#also i heard people say that a 2 year gap is like... not “right”?? | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

unicorn-gallerexy · 2 months

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Howdy, I totally mean to post more and didn't do any of that but then i got stuck with this idea and getting it out so here ya go, i want it out my face. There will be part 2, but i need a break bc this too so long and is longer than i wanted it. Only mildly proofread, rada rada, yknow the drill

Word count: 12.7K (i managed to hit the end of like 3 keep notes, i ain't ever done that)

CW: (technical) Homewrecker!Atsumu x Wife! Reader, smut, (kinda/justified) cheating, manipulation and mild threats (not from Atsumu), open marriage (you weren't vibing with it), trash treatment from husband, Long af, Atsumu being mad bc wtf is up with your husband?

One for Another

When your husband asked his question, excited just after coming home, you thought you couldn't hear. Or maybe it was that you didn't understand?

Either way, you asked him to repeat himself.

"I want to open our relationship. It sounds like a good idea, yeah?" He smiles, like there's nothing wrong with his sudden asking, and the look you give him is blank before it obviously reads upset.

"Why?" You steady your voice a lot easier than you steady your mind. You were hurt, this was so out of the blue. Yes, he had voiced a bit of an issue with your extra few pounds, or how you didn't dress up more often, or how you didn't have as much sex anymore (which was more his fault but he blamed you and the weight you put on) but you were working in it. You started working out in your own home because he was insistent that other people, like his coworkers, could see you let yourself go. You worked on being consistent with skincare and wearing more clothes that flattered you. You were actually looking quite a bit better than you had before. At least you and your friends thought so...

"Because it's a great idea?" He says it so easy as if you should be understanding. Seeing as you don't look pleased, his smile drops and he heaves a sigh so heavy at the thought of explaining himself. "Look you and i haven't... Been on the same page for a while. You and I just aren't matching up right now, so i figured it would be good to open the relationship so we can fill in those gaps."

"What gaps? I've been working on myself for damn near two months now, solely because you asked. What am i not doing for you?"

"Jesus Christ, this isn't about you. It's about us being happy, and im not happy. Im also not just trying to leave you high and dry but im sure you're not happy either." He says the part about you not being happy as if it doesn't matter to him. His emphasis was on him not being happy, and the part of not leaving you sounded more like a chore than a willful choice.

He swept you off your feet and promised a life a comfort. He was working on a promotion, he complimented you regularly and the sex wasn't bad at all. You fell for his charm easy, and he seemingly fell for you just as hard. After a few years, he asked you to marry him and made it known you could depend on him completely. Your job was basically down the drain by the time the wedding happened due to higher positions deciding the right way didn't make them enough money fast enough. He said you could trust him to take care of you, that he'd keep you happy and comfy, that he didn't mind a housewife for a while. You let yourself fall into that role, it wasn't hard. The house he bought was sizeable but not too big, the chore list was never too long and you did indeed live comfortably.

Over time, through his several promotions to an executive seat, you moved into bigger and better, all while he coaxed you into being his lovely little housewife and homemaker. Anytime you talked of going back, he'd mention how the job market wasn't the best, reports of customers abusing staff locally, rumors he "heard" here or there about owners and managers of places you were looking into, and always mentioning how you complained of every job you had. How you hated working, but how you were basically just taking care of yourself and he was taking care of you by working and giving you a card of his he didn't need to keep track of.

This was more temporary than you thought it was.

In the last two promotions, he had been given an assistant that always seemed a little too close for comfort. If you ever brought it up, he'd only mention how he married you and how she worked for him, so he couldn't be cheating on you. He blamed your insecurities and said you were forcing your own self doubt on him, and how that wasn't fair. At first the responses seemed loving, in their own way, before they turned angry. He'd shout about you being insecure, how you were trying to accuse him of things you had no proof of. He'd leave the house and even when he came back, he rarely ever apologized. He'd simply place more money onto the card and talk to you as he normally would. He pretended to care with a kiss on the forehead and half holding you in bed every so often.

That didn't stop him from pointing out your mounting flaws over time. It didn't stop him from refusing any sort of advances you made, day off or not. Didn't stop him not inviting you to company events as he had in the past and instead saying he was going with *her instead because "family isn't invited this time around" as if there weren't pictures posted later of his coworkers with their wives who you know don't work for the company at the same event.

You would've left a long time ago, really. But he wasn't wrong in saying you were insecure. Or that he'd leave you high and dry. He managed to manipulate you into not having a job for years, which doesn't look the greatest when applying for new ones, which created your dependency on him for financial reasons but he also had preyed on the parts of yourself you couldn't stand, made you feel like he and he alone loved you, like no one else would or could love you. You defended his words when your friends brought up concern by citing that he was right, as no one had really come up to you to flirt or asked you out prior to him so there wasn't really much competition for you. And, at the time, he at least liked you.

All for it to be thrown back in your face now. The waves of realization hit like you're in a losing boxing match. You feel your eyes burn but refuse to let any tears fall. He, unfortunate as it may be, can still read you at least a little. He comes and wraps his arms around you in a hug that makes you feel slimy, but you don't pull away as there's no where else to go really. "Listen baby, this isn't just a good thing for me. It's a good decision for both of us. I'm not giving you what you want, you aren't giving me what i want, don't you think it's better to find those things in other people and still have each other to come home to? At least give it a shot." He insists. It's obvious to you now, he doesn't care about you finding someone, only about him being allowed to do as he wants without being called a name that fits.

Part of you want to ask, but you figure you won't get answers if you do. You feel backed into a corner with no real way to lash out. So, you give a reluctant and strained yes, giving in to your defeat in hopes it hurts a little less. He kiss the back of your head and quickly slips away from you, grabbing his keys and saying something about being back later before slipping out of the door. You hear it lock, you hear the car start and drive off, and looking at the time on the clock in the stove behind you, it now reads 7:38pm. You could swear he turned his head to look at it when he was behind you.

The weekend comes in shortly after, he says he's going on a trip and you don't bother to ask where to or when he'll be back. You're already distant and its only been a few days, not that he cares at all. He packs and leaves in a hurry, only sending a text of "I love you" about an hour later. You've yet to tell anyone, feeling overwhelmed with shame and stupidity at not seeing any signs earlier on to avoid this. Or maybe because you feel ashamed that you couldn't keep your husband satisfied? That he was seduced by someone you'd consider younger and prettier than you'll ever be. You're not that old, nor are you bad looking but that's not how you see it. Your eyes only seem to find more and more inadequacies each time you look into a mirror. From the bags darkening under your eyes to your hair becoming more tangled with your lack of care, from the flaring breakouts across your face from stress and ditching your routine to the weight you worked off coming back with friends because you wallow on the couch and dropped your workout routine.

What was the point?

You had nothing else to work towards. Sure you barely looked different from before him, and if you got back into all of it, you'd look basically the same as you did then, maybe a bit better, but what would be the point? No one wanted you before he did, he literally had no competition for your affection or attention. The only thing that's changed that you can't undo is the passing of time. Sure, in the grand scheme of things you really weren't that much older than you were then but, if no one wanted you then, who would want you now?

You couldn't give an answer, and thus your brain concluded with: no one.

You eventually wind up inviting friends over about 2 weeks into his trip and, not having heard from you for longer, they jump at the chance to see you. When they arrive, and you answer the door, disheveled in sweats, they can see that you're not holding up well and the sweet smiles and loud hi's drop. Being asked what's wrong sets off the water works, not having cried in or out of his presence made the dam behind your eyes too full, and concerned friendly voices opened the gates. You step aside to let them in and they immediately hug you, telling you to calm down enough to at least tell them what's wrong but the sobs are violent, shaking your body completely and taking the strength from your legs. They guide you to the couch, sit at your sides and tell you to cry it out, seeing as every time you try and speak, it's unintelligible.

When you manage to calm yourself enough in your friends arms, you don't lift your gaze from the floor, explaining why you haven't answered calls or texts and why you just spent a literal hour crying into them. To say their furious is an understatement. They shout question after question, most at how he could do this and feel nothing. You cry into your hands, and that's when they calm down, starting to throw suggestions, the first being divorce. You remind them of how he basically holds all your financials, your place to live, and a solid position in his company. Your friends sigh as they realize that leaving, at least now, isn't a real option. After a moment of quiet thinking, and soft sniffles, your first best friend grabs you by both shoulders with a smile. "Open relationship, right? That means you can also do what you want. We can get you back on track with all your routines and go out, take you with us on singles night!" She's beaming even if you don't look the most into the idea, your other best friend seeming to voice your thoughts for you.

"As if he'll actually let her have another relationship outside of him with no repercussions. Be real, May. He'd flip his shit because he just wanted to go out and fuck anything that breathes without being called a cheater" May pouts, having already thought of that in a more minor capacity.

"I figured that, Kura. We don't have to tell him shit. He's not even being that discreet about it, with the 2 of us helping her out, he'll never know." She leans to speak over your shoulder to Kura before looking back at you with soft, loving, hopeful eyes that you feel you haven't experienced in a while. "Maybe we can actually find you a real man who'll treat you right and wont do this shit. You don't deserve to just wallow here by your self." Her hands cup your face as she awaits an answer and you shake your head in her hands.

"No one wanted me before, May. Who's gonna want me now? I'm older and-"

"Still hot, at least when you're not distressed." Kura says from behind you, smiling with some sort of support for the plan. You shake your head as May keeps hold of you.

"Okay but everything is here, workout equipment and-"

"We'll take you to the gym with us! Kura has been wanting to get in there for a while but she keeps bailing on me. I'll take you two with me and then we're all obligated to go. We'll go on spa days, I'll call you so you don't have to acknowledge him while you do your routine here. Trust me, thought out much more than you think." May beams, Kura chiming in about possibly just moving rooms so you have space if you haven't already. Both paw at you and basically beg, saying it'll at least be good just to get out for a little while every day even if you aren't man hunting. You tear up again, and when asked why, you say you thought they'd me mad at you, tell you i told you so or something because you didn't listen when they spoke up. You're given the warmest embrace you've had in a minute as they tell you it's not your fault, it's his. He preyed on you, just to throw you away for nothing substantial. You cry, and say ok, agreeing to go with them and along with their plan, causing them both so squeal with joy before May goes to bolt upstairs.

"Where are you going?" You sniffle, caught in Kura's arms as you look up the stairs.

"To run you a proper bath. We're having an at home spa night now. You need it." She scrunches her nose in the way that makes you laugh and knowing you still have some happiness makes them happy.

The night goes on as they wish, both helping wash your hair and your face, saying you need a break as they pamper you and do their best to drive away the sadness in your heart, or at least distract from it. They help you move things into another room, opting to watch terrible B and latter alphabet movies, doing your face routines together and eating proper food since you've seen gorging on junk food for a while now. They opt to stay over for a few days when you tell them your husband wont be home for another 3 weeks. Both girls help you clean up, do laundry, and essentially reset your home to brinf back a real sense of normalcy. May sits and picks out a couple gym appropriate outfits, laying them on top of the dresser, before they leave you a couple days before your husband is supposed to be back. They kiss your forehead, hug you tight and tell you the day of a group gym trip so you look forward to it. Kura notes she wont back out if you don't, putting a sense of responsibility on you to ensure you don't bail last minute.

When your husband comes back, he finds you lounging about in the other room, only to ask a question you truly dreaded hearing. "Hey, I can still have the bedroom to myself for a bit right?" Behind the doorway, at his side you can see another shadow in the sunlight that bathes the house and a feminine giggle from behind him. You simply wave him off, a half hearted mumble sending him on his way to the bedroom, girl in tow. You hear the door shut, lock clicking into place as you curl into yourself and text your friends. They send you texts to just forget about it as much as possible, you telling them it's hard when you can hear them through the walls and know he feels no sense of remorse.

That was what killed you most, the fact he was doing it all and seemed to feel nothing for you. No remorse, no guilt or shame, not even the tiniest bit of pity even if it would piss you off. You realized quick he didn't feel anything negative about it, but that didn't mean it didn't suck to have such a blatant display of what you could only feel was disrespect. Then again, you're surprised it didn't happen earlier.

Your affluent living situation meant a very nice, expensive gym wasn't too far away. May and Kura didn't live in the expensive part of the city but they had good jobs and kept up with the monthly payment plan that even you and your more frugal upbringing balked at when you got the sign up paper at the desk. Once paying the overcharged fee and getting your membership card, May lead you and Kura around to show you the facilities the gym had to offer and blabbed about the famous and influential people she's seen in passing from actors to local businessmen to athletes. Kura and you keep up as she taps your arm for your attention. "I'm kinda starting to regret coming with May." She whispered, no malice behind as you nod and hum in agreement.

You feel exposed even if your fully clothed. The sports bra and crop you normally wear to workout at home suddenly feeling to short to be worn outside (even if you've done so a million times) and the yoga shorts holding your ass nicely feeling all too tight to be worn in public. You can't help the shy stance you keep as May guides you past a the sauna, pool, and cryo rooms towards the side of the building, keeping one arm wrapped around yourself and the other down at your side. Kura is dressed in similar pants, but her top is a loose cotton shirt you wish you'd gone for instead. May, being the one used to being here, is in a good sports bra and yoga shorts due to the weather. Once her tour is over, she guides you into the large workout room, complete with just about any and every machine you'd need for every part of your body. You wanna vomit.

You know you left to get away from your currently shitty home life but now you actually kinda regret coming. May turns with a big smile that falls quick when she takes note of yours and Kura's faces. She keeps hopeful, taking you both by the hands over to the treadmills that face out of the window. "We can start here so that you two can get a bit more comfy, yea?" You both nod and hop on, the 3 of you starting at the same pace and making mild small talk.

After you and Kura seem to loosen up, noted by you finally dropping your arm from around yourself, May takes the opportunity to switch it up and get you guys through some stretches. From there, it's basically downhill. May is fit, not annoying about it and it shows. She puts you and Kura to your limits and genuinely encourages you the entire time in such a way that's hard to be mad at. You're at it for hours until the final stretch for your cool down when she beams "And we're done! That was fun, wasn't it?"

"I regret.. My decision." Kura pants.

"Fun isn't what id give it but i mean..." You trail off with a weak wave of your hand on the floor next to Kura as May hops up to drag you both down the hall and to the sauna. When you both express dismay over the sound of sitting in a hot, moist room on a hot day after being worked to near death, May assures you that you'll just both feel so much better after and if you're so inclined, she'll take you to the actual pool for a bit after. You and Kura grimace at the thought of being more openly exposed than you already are at one another as you follow May and say you'll both pass on that part today.

Out of clothes, wrapped in towels, May hands off your clothing to one do the workers before noting to you as they leave that they're gonna wash them. You and Kura share a surprised look at her as she pushes you both into the (thankfully) empty sauna. She does everything to set it up and soon enough the room is hot and steamy, her eyes fixing to continuously check on you two as you close your eyes and drop your head to relax in the warm, wet heat. "So how long can we be expected to be alone in here?" Kura asks, scooting to put just a bit more distance between you two which you're thankful for.

"With how long we've worked out, not too much longer. But we don't have to leave or anything like that. We can basically stay in here for as long as we want, though it is recommended to leave at some point to prevent overheating." She sighs.

"With how much we have to pay for a monthly membership, we better be able to stay in here for as long as we want." You complain, Kura letting out a small laugh as she lays her head against the wall. She and May look at you, your head still down and eyes still closed.

"Black card for your thoughts, lovely?" Kura mutters, you shake your head before answering.

"Just thinking about home, unfortunately. Thinkin about how i let it get here honestly." Kura pushes your arm and you look at your friends, both sets of eyes stern but full of care as they note him and whatever he's doing isn't worth any more of tour head space. Kura throwing the idea to take him for what he's useful for and buy everyone lunch after, naming off pricy places your younger self could only dream of going. You laugh at her, especially as may joins in with the new ultra luxury bakery that just opened up and is known to be pure Instagram fodder and not actually good baked goods. Just as you near snort with laughter at their suggestions, about to cut in with something cheaper and actually good, the door opens and causes you three to scoot a bit closer to one another in a corner and 4 actually fairly familiar faces trail in, shortly followed by a duo that you can tell aren't with the prior 4. Your husband's work and you being his previous arm candy piece at work events let you passionately shake hands with plenty of elites, faces recognizable to you easy. The 4 who are making conversation amongst themselves are athletes, specifically the (debatably) most popular members of the team. Koutarou Bokuto, Shoyo Hinata, Kiyoomi Sakusa, and Atsumu Miya.

The other 2 are businessmen that you've seen at damn near every single even you went to with your husband, higher ups from a company his worked with. They were always hitting you in the worst way so your nose unconsciously crinkles before you turn to Kura and May. You aren't too surprised, May did say plenty of the wealthy who live close by here and even some who don't come to this gym just because of how nice and/or exclusive it is. You hope somewhere inside yourself that the duo doesn't notice you at all, as that would help the first day back to a workout routine all the better.

Of course, you cant ever have what you want. The universe curses you by making one of the idiot duo loudly recognize your left shoulder tattoo of a chubby kitten playing with stars from various franchises, like animal crossing fragments and Rosalina's stars from Mario games. "Oh shit! I remember that dumb little tattoo! Y/n, how have you been babe?" He says. You roll your eyes hard enough to hurt as you feel every pair of eyes in this small room land on you. You force a smile and turn your head, giving a strained hi and fine. He and his friend start to bombard you with questions at your minor acknowledgement. Your husband, what he's been up to and things like that. You answer most, half with lies as Kura leans over your back and tells them to call him if they've got "such a hard on for him" instead of harassing you.

Kura has taken on most of your lost bite while you work to get it back, and you find yourself plenty thankful for it. You don't miss the small snorts of laughter from the other side of sauna and neither do the duo on the other side of you. Not liking to feel any sort of embarrassment, and somehow deciding that the wife of their business colleague is their prime target, the second one opens his mouth with venom. "You know Y/n, i have friends who work with your husband. We haven't seen you at any of the company get togethers anymore, yknow? But we have seen him with this real pretty dame on his arm. You make him get a replacement so you don't have to be there or what?" They way you stiffen is visible and your brain short circuts on what to do next for a half second. Both have this smug smile on their face as everyone looks wide eyed at the two, and they look at you.

You stand, eyes lifting from the ground where you had planted them during talking to them initially. "The fact you two are so mad because you cant even get escorts to sleep with you, much less me when im married so you go around saying shit like that is honestly pathetic." Your hand slaps the one who opened his mouth before you can rethink it, turning on your heels to leave at you hear not just your friends but the other men in the room giving them quite the reprimanding as you float your way to where you can pick up your freshly washed clothes. You must've been in there for longer than you thought, as they're set out with your membership card on top to show ownership. You're quick to change as you hear voices outside looking for you. You step out and toss the towel into the bin they have out for them and your friends rush to your side and try to comfort you but you simply tell them to get dressed so you can go and eat.

They're dressed in a flash and following you out the front door, you never noticing the sets of eyes that manage to trail your form as you storm out with your friends hot on your ass, wiping your eyes. Once in the car, there's a beat of silence as they seem to try and find what would be the rihht thing to say after that. What do they say? Your tears don't wait, a uncontrolled sob escaping you before your hand covers your mouth to hold back the rest of the noise as you cry. He's so brazen about it, of course other people notice but the last thing you wanted was to be confronted with it anywhere else. You're hugged from two directions, hands rubbing your back and arms to soothe you as May says she wont blame you for bailing after that. You shake your head, taking deep breaths to calm yourself and taking the tissue Kura passes you from her bag to wipe your eyes and blow your nose before you close your eyes. Clearing your throat, you croak. "I'm still going to do it... I'm not gonna let this stop me... Even if it sucks..." Kura pats you on the back, saying she'll still be with you and May clapping at you not letting it throw you down without a fight.

You get to pick lunch. A nice sit down hot pot spot that's having a slow day, so they wave the typical time limit they have and sit you three in a cozy booth. You loose track of time, your friends being efficient in distracting your mind from the day's sour turn, laughing and eating to replenish some energy. You three can see the door, and have made a game of betting (without money of course) on if the groups and couples who come in have ever actually been to a hot pot place or if they came in because they think it's "exotic". It's a dumb little game that results in fun banter. Lo and behold, the bell advice the door dings again and in walk... The same 4 athletes who basically saw you getting outted as being cheated on. The MSBY black jackles, with the rest of the team in tow. The owner working the register guides them to the large booth in the opposite corner from you and your friends, who ask if you wanna go after seeing the 4 familiar faces. You shake your head, saying you're having fun and betting that the extra shy, probable assistant, hasn't been to hot pot before as you slip a leafy green veggie in your mouth. You're friends smile and agree with you're bet, and you let your night continue.

The three of you fall easy back into yourselves as the waiter comes to top up your broth for the 3rd time, never noticing the pair of eyes that seem to linger along your form here and there. You don't even notice how the same eyes trail you once again as you leave out with your friends, looking considerably happier than when you left the gym. He knows he shouldn't be looking so hard, but he just cant seem to understand. Why would a man who married you not want you or not want to show you off?

You keep to your word and go back three days later, muscles sore the day after from how hard May worked you both but you return nonetheless to join her again as she says you'll both get used to it and she'll keep the routine the same for a while to help speed up that process. She beams at both of your forlorned faces as she makes you both get down on the floor for your stretches.

She keeps to her word, and you get back into your prior habits as your friends remind you that self care shouldn't be tied to the scumbag you live with as they have now deemed him. Your days with them are your highlights, whether it's just lunch and the gym or if they come over to insult your husband in the guest room you've moved into. Your gym trips are a bit better for your mental health tho, having made a couple of friends through May's bubbly personal skills and being away from your husband's revolving door of women. You tend to avoid anyone who has more consistent contact with your husband or his job to avoid any more incidents like your first day and that seems to do you well, though you've of course run into several big names that have worked with his company or him once or twice. You don't mind those, especially since some are constant faces anytime you go to be whipped into shape by May.

Some of the more consistent faces you see are those of Athletes, specifically coming across the MSBY team again and again. The 4 who initially witnessed your sauna incident either didn't remember it or simply never seemed to show they did, none giving you any odd looks or pitied glances any time your eyes seemed to catch theirs in passing. You were always the first to turn away, never catching on to the way one of them seemed to stare. At least not at first. The more often you came, the more you saw them and vice versa. The more you saw them, the more he could stare. The more he could stare, the more you seemed to catch him and while he would avert his gaze elsewhere or focus of the weight in his hands, he'd still eventually find a way to stare at you again all whilst taking pride in the way you seemed to fluster under his gaze. That man was Atsumu Miya.

Of course, his blatant "eye fucking" as Sakusa would call it didn't go unnoticed by the others, Bokuto and Hinata scolding him for essentially hitting on a married woman. When away from other who knew nothing about the information they had heard in the sauna, Atsumu defends himself. "He's cheatin on 'er anyways and i haven't even said anything. Why can't i look?" The others always reply that it's not the point.

"They might be trying to work it out?" Hinata mutters, making all of them turn their nose and Atsumu respond with a "Fuckin hope not." The boys were raised on better teachings so, even if they were reprimanding their friend for his borderline inappropriate behavior, they still don't like the idea of some poor, pretty girl "working things out" with a man that obviously doesn't care about her. Atsumu's typical defense doesn't hold up for long though. As time passes, the more he sees you, the more he tries to find ways to talk to you. From bringing you and your friends water to engage in small talk under the guise of being kind before he's called back to managing to catch you and your friends as you're about to leave some other amenity after making sure he worked out for just a bit longer, saying it was to not slack close to a game, to be sure he caught you at the tail end of your swim or sauna sit. Atsumu continues to argue that there's nothing wrong with making small talk or incidentally running into someone in a shared public space.

"You don't even know what incidentally means, homewrecker." Sakusa shoots, Atsumu having an aghast expression at the word. Though, with more time and the tiny tidbits of info he learns about you personally, the more the insult seems to not matter. You're a nice convo partner, and he's just being nice, right?

Of course, you have other obligations to attend to aside from the gym. You know he still expects you to clean the house, that damn bedroom you can't find it in yourself to even look at much less sleep in anymore included, and make him (and guests he brings) food. You'd refuse if he didn't opt for the coercive method of throwing the fact you don't have a job right now in your face, guests there or not. You just go with it at this point to avoid talking to him, moving away or giving minimal acknowledgement when he tries to soothe you with empty hugs and worthless words. So the supermarket is your other safe haven. No hard work, no husband or women he's fucking, no real stress aside from not finding something you're craving. Crossing into the refrigerated section causes a shiver, eyes scanning over price tags you've never gotten used to looking at. As you reach out for a pack of chicken with a decent tag, a stronger hand brushes in front of your to cross in the other direction. Looking up reveals a familiar blonde headed athlete who seems to beam at seeing you, as if he didn't see you a couple aisles ago.

"Hey, been a couple days. How ya been?" He asks, taking his hand away and gesturing for you to grab your thing first.

"Been alright, resting up before my May drags us back. You?" Conversation comes easy, he's noticed you're kinda quiet so he takes the lead in asking questions and talking about his own things. He's careful, even subconsciously, about asking certain questions as to not put you in a sour mood. You ask him the occasional question as he seems to follow you around, noting he doesn't have anything else to do except his own personal grocery trip, like about his games and team. He has no issue answering, giving the occasional jab at them and joking with you to make you giggle behind your hand as you both float around the store until you both have to check out. When he realizes that the window is closing on the most in depth conversation he's ever had with you, he spings an invitation as you both exit the store. "Umm... Hey, do you maybe wanna come over to mine later? To keep talking? I think you're actually pretty interesting." He says quickly, trying to make sure you don't think what he feels you are.

You smile, laughing softly. "Your reputation is starting to sound a bit more true. You always invite girls over to 'talk' after you grocery shop with them?" He smiles and shakes his head, free hand rubbing the back of his neck.

"Nah, just you." He flirts, and liking the feel of the missing male attention, you agree. He comes and tells you where his place is, and upon looking at it typed out, you realize that it's actually not far from where you and him live. Like, just a bit farther, just almost out of sight due to the curve, down the long street that your house sits at. You can walk to his house. When you tell him as much, he laughs. "Small world, huh? I'll leave the door open then." He shoots you a wink before heading on his way to his car ad you do yours.

When you get home, you don't speak to your husband. This is now normal. You simply put away the groceries you bought save for what you cook after. Once you've rushed through making a meal you have no real intentions of eating, you simply shoot him an "I'm heading out." Before slipping out of the door and taking a slow, leisurely stroll down to Atsumu's place. It takes about 20 minutes at that pace, and once in front of the door, you get butterflies. That old familiar flutter in the base of your tummy makes you hesitate to knock but you're a big girl, so you reach your hand up to give a few solid pounds to the heavy door. His place is nice, you've seen every house in the neighborhood at least once but you never really knew who lived in them. You were already housewife status before you moved here so you rarely came outside or interacted with any neighbors except next door and directly across the street.

The door opens with the slightly sticky sound of the seal meant to keep the outside out, and in the way of your view into the luxury home stands a broad chest. Your eyes get stuck for a half second before they trail up to his face, bright smile already splayed across his face. "Well howdy neighbor." You've heard him speak so the accent wasn't low on you but there sure are some words that really bring it out. You bow your head with your greeting and he turns himself to the side to let you in. "What took so long? I was waitin for ya." He asks jokingly, and you smile as you tell him about having to cook before you left because if you didn't do it, who would? He hears how lighthearted you make it sound, and he swallows the frown before it gets to appear on his face. You're keeping your head high to cope and it makes him wanna gag as his eyes trail up you, seeing no real flaw as to why some man wouldn't wanna be with you. He thinks you're real pretty, gorgeous even. You're also smart, funny and pretty quick witted when your head's not in the clouds. He knows it's a little odd to feel so strongly for the situation of a woman you just met, but his mama taught him so much better than that so when confronted with shit like this, it's hard to fathom. Even more so when the subject of it is right in front of him, oh so beautiful with your-

"Atsumu? Earth to pro athlete, need you back down here, big guy. Atsumu?" Shit. He had zoned out looking at you as you spoke so when he shakes his head and politely asks you to repeat the last thing you said, he feels awful. You seen a little too used to it as you shrug it off, which he feels makes it worse, and ask again. "I said: Did you have a plan when you invited me over or were you just gonna go with the flow and see what happens?" You stand with your hands behind your back so to not touch anything, and he struggles with his mind wandering as he motions for you to sit down and quickly jogs into his kitchen.

"I mean, we had a pretty nice time talking at the grocery store so i figured we could just pick up where we left off." He calls before coming to set a glass of lemonade down in front of you on the coffee table. "And if you stay long enough, i wouldn't mind you joining me for dinner?" It comes out like a question, you've been here for all of 2 minutes max and he's already inviting you to stay longer. He's so eager in a way you cant help but giggle and agree. You watch as he sits on the other side of the couch before starting to engage you in some bit of conversation from before. What you pick up on is that he constantly tries to get you to talk more and he pays actual attention to what you say. Anytime you quiet down out of habit, he asks you another question. The conversation hops from life experiences, to vacations, to upbringings. Anything to get you to talk to him more, anything to learn as much as possible about you, anything to make you smile and giggle like he's getting so enamored with.

He can't keep convincing himself that he's just being nice.

Not as he moves just a bit closer every time he sits back down from refilling your drinks. Not as he keeps trailing his eyes up and down your form when you laugh hard enough to close your eyes. Not when he has to fend off the mild shutter that slides up his back at certain words you say. Not as he continues to mentally say you're basically in the right if you were to do something outside of your marriage, and how he'd offer himself up in a heartbeat despite the guilt he'd been raised to have. Maybe if he finds out just a bit more about your garbage life partner, he can get rid of all the guilt he has. So he asks as you sip at the wine he offered up along with dinner, citing he's not as good as his brother in the kitchen but he does know a bit.

"Hey, i understand if it's still kinda touchy and you really don't have to answer if you don't wanna but, im just having a hard time wrapping my head 'round it." He starts, and your stomach turns as you know what he's gonna ask. But you sigh and down the rest of the glass, feeling It's better to get it out there now rather than feel like you're manipulating the situation later. The feeling of being wanted for a bit was nice while it lasted though. You set the glass down next to your empty plate and turn to face him, questioning when he went from the other side of the couch to only a couple inches away, motioning for him to continue. He ponders on how to say it without seeming insensitive before he sighs and just blurts it out. "Why the hell is your husband cheating on you? I genuinely can't understand." He stops himself before he goes on a tangent about how pretty you are or how nice you are or how he'd treat you plenty better.

You feel your eyes burn. You thought you'd be over it by now but maybe you had just pushed the thoughts away, far enough that it was basically outta sight, outta mind. You blink quickly to get rid of the tears and once Astumu catches the glossy look, he shakes his head. He opens his mouth to tell you to forget about him asking but you out your hand up to stop him. He fears you might just up and walk out, looking like a kicked puppy along with you as you take a deep breath to compose yourself. You open your eyes and put your hand down, speaking before he can. "He wanted an open relationship, so he's not actually cheating on me." Saying it feels gross, and if you took your eyes off the floor you'd see Atsumu with a face that agrees. Not because of the open relationship thing, because of how you phrased it.

"So you didn't want the open relationship?" He asks for clarification and though you and Atsumu don't know each other as well as you know your best friends, he's a comfortable presence that feels empathetic to you in a way, despite feeling like he's pitying you too but that's just your mind talking there. You shake your head, dropping it into your hands to rub away the tension that's building your temples.

"He sprung it on me out of no where, said i wasn't making him happy anymore. Saying i had 'let myself go' and whatnot. I was working on it, really. Working out at home, keeping up self care routines, trying to initiate even though that isn't normal for me. He just... Didn't want me anymore." You're quiet as you talk, a small sniffle in the middle of your statement tugs hard at his heart. Well now he can't possibly feel bad. He asks you about the dudes at the sauna the first time he saw you and lets you explain that they work with with your husband under a different company. "They've probably seen him with his pretty little coworker who he's been sleeping with. By the sound of it, they aren't the most discreet about it so it's just embarrassing for me. They're the types to get pissy when turned down. He rolls his eyes hard enough to hurt, feeling like his brain is throbbing in his skull over how dumb it sounds. Your husband, he colleagues, whatever whore he's screwing that most likely knew who you were and that the idiot was married. It gives the most sour ass milk taste to him.

"And what about you? Since he forced it, wouldn't it be good to get out and see someone?" He asks softly, particularly because he's yet to see you truly conversing with another man in the time he's been talking to you. He's also never heard you talk about anyone else, not that it would truly be any of his business but it just intrigues him. You simply shake your head again though.

"He's... He's the only man over ever been with. We met when i was young, got engaged and married pretty quick but i wasn't the prettiest thing in the group so he had no real competition. When that happened i kinda just stayed inside and didn't bother even after starting the working out thing with May again. I mean, if no one wanted me then, why would they now and I've just gotten older?" Your insecurities have shown before but Astumu's about to start asking some real serious questions about how your husband treats you if you think so low of yourself.

"So why not leave? I mean it's obvious he doesn't care 'bout ya, and you don't seem like the type to stick around for shit like this." He admits its a bit assumptive but he can read people pretty well, and he'd bet on this assumption for sure.

"He married me when i was young and kinda took over most things. Pre and post me leaving my job and agreeing to be his fulltime housewife. I kinda can't... At least not right now." You admit. Atsumu has genuinely never wanted the throttle a man so badly. He's basically holding you hostage so he cant look bad but is forcing decisions on you whether you like them or not so he can do as he wants. Yea, he definitely doesn't feel bad anymore.

"I want you." It's a simple statement but it has you whipping your head to look at him and the serious face he has that somehow also looks like he's bored almost.

"What?"

"You asked who'd want you since time has passed and stuff, right? Me. I do." Your eyes widen as he continues. "I think you're fuckin' gorgeous to be honest. Inside and out. You're funny and sweet when you're comfortable, you've got a good heart and 's all bundled up in this lovely, lovely body o' yers." He starts to smile mid way through his declaration as he notices your dace get more and more flustered. His accent seems to get just a bit thicker as he talks faster towards the end, enthusiasm radiating from him as he closes that tiny 2 inch gap between you two on the couch so your thighs touch. You're shocked honestly. It felt like he liked you but your self doubt said it was just pity, but you also felt there was nothing wrong with being a bit delusional and taking what you could get from a nice man giving you attention. You stutter, trying to get something out about how you feel but he hold up his hands and leans back a bit, never scooting away from you though. "If ya don't feel that way about me, i understand even if it hurts a little. But I would love to show you how a proper man should be treating someone as beautiful as you." He's laying it on thick but you feel he's being honest about your ability to back out if you want.

You still can't manage to figure out the words you want to say to him. You don't really think you'd know where to start, being the way he didn't seem judgmental towards you or the fact he apparently had actual, genuine interest in you. So you hug him instead. He's surprised for a moment but quickly hugs you back, finding that you're so much softer, warmer than he expected this close. He nose catches whiffs of your soap and shampoo, you even smell gorgeous. And your husband didn't want this? Fucking idiot. You pull back after a while, just enough to look him in the eyes. "Thank you, but... You don't..." You start how you want, but you cant seem to find the correct way to finish. Atsumu understands from the way you avert your eyes, flustered and shy in a way he finds all too cute on you. He puts his hand under your chin to gently redirect your gaze back to his, confident smirk still splayed across his face. It's a reassuring look really, one that says he really does want to do what he said.

"If you don't want to, that's fine. I understand, but don't think that i don't want to. Because i really fucking do." His voice is low due to his proximity, leaning his forehead against yours as he searches for any sign of you pulling away or rejecting his advances. It's like a little game behind your eyes plays out before you opt to say fuck it and close the small gap between your mouths. He reciprocates immediately, moving his hand from your chin to the back of your head as your hand begin to wind themselves in his soft blonde locks. The kiss goes on for what makes your lungs feel like eternity, but your brain feel like mere seconds. When the burn in your chest is too much, you pull back and take a deep breath, letting the oxygen take your brain through thoughts of this really being a good idea. Your eyes scan Atsumu, from the lidded gaze to the slightly swollen lips to the heaving chest and from what your eyes take in, your brain says it's a great idea. I mean, if he's willing to give you what you're missing, why deny yourself?

He stands up and holds out his hand to you, letting you take it as you ask about where he's leading you to. "Well i did say i'd be proper bout it, right? Can't take you on the couch first time around, that comes later." You note how confidently he said later, as if he's assured a next time. And while normally you'd say that was a bit presumptuous of a man, you couldn't help but think of the kiss you shared and allow him to have his confidence. He smiles when you don't deny him too. He leads you to a room that's cleaner than what you'd expect from an athlete if you're honest. The room smells of lingering cologne and linen air freshner as he closes his door. He comes behind you, wrapping his arms around your waist and placing his face into the crook of your neck to kiss and nip at the skin as you tilt tour head to give him more space. You giggle as he kisses at certain spots, whimpering when he finds that particular spot that has you slightly buckling in his grasp.

His hands play with the hem of your shirt and pants, gently tugging as he sucks and bites at the spot that has you depending on him more to help you stand. "You can still back out now, (y/n). I really don't-" you wind up snaking your hand back into his hair, turning your head to bring his mouth to yours.

"I want to, Atsumu. Please, lemme have this." The way you whine has his eyes rolling in a good way this time, gently pushing you to his bed before he opts for turning you toward him and tossing you on it. His grip firm as he halfheartedly flung you onto the soft sheets as if you weighed nothing and without a single complaint either. He's quick to crawl over you and place his lips back on yours, tongue slipping in before you can fight him on it. You don't fight with him too much for dominance, more so to just be playful. He takes it, sliding his hands higher under your shirt than before to touch your skin as you fingers dig into his shoulder. He takes time to pull away every so often to ask if he can remove some piece of clothing from you, seeming as if he truly couldn't get enough of you. First your shirt, then pants, then his own. He barely detached his body from yours as he stripped you or himself, wanting nothing more than the feel of your soft, pretty skin on his. When he inevitably did have to pull himself up onto his knees to take off your bra, he couldn't help but take in the sight in front of him.

You're underneath him, as he's wanted for a bit now, neck only slightly marked up from before, lips swollen and a little of the mixed saliva from him keeping your mouths together making Its way down your cheek from the corner of your mouth. Your chest is heaving from him giving you minimal time to breathe between kisses, and to top it off you're basically half naked, the pretty body he's seen clad in various workout clothes finally exposed properly for his eyes to drink in. His staring to you on the other hand, has you feeling self conscious. You take a breath and start to move to shield your body from him, crossing your legs and bringing one of your arms over your chest to hide. He quickly stops you, whining at you, gently smacking your hands and thighs to get you to move them. He settles himself properly between your thighs and moves to pin your hands above your head with one hand. "Don't hide, beautiful. 'M only staring cause i think you're pretty." He smiles at the flustered look that comes back across your face and trails his free hand over the too of your bra. "I can take the rest of it off, right?" He asks, eyes still glues to your chest.

You hum and nod, so he wastes no time before reaching under you to unhook the only thing keeping your chest from his mouth. He almost drools at the sight of them when he moves his other hand from your wrists to toss the garment to the floor. There's quiet fuck that slips from him as his eyes catch on your tits the same way yours did earlier, and under such admiration you can't really tell when, if ever, your husband looked at any part of you with such genuine hunger. If feels nice to be looked at like this, so you try not to let your hands fall from where they rest above your head. His hands smooth down your sides, gripping every so often at the soft flush under his fingers til he gets to the hem of your panties, pulling and letting them snap against your hip as you yelp. He's tempted to rip them in all honesty but decides against it, simply sliding them down and off you to the floor as his eyes rake up and down you to figure out where to start.

His hands reach for your chest, kneading your tits and watching how responsive you are to him tweaking and thumbing over your nipples. He takes in every tiny whimper and breathess noise you make before taking your left nipple into his mouth and moaning at the taste of your skin. Your hands come down then, rethreading through his hair and unconsciously pushing him just a bit more into your chest. They're more sensitive than he thought, and you seem to love the way he flicks the hardened bud with his tongue before he takes a teasing bite and pulls it with his teeth just a little. He's not one to show favoritism in the bedroom, so he swaps to lavish the other with the same attention, biting just a bit harder to get you to make more noise for him. It all has him rutting his still clothed cock against your center, the wetness quickly seeping through the thin fabric and driving him to take his open mouthed kisses down your torso, leaving marks here and there to show his pathing until he's kissing the top of your mound. You tug his hair and he lets his drunken gaze float up to yours, mouth still kissing around between your thighs.

"You... Don't have to, if you don't wanna... Just so you don't feel obligated or something..." His brows furrow as his mouth sticks to one spot just above your clit as he takes in what you just said. His foggy brain has a moment of realization when he sees that you aren't just flustered, but embarrassed. He sits up a bit more as you gulp and raises his eyebrow at you.

"Did that fuckwit tell you he didn't like eating pussy?" He asks so bluntly it makes you curl up a bit as you avert your gaze, hands stroking his head still.

"He said it wasn't his favorite part but he did it because it was expected so I'm just- ah!! Fuck!" You're abruptly cut off as Atsumu opts to dive head first to your center, tossing your legs over his shoulders and running his tongue from your hole to your clit before sucking it into his mouth. Atsumu eats pussy for his own enjoyment, for fun. Your husband had you at home all the time and didn't constantly want his face between your lovely thighs? He didn't want the warm soft earmuffs and the, to Atsumu, gentle pressure of you squeezing his head with them? Because to Sumu, this feels like heaven. The muffled squeals as he slides his tongue from lapping at your clit to fucking your slippery hole and nudging his nose against your clit to keep the cute little button stimulated have him rutting into his mattress. You're overwhelming his senses and he's in love with it, it's a contender for being his favorite part of it in competition with how you taste. One taste and he's actively trying to devour you, as if he hadn't eaten dinner maybe an hour or so ago.

His hands grip onto your plush thighs and encourage you to clamp them even harder than you are now around his head as you whine and keen under him. Your fingers tug at his hair as you halfway guide his mouth where you want him, also grinding your cunt against his face and breathlessly moaning everytime he hums in pleasure against you. He opens his eyes when he feels one of your hands leave his head and lets them trail up you see your head tossed into his pillows and the hand you freed from his locks grasping at your chest, kneading your breasts as he did earlier and he can't help the way he basically growls into you. "Atsumu~ mmphf! Fuck, Sumu!" Oh god if he wasn't determined to get you to cum from the dumb shit you told him earlier, he was now.

He keeps his grip on your thighs, sluring and lapping feverishly at your pretty pussy, making sounds you'd truly be embarrassed of if you could find yourself thinking straight. He lets you use his face, lets you tug and pull his hair in a way that would be damn near painful, if he could think straight either to, to let you throw yourself off that cliff. He's only focusing on the moans clawing their way from your throat, getting higher and higher in pitch until you feel like you're about to crush his skull between your thighs. You call his name over and over, louder and louder until you go rigid and squeal as he helps himself to your sweet release, guiding you through wave after wave of pleasure.

Once you begin to paw and push at his head, he pulls himself up to look down at you with a wolfish smile and drunken gaze. His chin and lips shine in the daylight that floods through his bedroom window, the subtle warmth that still enraptures you keeps you from being as embarrassed about the sight. He moves his hand to swipe your juices from his chin before placing those same fingers into his mouth and humming at the taste. "You're husband has absolutely no taste, does he?" You giggle and move to sit up, a hand reaching to trail down his abdomen to the hem of his boxers but are stopped short by him pushing you back down and crawling to blanket you with his body. He kisses you deeply, sharing the taste still on his tongue with you and swallowing the little whimpers you give.

"Are you not gonna let me reciprocate that?" You ask when he finally parts, moving to trail his mouth down your neck and shoulder as he shakes his head.

"Uh uh, at least not this time. Next time." He assures, and you laugh softly in his ear at his confident insistence on this not being a 1 time thing. It makes you giddy, a man desiring you in a way that seemed so fairytale lately even tho you were supposed to be happily married. He nips at your shoulder and hums when you don't respond. "You'll let there be a next time, right darlin'?" He mumbles against your shoulder. You nod, dreamily humming as you turn to kiss his temple. At your agreement, he grinds himself against you, letting your slick completely soak through his underwear as you both moan into each other's skin. You grab hold of his shoulders as he keeps going, his grunts heavy on your neck as he tries to keep from going overboard. He does sit up, chuckling breathlessly as you whine at the loss of his heat.

He quickly slides off his boxers and when your eyes meet again, or rather when he looks at your face, the smile that crosses his face is smug. Your eyes were glued to between his legs, your lower lip caught between your teeth. He was bigger than your husband, longer and thicker though you'd say they were similar heights. Impressive sure was one way to describe it, the tip pink and glossed over with his arousal that began to run down his length. He trails his fingers from his abs to wrap around his dick, giving it slow stokes which catches your attention. You let your eyes follow up from his dick, soaking in the way the muscles under the skin of his tummy ripple and quiver, taking in how his chest rises and falls with his labored breaths. From his chest, you look to his face, catching how his eyes are intently glued to you as he seems to fight the urge to fist himself faster. Your grip on your lip becomes bruising, the wet plaps of his hand around himself causing you to twitch and pant.

He smiles as he stops, bringing his wet hand to your mouth with a slightly raised brow, a tiny gasp escaping him as you eagerly take his hand in yours and run your tongue over his palm and between his fingers. It sets him off, as he's quickly over you again, freshly licked hand guiding his hardness to your weeping center and mouth on yours with the full intent to make it hard to breathe. He lets his cock slide through your folds, swallowing your moans every time his tip rubs your swollen clit. "You ready, sweetheart?" He slurs against your mouth. You nod, clasping your hands together at the back of his neck, desperate mutters of "Please, Sumu..." spurring him on as he slides his way into you. He was happy at how easy it was; despite how tight you were, your pussy was wet enough give give him little resistance. He only pulled away from the heated kiss to watch your eyes roll into the back of head and listen at the drawn out noise you gave him.

When he feels you hike your leg over his hip and push him into you, he almost giggles at your eagerness. He moves his hands to the sides of your head, starting a steady rut into you before both of you whine at the feeling not being enough. "Please, Astumu.. Gimme more~" you ask so sweetly, how can he deny you? His hips begin to snap into yours, drawing out pretty high pitched moans and grunts from both of you. He moves his face to mark your throat and shoulder as he pumps into you, hands moving to grab your hips to prevent you from scooting up the bed as he starts to thrust faster and faster. He keeps his moth on your throat, grunting at the feel of your sounds on his lips and your nails digging into his shoulders as you wrap your other leg around his waist.

"Feel .. s'good baby. Y'er grippin me soooo fuckin tight- shit!" He curses into your neck, mindless babbles being all he receives in return. The smile on his face never seems to leave, even as he sits up to sit back on his haunches and starts using your hips to bring your velvety pussy onto him, your ass propped up just a bit by his thighs underneath. The angle has you keening, arching your back and grasping at his wrists as a way to ground yourself as he pistons into you again and again. The sticky wet squelch between you drags Atsumu's eyes down to where you both connect, rolling and threatening to close as the sight of his pelvis all glossy, pretty white ring encircling his base and shaft completely coated. The feel of your walls convulsing and clentching as your hips buck against his in a futile effort to keep up with his brutal pace is mind numbing, dragging almost whiny moans from his chest as his hands garb onto any bit of you they can and please.

When he does manage to tear his eyes away from your swollen cunt sucking him in, he lets his gaze lick up your body. From your tummy that he can see bulge with every pump in, to your tits that bounce so nicely, to your pretty face and the adorable fucked out expression that's plastered across it. He genuinely thinks you're so pretty, he can't wrap any part of his mushy brain around how someone could have you and not want to worship you all the damn time. You deserve so much. And he's damn sure gonna give it to you. "Y'er- so- fuck-in pretty!" Every syllable is punctuated with a harsh kiss to your cervix, just bordering on painful but still adding to the pleasure that has your eyes glued to the back of your skull. Your whines and moans are broken as they hit his ears, one large hand moving from your hip to your front, letting his thumb rub your clit and his other four fingers press above where his cock hits inside.

You shudder under his hands, twitching as you let out a weak warning of your impending orgasm. Though teary eyes, you see him nod. "C'mon darlin, cum nice an' hard f'me." He grunts, leaning up onto his knees just a bit more for leverage to throw you over.

And he does.

Your eyes clamp shut as you basically scream, his name tumbling out again and again as he fucks you through it. He's honestly a bit disappointed in the fact you didn't squirt, but there's always next time, right? He does fall over the edge after you do, your gorgeous climax having a domino effect on him as he grunts out your name like a mantra until he can't. The after shocks of yours guiding him through his own overwhelming haze of pleasure, and he finds himself drooling slightly by the time he comes back to earth. His body collapses next to yours after he pulls out and watches your cunt twitch and clench, letting his cum seep out and admiring it as it follows the curve of your ass onto his bed. He pulls you to him and you let him, snuggling into his chest.

He lays there for a bit, basking in the afterglow with you before getting up to get a wet towel to clean you up with as a bath runs. "Oh, you don't have to-" The stare he gives cuts you off as he wipes down your lower half, eyes narrowed at what you saying that now implies about how you were treated at home.

"I just fucked your pretty little brains out, sweetheart. I am not only obligated to clean you up and take care of you, but i want to. As any real man should." He emphasizes what shouldn't need to be said as he finishes wiping you down and goes back into his bathroom to finish up your bath. He carries you, despite protest, and sets you in as he says he's going to change his sheets. "Do... Do you maybe wanna stay over?" He's suddenly bashful, and it makes you wonder if the man who just made you cum harder than you have in years just a moment ago and this sweet, shy, country boy who can't seem to find your eyes is the same man. You nod, saying you'd like that. He finds your eyes then, dopey smile out in full as he hops off to clean his room.

He comes back just when you're clean and about to fall asleep, calling for you as he helps you out and dries you off, admiring your sleepy form as he slides a clean tshirt over your head. He guides you out this time, you smacking his hands when he tries to pick you up, his bed now dressed in a pretty deep grey color as he lets you lay down and get comfy. He's about to walk into the bathroom when your phone rings from the floor, you sucking your teeth at the ringtone. He rummages through your pants to find it again and frowns at it being the man neither of you wanna hear from. He does not the lack of guilt he feels about what happened tho. He hands it to your grabby hand and listens from the bathroom as you answer.

"Hello?... What does it matter what im doing?... I'm not at home, your dinner is in the oven. Is that not everything?... What you do in that house, in that bed is none of my business. I don't wanna hear about it either, not like i sleep there..... I have an attitude because you're bothering me... That's not even fair, what for?!... Sure, whatever. Move it i guess.... No, im not. Can i go now?" He hears you sigh and groan, but you seem to be off the phone, so he quickly hops in the shower before coming to cuddle with you in bed. The evening sun has set, the sky it's deep inky black through the window as he flicks on the tv to something neither of you pay attention to. He wraps you tight on his embrace and kisses your head, asking what your legal partner wanted. "He wants to use the guest room I'm staying in to house his little tramp because she's having 'family issues, don't be such a bitch. She's going through a hard time.'" You grown and half flail like you're having a tantrum, pressing your face into his chest. He grips even tighter, his blood boiling. That man has 0 respect and it shows so much.

"You can bring whatever things you don't want him to touch here." He offers, and you turn your sad, puppy like eyes to him. Even in the dark, under the mild light of his tv, he can see how glassy they are. It hurts his heart. "You can come by whenever you want, too. I'll never turn you away." You open your mouth, voice raspy with tears as you tell him of not wanting to intrude or be a burden but he stops you with a kiss. "Im not him. You will never be a burden to me. I mean it. Whatever or whenever, you always have a sizable place here." The tears fall but you smile at his sweetness, sharing kisses and sniffly thank you's with him. He pulls you on top of him, letting your head lay on his chest as he soothes his hands over your back, telling you to get some well deserved sleep. He thankfully doesn't miss your mutters of how much you like him already and how thankful you are before you're out cold. He places another kiss to your head, smiling as his own eyes close from his own exhaustion. Be it from fucking you like that or from being angry at your paper-only lover, he doesn't know or even care right now. He knows he'll have to explain himself to someone at some point, but that's a task for future Astumu.

Besides, he's just doing what his mama taught him was right, right?

Comments, likes, and reblogs are appreciated! Hope you guys enjoyed! ♡´･ᴗ･`♡

#rexywrites #haikyuu!! smut #haikyuu!!#atsumu x reader #atsumu smut #hq smut #hq x reader #haikyu x reader #miya atsumu #atsumu miya

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captain039 · 10 months

Text

Part 2 Stains of red

Astarion x omega!reader

Warnings: Vampire things, blood, light gore, witch things, fantasy things, swearing, age gap, heats, smut, shameless flirting, virgin reader, indulging in pleasure xD, pining, jealousy, possessiveness, angst, masturbation

Previous part <-

Astarion was there the next day some strange glint in his eyes as he sat boredly at your table.

“If you are bored, go elsewhere” you stated reading over a book and organising some herbs.

“The villagers are dull” he stated finger on his lips as he watched out the window.

“Did you hear someone died?” He asked and you froze looking to him.

“No, gods, another one? who was it? What happened?” You asked attention on him as he seemed unfazed. He smelt awfully fresh also, clean water and soap, a little too clean.

“Butchers boy, I don’t know his name” he shrugged and you frowned.

“He was here yesterday” you stated.

“Was that him?” He questioned still overly unfazed and you frowned at him, studying.

“Your witch powers won’t work ok me darling” he grinned standing up and peering at the book you were reading. He stood awfully close and you held your breath, glancing to the puncture scar on his neck. He always tried to cover them up with ruffles and high collars, for some strange reason your own teeth ached. You breathed out and stepped back, shaking your head.

“I’ll head to the village tonight, say my respects” you said brushing off the way your heart pounded.

“You will not” Astarion said too quickly and angrily eyes narrowing.

“It’s just the village I’ve been there plenty of times, it’s not like you’re my father!” You huffed at him hands of your hips.

“It’s the right thing to do” you added going to your room to pick an outfit. You heard Astarion growl and leave making you frown and watch his form disappear in the forest, why was he acting so strange?

Over the last few years members of the village have been found dead, brutally or strangely, the guardian of the dead did not share his input either on such things as he usually did.

Astarion had hung around like a fly, trying to concentrate with him around was hard. You hated how your body would go warm whenever he was near, or your mind would wonder to such dirty thoughts whenever he was close. You were thankful for magic, you blocked your thoughts from anyone and anything that wanted to peak inside, a safe in your mind where all your darkest secrets lied. You began to prepare dinner, the funeral would be tonight no doubt, you were also in need of supplies. Astarion was reading a book by your table, head resting on his hand which leant against the table, you wondered what he was thinking.

“After dinner I’m going to get ready, stay, leave or come with me I do not mind” you stated eating your stew. His face turned in a scowl and he snapped his book shut making you jump slightly b

“I’m hungry anyways” he grumbled and left making you huff at his behaviour.

You headed to the village after eating and getting ready. You headed to the funeral fire and saw the villagers already gathered around. You stayed back a bit listening to the speech the elder gave before the young man’s body was a lit with fire and sent to the gods. You said a small prayer wishing him safe passage to the after life. You headed back to the village, Gerrin was usually open till late anyway. You headed to his shop, ears sharp to the sounds around you. A little too sharp when you heard a moan. You froze and glanced to a dark alleyway, two people were there a woman pressed against the wall and a man against her. You flushed seeing his hand clearly down her skirt, her hips stuttering against his hand. Gods you didn’t mean to stare, but Ruby eyes looked your way with a blood stained mouth. You flushed and quickly darted down to Gerrins shop.

You panted as you slammed the door, leaning against it, unaware of Gerrins odd look.

“You alright?” He asked cocking his head.

“Huh?” You said dumbly cheeks a blaze. Gods why did you wish it was you against the wall. You shook your head furiously going around the shop and picking up what you needed.

“Ten gold” Gerrin said and you handed him ten gold coins and thanked him quietly.

“Goodnight” you nodded your head before leaving in a rush. You glanced down that same street, sighing in relief when you didn’t see them there. You rushed back to your cabin and closed the door a little harshly before sighing. You rested your basket on the table and groaned as you flopped into bed. Between your thighs was hot and slightly wet making you flush and bite the inside of your cheek. You stood, closed your windows and locked them, blew out the candles and stripped before lying on your bed and getting under the covers. You clenched the sheets mind replaying the scene you saw only putting yourself there. Your hand trailed down your stomach and to your cunt, you bit the inside of your cheek as you imagined Astarions slender fingers sliding through your folds, whispering about how wet you were for him. Your back arched slightly as you slowly began to finger your self hearing Astarions voice echo in your mind.

‘Such a pretty thing’ he’d whisper in your ear, gently kissing down your neck. You added a second and sighed continuing the scene.

‘I wouldn’t want to hurt you sweetheart, relax for me’ you whined softly pressing your thumb to your clit and slowly rubbing.

‘You can do it’ his voice whispers in your mind.

“Come for me’ it added as you quickened your pace and felt your stomach coil and release. You moaned quietly and panted as you felt yourself orgasm fingers still slowly moving before you pulled them out. You were in a slight bliss before reality came back, your cheeks on fire again as you stood and grabbed your gown on shaky legs. You washed your hands and sat at the table suddenly guilty about what you had done. Unaware of who lied in the forest.

Next part ->

#Astarion #astarion x reader #x reader #aob #witchy #fantasy #vampires

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kenniel-fanfic-readerinsert · 9 months

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Forget the Past, Enjoy the Present (Jack Salter x Reader)

lame *ss title.

Disclaimers:

1. I should be sleeping

2. It's been like... 6 years? since the last time I wrote a fanfic

3. I am sorry for the cringey writing, I needed to get this out of my system

4. I only saw the movie 1 time, I hope I can go again before they remove the movie in the cinema

5. annddddd I don't own brands, names and etc. Only the cringe plot

5.5. I don't know much of how motorsports work, maybe when I have more free time I will write something really good, in the meanwhile, I ' m r e a l l y s o r r y

6. Jesus, David Harbour, I love you

Part 2 or a remake of this, yess

There is like a 10 year age gap, I believe Jack was in his 30s when the accident happened, so Reader is in their 20s making their way on racing things.

Italics for past time and details about yourself

-----------

15 years ago…

“This is devastating” a car race has gone wrong before, but this wrong? “Jack Salter seems to have lost track of his path along with another racer. Everyone at the expectation of what is going to happen next.

“Is he all right?” Jack asked while the paramedics were taking him into the ambulance “He seems to be stable, we need to hurry”, assured his trainer.

“You’ll be okay, Jack, don’t fall sleep” he heard a familiar voice before getting unconscious.

Present Time

Jack got a call from that stupid gremlin Danny Moore while he was working. Gamer racers? People who probably never drove a real car before on these powerful vehicles? Crazy idea, but here he was.

“Oh, but our special team is not complete yet” Danny was showing him the GT Academy, but once they reached the racetrack for the academy he stopped at the pits. Jack just sighs. “Now what?”

“I want our racers to have a different kind of life experience besides yours” Moore gave him a little smile.

“Stop talking around the bush, who is it”

“Well, you know them”

Jack just closed his eyes.

A demi sport sedan of (your design) was nearing them on the pits. The driver’s door opened reveling a (your hair color) person. They got closer to them. The marketing expert clapped his hands and opened his arms to embrace Y/N in a hug.

“Can’t believe you still are so energetic, Daniel” Y/N greeted him. He smiled but also sensed the tension between the other two. He pulls apart from Y/N and gestured to Jack “I’m pretty sure you remember this big guy”, Moore gave Jack a gentle pat in his belly, making the taller man grunt.

“Of course, hard to forget a man with his nose. Hello, Jack”

“Hello, Y/N” they gave each other a quick look and turn their eyes to any other place possible.

Danny clapped his hands again “Well, let’s get to it!” He gave both Jack and Y/N a pat on their backs before leaving to greet the players.

Once they saw the gaming racers arrive and Jack gave them a depressing speech, Danny introduced Y/N to relieve the pressure of the competitors. “Hello, I’m Y/N, I love racing so much that I’m an Industrial Designer to understand better everything about cars. I’m a racer but since I was young, I participated in street racing. That’s why Daniel here wanted me in the team, to teach you about how savage real racers will be with you.” They gave them a wink before getting in their place behind Danny.

“All right, get comfy guys, but not so much because you start your training tomorrow” the marketer for Nissan dismissed everyone.

Jack was left confused, so they got a degree to understand more about cars?

A couple months before the accident

“Hey, you know it wasn’t your fault, right?” they said, Y/N’s fingers touching only with the tip of the fingers in his shoulder.

“Yes it was, I should’ve more careful!” he got angry, everyone kept saying that it wasn’t his fault, that maybe could have happened with another person. He push Y/N’s hand away, but they got used to that reactions.

“Besides, what do you know about safety? The only track you know is the street, you have never been in a real race” He added fueled by the anger remembering the crash and the loss of a life.

“Is as dangerous if not more, but whatever, I tried everything to cheer you up, but it seems that you never bear my presence. I’m sorry, I hope you find peace someday.”

Y/N met Jack when they started to become more interested in racing in a professional way, not that they doesn’t enjoy street racing, but earning cups and medals looked really nice.

Jack doesn’t say anything nor gives them a glance. They picked their things up and left him alone in silence.

The team of Danny Moore, Jack Salter and Y/N worked just fine, even if the racers ended up with mixed instructions from the older racers. Moore found it problematic, he needed Jack to be synergic with Y/N so the racers could get better and better.

“Jack, my brother”

“We are not brothers”

“Oh, c’mon, we been working for days now.”

“Whaddaya need” Jack didn’t enjoy when people interrupted his Walkman’s sessions.

“Welp, always straight to the point. The three of us, we are making a great team, but no perfect.”

If Jack got a cent for every time he sighs for something that came out of Danny’s mouth, he will have tons of money. “Now what, just tell me and I will work on it”

“Nice of you to say that. Apologize to Them”.

Jack lifted his eyebrows surprised. “You think that’s the issue? We are fine, we talk the necessary.”

“Yeah, like divorced parents. That’s the problem”

“…”

“I liked the turn you made on that weird curb, but next time…” Y/N really takes pleasure in giving feedback to the young drivers. Jack approached and cleared his throat; the other instructor paused at the interruption and turned their head.

“Yes…?” Y/N raised a brow, clearly confused because Jack never shared a word with them aside from things related with the competitors or Danny (Danny himself is a topic).

“Can we… uh, talk, like the two of us” he tried to say as quiet as possible so the others couldn’t hear.

“Sure, let me finish with them” Y/N gave some last instructions to the gamers and then followed him far from the pits.

“Well, I don’t know how to start”

“Why are we here, then” Y/N crossed their arms.

“Fine, fine. Look, I’m sorry” he ran his hand over his face trying to find the courage. “I… what happened 15 years ago wasn’t my fault, you were by my side even if I never liked it. I was young and stupid to push you like that. I’m sorry” he ended and looked at the (your eye color). "I also took you for granted as a driver, hell you drive better than most of those assholes out there"

They cast their face down for a moment and then up to his eyes. “It’s fine, I appreciate your apology. Everything is in the past now” Y/N offered a small smile to him. He nodded his head. "And thanks for the compliment, it means a lot coming from you."

After that they manage to find a better rhythm of teaching the competitors. A couple of weeks have passed, Y/N and Jack became friends (the first time they met doesn’t count to Y/N since it was one-sided). Sharing meals together without Danny.

Danny Moore got an eye for perfect opportunities, and again he found one. He noticed the long glances Jack gave to Y/N, and how he worries when Y/N got in a car to give the gamers extra lessons.

“Jack, my brother” He said to Jack once they were in the press room alone.

“Jesus Christ, now what?”

#gran turismo #jack salter x reader #gran turismo imagine #jack salter david harbour #david harbour #david harbour x reader #reader insert

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kimbappykidding · 11 months

Text

You co-owned a coffee shop with your best friend just a few streets away from Seventeen's building, However, you weren't into mainstream media so you weren't really aware of that. Being in the city centre you knew there were idols and actresses and models galore but never really paid them any attention. You preferred the ordinary people, after all it was them who came into your cafe most often...or so you thought.

You had many regulars but your favourite was the boy with glasses who you'd nicknamed cute gamer guy. He was always polite, quiet and friendly. He'd usually stay for a few hours and he'd either read or play games on his laptop hence the nickname. You liked to read too and often discussed your latest and favourite books. When he played games you'd get stuck just watching him because he was really good. You'd stare amazed and forget you had work to be doing. You figured he must be a student of something as he often came in at odd hours and seemed like he had some time to kill. You didn't know much about him but saw him most weeks and got to know one another that way. He'd always ask about your day which you thought was nice and compliment your baking. He was cute too and your friend had long since suggested you should ask him out. You didn't want to just because you felt it might be weird. "I don't even know him! I only know he’s called Wonwoo because I put it on his coffee cup otherwise I wouldn't even know that! I don't know his age or what he does for a living! He's basically a stranger" you argued when your friend Mari brought it up again but she just rolled her eyes. "You see him pretty much every week of the year, that's more than you see your family! He is not a stranger". "True but I don't know him enough to ask him out! He could be a terrible person, or a sexist jerk or a..." you trailed off to see him standing at the counter. He was looking down at his phone and you prayed you hadn't been speaking loud enough for him to hear. You hurried forwards and smiled nervously "sorry to keep you waiting, what can I get for you?". He smiled "it's no problem, can I please get a chai tea and a brownie please Y/n?". "coming right up" you nodded and got to work. He asked you how your week had been and you asked him about his day then he took a seat with his tea and snack. "Did he hear us?" Mari asked and you shook your head "I think we got away with it". You were wrong.

As you were getting ready to close up Wonwoo came up to you "thanks for the snack, it was great as usual". You smiled "I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for telling me". He nodded "I also just wanted to say...I'm 26 years old and I'm from Changwon originally. I'm a performer for a local company and I promise I'm not shady or dangerous...". You blushed "does this mean you heard our conversation?". Wonwoo nodded "I didn't mean to but I just wanted to let you know, I've been wanting to ask you out for a while and if the only thing stopping us was you not knowing my age or what I do...well I wanted to correct that". You smiled "consider it corrected". "In that case would you like to go on a date with me?" Wonwoo asked "I'm free this weekend and you can pick whatever we do". You smiled "sounds good". So the two of you exchanged numbers and agreed to meet up Saturday night. Mari was ecstatic and kept jumping up and down on your way home. "So he's 26" she said and you nodded "only 2 years older than me". "Which is an acceptable age gap" she nodded "and what did he say he does for a living again?". "He said he's a performer at a local company". "wait what does that mean?" she asked and you paused "I have no idea...I assumed he's a local singer or dancer or something. I probably should've asked. "Well that's what the date is for" she grinned. You suggested dinner and a movie and Wonwoo agreed to pick you up at your house. Mari helped you put together the perfect outfit and then you waited for Wonwoo. You were early (as always) and were sitting in your living room when a car arrived. An extremely expensive car so neither of you expected it to be here for you. Your friend sighed "I hate when cars just pull up outside our house like that! It's such a fancy car too". You nodded looking at the expensive car and wondered what it must be like to have a car like that. When the car didn't move you paused "why isn't it going? Wonwoo is going to be here soon and it might block him". Mari frowned "let's give it a second and then tell them to move". You nodded when the car door opened and who stepped out of the car but Wonwoo. "Holy shit!" your friend cried and you stared. "That can't be his car" you said but Mari laughed "well it sure looks like it seeing as he's driving it. Y/n if he has a car like that then he must be rich! I thought you said he was a performer not some sort of prince!". "That is what he said" you replied watching him come closer to the door "maybe he just inherited the car or won it as a prize". Mari smiled "well however he got it, it's glorious and you're going to ride in it!". As she said that the doorbell dinged and your friend squealed. You opened the door to find Wonwoo dressed smart-casual in a shirt and some very nice jeans. "Hi Y/n" he smiled "I've got you something" and held out some flowers. You immediately felt touched because nobody had ever bought you flowers before. "That's so kind of you thank you...let me put them inside" you said and opened the door to find your friend standing there where she'd clearly been spying on the two of you. "Wonwoo you remember my friend and business partner Mari" you said and he nodded "it's nice to see you again". "You too" she smiled "nice car by the way". Wonwoo blushed slightly "thank you...I try and take good care of it". "I bet!" Mari nodded and you elbowed her. You placed the flowers in the hall and told Mari you were leaving. "Have fun!" she called waving and Wonwoo led you to his car. You opened the door and were shocked at how nice the inside of the car was. You wouldn't trade your beaten-up old car for anything but this car was amazing! It was so spacious and comfy. You felt like you were in some sort of massage chair and the dashboard was so big and colourful. "If you're cold I can turn on the seat warmers" Wonwoo said and your eyes widened "seat warmers?". He smiled "yeah, want me to show you?". You nodded and he pressed a button "it might take a few seconds to warm up". You nodded admiring the architecture when you felt the warmth and gasped slightly "I can feel it! That's so nice". Wonwoo smiled "the temperature control is just there" pointing to a dial "so feel free to make it warmer or cooler". You nodded "cool" and tried not to act too awestruck with this space-age car. Wonwoo must've sensed your unease because he started asking you some casual questions and as you chatted you felt less nervous. You arrived at the cinema and Wonwoo parked up. As you were getting out a guy gawked at the car and you thought Wonwoo would say something but instead he put a hat on and pointedly pulled it over his face which you thought was odd considering you were going inside. "This way" he said and he led you inside keeping his head down. You bought tickets and snacks but Wonwoo didn't take his hat off until he was in the dark cinema. You chatted until the film started and then watched the film. It was a good film and was good as any cinema date could be. Wonwoo gave you free rein of the snacks and you had a cute hand-brush moment halfway through. Wonwoo laughed at all the same parts as you and you were sat quite close together without actually touching. So the night was going pretty well as you left your screen and headed to dinner. On your way out there was a big group of girls and you saw Wonwoo pull his hat down tighter. "Hey mind if we go out this way?" he asked pointing to a side door away from the crowd and you nodded, exiting around the back of the building. Wonwoo drove you to the restaurant and opened the door for you. "Table for 2" he said giving the waiter his name and the waiter nodded "of course". You'd picked a restaurant you were familiar with and smiled at the familiar sights and smells. "Have you ever been here before?" you asked Wonwoo. He nodded "yes I like it". "Me too" you smiled as the waiter told you to follow him. "My friend and I must've been here 20 times we never get the fancy table" you said pointing to the table behind their water feature which was very private and highly coveted. Every time you came it was taken and you couldn't even book it. But tonight it was empty. "Well maybe tonight will be different" Wonwoo said and sure enough the waiter took you to the table. "Here are your menus and some complimentary waters. I'll be back soon to take your drinks order" the waiter said and you turned to Wonwoo. "How did you get this table? They wouldn't even let me book it for my friend's 21st!". Wonwoo shrugged "I guess we just got lucky". You thought he wasn't telling you something but didn't say anything. The meal continued and everything was still going well. Wonwoo was very interesting and talking to him was so chill but also fun. He had an effortless quality about him, he seemed to look effortlessly good, was effortlessly funny and effortlessly nice but it wasn't annoying or forced. It was just how he was and you felt like you'd known him for ages. When Wonwoo went to the bathroom you checked your phone and saw 20 messages from Mari. You opened your phone and decided to call her instead of texting. "What happened are you okay?" You asked. "Y/n it's Wonwoo" she said and you froze "what is he a serial killer?". "What? No, he's a kpop idol! That's why he's so rich and always turns up at the cafe at odd hours! He's a successful idol and has been for years. I knew I'd seen him before". You pause "no he can't be". "He is, Google Wonwoo Seventeen and you'll see". You did and your phone was flooded with results. "Oh my god..." you said and your friend laughed "see! Y/n you're dating an idol!". You had no idea what to say but spotted Wonwoo on his way back so quickly hung up. Wonwoo smiled sitting down "would you like another drink?". You tried not to let on you knew who he was and it was surprisingly easy. The second Wonwoo sat back down things just felt normal and it made you question if this was the right Wonwoo. Maybe they were brothers or just really looked alike...until you went to leave and Wonwoo's suspicious hiding behaviour kicked in again. There were some men in black coats outside the restaurant with cameras and Wonwoo spotted them putting his hat back on. "You ready?" he asked and you nodded. "It looks a little busy so grab me if I'm moving too quickly" he said and you nodded. The second you stepped outside Wonwoo shot off, head down trying to avoid the cameramen's attention. You thought you'd made it when one of them shouted Wonwoo and they started following you. Luckily Wonwoo was in the car park and the gate closed behind you stopping them. You shot Wonwoo a look and he shrugged "some people know me from my performing". You almost laughed as that was his explanation of him being a world-famous idol. You just nodded not wanting to force him to tell you before he was ready and got in the car. Wonwoo drove you home and pulled up outside. "So I had a really good time tonight" he said and you nodded "me too I really enjoyed myself". Wonwoo smiled "great, so would you maybe like to do this again sometime?". You nodded "I would" and Wonwoo smiled "great so I'll text you..." and then he trailed off. "What?" you asked and he smiled "nothing you just look really nice in this light". You blushed slightly but smiled "you should see my view" and Wonwoo smiled. "Do I get a goodnight kiss?" you asked and were pleasantly surprised to see the boy blushing. "Of course" he nodded and leaned across to kiss you. Wonwoo was clearly a good kisser and given he was a famous idol that made sense. He probably had lots of experience in this area but you ignored that and just focused on your moment with him. When you separated you took in a breath and Wonwoo smiled "that was a pretty excellent first kiss". You smiled "I'm glad you agree, see you later Wonwoo" and got out of the car. You managed not to look back and only when you safely inside did you squeal. Wonwoo returned home to find a few calls from his publicist saying he'd been spotted downtown but they hadn't managed to get any photos. Wonwoo was relieved and his members smiled when they saw him "so how was the date with the mysterious cafe girl?" Mingyu asked. "Ahh yes the place you have banned us from" Scoups said, "it better not have been for nothing!". Wonwoo smiled "it was good...she's so funny and interesting. Not to mention pretty". "Did you kiss her?" Dk asked bluntly and Jeonghan hit him "come on this is Wonwoo we're talking about" before everyone noticed Wonwoo's reaction. He'd frozen and was purposefully staring at his feet to hide his blush. "You kissed her?" Hoshi asked and Wonwoo nodded "she asked for a goodnight kiss so I gave her one". The guys all roared with excitement and began cheering. Once they'd settled down a little bit Jun asked an important question "how did she react when you told her you were an idol". Wonwoo paused "I'm not sure...". "Why? Could you not tell how she took it?" Joshua asked and Wonwoo shook his head "no I just didn't really tell her". "Wonwoo!" Seungkwan cried and Woozi laughed "even after the cameramen chased you down the street?". "I just said people knew me from my performing". "So you didn't tell her what you did at all?" Scoups asked and Wonwoo shook his head "she asked me about work but I managed to be vague". "Well that's not going to work all the time" The8 said "if you want to see her again you have to tell her". Wonwoo sighed "I know but it was nice to date someone who had no idea what I did! A person who I knew wasn't swayed by it". The guys all knew what that felt like so agreed. When you got back from your date you were buzzing but when you woke up the next morning you felt a little different. Last night you'd gone through all the positives but this morning you began to think of the negatives. The cameras last night were just a taste of the harassment you'd receive for dating a kpop idol. There were also stalkers, hate comments on all your Instagram photos and death threats to look forward to. Not to mention you couldn't have a normal relationship. Wonwoo would work a lot and even when he wasn't you couldn't hurt go out in public. Wonwoo had to be careful where he went and you realised last night he probably loosened the rules for you. You weren't sure if that was the life you wanted. Relationships in the public eye were very challenging and that was if Wonwoo ever wanted a relationship. The internet told you the names of many girls who had uprooted their lives only to be used and thrown away by idols. What if Wonwoo did the same? He seemed nice but he was an idol, he wasn't an innocent kid. You didn't know him and he could do that to you. When you came downstairs Mari smiled "so...how does it feel the morning after? You're like freaking Cinderella or something". You chuckled awkwardly "not that great" and explained your worries. Your friend nodded "see I understand where you're coming from but I think you're worrying for nothing. For one thing, we work together so there's no way you're losing your job even if this did get out. For two, if Wonwoo was the type to throw girls away like tissues wouldn't he have asked you out the second he saw you instead of getting to know you for months?". You paused "maybe...". "Plus I've been watching videos of them and he's definitely not like that" Mari said. You frowned "but that's his stage character he could be completely different". "Based on what we've seen in the cafe I don't think so". You weren't sure but agreed to watch one Seventeen video with Mari which turned into several. You saw what she meant. In the episodes, Wonwoo seemed just like the guy you knew. Thoughtful, smart, considerate and...well hot. But you were still more cautious and all day you hovered near your phone, scared anytime it lit up. Part of you thought it would be easier if Wonwoo just bever texted you about your next date but another part of you really wanted him to text you. Your phone buzzed around dinner time and sure enough, it was from Wonwoo. "Hey Y/n I had a really great time last night and can't wait to see you again. How does next Saturday around 7 sound?". You debated over a reply for way too long but eventually just went with your gut. "Sounds perfect! See you then".

For better or worse you wanted to keep getting to know the cute gamer guy who also happened to be a world famous idol. Only time would tell if it was the best decision of your life...or the worst.

____________

This is a three part series and you can read the other parts here: Part Two and Part Three.

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kumoriyami-xiuzhen · 10 months

Text

Hakuoki Yuugiroku 2 - 《Autumn Shinsengumi Sports Meet!》—— Opening Ceremony?

This translation is from 薄桜鬼遊戯録弐秋の新選組大運動会！which was originally published in the booklet that looks like the following image.

This is probably one of my favourite misc stories... because it shows how Saito is the best boi.

No, I will not be accept any arguments to that statement. hahaha. i shalt abuse my power as a translator and focus on Saito content if anyone dares to argue otherwise (maybe. not really. who knows hahaha. perhaps i really am that petty...)!

anyway, this is the first part of this silly story... enjoy!

Hakuoki Yuugiroku 2 - 《Autumn Shinsengumi Sports Day!》—— Opening Ceremony?

Translation by KumoriYami

Autumn of book reading, autumn of appetite, and also ——the autumn of sports.

To express the joy of finally getting through the hottest season of the year, the trees in Kyoto became brightly coloured, and it formally became autumn soon after.

Looking at the members divided into two teams by red and white headbands, the chief of the Shinsengumi, Kondou Isami, made an announcement in a loud voice in a courtyard of Nishi Hongan-ji.

Kondou: "Good, everyone's here…. Then I announce that the start of the Shinsengumi Sports Meet is officially open!"

Hijikata: "Kondou-san is really something, all of a sudden he's talking about holding a sports meet… even if it's on a whim, it needs to be done in moderation."

Saito: "But Vice-Commander, I believe that this is a good opportunity to relax everyone's tense nerves after such a scorching summer."

Harada: "Furthermore, the winners get to make a wish, right? What sort of wish should I make…"

Hijikata, Saito, and Harada, who each had headbands on their heads that were as scarlet as red maple leaves, were discussing——

Heisuke: "How can you be talking as if you've already won, Sano-san! We're not going to lose to the red team!"

Souji: "By the way, Shinpat-san, have you already decided what prize you want if you win?"

Shinpachi" Of course it's going to be sake!"

Heisuke and Okita, who had pure white bandanas, like white clouds, on their heads, and also Shinpachi, responded.

Seeing how the two sides already seemed to have sparks colliding between them before the competition started, Kondou nodded with satisfaction.

Kondou "Hmhm, it seems that everyone's quite motivated, that's wonderful. Then, without further delay, let's start the first competition——"

Kazama: "——Hold a moment!"

Hijikata: "Hm?"

Kazama: "Are you saying the winner gets what they want? I heard that just now with my own ears."

Hijikata: "Do-Don't tell me this arrogant voice is…"

There was no one else who was this arrogant and spoke with such an egotistical tone, apart from a certain someone.

Hijikata and the others quickly looked around, and the sight of three people, standing with their backs to the sun, caught their eyes.

Kazama: "Hmph. With all these wild dogs gathering, I thought something was happening…"

Hijikata "Kazama and Amagiri, Shiranui... you bastards, what the hell are you doing here!"

Kazama: "What the hell are you doing here? This pack of wild dogs really aren't able to discern facial expressions to figure out the other party's intentions. Could it be that you aren't even able to see this?"

Saito: "I don't want to be told by you about not understanding someone's intentions from their body language…"

Souji: "I mean, you guys are being hindrances, so why don't get out of the way? You're being too much of a hindrance."

As Saito and Souji glared at him, Kazama paid them no attention, as if nothing had happened.

On the side, Amagiri and Shiranui sighed and took a step forward to translate Kazama's words, which had only been half-spoken.

Amagiri: "Actually that is the case. Simply put, we stopped by while scouting out nearby…"

Shiranui: "That guy Kazama was saying "Isn't this the best time to show off the gap in abilities between me and the Shinsengumi in front of my wife". What a pain."

Harada: "Hey. That's to say, you three want to participate in this sports meet?"

Heisuke: "What a joke! Why obligation do we have to compete with you guys!"

Harada scratched his head while Heisuke puffed up his cheeks.

Then Shiranui shook his head impatiently and spoke earnestly.

Shiranui: I got it, I got it. This should be fine, if we come in last, we will never approach Yukimura Chizuru again, what do you guys think?"

Kazama: "What!? Shiranui, you bastard, making such a statement without permission..."

Shiranui: "What? I mean, as long as we win, it'll be fine. Or are you saying that a certain leader of an oni clan isn't confident that they can win?"

Kazama: "Hmph, what a stupid thing to say. As if I could lose to some insignificant humans. There isn't even a one in ten thousand chance of that happening."

Amagiri: "….That's how it is. What do you all think? Everyone from the Shinsengumi. If this is how it will be, bloodshed can be avoided. I believe that this is beneficial to both sides."

Hijikata: "......A word once spoken cannot be taken back. If you lose, you won't go looking around for excuses, will you?

Kondou: "Ah, if Toshi agrees, the I won't disagree. In that case, I officially approve of your team now!"

With that, the members of the third team, the oni team joined in, and the Shinsengumi sports meet finally kicked off after a number of twists and turns before the games officially began——

---To be continued---

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note to self: it's the "Hakuoki Yuugiroku Booklet story competition" in NW. (i have over 200 things in nimble writer so it's quite easy to lose track of things if they aren't labelled correctly... 😅 )

#hakuoki #hakuouki #hakuoki yuugiroku 2 #hakuoki other translation #hijikata toshizo #okita souji #saito hajime #toudou heisuke #harada sanosuke #kazama chikage #amagiri kyuuji #shiranui kyo #kondou isami

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totesnothere04 · 1 year

Text

I Found You Pt.1

Grace Augustine x Oldest Sully Brother!Reader

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the fanart, screenshots, or gifs used with my stories.

Warnings for this series: Mentions of injuries, character deaths, a murder, surprise kid, age gap, shotgunning.

Part 2

You sat down in an uncomfortable chair in a waiting room outside of the most influential woman in the world. Madam President MacDonugh. You had just gotten off your last day as Lieutenant (Y/n) Sully of the United States Marine Corps and were headed to your car. But as fate would have it the United States wasn't done with you yet. Two Secret Service agents intercepted you in the lobby and requested (more like demanded) you to go with them. So here you are. Waiting to find out if you had done something wrong to end up in your bosses, bosses, boss's office. Finally after 30 minutes of waiting a woman in a tight pencil skirt carrying a clip board came out of her office.

"Lieutenant Sully, the president will see you now." She spoke and you got up and walked in. The woman, you assume is her assistant, leaves the room and shuts the door.

"Lieutenant Sully, three tours in Colombia. Injured on your last tour earning the purple heart and being pushed from 63rd infantry to a desk job here in Washington. Do I have that right?" The president asks and gestures for you to take a seat.

"Yes ma'am." You respond and she purses her lips.

"And you have two younger brothers still in school is that right?" She asks again and you feel your throat tighten. Did something happen to one of them, or did one of them do something?

"Yes ma'am. Tommy and Jake. They'll be sophomores this year." You respond and she leans back in her chair.

"I'm assuming you decided to leave the Marine Corps for the RDA for better pay." She says and you nod.

"Yes ma'am. I want to be able to put them through college. Someone has to... And seeing as you know almost everything about my life you also know why I must." You say and she releases a humorless chuckle.

"I'm well aware of your parentage. A father who's in and out of prison and a mother who can't lay off the sauce. Not the most stable of homes to raise children in." She comments.

"I know. I've been sending as much money to my younger brothers as possible, but paying for college tuition for two people on military pay is... Well, it's not possible." You tell her and she nods.

"I have a proposition for you. I've heard through the grapevine that you'll be security detail for science expeditions." She says and you nod. "I want you to go in as a spy for the United Nations." She finally spits out the reasoning and your eyes nearly bulge out of your head.

"Ma'am I wouldn't know the first thing about spying. I was infantry and on my best days a marksman." You say and she nods.

"Which would make you perfect for the job. They wouldn't suspect you to be one." She says and you feel your mouth start to run dry.

"Why does the United Nations need a spy inside the RDA?" You ask her.

"There have been a lot of claims from scientists stationed there claiming the RDA is committing genocide. We need you to either tell us if these claims are true or false. This is a need-to-know operation and you need to know everything, but no one will know your true intentions there. Earth is dying and if the RDA is committing genocide then the relationship between the human race and the Na'vi will be in jeopardy. Pandora would be a good place for us to go when the time comes, but as of right now, that plan can't come to fruition. If the situation is unsalvagable we will look for another planet, but if there's any hope we need to know. That's where you come in. Assess the relationship between the RDA and the natives. Report back once a month upon your arrival using this." She slides what looks like a regular tablet over to you. "We have long-range communications satellites set up between Earth and Pandora that only this tablet can access. It will connect you to a live feed that all UN representatives can see." She tells you. "Do you think you could do that?" She asks and you nod.

"Yes ma'am. How long will this assignment last?" You ask her.

"The entirety of your time with them." She responds.

"And if I die or get caught?" You ask her and she pulls out what looks like a key fob and hands it to you.

"You push this button and it will send an emergency frequency directly to the UN. All you'll need to do is record a video once a year to describe the current status of things. If anything comes up on our end we'll send you an update on it. Any other questions?" She asks and it was your turn to purse your lips.

"Am I still with the government or the RDA?" You ask her.

"Is that your way of asking if you're being compensated for spying?" She asks and you nod. "Name your price."

"Help me put my brothers through college if they want to go to college?" You ask and she smiles.

"You got it, Sully. We'll even pay for their housing through their college years." She says and you smile.

"You've got yourself a man on the inside, ma'am." You put your hand out to shake hers and she does so.

"Sounds good. I'll let the charter know that I've got it covered. If my timing is correct your flight leaves tomorrow morning at 0500, so you need to sleep." She says and releases your hand. She stands up and you follow her lead. "The next president will be expecting to hear from you in 6 years." She motions to her door and you salute her.

"It's been an honor ma'am." You say and she straightens her back and returns the salute. When she releases it you leave the room and are escorted back to your office by the same two guys from before. When you get home you ensure the safety of the little fob and the tablet in your bag along with your other belongings. You look at the time and realize it's still early enough that the boys would still be awake and decide to call them before you leave for your flight tomorrow. The phone only rings once before its answered.

"Hey (Y/n). I was starting to think you weren't going to call before you leave." Tommy says jokingly and you smile.

"I would've called sooner but my boss wanted me to confirm one more thing before I was gone forever." You told him and you hear the phone get shuffled a bit.

"Hey (Y/n) you're on speaker now!" You hear Jake say and you chuckle.

"Couldn't wait for a separate phone call huh? Ever the impatient you are Jake." You say and he laughs.

"Well you know me. Life's too short to wait for things." He says and you shake your head.

"I'm gonna miss you two." You say.

"If I have it my way I'll be joining you as soon as I can." Tommy says.

"Oh? Going into security detail?" You ask and you can picture the look of disgust on his face.

"No. Science. I want to learn everything I can." Tommy says and you hear Jake scoff.

"You're boring. I'm going into the military. My boots are staying firmly here on Earth." Jake says and the two of them start bickering.

"Hey. I'm still here. Trying to say a heartfelt goodbye to my idiot brothers who are currently arguing over their life choices which they haven't even gotten to follow through with yet." You jest with them and the bickering stops.

"Sorry (Y/n)." Tommy says.

"Yeah sorry. It's just difficult to agree that getting shot across the galaxy would be fun." Jake says and you laugh.

"I'm not going there for fun. I'm going to try to give the two of you a better life than I've gotten to have." You say and you hear one of them sniff.

"Dad's back in jail again. Grandma put Mom back in rehab." Jake says and you sigh.

"So where are the two of you staying right now?" You ask them.

"During the school week, we stay at our friend's house. During the weekend we stay at grandma's." Tommy says and you start to feel guilty about leaving them behind.

"I'm sorry I'm not staying here with you guys." You say and you hear a dismissive scoff.

"Please. It's nothing we aren't used to." Jake says.

"I know, but you're only kids. You shouldn't have to live couch to couch because our parents can't get their shit together." You say and run your hand over your face.

"(Y/n) stop that. You're going to cause premature aging in yourself if you don't stop that." Tommy says and you chuckle humorlessly.

"I know Tommy. You're very fond of saying that. I just want the best for the two of you." You tell them.

"We know, but it's not right. You're our brother, not our caretaker." Tommy says.

"I know but I made myself your caretaker. Mom and Dad aren't going to, and Grandma is getting old." You tell them and look at the time. "Alright, I've got to go and so do the two of you. You've got school in the morning." You say and they groan.

"Okay fine. Love you (Y/n) and I'll miss you so much." Tommy says and you wipe away the tear that fell down your cheek.

"Love you (Y/n) I'll miss you too. Who knows maybe if things go well for me in the military I might join you two out in space." Jake says and you chuckle.

"I love both of you very much. I'm going to miss you every second." You say as your emotions start to take hold of you. The line goes dead and you let your phone fall from your grasp as you finally allow your reality to hit you. You were leaving your younger brothers on a dying planet to fend for themselves. As unmanly as it was seen to be you allowed the tears to fall freely and fell asleep that way.

6 Years Later

You opened your eyes to find yourself in a cryo pod. You blinked to try and ward off the headache and swallowed a couple of times to try and rehydrate your mouth. You were slid out of your pod and a nurse floated over to you to check on you.

"Hello, Lieutenant." She said as she started to check you over.

"I'm guessing we're there." You said and she chuckled.

"Yeah, we're there." She said with a flirtatious edge to her voice but you couldn't bring yourself to care. She was cute but ultimately not your type. She floated off to check on other people and you were able to be released from the straps holding you in. You went over to your locker and got your stuff out of it and looked out of the viewport. It was magnificent. The view of Pandora from space and the fact that you were in literal freaking space boggled your mind. It wasn't long before you were on a shuttle and heading down to Pandora's surface. The moment the ramp went down everyone was ushered inside quickly. You had to duck down a bit to get through the airlock because of your height. One of the current security personnel chuckled at the sound of the discomfort in your back.

"Keep moving kid." The guy says and you readjust your bag to let him see your Lietenants bar on the strap. He gives an impressed face when he sees it and you keep moving ahead. Following the group to a mandatory safety briefing. Typical run-of-the-mill scare tactics to get everyone to despise the locals before they even know anything about them. Except for those who had studied Pandora and its inhabitants before coming. You were among that crowd except you didn't have the fancy degree to go with it. As you left the mess hall to go find your bunk to drop your belongings, a man with curly dark hair and glasses intercepts you at the door.

"Lieutenant (Y/n) Sully?" He asks and you nod. "Great come with me and I'll show you the way to the linkroom." He says and you clear your throat.

"What's your name?" You ask him and he stops and stick his hand out to shake yours.

"Dr. Max Patel. Sorry I didn't start out with that. It's been a long few days." He says and you smile.

"I get that." You tell him and continue walking the rest of the way in comfortable silence. When you walk into the link room you take a good look around. "Got quite the setup here Dr. Patel." You tell him and he nods.

"Please just call me Max. State-of-the-art technology to ensure our avatar drivers' safety. Do you want to see your avatar?" He asks and you nod.

"Yeah I do. And I'll call you Max if you call me (Y/n). Lieutenant is for the people I want to intimidate." You tell him and he laughs. As he leads you into a room near the link room and three large tanks come into view. They give off a blow glow and the bodies inside of them twitch every now and then.

"Damn. I knew the Na'vi were big but not this big." You tell him as you look over your avatar.

"Your avatar is the biggest we've ever had come through. Maxing out at a whopping 9 feet and 7 inches tall." Max tells you and you whistle.

"Sorry if that makes something inconvenient. I didn't realize that it would be this big." You tell him and he shakes his head.

"No actually. An avatar replicates the driver. You are well above average height for a male, so your avatar followed suit. He's very tall by Na'vi standards as well. At least that we know of. We've only really encountered the forest Na'vi." Max says and you turn around to look at the other two avatars.

"Who do these belong to?" You ask and Max smiles.

"This one belongs to Dr. Halla Dean. A xenobotanist." Max says and he goes to the other one. "This one belongs to Dr. Serena Dean, also a xenobotanist."

"Am..." You stop and look around at the others in the room. "Am I the only one with an avatar that doesn't have a college degree?"

"Yes, but you're also the only one to be assigned as security detail to make an investment in the avatar program. Usually, security detail just throw on an exopack and follow everyone out into the field." Max tells you and you frown.

"Like hell, I'm gonna try to protect people when I'm only half the height of the attackers. In order to do my job efficiently I need to have every advantage I can get." You tell him and he nods.

"So did you study anything about Pandora before you came?" Max asks but before you get to answer a voice booms through the link room.

"Where is my goddamn cigarette?" The feminine voice asks and one of the other scientists starts running over to give her what she asked for.

"Did you atleast read up on some of Grace's book?" Max asks and you nod while watching the woman. She was admittedly gorgeous to you. Her brown eyes, red hair, and fair skin were enough to make a small blush appear across your cheeks.

"Grace! This is (Y/n) Sully, our new avatar driver." Max introduces you and Grace takes one look at you before raising an eyebrow. You shake out of your shell-shocked state and stick out your hand for her to shake.

"Sorry ma'am. I'm a bit flustered right now." You admit and she smirks a bit and shakes your hand.

"I've heard about you." She says conspiratorially.

"Some of those good I hope." You say and she releases a dry chuckle.

"Mostly. Your third tour in Colombia... You were shot three times rescuing a group of orphaned children from the frontlines. Mind telling me how you survived that?" She asks as she sits down at her desk and you pull up an empty chair to sit with her.

"I like to say they were non-life-threatening wounds. One shot was here," You pull up your shirt to show her one of the wounds in your abdomen. "The other two were my left thigh." You tell her and she shakes her head.

"Three gunshot wounds should have knocked you on your ass and caused you to bleed out." She said and you looked away from her.

"When lives are in danger pain and death are the least of my concerns. It's my job to protect people." You tell her and her features soften.

"Sounds like there's a back story there." She says and you feel like a deer caught in headlights. "Ah. It's personal. Changing the subject how many hours did you put in for the simulation?"

"Not as many as I wanted to. I was only able to put in about 460 hours over the course of a few years. My job was pretty demanding on time." You tell her and she nods.

"Atleast you tried. Also 460 hours isn't bad. You're prepared for what you're going to need to do." She says and you nod. "And have you studied anything about Pandora before you came here? Whether it be the Na'vi, their language, or the flora or fauna?" She asks and you take a deep breath.

"I learned their language but I admit that plant life is not my thing." You admit to her in Na'vi and she smiles wide.

"Knowing the language is all I really ask. The fact that you tried to learn about the plant life says you are willing to try." She responds in Na'vi and you smile and nod along. "I think we will get along fine."

The next day you went to the link room in the clothes they provided for your first link. You watched them calibrate your pod so you would beable to do it yourself in the future. Unknown to you Grace was across the room next to Max watching you take in the information.

"I've seen you study plants, animals, and the Na'vi. I've never seen you study a human before." Max says and Grace looks away from you for a moment to respond to him.

"There's something different about him. I've never seen a Jarhead so invested in doing the best that they can." She tells Max who continues overseeing the link. Since you had laid down and the pod closed on you.

"So it's true then? What you said yesterday about him saving orphaned kids?" Max asks her and she nods.

"Yes. He was forced out of the infantry and placed as a pencil pusher in Washington." She told Max, and he made a noise of approval. They went to the one-way glass to watch you connect.

"He has a gorgeous brain. Really healthy activity." Max says and Grace looks at his screen and nods in agreement.

"He's smarter than he gives himself credit for. I wonder why he never put that brain power toward a college degree." Grace says and she looks back at your avatar right after you opened your eyes.

"(Y/n)? Can you hear me?" The scientist you found out was named Kari asked and you smiled.

"Yeah. I can hear you." You say and she nods and starts leading you through all of the tests and you are finally allowed to go outside after you get dressed. You wiggle your boot covered feet and huff in annoyance.

"You okay (Y/n)?" Kari asks and you start taking off the boots.

"They don't feel right. It's annoying." You say and Kari starts to write that on her clipboard. She opens the door and you're able to go outside for the first time without an exopack.

"Hey (Y/n)!" You hear Grace call and you look up and your jaw nearly hits the floor. She's hot as a human and in her avatar.

"Uh hey Grace!" You call out and she throws a large purple fruit at you. You catch it and she motions for you to try it and you do so. The taste is delicious it's one of the best things you've eaten in your life.

"Thank you Kari I've got it from here!" Grace calls out and the two of you walk away together. "No boots?" She asks and you frown and huff in annoyance again.

"No. They felt weird on my feet." You admit and she grabbed your arm and started looking at you closely.

"Hmm, no abnormalities. Maybe your body was reacting to the cotton?" She suggests and you shook your head.

"I don't think it was that. It felt weird. Like my feet were caged and couldn't move right." You tell her and she shrugged.

7 Months Later

You and Grace were collecting samples just the two of you today. You were admiring her profile as she watched something on her screen. She turned to look at you still with that wide toothy smile.

"Is there something on my face?" She asked and you felt heat rush to your cheeks at being caught. Your ears pinned back in embarrassment and she laughed quietly.

"I think you're pretty. Sorry I was staring." You apologize and she reaches for your wrist.

"I think you're pretty too." She says and you're both blushing from the interaction. Her hand wraps around yours and you finally make eye contact with her. She finally pulls you into a kiss and you drop your gun to cup her cheeks. You're both pulling each other as close as you possibly can when you both finally break the kiss to breathe. "My age doesn't bother you?" She asks and you rub your thumb over her cheekbone.

"If it bothered me I wouldn't have been interested. Besides, I think it's the personality that counts more than your age." You tell her and she hides her face in your chest. You look at the time and pat her arms. "It's getting close to eclipse so we need to leave." You tell her and she groans and collects her belongings leading the two of you back to the Samson and climbing aboard.

"You're coming with me tomorrow to meet the kids at the school." Grace said and you felt your heart plummet to your feet. The picture of your little brother's faces in your mind and decide when you get out of your links you'd tell her everything. When you landed, unloaded, and got ready to put your avatar to bed you were finally able to get out of your link pod. You sighed as you got up and intercepted Grace's cigarette and lab coat before they reached her. It was a common occurrence by this point for you to do this by now. She sat up and saw you coming over to her with her cigarette and smirked.

"Mind lighting it for me?" She asked and you placed it between your lips and lit it then took a drag from it. You returned her smirk. She took her cigarette and pulled you down by the back of your neck and you exhaled the smoke from your drag into her mouth. She happily inhales it and when you break apart she releases a small wisp of what was leftover.

"Did I do it right?" You asked her and she smiled and nodded.

"Yeah you did, Lieutenant." She says and you sigh sadly as you help her stand up.

"I'm ready to tell you everything." You tell her and she smiles at you happily but it quickly falls when she sees how it's affecting you. She casts a quick look around the room causing everyone turns back to minding their own business. She takes your hand and leads you to her more secluded part of the lab. You both sit down and she gives you her undivided attention.

"I'm the oldest of three boys. My younger brothers are twins, but the only thing they have in common is a face. Tommy is rational and highly intelligent with a pension for science, while Jake is more like me. Stubborn, and idiotic, but he has a heart of gold. Or at least he did when I left. They were only sophomores in High School when I left, shit I think they're about 22 now." You tell her and she gives you a fond smile.

"But that's not what hurts you is it?" She finally asks the million dollar question.

"No. Our parents are not good people. Mom's always on the sauce and Dad can't stay out of prison. So I've been the one taking care of them since I was about 10. Decided not to go to college and went into the Marines to provide for them. Those orphans I saved... I took one look at them and saw my brothers. I spent a couple of months in the VA hospital where they told me I should've died. The adrenaline I felt pulling those kids to safety numbed everything. Collapsed almost as soon as everyone was safe. One of the kids was able to get one of my squadmates over and he got the medic. Saved my ass that day." You tell her and she frowns as she takes your hand in hers. "I was recruited for something top secret before I shipped out here. Best that I don't talk about it out here though." She seems puzzled by what you just said and pulls up a list on her monitor.

"I want to let you know... Your little brother Tommy. He's training to come out here. See." She shows you the list and you exhale a breathy chuckle.

"He kept his promise." You tell her and she smiles at you again. "I promise when we're alone I'll tell you everything."

"Your place or mine?" She asks and you smirk.

"Mine." You agree to meet up later and head to your room. You quickly showered and changed and waited for her to get here.

Permanent Taglist(message me of you wsnt taken off of it): @drinking-tea-and-be-obsessed, @kenzi-woycehoski

#avatar 2009 #grace augustine #grace augustine x male reader #grace augustine x reader

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animatorweirdo · 20 days

Text

When the Dragons Fly (Book 3)

You comfort Aelon and Eweniel through their grief. You also decide to bring the younglings to the camp for the night, where one of them comforts Ramuel.

[] = High Valyrian

Chapter 2

Warnings: mentions of dead characters, mentions of poison, ambush, cold for the night, burns, blisters, angst, mourning characters, slight fear, and comfort.

-----------------------------------------------

The night had fallen. Those whom you managed to convince to join you, with the help of Baelen, gathered on the east side of the town, while those who preferred Horren’s plan gathered with him and the other chiefs. It was challenging since the people still felt certain fear toward you and Aelon’s dragon, especially when they heard you also had a dragon. The chiefs sharing everything you told them in the meeting didn’t make things easier. However, you were lucky to convince Dwenn, Eda, Helena, and her family to join you, so you managed to persuade those you knew.

The people had started fires for the night. Luckily, Eru had blessed you with less snow falling from the sky, but it was still important to stay warm in the cold.

After setting lookouts for the night and preparing for possible attacks with Baelen, you began walking toward the campsite to look for Aelon. You had heard that Samuel did not survive the poison. You had no doubt your brother was devastated by the news, but it was still best for you to check on him and Eweniel.

As you passed the people warming up for the night, you felt a stinging sensation on your right hand. You took off your glove and gazed at the red blisters that covered your palm. Your burns had been aching since the night you got them, and now they were throbbing even more from the bruising caused by wielding your sword. It would definitely take a while for them to heal.

You heard footsteps and saw Helena running up to you. You pulled your glove back over your hand before giving your attention to her.

“Hey, (Name). I just heard a few things. Is it really true that you and Aelon are from a noble house?” Helena asked as she walked with you.

“Yeah. It’s true. It might sound unbelievable, but that one is not a lie,” you answered while you walked through the camp.

“Well… your brother has a flying dragon. So, I guess that’s possible,” Helena replied, thinking to herself.

“Which reminds me that I heard that you also have a dragon. If I can ask, where’s your beast?” she asked. “Sorry, If that sounded rude,” she quickly added.

“It’s fine. I ordered Baleria to watch over us at a safe distance. Dragons have better eyesight in the dark,” you answered.

“Baleria? Is that your dragon’s name,” Helena asked.

“Yes. Baleria is a she-dragon with black scales and blue eyes. She’s also bigger than my brother’s dragon,” you explained.

“How much bigger?” Helena asked.

“Let’s just say… bigger than a house with two floors,” you answered, and she looked at you with surprise.

“Oh, well, she is big,” Helena remarked.

“Helena, listen,” You stopped to look at her. She stopped and gave you her attention.

"I’m sorry that I hid this kind of secret from you, and I completely understand if you do not trust me and my plan to cross the mountains. I am more than willing to find you and your family a new safe route. The plan to pass Himring and cross through Maglot’s Gap is not safe at all," you explained.

“Nah. I trust you,” she answered, causing you to look at her with surprise.

“Really?” You questioned.

“I admit. Me and my family were shocked and scared to find out that you and your brother have creatures like flying dragons,” Helena stated. “But… after thinking about it and all the other things you have done for us. We decided that we could trust you and that you would bring us to safety,” she smiled.

You were quiet for a moment but felt joy from her answer.

“Thank you, Helena. You have no idea how glad I am to hear that,” you smiled.

“Well, if you were that stone-faced girl I met all those years ago, then maybe me and my family would have been weary of you,” Helena grinned, making you chuckle. You then remembered Aelon and Eweniel.

“Helena. I would love to chat more with you, but I need to check on Aelon and Eweniel. I heard that Samuel did not survive the poison,” you said.

“Oh yes. I heard about that too,” Helena said with a sad tone as you two glanced toward the twin’s parents, seeing them still mourning the death of their son. “Poor Samuel. If only Eda had the right herbs and medicine, then maybe he would had more time to live,” she uttered.

“Unfortunately, orcs are cruel, even going as far as to poison their arrows to ensure their victims die a painful death,” you stated. “The only positive thing in this is that Samuel did not die alone or in pain,” you said, then glanced at Helena.

“I need to get going. Baelen ensured that we have protection for the night so you can rest easy,” you said.

“Thanks, (Name). Also, give Aelon and Ewe a hug from me,” she said as she turned around to return to her mother and brother.

“I will. Goodnight,” you said.

“Goodnight,” she said as you both went on separate ways.

You traveled to the campsite near the cliffs, where you saw Falconer resting on the rocks, looking down on Aelon and Eweniel as the two sat around the bonfire with tired and grim expressions. Eweniel was poking the fire while Aelon only stared at the flames with an empty look. His eyes were still red from crying.

Falconer looked toward you with distressed eyes. He did not understand what was happening thus he did not know how to comfort his rider.

You walked up to them with a heavy heart and sat beside Aelon.

“How are you two faring?” you stared at the two.

“Awfully…” Aelon mumbled quietly while Eweniel continued poking the fire with a stick in her hand.

You remained quiet, unsure how to begin comforting them. In your time as a war commander, you were accustomed to people dying, as war and battles always brought heavy losses. However, this time it was your brother and Eweniel who had lost a close friend.

“I’m sorry, (Name).” Aelon suddenly said before you could say anything.

“What for?” you asked with a raised brow.

“Maybe I should have not revealed myself, then maybe things would have turned out differently,” he explained.

“No, Aelon. You do not need to apologize. You did the right thing,” you laid your hand on his shoulder. “It was too hopeless of a situation. I was going to call upon Baleria myself,” you said, rubbing his shoulder gently.

“Yeah, but I did not think the people would be so afraid of us,” he said. “And maybe Samuel would have…” he said but did not continue.

“Hey. We are in a difficult predicament. The people are just scared. We are stuck in a land that’s flooding with orcs. I don’t blame them if they feel too scared to trust something that has mostly been known to serve the dark lord,” you explained.

“And don’t blame yourself for Samuel’s death. Some things are just beyond our control, and unfortunately, this was a misfortune that couldn’t be avoided,” you continued. “It was a miracle he lasted this long with the poison,” you said.

“How are you so calm about this?” Eweniel asked. “How are you not bothered by all these deaths?” she added.

You looked at her. “I have seen a lot more death than you. And trust me, this does bother me. Samuel was a good kid,” you answered.

Aelon sniffed and Falconer cooed, unable to comfort or understand the sudden rise of sadness in his rider.

“What about Smoke?” Aelon looked up to you. “He doesn’t know that Samuel is…” he sniffed as a tear fell from his eye.

“Come here,” you said, opening your arm to him.

Aelon leaned in and you pulled him into a hug. You looked toward Eweniel as she looked like she was about to break down too. You opened your arm to her too and she quickly came over to you, falling in your arm. You embraced both the children as they began crying.

“Everything will be alright,” you assured them while holding them close. They sobbed and held onto you.

You carefully thought about your next word while allowing them to cry out their pain and tears. It took some minutes before the two calmed down.

“We will depart tomorrow morning. Despite everything that had happened, we have to keep going,” you said as Aelon pulled out of your embrace.

“Aelon. I will need your help bringing Aegar, Viserya, and Smoke here. It will be safer for them to travel with us,” you explained. “Is that alright with you?” you asked.

“Okay…” Aelon nodded while drying his tears.

“Who?” Eweniel questioned as you freed her as well.

“Our three young dragons. We have two adult dragons, but we also have three younglings we took in three years ago,” you explained. “Samuel knew about them as he helped us to take care of them,” you said.

“Will you be alright on your own for a while? I’m afraid they might become nervous if you come with us,” you looked at her. “You can stay with Dwenn and Helena if you want,”

“No. I think I will be fine,” she answered.

“That’s good we won’t be gone for long,” you said as you and Aelon stood up.

“Falconer,” Aelon looked up to his dragon. Falconer crumbled curiously, giving his attention to Aelon.

“[Protect]” Aelon pointed toward Eweniel. Falconer glanced toward Eweniel and then croaked obediently.

“What did you say to him?” Eweniel curiously asked.

“I told him to protect you, so he will watch over you while we’re gone,” Aelon explained.

“Okay…” Eweniel nodded, slightly uncertain but trusting his word.

Aelon then started walking with you toward the mountains.

You made sure to inform Baelen and his people of your intentions first. Though they initially responded with uncertainty, they agreed to inform the other people and allow you and Aelon to fetch Aegar, Viserya, and Smoke.

It took some minutes, but you two returned with the three young dragons.

Aegar, Viserya, and Smoke croaked curiously as they looked at the people. Baelen and most of the people looked back at them nervously but with equal curiosity.

You encouraged the three to move forward. Most people at the camp only watched, hesitant to come close. Helena then dared to make the first approach and with Aelon’s help, interact with the dragons. The dragons reacted curiously toward her and even allowed her to pet them. Watching the friendly interaction encouraged more people to come and take a closer look.

Their nervousness soon vanished and some even reacted positively toward them.

Baelen approached you as you watched the people get comfortable with the youngling. “So, these are the three you spoke about?” he questioned, pointing at the young dragons.

“Yes. Their names are Aegar, Viserya, and Smoke. I adopted them a few years back after finding them in an abandoned nest,” you explained.

“They don’t seem to possess wings,” Baelen remarked.

“No, they don’t. These three are the only ones that originated from Morgoth’s dragons. But, since they were abandoned and are not capable of breathing flames. You do not have to worry about them,” you said.

“I trust your word in that. They do seem a lot more friendly than Morgoth’s dragons,” Baelen remarked as you watched Aelon and his friends interact with Aegar and Viserya. Eweniel and Rodrick looked nervous but excited to interact with them. Aegar was the most eager to receive food from them.

You frowned when you noticed one of the dragons missing.

You then noticed Smoke slowly approaching Ramuel, who was sitting alone and still mourning the death of his brother.

You walked over to them.

Smoke cooed when he saw Ramuel sobbing. Startled, Ramuel jolted and then met the gaze of the wingless dragon in front of him. Ramuel felt hesitant, but not threatened by the creature, since he had seen them come to the camp and interact with people.

He then saw you walk over to them.

“This is Smoke. He was close friends with Samuel,” you explained, as Smoke watched Ramuel, wanting to come closer.

“So, Samuel really knew about the dragons? ” Ramuel questioned.

“He did. He helped us take care of him” You replied.

Smoke then whined and took a step closer. Ramuel slightly flinched, causing the dragon to jolt and step back in confusion.

“You do not have to fear him. It seems he senses your sadness and wants to comfort you,” you said. “Or that he might think you are Samuel. The two were very close,” you uttered sorrowfully.

Ramuel then glanced toward the dragon and slowly extended his hand toward it. The young dragon did not hesitate to lean into the touch. Ramuel felt his breath catch as he felt the small scales beneath his hand and the dragon rubbing its head against him like an affectionate cat. Ramuel then embraced the dragon, tears streaming down his face. Smoke was startled at first but then gently curled around the boy, laying down and allowing the boy to hug him for comfort.

You watched them with sorrow in your heart. You are not even certain if Smoke knew the boy in front of him was not Samuel but for the sake of it. You left them be.

Taglist: @natchayaphorn@kimnamnu@thatrandomidiot182 @springfountain @maedhrosiseverything2me

#silmarillion x reader #silmarillion #tolkien #silm fic #middle earth x reader #when the dragons fly #hotd x reader #hotd #middle earth #silmarillion imagines #various x reader #targaryen reader #silmarillion x targaryen reader #maedhros x reader

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ninthprime · 8 months

Text

mildly arbitrary rating of every gundam i have watched so far

in order of me starting them

witch from mercury: 7.5/10. we’re never gonna get confirmation of people’s various theories that this show was originally planned for 50 episodes and i’ve also heard that the showrunner’s series tend to be kind of just Like This, but gwitch has a lot of missed potential mostly focused on 1. its seemingly incomplete worldbuilding and 2. the fact that the arcs of much of its secondary cast (guel, nika, shaddiq) appear to jump over a few steps or just are missing something. on the other hand, the arcs of its primary cast (particularly suletta) are great, suletta herself is a top-tier protagonist, the tertiary cast is one of the best i’ve seen in gundam (i love earth house), and sulemio is probably objectively the best gundam romance even if i’m pretty sure it’s not my personal favorite.

gundam 0079: 9.5/10. the GOAT. you know how it is. every single person who got into gundam via gwitch like i did but still hasn’t gone back to watch 0079 is doing themself a total disservice. you watch this show and both everything about mecha and everything about modern anime in general suddenly clicks completely in your brain. everyone who has been obsessed with char aznable and amuro ray for the last 40+ years has been completely right. i think its only big flaws are some of its treatment of women (though later shows like ZZ have way more glaring issues there) and its shortened length, but frankly if you hadn’t told me it got cut short seven episodes early i would not have noticed, because its finale may be one of my all time favorite television finales ever. just go watch it. i’m sitting you down right now

zeta gundam: 8.5/10. a really ideal sequel in a lot of ways that are remarkable considering the gap of time between it and 0079. focuses on new characters who reflect on the last show while still being their own things, and brings back the cast of the last show in ways that feel like they make sense while still being unexpected and making you look at things in a new light. deeply iconic and atmospheric in ways that are a little overwhelming at times; it is a dour show. has way more glaring flaws for me than a lot of the fandom brings up though, mostly in its pacing and its villains. this show has an entire middle section i barely remember and do we need both the four and rosamia storylines? and frankly i do not care about the titans that much (other than sarah).

zz gundam: 8.5/10. zz defender crop is here. please ignore everyone who tells you that you can skip zz. zeta’s other half in ways that aren’t just “it started two weeks after zeta in real life”- it also fixes zeta’s pacing, provides a welcome counterpoint to its dire tone, and its villains are literally just improved versions of zeta’s (glemy is better scirocco! haman is a top tier gundam villain in general!). i think the middle section of this show- the entire time they are on earth- is my favorite section of UC gundam, or at least tied with 0079’s ramba ral and finale arcs. i do think the dip in quality people say it has in the last arc is true. also probably has the largest Woman Problem in any gundam i’ve seen so far (i have a threshold for bad women writing so high it is practically antifeminist but unfortunately emary breaks that threshold, what the hell is up with everything about emary) even though i love some of those women very much. secretly has the boldest and most thematically interesting gundam finale so far. ple forever

char’s counterattack: 8/10. as i’ve said before: a gorgeous film about two men being so divorced that thousands of people die. genuinely iconic and also very bold but i often find myself torn as to whether i want tomino to be more explicit about what he’s saying here. we could have saved ourselves years of “was char right??” debates but then again, it’s the spirit of cca to claim that only you have the right take about cca. beyond the time is a good song

gundam unicorn: 7.5/10. politics here are often confusing and messy, and i think it suffers from its core characters (banagher and mineva) and their relationship not getting the time they need. on the other hand, i’m interested in what it says about the worldbuilding of UC (even if i think it didn’t execute it that well) and its secondary cast is great; i did nearly cry about marida and zinnerman so that sure works. full frontal does not bug me nearly as much as he bothers most people although i think he has the same “needs more time to cook” issue banagher and mineva have. i even kind of like what they do with riddhe and i usually dislike that archetype. in other words: i would have been nuts for the forty episode (and properly paced) version of this show. marida forever

gundam hathaway: 7/10?? hard to tell here without having the next two movies. was a bit hard to get invested in the conflict near the end as we met many characters who are not developed yet. but the relationship between the core trio here is intriguing and i like hathaway as a protagonist a lot.

the rest of my “gundams i am most interested in list” is victory -> turn a -> 00 -> iron blooded orphans so that’s the next four shows. after…who can say

#gundam personal tag #hot takes post. watch out. weeoo weeoo

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puhpandas · 8 months

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This may sound kind of dumb, but I don't... really want hw 2 to make the books canon? As someone who had never heard of (and doesn't have an interest in buying and reading) the books until shortly after ruin. The idea that there's extremely plot relevant information that you'll be totally lost without for the game's plot locked away across several books just doesn't sit right with me, mostly cause I've seen other game series decide to not explain things at all under the strange assumption that every player definitely read the books when that definitely isn't the case. Like, I'm begging steel wool to actually explain that stuff in game, even if it's locked behind some secrets, because I shouldn't have to buy and read several 30 dollar books based off a game in order to understand said game's plot.

idk i could go into this in more detail but I also don't wanna drop an entire essay in a single ask on you (unless you want me to go into it more, but that's your call)

I just assume that we've already crossed that line because of the mimic being in ruin. I'm not sure if things like the mimic especially or GGY were planned from the beginning and released too early AFTER sb and BEFORE ruin (for the mimics case) because of the last delay of the game, or if they were just written and released when they were.

if the mimic hadn't been canon, I wouldn't even be considering GGY being in a game or it even being canon. but the mimic is at least, so theres a chance GGY will be too. especially because of how many gaps in the story it fills in and how it completes the narrative if you view everything in context of it.

the books being canon and lore hidden behind paywalls sucks, but also it's something early fnaf fans wished for (back when the silver eyes first came out, I remember people hoping it had lore because people wanted any crumbs at that point) so maybe they didnt see anything wrong with it because of that

in my eyes, to give them the benefit of the doubt, SW fnaf games take much longer to make and release than early/clickteam fnaf did. four games over the course of one year back then, because of how light they are, and games farther apart now (HW + dreabear (2019) security breach (2021) ruin + HW2 (2023))

SW era fnaf games are a lot heavier and bigger, and that means longer to release and more time waited in between them. so maybe they made the choice to put lore in books because they couldnt fit EVERYTHING they needed into a game without it taking literal years to cover everything, so they settled for books instead.

but maybe that's just me. this is just a theory anyway and theres no indication it's actually true, just speculation. but hopefully when I say what I said above and that the things in the books they're making canon are actually like, cool things (the mimic and probably ggy) it makes you feel better about the whole thing

#pandas.txt #pandas talks #pandas asks #thoughts #theory #pre help wanted 2

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olivia-anderson-fanfic · 4 months

Text

Have you never heard of such a thing, darling?

(The Timari Buzzfeed Unsolved AU)

Chapter 2: The Mysterious Case of Haly’s Circus

The video opens, as always, with Tim sitting on the couch, ramrod straight despite the apparent comfortableness of his cushions, smiling in a way that he knows will set people on edge.

People who have been watching Tim’s channel for a while are suddenly struck with the same feeling that new viewers endure when they open one of his videos for the first time. There is something wrong here, though they can’t quite put their finger on what, exactly, is off.

It is never quite scary. It is hard to be scared of a teenage boy. But it is certainly unsettling.

The reason becomes apparent soon enough: the couch is not pressed to the wall as much as it usually was.

Not that this was an easy thing to realize… until someone pops out of the gap for no reason outside of wanting to be dramatic, smiling widely at the audience.

“I’m back by popular demand!” Marinette says. She leans her arms on the back of the couch. “I’m not sure why I agreed. He doesn’t pay me. I’m being exploited.”

“I literally do pay you.”

“Riiiiight, of course you do,” she says, winking. “Don’t worry, GCPD people watching this, I am well taken care of. There is no fraud going on.”

“I don’t think I like this bit,” Tim mumbles.

“Sucks to suck! I do!”

He huffs. “Why did I invite you along again?”

“Because Alya said that I didn’t complete the bet and you’re lonely?”

“You know, at some point, I’m going to sue you for slander.”

“Public figures can’t really sue for slander!”

Tim’s eyebrows raised. “Is that true?”

“Yeah. It’s why tabloids get away with everything. Probably worth a google.”

He groans and rests his head in his hands. This does not entirely hide the faint smile on his face or the way his shoulders shake with barely restrained laughter. But it’s the effort that counts. Probably.

“Okay. Editor!Me, roll intro.”

The terrible dubstep intro is back, to everyone’s utter dismay. ‘The Gotham Files, with Tim Drake’ bounces around the screen once again, but it ends soon enough, thankfully.

Unfortunately, it is quickly replaced by another intro, complete with a different terrible dubstep song and set of strobe lights, proclaiming that ‘Marinette is also here!!!!!!!!!!’

People who listen closely can hear both of them giggling in the background.

Then, there is a hard cut to the two of them standing outside of what looks to be a run-down carnival. The sign above them declares the place to be Haly’s, but it has long since been graffitied over to say ‘Hell’s’ instead.

Marinette does not seem particularly happy about this change, gripping her new ‘company-provided’ flashlight (Tim gave her a spare he found lying around his house so she wouldn’t drain her phone battery) like it was a lifeline.

Tim pays it no mind, other than a murmur of how cliche it is. He smiles at the camera. “Now, since my intro was so rudely interrupted by Marinette –.”

“Popping out from behind the couch was your idea.”

“– I will explain everything now! We are at the site of Haly’s circus. Twelve years ago, tragedy struck during a seemingly routine circus act. A trapeze line snapped, and John and Mary Grayson fell to their deaths, right in front of their young son.”

There is a moment of silence for the two fallen.

Tim brightens up the moment sixty seconds have finished passing. “And, dear viewers, this particular case is a special one, because I was there when it happened!”

Marinette frowns just slightly.

Tim laughs and waves her off immediately. “I was three, I don’t remember any of it, don’t worry about it.”

She looks somewhat unconvinced, but glances at the camera and decides to drop it. Her concern is wiped from her face like it had never been there at all. She smiles and elbows him in the side. “I guess it’s… a plan to conquer trauma by adding another trauma on top of it. Men would rather visit a haunted theme park than go to therapy.”

He rolls his eyes. “I’m not adding more trauma on top of it, I’m not going to be traumatized. There’s nothing here that can traumatize me.”

“The ghosts are going to make it their mission to prove you wrong, you know.”

“Yeah yeah, my hubris will be my downfall, of this I am aware,” he intones. And then he goes back to addressing the camera. “Now, to this day, people suspect foul play, but police refuse to investigate. Perfect conditions for a possible ghost, don’t you think? So, as always, we are here to solve the mystery of whether the supernatural exists!”

“It does. Can we go home now?”

“Thank you for your investigative journalism,” he says sarcastically, but he slings his arm over her shoulder regardless, pulling her into his side. “Besides, you don’t have to worry. With all the stuff I’ve said to diss them over the years, ghosts – if they were real, which they aren’t – would go for me first.”

“Then could you please let go? I don’t want to be near you when that happens,” she teases.

He huffs a laugh and lifts his arm, allowing her plenty of time to get away. She remains close to his side.

He snickers and lets his arm fall right back into its seemingly perpetual spot around her shoulders. “It’s just an hour.” On cue, bright red numbers appear in the top right corner of the screen, a timer waiting for them to step over the threshold before it could start. “Then we can both leave, yeah?”

“Just an hour,” she mumbles disdainfully.

“Hey, I usually stay overnight. We can do that instead, if you want.”

The video cuts to show… someone, sitting at a desk, in the dark. Their silhouette is rather chunky, it is clear they are draped in one of the biggest, fluffiest blankets known to man. But they are not the focus. No, instead the camera zooms in, to look at the two different computer screens in front of the person. One of them is clearly editing software, and the other is on YouTube. Viewers can see that he is apparently listening to the ChipiChipiChapaChapa song on loop, and has been for at least three hours. Now, though, he finally opens a second tab. The keyboard clacks as they google ‘what time is the sunrise in Gotham’. The mouse circles the time stamp on the bottom of the screen, and the person mumbles under their breath. Apparently doing math, because they edit the timer to say 8:06:45.

The viewers are back to the actual video, where Marinette is laughing.

Tim does not join her.

Her laughter does not quite peter off, but it does gain a slightly nervous edge.

“That’s… a joke right?” she says. “You don’t actually stay in haunted places for hours every time, do you?”

“Well, no, but the only reason I don’t is that there is no such thing as a ‘haunted place’. I do hang out at attractions like this overnight, though.”

“Actually, an hour seems fine.”

The video pauses. Editor!Tim heaves a deep sigh and the clock changes back to its original one-hour-long countdown.

“Also, you’re the most stubborn person I’ve ever met,” Marinette huffs when time returns to normal. They finally step into the carnival together, and the timer starts ticking down. “At least try and pretend like you think ghosts could exist, to make things fair.”

“You think that this place has a house of mirrors somewhere?” he asks. “Because I would like to introduce you to the most stubborn person to exist.”

She huffs. She might have rolled her eyes, but she was too concerned with drinking in every detail of the world around them, searching for anything amiss.

There was a lot amiss about the place, to be fair to her. Old popcorn bags lay forgotten on the ground, abandoned in a rush and trampled under hundreds of feet, their previously bright colors muddied by the elements over the years. What had once been gleaming, colorful rides were now rusting. A family of opossums peers at them suspiciously from behind a couple of molding stuffed animals, their eyes gleaming hauntingly when their flashlights turn on them.

But nothing supernatural.

The longer they go without finding anything of note, the more Marinette relaxes.

She tugs at Tim’s backpack, and he gives her a mildly questioning look, but lets her open it and pull out a spray can of bright red paint.

“How –? When –?”

“A lady never reveals her secrets,” she says, smirking, tossing the can from hand to hand.

“Isn’t that saying supposed to be about – uh – demonitizable things?”

“Probably,” she shrugs. “Not my problem, though.”

“Uh. I think it is, actually,” he laughs. “You’re going to give the viewers the wrong idea about you.”

“Oh no. The supernatural-obsessed, parasocial people in your comment section are going to witch hunt me. Oh nooooooo.”

“You know, they’d probably be happy if they managed to kill you. More things for me to investigate – and with a personal element.”

“They’re just mad because they get no –.”

No one can guess what word is bleeped out here.

He groans, but he is still grinning widely. “Don’t insult my audience and their lack of... dates! You know how important my viewer retention rates are to me!”

She sticks her tongue out at him, slipping out from under his arm and walking over to the nearest contraption. It’s a gravitron, from the looks of things – one of those rides where they spin you around so quickly that you can stick to the walls.

Marinette tugs her shirt up to cover her mouth and nose (Tim quickly shifts the camera upwards at the sight of the barest sliver or midriff with mumbles of ‘demonetization’) and spray paints the words ‘Marinette and Tim were here’.

She looks at it for a moment, seemingly thinking hard, before adding a tiny heart next to their names.

Tim groans. “You’re going to make the shippers freak out.”

Her shirt falls away from her face when she tips her head back in a laugh, and she tosses the can into a nearby trash can. It thumps against something inside, but no pissed-off animals come seeking revenge, so they pay this no mind.

“You can always cut it out in editing.”

“Mmmm trueeeeee,” he says, humming thoughtfully. “But I’d prefer not to. Engagement, you know?”

She gives a little hum of her own before leaning in to press a kiss to his cheek.

His face flushes pink. “What was that for?”

“Engagement.”

He gasps and presses the back of his hand to his forehead, like a Victorian woman who is about to faint over a couch because she happened to catch sight of a collarbone. “Oh of course it’s for the views and not for me,” he pretends to pout.

She grins widely, opening her mouth to respond, but it seems that they are not allowed to enjoy themselves and have fun.

For, in that second, the carnival whirrs to life.

Lights, muted and strangely speckled due to the accumulation of years of grime, shine down on them. The speakers crackle to life, playing songs they hadn’t heard in years. The rides creak as their rusty gears are forced into motion once again.

If you, dear viewer, pay close enough attention, you can see the exact moment the light in their eyes dies.

It coincides pretty well with the lights in the park flicking on.

Hence why paying close attention is vitally important.

Needless to say, the kids are stressed. Probably because the abandoned amusement park does not seem all that abandoned anymore.

“Any chance we tripped a motion sensor somewhere?” Marinette asks.

Tim looks like he has accidentally swallowed a lemon. “Uh… I don’t think that they would still be working after this long…”

“Great! Great. That’s what I thought, too,” Marinette says, her voice squeaking in a way that suggests she does not, in fact, think it is great.

“But – but! There is always an explanation for supernatural phenomena,” Tim says, though he is eyeing the contraption warily. It is hard to tell who he is comforting – Marinette, or himself. Hopefully himself, seeing as he was utterly failing to calm down Marinette. “Noxious fumes causing hallucinations, confirmation bias, a trick done by living people for the sake of monetary gain (a la Scoobert Doo), the wind...”

“You know, at some point this loops around to being in denial,” Marinette mumbles, pressing so close to his side that it starts to look like she is trying to meld with him.

“Shut up,” is all he can manage in retort.

There is a loud bang nearby and the pair of teens scream. Their heads spin on a swivel, and the video is briefly impossible to watch without getting sick. By the time things stabilize, the teens have come up with a solution. Marinette points at the big top, the largest and most instantly recognizable building. It’s the only place that would provide proper cover.

Not that that would do that much good against a ghost, but you have to at least try to survive in situations like these.

“There! C’mon!”

Tim makes a vague sound of protest, but Marinette is already running, and he is dragged along for the ride.

Perhaps that is not the best phrasing, since a kiddie ride they pass screeches off the rails, and they only barely stop in time to avoid getting run over by a roller coaster car.

The ghost is hot on their heels.

Marinette and Tim hop the car, adrenaline fueling them, their feet thudding against the dirt.

Neon lights spark and shatter overhead, raining sparks and gas down upon them.

Marinette’s shirtsleeve catches, and Tim is quick to put it out for her, because she doesn’t even seem to notice, too focused on helping him into the circus tent.

It is as if they have walked into another world. A kinder one, without weird ghosts that are trying to kill them for intruding upon the place they had once died. It is blissfully dark, the only sound their own ragged breathing. After all the bright lights and loud sounds and near murder attempts, it is nice.

Electricity whirrs.

A spotlight blares down on them, briefly, a clear I know you’re here, before it slides away, down to its natural resting position in the middle of the tent.

Now, you may know I am here, too.

A man in a torn circus uniform sits in the spotlight, sobbing into his hands. A tarp lay stretched beneath the long-since broken trapeze, almost mockingly, as if the ghost is making a joke about how easily avoidable their deaths had been, if only they had used a net that night. The dust they had kicked up upon entering catches in the spotlight, making it look as if the air itself is reacting to the ghost, dancing with shimmering lights.

Marinette is physically shaking by this point, her nails digging into Tim’s arm hard enough to draw blood. Tim doesn’t look much better, either, his face an ashy gray color.

Red pools in the sand the ghost kneels in.

“... wait,” Tim breathes.

He moves as if to take a step forward, but Marinette is still holding onto him, and she clearly has no intentions of getting any closer to the ghost.

Tim meets her eyes.

“Trust me.”

She bites her lip, but when he moves again she allows herself to be pulled with him.

They make their way down the steps.

He moves to make his way over the railing and jump down into the sand pit, but the lights flicker and go out.

The hand Marinette has on him is the only thing that stops him from braining himself on the ground. He wouldn’t have died, probably, but it still would have been quite an embarrassing moment to have caught on camera.

When the lights turn back on, Tim sends her a grateful smile.

Marinette doesn’t return it. Her eyes are locked on where the ghost is.

Or, was.

She doesn’t seem much more relieved by the lack of it.

Tim jumps down and helps her come down after him. Slowly, they make their way over to where the ghost had been.

He crouches to squint at the pool of blood. Marinette gags and drags her shirt up to cover her mouth and nose again. Tim looks like he very much wants to do the same, but he has other things he needs to do, first. He rifles through his backpack, his eyes never leaving the ground.

“Tim…” she says, quietly. “We should go.”

He sends her a hesitant smile. “I want a sample of this.”

He pulls out a flashlight and points it out into the darkness provided by the tarp.

There stands the ghost.

Well, it isn’t a ghost. A ghost wouldn’t cringe away from a sudden bright light being shone into their eyes. Nor would it be wearing stage makeup.

The grimy-looking clothes check out, though. A+ for effort on that, that trapeze outfit definitely looks like someone died in it.

The man glances behind himself briefly, as if considering running, before his shoulders slump in clear defeat.

He groans. “What gave it away?”

Tim points at the blood on the ground. “It should be dry by now.”

“It’s –? I’m supposed to be a ghost? The blood being wet is not the most unbelievable part?”

There was a long beat of silence.

“Oh,” says Tim.

The man – Dick Grayson, the sole surviving member of the Flying Graysons – looks like he wants to scream. Which he does, but not in the traditional way: “Jay! Cass! Come out!”

Two people step out into the light, looking just as irritable about the whole situation.

They, too, are wearing ratty clothes.

Oh. Praise revoked. The clothes are not a Choice. They are simply poor.

Marinette groans and slumps into Tim, burying her face in his shoulder as if she can’t bear to see the world anymore. He loops his arm around her, dragging her ever closer.

“Ready to stop believing that ghosts are real, yet?” Tim teases softly.

She groans. Again. Louder. She beats her fist against his chest, but there is no real power or anger behind it.

And then she fixes the three homeless people with a tired look. “I understand why you’re doing this and all… like, the economy sucks, get that bag – or free housing, I guess… but…”

There is a long string of beeps as Marinette lets loose a frankly impressive number of swears. It’s doubly impressive when one remembers that she isn’t even speaking in her first language. Go her. Clearly, she took her English lessons very seriously.

When she finally feels better, she flashes a smile and sticks her hand out for the second guy to shake.

“Hi! I’m Marinette Dupain-Cheng.”

The guy looks confused, but he shakes it.

The video cuts abruptly. The three homeless people are waving them off as Tim and Marinette head back to his car. The viewers would never get to know exactly what was said that day, but it seems they're leaving each other on well-enough terms.

“Sucks that we went through all of that just to not be able to post any of it,” she sighs. “The GCPD would probably arrest them or something.”

“Nah, it’s fine. We can just cut around it and say it was a front for the mafia. The police hate the poor, but they won't mess with organized crime. Because a lot of them are in it.”

“Oh! Great!” she says. Her tone seems to be almost sarcastic. Almost, because why would it be? It is a great plan.

“I’ll keep the real footage on my Patreon, though. My journalistic credibility shall not be marred.” He winks at the camera. “Say hi to the Patreon viewers.”

While she does lift her hand in a vague wave, she does not seem particularly soothed by his words. Perhaps because his ‘journalistic integrity’ was not at all what she had been concerned about.

“Alright, now, we need to convince the nonpaying viewers that we are scared out of our minds because of mafia b.s., so put on your best concerned face.”

Marinette looks at him.

“Perfect! And we’re rolling again!” He turns to address the camera, all wide eyes and frantic hand movements. “Okay, so, it turns out this place is a mafia hideout. Who knew?”

Marinette’s lips begin to twitch into a slight smile at his antics. “Well, I’m going back to France in a few days, so this is not my problem.”

He gasps. “You’re going to leave me here to die?! After all we’ve been through?!”

“Yep.”

Tim looks devastated.

She giggles. “Fine, fine, I’ll stuff you in my backpack and you can come with me.”

He lights back up again instantly. “Ohmygod! We can have The Gotham Files: World Tour!”

“Mmmm, I only live in France,” Marinette points out, which certainly makes the ‘World Tour’ seem less than stellar all of a sudden.

Tim takes it in stride, though. “The Gotham Files: France Tour!”

She rolls her eyes, but her smile is nothing but fond. “Nice save.”

“I know. I’m kind of awesome.”

“And always right!” she adds, in the kind of tone that suggests they’ve joked like this before many times offscreen.

“And always right,” he agrees, nodding along, sage in his always right-ness.

“Except…” Marinette says, smirking. “You were almost convinced about the ghosts for a second there. I think that means that, somewhere, you know the supernatural exists.”

He doesn’t rise to the bait. He shrugs lazily. “I just think that, if ghosts were real and could affect our reality in any meaningful way, white people just wouldn’t exist anymore.”

It is quiet for a solid nine seconds.

Marinette has stopped walking. Tim slows, turns to look at her, mildly concerned.

“Mari –?”

“Fuck, maybe ghosts don’t exist.”

The video ends.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter 3

#maribat #timari #timinette #shutterbug #timmari #tim drake #marinette dupain cheng #ladybug #have you never heard of such a thing darling?

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stargirlstudio · 2 years

Text

You Are My Task [Part 3]

☆ Dmitri Antonov x fem!Reader

☆ Warnings: age gap (11 years apart), class difference, smoking, swearing, slow burn, bullying (mean sibling)

☆ Word Count: 3.2k

☆ Chapter Summary: A call from your brother leads to an interesting arrangement for a social event amongst the foreign elite, amidst these protocols, you share a tender moment with your bodyguard.

☆ A wonderful mutual of mine @atenastears made a Dmitri enemies to lovers playlist! You can listen to that here!

⇦ Part 2

The clock ticking was all you could focus on as you paced around your room, counting down the hours until it was “wake up” time. Truth is, you woke up at 9 am. You don’t come downstairs until 1 pm. That leaves four hours of doing absolutely nothing. You glanced out of the window, with your knee on the alcove as you watched Dmitri run his laps on the stone walkway. Lately he’s been running longer and faster.

You underestimated him, he kept his distance, never overstepped any boundaries but most surprising of all – he engaged you. Never a dull moment for someone who was nothing but a pain in your side. Everything about him was infuriating, the little remarks about your social standing and the difference in ideology. His smile when you can’t taunt back. Those moments alone were insufferable.

Your emerald green phone rang on your nightstand, you walked over, hesitating before picking it up. “Hello?”

“How are you?” Your brother said. “I haven’t heard from you in a while. How is everything?”

“Oh…everything is fine,” You said. You heard a woman’s giggling in the background and a faint, “come back to bed,” You cringed, “Please don’t tell me you’re calling from a hotel room…”

He whispered a small fuck. “I was calling to ask – did you get the invite for the Soviet Allied Nations Gala,” You rolled your eyes as he tried to change the subject.

“I may have? I’m not sure-“

“Well ask Alfred or Emily if they received a letter, they should have,” You looked around, spotting the ornate envelope buried underneath your makeup on the vanity. “Anyways-“

“Wait I’ll be right back-“ You put the phone down, rushing over to your vanity to pull the envelope. It was addressed to you, how could you forget. You must have forgotten after that day with Dmitri…”I’m back, by the way it’s Alan and Emelia. You got their names wrong,” You said, he continued talking as you opened the invitation.

“Why does it matter, they’re just servants. Anyways, like I was saying. You’re invited to the gala. Princess Onissa will be attending and I’ll be her escort,”

“Why can’t her fiancé escort her?” You heard more giggling in the back. You heard shushing from your brother and the muffling of his hand on the phone. “Also it does matter! It’s their name and they are important to me,”

“You really shouldn’t be like that. By the way, how is your new bodyguard? Also her fiancé is busy, I am the most suitable minister on the board of delegations, and I’m young too,” He said in a haughty manner. Your brother, Theo, was many things — a humble bragger was not one of them.

“He’s fine,” You said curtly. “He took me to try Russian cakes the other day,”

“Please don’t tell me you’re becoming friends with him too. How many times do I have to tell you? You shouldn’t be like that with your employees,” He said. “Father wouldn’t be happy, you know how he gets,” He paused. “Oh and by the way, thanks for asking, the economy has been great. We increased our number of exports and are currently in talks with the Soviets to expand our efforts,”

You scrunch your eyebrows, “Are we still trying to apply for the Mutual Economic Assistance council?!” You asked incredulously. “But why?!”

Theo sighed, “Not this again. Do not start,”

“Why do we keep doing this?! Again and again our country has been depleted of resources,” You exclaimed.

He huffed again. “Which is why we need to be a part of that council. The Soviet Union can help us, help the people in our developing parts while we give them our resources,”

“That barely accounts for anything!” You told him. “What do we offer for their economy? 4% of foreign exports? Let’s not forget the other states that offer their resources. If we pull out of this country and actually work towards true sovereignty and be an isolated state we can build our country back up and support our people,”

“What?! And dismiss everything I have worked for. What our father worked for? Be serious for once, ever since you came back from university you’ve been this crazy idealist,” He paused. “You will never understand what it’s like to be in this position,” He said. “Don’t embarrass this family any further,” You slammed the phone down, grabbing the invitation and heading down the grand stairs.

You walked through the foyer, stopping in front of the oak doors when you heard giggling.

“No he’s much more James Dean!” You heard Emelia say. “He’s got that certain boyish charm when he smiles. And his jokes? Please do not tell me he’s some brooding man,”

Alan laughed, “Drunken Angel. Toshiro Mifune. If you have ever watched that film, I can be certain that Dmitri possesses that certain je ne sais quoi. Put him in a high neckline sweater and a black leather jacket and there you go. Russian Toshiro Mifune,” He exclaimed. “He’s boyish now but when he grows into an older gentleman, I think he’ll pull it off just fine,” He stopped. “Why is it we see different sides of that man,”

Emelia snorted, “You definitely butchered that!” She teased, “Alan, you speaking French is like a fork on a chalkboard,”

“Nails on a chalkboard!”

You burst through the kitchen to find Emelia and Alan at the counter. They quickly turned their heads, straightening their posture. “Good morning, Madame, you’re awake?!”

Alan glanced at the clock, “Down here at 9:45 a.m. What a surprise,” He said in a blasé manner, glancing down at his newspaper. “I see that you’ve opened the invitation?”

You gripped the invitation, “Yes. It seems that I’ve been invited…Soviet Allied Nations Gala,” Emelia walked over, rubbing my back. “It’s alright, at least it’s not an American gala,” She teased. “Remember when you used to go to those when you were younger?”

You laughed as she brought you over to the kitchen island. “Yes, I remember. It was awful,” You sat next to Alan, glancing at the paper next to him. He placed them down on the counter so we could look together. “What’s going on today?”

“Looks like an oil rig blew up right here,” He said pointing to a map. “Shame,”

You placed your head on Alan’s shoulder, zoning out as you stared at the gold rim on Emelia’s teacup. There were many things running through your mind. What your brother said about Alan and Emelia. How mad he seemed when you mentioned your day with Dmitri. Don’t embarrass this family any further “What’s wrong, are you alright?”

“I’m okay Emelia, it’s nothing you should concern yourself with,” You said quickly. You couldn’t even process what he said. Emelia and Alan felt like family. He was so rude. “What were you all talking about?” You asked. “Before I walked in, I heard giggling,” You said softly. Both Emelia and Alan smirked before Emelia bent over the edge of the island.

“We were just discussing,” She chuckled, “Just discussing if Dmitri was more James Dean or Toshiro Mifune,” Emelia tapped her fingers on the counter, “Maybe you can tell us Madame, you seem to be around him a lot,” Alan laughed. Your mouth dropped, softly slapping Alan on the arm.

“I’m not!” You exclaimed. You whipped your head to look at both of them. “It’s true! Also I think you’re just over exaggerating,”

Alan folded the newspaper, “Oh come on,” He said as he got off the barstool. “You don’t think he could put on a leather jacket, smoke his nasty cigarettes, and be another version of them? It’s quite on brand for him,”

You thought about it, Dmitri in his usual colors except with a nice black leather jacket, hand in his pocket with the cigarette hanging from his mouth. The little slouch and his too careful movement, how his head turns to examine every little crevice. His mouth was blowing the smoke, the same way he blew on your finger. You rubbed your finger with your thumb, the heat no longer there and the once smooth skin from the burn had roughed over back to normal. Your finger was so close to his lips so so close to him. “No,” You started. “I don’t think so,”

Dmitri walked through the door, with a short sleeved shirt and his athletic wear. He smiled, “Good morning Ms. Sayavong, Mr. Richards, and hello,” You dipped your head in acknowledgement, before hopping off of the barstool. You quickly said goodbye and rushed out of the kitchen.

—

“Her brother called her this morning,” Emelia explained. Dmitri nodded. “It’s never a good thing when he calls. He’s much worse in person,”

“He just might be worse than their father,” Alan adds. “I’ve met her father and brother a total of 8 times. Her father is actually a clever man — real scary too. Her brother however…not so much. Quick to say something and think nothing,”

Dmitri had overheard their conversations a few times, usually in the late afternoons. The Madame always argued with her brother about something — mainly the politics regarding their home country. She argues for their country to be isolationists until they can achieve economic stability. Her brother and father however wanted to be aligned with the Soviet Union and their allies.

“Well I guess the apple doesn't fall far from the tree?” He joked.

“She really isn’t bad, she’s just comes from a family that is too big for the rest of the world,” Emelia tried to explain. “I mean, what was it like when you two went to town?”

“It was different,” Dmitri said. Despite her eyes being blurry and red from the crying hours before. The occasional stray tear that cascaded down her face, she was actually okay to be around.

Alan smiled, “So you’ve caught her during a happy moment. I mean, actually, you would have liked her minutes before you came in,” He said. “Why did she leave in such a hurry?”

Dmitri wondered the same exact thing, lately, she’s been leaving when he stepped into a room. Her usual activities of reading in the library were always cut short and she kept a further distance on their walks. He thought about that day at the bakery, when he held her hand. Cradled her hand. He was scared she was badly burnt from the tea, her accidental bump and unseen clumsiness was almost his fault. Had he just reacted calmly instead of letting the beating in his heart overtake him when she touched his face – she would have been fine. She wouldn’t be in his thoughts and every step he took during his runs wouldn’t be doubled.

Hours later she came downstairs, he took his post next to her against the wall. She ate a light breakfast and was updated about her day. “Did your brother mention you would need a date?” Emelia told her.

“No. He did say he was taking the princess. I didn’t think I needed one – I thought it would be too scandalous,” She joked. “I would embarrass the family somehow,” She said, playing with her food absentmindedly. “Knowing me, the process to find a date will take much longer!” Dmitri chuckled, she smiled to herself.

Alan walked in, passing everyone their letters from the mail. “What are we talking about?”

“I need a date,” The Madame had said.

“Oh? Just take Dmitri?” Alan suggested. Everyone had turned their heads to look at him, the man against the wall. Dmitri was mortified, he had been to a few galas in his lifetime and they were suffocating. Last he went, he was in his soldier’s uniform but this time he would be escorting someone if and only if she agreed. The last thing he needed to be was a man on the job and in a suit. “Would you mind taking her, Dmitri?” Alan smirked. You son of a-

“Shouldn’t we choose someone who’s not a bodyguard?” Emelia asked. “Maybe someone who’s father is also in government,”

Alan eyed Dmitri, “Ooh I heard the son of the Bulgarian Ambassador is a well to do man,” He said, gauging Dmitri’s reaction.

“I won’t allow it,” The Madame said. Alan and Emelia widened their eyes. “That’s inappropriate-“

“Oh of course Madame, we were never serious. Isn’t that right Alan?” Emelia half smiled, her eyes seething, unbeknownst to the woman calmly eating her food.

“He wouldn’t be able to do his job properly if he were my date. If something were to happen, he wouldn’t be able to protect me. He needs to be my bodyguard for the night and nothing else,” She said matter-of-factly. “Just as he is,” The room fell to a silence. “It’s what he’s been trained to do,”

He followed you out of the kitchen, the doors shutting with a loud thud. He watched as you sauntered up the stairs, the short conversations once carried into the foyer are now complete silence save for the sounds of your heels. “About the day at the bakery-“ She turned around just as she did when he held her wrist. “I’m sorry if I made you uncomfortable,”

“You didn’t make me uncomfortable,” She said. They continued walking up the stairs, the creeks of the old floor interrupting their conversation. “Did I make you uncomfortable?”

“No,” Dmitri replied quickly. “Not at all,”

“Good,” She said. “I have something for you,” He followed her to her room, upon opening the door he was met with opulent decor. Cream satin sheets, jewel tones, emerald green phone on her nightstand, a plethora of tiger paintings, and a grand fur rug. She motioned for Dmitri to sit down, sitting still on the bed, awkwardly holding himself upright. He watched her pick up an emerald green, she handed it to him. “This is for you,”

Dmitri almost dropped the box, not realizing how heavy it would actually be. He carefully took the top off to reveal an ornate ashtray, cigarette case, and a couple of packs of a cigarette brand he’s never seen before.

“Top cigarette brand from my country, much better than the cheap stuff you smoke,”

“What’s wrong with what I smoke?”

“Don’t be so offended,” She remarked, mocking the same words he used a while ago. “This is much better for you,”

“How?”

“It just is,” She said. “My mom’s side comes from a line of tobacco farmers. From what I could remember anyways,”

Dmitri clasped his hands, “Are you not in touch with your mother?”

She sat down next to him,“She passed away,” Dmitri noticed how she played with her skirt. “It’s okay, it’s been years. Do you have any family?”

“I have a mother and 3 sisters. I am the oldest. My father passed away when I was younger,” Dmitri told her. “I grew up in a household full of girls so I feel that is the opposite for you?” She laughed and nodded.

Dmitri remembered the days when he would take his sisters to their small school. Waking up early to tend to his mother first and then making sure his sisters had breakfast. “Ow! It hurts. I can brush my own hair!” He remembered his younger sister Yulia telling him. “If you sit still it will hurt less!” He would tell her after tying the ribbon.

“What’s that like?” She asked. “That must have been chaos,”

“My sisters are well behaved. I am not close in age, so I felt more of a father than a brother. My mother has something wrong with her hips, they are very weak, so she is bedridden,” He told her. “My sister Yulia is six years younger than me, but she is married now. She lives at home with my mother and her husband so they take care of my mother now,” He paused. “I still send money, just to make sure they have something,”

“That’s very kind of you,”

“I wish I could do more. My mother did a lot for me. The bakery we went to used to be owned by my father but he died in the military. When my mother was struggling with her hips we had to sell it,” Dmitri continued. “We were struggling to run it anyways so I guess everything worked out fine,”

“I’m glad it did. I’m sure your mother is proud of you,” She said. Dmitri turned his head. “That is not a compliment,”

“I believe it is!” Dmitri teased. “You enjoyed my family’s cake recipe the other day so that is enough!”

“That was a fun day,” She said before getting up. Her phone rang, startling them both. “But it cannot happen again,” Her demeanor shifted, much more nervous.

“I understand,” Dmitri replied. “Shall I leave,” She nodded and just like that he was shoved to the hall once more. Dmitri spotted Alan at the top of the stairs. Alan widened his eyes giving him a knowing smirk. He walked over to him, “Do not start,”

“How cliche you really are a movie star,” Dmitri raised a brow. “What were you doing in there?”

“We were just talking,”

“Ah, so have you finally forgiven each other?” Alan joked. “No more of this cat and mouse game?”

“What’s there to apologize for?”

Alan laughed in his face and then shifted to a blank stare. “From your words, if I remember them,” He paused. “Something along the lines of her not saying sorry unless she meant it?”

Dmitri was bewildered, “You heard that?”

“I hear everything,” Alan told him. He gestured for him to follow, they walked together as Alan continued the conversation. “I need to inform you about something,”

——

After another antagonizing phone call with your brother, Emelia came up to tell you all about the preparations for this big gala.

“First you’ll need an outfit, a customized dress with a local dress designer. Your jewelry back home can be shipped here if needed. Then you’ll need ballroom lessons,” She rambled on.

“I know how to dance!” You exclaimed. Emelia gave you a look.

“Your few trips to Studio 54 do not count,” She joked. “Besides, you can brush up your skills. Tell me, why are you attending the gala again?”

You huffed. “To strengthen relations for our glorious nation,” You said. “Prosperity. Selflessness. Friendship,” Repeating your country’s motto. “Continue,”

“We need to pick a suitable date for you too. Mr. Antonov is going through many potential suitors and we need to make sure they are perfect,” You rolled your eyes. “Don’t be like this,”

“Again! Why is it that someone else is choosing something for me? And you said suitors like I’m going to get married off!” You yelled. “I’m not being married off am I?”

“Of course not, you’ve been so over dramatic lately,” She walked over, placing a kiss on your forehead. “You’ll be fine, I’m sure he’s narrowing down the prospects,”

An hour later, you and Emelia walked to the foyer. Dmitri looked up at you, giving you a blank look while Alan was rambling something to him. She sat you down, rushing around as Dmitri slapped a folder on the table. “I personally would not recommend any of those men on the list, but I have narrowed the list down to three people. I think these are suitable but if anything goes wrong at the gala then I’ll be there at a moment’s notice,” He said. You picked up the folder, immediately resting your eyes on one familiar face.

Fuck.

Dmitri Tag List: @druigswh0ree @h3k3t @milfodyssey @lucilexe @wolfstcr @mvnsonslvt @redridinnghood @kenthoe @redshrike @quixscentsposts @padawansubscription @red-shrike @fillechatoyante @lexxxistrips @wheniseetheglory @simpforbuckyb @wet-cigs

You Are My Task Tag List: @sweeter-innocence-fics @actuallyeddiemunsonsgf @lucilexe @eathom @madlumqx @enbywan @skinmittensgoblin @totalwhoresstuff @nothoughtsthinker

#fics #dmitri antonov #stranger things #dmitri antonov x reader #enzo stranger things #fanfic #fanfiction #fic: you are my task

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