holding a firm tone but the excitement in my voice was undeniable as I had been quite lonely the past couple of days thirsting for a real conversation with somebody that wasn't about starvation or the chilling cold. Arthur knew just how to lighten up the mood of any room he stepped into and he knew just how to cheer me up as well as making my cheeks flush an erubescent colour with this sheepish look in his eyes like ima' big juicy stake ready to be eaten. There had always been some undeniable sexual tension since I had the pleasure of meeting such a man but it's yet to be discussed so for now it just lurks in the cosy aura I feel when I'm around him and I know he feels it too. I stick my head out of the wagon and look ahead to see if Dutch has noticed him slip away from his duty, "And says you," I say as I degrade him as he smugly rode beside me "I sometimes forget what you look like Mister Morgan" I say with a big smirk on my face, he let out a deep stomach chuckle and then shook his head in defeat, that rough rugged manly laugh always erupted something feral inside of me and filled my stomach with butterflies and made my head all dizzy like one of them damsels in Mary-Beth's silly story books and made certain parts of my body eager, "Fair Enough" he spoke with a sigh as he brought his hands up to his face and blew hot air from his chapped lips into his gloves and proceed to rub his upper arms.

"So, how are you holding up?" verbalizing his concern that had been eating him up from the inside, he didn't have to tell me this it was written all over his face "I heard that you got hurt in Blackwater and I just..." he trips over his own words like a newborn fawn struggling to stand for the first as he struggles to find the right way to make his true emotions and intimate thoughts known this was one of the great Arthur Morgans weakness, the gunslinger was so more complicated under the surface if only the Pinkerton's could see him now, "Wanted to see if you were okay," he says in a near whisper scratching the back of his neck I knew he felt guilty for not being there for me but also for Sean, Jenny, and Mac "I'm fine Arthur really I am" his gaze moved towards my injured leg which had been poorly banged with small dark red blood droplets seeping through the loose material and imperfectly covered by the fur on my boots his eyes glistening with regret as he quickly looks back up to me almost like he was looking into the sun "If only I was-" he goes to drown himself in sorrow and pity but I cut him off before he can utter out another miserable word "If nothing," I speak with a powerful tone in hopes he would show attentiveness to my words "You didn't know what was going to happen in Blackwater so there's no point in beating yourself up over something you had no control over" The wrinkles on his face only seemed to intensify as he tried to process the words that I had spoken with an honest tongue "All them' deaths ain't your fault there on Micah, that ferry job was a curse from the start" Arthur's face visible twisted with disgust at the mere mention of that snake's name.

"I know" his words spat venom towards the 'man' if you could need to call such a person a man but also his words had hits of exhaustion laced within two simple words as the last six months Micah had been riding with us have been hell, "I guess I just wished it would have gone down differently" he sighed once more still despite my words still beating himself up over it "Listen we don't even know if Mac and Sean are dead they could have got away, Sean is a slippery Irish bastard and Mac well... he's well Mac, he's gotten himself out of worse" Everyone knew Mac was definitely a peculiar character he was or is vicious, short-tempered most importantly wild probably the most out of control man I've ever met, well him and Davey.

I watch as his tense shoulders relax a bit at my words, I think he knew this deep down but just wanted to hear someone else tell him that it was going to be okay and that we were safe. Arthur would never admit this but he needed validation, he needed security, and despite his cold and hard demeanour behind it all was a soft and gentle man but years of being surrounded by violence had made him sour and bitter, at least that's how he acts on the outside. There was a war going on in his mind that he couldn't escape from as he constantly battles his own nature but man is a part of nature, and his war against nature is inevitably a war against himself and he's losing, he has been for some time now.

We rode in comfortable silence as the frigid crystallised wind blew its harmonic tune around us causing our teeth to chatter in unison, I could feel him glancing at me now and again it was clear by his eyes burning into the back of my skull that he wanted to talk to me again but soon the building tension was sliced in half by a booming voice shouting over the artic storm,

"Arthur, get over here now!"

Dutch's sudden commanding voice almost made Arthur jump right off of his saddle he looked at me again his deep blue eyes twinkled like he had wanted to say something but he just tipped his gambler hat at me and gave me a cheeky wink making me blush before kicking his stirrups into the side of his horse and taking off ahead beyond which my eyes could longingly ponder fondly leaving me in an unpleasant silence and left an excruciating feeling in my chest that burned with admiration and blazing adoration for the simple cowboy.

After what felt like centuries of roaming this empty plane like the undead, Arthur under Dutch's request had gone out and found us an old abandoned mining town for us to camp out in just for a 'little while' to let Davey 'rest' Dutch had said but I think he knew just like the rest of us by looking at his red and pale sickly complexion that he might not make it another mile let alone another trot as his gasping for air got louder and louder and the cold temperature outside was not helping his lungs. Despite the rickety and decaying structure and the overall haunted aura the buildings had due to its emptiness, it brought me a feeling of warmth by just gazing upon its comforting wooden 'castle walls' As we slowly approached the deserted town more and more buildings became apparent to my vision I could already see the home we'd make out of this train wreck.

As the wagon came to a staggering halt as we approached one of the uninhabited cabins which surprised me that the wheels hadn't frozen over yet as the wood seemed to have been stained and chipped with a transparent glaciality blue, I eagerly but carefully jumped into the snow the fluffy blanket of ice trying to put to much pressure onto my injury as I did so, it reached halfway up to my knees my fur boots doing a good job a protecting my toes and legs from the snow that dared to melt through. I quickly grabbed the essentials like blankets, cans of food, and extra clothing as Ms Grimshaw and Dutch shouted at us like sheep and like

shepherds ushering us all into the run-down cabin so that everyone could get warm. It was no unsolvable mystery that hopes and the overall mood of the gang were low, lower than I'd ever seen, we had only just managed to slip out of Blackwater but it didn't come without the cost of Jenny, Mac, Sean and Davey who was currently being carried in by Arthur and Bill. His arms lifelessly dangling like a loose thread on an old cardigan but stiff like he was made from stone, if it wasn't clear to us before it was clear now that Davey had died in the storm it was clear now, with pale white and red skin with a blueish purple tingle and his eyeballs that seemed to drift away each other and his mouth seemed to be glued open like he had just broken his jaw.

Abigail approached the blue stone man who had been laid mummified on the table, she placed two gentle fingers to his neck checking and hoping for a pulse but when her blue eyes dulled to sombre inky grey everyone knew what she was about to say,

"Davey's dead."

Those were the two words people didn't want to hear right now, as of two seconds ago I didn't think that the gang could hint lower than this rock bottom but it seemed as of now doom and gloom was becoming the new norm. The gang desperately needed some inspiration to keep going so that we didn't have to dig any more graves than two and needed someone to give them hope, hope that they would die on some cursed frozen mountain in the Grizzlies. Bickering then erupted among everyone mostly about food, supplies and words of comfort towards Abigail as she fought so hard to help Davey make it out of this nightmare alive, I haven't known Abigail for long but she and Davey seemed close. I stood holding myself trying to stay warm, though we were inside my body still needed time to warm up from that whole mess outside.

My gaze then left the gang tired of listening to the same words getting repeated like a broken record player and I looked over at Arthur he looked like a mess but a beautiful mess, his hair seemed to want to escape from his scalp flowing in all different directions waving and spinning like royal swan ballet dancers but this was all hid underneath his hat. His gorgeous hazel eyes though glazed with sorrow as he looked over at Davey like everyone else he watched as they placed coins over his and shook his head. His focus shifted back to Dutch as he turned his head, I obsessively fixated on his sharp jaw and how his beard perfectly hugged his face tightly it made me secretly bite my lip.

"Listen... listen to me all of you, for a moment "

Dutch had cleared his throat before he had begun to speak in a grieving, but assertive tone to draw everyone's attention to him, he took a deep breath as he looked around at our famished, depressed, exhausted faces before he began speaking, "now, I know we've had a bad couple of days" he pause for a second to take a breath to stop himself from getting emotional at his ex-gunner recent demise "I loved Davey..." his tone changed to one laced with regret and grief you could tell the deaths had really gotten to him, "Jenny..." he continued and as he continued he began to speak more clearly and less emotional as he knew he needed to be strong to help the gang lift themselves back up and proceeded with his speech "Mac, Sean... they may be okay we don't know" though he wasn't sure if the two were alive he spoke of them like they could walk through the cabin door behind him at this very moment but still keep it serious tone as we didn't need to get our hopes up only for them to be brought down by the news that Mac and Sean had been killed. "But we lost some folks... now if I could, though myself in their stead..." he used hand gestures to exaggerate and emphasise what he was say into the truth "I'd do it... gladly" he looked around at us and his eyes meet with Arthur's for a second and he nodded at him in agreement, "but... we are going to ride out and find some food" he pointed towards outside "everybody, we're safe now. There ain't nobody following after us in that storm" slowly everyone's face began to light up, not that Dutch had singled handedly erased the sadness and gloom from our brains it just left nice to know that we'd be safe it was nice to have security for once "by the time they figure out we're here, we'll be long gone" his voice got high and more confident "now all of you get warm, and stay strong. Stay with me" if you were a wanderer and just so happened to walk passed this cabin you would of thought he was hyping up a mob "we ain't done yet!" he said as he proceeded to walk towards the door with Arthur disappearing into the snowy mist.

New camp meant a whole lot of work had to be done to get things up and running again, luckily for me due to my leg injury I had been excused from working and got to snuggle up to the fire enjoying its warm comforting embrace while I get to avoid Ms Grimshaw's wrath unlike the other poor souls who's cry's I just drink right up like a fine wine as I watch them run around like busy worker bees but despite everything going on around me there was no room in my brain to care about think about anyone other than Arthur. I was worried sick as I watched the blizzard outside grow stronger and stronger my stomach began to twist in a vile sickly way but other than that I was enjoying relaxing for once,

"Oh [NAME], get your head out of that silly journal for one-second girly I need to talk to you"

Or so I thought... "yes Ms Grimshaw? what is it that you need?" I tried my best not to sound annoyed as I was having such a good time like the little sadist I was listening to the other's complaints about their labour and now I thought god was punishing me for having such impure thoughts, "I wanted to talk to you about your living arrangements" I raised and slightly tilted my head at the older woman "what do you mean?" she scoffed and rolled her eyes like I was stupid before grabbing me with her aged hands hard enough to leave some minor bruising but I didn't think that was intentional and pulled me into a more secluded area of the cabin tucked away in a corner and away from the cosy fame I had just been sitting peacefully in.

"Will you and Mister Morgan be sharing sleeping arrangements?" This question caught me off guard causing my mouth to open slightly with shock and my cheeks flared up an embarrassing bright rosy red like I had just eaten something spicy so red in fact that there may as well be smoke coming out of my ears "What on earth do you mean Ms Grimshaw?" I said move defensively then I would of hopped, she again rolled her eyes but with a bit more flamboyancy and irritation this time and with a bitch smacked look on her face with injunction strained in her voice she proceeded to say "don't play coy with me, girl," pointing her wrinkled finger at my chest like a mother scolding her child "you know better then to rile me up, you know damn well what I'm talking about!" I of course one hundred per cent knew that she was referencing mine and Arthur's relationship status at the moment.

The question alone had left me feeling flustered that other people thought me and Arthur were something more than we actually were. Hidden sexual and romantic interactions like teenager star-crossed lovers who only just found out that relationships can consist of more than just sloppy kisses were not rare in fact, they were so common people started thinking we were sweet on each other. If I could explain our current relationship in two words it would be 'business transaction' we had become so needy and thirsty like animals in heat we found each other for the first time in a time of luscious sorrow both being without partners for so long and whisky is a horrific combination for two lost heartbroken souls, Mary didn't want him and my love had passed. Ever since then, we have had this strange relationship where feelings weren't supposed to be felt between the two it was supposed to be purely lustful but liquor is a sober man's poison and Arthur has never been able to hold his drink or maybe he was too much of a gentleman to use a woman in such ways I guess I'll never know.

"Are you just going to stare at me like I'm stupid or are you going to answer me woman?" when I realised I was all up in my own little world again I tuned back into the single more terrifying expression that Ms Grimshaw just the look of the tint of impatientness in her eye made me want to jump out of my skin and run away with my tail tucked in between my legs like some skittish little street dog "It's hard to say... well, begin to say what we are" Ms Grimshaw still not amused by my flustered reluctance on my current relationship status huffed with annoyance "listen, girl if you're not going to give me a straight answer I'm just going to go on assumptions" I was going to say something to defend my hesitance, but it was too late she had waddled away throwing the cabinet door open most likely going to go work on the others sleeping arrangements.

Eventually, after what seemed like hours of pure grotesque torture my mind flashed of the 'assumptions' that vile woman Ms Grimshaw had made to make my life hell, I saw her messy bun and her elderly face peak back through the wooded door in which she had disappeared out of not too long ago, "Miss [NAME], get over her girly" she shouts over the wind and waves me over sticking half of her body inside the warm cabin, not wanting to keep her waiting I get up quickly causing some strain on my leg as I forget about its injury's and almost trip like some drunken fool as I followed her through the snow like she was a mother duck and a was a little duckling.

Ms Grimshaw led me towards one of the cabins the cosy's looking and the one with the most structural integrity at least from what I could see. It almost felt like home but home was what we make it like a homeless man would call a cardboard box a mansion if he was surrounded by people who he loved dearly. We make do with what little we have and are grateful to have each other to hold up together, a flower can't bloom without a little rain but I'd describe our situation as more of a flood.

She opened the door and warmth hit my face once again, I was great by Molly's uptight expression, not the usual snotty glare. She was standing by the fire well she wasn't doing much standing as her fingers were practically down the back of her throat like she was trying to make herself throw up after she ate something rotten. Molly jumped not expecting our company and clearly enjoying her time isolating herself from the rest of the gang like she so often likes doing, her eyes sparkled for a moment painfully obvious that she thought we were Dutch before realising we weren't she scoffed not in an arrogant way as usual but more in a disappointed manner to which Ms Grimshaw rolls her eyes at the young woman and waves me over to a room on the right.

I was shocked, to say the least, that this was one of the 'good' rooms. Paper was scattered all over the floor along with rotten floorboards that had come loose and had just been pulled out from the ground and thrown to the side like some used whore, along with that there were chunks of glass that littered the floor accompanied by some dried up leaves that had been blown in by the cold draft in addition to that there were some cool halloween decorations of tiny animal bones that looked like they belonged to a rat, there was no way one of us was going to be sleeping on that floor. Talk about sleeping arrangements the bed didn't look cosy either the mattress was all ripped and torn like it had been attacked by a bear but it looked big enough for two people though it was hard to tell with Arthur's bulky figure, "So here we are, this is where you and Mister Morgan will be staying, if you change your mind there is always a space for you in the main building" I smiled and thanked her for her assistance before she rushed out to attend to other things. She was such an amazing woman Ms Grimshaw and everyone seemed to take advantage of that or undermined her contribution to the gang, it was sad really. I lay on the bed, the mattress not being as bad as it looks it just needs some blankets and it would be perfect. I stare at the ceiling not properly being able to stop and process everything that's happened so far I start to feel drowsy until a voice breaks the silence,

"Hey everybody Dutch is back!"

I faintly heard Lenny's excited shout as my eyelids started to fall heavy but they sprang back open again and my mind immediately flickered over to Arthur.

I make my way over to the gang most of them had come out of the comfort and warm to see Dutch in hope that he'd brought back some food or something to help us survive, so there was a big penguin huddle around him and Arthur and a strawberry blonde woman who looked terrified, traumatised even she couldn't stop violently shaking like a helpless animal that had just been shot and I just knew it wasn't from the cold. If feel as if Dutch made the right decision bring her here but that was just a gut feeling and I tend to be a person who thinks with my head and not a silly feeling in my stomach. I later learned her name was Sadie Adler, poor thing had become a widow. I looked at Arthur from a distance and I could tell that he was burnt out, he had dark circles around his eyes and looked seconds away from nodding off. I wasn't really listening to Dutch speak as I was too worried about Arthur  and to be frank in this moment of time there was a vile depression swarming in my mind like a toxic black fog that made me cold and not care if we all reached the pearly gates or the fiery deeps of hell as much as I'd hate to admit it. he looked really bad like he was going to collapse any second now swaying back and forth like a drunken sailor and blinking slowly like a reptile in the desert, he was clearly in a world of his own. I waited impatiently for Dutch to stop speaking or in other words stop yapping out of respect for the old man I didn't want to ruin his amazing speech so that I could slither on over to Arthur.

"You okay cowboy?" I say as I hobble over to him and gently stroke his arm with my gloved palm moving it up and down on his cotton blue coat, oh how badly I wanted to press my soft warm virgin lips to his rough and scarred face and to hold him like a child in my feminine embrace as I run my fingers through his unkempt hair and whisper dove-like songs to him as I tell him 'it's okay' but if you haven't gotten the hint by know that wasn't how our relationship worked. He looked surprised to see me and grabbed my palm with his larger hands and gently like he was holding a rich china set moved my hand back to my sides rejecting but appreciating my touch at the same time, "you should be resting" he spoke in a straggly strained tone I found this very ironic coming from someone who had trouble keeping his eyes open "so should you" a sigh erupts from his dry cracked lips knowing he didn't go back and forth all day or too exhausted to give me lip, he gave in to me, "come on big boy, let's get you to bed" I say as my gloved hand tenderly gripped his and guided him towards the cabin. He tailed behind me like a giant puppy afraid to walk astray from its mother, it made me all warm and fuzzy inside knowing that Arthur had the strength and build of a bulky grizzly bear and the personality and charm of a cougar and could very easily over power me at any second and pull away but right now he was letting drag him through the bone chilling snow his grip on my hand was lose and soft as if he was holding onto glass, his touch though small and insignificant to those who didn't know the man but Arthur's touch spoke volume he was gentle with those who needed and rough to those who needed it but he had never been sweet with his touch it felt like an angel had came down and blessed my pure feminine hand with that of a rugged man's, like an abused street dog I didn't need him to speak as the silent language of touch alone told me that our relationship was growing into something more then a casual fling.

I help him over to the bed when we get inside the cabin his legs wobbling a bit as he goes to sit down, he lets out a long frustrated hot grunt as he throws he head back slightly revealing his Adams apple as he takes of his old dirty hat and runs his now un-gloved fingers through his hair as if he was aggressively petting a dog before his fingers traveled up to the bridge of his nose and he pitches it. With a thump he sits down on the elderly and rather uncomfortable bed, "I'm exhausted" he spoke in a worn out strained sexy voice and he really was quite a sight as of now... but much as I'd like to drool about him all day like a yearning virgin with a rotten blood red devil heart with the thick black wings of fallen hopes and the maggots of love and desire eating away at the fleshy wall that is fear and impurity, he was a real person at the end of the day a person that filled me with thoughts of lechery and complexed feelings that felt the need to be sexualised every second by some desperate lonesome woman in my mind that is me. "Would you like some help?" He didn't even have the energy to look up at me or verbally respond to my question so he just nodded, so I knelt down in front of his perfectly sculpted face. Him despite being sat down he still towered over me like a great old oak tree as one by one I pulled his boots with two great tugs, not the usual activity I get up on when I'm on my knees for him so it felt unfamiliar with the domesticity of it all but oh well, "so how was your day?" I ask standing up to assist him in taking of his coat and slinging it of his shoulders "well despite almost freezing to death, I think that... I'm just fine" he spoke with a bit of hesitance it was clear that he thought something else in that hollow head of his but I thought nothing of it and shrugged it off.

"So will you joining me anytime today Miss?" I felt my whole body flush up a red crimson, my mouth started to fill with droll, my palms started to sweat and I felt my heartbeat in my chest and somewhere else he had never been this straight forward with me before so it surprised me and also aroused me,  "I... well, you see..." I slurred over my own words my fluttered state becoming apparent to the man as he looked at me with the biggest smirk on his face laying with arms behind his head and his legs crossed with his hat back on his head again but pushed down so you couldn't see his irresistible ocean blue eyes "nah, I don't think I see why not" his smirk growing with every second my face invents a new shade of red and shuffle my feet uncomfortably like a penguin "come here' beautiful" his buttery voice was like a siren's sweet lullaby to my ears almost making me buckle and melt like ice cream under the sun. I try not to look to eager as I kick off my fluffy boots being careful not to accidentally touch or knock into my injury but I think he could tell that I was eager my the way his sleepy eyes seemed to follow me around the room and have a tint of amusement in them. I walk over to the bed and lay next to him it was awkward for awhile as we don't usually share a bed together, so I wasn't used to the beds dip to the side Arthur was laying and the way it sort of pulled me towards him like a black hole but I tried to the best of my feeble ability not to roll onto his husky chest, or the heavy breathing that he huffed like a dragon in and out of his lungs as he relaxes into the bed but still seemed uncomfortable somehow. That was until Arthur wrapped his arm around me and pulled me into his chest "I don't want you hang' off the edge to the bed there darling, hope this ain't to awkward" I guess me being uncomfortable made him uncomfortable in a weird romantic type of way it wasn't awkward at all his touch was like a beacon that light up my dark soul or the fan to fuel my fames, it actually felt nice to be held a feeling I had once long forgotten of being in the arms of someone you love and care for "not at all..." I whisper listening to his steady heartbeat like it was a song played by god himself and his angels, the warmth from his body was ecstatic and helped lull me to sleep. The last thing I remember was the faint whisper of something Arthur had said to me in my last seconds of consciousness I being think my fine moments in the 'Wild West' back in the good old' days when we weren't on the run from what seemed like the whole world and the relaxation of my muscles hit and then I started to fade away.

END NOTE

Check me out on wattpad as well for faster updates:

Author's notes: I hope you enjoyed reading Until My Last Breath as much as I did writing it. Unfortunately, I am slow writer so there will be extremely slow updates but I promise you it will come out.

I'd love to know if you love the story so far and what your views on it are so don't be afraid to leave a comment.

I am planning on writing a Dutch Van Der Linde fanfic if any of you are interested please let me know.

Also, it is unedited at the moment so please if you see any mistakes point them out to me, thank you!

Thank you for reading.

#red dead redemption 2 #red dead fandom #red dead redemption arthur #arthur morgan #rdr2 arthur #rd2 x reader #arthur morgan x reader #wild west #john morrison #dutch van der linde

[billythenightguard]

Run Away: Detention (2011) & FNAF Movie Crossover - Chapter Three

Masterlist

Mentions: math

Word Count: 1265

Warnings: fluff, math homework

Older!Clapton/Mike x GN!Reader

You and Mike had been coworkers for two weeks now, always chatting and getting to know each other in the thirty minutes of shift change. You had noticed that the snacks often went out fast, but you never complained, you just brought extra.

“I sort of have a favor I was wondering I could ask of you.” Mike said, looking down sheepishly almost.

“You know you can ask me anything.” You said sweetly to him, setting your things into the locker that was now yours, Mike still sitting in the swivel chair.

“Could you babysit Abby tonight… I… I can’t afford a babysitter and I’m willing to work a double as payment.” He quickly stammered out, it was a big deal to him, asking for help like this. But Max bailed on him, and he didn’t trust anyone else.

“I’ll be glad to watch her, and no worries about that double, okay? I’ll babysit her for the next five years until she’s old enough to be home alone if need be.”

“But what about-”

“Do not worry about paying me.” You interrupted, seeing how the worry in his big brown eyes melted away… almost like how Clapton’s would. “I like Abby, she’s sweet and kind. I’d happily watch her everyday for you okay?”

Mike nodded, trying not to tear up in front of you. Maybe you didn't know who he was yet, but you were still so kind to him. Still the sweetheart neighbor he adored. Once he hit the age of 12, he had tried harder than ever to get over the childhood crush, it wasn’t appropriate. He knew that. But now, he’s 29 and you’re 24, no one would even bat an eye at that. He wished desperately he could have stayed.

“Hey, uh, this’ll sound silly, but did you ever go to prom? Abby heard some kid talking about their big sister going and she’s asking me. But I never went.” He said honestly.

“No,” you spoke softly, looking down, “I was meant to. When I was 14, that best friend I mentioned before, I was gonna go to his senior prom with him. His ex was this annoying skank, she kept wanting him to get into fights for her so he broke it off and asked me, just as friends, but truth be told I felt myself falling for him.”

Mike felt his heart catch in his chest and a lump form in his throat, you were in love with him? All this time, “what would you do, if he ever came back?” He asked, hoping you couldn’t detect the eager nervousness in his voice.

“First, I’d slap him, then I’d kiss him.” You said, smiling with a hint of a blush.

“I’m here for Abby Schmidt.” You said to the car line worker, showing her the piece of paper Mike gave you for pickup, along with the note he had written to inform them that you were meant to grab Abby and for them to please add you to her emergency contact form.

You watched as they turned and went to go get her, music softly humming in your car as you daydreamed slightly about what prom with Clapton would have been like, Mike’s question was innocent but it certainly got your mind thinking. You were interrupted by a squeal of your name and your back door nearly tearing open from excitement.

“Hey there, Abs!” You smiled, turning to her to make sure she was buckled in.

“Are you my babysitter?!” Straight to the point, but happy, you loved her already.

“For only the next five years, sweet girl.” You laughed as she let out an insane amount of giggles, looking forward and driving out of the line. “Alright, so I was thinking we will do some grocery shopping for both of our houses. Will you help me and tell me what you guys usually eat?”

“Spaghetti and pizza!” You laughed and looked l into the rearview mirror to see her.

“Yeah? That’s a good combination, alright we will get spaghetti and pizza, and what else?” You asked, smiling in adoration and making a list of everything Abby rattled off.

You had gotten everything both your home and the Schmidt home needed, as a teenager when you babysat for money, you always would buy your own ingredients to cook with, hating the idea of using other people’s food without knowing if they may already have plans for it. Abby helped you to bring in your own bags and groceries first, it turned out you lived just down the road from them.

“Alright,” you smiled, rubbing your hands to alleviate the slight ache from carrying in heavy bags of groceries, you and Abby just finished putting away the groceries in her home, “spaghetti and pizza for dinner?”

“Yes, please!”

“Okay, go do your homework for me, and I’ll check it when you’re done.” Abby gave a mock salute which made you both giggle, but nonetheless she went to do as she was asked.

You didn’t know exactly how big her appetite was, but you still played it safe by making a smaller portion of spaghetti, you hoped she’d like it, the sauce was homemade versus that of in a jar, call it old habits, you hadn’t bought jarred sauce… well ever.

“Abby!” You called as the timer for the pizza went off just a little after the spaghetti finished, “dinner is ready!” She came out of her room with her homework in hand, “trade.” You said with a smile, taking her homework and giving her a plate of food.

“Oh, no… math.” You groaned a little as you looked it over. You were never one for any sort of mathematics, but Clapton was, he could quickly solve any equation in his head like it was nothing, and he never shamed you for taking a little longer to solve it.

“It’s okay if you’re not good at math, Mike is!” Abby piped up after chewing and swallowing her food.

“Yeah?”

“Yeah! He’s like a math genius!”

You smiled and chuckled, you knew this had to be turned in the next day, maybe you should call him and see if he could help you on the ones you didn’t know for sure.

“Hello?” Mike spoke through the phone, hoping he didn’t sound like he had just woken up, although you’d already caught him sleeping a few times.

“Hey, Mike!” He immediately perked up at your voice, “everything is good here, Abby ate dinner and got washed up, I just had a couple questions about her math homework… I wasn’t sure if you’d have time to check it in the morning and I didn’t want her to possibly turn it in wrong. I’ve been told you’re a math genius.” You giggled albeit nervously, hoping he wouldn’t be mad at you.

“Oh, oh, that’s good. I’m glad she’s not giving you trouble.” He said, rubbing his eyes. “Let’s hear it.”

“Sounds like she got them right, so no need for you to worry.” He smiled, chuckling quietly at the sigh of relief on the other end of the phone.

“Thank god, because I’m not the person to come to for math.” You said, putting her homework neatly into her backpack. “I’m sorry to bother you at work for that.”

“Don’t be, it’s boring here otherwise.” He almost didn’t want you to hang up, well scratch that. He didn’t want you to.

“Goodnight Mike, I’ll see you in the morning.” You said after a few minutes of a blissful silence.

“Goodnight…” click “firecracker.”

Tag List: @na-is-salty @thegirlwholoveslivesfanfiction @mad-die45 @cancelledkaley @mschmidt @dessxoxsworld @earphonejack09

#fnaf au #detention 2011 #billyistired #billyjustexists #run away #clapton davis #fnaf #clapton davis angst #clapton davis fluff #clapton davis x reader #clapton davis x you #clapton #mike x reader #mike schmidt fluff #mike schimdt x reader #mike schmidt imagine #mike schmidt x reader #josh hutcherson x gn!reader #gn!reader #gn reader #x reader

[she-karev]

Pregnant (One Shot Request

Age Rating: 12+

Chapters: One of Two

Fandom: Grey’s Anatomy

AN: Hey guys I see you liked my last post and I got a one-shot request to do another time skip for Amber and DeLuca. I hope you guys like it and I’m up for one shot requests if you have any. I'll try to post part two by Wednesday.

Summary: Amber gets bored during maternity leave and texts Andrew who comes over.

Words: 1741

October 20, 2022

I sit crisscross on the king bed making a lazy raspberry sound as I flip through the pages of Watchmen. Graphic novels aren’t what I usually read but I got desperate after finishing the whole shelf of books in the study. I’ve read everything from classics like Jane Eyre to new releases like Iron Widow. After that I asked Levi for a recommendation and he immediately dropped off this huge comic book. The art is good, the storyline is surprisingly relevant to society’s political landscape and the characters are interesting. But it has barely kept me from chronic boredom that comes from maternity leave or as I like to call it, maternity prison.

My little sidekick is in her eighth month of gestation and it’s pretty evident to anyone with eyes given how I look like Pluto. If Pluto had boobs and was wearing her husband’s Harvard shirt with gray sweatpants. After the New Year I told Andrew that I was ready for us to start trying to have a baby. The pandemic was over, I was caught up in my residency thanks to Webber and Andrew was finally back in the O.R. as a general surgery attending. The timing couldn’t be better and around March we found out we were pregnant and then a few months later we found out we were having a girl. There was a bump when the residency program shut down for a bit but it restarted with a new batch of interns and me being promoted to Chief Resident.

Unfortunately, that joy was short lived, I had to go on maternity leave about a few weeks later when the exhaustion kicked in at 35 weeks and I’ve been glued to the bed ever since. And to make matters worse Levi was assigned temporary Chief Resident so that was another cloud looming over my head. The only thing that keeps me somewhat sane in this bed is my husband and baby daddy coming home and detailing every step of his surgeries so I don’t become dumb. Which is why I sent an impulsive text that I’m sure will make Andrew angry at me.

I hear running out in the hall and the door bursts open revealing Andrew in his navy scrubs and blue fleece telling me he came straight here the second he got my text. He looks around worried until he finds me criss cross in the middle of the bed looking healthy as a clam despite my text saying 911. I grin at him trying to look innocent so he doesn’t get too mad at me for worrying him because I was bored and needed contact with the outside world.

“Hi honey.” I greet him normally and he looks at me in shock before confusion sets in his face and I explain, “I might have possibly fibbed in my text don’t be mad.”

“You-” Andrew groans frustrated before laying it out, “You texted me 911.”

“I know.” I take a sip of my water bottle as Andrew walks to the edge of the bed staring down at me clearly peeved.

“I came straight here from work because my very pregnant wife texted me 911 and I was afraid she was in labor or bleeding out. But instead, I find her in bed chilling and acting like she didn’t almost give me a heart attack!” I wince at the exclamation, “God Amber what is wrong that you have to scare me like that?”

“I can’t be held accountable.” Andrew scoffs at my excuse and I continue, “I can’t be held accountable for my misguided actions because your baby and me have gone insane from bed rest and boredom. Will it make you feel better if I said sorry for almost scaring you to death?”

Andrew’s face softens slightly, “Well I think the knots in your hair are punishment enough so yes.”

I look in the vanity mirror to my left and see that my normally composed blonde hair is all over the place due to laying on my pillow for 10 hours. I look back and see my husband grinning amused already past his anger and I frown at that, “Yeah that’s right laugh at your pregnant wife who has permanent bed head let’s see how that ends for you.”

I stand on my knees and crawl over to the edge to face Andrew who chuckles while I pout, “Okay in all seriousness is there a logical reason why you texted me 911 when there is nothing emergent?”

“I’m bored out of my freaking mind.” I explain bordering on yelling while Andrew is looking at me affectionately with his bright green eyes, “I’ve been at home for five weeks, five weeks, do you have any idea what that is like?!”

“I have a feeling your gonna tell me.” Andrew puts his hands on my hips to keep me steady.

I hold up Watchmen to prove my point of how bored I am, “I’ve read all the books in our shelves I always say I’m gonna finish, I tried watching Netflix but you know it just makes me miss human contact more and to top it off while I’m shackled to this bed like that lady in Gerald’s Game my husband is at work saving lives and actually making a difference because unlike me he doesn’t have a big bowling ball under his shirt. And I think the baby is bored too and she sent that text because she’s hungry for more of your surgery stories and a reminder that there’s a world outside this bed. She’s very stubborn about what she wants.”

“She takes after her mother.” Andrew quips in amused and I narrow my eyes at him causing him to chuckle, “Look I know it’s hard being cooped up in here but you heard what the OB said bedrest is important and you were reaching your limit. I had to practically carry you out of the on-call room when I found you passed out after your lap chole.” I groan at that memory because it’s when I admitted I was exhausted and ordered to go on leave until after the baby was born, “You were doing the work of eight people it’s not good for your stamina and it would’ve affected the baby too.”

“You don’t know that.” He raises an eyebrow at me and I continue, “I’m like an M1-A1, it’s a tank and it can survive anything and get the job done.” I look down at my huge belly pouting at my changing body, “I mean I’m already as big as a tank right now and my bikini days are getting narrower by the minute.”

“I never really liked bikini’s anyway.” He’s trying to console me again which he always does when I complain about how big I’m getting, “You look way better in that sweater than some tacky string.”

“Stop being nice, you know my hormones make me unpredictable.” I remind him again, “The nicer you are the more it makes me want to choke hold you.”

“In that case you look like a bloated whale.” Andrew jokes and it doesn’t amuse me at all, “Better?”

“Not in the least.” I sigh and wrap my arms around the back of Andrew’s neck and say sweetly, “Just stay here and tell me stories about life on the outside.” I run my fingers through his wavy hair to add effect but it doesn’t work. He looks enticed but he’s gotten stronger against my seductions over the years.

“I can’t, I have a surgery this afternoon.” He steps back to my disappointment, “Plus I gotta help Marsh with the skills lab for the interns while Hunt is in the ER. And as much as I want to, I can’t stay here because your bored or Grey will reprimand me. Find something to do while I’m working so the time will pass by and you won’t be so bored.”

Suddenly a light bulb goes off in my head on how I can keep myself busy, “Your right.”

He exhales in relief and turns to leave, “Thank god I’ll see you tonight, I love you.”

“Oh no I’m coming with you; you’re taking me to work.” I get off the bed, go to our closet and put a black coat over my clothes and slip into my black crocs. I can see Andrew turning to face me again with an annoyed look.

“That is not happening babe.” He tells me bluntly but I don’t listen as I grab my purse, “Okay you and the baby need to listen to me. I am not taking you two to a hospital with the germs and blood and diseases it’s not happening I’m putting my foot down.”

I widen my eyes at that and he emphasizes by crossing his arms against his chest, “I’m just gonna watch from the gallery and catch up with my friends and see if Schmitt is still alive. It’s not like I’m getting a scalpel come on man.”

Andrew stands his ground, “Nope still not happening, if you want new books order on Amazon and get express, I don’t care about the price as long as it keeps you in bed and following doctor’s orders.”

“I’m a doctor, you’re a doctor, our siblings are doctors and all of our friends are doctors. I’m pretty sure we both know what’s safe and not safe for me and the baby too.” I remind him, “A hospital is the best place for me to kill time because if I go into labor, I just have to walk five steps to a bed in OB. Please take me with you, think of it like take your daughter to work day.”

He looks at my belly and back up at me, “I think we’re a little early for that.”

“Take me with you.” I sternly command.

“No.” Andrew says with finality causing me to narrow my eyes at him as he keeps a composed face. I mimic his stance crossing my arms across my chest and glaring at him to assert dominance. Even in my condition I stand as his equal and he knows it, he knows I won’t go down without a fight so he has to do the same. We stand there silently for a few moments, me in my pajamas and him in his scrubs, waiting for one of us to budge.

#greys anatomy #greysanatomyedit #greysedit #grey's anatomy #amber karev #andrew deluca #elizabeth gillies #liz gillies #giacomo gianniotti #headcanon #oneshot #one shot request

[v3nusxsky]

Love Letters

Different this time

*Authors note~ another chapter of love letters, I haven't forgotten about happy hours it is coming for you all soon*

Trigger warnings~ rough past for r featuring abuse mental, emotional and physical and In future chapters sexual abuse

Since that evening where your solider left for the base, you'd kept it to yourself. Walking back in the rain you decided that all you could do was carry on as normal. Who would know if you'd ever hear from Emily again? Perhaps that's the only spark of joy you'd be granted in your lifetime. Stepping into the house that was never really home you were reminded of just that. Your mother passed out on the sofa with an infant by her side soundly asleep. The bottles of beer littered around her had you scooping the child up to take her away from the mess. Your mother didn't even stir but you didn't care, making a beeline for your room. Somewhat of your safe haven.

Your step brother blocked the way while he spewed words at you and the child in your arms, threatening to tell his father you were out too late, they knew you closed the cafe up and how long it should take you to get back. But you took every word silently, sheltering the child by covering her ears gently. "Are you done? Isla is asleep and I don't think your dad will be happy if you wake her up Rhys." And with that you snuck into your room breathing a sigh of relief. The day rather insane yet you couldn't stop thinking of the happiness the solider brought you for those short hours. If only she knew that you weren't as perfect as you portrayed yourself to be at work. Even your own family would remind you of how unworthy you were.

Working at the Cafe provided you some spear income, that normally your mother and stepfather would take to pay for beer or Rhys to spend, they called it rent. All while you were the only one who held down a legal job, looked after Isla and even tried to put yourself through school to ensure you could take Isla away from this toxic environment. Any tips you received at Crimson were stashed away at the cafe for you to ensure it's safety. As soon as you had enough saved you'd find an apartment and start our life.

Considering you had everything you wanted to do to escape your life, it was rare you deviated from the plans. Meeting Emily was not something you planned but for some unexplainable reason you felt a pull towards the raven haired solider. You were a firm believer in destiny, it is how you survive the current life you've experienced so far, the belief that good was on it's way to you soon. It had to be.

The sound of tiny wails broke you from your thoughts to Rhys now pounding on your locked door. Truly, this was all you know and the guilt of it being able to take Isla away from this. She may have come from a traumatic experience but she is an innocent baby who didn't deserve to suffer at the hands of people who were suppose to be family. Ignoring Rhys in favour of settling the baby, your exhaustion was wearing on you, yet you couldn't sleep now because of the assignment deadline at eleven fifty nine tonight. The assignment had been something you'd had been meaning to get around to but between the job and home you just didn't have enough hours in the day to do everything. Once Isla had been settled you managed to submit your assignment before your stepfather came stumbling in, in a drunken rage, ready to punish you for the money being low despite the fact he literally drank and gambled your weeks wages away as soon as the money hit his palm. While he lashed out all you could do is hope that fate had brought Emily to you for a good reason, yet with your track record you were certainly losing hope. Was this a cruel joke on you?

#fanfic #v3nusxsky love letters #love letters #Emily prentiss x reader

[livingemkayde]

Twin Moons - Chapter Five: The Silence

Series Summary: 

when you meet a Mandalorian on the sands of Tatooine, for some reason you both can't stay away. even through all the pain—you keep coming back to each other. it's all you know how to do.

Chapter Five: The Silence

Notes: Someone please tell me how this chapter is almost six thousand fucking words long. I got so carried away. If you guys like longer chapters, let me know but I think I'm going to start making them longer anyways. Notes are HIGHLY appreciated. As always, please enjoy. 

Side note: Idk if you guys picked up on this, but the reader has very light pupils, almost completely white eyes aside from some shading in irises–it is touched on more in this chapter. 

Pairing: Din Djarin x Force Sensitive f!reader

Series warnings: *Although this chapter may not contain graphic content, this story is rated 18+ due to graphic depictions of violence and sexual scenarios.*

Chapter warnings: Mentions of the empire, the dark side, and the force, angst. Brief mentions of abuse and Stockholm syndrome. Mutual pining and very strong feelings from the reader. Mando having a potty mouth. Hints at sexual scenes/thoughts. Jealousy and reader’s self hatred. 

Summary: He’s officially going to drive you crazy. The Mandalorian in front of you is going to drive you insane. He might kill you. You could die by a thousand touches and suggestive words with hidden meanings. 

Masterlist Chapter Four Chapter Three

One. 

You work with Grogu more the following afternoon. When you exit the Mandalorians hut after nap time has begun, you look for him on the small porch but instead see his shining head across the way with Omera. 

You scowl to yourself, and quickly brush it off as you make your way over. Your eyes feel slightly puffy from the tears shed through the night. You had not gotten much sleep. Winta’s innocent words crept into the back of your mind each time you closed your eyes. She questioned her people’s safety from you. A child, not unlike the one you were working with—asking if you would ever hurt her. The thought feels like it stabs your heart. 

You’re sad. Honestly. Like really fucking sad. About everything. About leaving him and his kid in a couple days. About Davin. About Omera. About everything. It burns through your chest with a certain bite that leaves you feeling empty. You don’t know why. Or why you’re scared to approach them. Or why you feel such a strong connection to a man you just met. 

“Hey, uh—” you say as you approach the pair. Omera laughs at something the Mandalorian says and her hand brushes his bicep again. At your entrance, her hand drops and the couple goes silent. “Sorry I hope I'm not interrupting. Grogu is down for a nap. Just wanted to let you know.” 

You exit quickly, only hearing a small ‘thank you’ from the Mandalorian as you walk away towards the woods. 

The Mandalorians gaze sears into the back of your head as you exit.  

You continue exploring through the small pathway—ducking under some branches and slipping through bushes to a clearing. In the middle, a large tree with a wide trunk. You circle the tree a few times before looking down towards the ground. The sunlight is shining on the top of your head. You can feel the heat of it warming your hair. 

While you look to the ground, absentmindedly counting your steps and noting the small flowers there, you pick up a fallen branch, long and sturdy enough to be a weapon, maybe a staff—a spear. 

You hold the branch in your hands. Test the weight of it in your palms and twirl it through your hands and around your body. Maybe in another life it could’ve been kyber. 

You begin hitting the tree, simulating some form of combat. You were restless after so much time on this boring planet. It was the most time you had ever spent in one place in years. 

As you spin to hit the trunk higher, much like smashing the head of an opponent, you hear a twig snap behind you. You suddenly find it hard to breathe. 

“Mandalorian.” You huff while continuing your silly practice, not looking back to meet his gaze. You shouldn’t be mad at him. But you are, unexplainably. 

Din notices you are elegant with your strikes. You move in a way he has never seen before, much less experienced in combat. Even in the cantina, you bested him with your quick skills and surprising strength. 

You hear him walk toward you, but for some reason, your body fails to turn. 

“Saki.” 

You turn at the nickname, it feels foreign on his lips. 

You are slightly breathless, from the combat practice or your name echoing through modulation, you do not know. His voice trails through the small clearing and it makes your ears ring. 

“What are you doing?” He asks when you don't respond. 

“I'm bored. This place is…boring. I don't want to take care of kids all day and farm krill.” You smack the branch against the tree trunk once more. You remember last night, Omera, Winta and her words that cut your skin like daggers. 

The branch snaps in half. 

You toss the two halves to the ground and fully turn to face him. He's standing a couple feet away. 

“Shouldn’t you be somewhere else?” You reply—passive-aggressive tones in your voice. Last night hurt. Seeing him with Omera hurt. The fact that he didn’t follow you hurt. 

Not that he owes you anything. You were becoming attached to someone who was obviously unavailable—it was all in your head. 

But the way he listened to your stories, taking in all the information that makes you, you. You couldn’t help but fall, even if he wasn’t there to catch you. But that’s not his problem—it's yours. 

A few moments pass, you note his hand twitching like he's contemplating his words carefully. The orange tips of his pointer and thumb scrape past each other in their wake. 

“Alright. C’mon. Let's go.” He turns on his heels and begins to walk away from you. 

“What? I–hey wait up.” You call after him as you follow his figure. 

_ 

“Ready? On ‘go’ okay? Three–” you get into your stance, “–two–” you hold your palms out, ready to strike first, “–one–” you grab his wrist, twisting his arm and striking at the crease of his elbow. 

You snake your ankle around his and pull your leg back, so he stumbles and kneels on the ground before you. 

“I said on ‘go.’” He grunts while sliding to grab the back of your thigh and shoulder to flip you and bring you down to the ground. You slip out of the trap easily, scrambling to stand and begin to engage in hand to hand combat with him. 

“I know. Just–” you strike the side of his stomach with your foot and he grunts “–making sure you were ready.” 

You elbow his collar and he grunts again. “You weren't.” You chuckle quietly. 

It's easy–fun even. Something to stimulate your brain. Something entertaining for you, he had said. You appreciate his efforts, he explains he used to spar with other Mandalorians when he was a child. You know he can understand your restlessness on this planet. 

He showed you to a small field near the village and explained he and Grogu spent time out here when you weren’t preparing him. The grass in this area was soft. It was unlike the hard soil of the forest, and the dirt ridden roads near the huts. 

His hands tangle with yours. You can feel him everywhere. Your hips, your waist, back, shoulders. You are using small amounts of strength—sparring strength, but you relish the feeling of his hands on your body. 

“You're a cheater.” He grunts as you block his strike. 

“Didn't know you cared much about rules.” You spin and switch positions with him, moving throughout the open field near the village, sun looking down on you. 

You giggle through the innocent game—each time his move fails and he becomes more frustrated. 

You go to kick his side again as he opens his stance to strike, but he predicts your movements, grabs you by the crease of your knee and hauls you to the ground. He straddles your hips with his thighs. Mimicking his actions when you first arrived at Sorgan. 

You settle on the ground below him, looking up at the sky. You can see the trees peeking into your upside down vision. You fill your chest with air and release it slowly, savoring this moment. The sky is a shade of blue unfamiliar to your worn eyes. The Mandalorian sitting in the middle of the expanse, looking like a painting. He is art. His armor is beautiful. A true show of craftsmanship. You wonder who forged it for him.

“You like this position huh.” You tease with breathless laughter––having given up on the sparring. 

“Maybe I do. You're prettier when you're not smashing plates on my head.” 

Your eyes widen. 

“What?” You ask. 

“The cantina. Remember?” He notes. 

“Yeah. I remember. What you said before that.” 

“What, that I like this position? Don't get too cocky. I just like it when you can't hurt me.” He teases with a light tone. 

“You called me pretty.” You say, meeting his eyes. 

“Did I? Don't recall…do you yield?” 

“Don't try to change the subject. You called me pretty.” 

“I didn't.” 

“You just did.” 

“No. I didn't.” 

“It's okay.” You can't help a smile that comes to your face. “If you think I'm pretty it's okay.” 

“Why do you want me to think you're pretty?” 

“I just want you to admit you said it.” 

“So you want me to think you're pretty.” 

“No, I just want you to admit that it happened.” 

A few moments pass. You feel a sudden tension between you. Maybe you had taken your joking too far. You worry in this position, that he might actually hurt you. Your breaths become slightly erratic, but you try to steady them—bringing air in through your nose. 

“Maybe it did.” Your eyebrows furrow at his words. “Happen.” He clarifies. “Then what?” He says softer this time. You can tell the playful intentions of this stupid conversation have gone. 

You can’t bring yourself to respond. Is he calling you pretty? Or is he just admitting that it happened? The Mandalorian is running laps around your head and you feel dizzy from his incessant games you can’t bring yourself to stop playing. You think back to Omera. The way they stood together during dinner. His hands on her body. It was silly. If you really think about it. Silly that he would feel the same way when you’ve only known each other a few days—after you tried to kill him—after everything you’ve done. 

But you feel like you have known him forever. And you would choose to—given the chance. 

When you say nothing but look up towards the sky, his hand moves from resting on his thigh to your bicep. Your eyes shoot back to the black T in front of you. Your lips part and although your eyebrows haven’t unfurrowed, they soften slightly. All your features do. 

He acts before you can speak. Trailing his hand down your arm, to your open palm on the ground. When he reaches your fingers, he turns your hand in his, and snakes his fingers through yours. 

You watch the whole time, the feeling strange in your palms, your gloves abandoned in the hut with Grogu. 

He runs his thumb over the back of your hand, the both of you staring at your joined limbs, silence surrounding you. Even though you are separated by his glove, you feel his warmth spread like fire throughout your body. He holds your hand with some strength, enough to make you feel secure without forcing your joints. 

Although your mind should be racing—racing with thoughts about a certain beautiful widow, a sleeping green child, and the Mandalorian in front of you. You can only stare back, entranced by his actions. 

You feel his other arm moving, his hand coming to rest on your hip bone, his thumb rubbing softly at the exposed flesh there. You close your eyes at the feeling. 

“Look at me.” He says, you open your eyes. 

Suddenly, the feeling has changed in the air between you. 

“Is this okay?” He asks. 

Even though you aren't sure what he means by this you nod your head anyways. 

He runs his fingers higher up your stomach, gloved hand pushing back fabric as you shiver under his touch. 

“I–” you start, but a small ring pulls you both out of your trance. The Mandalorian suddenly drops your hand, pushes himself off you and turns to look toward the sound. 

The dinner bell. 

Fuck.

_

Two.  

When you finish with Grogu the following day, you decide to rest on the ground next to his pram. You’re tired from working with him. You should be practicing your meditation since you are reaching out to him through the force for long periods of time—but you don’t. 

You settle on the ground next to his bassinet, back pressed against the side of the Mandalorians bed.

The preparations have been progressing, Grogu is doing well. You peer over your shoulder towards the sleeping child and sigh. He should be ready with one more session tomorrow. He has to be ready—you’re leaving. 

The Mandalorian doesn’t inquire much about Grogu’s preparations anymore, you hope it’s a sign of trust, of good faith. But then again, he doesn’t have much choice. 

When you finally begin to shut your eyes, your head slouching to the side, the curtains open and let in the sunset from outside. A tall figure stands as a shadow in the doorframe. The Mandalorian. 

“Hi.” You say while opening your eyes slightly with a smile. 

“Bedtime? For both of you?” He asks while chuckling slightly and walking into the room, letting the curtains shut behind him. 

“Mhm.” You say lazily while squinting one eye and letting your head fall to the other side. 

“Come on, rest on the bed.” He stands in front of you now, your eyes open at his request and you look up at him. 

“No, no it's okay. I’ll just go back to my hut.” You say while standing slowly. 

“C’mon, just stay here. You’re already falling asleep.” He pushes a fallen piece of hair out of your face, his fingers lingering on your cheek bone. Your bruises had been healing slowly, but you still had some cuts on your face from Davin’s rings. You can feel the Mandalorians fingers tracing over the scabs on your cheek. 

Your eyes widen—you want to cry. But you don’t fight him, or push him away.

When you stand motionless, while looking into his visor, he places his hands on your hips and begins to turn your body while leading you to the bed with gentle pushes on your lower back. 

You abandon your plan of returning to your hut, but you’re so aware of his hands on your body, you no longer feel tired.

“Okay.” You say plainly, and settle on his bed on top of his blanket. You lay on your back, one hand resting on your stomach, the one closer to him laid flat on the bed. 

He turns to leave you—maybe it’s your sudden boldness from yesterday in the field, or the lingering feeling of his hands on your waist, but you speak without thinking. 

“Will you stay?” You ask, and he freezes in his stride. He pauses for a few seconds, you’re afraid he’ll reject you, or leave without saying anything. But he turns his head to the side, to indicate he heard you. 

“You want me to tuck you in?” He turns, and you swear you can hear a smirk drift across his face. He stalks back towards your figure on his bed. 

“You’d like that. I’m just bored.” 

“I thought you were tired.” 

“Someone’s shiny head woke me up.” 

He sits on the bed next to your body. His back is to you, but he turns his head so he can look down at your face. You scoot over some, to make room for his figure but he remains sitting on the side of the bed. 

You close your eyes, satisfied with his presence, but you can feel him shifting beside you. 

“Lay down.” You say softly, while opening your eyes to his visor, scooting over more to make room for his large figure. 

He says nothing but swings his legs and begins to lay beside you. His bed is large, big enough that you can lay side by side without touching, a few inches of space between you. 

“I don’t think I've ever seen you sleep.” You note while staring up at the ceiling. 

“I don't much. Probably a habit from traveling so much.” He replies beside you. 

“You should sleep more.” 

“You should too.”

You chuckle. 

You want to bring up the field, Omera, his touches, but you don’t—leaving it unsaid in the air between you. 

“Can you tell me about your creed?” 

Din freezes. He didn’t know people were interested in his creed besides when asking why he can’t take the helmet off.  

“I knew a Mandalorian. But he showed his face.” You continue when he doesn’t respond. He notes how you inquire curiously, but never question his faith.

“The Mandalorians saved me from a droid attack on my home planet. I was a foundling. Raised in the fighting corps. The creed means I can never show my face to another living being. This is The Way.” 

You stare at the ceiling, taking in all the information. You have never heard of this creed—even after studying with the jedi on Coruscant. 

“No one? For your whole life?” 

“This is The Way.” He repeats the strange words once again in response. 

“Not even your kid?” You ask, referencing Grogu. 

“He is a foundling. If I were to adopt him, or raise a child—I would be able to show my face to my family.”

“Family. Like….your wife?”

“If I were to take a wife I would be able to show her my face, yes.” 

“Mm.” You note, without much to follow. You hesitate in your questioning—unsure of his comfort answering questions regarding his creed. 

“Have you ever wanted to?” 

“Wanted to do what? Show my face?” He asks. 

You respond simply with a small “Yeah.” 

You feel his helmet look toward you, and you can’t help but bring your head to meet his. Looking for his eyes behind the small visor in front of you. You feel his hand moving beside you, his pinky finger reaching out to brush against yours. It disappears just as quickly, and your breath hitches in your chest. 

“Yes.” 

He’s officially going to drive you crazy. The Mandalorian in front of you is going to drive you insane. He might kill you. You could die by a thousand touches and suggestive words with hidden meanings. You turn to look away from him, a blush creeping up your neck. 

“How many planets have you been to?” You ask, trying to change the subject after your words fail you to continue the conversation. 

“More than I can count.” He says with a sigh. 

“What’s your favorite one?” You respond curiously. 

“I don’t really have one.” He says. 

“Really?” 

“Yeah. What’s yours?” 

“I like it here. But I liked Endor too.” 

“You like green.” He notes. And you nod, smiling.

“I don’t see many nice planets.” He continues. “I work bounties out of Nevarro.” 

“Nevarro? I’ve been there.” 

You remember the lava flats and molten ground you walked on. You blush when you realize the two of you might have crossed paths more than you know. Your head turns to him again. 

“I can tell you that Tatooine is my least favorite one.” He says while meeting your gaze, you lock eyes. You smile at his words. The last time both of you were on Tatooine, you were about to kill him. 

“I don’t like sand.” You note. 

“I don’t either.” He says softly. 

“Hurts my eyes.” You say while turning your head to look back at the ceiling. A few moments pass. 

“You can ask.” You say while chuckling. 

“What happened?” His helmet is still turned towards your face. 

“Punishment from Davin. I was supposed to bring back someone alive–I came back with their head in my hands.” You close your eyes. 

“He dropped me off on some planet that had toxic chemicals in the air. It bleached my pupils–that’s why they're white. Bright things hurt my eyes. And shiny things.” You say playfully, while elbowing his arm, trying to lighten the mood. You don’t think it worked when he remains looking at you, motionless. 

“I’m sorry.” He whispers. 

“It’s not your fault.” You reply, although you aren’t sure if he’s apologizing for your punishment or his armor. You look back at him, the two of you gazing at each other. 

You feel his arm moving beside you. He grabs your hand, intertwines your fingers, and lays them to rest between your bodies. His thumb rubs your hand again, mimicking his actions yesterday. You smile as you look down to your hands and back up to his visor. You find his eyes immediately–and even though you can’t see him, Din smiles back. 

Din sees the gray of his beskar washing over your eyes once again. You’re beautiful. Funny, smart, witty. When your eyes meet his, he feels like maybe you match him perfectly. Maybe when he asks you to stay with him, you’ll listen. But then again, maybe he doesn’t belong with anyone. He definitely doesn’t belong here. 

You wonder if you’re meeting his gaze beneath the mask. What his hair looks like. The color of his skin, the curve of his cheek. His eyebrows. Does he have facial hair? Is he even human under the helmet? 

A breeze pushes the curtains back and some sunlight spears through the hut, hitting your eyes. It hurts, but you don’t move. You wonder what he thinks of your eyes, maybe if they were normal you could see him better. Maybe if they had color they would absorb his gray and not reflect it. 

What color are his?

You don’t talk after that. You don’t think about Omera once. 

You don’t know how long you stay frozen under his gaze—your eyes drift closed as the sun sets behind the curtains. 

_

Three. 

When you wake up in the Mandalorians hut, your eyes shift from sleepy and half shut to wide and alert. You lay next to him. Your form curled to his side while he lay on his back. He has one arm under your neck, his vambraces removed and set on the ground. One of your hands rest on his chest plate.

You stare at the side of his helmet, with wide eyes. His chest rises and falls gently with soft snores from under his helmet. Fuck. 

You remember last night. Sinking into the mattress beside him. Rolling over in your sleep and knocking into his side, his arm lifting up and coming to wrap around your body. His thumb and the way it rubbed the small patch of skin peaking out from under the hem of your top. Kriff. This is bad. This is getting too complicated. His small Yes was seared into the back of your mind, and you can’t help but think he might’ve actually been talking about you. 

You stare at the side of his helmet once more. He could be awake, you wonder. He could be holding you because he means it, or he could be sleeping and none the wiser to his actions. You close your eyes and your heart beats more erratically through your chest. You worry its pounding would be strong enough to wake him. 

You need to leave. 

You remove your hand from his chest plate and carefully sit up, trying not to move the bed too much. You slink out of his arms and out of the bed. The kid sleeps soundly in the pram at the head of it.

You step out of the hut and the morning dew hits your face. The sun is rising over the trees, you guess it's early in the morning. You note which direction your ship is for your travel out of the village later today. 

You move towards the dining hut, your stomach growling from having skipped dinner after working with Grogu in the evening. Your cheeks flush as you remember the Mandalorians hands wrapping around your waist, touching your cheek. 

You open the curtains to the dining area, your heart drops as you see a figure with their back turned towards the entrance, preparing some food for breakfast. 

Omera. 

“Oh. Hi.” You say dumbly. 

“Saki. Hello.” She turns to greet you with a smile. 

“Sorry, I didn’t mean to barge in. I skipped dinner last night.” 

“It’s no problem. There’s some fruits and bread over here to hold you over until breakfast.” She points with the wooden spoon in her hand to the table across from her. 

“Thank you.” You slink over to the table, trying not to meet her eye. When you steal a glance at her, she is looking back at you. Your cheeks heat and you quickly drop her gaze and place your attention to the food in front of you. 

“How is Grogu doing?” She asks innocently. “He’s doing well. Progressing well. He won’t need me soon.” You reply, picking the best smelling fruits in front of you before you make your exit. 

“That’s good to hear.” She replies plainly with a sharp smile on her face. “And Mando?” She adds. 

“Um, good. They’re both good.” You reply—scared of her intentions regarding asking about the Mandalorian. 

“You two have grown close these past few days.” She doesn’t meet your gaze. 

“Yeah, the kid is special.” 

“I wasn’t talking about the kid.” She stops mixing, her hands resting on the table in front of her, looking at you with knowing eyes and a small smile. 

“What?” You almost drop the fruits in your hand. 

“Mando.” She replies simply. Although you note how she doesn’t look mad, you can’t bring yourself to meet her eye. Suddenly, all the touches and words feel dirty in your mind. You saw them together. How they looked at each other—and yet, you didn’t stop him through all his actions. You chastise yourself. How could any of that be real when this woman stands beautiful in front of you?

“Omera. I—I'm sorry.” You don’t really know what else to say. 

“For what?” She asks. First you think she’s being facetious—knowing she has bested you in this stupid game for his heart. But when you look to meet her eye, you spot genuine curiosity. 

“F-for the Mandalorian. For…” When her eyebrows furrow and her head tilts to the side, your features shift to confusion. “—You guys are like…together right?” 

“Me and Mando?” She asks with a small laugh. “I thought—” 

But a sound breaks the two of you out of your strange gaze and shifts your bodies to turn towards the entrance of the hut. For some reason, you know who it is before your eyes dawn upon a black T and beskar. 

“There you are. Hey—uh.” He shifts when he sees you talking to the widow before you. 

Fuck. 

He wasn’t even talking to you. You spend the night in his bed, his arms, his hut, next to his kid. And he’s not even looking at you. 

Right. 

How could you have been so stupid? So naive? You feel like everything is moving in slow motion, but yet, time flies by without you. 

“The kids need you. They woke me up looking for you.” He's still talking to Omera. 

“Oh. Okay. Give me one second.” She pulls the apron off her front, bundles it up and sets it on the table that separates the two of you.

When she moves past the Mandalorian towards the kids, they don’t share a glance. Weird. You note. 

Silence enters the hut and the Mandalorian surprisingly doesn’t follow after her. You finish grabbing your fruits and a piece of bread and walk towards him. Hoping he will leave it at that and let you go back to your hut. 

“You left early this morning.” He says and his voice tears you out of your train of thought. 

“Yeah.” You reply dumbly.

“I was looking for you. Then the kids…they—” You cut him off.

“Yeah. It's okay.” You can’t help but feel lied to. Like he’s making up some lame excuse for when he came in here looking specifically for her. When tears spark at the back of your eyes and your throat suddenly feels tight, you fight his gaze and move to exit quickly. You won't let him see you cry. 

“I’ll see you in a bit for Grogu.” You continue when he stands staring like a statue. 

He says nothing after that. 

_ 

You know you’re being childish. But you also know you will be off this planet by sundown. 

This is all some stupid game he keeps playing with you. The teasing, the touches. It’s like he wants you in private but plays a role in some superficial life in public. He doesn’t fit in here. You don't fit in here. It's apparent enough. He can play pretend with the girl next door all he wants, but you both know the truth.

As you work with Gorgu, the Mandalorian doesn’t wait outside. He leaves when you arrive. It feels like a slap in the face—especially since you’re leaving tonight. Leaving Sorgan on bad terms makes your stomach twist. You’ll probably never see him again. 

He made you feel worth something in those small fleeting moments in his hut or the field. Even if it might’ve left you less whole than when you arrived, more broken, more confused—he made you feel good. 

Grogu and you have been growing close. At least that was something. You can see that he has a strong attachment to the Mandalorian and in the back of your head, you worry. After all this, Luke could reject him, but you doubt it. He’s desperate for a school and this kid looks too much like Yoda for him to say no. 

You finalize your preparations, tell Gorgu that he needs to reach out to someone named Luke when the Mandalorian takes him to the seeing stone. 

You sneak into your pack and pull out some fresh berries you snuck from the dining hut this morning with Omera. You offer them to him and he takes them with a smile. Seeing the kid happy makes your heart full. After all, this wasn’t some trip to get you laid, you truly believed he would bring balance to the force. 

Grogu does a couple flips with berries still in his hands despite your protests, and on a particularly precarious looking tumble, you catch him in your hands. He looks up to you, babbling, and then proceeds to vomit all over the front of your shirt. 

Great. 

_ 

The Mandalorian comes in when you were trying to clean up Grogu’s mess. 

“What happened?” He moves fast towards you to inspect your shirt, then down to the kid who is none the wiser. 

“Nothing–I–sorry. I gave him some berries. He was like jumping and stuff and then he just…” you motion to the front of your shirt. The vomit had remained untouched since you were trying to clean the front of Grogu’s robes first. 

“Take that off. Here.” He digs through the baskets near the walls and extends a faded black shirt to you. Your eyes widen. 

“No. I’m just gonna go back and change. It’s fine.” You shake your head and step back slightly. Too much. Too complicated. Too domestic. But your hands want to reach out and accept the clothing. It probably smells like him. Your heart flutters at the thought. 

“And what? Put your kit on? C’mon just change.” 

Kriff. He was right. 

“I–okay. Thanks.” You murmur under your breath and take the shirt from his hand. 

He picks Grogu up and turns, letting you change. Considerate–you note–despite his wandering hands days prior. 

His shirt falls over your frame and when you slide it over your head, his scent pushes through your nose. Woodsy. Gun powder. Something synthetic, maybe gun oil or armor polish. It flutters through you and makes your heart beat ten times faster. 

“Okay.” You say when the shirt falls past your hips, hitting the middle of your thighs—you feel the hem as you roll it through your fingers. He turns at the indication you’re done changing. 

He stares at you. You can feel his gaze. He holds Gorgu in his right arm, places him in his pram, and shuts the doors. He takes a step toward you, experimentally. When you don’t react, another. And then another. 

“He’ll be done soon.” You snap out of your trance. You remember this morning. Omera. His excuses.

“What?” 

“Grogu. He’s doing good. You can take him to the seeing stone soon.” You gesture towards the pram. 

“He’ll be done soon.” He echoes your previous statement. 

“Yes.” you whisper. 

He tilts his head slowly, coming closer to you. You don’t even recall when he got so close. 

“Is that what you want?” His hand hovers over your hip, but not touching you yet. 

“I–I want what’s best for—” His actions cut your words. His hand gripping your waist tightly. He rubs your skin through his shirt tenderly and tugs on it a little. 

“You want what’s best for who?” He prods. Teasing you. He massages you more, bringing you closer to him, his hand around your back, beginning to move slowly, dangerously, down your body. 

“I–I w–want…” You stutter, but his hands barely brush over the curve of your ass and you lose your train of thought. Your hands move to his chestplate softly, your feeble attempts to stop this before you couldn’t anymore. 

“C’mon. Tell me.” 

You look up, unable to make words come out of your throat, settling for a quiet whimper that drives Din insane. He knows what he’s doing to you. It’s a game to him, you realize. Making you so flustered you can’t even string together a sentence. He knows his effect. 

“You want me to stop?” He continues when you say nothing but whimper. 

“N-no. I–” 

“No? Then what? Keep going, use your words.” His tone cuts deep to your belly. He pushes his hand up your back and flanks your sides, his hand brushing against your breast, pushing over the swell of it, his thumb barely touching your nipple through his shirt. Maybe this is the part where the helmet comes off, and he’s beautiful, and you fall in love. But maybe this is also reality. And you can't bring yourself to indulge in someone you know you will never be able to let go of. 

“I–I–fuck–I can’t.” You step back, silently whining from his hand’s release on your body. “I–” you try to explain. To say anything. But you malfunction like a droid. His touch is permanently burned into you. Silence passes between you as he steps back. 

“You can’t.” He confirms—like he didn’t hear you right. His head hangs and then looks back at you. You take another step back. This is it—saying no to him, his advances—this settles it. 

“I-I’m sorry.” 

_ 

You leave the hut with tears streaming down your face. The silence deafening between you two for longer than you can count. You left the Mandalorian, giving him a half assed response, something about how you needed to get some rest. You don’t really remember much after his touch left your body. It hurts your heart, the thought that maybe he does want you. Maybe you’re worth something—but even more so that you have to leave. 

You pack up quickly, the sun setting on the horizon. You have overstayed your welcome. Davin would be after you soon. You needed to go back to him before he got off world. You leave your hut and make way to your ship near town. 

Settling in the finality of it, you look up to the pink sky. 

You thought you weren’t going back to Davin, but after all this, there was nowhere else to go. You knew what was waiting for you on Coruscant and even though you weren’t sure if you were ready to face it, you knew hiding forever was not in your future.

Not again.

_ 

Chapter Six: The Stage

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@iammissdoddydoodagrimes @dinwifey @n7cje

#din djarin x f!reader #din djarin x oc #din djarin x reader #mandalorian x f!reader #mando x reader #the mandalorian fanfiction #the mandalorian x oc #mandalorian x reader #the mandalorian #the mandaloria/reader #din djarin fan fiction #din djarin #mando #din x reader #din djarin x original female character #mandalorian fanfic #mandalorian x you #the mandalorion spoilers #din djarin smut #the mines of mandalore #grogu djarin #grogu #din djarin one shot #din grogu #din darjin #din x you #din x oc #din x omera #din dijarin fanfiction #clan of two

[sallowslady]

Annoying Sebastian // Sebastian Sallow x Female Reader

Pairing: Sebastian Sallow x Female Reader

Words: 1.6k

Chapter Warnings: Harsh language, the female reader’s house is not specified, relationship between Sebastian and the female reader, use of 1st person for the reader

Summary: Sebastian and you (1st person) are preparing for the N.E.W.Ts exams. 

A/N: English is not my first language, so I apologise for any mistakes or errors. The idea to write this one shot was inspired by my request to @sebswebs, but I started to write on this before I made the request, and now I finished and wanted to share it with you guys. You can read her version of the idea here: https://www.tumblr.com/sebswebs/718263811115827200/hi-love-i-have-a-request-for-you-i-would-love?source=share. She’s so talented and kind 🤍

If anyone said preparing for the N.E.W.T’s exams was easy, they were lying. It was almost shocking how silent the Great Hall could be, full of sixth and seventh-year students, working on their upcoming exams and doing homework.

Except for the annoying tapping sound against the table on my right that was about to drive me insane was the hall quiet. Only some whispers could be heard here and there from people talking, probably discussing the upcoming exams.

We had only been in here for almost half an hour and as much as I tried to ignore the sound that had taken my focus for the last couple of minutes and read my book while taking notes, I couldn’t just ignore it anymore.

“Stop it!” I hissed, looking at my boyfriend to the right of me and took hold of the quill in his hand, making the tapping sound stop. Finally.

Brown, hazel eyes met mine and a smirk took shape on his lips.

“Why?” Sebastian asked like it wasn’t the most obvious thing in the world and raised his brow.

“Because I’m trying to study and you should too,” I complained, turning back to my book and tried to find out where I came from.

A light chuckle escaped from Sebastian’s mouth. For a moment there was silence and nothing happened and I could focus on my reading until I started to feel air in my head so that my hair flew around in my face.

Sebastian fucking Sallow was blowing air in my hair from his lips. I ignored it, hoping it would make him stop and that it was no longer fun for him, but he continued.

“What the fuck are you doing?” My voice was sounding shrill. He was really starting to piss me off now.

“Blowing your hair?” He answered with that same cocky tone as before, like it was nothing and he was innocent. What a fucking baby.

I could feel another blow in my hair and without thinking I smacked a hand on his cheek, making him back off.

“Ouch,” Sebastian said like he was hurt and touched his cheek. “What was that for?” His voice was all innocent.

It wasn’t a hard smack I had given him. Okay, maybe a little.

“You’re so annoying,” I hissed, my eyes looking directly into his. “I have been trying to study and read for the last half hour and all you have done is being annoying and loud. I can’t concentrate and this is important, Sebastian.”

Another smirk took place on Sebastian’s lips and then he leaned into me, starting to place kisses all over my face. On my nose, my forehead, my cheeks, my chin, my lips, my ears, just everywhere.

If it would have been another time I would have found it funny and enjoyed it but right now I couldn’t be more annoyed with him.

“Sebastian, fucking stop,” I said, still pissed but more relaxed than before. I really didn’t want to freak out on him, but I could feel the blood boiling inside of me.

Sebastian ignored me and continued his kisses. As if his kisses weren't enough, he started to add his tongue to them, making my face wet.

“Sebastian, I mean it. If you don’t fucking stop now then-“

“Then what?” He teased.

He laid his lips on my ear loves and started to bite on them. Sometimes I was sure there was something wrong with him and that was now.

I pushed his head away and dried my face with my hand before I moved further away from him on the bench.

“I’m bored,” He complained and started tapping his fingers into the table instead of the quill. Oh god.

“And?” I raised a brow at him. “Make your homework, read your books, prepare for your exams. Just do something.”

“Don’t want to,” He shrugged as he laid his head down on the table. “Can’t we do something? Play something? Go for a walk? Fuck?” He sighed. 

I gave him a weird look, shaking my head.

“My priority right now is to be done with this book and the notes I’m taking,” I just answered. I did not have time to take a break. I was lacking behind, funny enough because I spent too much time with Sebastian and this was important. It was about my future and my job opportunities.

“You’re so boring,” He said and moved closer to me. He then laid down so his back was on the bench and placed his head in my lap, looking up at me. “Please, let’s take a break.”

“Sebastian, you haven’t even started yet.”

“I know, but I’m not going to make it, at least not today,” He said as he started to play with my shirt with his fingers. “You shouldn’t either.”

“I have to if I want a future that includes becoming a professor or an Auror.” I sighed.

“No, you don’t.” His voice was cocky. He couldn’t care more about our homework or mine since he wasn’t going to make his own.

“Your double chin is cute from down here,” He smirked and started touching my chin. “And your nos-“

I smacked his hand away.

“Stop it!” I said, covering my hand on his mouth. I could feel his warm breath on my hand. It shouldn’t have come as a surprise as he started to lick my hand, but it did.

“You’re so fucking nasty,” I said in disgust and removed my hand from his mouth.

He just chuckled, as the fact that I had just called him nasty didn’t even bother him and then he grabbed my hand. I was about to pull it to me as he started to place kisses around my hand and fingers.

“I’m just so bored,” He laughed, continuing to kiss my fingers. “And in love.”

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t hide the small smile that formed on my lips. I didn’t want to smile right now. He needed to know that I was dead serious about this. Sebastian smirked.

“I have to be done with this,” I said with a sigh and squeezed his nose.

“What about me?” He complained.

“What about you?” I asked him, looking down at his face. His hair was a mess.

“You have to be as focused on me as you’re on your book and notes right now,” He explained with a smile on his lips. “I’m way more interesting than that book of yours.”

A sarcastic laugh escaped my lips.

“Sebastian, we are together every day. We are even doing homework together right now.” I said, still laughing over his childish comment, but it wasn’t a ‘You’re funny’ laugh, but rather an ‘I’m going to kill you soon if you don’t stop’ laugh.

“I know, but I miss you already,” He complained again and started to play with my fingers.

“Go find Ominis,” I said, again trying to find out where I came from in the book.

“But it’s not Ominis that I want.” Sebastian almost whimpered, sounding whiny and needy. “It’s you.”

“At this point, I don’t even care what you want.” My voice was harsh and annoyed. “I’m surprised you passed your O.W.Ls with your approach to our homework and exams.”

“What can I say? I’m a smart man.” His voice was confident and a smile was forming on his lips. “I don’t need to do homework.”

“I’m starting to doubt that,” I mumbled, finally finding the page I had reached before Sebastian interrupted me. “You’re more like a baby right now.”

I didn’t regret my words at all. Sebastian acted like a baby, not a young man who would turn 18 soon.

He just laughed. A cocky, confident laugh. It was like that was his only way of reacting to whatever I said or did to him right now. He couldn’t take anything seriously. He wouldn’t take me seriously, and that kind of pissed me off. This was important to me, and he knew that.

I began to read again the moment Sebastian stopped talking to me. His head was still in my lap, and he played with my hair as I read and took notes. It felt as if he was finally relaxing and not going to annoy me anymore when I felt a pull in my hair.

I took a deep breath and ignored it, but then I could feel another pull in my hair, and that was it. I pushed Sebastian roughly away from me, so much so that he almost fell off the bench we were sitting on and began to pack my things. I was shaking from anger.

All eyes were now on us or at least that’s how it felt, but I didn’t care.

“Fucking idiot,” I snarled and began to walk away from him, my embrace full of my things. I walked towards the exit of the Great Hall and I could hear footsteps behind me.

I didn’t even have to look back to know that it was Sebastian. I was so angry and annoyed that I could feel the tears pressing in my eyes, wanting to come out. I was not exactly sad, but more disappointed and mad. So fucking mad, but the last thing I wanted to do was to cry.

“Babe, I’m sor-'' Sebastian began, but I cut him off.

“Do not fucking talk to me right now or I don’t know what I will be capable of doing to you.” My voice was full of anger, yet you could hear how I was about to break down and cry. “Leave me alone.”

I could hear the footsteps stopping behind me and with that, I knew he wasn’t following me anymore.

#sebastian sallow #sebastiansallow #sebastiansallowoneshot #cockysebastiansallow #hogwarts legacy #hogwartslegacy

[allmoshnobrain]

𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐫

✧･ﾟ: *✧･ﾟ:* *:･ﾟ✧*:･ﾟ✧

part 12 of ? | masterpost

word count: 2059 | ao3 link | fic's playlist

And then, I realized what my decision was. I understood that the band was more than just an important project; it was what brought the five of us together, it was the beat of our hearts, and how desperately, truly desperately, we wanted it to succeed - because it had to, no matter what. And my role in all of it was to support them in the best way I could; even if it broke my heart.

✦ summary: Metallica's career begins to advance and Nore makes a difficult decision to help the future of the band.

✦ on this chapter: dave mustaine x female!oc, james hetfield x female!oc, oc is cliff's cousin, +18, language, slice of life, angst (mild), fluff, cliff burton & female!oc (family)

✦ a/n: hello! i'm posting this chapter a little earlier because i'll be traveling over the weekend. we'll be finally seeing a bit of plot development on this one hehe I'm posting at a slower pace because writing has been slow too, but I hope you like it! Feedback is welcome <3

✧ Innocence was our fire / We told the truth / I miss the sweet boys in the summer of their youth ✧

"Alright, everyone!" Lars exclaimed, grinning, and I looked up, curious. "It's band meeting time."

It was early evening, and I was chilling in the living room with Cliff, snuggled up in Dave's arms while he mindlessly watched some random TV show. That's when Lars and James walked in, both looking very pleased about something. I slipped out of Dave's embrace, making him grumble in protest, and stood up - usually, I didn't stick around for the guys to discuss band stuff because it bored me a bit and I wanted to give them some privacy. 

“Stay, Nore.” James flashed me a smile, and I sat back down, surprised. "I think you'll like to hear this firsthand."

I gave Dave a questioning look, but he just shrugged, seeming as intrigued as I was. James settled next to me on the couch while Lars headed to the kitchen, returning quickly with a bottle of vodka and some shot glasses. 

"Are we celebrating something or do you guys just want to start drinking early?" Cliff raised an eyebrow, a slight smirk on his face. Lars chuckled. 

"You'll find out if you let me tell you," he said, and Cliff rolled his eyes. "Alright, you know we've been on the hunt for a producer for our album, right? Well, here's the good news: we finally found a guy who's down to produce the album with us."

"Lars, that's awesome!" I exclaimed as Dave shouted excitedly.

“Wait a sec.” Cliff interjected. “You said you were starting with the good news. What's the bad news?”

"Oh, right." James chuckled nervously. "The producer is based in New Jersey. And if we want to kick off the production, we'll have to go there." 

"What?" Dave asked, incredulous. "How? With what cash? New Jersey is on the other side of the fucking country!" 

"Yeah, thanks for the geography lesson, Einstein." Lars replied sarcastically, and Dave furrowed his brow. "Look, don't we have some money stashed from our gigs? We can rent a van and hit the road. But it needs to be soon 'cause the guy wants to get things rolling quick." 

"This is insane." Dave answered. "We don't even have that much money, man. We should find someone local." 

"Well, James and I have already made up our minds. So you can either get on board or we can find a new guitar player." Lars said, a smug grin on his face.

I raised my eyebrows, feeling uneasy, as Dave removed his arm from around my shoulders and clenched his fists, glaring at Lars. I could sense that he was restraining himself from starting a fight right then and there. 

"Yeah, I think we should go." Cliff interrupted, cutting through the tense atmosphere in the room. "Come on, Dave. We've been trying to land a producer for this shit for ages."

Dave looked around, seemingly realizing that pushing further wouldn't get him anywhere, so he let out a frustrated sigh and rolled his eyes. 

"Fine, whatever. I'll talk to my boss, see if he can lend me some cash or something." 

"Great." Lars said cheerfully, seemingly oblivious to Dave's discontent. "Which brings us to another question. Whether Nore will be joining us or not." 

"Me?" I asked, taken aback. Dave furrowed his brow once again. 

"What do you mean ' whether she's going or not '? Of course she's going!" 

"Hold on, dude. We don't even have a plan on how to get there yet." James chimed in. "We're tight on cash and we don't have a place to crash. It's not exactly the safest option for a girl. But hey, it's your call." He looked at me, and I met his gaze, unsure of what to say. 

I tried to gather my thoughts, but my mind was in a whirlwind. On one hand, I really wanted to go. I didn't want to be stuck alone in San Francisco, away from Cliff, Dave, James, and even Lars. They had become such a big part of my life in the past few months, and I couldn't imagine being without their company anymore. On the other hand, James had a point; money was tight, and there were sure to be other expenses along the way. It was a risky venture, and I didn't want to burden any of them.

"You could crash at Lea's place while we're gone," Cliff suggested, clearly trying to help. I let out a sigh and shook my head. 

"I... I need some time to think," I mumbled. 

"Alright, then! You can decide later. Let's celebrate!" Lars exclaimed, getting up with excitement and grabbing the vodka. 

I let out another sigh. This had all the potential to be a happy moment, but it wasn't, at least not for me. I felt torn and stressed. Dave still seemed a little annoyed with Lars. Cliff and James were both staring at me, Cliff looking concerned and James examining my face in a way that made me shift my gaze. 

I couldn't be there right then. I needed some alone time. I stood up and made my way to the backyard, running a hand through my hair as I leaned against the porch railing and lit up a cigarette.

"Are you alright?" 

I looked up and found James leaning against the doorframe, his piercing blue eyes staring at me, filled with concern. I let out a sigh. 

"I... I don't know, James. It was a lot to take in all at once. And Lars..." 

"Oh, he's a pain in the ass during band meetings. Forgot you're not used to it," he said with a smirk, coming closer. I chuckled softly. 

"I don't know if I should go," I admitted in a hushed voice. "I don't want to be a burden or disturb anyone." 

"You're not a burden," he reassured me. "You're the best thing that's happened to us." 

I looked up, surprised, meeting his sincere gaze. It always amazed me how effortlessly we became friends, how he had become one of my closest companions once we got past the initial shyness. And how much he meant to me. 

He reached out and lightly touched my arm, appearing slightly awkward. He was so close, close enough that I could see every detail of his face in the dim porch light. I felt my cheeks heat up a bit, not quite understanding why. He pulled me into a hug, holding me tight. I chuckled softly, burying my face in his chest. 

"No matter what you decide, we'll be there for you," he said, his voice muffled. I nodded. "But just know, if you don't go, I'll fucking miss you." 

"I'll miss you guys too," I murmured. 

And then, I realized what my decision was. I understood that the band was more than just an important project; it was what brought the five of us together, it was the beat of our hearts, and how desperately, truly desperately, we wanted it to succeed - because it had to, no matter what. And my role in all of it was to support them in the best way I could; even if it broke my heart, even if it meant staying behind to lighten, even just a bit, the weight of that next step for everyone. 

They were leaving, but I would stay in San Francisco.

I sighed, eyes closed, feeling the gentle pressure of Dave's lips against mine. He cupped my face in his hands, his weight on top of me on the bed as he kissed me slowly. It felt good, but my mind was elsewhere. It was late at night, and I had sneaked into Dave's room while everyone else was asleep. 

I hadn't told him yet about my decision to stay in San Francisco while they went on their trip. I knew how much he wanted me to go, and even though I was confident it was the right choice, I couldn't shake off the anxiety of being away from everyone for an unknown length of time. I opened my eyes as he pulled back, and I noticed his intrigued gaze fixed on me.

"What's wrong?" I asked in a hushed voice. 

"You look worried . What aren't you telling me?" he asked, gently. I sighed.

"Am I that easy to read?" I asked, and he chuckled softly, shifting to lie beside me. I snuggled into his arms, burying my face in the crook of his neck. 

"It's about what Lars said, right? About the trip?" he whispered. 

"Yeah, it is," I spoke quietly. "Dave, I... I think I'm gonna stay."

I didn't know how I expected him to react. I didn't know if he would be sad or angry. But a wave of relief washed over me when he lifted my chin with his hand, kissing me gently on the lips once, twice, three times before pulling away and looking at me with his brown eyes.

"I wish you’d come," he said in a low voice. "But if you think it's best to stay, I get it."

"I think I can help you guys more by staying around here," I whispered. "It's the right call, I think."

"But you don't look too thrilled about it," he remarked with a slightly vexed smile. I nodded. 

"I'll miss you, Dave," I whispered. "All of you." 

"I'll miss you too, babe," he whispered back, placing a tender kiss on my temple. "Damn, if I could, I'd never spend a day away from you." I let out a soft chuckle at his words. "I love you, Nore." 

"I love you too, Dave," I replied, letting him pull me into a tight embrace against his chest. Right then, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world, but it didn't help much when I remembered how sad I was knowing that soon I would have to be away from him.

"Hey, you know what? I've got an idea," he said, grinning, clearly trying to lift my spirits. "Why don't we go out, just you and me? Spend the day together, do something fun." 

I looked at him, a smile spreading across my face as some of my excitement returned.

"Are you talking about a date?" I teased. He chuckled. 

"Yeah, I guess so. I just thought it would be nice to have some quality time with you before I take off. What do you say?" 

"I think it's awesome," I beamed, then wrapped my arms around his neck, planting a kiss on his lips. "You're the best boyfriend ever." 

"I do my best," he grinned, leaning in for another kiss. "But it's easy when I've got an amazing girlfriend like you."

A few days before the guys left for New Jersey, Dave came home and handed me a bunch of keys. I looked at him, puzzled. 

"What's this?" 

"Well..." he plopped down next to me on the couch, twirling a strand of my hair around his finger. "Remember our talk about spending a day together? I've got some plans. And… I may have rented a beach cottage for us." 

"Dave! You shouldn't be wasting your money on this," I objected, though a smile involuntarily crept onto my face. 

"Hey, no worries. I just want to see my girl happy. Plus, since I'll be away for a while... I promise I won't let you get a wink of sleep," he smirked mischievously. I looked away, feeling my cheeks flush, and he let out a soft chuckle at my reaction. 

"Hey, you two," Lars called out, entering the room with James. "James, Cliff, Lea, and I are hitting up the bar. You guys wanna come along?" 

"Hell yeah, count me in," Dave jumped up, brimming with excitement, and I followed suit.

Many years later, I would remember that time as one of the happiest in my life. We enjoyed that night as if it were our last; we laughed together, danced together, had fun together, and drank together. Somehow, despite all the unspoken tensions that were slowly surfacing, we remained happy, excited, and filled with hope for a successful future that, at least during that time, seemed like a distant dream.

That night, amidst the smiles and blurred memories of a beer-filled evening, all I could wish was for that happiness to last forever. I was happy. They were my family.

And I loved them.

#hello hello hello it's heartbreaker day!! #ada writes fanfiction #heartbreaker fanfic #metallica #megadeth #james hetfield #dave mustaine #cliff burton #lars ulrich #metallica fanfiction #dave mustaine x oc #dave mustaine fanfiction #nore burton (oc) #james hetfield x oc #james hetfield x reader #dave mustaine x reader

[clanwarrior-tumbly]

This is a kinda weird request

Can you do any sdra2 character react male reader who is the ultimate baker and poison maker

In chapter 3, Kanade decided to frame male reader by putting a poison that he know

When Sora reveal that male reader is the ultimate poison maker, he snaps just like Mikan

Male reader only make poison to use on bad people

I don't think it's weird! Dw

Also this is sorta like a general character reaction and not just a single person

........

As the Ultimate Baker, you made sure everyone in the group had some delicious snacks/desserts to keep their energy up while exploring Utsuroshima! Because of your skills, you were permitted to wake up early and make pastries for breakfast in the ship's kitchen.

You were delighted to hear your classmates say the love your food more than Mikado's (although you don't try to discredit his cooking, as he makes pretty gourmet stuff).

Yuri was the only one adamant about accepting anything from you, bluntly asking if you "poisoned" the Russian dessert you tried replicating for him.

That lowkey freaked you out.....until you remembered that he hated men, so you calmed down and brushed off the remark.

However, your initial reaction didn't go unnoticed by Kanade, who wondered why you looked so scared in that moment..

But after some snooping around, she finds out that you carry vials of poison in your bag. And during Yuri's trial, you did have some extensive knowledge of sedatives---nearly enough to rival her own.

How curious.

After being given the third motive, Kanade sets her plan into motion and decides to frame you for the crime instead of Iroha.

She stole a vial out of your bag (replacing it with another glass that contained similarly-colored liquid), recognizing it as an extremely potent mixture that could paralyze someone instantly.

It's better than a stun gun, so she fills up a syringe with the poison and planted the empty glass in the kitchen trash.

The next morning, she executes her murder plot with her sister.

Her goal was to convince everyone that you're the monster who poisoned Setsuka and dismembered her body while she was still alive--not only giving her and Hibiki freedom, but also driving you insane and revealing your darker side.

Plus, with some of the students having witnessed her grab a muffin from you the morning of her death, the blame will no doubt be kept on you for a while.

During the trial, Kanade will "reveal" the empty glass "evidence" and smirk as you become nervous, denying the accusations that you laced Setsuka's food with poison.

But Sora wonders why the hell you'd even carry around poison--a possible murder weapon--this whole time, and could have very well killed everyone if you wanted to.

Cue Monocrow being like "hmm I never thought about a Blackened committing mass murder"

In anger, you blurt out that you'd never use poison to kill random people--only those who you believed were evil and deserved it.

But that just confirms it, Sora states.. you're a poison maker.

Monocrow also confesses that you have two talents officially recognized at Hope's Peak instead of one, which makes you hysterical as you didn't want anybody to find out this.

You can't explain how you could've messed with the gate records or moved Setsuka's remains to the ghost house, which opens up the "double-blackened" theory.

You keep insisting you're innocent, and eventually it holds up when the twins become the prime suspects and the truth is revealed by Sora in the end.

But from there on, everyone's become more and more wary of your food.

Although Iroha trusts you, wanting to keep the peace, so she still asks you for snacks.

#clanask #anonymous #sdra2 x reader #super danganronpa another 2 x reader #male reader #headcanons