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#defend burritos
defendburritos · 9 months
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Send me your Snapchat 🫡
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glitterhoof · 11 months
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almost forgot to post these !!
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the-oddmister · 1 year
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i burrito her bison til she blooms my defenders
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thechekhov · 3 months
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Did you seriously reblog a post defending the sanctity of life of pedophiles?
You did not read that post.
I understand that it might be difficult, because of the knee-jerk reaction we all have when it comes to this topic. I admit I also had the emotional first-response of disgust. But I urge you to go back and try to read it again, when you are cool-headed.
Stating that 'murdering people we find disgusting is not the moral high ground it feels like', is not the same thing as 'defending the sanctity of life' of anyone.
And while it feels good to emotionally say 'we should kill all (people who do bad things that cause harm to others)' this does not actually accomplish what our brains think it does.
From the post:
denying the humanity of people who do horrible things accomplishes exactly three things:
give cover to people who haven't been caught yet by allowing them to use their humanity as "proof" of their innocence
silence any criticism of societal structures and institutions that facilitate those horrible things by putting the focus on individuals who are assumed to be so uniquely monstrous that the ways it was made easy for them are irrelevant
provide a shortcut to dehumanize anyone you feel like killing: simply accuse them of doing a horrible thing
Listen, to me, listen:
I know that we are all human and when we see someone committing evil things, we feel justified and good, and we want to use our teeth and claws to rip them to shreds. I KNOW it feels incredible to reply to pain and harm with equal violence.
But on an ideological level, if you EVER hope to understand how emotional manipulation and dehumanization on a social level works, you NEED to be prepared to unwrap this delicious i-can-murder-that-person-and-feel-rightous burrito.
You need to understand why it is not the swiss knife of justice that it feels like.
You need to know that it can and will be used to kill innocent people who don't deserve it, and you will not even notice.
Because if you can justify murder with a simple 'if you fit into this category you automatically don't deserve to live' then you are supporting an authoritarian regime, who can and WILL happily take the easier job of convincing you that some person that they need dead fits the description (of a person you've already agreed doesn't deserve anything but a swift and unquestionable death).
This is why, when they needed the gays to be feared and hunted, they labeled them 'pedophiles'. This is why they're now doing this to trans people. This is why dehumanization is a tool of oppression, not justice.
There is way to fix injustice in the world and protect children without becoming easier to manipulate and trick.
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proxima-writes · 5 months
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SWEET TOOTH
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pairing: mike schmidt x female reader
rating: explicit
word count: 1.1k
summary: mike has a sweet tooth. when he sees you come home from the grocery store with an extra bag you’re trying to hide, your efforts to keep your candy away from him turn dirty.
author’s note: i have no explanation. just a sprinkle of josh hutcherson brain rot that turned into this.
warnings/tag: explicit sexual content (18+ MDNI), established relationship, dry humping, desperate mike, sub mike vibes, pet names (including good boy), teasing, play fighting, kissing, mike cumming in his pants, begging.
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Mike stumbles out of the bedroom when he hears the door open, the rustle of plastic grocery bags followed by the gentle opening and closing of the kitchen cabinets letting him know you’re back from dropping Abby off at school and running to the store. He didn’t sleep much but it doesn’t matter, not when he’s been missing you for the last couple of nights.
“Hey,” he says, entering the kitchen and sliding his arms around your waist. “What did you get?”
“Just the usual. Some frozen pizzas. Rice. Those burritos you like were on sale, so I got a bunch of those,” you reply. There’s a bag on the counter that’s still full and when he tries to reach for it to help you out, you snatch it away. He raises his eyebrows.
“What’s in the bag?” He asks.
“Nothing.” You step away from him, hiding the bag behind your back. “It’s just…feminine things.”
He doesn’t buy it.
“You mean the same feminine things that are fully stocked in the bathroom right now?”
You shrug. “They were on sale.”
“I don’t think you’re telling the truth,” he teases, taking another step toward you. You back up, but he moves forward. You shift to the side and he follows suit. “Is it candy?”
You stomp your foot petulantly. “Michael Schmidt, you are not stealing my candy this time. You and Abby ate all of my M&Ms last weekend!”
“Sharing is caring!” He tries to reach for you but you duck around him, running for the living room with your bag in hand.
Mike chases after you, following the sound of your laughter and watching as you round the back of the couch, using the piece of furniture to defend yourself. Every time he moves, you shift in the other direction, bag still held behind your back. He moves forward and your eyes narrow.
“Don’t you dare,” you hiss. Like a disobedient cat, he places one foot on the couch cushions, raising his eyebrows at you in defiance. “Michael Schmidt!”
He rushes over the furniture toward you, a shriek that turns into a giggle filling the room as closes in on you, wrapping an arm around your waist and pulling you into his chest.
“Gotcha,” he teases. He reaches around to grapple for the bag, struggling grab it as you move it out of his reach. Your ass is snug against his hips and his cock takes notice of the contact, twitching in his sweatpants.
“You got a little problem there, Mike?” You ask, voice teasing. You grind against him and he hisses, eyes fluttering closed. His hands still, settling on your hips.
“F-fuck,” he stutters. You take advantage of his moment of weakness, breaking free from his grasp and rushing across the room. “Hey!”
He charges after you again, grabbing you around the waist again and throwing both of your bodies over the back of the couch, the two of you landing in a heap of limbs on the cushions. You hold the bag of candy up over your head and he reaches over you, success so close he can taste it.
Your hips twitch against the knee he’s got planted on the cushions between your legs and he pauses, glancing down in interest. In his distraction, you shift your weight enough to send him toppling to the ground, landing with a thump and a groan on his back.
He looks up at you, sees the little smirk on your lips, the mischievous glint in your eye, and he knows he’s in trouble. You grind yourself against him and his eyes roll back at the sensation, the friction of your body against his familiar and consuming in the best way.
“What’s the matter, Mike?” You ask, voice teasing. “Thought you wanted my candy?”
“Mm, candy can wait,” he manages to murmur, lifting his hands to slide his palms along your thighs. “I could use some sugar, though.”
You laugh, head thrown back and shoulders shaking. “That was so bad!”
“Made you laugh, though,” he counters. You smile at him, planting your hands on his chest to steady yourself as you lean close, lips ghosting over his.
He kisses you, slow at first, lips moving in a familiar dance. He swipes his tongue against yours, relishing in the heat and taste of you. You wriggle in his lap like you can’t help yourself, can’t sit still, little sighs escaping you as he kisses you senseless. You feel so good on top of him, surrounding him, grounding him to a present where he doesn’t have to worry about work and bills and money and whether he’s doing well enough for Abby.
You break away from him with a slick pop, lips glistening with spit. You move over him again, this time with intent. You drag your clothed pussy over his hard cock, slow and steady, back and forth.
“Mmm, w-why don’t we take this to the — fuck — bedroom?” Mike asks, trying to hold you still. His fingers dig into your hips but that only seems to spur you on. “Come on, lemme make you feel good.”
“Feel plenty good just like this,” you murmur. Mike bites his lip, squeezes his eyes shut, thinks about anything but the friction of your pussy against his cock but all his mind goes to is images of you splayed out in bed, leaking cum and glistening with sweat. He whines, hips bucking up against you.
“Please, f-fuck,” he bites out. “If you d-don’t stop I’m gonna—“
“Gonna what, Mike? Cum in your pants for me?”
Mike groans, long and loud, that knot in his stomach going taut. He can feel himself leaking in his boxers, an embarrassingly sticky mess that you’ve made of him without even touching him.
“Come on,” you encourage, sliding a hand from his chest up to the base of his throat. “Good boys cum when they’re told, baby.”
The slight pressure on his neck, the rocking of your hips, the dark look in your eyes, it’s all too much, too soon, too good. Mike’s hips stutter, warmth flooding him as he cums and cums and cums, cock twitching against you as you slow your movements.
You stop, sitting still on top of him. He’s panting, aching fingers flexing on your thighs as you run a hand through his hair before kissing him, soft pecks of your lips over his face that have him smiling like a dope.
“If this is what I get if I eat your candy then I hope you know it’ll never be safe,” he teases. You smack his chest, standing and grabbing the discarded bag from the floor.
“If you touch my gummy bears, you better get real acquainted with your hand,” you reply.
“Might be worth it for gummy bears.”
A handful of the gummy bears pelt his face and you laugh as he pops one in his mouth. You finish off the bag together before Mike returns the favor.
Over and over and over.
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inkdrinkerworld · 3 months
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High Hopes pt2
Cw: dealer!remus, weed, recreational smoking, food, mention of parental abuse, nightmares, fluff, friends to lovers
Wc: 8.7k
part one
✧ ✧ ✧
You and Remus don’t speak about the bed sharing accident till mid summer, when you and Marlene invite him and his friends to your annual cookout.
You’d asked months in advance to use your family cottage in the countryside for your party and despite every jab and snide remark your family had made in the months leading up to the event, you refused to retaliate and make them change their minds about loaning you the house.
“Make sure you tell everyone to bring swimsuits, Marl, the lake is gorgeous.”
You’d gone up to the house a day before everyone else, wanting to ensure that everything was clean and that you’d have enough room for everyone to have at most two people in a room.
“Lupin, looks like you’re gonna have to bring those swimmies anyway!” you hear her yell to Remus who’s currently under packing by the sounds of it.
“Tell him he has to! Everyone has to go swimming ‘cause there’s a boat that takes you to the best part of the lake.” You say down the phone as you slide the last case of sodas into the fridge.
“I can hear you just fine, pretty girl. I’m not doing anything mad with you lot, you and Marlene are chaotic enough when you’re together.”
Marlene snickers and wishes you goodbye before you can even try to defend your mentality when you and Marlene meet in one room.
As the day drones on, you organise the firewood in a pile near the pit, thin blankets on the sofa as well as the beds, and you even make a couple burritos for breakfast in the morning.
As you go about your skincare, your phone rings and your body tenses. With one hand on your face, you take a peek at your phone and let out a breathy sigh at ‘Moony’ flashing on the screen with a video call.
“You’re there by yourself?” he asks as soon as you answer, taking a little time to prop your phone up on the sink as you rub your serum into your face.
“Mhm, I’m a big girl Remus, ‘ve locked the doors already and everything.” He knows you’re teasing him, and though you’ve got a playful smile, he frowns. He’s not a major fan of you being there by yourself.
“I know you are, s’just far.” you let out a giggle as you take a look at his worried face.
“Promise I’m safe Rem. The house has an alarm.” you placate him anyway, and take him through the virtual motions of your nighttime skincare routine.
“Do you want me to come there earlier?” he asks as you put everything back into your makeup bag.
“Remus,” you laugh and watch as he smiles. “You’re bringing Sirius, James, Lily, and Marlene. You can’t come up earlier.”
Remus scoffs and shows the floor where Sirius and Marlene are sleeping.
“James and Lils are down the hall, I can make them get up earlier to be there at like eight.”
You shake your head. The way your heart warms at his worry for you and his insistence that he wants to be there earlier is instantaneous and unstoppable.
“You’re going to make me think you’re obsessed with me.”
Remus gives you a small smile, one you’ve learnt is actually a big smile in Remus’ books- but says nothing.
“Do you want me to bring brownies or cookies? ‘Ve got both, but I’m pretty sure Sirius and James have had from the brownies.”
He rolls his neck and then his shoulder as he waits for your response and you watch a small frown play on his lips.
You slide on your glasses and hum, “Maybe cookies, especially if they’re oatmeal raisin.”
Remus nods, a little bewitched as he watches you putting on a lip mask. He saw you in your glasses a couple days after Marlene’s party, when he dropped off your shoes and took back his sweater, even after insisting you keep it.
He couldn’t help but think that you were even more gorgeous with the wide framed glasses than you are with your contacts then, and now he thinks the exact same thing- especially with your bunny pyjamas.
“I’ll keep that in mind, pretty girl.” Remus watches you crawl under your sheets and tries not to look creepy, but it’s intimate and he feels like you’re both a couple, rather than a couple of friends.
“G’night Rem,” you yawn, face tucked into something Remus can’t quite make out in the dark room.
“G’night pretty girl,” Remus waits till you’re asleep to hang up and when he does, his head falls into his pillow with a sigh.
-
The next morning, you’re reheating your burritos on a comal when Marlene texts you that they’re thirty minutes away and starving.
You laugh at the picture she sends you of James and Lily occupying most of the space in the backseat asleep while she’s squished to the door.
By the time you’re opening all the doors, and going out to water some of your plants, you see Remus’ car pulling up the driveway.
You’re still in your pyjamas, bunnies covering your pants and tank top and your glasses are still on but you can’t really find it in you to care.
“Bubbles! Are you putting on a show for me?” Marlene screeches as she practically jumps out of the car and pulls you into a bone crushing hug.
“Oh yeah, are you aroused?” you laugh as you set down the watering can.
“Mhm, extremely.”
Remus joins you after and you give him a small smile as his hand reaches to brush your lower back.
“G’morning,” he whispers, voice raspy like he’s just smoked. “Cute pyjamas.”
You bite the inside of your cheek to keep from smiling.
“Angel, this is a pretty sweet place!” Sirius gives you a side hug and drops a kiss to your forehead.
“Thanks Sirius,”
You greet James and Lily who seem upset they’re awake so early but they manage to give you a smile. “There’s breakfast on the counter.” Everyone besides Remus rushes into the house.
“Babe you’re the best!” you hear Marlene shout and you smile.
“You’re not hungry, Lupin?”
He shakes his head, “Not till you’re going to have something.”
You feel your heart gallop at the ease with which he says the words and you try hard to keep those feelings from rising up to your face.
“Fine, but there’s lots of flowers to water.” it takes you all of ten minutes and you make it back in the house in time to get the last burrito.
“We can share,” you say to Remus who’s halfway to protesting when Marlene kicks his shin.
You’re cutting the burrito in half when she mouths, ‘Share with her.’
“Whatever you want, pretty girl.” he says instead of, ‘No, y’can have it,’ like he’d wanted to. Your bright smile as he accepts it makes eating at eight in the morning not seem like a strange thing. Especially when you opt for sitting next to him at the breakfast nook.
Your thigh presses into his, elbows brushing every time you shift. It’s weird in the way that it comforts you- you’ve known him for less than a month and you’ve slept in the same bed and become intertwined in each other’s routines, and when he’s this close you’re just a regular girl, with no issues at home.
Marlene leaves first and before you can ask her she says, “I’m gonna set the kettle on,”
You give her a smile and blow a kiss that makes Sirius pout.
Remus barely conceals his smirk at his best friend’s obvious attraction to Marlene.
“Did you bring your mug?” she asks and Remus turns away from Sirius to look towards the kitchen.
“I did, s’in the cupboard.”
He turns to you and raises an eyebrow.
“What mug?”
You set your half eaten burrito down and jerk your chin to where Marlene is holding the mug that resembles a dinosaur.
“It’s not good by any means, but I love him.”
Marlene runs to her bag to pull out another dinosaur mug that leaves Sirius pouting even harder.
“Where was I when this mug making trip was taken, hm?” he asks, James and Remus roll their eyes and you swear they mutter, “Brat,” but don’t say anything.
Marlene responds to him, “Probably riding your motorcycle to the hairdressers? You weren’t hanging out with us Siri- it’s a me and Bubbles thing.”
Marlene blows you a kiss this time that Sirius reaches across the table to ‘snatch’ before it reaches you.
“You’re a lot more jealous than I thought you’d be,” you say gently to Sirius who flushes a little pink.
“M’not.” but his voice goes up an octave as he says it.
“There’s more mugs in the cupboards over the stove if anyone else wants tea.” you say, turning to Lily who’s just a little bit quiet.
“You can go upstairs and take a nap if you need to,” she gives you a gentle smile and yawns before she can say thank you.
When Marlene comes round with your tea, James and Lily are heading upstairs to get a bit more hours in and Sirius is taking Marlene back outside under the guise of, ‘getting a feel for the land’ but you’re pretty sure he just wants to love on her.
Again you’re left with Remus and you don’t mind it one bit.
“When’s the next mug making trip?” he asks as you take a sip of tea and relax against him.
“Oh don’t tell me you’re jealous too, Lupin.”
He only shakes his head, “Of Marls? No, I just want to have a mug with that much,” he pauses as he searches for the right word while he looks at your very deformed bright purple dinosaur with green spots. “character.” is what he settles on.
“That’s an interesting word choice,” you take another sip. “Maybe when we get back to the city.”
Remus’ll take that any day.
“What’s the first order of business?” he asks and you turn to him,
“Grocery run, I didn’t know what everyone ate or didn’t eat so I didn’t want to get anything more than stuff for breakfast.”
Remus nods, his hand falling to your hips to pull you a little closer. His thumb rubs the exposed skin there from where your shirt has rode up as you finish your tea.
“We can go and come back, pretty sure James is snoring and Sirius,” he pauses and you laugh. “Sirius is distracted.”
“I’ve gotta shower first though.” Remus doesn’t seem to mind the implied wait.
“So I’ll watch a film,” it’s how sincere he sounds when he says things like that that causes your heart rate to pick up. “Seriously, pretty girl. Go shower, do your hair, whatever you want to. I’ll wait.”
-
Remus only has to wait a half hour before you come back down to the living room and he thinks you’re as beautiful as ever when he sees you.
You’re in a pair of white washed overalls and a cute top underneath that has flowers embroidered on the sleeves and your hair is down.
“M’ready,” you say as you shove your feet into a pair of sneakers and Remus stands.
“I took everyone’s snack orders and I think Sirius and Marlene are gonna be sunburnt by the time we get back.”
You’re confused as to what he means till you walk outside and spot them sleeping on the porch’s swing set.
“Maybe the sun will have pity on them.” You doubt it will.
Remus insists on letting you sit in the trolley as you shop, “Someone has to sit, usually it’s Sirius,” he explains as he helps you into the trolley, “but someone has to.”
Ten minutes into being carted around, you come to realise you love it.
You’re sitting in the basket, grabbing bags of crisps, chocolates and two sacks of flour that make Remus raise his eyebrow.
“I’m making dinner,” you say and Remus shakes his head.
“This is supposed to be a vacation; for everyone.” There’s a hidden meaning behind that but you choose not to dwell on Remus’ kind words.
“But I was gonna make a steak and ale pie,” you say as you reach for a tin of vanilla sugar. “And vanilla buns for dessert.”
“That’s all, pretty girl. I want you to relax too, you don’t have to cook for us all weekend.”
“But I like doing it,” you try to argue but Remus stands firm.
“Tonight only, I’ll make breakfast tomorrow.”
“What about dinner tomorrow night?” you ask with a mischievous glint in your eyes and Remus scoffs but it sounds more like a chuckle.
“We’ll figure that out then,” he puts an extra crate of eggs beside you and sneaks a small tub of vanilla extract too.
Remus pays before you can swipe your card and levels you with a look that says, ‘too slow,’ but it also makes your belly swim with something else.
All your friends always leave you to pick up the tab when you go out and while you don’t mind, you can’t remember the last time someone even offered to pay for a meal for you - even on a date.
By the time dinner’s ready, you’re all a little buzzed on beer and have all ‘sampled’ a bun before dinner.
Dinner with your new friends is different to how it is at home. Everyone talks, shares odd stories and makes jokes. There’s no tense silence, no awkward questions to try to lead into conversation- just genuine conversation that makes your heart swell a little.
“Movie night?” Marls asks as Remus and James wash the dishes- they both insisted after you cooked.
“What do you usually watch?” Lily asks and Marlene smiles. She’s the one that came up with this movie rotation all those years ago.
“Horror, comedy and then animation,” she says excitedly, “We haven’t made it to animation in years though, someone falls asleep halfway through the comedy.” She looks pointedly at you and Sirius and Lily’s eyes follow.
“She always chooses ‘The Hangover.’ We've seen it too many times now.”
“Well, we can’t have that. Lily you choose the comedy this time,” Sirius says and you nod pointing to the tv.
“There’s some stuff on dvd there and I think we’ve got the streaming set up already.”
You leave for another shower while they decide, changing into your pyjamas and slipping into your bunny bedroom slippers.
“What did you guys choose?” you ask as you sit beside a freshly showered Remus- his hair is damp and he smells like oranges.
“Insidious, Grown ups and Monsters Inc.” James says, sliding the first dvd in while Marlene comes back in with three bowls of popcorn.
“Monsters Inc?” you murmur, hands wringing in your lap as Remus accepts the bowl. He’s sporting a frown as your hands seem to be wrung to all hell.
“Yeah, haven’t seen it in years.” Marls says and you nod, plastering a smile on your face as you take a couple kernels of popcorn.
“You okay?” Remus whispers and you nod, stuffing your mouth so you don’t say anything out of turn.
All through the horror, he can tell you’re on edge from more than just fear. It gets worse when everyone is wide awake during the comedy.
“I’m gonna put the kettle on, anyone want anything?” You ask, twisting the joints of your fingers to crack them.
Marlene looks at you funny, leans her head off the sofa and mouths, ‘You okay?’ To which you nod.
She frowns but you only glare back and she drops it.
There’s a chorus of requests that you mutter to yourself all the while to the kitchen- James wants another bun, Lily a cup of tea, Sirius wants his gummy bears, Marls wants Swedish fish and Remus wants nothing so you’re bringing him a cup of tea as well.
You’re not alone for three minutes before Remus joins you.
He looks tired, like the day’s drive has worn him down, but he grants you a smile anyhow.
“Came to help you,” you doubt that’s the only reason he’s in the kitchen- you’re not good at keeping your emotions off your face it seems.
“You’re missing the movie,” you point out just as the kettle whistles.
Remus shrugs and takes to pouring water over the tea bag in your cup and two others. “Sugar?” He asks, looking up at you to find you sitting on the counter, swinging your legs as you dip your hand in the bag of Swedish fish.
“Two please,” but your voice is anything but regular.
“I’ll be two minutes,” Remus promises as he takes everything back to the living room.
You’re alone with your thoughts for a little, reminiscing on when you were a kid and you used to come here with your parents.
You’re so deep in thought you don’t notice Remus is back till he’s standing right between your legs.
“What’s eating you?” He asks softly, hands on the counter right beside your thighs.
You shrug, not sure how much is the right amount to share.
There’s not much in terms of ‘loyalty’ between you and your family, but it feels wrong to speak ill of them because sometimes they’re not bad- sometimes they’re the best people ever, and then they ruin it by being mean for months.
“Pretty girl,” Remus’ tone is still patient, still soothing and you make up your mind quickly.
“Can I tell you after the movies? I’ll show you the lake too.”
Remus studies you for a moment, hazel eyes scanning your face intensely before he relents.
“Only if you’ll wear a sweater,”
By the time Monsters Inc is on, you’re clenching your fists under your butt and forcing yourself to at least look like you’re paying attention.
“I haven’t seen this in forever!” Marlene says excitedly, and you smile, a fake one but it’s soft enough that she doesn’t question it.
“Neither have I,” you say back, Lily making comments of it being her childhood favourite falls on deaf, buzzing ears as Boo attaches herself to Sully.
Your mood only gets worse and about three quarters way through, Remus can’t bear to see your mixed emotions any longer and guides your head to his chest.
“Just pretend you’re asleep, dove.” He whispers and you close your eyes. If he feels tears wetting his shirt when Mr. Waternews is found out and Sully and Mike realise who they’re working for, Remus doesn’t say a word.
He doesn’t say anything when the tears become worse when Sully and Mike remake Boo’s door and say goodbye to her; he just wipes them away as discreetly as he can.
Your friends file off to bed shortly after the movie ends and a quick clean up, but you’re not so lucky. You’d promised Remus a talk and a tour, and honestly, you need it.
“C’mon,” you gesture for Remus to follow you after he gives you his sweater, and you slip into your shoes.
“Here,” he hands you a fresh cup of tea as he opens the door for you.
Remus embraces the silence of the first few steps and waits you out until you sigh.
“We used to come here, for the summer back when it was just me, my mum and my dad,” the words hang there, only the wind touches it as you consider what else you should say.
“It used to be fun, we’d go out on the boat, and have a bonfire and go out on the lake- it’s where this whole tradition started actually,”
You hazard a glance at Remus and find him looking at you carefully.
“I haven’t watched Monsters Inc, since the last time we came here.”
Remus sighs, “How old were you then?”
You take a sip of your tea, “I think six? Maybe seven,” he blows a breath. “I’ve tried watching it on my own after, but it was always me and my dad’s show. It was our thing, I was Boo, he was Sully- but then, I don’t know what happened if I’m honest.”
Your eyes shine with tears in the moonlight as you lead Remus to the dock.
You sit and pull your knees up to your chest, the hem of Remus’s sweater covering your shins as you lay your cheek on your knees.
“We used to be really close and now I think he wishes he’d never had kids. Especially if we try doing or saying things he doesn’t agree with.”
Remus tugs you close to his side when the first tear falls, his hand on your shoulder as he squeezes you close.
“From what little I’ve seen, he seems… intense.” Is the word Remus goes for, and you can tell it’s to be polite.
You nod, “You can’t put a hair out of place with him- it’s practically a cardinal rule to always be perfect.”
Remus sighs, “That’s an unattainable goal, perfection.”
You shrug as you rough up your cheeks to rid them of tears. “I don’t think he really cares, and then sometimes,” you pause, not sure if you should or even can get the words out to tell Remus.
“You don’t have to say more, pretty girl. I get what you mean to say.”
Remus doesn’t ask anything else or anything of you and it’s refreshing to get to put down all the pretending and the chipper, and the unwavering happiness and just be.
“He’s just a lot and it’s hard to know which version of him you’re gonna get.”
Remus rubs your shoulder and your arm, “I’m sorry, dove.”
You stay out till your tea goes cold and you’re yawning so much Remus is laughing softly every time.
“C’mon, let’s get you to bed, precious girl.” Your belly swims at the nickname, only Remus seems to shower you in them- outside of Marls.
“Will you stay with me again? You don’t have to, there’s a room for everyone if you’d prefer to sleep on your own.”
Remus would’ve said yes even if you didn’t look so shy and sleepy and if you didn’t wear his sweater like it was something commonplace- though he figured if you wore it once more, that it would be a habit he would be insanely fond of.
“I’ll stay with you, lead the way.”
-
You wake up in a tangle of limbs and your face tucked neatly away in Remus’ neck. He somehow smells better now, a mix of your laundry detergent, his orange soap and sleep.
He’s also warm in a way that makes you cosy up even closer to him.
“Stop moving, pretty girl,” Remus’ voice is gravelly and raspy, his arms lock around you a little tighter as he holds you still.
“Sorry,” you murmur, a yawn ripping apart the apology. “Did you sleep okay? I didn’t move too much?”
Remus shakes his head and stretches, his limbs cracking as he does so.
“Slept great. You were still as anything,” he finally opens his eyes, the usually hazel eyes seem more honeyed and warm in the morning light. “Come closer, you’re warm.” He says and you chuckle.
“I usually get told I run cold,” Remus shakes his head and tugs you closer by your waist.
“You’re toasty,” you both just lay in silence as you allow yourselves to wake up slowly.
You hear noises around the house as everyone else wakes up and you sigh.
“Time to get a move on, Remmy.”
He groans, “Can’t they entertain themselves?”
You laugh, “They could, but I’m hungry.”
Remus gets out of bed with no complaints and gets ready for the day before heading downstairs before you.
“Favourite type of pancake?” He asks and you hum, your steps aligning as you descend into the kitchen.
“Can you do the one with the sprinkles mixed in?” Remus nods, and sets about getting the ingredients while everyone else busy themselves with cups of tea.
Remus makes yours for you, exactly like you like it, and Marlene eyes you over her cup of tea.
“Bubbles, c’mere a second?” She motions you both out the door and Remus and Sirius watch you both curiously while James and Lily cuddle up on the sofa.
When you’re outside and at the flowers, she fills the watering can and squeals, “What’s going on with you and Moony?”
You shrug, rolling your eyes as you take the full watering can and start watering the plants.
“Nothing’s going on,” you say- which might be true. It also might not be true, because something is definitely going on; you’re friends but you feel like a little more than friends. Like you’re in the liminal space between friends and more than friends.
“Oh yeah? So you’re just wearing his sweater and he’s spent the night in your room?”
You fail to hide your smile at her question and she laughs maniacally.
“I knew it!”
You stop her before she can get ahead of herself, “Nothing’s happened, we’ve just been talking and getting to know each other,”
“In all the ways.” Marlene’s eyebrows dance at her statement and you shake your head- mostly to dispel heat from your face.
“No, I asked him to spend the night in my room. He said yes, there was nothing else.”
Her eyes narrow, “No ‘good morning’ cuddles or kisses? You know you’re the only one with cute nicknames from him?”
You scoff, Marlene rolls her eyes, “‘Pretty girl’, ‘dove’, you’ve noticed only you get such nice names from Remus? He’s not exactly as forthcoming with it to anyone else.”
You ponder it for a while, sipping the remainder of your tea as you water the last plant.
“I like that he listens and he’s easy to talk to. And I feel like myself- like there’s no pretending when I’m with him, but I’ve also known him for maybe four months at best.”
Marlene touches your shoulder, “It’s not like you to go all in all at once, and that’s okay. Just don’t rush to label four months as not enough time- if you like him, and you think he likes you; I know for certain he does, but I know you need to know it too, then let it flow yeah? What’s the worst that could happen if you just see where it goes?”
Before you can answer her, Remus comes looking for you out the front door, “Breakfast’s ready, dove. Come eat before it gets cold,” he says softly, “You too Marls, before Siri passes away at the fact that you’ve been gone twenty minutes.”
She sends you a pointed look as he goes inside, calling out to Sirius.
“What’s that look for?” He asks as he takes your empty cup from you.
“Marlene’s scheming,” you say with a smile and Remus groans.
“Please nothing like her schemes that involve jumping into pools drunk again.”
You have breakfast right beside Remus, like the day before- thighs pressed together as you eat.
He doesn’t have his own plate so you divide your stack between the two of you- which he only has a couple pieces of.
“Remus you’re having breakfast?” Sirius asks pointedly and you frown.
“Does he usually not?”
James shakes his head, “Mostly toast and coffee. Or clotted cream and scones when he can manage it- never really has an appetite in the morning, our Moony.”
You look aghast as you turn to Remus who looks sheepish.
“You could’ve said something! And here I’ve been feeding you breakfast without a single thought.”
Lily and Marlene smirk at your concern and the boys roll their eyes at Remus’ bashfulness.
“S’fine, I wouldn’t have eaten if I wasn’t feeling for breakfast.” A lie. Remus would eat at whatever time you were sharing food with him. It wouldn’t matter if he’d just come back from having lunch himself.
“Now I feel like I’ve forced you into having breakfast,” you say softly and Remus kicks the shins of both the boys and glares at them.
“None o’that,” he says equally as soft, still glaring at his friends who can’t help but smile at your reaction.
Sirius and James ruin the sweet moment by miming a kiss to Remus while you’re not looking and then getting kicked again which makes them groan.
“Are we going onto the lake today?” Lily asks to change the conversation and it works perfectly.
You delve into quick, animated conversation about what your supposed plan is- pack a picnic basket full of sandwiches, some drinks (alcoholic and nonalcoholic), a pavlova (that makes Remus raise his eyebrow- a silent conversation passing through you both, you wave him off) and then head to the dock and get on the boat and find a nice spot to swim.
Remus helps you with the pavlova, cutting the fruit and making the whipped cream while you set it in the oven to bake.
“What kind of sandwiches did you want, dove?” You put the last of the dishes in the drying rack as you turn to find Remus getting the bread, condiments and toppings on the counter.
“Whatever you guys like. I just need one cucumber sandwich and one with tomatoes, meat, cheese and crisps.”
Remus nods and gets started, when you reach for the cling wrap he tuts.
“Go get dressed, I can do it by myself.”
“How rude would that be? I’m the host.” Remus sets the knife down after he cuts the sandwiches in halves.
“Pretty girl,” he traps you between the counter and himself. Your chests pressed together. “I told you in the shops, you’re not cooking for us all weekend. It’s a vacation for you too- go get dressed, do whatever you need to do, and then come back down when you’re done and ready to go, yeah?”
His eyes remain glued to yours, the intensity of his soft words bleeding into your veins and replacing your blood as it starts racing through you.
You narrow your eyes still, “Has anyone ever called you ‘bossy’ before?” You ask but still make your way to the steps.
“Your cookies are on your dresser, have a whole one if you like.” He says as you retreat, chuckling when you squeal happily.
James finds Remus stocking the picnic basket and approaches him with a smirk.
“You like ‘er don’t you, Moons?”
Remus frowns, “I’d like it if you and Pads didn’t mouth off about me not liking breakfast and making her feel bad.”
James whistles lowly. “Sorry ‘bout that. But you do, don’t you? Like her I mean.”
Remus sighs, “Yes, I suspect I do. It’s becoming a little more than like rather quickly though.”
James shrugs and steals a crisp from the half done packet. “S’nothing wrong with that. Told Lils I loved her like a month into dating- best decision I ever made.”
Remus wants to go back and forth with James about the differences between you and Lily, and then he realises, he really can’t.
No one besides him, and probably Marlene, knows the situation of your home and how that factors into things- he’s better waiting it out.
Remus finds waiting it out might be extremely difficult when you come down in a sunshine yellow and orange bikini top and a pair of Jean shorts that reveal a naval piercing and a set of waist beads that compliment your skin perfectly.
Your hair is up in a claw clip, some pieces out and framing your face and your glasses are replaced with shades. You’ve forgone all your jewellery, but you still look stunning.
His heart stops for a second when he catches the scent of your toffee butter perfume.
“You look like a sunrise,” is the first thing out his mouth and you giggle. A tinkling, windchime-ish sound that lights your entire face.
“Thank you, Remus. I’ll set everything in the boat while you go get ready, thank you for packing the basket.”
James watches the exchange silently, more and more he finds the evidence that you and Remus are falling for each other to be extremely obvious.
Remus leaves with a kiss to your forehead and it takes all your self control not to touch your hairline as you pick up the basket.
“James, do you want to be our captain for the day?” You ask as you open the sliding door.
“Oh of course! Lead the way and I’ll take over the helm immediately.”
The moment you anchor the boat, you’re all diving in- except Remus who sits with his legs dangled in.
“Maybe when the sun starts getting a little lower,” he had said and you didn’t want to force him to do another thing. Remus was much more content to sit and stare at you swimming and having a water fight with Marlene as he drank one of the beers from the cooler.
After about an hour of roughhousing, you paddle over to his legs and climb up beside him.
Dripping wet, you reach for a peach iced tea and one half of the sandwich with crisps and take a bite.
“Want your towel?” Remus asks as he notices gooseflesh erupt on your arms and legs.
“No thanks, don’t wanna get it sopping wet before it’s time to leave.”
You take another bite when Remus says, “I’d just give you mine, dove.”
It makes your heart sink and soar at the same time- the way he proposes going without just so you’d be comfortable. It makes you think of the way he’d been having breakfast just because you shared with him.
No one’s ever been so nice, without expectations before.
“You’re sweet Remus, but I’m okay,” you lay your head on his shoulder as you finish off the sandwich and take a sip of your drink.
“Can I ask you something personal?” He asks softly, eyes on your friends as they start a swim race.
“Yeah, course.”
Remus takes a moment to collect his thoughts, takes a moment to choose his words carefully.
“Why doesn’t Marlene know anything?” It’s been something running laps in his kind since his conversation with James in the kitchen.
Your breath hitches and Remus is about to apologise when you start explaining, “She knows some stuff. Like the stuff about me and my family not having a good relationship- she’s seen some of the fights,”
You take another sip, “But I’ve been careful not to have any visible bruises when I’m with her. It’s hard to explain,” you take a deep breath before saying, “And it’s a little embarrassing to have your dad still being abusive to you after being a kid.”
Remus nods, saying nothing for a while and then, “I hope you know it’s not a reflection of yourself and you shouldn’t be embarrassed by his actions.”
You don’t go back out in the water after that, instead you lay on the boat’s floor with Remus with your toes dipped into the water.
“Can I ask you a personal question, Remus?”
Your voice is soft, your hands occupied with tracing the silvery lines of his scars that race up his arms.
“Anything,” he says earnestly.
“What are your parents like?” He smiles, an image of his mum already in his mind.
“My mum’s like me, quiet, shy, a massive reader. She’s very gentle too- I don’t think Hope has a mean bone in her body. She’s a big baker like you are, she’d love spending all day in the kitchen.”
You smile unconsciously, she sounds like Remus. “She’s also very fiercely protective of whoever she loves. It’s like pack animal loyalty with ‘er.”
“She sounds like you,” you say quietly, turning to look at him and finding Remus eyes laying on you already. “Gentle and kind; very warm.”
“Alright lovers, cut the pavlova and let’s crack some beers.” Sirius hollars as he boards the boat again, his wet hands reaching for his towel as he scrubs his hair roughly.
“You have such a way with words, Black.” Lily says sarcastically as she helps you take the pavlova out and dress it up with the cream and fruit.
You all eat your bellies full on the boat, the pavlova and sandwiches done just as the sun begins to set.
There’s a lethargy that engulfs the boat as you take the helm for the return trip.
“James it’s fine, you’re more tired than I am,” You say to him, his eyes are barely open and that reminds you that you haven’t had your cookie yet. “Remus, can you get me the cookie from the basket? I forgot to take it when we got here.”
“The edible?” He asks as he retrieves it from the picnic basket anyways.
“Mhm! Thank you,” you reach for it with one hand as the other is glued to the steering wheel of the boat as you turn it around.
“M’not giving it to you while you operate a vehicle.” Remus says as he holds it closer to him.
“Remus, it’s a ten minute boat drive back to the dock.”
He shrugs, “Wait ten minutes then, these are strong.”
You frown, grumbling under your breath at his strictness. “You’re so stern and strict.” He hears you say it and smiles.
“Yup, but I’ll make you a deal- you can have it if you let me drive,” you shake your head.
“You’ve already done enough for today,” Remus rolls his eyes.
“I’m also the only one of us that didn’t swim today,” you falter then.
“Come over here and take it so I can drive,” he says but you shake your head again.
Remus decides he’d rather use intense flirtation tactics to get you to sit and have your cookie and continue relaxing.
His hand reaches for your exposed waist, his fingers stroking your skin there and then slipping under the waist beads.
Your breath catches in your throat.
“Pretty girl,” he starts lowly, voice much more raspy than usual. The way he stares so intently at you makes your belly erupt in butterflies. “Come sit over here and have your cookie so I can drive us back, hm?”
Your friends watch you both with rapt attention, whispers of the two of you ‘fighting like an old couple’ lost between the heat of his actions and the thrumming under your skin from his attention.
The calluses on his fingers tickle your skin softly, more gooseflesh raising on your skin as you stop the boat and get lost in his touch.
“Remus,” you mumble, your resolve already crumpled to nothing. “You play dirty,” you say quietly as you switch places with him and receive your cookie with a dazzling Remus Lupin smile- which is just a quiet smile that shows his teeth.
“Don’t know what you mean.”
You finish your cookie and your bottle of water just as Remus docks, your friends filing off the boat with their arms full of things as they go to the showers- all of you too tired for any other activities.
“You good to be by yourself for twenty minutes, dove?” Remus asks as he helps you dismount from the boat.
Your eyes are already droopy, your movements more sluggish than normal.
“Yeah, I’m gonna shower and wash my hair and go to sleep.” You slur some of the words, your tongue too heavy for how fast you want to speak.
“Sleeping by yourself tonight?” Remus asks kindly, closing the door behind you and locking up before you set the alarm.
“Um,” you start, stretching as you make your way to the stairs, “Would you mind staying? I like sleeping next to you.” Remus feels his stomach knot at the confession.
Your high allows your tongue a little freedom, “When you’re there I don’t have nightmares.”
“Is that why you asked if you’d moved a lot?”
You nod, a timidity to you. “Yeah, I usually wake up super anxious or with a massive adrenaline rush that takes ages to wane.” Then as if you’ve only just remembered, “But you can sleep in your room if you want an entire bed to yourself.”
Remus coos, “I’ll share a bed with you again, princess.”
You wrinkle your nose at the nickname and Remus laughs, walking behind you as you climb the stairs.
“What?” He asks as you open your bedroom door.
“That feels like such a pretentious nickname,” you admit and Remus shakes his head.
“What if that’s what I think of you? That you’re regal enough to be a princess?”
You scowl, “I prefer pretty girl,” you say softly as you lay out your pyjamas on your bed.
“You like the reinforcement of the truth?” He teases and you groan, rubbing your face as Remus laughs.
“Go shower Remus, you’re too much right now.”
Twenty minutes later, you’re putting away your blow dryer as Marlene opens your bedroom door.
“You okay?” You ask her as she climbs into your bed.
“I’m perfect, Bubbles. Want you to do me a favour, though.”
You raise your eyebrows as you smooth oil through your hair. “What kind of favour?”
Marlene approaches you, kisses your forehead and whispers, “Let yourself fall for him. He takes care of you, you let yourself smile for real when he’s around. Four months don’t mean a thing.”
She leaves just as Remus opens the door and he frowns.
“Did I interrupt something?” He asks gently, ready to call Marlene back and swap with her so you two can chat more and he’d stay with Sirius.
“Nope, everything’s perfect. Except for the fact that I’m not asleep yet, I’m beat.”
Remus shakes his head as he shuts your door, climbing into the bed beside you.
“Oh are you?” You nod, oblivious to his teasing as you scoot closer to him.
“So tired. I think tomorrow we’re going to start lunch late so I can sleep in some more.”
Remus lays still as you get comfortable, laying your head on his chest and draping an arm over his stomach. “Sleep as long as you need, dove. The boys and I can cover the bar-b-que.” He has just enough time to plant a kiss to the bridge of your nose before you’re asleep. Remus can’t help but sigh and squeeze you a little tighter to him as he relaxes under you.
-
The next morning you’re not awoken by the sun in your eyes or by Remus moving under you. Instead, it’s the rain beating down on the roof that rouses you from sleep.
Remus isn’t under you, you’re alone in bed but the spot where he’d been laying all night is still warm and sunken- as if he’s just left.
Groggily, you pull your hair back and out of your face, move through your morning routine and trudge down the steps as you fit your glasses on your face.
“Morning,” you say to Marlene as you pass her by the breakfast nook, making your way immediately for a glass of water.
“How’d you sleep?” She asks with a girn.
“Good, till the rain.”
She nods, Lily and James coming downstairs shortly after, “This puts soup on the menu instead of bar-b-que?” James asks and you shrug.
“If you guys want that we can do it instead, I’d probably just need to run to the store and get the vegetables we might not have.”
Putting on the kettle you look around and find Sirius and Remus missing.
“Where’s your lover boy?” You ask Marlene as you toss two tea bags into your mug.
“Same place as yours,” she teases. “They’ve been hotboxing Remus’ car for the last half hour.”
You shake your head with a smile, “What’re we doing about breakfast?”
Marlene and James exclaim at the same time, “Breakfast hash!”
You and Lily look at each other, “Londoners.” She says teasingly and James flushes, pressing a sweet kiss to her lips before joining Marlene in getting the potatoes, eggs and sausages for the hash.
Remus and Sirius appear just as breakfast is done, their shoulders and hair wet from the rain as the walk into the kitchen.
Remus hangs over your shoulder, his cheek nuzzling into yours. The wet tips of his hair draw messy lines of water down your neck.
“Sorry I wasn’t there when you got up.” He whispers, you smile.
“S’okay, how was your smoke?”
“Good, need a shower though. S’all stuck to my clothes.”
Remus goes and comes back in ten minutes, smelling more citrusy and minty as he comes to sit beside you.
You don’t share half your breakfast with him as you eat, and he frowns. With a not so stealthy hand, he steals a potato wedge.
“There’s still some in the pot,” James tells him but he doesn’t get up.
Instead, he continues stealing off your plate with a smirk. When you’ve finished, he takes your plate and fills it again, this time sharing with you.
“You finish it,” you say to Remus, leaning your head on his arm as he eats.
The rest of your friends watch silently, eyes a little wide at how seamlessly you and Remus seem to be moving with one another.
“What kind of soup did you want to make, James?” You ask, directing your attention to him as he stacks Lily’s plate in his.
“Something hearty,” Sirius says, his own head presses against Marlene’s chest. “I want something hearty. Like beef soup.”
James chuckles and you smile, “Beef soup then,” he says and you nod.
“I’ll probably have to get carrots, some more potatoes and the beef then.”
Remus hums, “I’ll go with you, can’t be driving in this weather.”
You roll your eyes, “You’ve just smoked, Remus. You’re not driving anywhere,” you turn to Marlene, “Wanna go with me? Lily you too?”
The girls nod immediately and you all rush to go get ready, leaving the boys at home to entertain themselves.
“So,” Lily starts as you pull out of the driveway- Remus had moved his car out of the way and moved yours back so it would be easy for you to reverse out into the street.
“You and Remus are getting cosy.” She says and Marlene screeches.
“Thank you! Someone else sees it!”
You shake your head, “We’re just friends. Nothing has happened.”
Marlene rolls her eyes, “Because you’re not doing anything. He was eating off your plate at breakfast without invitation- might I remind you.”
Lily nods, “And he’s been extra smooth and affectionate with you! He never shared his clothes so easily- not even with the boys.”
You bite your lip and deliberate on their words. “What should I do then?”
You spend the half hour drive to the supermarket trading plans and tactics and by the time you enter the supermarket you have a clear game plan.
“Do you think it’ll work?” You’re not sure why you’re so nervous to put the moves on Remus, but your palms are sweaty as you hold the basket and the girls load it up.
“Oh, it’ll fucking drive him wild,” Lily promises. “He almost lost his mind when he saw you in the swim suit, he’s going to proper well lose it when we get back.”
When you get back to the cottage, the boys are watching the game, all the dishes are washed and the kettle’s whistling off.
“We got everything, who wants to start?” Marlene asks, dropping herself in Sirius’ lap, watching coyly as you carry the bags to the kitchen and Remus stands up immediately.
“I’ll start it,” you say and he grumbles.
“You’re not, go sit.” He takes the bags from you and sets about cleaning the meat and filling a stock pot with water.
“I’m serious, dove,” Remus says as you make it to the fridge to take out the onions and garlic.
“I’m just getting the ingredients out,” you say gently and Remus narrows his eyes at you. You set the stuff down on the counter, and when Remus turns his back you get a knife and start chopping.
“Dove,” he says shortly, looking back at you as he sets the beef to brown.
“Remus,” you mimic his tone and he scoffs, walking towards you. “What are you doing?” You ask as he stands beside you, waiting patiently for you to finish chopping the carrots and onions.
“Sending you to relax, because you can’t seem to listen.”
He takes the knife from you and you pout.
“I’d feel better if I was helping you though,” you say to him all while batting your eyelashes.
Marlene and Lily had told you to amp up the banter and the teasing just to push Remus along a little.
“Pretty girl,” he starts, but you hop up on the counter top and hold onto his wrists. You massage the thin skin of his wrist, Remus watches you with quirked eyebrows.
“Can’t I just stay here? I’ll just watch you, I don’t wanna watch the game.”
You blink slowly at him and Remus melts.
“God, you’re a fucking minx aren’t you?” He murmurs, moving his hands to hold the dough of your thighs. It’s only then he lets himself take in your outfit and he swears his brain nearly short circuits.
You’re in another pair of shorts, a much softer and breathier material than the denim ones, and a crocheted, purple bikini top. You’ve got your chains all layered and hanging between your boobs, crystals and turtles all hanging over each other, and Remus needs a minute to think about something else so he doesn’t get a hard on.
“Don’t know what you mean,” you pop a carrot slice between your teeth and Remus groans.
“Sure you don’t,” he narrows his eyes, hands squeezing your thighs as you swing your legs either side of his hips. “You’re not as innocent as you let on, princess.”
You roll your eyes but Remus sees the way your body reacts to the nickname and smirks.
“I’m the most innocent,” you jut your chin to the stove. “Don’t let your beef burn.”
Remus shakes his head, turning to tend to the stove. He feels your eyes track his every move, and can’t help but feel a type of tingle trail down his spine- more so when you hop off the counter and fit yourself right behind him.
Your hand rests on his back, your fingers spreading against his spine making him shudder.
“You need to take a walk, pretty girl,” he murmurs, adding the spices to the pot and covering it to start the simmer.
“With you? Of course I do.” Remus chuckles and turns quickly, using his hips to angle you against the space near the fridge.
“What’re you playing at, dove?” His hands fall to your hips, holding the supple skin there as he looks at you.
You lift a coy shoulder, “Nothing, you’re not a game.”
Remus smirks, “Neither are you,” you smile at the ease of his words. “But, I know what you’re trying to do.”
You frown, eyebrows knitted together. “What am I trying to do?”
Remus leans into you, his nose brushing yours. The way you lean up into him is too natural, Remus wants to chuckle, but you smell like caramel, vanilla and something musky that makes you intoxicating. It clouds his head, especially when you tip your chin up and he gets an even stronger scent of it.
“What am I trying to do, Remus?” Your hands sling behind his neck, your fingers climbing and winding into the hair at the nape of his neck.
“Rush my plans,” he whispers, your breaths mingling as he bumps your noses together again. He plays a mean tease and brushes your lips then pulls away the moment you try to meet him.
“You’re no fun.” You deduce and he laughs, kissing the corner of your mouth as he pulls away.
“You’ve no patience, princess,” he pats your butt, relishing in your scowl at the nickname. “Go sit down or have a smoke- you’re banned from the kitchen for the rest of the day.”
“You like to boss me around don’t you?” You ask as you open the fridge and take out the bottle of passion fruit juice.
“You like me bossing you around, don’t play coy, pretty girl.”
Remus blows you a teasing kiss as you walk out the kitchen with the glass of juice and you decide that you’ll be upping your game starting then on.
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skipper1331 · 6 months
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Sick and taking care // Ona Batlle
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a/n: based off this request. Sorry, it’s kinda short!
Rapid knocking on your front door woke you up.
You hoped the knocking would just stop but it didn’t - it only got louder and more penetrating. With a groan, you got out of bed, head pounding, nose and cheeks red yet still looking pale.
"Hello?" you opened the door, wearing a big hoodie, fluffy socks and a blanket wrapped around your body.
You felt awful. The whole night you‘d been throwing up, sneezes and coughs leaving your throat every 2 minutes as your nose ran uncontrollably.
"Hi" the defender rushed out, entering your home with a bowl in her hand, "Ale told me you‘re not feeling well"
A sneeze left your body, signaling the brunette that you were indeed sick. "Is this why you didn’t answer my texts?- doesn‘t matter. I made you soup"
"Ona, what‘re you doing?" you asked as she walked around your home like she owned it. "Taking care of you" she smiled, gently guiding you to the couch. Placing a pillow under your head she made sure you were comfortable as she covered every inch downwards your head with the blanket.
"I‘ll heat up the soup" she stated as she walked in the kitchen, your exhausted body laying the couch. It didn‘t take long for to you to doze off and eventually to fall in a deep slumber. When she saw your sleeping figure on the couch, she turned around halfway and brought the soup back into the kitchen. Instead she cleaned around the house, throwing away the takeout box and filled the dishwasher.
After she had cleaned around a little, she took a seat at the end of the couch, scrolling through her phone mindlessly, every now and then looking at you - getting lost in your beauty (you still looked stunning even though you were sick)
An hour later, you woke up again, brown eyes staring at you as you slowly sat up. Nasty coughs escaped your throat and Ona was quick to hand you a glass of water. You refused as you weren‘t the biggest fan of tap water. "Amor, drink" she pushed your legs gently off as she scooted closer, the glass in her hand. "Small sips" she demanded in a tone of voice that would have made you do anything she wanted. You drank a few sips - not too much yet enough for Ona to accept it.
"Did you eat anything today?"
You shook your head as it fell against Onas shoulder, "not hungry" you mumbled.
"At least try the soup? It‘s mamás recipe" her hand went to the back of your head, scratching it gently as you nodded softly, lifting your head.
-
The sweet heart Ona was, she took the spoon in her hand, guiding it to your mouth as you sipped it. It wasn‘t to hot nor to cold - it was perfect. Like Ona, you thought.
The two of you danced around your feelings ever since you met one another. You started off as team mates, then friends and now best friends, even if the both of you wanted more than just being friends. While Ona had thought about confessing her feelings, you admired in your own little world. She never did confess her feelings though, never the right time to do so.
After a while, the bowl was empty, your eyelids heavy as again many coughs left your throat, nose running.
Ona grumbled as she felt your forehead, "your fever still hasn‘t gone down"
In responds, you just shrugged your shoulders, why would she care? It was weird that she was here anyways, and taking care of you. You used to be on your own, fight every illness on your own, every unwell-being.
It used to be you against the world.
So why was she here?
"Let‘s get you to bed" in your thoughts, you obliged, following her into your bedroom. "Lay down" she ordered, softly - you did as she wished. She tucked you in, making sure you were safely wrapped up in the blanket as she sat beside you, "I'm going to go to the pharmacy and get a few things for you."
"why are you doing this?"
Confused, she looked at you, "What? Doing what?"
"This," you pulled your arm out of her burrito-blanket-wrap, gesticulating around your room, her and yourself, "taking care of me"
"Well, you‘re sick" she replied, not looking you in the eyes.
"Ona…"
"You‘re my friend" her brows furrowed, unintentionally, something they only did the way they did now when she was lying.
"a friend?" you asked, your own heart slightly hurt at her saying. Friends? Friends.
"no…much more than that, actually" she whispered, closing her eyes as she inhaled sharply. Was this the right time to confess? It didn’t matter, she did it anyway - it just bubbled out of her, not much thoughts behind her answer.
Since years, you were more than just a friend to her.
You were everything,
the person who would never judge her,
the girl who supported her unconditionally,
the lover she never had.
Your hand found her thigh as you sat up, "look at me" you demanded - she did.
"more than a friend?"
Were you making fun of her? Why would you do that? She felt vulnerable, exposed. Hurt flashed through her body, "if you don‘t feel the same just say it but don‘t make fun of me" she scowled, about to get up. "I‘m not making fun of you!" you rasped, trying to clear your throat, a bunch of coughs leaving your body. The defender was quick to hold up a glass of water as you drank it in a matter of seconds. Your whole face was red, eyes glossy as you tried to gargle away the ache in your throat. When the water was swallowed, you spoke again, "I’m not used to have someone to take care of me"
With one hand, she cupped your cheek, thumb caressing over it as she whispered, "if you let me, you‘ll forever have someone"
A wide smile covered on your face, heart swooning at her statement. Forever was long but with Ona not long enough.
"I would kiss you right now if I wasn‘t sick" you laughed, always straightforward.
"Well, I’m taking care of you, you‘ll be well again soon - I’ll wait" she winked, pressing a gentle kiss to your forehead.
She left the room shortly after, ready to get you some medicine. Her thoughts were consumed by you, you kissing her, you wanting to kiss her. Subconsciously, her steps to the pharmacy became faster and faster, she couldn't wait for you to get well again.
——————
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billybob598 · 9 months
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Secret Recipe (Lucy Bronze x Reader)
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Another fic LFG!!!!!! This was requested by the anon who asked for a Lucy x Secret wife chef reader. Hope this is what you wanted! Got a Katie McCabe fic next. As always, any feedback good or bad welcomed! Enjoy!
Word Count: 1.3K (LFG!!!!)
For years now whenever Lucy came to camp she would have lots of packed lunches to fend off her hunger. The girls sometimes gave her a hard time about it, but for the most part, they don’t think too much about it most of the time. That is until one day Keira missed the served lunch due to a meeting. Keira was really starting to get hungry, but all the food was gone and they had training again soon so it’s not like she could make a quick sandwich or something. Then, Lucy became Keira’s saviour when she shoved a brown paper bag at her. At first, Keira was confused, but then it dawned on her that it was the same type of bag that Lucy always brought her packed lunches in. She gratefully grabbed the bag mumbling out a thanks before eagerly ripped open the bag. The team had never seen Keira so excited about food before. It was a mixture of her own hunger and curiosity as to what was in the bag that fueled Keira as she devoured the contents of the bag. In the bag, there was a container of what Lucy called burrito bowl. After each bite, Keira would let out a satisfied sound, a sound that had all the other girls giggling at her. She was too in love with the food to care. 
“If you were eating this right now, you’d be making these noises too,” she tries to defend herself as everyone keeps laughing. 
“Is it good?” Georgia asks.
“Unbelievably good,” Keria says, shovelling more food into her mouth.
“Wait, wait how is it really good? Lucy sucks at cooking,” Lucy goes to protest, but Millie keeps on talking, “Don’t even deny it Luce, there’s no way you could make something Keira likes that much.” 
For the rest of camp, Lucy gets bombarded with questions on how she’s getting these packed lunches. The team just cannot seem to figure it out.
“Maybe she buys them?”
“No, no they’re definitely not bought, she brings them in like plastic containers.”
“What if she gets her mum to make them?”
“Nope, her mum lives too far away for that.”
“What if she’s got like a deal with a mob boss, so they make her lunch in exchange for her to keep her mouth shut.”
Everyone really seems to like the last idea Rachael suggested. Lucy just rolls her eyes at their silliness. 
“Well, you’re all wrong. What if I actually do make them all by myself?” She remarks. Everyone makes disbelieving noises.
“There’s absolutely no way you can make food that good and that often,” Georgia says. Lucy did have to concede that one, it was a well-known fact that Lucy could make a decent meal every once and a while, but every day? No way. 
On the last night of camp, Lucy decides to Facetime you, she had told you about the incident, and you actually found it really hilarious. As she was telling you about their latest ideas you can’t help but let out a little snort,
“They think you have a deal with the mafia?” You say while trying to hold back your laughter.
“Yep, they’re so dumb. And also, do I really seem like someone involved with the mafia?” 
“I mean, you do kinda give off those vibes, love.” The look of betrayal on Lucy’s face has you in stitches. 
“You better stop laughing Y/N. I would hate for you to be offed by a mob boss,” she says with a grin. 
You guys continue to talk for a bit when you ask her about something that had been nagging you for a bit.
“Why don’t you just tell them about us?” The question was very out of the blue so, it caught Lucy off guard. 
“What do you mean?”
“Why don’t you just tell them that you’re married and that your wife makes your lunches and everything? Why keep it a secret anymore? They’re going to figure it out soon.” You weren’t mad at her, you were just curious as to why she never wanted to tell the team about you guys.
“I don’t know babe. It’s just easier. Plus, if I told them about you, they’d definitely want to meet you,” she sighs. 
“I’d love to meet them.”
“I’m not sure if you would, they can be very…overbearing,” Lucy warns you.
“Come on Luce. I spend like twelve hours a day overlooking a kitchen and dealing with other peoples’ problems as if I’m their mom. I’m sure I can handle twenty footballers,” you say confidently.
“Okay, then. How about I invite them over for dinner in a couple of days? I’m sure they’d love for you to cook for them,” Luce suggests. You nod happily, excited at the prospect of finally meeting all of Lucy’s friends. 
When Lucy invites the team over the next day she gets a lot of excited murmurs and questions on whether she was cooking or not. She’s seen the girls loud, but it was something else when she told them that her wife would be cooking. After announcing that, she very swiftly made her exit.
As the first Lionesses make their way inside you and Lucy’s house, they can’t believe all the pictures of you and her.
“This is her, right?” Lotte says as she points at a photo of you and Lucy on your wedding day.
“Yup, that’s Y/N,” Lucy says with a proud smile.
“She’s really pretty.” Everyone snickers at the glare Lucy gives to Lotte. “Is she in the kitchen?” Lucy nods and shows them the way. 
You look up when you hear loud voices carry into the kitchen. Wiping your hands off, you make your way around the island to meet everybody.
“This is Y/N, my wife,” Lucy introduces you. You hear a chorus of “Hi Y/N”s. You give them all a warm smile before they start banging out questions,
“So you guys are married?”
“How long have you been married?”
“Why didn’t we know about you sooner?”
“Are you actually a cook?”
“Do you own a restaurant?”
“What’s your favourite dish to make?”
So, you make all of Lucy’s lunches then?”
You are a bit surprised, but you compose yourself and answer all their questions,
“Yup, we’re married and have been for five years now. After we got married we just thought it easier to keep it on the down-low so we could focus on our careers. I am actually a chef, and I run Midsummer House which has two Michelin stars and is in Cambridge. At the restaurant we always make lots of fancy dishes, but sometimes I just like making pepperoni pizza. Yes, I make all of Lucy’s lunches for camp.”
As the night progresses, you can understand why Lucy likes going to national team camp so much, everyone is extremely kind to you and there is lots of banter and telling stories that you haven’t heard yet. You get a number of compliments on the food you had prepared for dinner. Rachael starts complaining about how it’s unfair that only Lucy gets your packed lunches. You laugh stating that something could be arranged for the team. This gets everyone very excited and makes it a little harder to get everyone out of the house after. All in all, it was a pretty successful first time meeting the Lionesses. As you clean up the dishes, you feel someone’s arms wrap around you from behind.
“Everything was delicious, love,” Lucy whispers into your ear.
“You liked it? It was a new recipe,” you reply, still washing some things.
“Mhm, it was very good,” you turn around in her arms and give her a kiss. She sighs into the kiss before pulling away and helping with the clean up.
The next camp, everyone is ecstatic when you show up to St. George’s Park with twenty-three packed lunches and a big smile.
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ddejavvu · 1 year
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Late night driving with rugby!james, eating in the car and him just babying the reader after not seeing each other for over a week from him training.
Love the way you write rugby James!!
today is multiverse monday! send me any au you can think of :)
thank you sweet baby!!!
--
Your mouth is full of food already, your own, but James doesn't care.
"Wan'some?" He holds his gas station burrito out to you, brows raised. You shake your head as best you can while trying to gulp down your own mouthful of beans and rice, but he waits patiently for you to be done swallowing.
"I've got my own, Jamie." You remind him, holding up your half-eaten dinner.
"But you got beef," He explains, "I got chicken. And you like chicken, so I want you to have a bite."
"I had chicken for dinner last night," You hum, and his hand drops to the center console, a string of cheese spilling out of his dinner.
"What! Without me?"
"You weren't home!" You defend yourself against his indignant puppy eyes, "What was I supposed to eat?"
"Something I don't like," He answers like it's obvious, setting his burrito back in its wrapper to lean over the console, invading your space as he slumps his head against your shoulder, "That's no fair."
"I'm sorry, Jamie," You croon, nudging his chin so that he turns his face to the side. It gives you access to his cheek, pudged up and squishy from your hand. You lean down to kiss it, his skin smooth but slightly sweaty under your lips.
"You like all my cooking," You remind him, "You always say it's the best thing you've ever eaten. How'm I supposed to eat when you're gone if I can't have anything you like?"
"Actually," He starts, face scrunching up into a grimace, "There is.. one dish I don't like very much."
"Oh? What is it?"
He looks like he's trying to tell you he's cheated, or perhaps that he's run over your mother in the street. His eyes are wide and scared, guilt pooling in his irises.
"Your turkey-green-bean-stir-fry thing," He confesses, and you're surprised there aren't tears in his eyes, "I'm sorry! I know you work hard to make it, and I'll eat anything you serve me, it's just not my favorite."
"it's okay, Jamie." You promise, adoration leaking from your lips, "You don't have to like everything I make. You just told me you did, so I believed you."
He presses an apologetic kiss to the roll of your chin in lieu of an answer.
"That's what I'll make next Monday," You promise, petting his curls fondly as he groans, and you feel a little bad for reminding him of his next training regiment, "No more turkey-green-bean-stir-fry thing for you."
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dracobrooklyn · 4 months
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Call of Duty Recommending Writing.
These are my recommendations on these amazing COD x Reader or Oc x Cannon Writing. These are the best of the best :D Light on by @peachesofteal
Simon has a new neighbor. His new neighbor has a baby.
|| MDNI|| 18+
This anthology is just so damn beautiful, when I jumped into the COD x reader train this one was the first one, and I LOVE IT! the writing is so in character of Mister Simon Riley and by god, he still his grumpy self but still minds his manners towards the single mom reader with her baby <3. The relationship between Simon and the neighbor is a slow burn romance and by god it's so good, the way he is soft towards her. Fighting his feelings but letting them go. How he treats the little baby, as if he was father the whole time, god damn it, it's so sweet. There is very much Smut in this, the kinks are just fabulous. I will not spoil much but please read read!! Worth the love and the time spent onto this!!
FATUM NOS IUNGEBIT by @kneelingshadowsalome || MDNI || 18+
{Historical AU. Roman Auxilia soldier!König with his spoils of war gf. Slow burn, romance, violence, fluff, eventual smut, 18+}
König x F!Reader | The soldiers behind him shift with lust – their gear clinks as they devour you with unbridled hunger. The Titan is the only one who looks at you like you’re simply a cute little squirrel who happened to fall from a tree right there at his feet. Then his eyes drop to your breasts, and the familiar hunger that lives in men gives the ocean of his eyes a clouded look. When his stare finds yours again, he's a different man: the treacherous beast of your dreams.
Man on Man... where do I start with this. This is a four Part Story so there is more slow burn romance to eat. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, and Dessert. The writing in this is so good! It's the right amount of character development, the way they use the language barrier in this is so creative and fun! Konig in this is just a treat, brash but loving, he's a man, course he's not gonna be a total prince charming. His interactions with the reader is very spicy and also sweet. The detail into the interactions *chef kiss*. Give me more! The Kinks are real good in this, reading this while curled up in my burrito blanket oof. Please do give this a chance, well worth it!
mafia!John Price x fem!wife!Reader by @cordeliawhohung || MDNI || 18+
All you wanted was to be able to see your husband after a long week at work, but when he stands you up at dinner, that's the last straw. You hunt him down and find him at a club that he owns, where you very quickly learn why he told you to stay very far away from the place. - Or, mafia!Price defends his wife's honor then fucks her in the VIP room <3
you want a fun horny but sweet/steamy Price x Reader one shot. Here have this wonderful snack, it's a big one :3. Just the way the reader was concerned for good ol Mr. Price with being a mafia boss. But then then smut goes in, yis :3. It's dirty but a good dirty! you want a man like John to treat you like a gentleman, this is it! <3
Price x Young Reader by @luvit || MDNI || 18+
This is short but sweet! Just a fun headcannon that the reader who is in their mid/late 20's so this is an age gap headcannon. It's not off portions with the age gap. The description talking about the reader having more energy than him onto their second or third round and he is milked dry oof, and then the reader becomes bratty and he takes the reigns despite his low energy <3 it's good :D.
Fae!Price x Witch!reader by @ghouljams || MDNI || 18+
Hear me out hear me out... fae!price... cool? Cool! The writing in this is so good! Price teasing the reader when the fae try to give you a gift and you know better to. Not giving out their name, or even your name. The Fae know how to be tricksters. And the smut in this, oh it's so spicy! I love it! I'm a slut for magic based writing. especially AU's like these!! Please give them a shot! I know I LOVED.
WICKER PYRE | Dragon!Price x Reader by @yeyinde || MDNI || 18+
All things considered, you should have expected it. You know better than to make deals with dragons.
Ah Ha, you see if you know me (or don't) I LOVE dragons!! Dragons are my favorite creature! I love them, and what's better when you can romance a dragon! I mean come on! Good shit my guy! And I love and accept the headcannon that Price would be a dragon 100% not because of the smoking of a cigar that's the 5%, it's the personality, the vibe, and the voice fits so perfectly. The writing in this is so damn spicy!! How rough and hot it is (no pun intended). The way he teases the reader, ah. Very nice~ please give his a read!
woe to the deer who is courted by the wolf . . . by @toshidou Vampire!Konig x reader || MDNI || 18+
You want Vampire!Konig in your pallet, say no more. Here have this damn meal! The beginning is very silly in a good way! But when you finally come across the man himself, it get's good. I love it when Writers use his German language in the writing, it's adds the mystery where I have to look it up and I go "OH!?". It's so good! I love it! It got that size difference and the a little blood play cause of the vampire thing but please read this! indulge thyself!!
Faint Jingling Brass by @cowyolks || MDNI || 18+
Prompt: There was something about you, something that urged the beast to enter your cottage. It was intrigued, sniffing the anguish of your very soul- and it wanted you.
Krampus!Konig... yeah uh give me the eggnog with the cookies please, this was a joy to read. Totally wouldn't bang Krampus, I don't know what you are talking about. The fact that the reader was totally willing to get punished, you know it's good. Spanking? Predator/Prey dynamic? Yes Yes!! Please read this!!
Your Grace by @cowyolks Prompt: As a loyal soldier to your King, you follow orders without question. So when the King asks you to kneel— you do as told. || MDNI || 18+
Fun fact, if I am correct Konig means king in German. Why not have an AU where Knoig is the king and you are def his favorite. The writing is so damn hot oof! It is in two parts though! And the reading is so worth it. Made me blush and curl up in my blanket as well! Please please read!!
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luc1fersducky · 2 months
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Lucifer Morningstar with an autistic reader (GN)
a/n: hai 🫶 keeping you all fed while i write some smutty smut for you horny little sinners 🫣 but honestly i may just be self projecting here cos my autism is quite an important thing in my life
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~ SO.. we all heard the news of this man being canonically autistic, right..? we all saw viv confirm it?
so like... hear me out.. his new partner being autistic does just fall hand in hand because youre both just so understanding of each other.. and imagine if his partner hasn't been understood enough 🥹 our boy is straight on the case!
~ TEXTURES ARE SUCH A BIG DEBATE IN THIS HOUSE. like, you found a blanket in the store thats not only weighted, but this beautiful red colour and such a soft texture, and you FREAKED OUT over it. immediately running to show him with a massive smile on your face and jumping about so eagerly to show him.
While he's offended at first that he can't keep you wrapped up in his wings (this is a topic we'll discuss later in this.), he's heading STRAIGHT to but it for you.
There's a texture either of you don't like? it's gone within hours. Carpet's rubbing along your feet as you walk in all the wrong ways? you bet he's calling somebody to replace it with a more suitable texture.
~ THIS ALSO GOES FOR FOODS. as an autistic person with safe foods, i will 100% NOT be happy if im out of my safe food on a bad day.
So when you're having dinner, for example, and a particular food's got that metally taste that you just can't stand, he can tell simply by the look of discomfort
so he's INSTANTLY getting those safe foods on standby, distracting you as best as he can from the icky parts. poor baby's got to make sure his angel's not going through all of this alone like he most likely has for years :(
(one of his safe foods is 100% pancakes, not up for debate. like this is made for breakfast ON THE DAILY, or a midnight snack after a meltdown)
~ speaking of meltdowns, this sweetheart is a star with them.. whether it be a sensory overload, or an emotion going into overdrive. he's clueless at first sometimes, he can't help that he was half asleep!!
but once he's given it a minute of prolonged eye contact, he's very quickly spotted the signs. He's getting all the comfort objects and foods you can think off, and if the wings comfort you; you're 100% getting wrapped in them like a wing burrito!
If it was the noises possibly overwhelming you, I can imagine that the wings would DEFINITELY be an excellent alternative for ear defenders as well as a comfort object, the fluff easily relaxing you.
and if you struggle to sleep after said meltdown, he's softly lulling you to sleep with sweet little whisper songs, as to not overwhelm you with the noises more (even with the wings). what a gentle boy he is 🥹🫶
~ MY FAVOURITE PART. THE SPECIAL INTERESTS. have you seen this man?? those ducks are 100% his, and he is 100% going on rant after rant about them
and you are 100% more than happy listening to him as he drags you into the interest too (MUTUAL SPECIAL INTEREST YES.)
but if you have a singular special interest, he is going to sit there and put every little thing into it as much as he can!!! upset? hes bought you little merch for it. rambling on about how he'd enjoy it too and should watch it? he's booked out a whole day to watch it with you, all snuggled up.
~~~
might do a part 2 u never know
ducky signing out!! 🍎
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defendburritos · 3 months
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Manic boi does another thing
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redtsundere-writes · 2 months
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Jinx | Sukuna Ryomen
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mma fighter!sukuna ryomen x femalecoach!reader
Part 5. New & Old
Beginning. ← Previous | Next →
Sypnosis: Sukuna is a world champion with anger issues. It's believed by many that he is untrainable. Yeah, you can't train him, but you can dominate him. Contents: Fighting. Sukuna being Sukuna. female reader being dom. Jinx AU (the BL, not the character from lol) Warnings: Mentions and sexual harassment. Angst. Humiliation. Cursed words. Word Count: 2743 words. A/N: Hello peeps! Another day, another slay. I really enjoy writing this fic and I am really happy that you seem to like it as well. Thanks! :3 Ps. Fuck me you Joo Jaekyung
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“Cheers!” We exclaimed as we clinked our beers.
We had finally returned home after a great victory in Dubai. The bar was full, the food kept coming to our long table and the mugs seemed bottomless. The entire Team Black was gathered to celebrate the crushing victory of our terrifying champion. The air was filled with laughter, pleasant chatter and popular music. Sukuna was at the head of the table, watching everyone like the king he is while wisely drinking water.
“C’mon, drink one with your coach!” I asked with a goofy smile due to the effects of alcohol. I had two mugs already, and it was starting to show.
“No. Do you know how many calories that have?” He rejected me completely.
There were few things I knew about him in the short time I have been his coach. Sukuna was grumpy, foul-mouthed and a jerk in every definition of the word, but his strongest characteristic is that he is ridiculously disciplined. He was a fucking ninja with incredible mental strength. He invited the whole team to eat burgers, wings, nachos and drown themselves in beer, while he just drank plain water and ate a veggie burrito. Sukuna was a great athlete, but he needed to learn how to relax once in a while.
“That only means that I have to maintain my title. I can't lose focus now,” he answered without paying me much attention. He surely noticed my drunkenness.
“That’s why you are always so cranky, you are always thinking of fighting and being a champion. It’s okay to enjoy life once in a while,” I tried again.
“You enjoyed too much and look where you are,” he exposed me, pounding his glass against the table to emphasize his point.
My body moved away from him at the loud bang. Everyone turned to look at us to see what it was all about, but when they saw that it was just another Sukuna tantrum, they went back to their own thing. My hand went straight to my neck. I avoided his gaze and resigned myself to continue drinking.
“You say it like it’s something bad,” I mumbled before taking a shy sip. “I refuse to become a coach,” Sukuna spat angrily.
“You couldn’t become one even if you tried.” Someone behind me defended me out of the blue.
I turned around, and my cheeks burned instantly. It was Choso. He's standing there like a guardian angel with a dark aura ready to defend me from a mean demon. He gave me a mischievous compliance smile that I couldn't help but mimic.
“It’s good to see you, bro! Sit down,” Yuuji, who was seated next to me, offered him his seat.
“Who the fuck invited you?” Sukuna frowned.
“Yuuji. He said he wanted to introduce me to someone,” Choso answered without looking away from me as he sat down.
"This guy always knows how to surprise me," I thought as I scanned him from head to toe. Seeing him up close was like paying attention to a piece of contemporary art, simple yet complicated at the same time. His long hair was down and neatly combed, his unruly curtain bangs fell perfectly to the sides of his eyes, framing them perfectly. You could tell he was Sukuna's brother by his sharp features and outlined eyebrows. I could imagine him frowning without needing to experience it.
“He is all yours. I’m drinking with Megumi,” Yuuji said, after introducing me to his brother for a second time. He went to the other side of the table to drink with his buddy, who was drinking alone.
He gave me a discreet wink that I could only see. That's when I realized what he had done. This was the "date" he had arranged for us as a favor. I hadn't been on a date in years, so I was super nervous. How could I not be? I wasn't ready. My hair was in a tight ponytail, I was wearing athletic clothes, and I was tired from jet lag. He looked so good in his denim jacket, baggy jeans and his smooth cologne that brushed my nose.
“Yuuji has told me so much about you,” I said, trying to hide my shyness.
“What a coincidence. Yuuji had also told me so much about you.” That was unexpected.
“Really? What did he tell you?” I asked, curious.
“That you are patient, nice and very cute,” he complimented me with a shy smile. “He didn’t tell me that last thing, it's just what I am seeing,” he corrected.
"He's so cute!" I thought excitedly. I could feel my poor heart in love running around in circles in my chest and my hands were starting to sweat, but I was calm. Who am I kidding? My cheeks hurt from grinning like an idiot. I felt like an awkward teenager in front of her out of her league crush.
“Is that your pickup line?” Sukuna joked.
“Shut up!” I barked, so he wouldn’t interrupt us. “Thanks, I think you are really cute as well,” I answered Choso’s flirting, paying him all of my attention. He looked a bit shocked that I was able to scold his brother so easily.
“Yuuji told me you used to fight in the UFC as well,” he said, ignoring Sukuna’s comment.
“I was the best. There are some of my fights on YouTube, my nickname is ‘Medusa’s Snake’,” I flexed proud as I poured him a beer from the bucket in the center of the wooden table, surrounded by delicious greasy snacks.
“A very poetic nickname. Did you know Medusa means protector in Greek? I think it goes well with you.”
When my first coach named me like that, I was flattered. Medusa was the mortal gorgon, one of the three daughters of the god of the sea, Forcys, and the goddess of sea monsters and the dangers of the sea, Ceto. She became the main enemy of men after suffering a painful rape by Neptune in front of the sanctuary of Minerva. Although early poets depicted her as a monster from birth, along with her immortal sisters, later writers claim that she was originally a beautiful maiden, but was turned into a monster by Athena or Minerva.
“Thanks, you are the first one who says it,” I said as my cheeks blushed. “Do you like mixed martial arts?”
“I used to practice kick boxing regularly, until someone discouraged me from continuing.” I noticed that he looked at Sukuna when he said “someone.”
I couldn't blame him. The active UFC community is pretty small. I wouldn't want to continue coexisting in the same environment as my biggest traitor. Besides, sports publicists love to compare athletes who share some sort of bond and spread drama. If Choso kept practicing to a professional level, reporters wouldn't leave him alone if they found out the champ fucked his fiancée.
The night flowed its course and the conversation continued to flourish between us. We drank, laughed and shared funny anecdotes. Choso was so nice, just like Yuuji, but shared that strong aura like Sukuna. He was the best of both worlds. Elegant, kind and respectful - what more could a girl ask for in a man?
Choso had to leave early because he had to work in the morning. He said goodbye to everyone except Sukuna, and I offered to escort him out. The vibrant street was still alive despite the darkness that ruled the skies as it was so late in the afternoon. People were still passing down the street in beautiful attire under the colorful lights of passing bars and restaurants. It had been a pleasant evening. It had been a long time since I had had so much fun.
“It was a pleasure meeting you,” Choso smiled friendly. His shoulders were relaxed, and his kind eyes conveyed to me that he was more comfortable than before.
“I say the same thing,” I smiled at him as well. He slipped his hands into his pants pockets and avoided my gaze out of nowhere. That comfort turned to anguish again, so my smile gradually disappeared.
“Yuuji told me you were interested in me…” he sighed. “Look, you are a great girl, but right now, I have a complicated situation with my brother, and dating his coach doesn’t sound like a good idea.” He scratched his neck embarrassed, still avoiding my sight. “So it was about that,” I thought.
“I get it. Thanks for giving me a chance at least,” I said kindly. The last thing I wanted to do was make him feel bad for rejecting me, but I wasn’t going to give up so easily. At the end of the day, I am a fighter at heart. “The truth is that I am not planning on being his coach for a long time. Seeing him holding his belt with pride on the ring, reminded me that I will be there again one day.”
I caressed my injured area with nostalgia. I missed being the star with the white lights illuminating my every dangerous move. I missed the audience yelling my name with excitement as they watched me destroy another one of my opponents. I missed the adrenaline coursing through my veins as I fought for my honor. Choso looked at me again, seeming confused by my answer but hopeful for the explanation.
“What I am trying to say is that when I become a protector again, I’ll call you,” I said with a proud smile. His eyes widened, surprised when he understood what I was trying to say.
“I’ll wait for your call then,” he smiled.
With that, he kissed my blushing cheek goodbye and drove off down the sidewalk. As I watched him get into his car, I stood a while longer by the door processing what had happened that night. "You're going to be mine," I affirmed, sure of myself.
Another day at the gym. Another day in hell. By this point the gym was my hell on earth. Dealing with the devil himself was complicated, sometimes there were good days when he would do everything I asked him to do without batting an eye and others were the fights were no longer physical, but verbal. Over the months as his coach, I had learned to deal with his heavy attitude.
“¡Ten kicks!” I ordered as I placed the cushion he was supposed to kick at the height of my stomach. “1, 2, 3…!” I counted every hard kick. I made sure to hold the cushion tightly so it wouldn’t fly away. “…7, 8, 8, 8, 8…!” I repeated with a smug face.
“Stop it!” He yelled without losing the beat.
“Don’t give up! …8, 9, 9, 9, 9, 9…!” I yelled, gripping the cushion hard. Sukuna huffed but kept kicking like the champ he is. “…9, 10!” I finished counting after 30 kicks.
“Go fuck yourself…” He sighed mad.
“For that, another 10,” I said, pulling the cushion back up.
“I missed seeing you like this.”
My heart stopped the moment I heard that voice. I could recognize it in any place, time or date. I knew exactly who it was and didn't want to turn around to confirm it, but I had to face it. The UFC world is small, so it was inevitable that we would meet again at some point, but I never thought it would be like this. Sukuna glared at the person behind me, sure he was wondering why a snoop was in his gym. I gulped dryly before confronting the biggest son of a bitch I'd ever met.
“Don’t frown like that, you will ruin your pretty face, beautiful,” he said with a pout. My jaw contracted when I heard such stupidity.
Naoya Zenin. One of the best fighters in the Zenin family, the current middleweight champion and my second coach. If I had to thank one person for teaching me how to deal with Sukuna, it would be this bastard. Because if I could survive him, I could survive anything. An arrogant, self-centered, stubborn man disguised as an angel incarnate. He was standing there with his stupid minions that followed him around like they were his ducklings.
“What the fuck are you doing?” I asked, mad at his bare presence. From my tone and volume, some fighters stared at the scene.
“Sukuna lets you talk like that? I think you need a muzzle, bitch,” he smirked, as if it was something normal to say.
I wanted to beat him to silence. I let go of the pad with a thud and took off my protective gloves as I approached him to jump him. I was ready to beat the fuck out of him. I didn't care if I got fired, ruined my neck, or got beat to death, I had to get that stupid grin off his face no matter what. I couldn't let him say those kinds of things to me just because.
When I was about to jump out of the ring, Sukuna grabbed my arm and pulled me towards him. He forced me to stay close to his body, so I could only see his chest. I tried to break free from his grip, but his arm wrapped perfectly around my wait. My body trembled like a Chihuahua ready to bite. I looked him in the eye, asking him to let me handle this, but he ignored me.
“Can you leave my coach out of this?” He asked, clearly annoyed.
“Yours?” Naoya laughed out loud. “She is mine since she gave me her weak ass,” he said with a wide grin full of confidence.
I closed my eyes in embarrassment as soon as he said that. I didn't want Sukuna to find out like that. I wanted to erase him from my life forever, but he always managed to infiltrate like heavy humidity. I couldn't see him, but I knew he had a relaxed posture, his sharp eyes scanning my figure up and down and critiquing my current position.
“I don’t give a shit about what kind of relationship you have, but now, she only listens to me. You better get the fuck out of my gym before I release her so she can beat your ass,” he barked in my defense.
I looked at him in surprise at that answer. His red eyes were calm but determined. He meant every word he said. If Sukuna allowed me to, I could beat him at my pleasure. I wasn't going to waste the opportunity, I would make him very proud.
“Get the fuck out?! I just arrived to introduce myself as your next opponent!” He yelled excitedly. The gym looked at him in shock at the statement, especially me. Sukuna was going to face Naoya for the belt of the light heavyweight category?! “The UFC accepted the fight today. I was so excited that I came all the way to see you! I am a big fan!”
“You already saw me, now fuck off. I won’t repeat myself,” Sukuna asked, surprisingly keeping his composure.
“At least let me say goodbye to my cute wife,” Naoya pouted.
“I am not your wife, motherfucker!” I yelled, turning around suddenly to dispute that fat lie he dropped. Sukuna held me back to not jump him.
“Awww, just like the good old days,” Naoya grinned. “That’s how it is going to be then, see you later…” he turned around to go back from where he came from with his stupid side chicks. “…maybe sooner than you think,” he winked at me before leaving.
I gritted my teeth and clenched my fists in frustration at not being able to say anything else to her stupid face. I pulled myself out of Sukuna's grasp. We both stood in silence while the others murmured and whispered about the strange encounter. I didn't know how to explain the situation to him, I didn't even want to, but I had to.
“I…”
“I don’t give a shit,” he said before returning my gloves that I tossed earlier. “Let’s get back to work.” I took the gloves, relieved.
“From now on, I won’t teach how to be a floor fighter,” I said as I adjusted my gloves around my fingers. “I will teach you how to kill that motherfucker,” I stated strongly. A wide grin appeared on his proud face.
“You have all my attention now.”
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blues824 · 1 year
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i loove the way you write mitsuri <3 ! could you do some hcs of bakugo, hitoshi, and todoroki with a reader who is like her? i loove the contrast in personalities, and i imagine them to be the ones who gift her the green socks to pull her hero costume together after her feeling as if something was missing
Aww, thank you! Female Reader. 
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Katsuki Bakugo
He is so down bad for you, but he doesn’t want to admit it. Not even to himself. Every single night, he stays up just thinking about you. When he does fall asleep, he finds himself dreaming of a future with you by his side as his partner. It made him so angry and frustrated that you wouldn’t leave his mind.
You were just so beautiful and kind that his heart squeezed whenever you gave him affection and attention. It could be as simple as patching him up after training, and he has a serious blush on his face from your soft touch on his skin. Don’t get me started on how it worsens when you check his forehead for a fever.
He wanted to scare you away just so he wouldn’t hurt you. However, you always stuck around even after he insulted you. After a while, he realizes that he has grown soft for you. He wants to follow you around like a lost puppy.
Katsuki doesn’t like it whenever he’s paired up against you, and it’s not because he doesn’t want to fight you. It’s because you pack him up like a lawn chair every single time. That shit hurts, you know? It does critical damage to his ego and pride.
However, he has to admit that he is proud of you. It means that you can defend yourself from sickos in the street. It means that you can defend yourself from villains. It means that you can defend yourself from him if needed.
The Bakusquad is totally excited about you and Bakugo being together. They thought that he was going to remain a bachelor for the entirety of his life. Then you just waltzed into his life. Mina absolutely loves you and thinks you are adorable; Kirishima, Kaminari, and Sero all had to listen to the explosive pomeranian go on (lovesick) rants about you.
Bakugo definitely gets jealous whenever you hang out with someone else. You find the scowl he has so freaking attractive, and you find it adorable how he is so protective over you… just like a husband would be. The thought makes you blush, but you can’t help but think about it all the time.
When he first saw how short the skirt was in your hero outfit, he immediately was like ‘absolutely not’. He went out to buy a pair of socks to at least cover some of your legs since he didn’t want anyone else eyeing you up and down. 
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Hitoshi Shinso
And here we have the simpus magnificus, also known as the great simp. Sure, things were rough at the beginning, but that didn’t stop you from pursuing him as a lover. Eventually, he fell for you somewhere along the way.
He didn’t want to admit how much you made him flustered. Whenever you hugged him or tended to his wounds, his face would get red since you were so close to him. However, he did like the closeness.
Internally, he was grateful that you didn’t shun him for having a ‘villain quirk’. You were actually willing to hang out with just him since he always seemed lonely. Plus, you weren’t annoying like his classmates were. You were very soft-spoken, which he found relaxing.
He loved going up against you since that meant that no one else would be able to be so close to you, even if it was just practice. He also low-key found it attractive whenever you beat him, which was every single time. There was just something about being with a woman who could fold him like someone would fold a burrito that was just so freaking hot.
He is so proud of how you grew over your time at UA. You could easily surpass some of the teachers in power and strength. You’ve even picked him up when you hugged him because you forgot about your own strength. He didn’t mind though, since you were excited to see him.
He never thought that he would end up with someone as kind and beautiful as you, since everyone shunned him for years. He always lives with the constant fear that one day you will see what everyone else sees and leave him because of it.
That being said, he does get jealous whenever he sees you hanging out with someone else. It could even be just for a class project, he always tells you that if they try doing something then just get away from them and call him to come help you. (He wants to be your hero so bad).
When he first saw your hero costume, he was worried that 1) you would get cold and 2) people would stare at how short your skirt was. So he bought you some green socks that he thought complimented your outfit. He couldn’t do anything about the skirt length, but he could do something to minimize the skin that was showing.
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Shoto Todoroki
At first, he didn’t know what the pounding in his chest came from, but he realized that it came when you were around. His first instinct was to talk to Fuyumi, but she said something that sounded utterly ridiculous: he liked you. Of course he liked you! You were his friend!
He could go on about you for hours, and Midoriya can vouch for that. The former just talks about you for long periods of time, and the latter is there to counsel him through it. Of course, neither knew why he went to him since Deku almost doesn’t have any rizz, but oh well.
Uraraka and Tsu had to tell him that he was in love with you before it finally clicked. Then he was scared: he didn’t know anything about love, and your quirk has to do everything about love. The smart decision is just telling you, but what if you were only being affectionate because he was your friend?
When he is paired up with you in training, he gets scared that he will hurt you. However, you show your strength by packing him up like a suitcase when you go on vacation. You were actually straddling his torso when you won, and the contact made him blush unknowingly.
Since you were able to defeat him so easily, you became his training partner. He desires to be stronger than his father, but also he wants to be closer to you. Establishing a close connection with you was the next step in leading up to the moment of the confession.
When you do get together, you reassure him that you don’t mind his inexperience with love and affection. You will lead him through it and see what he is comfortable with. He does appreciate hugs and hand-holding, but anything other than that is for behind closed doors.
I don’t think he gets jealous when you hang out with someone else. The temperature of wherever you are just changes drastically and he stares angrily at the person who is stealing your attention. You find it adorable and charming that he cares about you so much, so you make sure that he gets cuddles and kisses when you both go on your inevitable date later.
When he first saw your hero costume, he was concerned about whether you would feel cold. He would probably use his quirk to make you lean into him for warmth. He couldn’t exactly do anything about the length of your skirt, so he decided to purchase some socks that could keep you at least a bit warmer.
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crackedpumpkin · 10 months
Text
|| ʙʟᴀɴᴋ ᴄᴀɴᴠᴀꜱ || ᴘᴛ. ꜰᴏᴜʀ||
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[ 𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 ] | [ 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 ] | [ 𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭 ]
Getting kidnapped was not on the checklist today.
Saving an old lady from a speeding car? Check.
Show up to class barely on time? Check.
Grab a burrito on the way to meet the girl who needed his help from yesterday? Check.
But getting kidnapped and signing a contract he never wanted? Not on the list. Never was it on the list.
Miles stares at the girl before him for a second, then down at the contract in her hands. He contemplates using his webs to grab and tear it up so it’d be rendered useless. 
Unfortunately, she seems to have sensed his intentions because she turns around and waves the contract in front of him with a teasing smile. 
“Sorry dude, I already took a photo and sent it to all my emails. Living in the twenty-first century really has its perks.”
Damn it.
How did he even get into this situation in the first place? Maybe it was when he didn’t knock on wood after he talked about nothing bad happening with Ganke. Yeah, it was probably that. But it still doesn’t completely explain how you found out about his identity. He’d been so careful too!
“How’d you even find out?” He finally voices his curiosity, unwrapping the sub in his hands and taking a bite. He pauses, looking down at it with intrigue. It was given to him as an apology after you had both left the store, and it’s surprisingly good. He recalls the bemused glance the owner had given them both when he opened the door, only to let her go without another word or further question.
It was almost impressive.
Then again, this is Brooklyn, after all. He'd probably seen weirder. 
Now, he and the girl are on the rooftop, the latter sitting down a short distance from him and starting to sketch absentmindedly in her sketchbook. He’s still guarded, having intended to treat her coldly for how she had borderline kidnapped and blackmailed him. 
Scratch that; he did, in fact, get kidnapped and blackmailed.
But her calm demeanour throws him off. What was one supposed to do in this scenario? He’d never encountered this before, not even once in the three months or so that he’d been Spiderman.
“Y’know, the usual.” 
“The usual?” He repeats, raising a brow before taking another bite. He still has half the mask on, not fully taking it off around her even though she knew who he was.
“Yeah, just did a little digging. Y’know, you’d think you’d be more careful for a superhero.”
“I was!” He defends himself, a sharp edge to his words. 
She chuckles, lips pulled into a half-smile as she looks up at him with amusement. “Then you might want to be more careful about how you sneak in and out of your dorm, Morales.”
He flinches at the use of his last name. He didn’t like that. He didn’t like that at all.
His dorm? Since when was she around his dorm? 
“Did you stalk me?”
She looks up again from her sketchbook with an offended gasp, holding her hand over her heart with a frown. “I would never! The only time I ‘followed’ you was when you basically revealed your entire secret identity by very openly crawling into your dorm window. Literally anyone would’ve found out if they were around the area.” 
He sighs, dragging a hand down his face. “So much for secret identity.” He mutters to himself, taking another bite of the surprisingly addicting sub. The bread is fluffy, albeit slightly soggy from the sauces that coat the vegetables and meat. He tastes a hint of cinnamon, arching a brow in intrigue. 
Little odd, but it works. 
“It’s good, right? Mr Perez does the best in the city.” 
He merely shrugs in response. He hears a soft sigh, choosing to stare at the citizens on the sidewalk below.
“I’m sorry,” He hears her speak up, turning around with a sceptical frown. An apology? Now?
“If you’re sorry, you’d forget my identity and tear up the contract,” he mutters. 
“Yeah… I can't afford that.” 
“Why not?” He’s taken aback by her sheepish smile. 
“Here’s the thing… I kinda need you to be my model regardless. I’m an art student in need of a muse. I’ve been in such a slump lately, and I’m a little…desperate.”
“And I’m that muse?” He questions, oddly flattered yet still wary of her true intentions.
She shrugs. “Yeah. Look, you’ll get it once you see this.” She rifles through her backpack, grabs a large sketchbook and hands it to him. Instead of taking it from her like a normal and trusting person, he uses the web shooter on his wrist to spray a thin line, tugging it toward him. It dangles from the web, and he double-checks it in case it’s another trap. 
“There’s like, a mustard stain from years back, and the white powder is chalk.” Her comment makes him scoff, already having recognised the powdery residue. He flips it open, scanning through the pages. 
The first few are rather good, with sketches of people he doesn’t recognise. The shading is done well, putting his own to shame, actually. He continues to turn the pages, the next few a lot more colourful with the added use of watercolour pencils and charcoal. A soft coat of bright dust rubs off on his fingers, and he rubs it off quickly before continuing to look through the sketchbook.
He notes the slight wince on her lips in his peripheral, taking great care to ensure he doesn’t accidentally tear the pages. If she’s really an art student, then from one artist to another, allowing someone to view their sketchbook — containing their most private thoughts and inspirations, is practically sacred.
And just for that, he pauses eating his sub, wrapping it up and stowing it away for later.
Miles recalls his own sketchbook at home, the first pages already occupied by a half-finished sketch of Gwen. He subtly shakes his head to rid himself of the lingering nostalgia, focusing instead on the drawings before him. He frowns from the sudden and apparent lack of motivation. Though details were technically accurate, it was as if they had no life, just flat, one-dimensional drawings against the blank paper.
His breath hitches when he turns the page to see a full sketch of him leaning against the wall. He subconsciously leans in close, studying the details on his suit he hadn’t even noticed. It’s good. Really good. It’s only half-coloured, but even then, the way she did it can’t help but draw your attention, as if he’d step off the page and give himself a playful salute.
“So?” Her voice is calm. He senses her thoughtful gaze. 
“It’s good.” He replies simply. “Was this on the day we met?” He turns the book around to show her the drawing he's referencing. She nods, and he hums in response.
“I need your number, by the way. To schedule our next meetup.” She holds out her phone for him, the keypad on her screen and waits for him to key it in. He stands up, walks over, stops two feet away, and hands her back her sketchbook.
He reluctantly puts his number into her phone. He has half a mind to put in a random number instead, just to inconvenience her. He decides against it, however, and taps away at the keypad. 
She’d probably find out his number somehow if he did that.
“May I at least have the pleasure of knowing my kidnapper's name?” Miles asks sarcastically, keeping an eye on her as she continues to tap away at her phone. 
“The name’s Ray, Ray Paynt.” 
He chokes on his drink. 
“What?” He asks through the tissue he grabs from his pocket, wiping his mouth of any orange juice that had spilt from hearing her name. Unique is one way to describe it.
“But you, however, can refer to me as Ray.” 
He doesn’t know how to feel. 
“Ray, short for Rachel?” He asks. She nods confidently.
“Right.” 
She stands up, brushing off the dirt on her pants before sending him a halfhearted grin, and he nods in response. “Well, this has been…fun. But I gotta get home for dinner. I’ll text you when our next meetup will be. See you soon.” She says briefly, heading to the door that leads to the staircase. She opens it, pausing to glance back at him.
“Also, you might wanna check out the side of your head just in case,” she adds sheepishly before shutting the door behind her.
He reaches up to the left side of his head, only to wince when he massages the slightly sore spot. Right. He forgot about that.
Swinging back to his dorm room is peaceful, crossing the familiar well-lit streets and the occasional pickpocket on the way. In contrast to the chilly night air and calm breeze, his thoughts overlap like crashing waves on a once-calm shore.
Who really is she?
What kind of person is she?
Why him?
Even though they had spoken (rather begrudgingly on his behalf) after she knocked him out and made him sign a contract that was surprisingly in his favour, he knew next to nothing about her. 
Besides her name, he supposes. But where is she from? How did she find him in the first place? Did the store owner know her? 
Is she an enemy?
He sighs, walking under the subway bridge. Whatever she is, he has to figure out if her intentions really are as simple as she says. From one artist to another, he understands having an art block. It’s one of the worst things in the world.
But from one superhero to a civilian, she’s an enigma. 
All this thinking was making his head hurt.
“Yo, one pack of the usual painkillers, por favor,” Miles requests upon walking into the small convenience store he frequents. The owner looks up from his phone, reaching down and handing him a palm-sized red box. 
“Thanks, Lenny. How much do I owe you for this?” He reaches into the suit’s concealed pocket for his wallet, eager to return and get some well-deserved rest.
“Ten bucks. What’s got you so roughed up?” Lenny asks curiously, leaning over the counter after taking the cash he hands him.
Miles sighs, shoulders slumping at the question. How was one supposed to explain the series of unfortunate events that happened to him in fifty words or less? 
“Nothin’ much, just a little tired, I guess.” He chooses his words carefully. 
“Ah, I hear ‘ya. I got one regular who’s always walkin’ in here looking for energy drinks.” Lenny chuckles. “Man, the bags under her eyes were insane. Haven’t seen her in a while, though. I’m tellin’ you, kids these days have to rest more, not stay up all night studying. Y’all gotta have fun.”
“Oh, yeah. Definitely.” Miles nods vigorously, agreeing with the sentiment a little too deeply. He exits the store with a final goodbye, continuing to swing his way back through Brooklyn.
He crawls up the wall back to his dorm, pausing near the window as his fingertips brush over the edge. He takes a moment to look around and survey the area. His eyes land on the alleyway nearby, in clear view from his current location. If he could see it from here, then that meant whoever was there could see him, too. 
“The only time I ‘followed’ you was when you basically revealed your entire secret identity by very openly crawling into your dorm window. Literally anyone would’ve found out if they were around the area.”
He groans, hanging his head.
“Damn it.”
— — — — — 
A brand new day always means a brand new start.
In your case, it takes the form of a signed contract, framed and hung on your bedroom wall. You stare at it in satisfaction, smiling giddily at the fact that you had finally, finally, secured your muse. 
Even though the method used was a little unethical.
But that didn’t matter, because he signed the contract!
He. Signed. The contract.
It’s set in stone now, and this particular reminder sends a rush of adrenaline through you, the physical contract cementing this fact. It had been a couple of days since the incident, and this had become your new routine every morning. 
“Honey, it’s time to wake up!” You’re startled out of your thoughts when your mother calls you from the kitchen, having already almost finished getting ready. All that’s left is to get out of the bathrobe you have on into proper clothes and brush your teeth.
Once done, you enter the kitchen cheerfully, patting the leftover bits of moisturiser into your skin before greeting your mother with a big hug. She laughs as you pull away, raising her brows curiously. “What’s got you in such a good mood today?” 
“Not much,” You hum, taking the bowl of stew she hands you and sitting down at the dining table. You begin to dig in, alerted to your father's presence, who walks into the kitchen with a groan.
Your mother hands him another bowl of piping hot stew, the scent of spicy chilli flakes helping to clear his head. He sits down opposite you with a soft grunt, your mother sitting beside him with concern. 
“What’s wrong?” You ask through mouthfuls, blowing on the spoonful of tofu in your hands to cool it down. 
“Someone accidentally hit me on the head with a binder at work yesterday,” Your father replies with a wince, sending your mother a thankful smile when she starts to feed him spoonfuls of stew. You watch his hand massage the spot on his head with a tinge of guilt, recalling how you had gotten Morales to be your muse. 
You should probably get him a gift as an apology.
“Get well soon, Dad. You should go see the doctor if it gets worse.” You add, placing your now-empty bowl in the sink after the last mouthful. 
“Will you be back home for dinner today?”
You pause, tilting your head in thought. “I don't think so. I’ll message you guys if anything comes up, though,” You promise, grabbing your bag and heading toward the door. 
The walk to school is as usual, nothing out of the ordinary besides the weather being a little sunnier than normal Brooklyn weather. Luckily, you have your trusty portable fan, using it to stay cool in the heat.
Your phone buzzes with a notification, and you take it out to see a new message from Morales.
Ray (Paynt) [ 10:00 PM ]: Yo, you free tomorrow at 3 for our first session?
Morales [ 10:30 PM ]: When you put it that way, no.
- [ Morales ] has changed your name to [ The Kidnapper ] -
- [ Morales ] has changed their name to [ The Kidnappee ] -
The Kidnapper [ 10:30 PM ]: Boooo. I’ll take that as a yes, though. Anyway, meet me at Fort Bridge Park at 3. I hope you like waffles :)
The Kidnappee [ 07:50 AM ]: Who doesn’t?
Ray Paynt. You have to admit, few can come up with such a good fake name on the fly. You mentally pat yourself on the back for it, grinning at how easily he had believed you. Ray, short for Rachel? Absolutely priceless.
“Are you texting your crush or something?” 
You yelp at the sudden hand around your shoulders, instantly shoving your phone in your pocket and glaring at Michael’s mischievous smirk. You push your elbow against his rib, but he’s already prepared for your reaction, moving away before he can get hit.
“How’d you even meet, anyway?” He continues to ask, undeterred by your response. You shrug.
“Just ran into him and recognised his face,” You answer simply, entering the school gates together. 
“What’s for lunch today, anyway?” Michael changes the subject, already bored with your short responses. He’d probably try to dig deeper into it another time. 
“From what Greta told me, it’s lasagna for the special. I think it’s something else for the regular.” 
“I don’t know how you got her to do it, but you gotta hook me up with that staff discount of hers sometime,” Michael complains, sticking to you like glue through the crowded hallway as you make your way to your locker. 
“Just be better,” You say nonchalantly, reaching your locker and taking out the textbooks you need for the day. You huff in amusement from his eye roll, greeting Nicole with a smile when you spot her a few feet away from you both.
“Hey, you got something here.” You grab a wet tissue from your locker and lean down slightly, using your thumb to brush against the corner of her lips where a spot of grease is, wiping it off and tucking her messy hair behind her ear. You straighten your back with a soft smile, noticing the slight pink that coats the tips of her ears when you do so.
“Thanks.”
“Hang on.” 
Pausing at Michael’s words, you watch him lean down, reaching his hand out to try and replicate what you did. Instead, Nicole twists his hand, bringing him to his knees with a glare. 
“Don’t touch me.” 
“But-”
“Don’t. Touch. Me.” Nicole warns clearly, finally letting go as a sign of mercy. You smile sympathetically, helping him to his feet and massaging the sore spot on his wrist. He mutters his thanks, pulling his wrist away after. 
School passes by in the blink of an eye, and you find yourself at the gates ready to leave at Two P.M. Nicole had her chess club — she had a match coming up that she couldn’t afford to lose. You’re more than certain that she never will, having watched her break her opponent down mentally during a previous match. Michael had his neighbourhood basketball game that he rushed off to, promising to introduce you to a new cafe another time.
Cafe. Right. 
The plan for today is simple. Grab some amazing waffles from the cafe you’d seen people rave about online, and meet Spidey-Boy at Fort Bridge Park, where you’d chill out and draw him in different poses or something. 
You’re still not entirely sure how this muse thing is supposed to go. But that’s okay! You’ll figure it out along the way.
Public transport is a blessing to have. The thought of owning your own car in the future makes you excited. You’d never have to deal with other people’s bad body odour ever again. The lack of hygiene of some commuters makes you determined to push forth a project on personal grooming in the future. 
Standing next to a man grabbing the handles in the train, revealing the sweat-soaked spot under his shoulders, only reaffirms this resolve. 
You finally hear your stop being called out over the speakers, all but rushing out the doors and inhaling deeply. Your lungs burn from the shallow breaths you took standing next to him, grateful for the existence of oxygen. 
Surprisingly enough, Google Maps gets you to the cafe in only fifteen minutes, and you order your waffles to go, waiting patiently in the store while blissfully inhaling the smell of freshly baked croissants and ground coffee. 
You’ll definitely be coming here again for a study session. 
You hear your name being called shortly after, thanking the server who hands you your order before exiting and heading to Fort Bridge Park with, yet again, the help of Google Maps. Thankfully, you reach five minutes before the scheduled time, choosing to sit down at a random bench and waiting for your muse to show up.
The Kidnapper [ 02:55 PM ]: I’m sitting near the bridge. Hope you’re hungry 
The Kidnappee [ 02:55 PM ]: Are you the one looking down really intensely at your phone?
“I am not looking intensely, thank you very much.” You say with a lighthearted scoff once Morales plops down next to you seconds after you read his message. 
“Right,” He replies sarcastically. “Where’s the promised waffle? And my ten bucks?” 
“Here’s your waffle. Payment will only be made at the end of each session.” You hand him the waffle, and he takes it without complaint, though his eyes narrow at the last few words. 
“That’s not what you promised.” 
“It’s in the contract,” You reply with a hum, taking a bite and grinning in delight at the fluffy texture. “Eat, eat!” 
He reluctantly pulls up his mask slightly, unwraps the waffle and bites down at your strong encouragement, lips pursed as he chews. “It’s…not bad.” 
“Not bad? It’s insanely good! No wonder it got so many popular reviews. The kaya in this one is incredible. You gotta try this.” You hold up the half-eaten waffle to him, and he looks at you warily.
“Here,” You tear off a piece of your waffle instead, eagerly holding it out to him. 
He takes it. “I think this is better,” He holds up the one in his hand after eating the piece you offered. 
“To each their own,” You comment, finishing off your waffle in mere minutes while he’s still slowly enjoying his. You dust off the crumbs on your hands and pull out your sketchbook, making yourself comfortable and crossing your legs before turning to face him. 
You notice him stiffening from the sudden attention, chuckling at his reaction. It was kinda cute. 
“Just pretend I’m not here,” You assure him, smiling warmly. “Just do what you normally do when you relax or when you’re not off fighting crime in lovely Brooklyn.”
His shoulders are still tense, but he slowly rests against the bench backrest, watching the people pass by. They notice his presence but ignore him in favour of rushing off to their own destinations, as are the lovely people of your city. Some linger around but quickly get bored once they realise that there’s nothing exciting happening.
“So, what’s your favourite food?” You break the silence with a question. You need him to relax so much more than his current self, who looks as if he’d bolt any chance he gets. 
“Pasteles, they’re probably the best food to ever exist.” 
“What’re those?” You pause, looking up with interest at this new dish you’ve never heard of. 
“Oh, pasteles are like, this food. It’s got pork and adobo in it, and it’s just amazing. My mom makes the best,” He answers excitedly, animatedly using his hands to describe the food. You grin in amusement, nodding at his words. 
“I’ve never tried them. The closest thing I’ve tried is a rice dumpling.”
“Rice dumpling?” Oh, how the tables have turned.
“Yeah. Usually, when you hear dumpling, you think, like, gyoza or whatever, but these rice dumplings I’m talking about are on a whole other level. It’s basically pork or chicken, filling in sticky glutinous rice, wrapped in banana leaves in a triangle, and then steamed. It’s so good. I’ll bring some next time!”
“Cool, I’ll bring some pasteles too. But why are they triangle shaped?”
“That’s a good question,” You pause when you realise you don’t know the answer, pulling out your phone and doing a quick Google search. It proves fruitful, with Wikipedia being your one and only saviour. 
“Says here that they used to be in bamboo tubes, but they wrapped them in chinaberry leaves so dragons wouldn’t consume them. That’s actually pretty cool. I respect the dedication,” You remark, turning your screen to show him the Wikipedia page. He leans in, scanning the words with an intrigued hum before leaning back.
“Imagine having dragons, though.”
“I dunno, man. I’m talking to Spiderman right now. Dragons aren’t that far-fetched to me.” You crack, watching his shoulders shake with his laughs. You pick up the pencil and sketch as quickly as possible, satisfied with his relaxed state. Quickly finishing it up and polishing a few strokes here and there, you realise you’d gotten so absorbed in your drawing that the sun was already beginning to set.
He’s waiting patiently for you, scrolling through his Instagram feed. You pack your tools, feeling guilty for keeping him here for so long. “Thanks for waiting for me,” you say gratefully, zipping up your bag and standing up.
“Couldn’t leave without my ten bucks.” He quips. Your eyes widen at the reminder, patting your pockets and feeling for the ten-dollar bill stowed away in one of them. Once you find it, you pull it out and hand it to him. He takes it happily.
You’re both alerted to a food truck playing a short jingle over the speakers. Upon closer inspection, you realise it’s a gelato truck. 
“Their stuff’s pretty good,” He says, eyes trained on the sign offering a special discount from now till next weekend.
“Here’s a fun fact: I’ve never tried gelato,” You admit.
He scoffs. “And you call yourself a foodie.”
“I do not,” You defend yourself, lips pursed into a slight playful frown. He strides off to the cart, returning with two small cups. A single scoop of vanilla rests in one, and he hands you the other with a scoop of chocolate gelato inside. 
You take a quick bite, eyes widening slightly at the heavenly taste that greets your tongue. You take another spoonful, then another. 
“It’s good, right?” You nod vigorously in response, his lips tugging up into a satisfied smirk at your bright smile. The gelato is absolutely decadent and insanely creamy to the point that it feels like you’re just drinking it.
Wait. Creamy?
“Does this have dairy in it?”
A quick nod from him confirms your fear. You look down at the gelato in your hands, taking another small spoonful and sighing blissfully in your head. You sense his eyes on you, filled with slight worry. “It’s fine; I can deal with anything. I’m not that weak,” You chuckle with a dismissive wave of your hand. You both soon finish the gelato and part ways with a simple goodbye.
You’d deal with the consequences later.
At least, that’s what you told yourself before now, hunching over the toilet bowl while cursing out the inferior genes you had inherited from your parents. 
So much for being able to handle anything.
— — — — — — — — —
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Text
As Intimate As Chocolate Cake
Tumblr media
Pairing: Sweet Pea x female!reader [2nd-person pov]
Word Count: 3.3k
Rating: T for swears; no warnings
Description: When Toni is put in charge of the new menu for the Whyte Wyrm, she decides to use the opportunity to set up two of her friends
A/N: Loosely based off a scene from Hart of Dixie season 4, episode 5: Bar-Be-Q Burritos, where George and Annabeth are set up on a date by their friend Lemon
Disclaimer: I’ve only seen up to parts of season 3 of Riverdale, therefore I know nothing about the current seasons and what has transpired, so there will be no spoilers. Also, this was written with minimal editing, so any errors are accidental. Gif credit to the owner, as it is not mine.
- - -
Cheryl Blossom walked into Pop’s, looking for Toni, but instead she found someone else.
Two someones, actually.
You’d been enjoying your strawberry malt and fries all by yourself when Sweet Pea had decided to join you without warning.
“Careful now - rumor has it if you drink too many strawberry milkshakes in one sitting, you’ll wake up as a strawberry.”
You couldn’t resist the urge to roll your eyes, dunking a pair of fries in the malt before bringing them to your lips. “Thank god this is a strawberry malt then, or I’d be fucked.”
He sat down in the booth across from you without asking, grabbing a fry before you could pull them away. “Milkshake, malt - same thing.”
“Nope,” you replied, popping the p. “Malts have malted milk powder; milkshakes do not.”
Sweet Pea pulled a face at that. “And why would you want that?!”
You shrugged. “Personal preference.”
“Weirdo.” 
You looked up to give Sweet Pea a piece of your mind at that, but found him smiling instead. It was rare to see a smile from the Serpent, and seeing it made something that felt awfully like desire pool in your stomach. You ignored it, taking a sip of your malt while you gathered your thoughts. “Wow, a compliment? If I didn’t know any better, I’d think the world was ending.”
Sweet Pea snagged another fry, popping it into his mouth, the smile turning into a smirk. “Who knows? It might be.”
“Guess we’ll find out.”
Before you could respond to that, Cheryl interrupted. “Well, well, well. Fancy seeing the two of you here. And looking chummy, no doubt. What’s so funny?”
“The end of the world,” you quipped, causing Sweet Pea to snicker and you couldn’t help joining him. 
“Haven’t you looked outside, Cheryl? Pigs are flying!”
Cheryl let out a huff, shaking her head. “Ignoring all that,” she said with a dismissive wave of her hand, “have either of you seen Toni? She said she would meet me here, but I can’t seem to find her.”
“Whyte Wyrm?” Sweet Pea supplied. “You know she’s been spending all her free time there ever since she became part owner.”
“I just didn’t think she’d get so caught up in it that she’d forget about date night!”
“Have you tried calling her?” You suggested, regretting it when Cheryl fixed you with a glare.
“Of course I’ve tried calling! She didn’t pick up and I-”
Just then, the door to the Chock’lit Shoppe opened, the bell signaling a new customer. The three of you turned to see Toni Topaz making her way over, pulling Cheryl in for a hug and a kiss. “Sorry I’m late,” she murmured. “Got a bit caught up reviewing the new menu for the Whyte Wyrm’s grand reopening.”
“You’re here now and that’s all that matters,” Cheryl said, her smile returning. “Ta-ta, you two. Don’t get too cozy over there.”
You and Sweet Pea burst into laughter once Cheryl and Toni were seated at the opposite end of Pop’s. “God, she can be so eccentric at times,” you giggled, shaking your head. 
“I don’t know what Toni sees in her, but I’m glad the two of them have each other.”
“She sees in Cheryl what I have since elementary school: a girl with a lot of love to give who just needs someone to see her potential.”
Sweet Pea shot you a look as he grabbed another fry. “If you say so.”
“Hey, if I said the same thing about Toni, you’d be defending her, too. Cheryl’s my friend like Toni is yours - we go way back.”
“True.” You were almost taken aback when the Serpent agreed with you. He slid out of the booth before you could process what had just happened, but not before stealing a handful of fries off your plate. “Let me know when you’re here again - I can always get behind free fries.”
“In your dreams, Serpent!” You shouted at his retreating back, no malice in your voice at all. 
- - -
“See what I mean?” Cheryl whispered to Toni, the two of them tucked away in their usual corner booth that surveyed the whole of Pop’s, splitting a milkshake. “There’s definitely something there.”
“Maybe,” Toni drawled, narrowing her eyes as she watched Sweet Pea duck his head and smile to himself when his back was turned from you. “I haven’t seen Sweet Pea look this smitten in a while.”
“Do you think they’d have a chance if we worked our matchmaking magic?”
“What is it you’re always saying? Sometimes the craziest ideas are the most brilliant ones?”
Cheryl smiled, leaning in to kiss Toni. “You’re absolutely right, Tonikins! Shall we start plotting now?”
- - - 
“What’s up, Toni?” Sweet Pea growled into his phone, his frustration bleeding over from one phone call into the next. Fangs had been giving him shit for something and while he was glad to have Toni’s phone call as an excuse to hang up on his friend, he was still pissed.
“What’s up, Sweet Pea, is that I have the perfect solution to your dilemma.”
“What kind of solution?” He paused. “Wait. What’s my dilemma?”
“Nevermind that. Meet me for breakfast tomorrow morning so we can discuss.”
“Discuss what? I’m gonna need more details than that, T.”
Toni couldn’t help but let out a giggle. “All will be revealed tomorrow morning, Sweets. Riverdale Cafetorium at seven sharp - don’t be late!”
She hung up a moment later, leaving a stunned but obedient Sweet Pea in her wake.
- - -
“Cheryl? Is everything okay?” You asked when you answered Cheryl’s phone call. Before she’d met Toni, you and Cheryl spoke on the phone almost nightly; now she rarely called so you figured something had to be up.
“It will be. Meet me in the cafetorium tomorrow at seven?”
“Uh, sure? Why the phone call, though? You could’ve just texted.”
“Just wanted to hear your voice, YN. See you then!”
Nothing was said after that, the line going dead as Cheryl presumably hung up. “See you then,” you said into the void before going back to your nightly routine.
- - -
Toni and Cheryl were already seated at a table when you arrived, the two of them sharing a pastry as Sweet Pea looked on across from them.
“What’s he doing here?” You asked, unable to keep the harshness out of your voice. It was way too fucking early for this and you didn’t even have time for coffee.
“Calm down, dearie. Take a seat.” Cheryl was unusually perky but the tinge of obey me in her voice had you doing just that.
“Yeah, dearie. Take a seat,” Sweet Pea mimicked, and you couldn’t help shooting a glare in his direction. “But really, you two. What is it that was so urgent you couldn’t tell me over the phone last night?”
Toni sat up a little straighter, glancing at Cheryl briefly before she spoke, “Well, because Cheryl and I have a favor to ask. As you know, I’ve been stressing over the reopening of the Whyte Wyrm - particularly the menu - and I was hoping that as my friend,” she looked at Sweet Pea, “and my girlfriend’s best friend,” she looked at you, “that both of you would be willing to come over this weekend for a sample meal.”
“I knew she wanted something,” Sweet Pea leaned back, crossing his arms and muttering under his breath, and you couldn’t help but agree with that statement.
“Of course she did,” you said in the same tone before turning your attention back to Toni and Cheryl. “All you had to do was ask! Of course I will!”
“Me, too. But YN is right - next time just ask us. Not everything has to be a big scheme.” 
His statement shocked you. The two of you hadn’t ever really agreed on much since Toni and Cheryl’s relationship had started, and now you were both agreeing with each other more than once in twenty-four hours? It was almost too much for you to handle. Sure, the two of you were polite and cordial with each other - for the most part - but lately it seemed to be getting out of hand. 
“That’s really good advice, thank you,” Cheryl said, cutting in. “So, we’ll see you Saturday at eight? Oh, and dress real nice. Tonikins and I wanna see what the vibe could be like if we manage to bring in some fancier customers.”
And just like that, Cheryl and Toni stood up in unison just as the bell signaling first period rung, leaving both you and Sweet Pea stunned for the second time.
“Why do I feel like the scheming isn’t over yet?” Sweet Pea asked, turning to look at you.
Your eyes narrowed towards the doors where Cheryl and Toni had just exited. “Probably because it’s not…” Your voice trailed off as your gaze met his and you finally got a glimpse of his face up close and in broad daylight. A flash of his face from last night illuminated by the neon lights of Pop’s crossed your mind, specifically of him grinning as he popped a fry into his mouth. That same desire came flooding back and you knew you had to leave before you did something stupid and make a fool of yourself in front of the Serpent.
“See you Saturday at eight!” Sweet Pea called after you as he watched you walk away, wondering what the weekend had in store.
- - -
You sat in your car, putting the finishing touches on your lipstick and tugging at your dress one more time before taking a deep breath and getting out. After the ambush in the cafetorium by Cheryl and Toni, you’d spent more time than you cared to admit agonizing over your outfit, but in the end it was a no-brainer. You’d worn the dress you felt most confident in, pairing it with strappy heels and light makeup that accentuated your favorite facial features.
Seeing Sweet Pea all dressed up made you stop in your tracks. His version of ‘fancy’ was nice jeans and a button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to expose his forearms. His Serpent neck tattoo was on full display, standing out against the stark white of his shirt.
“Hey,” he said, crossing his arms and drawing your attention back to them. “You ready for this?”
“I guess so. There was never really an opportunity to back out now, was there?”
“Those two make it very hard to say no, don’t they?”
You huffed out a laugh, shaking your head. “Don’t I know it.”
Before either of you could say any more, the door swung open and out stepped Cheryl, clad in her signature red. “There you two are! Come on in! Welcome to the new and improved Whyte Wyrm!”
“You look…nice, by the way,” Sweet Pea murmured as he held the door for you, letting you in first.
A shiver of need raced through you at the feeling of his eyes on your body. You paused, looking back at him and meeting his gaze. “Thanks. You, too.”
Your mouth was practically watering as Cheryl set down a filet mignon in front of you. “And this is our bourbon-maple glaze filet mignon.”
“This looks delicious,” you said, smiling at Cheryl. “Give my compliments to the chef.” Toni stood off to the side, the first time you’d ever really seen her look nervous about anything.
“I gotta say, everything has looked fantastic tonight, Toni, and I’m sure the Whyte Wyrm’s reopening is going to be a huge success,” Sweet Pea chimed in, surprising you. You hadn’t really ever heard him give anyone a compliment, but you figured if anyone deserved a compliment from Sweet Pea, it was Toni.
“Thank you,” Toni murmured, nodding stoically. 
“Well, you both have exquisite taste buds and despite how much you both have grown and changed over the years, I knew I could count on you-”
“Okay, what is going on with you?” Sweet Pea asked, the two of you exchanging a suspicious look.
Toni laughed awkwardly, trying to drag Cheryl away.
“Yeah, what’s so funny?” 
“It’s just that we’ve all known each other for so long…” Cheryl trailed off, realizing her mistake.
“I knew it!” Sweet Pea clapped his hands, more excited than you’d seen him while he was stealing your fries at Pop’s. “I knew it!”
“Knew what?” Toni asked, her turn to look suspicious.
“You and Cheryl are out here trying to get YN and I closer so we can be some weird, messed-up version of the Breakfast Club.”
You let out a groan, shaking your head. “Seriously? Cheryl, you know how I feel about you trying to set me up with people! I thought we agreed you were going to stop doing that after eighth grade.”
Sweet Pea crossed his arms and your attention diverted to his delicious forearms once again. “And that’s why we’re here…this is a scheme within a scheme,” he tutted, giving both Toni and Cheryl a reproachful look.
“Excuse us for wanting to try to get the two of you to see in each other what Cheryl and I see in both of you!”
“This is just like that time Toni and Cheryl left us in the woods for some fucked up bonding experience over our hatred of Weatherbee.”
“Or when they sent us on that futile mission to the abandoned Southside High and we had to hide in the janitor’s closet until they were able to get us out.” Sweet Pea glared at them. “The two of you can be so annoying.”
“So fucking annoying,” you agreed, seething as more memories popped up where you and Sweet Pea had been thrown into situations thanks to Toni and Cheryl’s scheming.
“Do either of you want dessert or not? Cuz if you keep whining, Cheryl and I will just eat it ourselves.”
That shut the two of you up and Toni nodded, satisfied. “Enjoy your filet mignon.”
“We’ll be here,” Sweet Pea said, finally getting a chance to cut into his steak.
“Oh, fuck this is good,” you couldn’t help groaning at the first bite. “I had my doubts about a bourbon maple glaze on steak but this is…wow.”
“Mm-hmm.” Sweet Pea’s hum of approval sent another foreign feeling racing through you. 
You tried to think of another conversation topic, but all you could think of was yet another time you and Sweet Pea had been forced together by either Toni’s or Cheryl’s schemes.
Conversation flowed pretty easily after that, and neither of you paid any attention when Toni slipped in and cleared your plates while Cheryl served a single slice of chocolate cake between the two of you.
The cake was delicious, maple syrup infused into the icing, of course.
“Fuck, this chocolate cake…Wow. You’d think Toni would’ve splurged and given us two pieces,” Sweet Pea shook his head as he brought his fork in for another bite.
“I know,” you agreed, nodding. “It’s like you’re stealing my fries all over again.”
“Ha ha,” Sweet Pea deadpanned, making you giggle. “Doesn’t Cheryl have some weird, fucked up saying for this?”
His question took you by surprise, but you knew exactly what he was talking about, rattling off the phrase as if Cheryl herself was saying it. “It’s the most intimate thing two people can do other than…” You stopped short, your eyes widening as you realized the final word.
Your eyes met Sweet Pea’s, his expression mirroring yours as you both finished the word in unison. 
“Sex.”
The sounds of your forks hitting the fancy china were the only sounds in the room as the two of you processed what had just happened. 
“Are they…?” You started.
Sweet Pea finished. “Trying to set us up?” You nodded and he pinched the bridge of his nose and sighed. “They better not be.”
“They’re really outdone themselves this time. It’s a goddamn scheme within a scheme within a scheme.”
“I mean, I just don’t understand why they think we would make a good couple. It’s so random and strange - no offense.”
You shrugged, truly unoffended even though you’d have been lying if you said you hadn’t been entertaining the idea all night. “None taken.”
“I’m still not convinced there isn’t more to this scheme.”
“God, I hope not,” you said, resisting the urge to run your hands over your face but you didn’t want to ruin your makeup. “There’s only so many schemes I can participate in during a year and I think I’ve already hit my limit.”
Sweet Pea looked around before leaning in, a smirk on his face. “What do you say we get out of here? We’re not technically dining and dashing because this was free, but I could definitely go for some fries and a chocolate milkshake.”
You didn’t have to be asked twice, dabbing your mouth with your napkin before pushing your chair back and heading out, Sweet Pea instinctively taking your hand in his as the two of you made a mad dash for Pop’s.
“Thanks,” the two of you said in unison as Pop Tate set your malt and Sweet Pea’s milkshake down in front of you, placing a large order of fries in the center of the table. 
“I don’t know how I’m gonna be able to finish all these fries after the meal we’ve just had,” you said, eyeing the basket as you took a sip of your malt.
“I’m sure we’ll find a way if we sit here long enough.”
Your phone vibrated with an incoming text from Cheryl but you ignored it, turning your phone facedown on the table. Sweet Pea did the same and you couldn’t help feeling secretly thrilled that all his attention was now focused on you.
“So,” you started, picking up a fry, “Fancy a trip down memory lane?”
You didn’t think you’d ever seen the Serpent smile as much as he did tonight, and it was starting to affect you. Before tonight, you never would have thought twice about considering someone like Sweet Pea as boyfriend potential, but there was something about both Toni and Cheryl butting into your dating life to bring Sweet Pea in that was making you reconsider. 
You reached for the last fry at the same time he did, your fingers brushing his. You recoiled as butterflies fluttered in your stomach, but it didn’t seem to affect him. “It’s all yours,” Sweet Pea said, gesturing to the solitary fry.
“You sure?” You hesitated. “We could split it.”
Sweet Pea shook his head. “Like I said, it’s yours.”
You couldn’t help the smile that bloomed on your lips as you dunked the last fry into the dregs of your malt. “Maybe there’s more to you than just a Southside Serpent.”
That made him chuckle and duck his head - and in that moment, he had never looked more attractive. “Well, maybe there’s more to you than just Cheryl’s sidekick.”
It was well past midnight when the two of you exited Pop’s, making your way to your separate vehicles.
You stalled at the door to your car, part of you not wanting the night to end. “I…had a lot of fun tonight.”
“Me, too.” Sweet Pea stepped closer and you sucked in a breath. “Maybe, we could do this again without Cheryl and Toni’s interference?”
“I’d like that. Are we counting this as a date?”
“I don’t know. Would you like it to count as a date?”
Not one to shy away from getting what you want, you decided to go for it. “Well, if you were planning to kiss me goodnight if this was a date, then yes, I would like tonight to count as a date.”
Sweet Pea towered over you, his eyes flickering between your eyes and mouth. You could hear your heartbeat in your ears as you stared up at him, waiting for him to make the first move. “I’d never turn down an opportunity to kiss a pretty girl goodnight.”
With that, your lips met in a tender kiss, the promise of something more lingering in the air when you finally pulled away. “Goodnight, YN,” Sweet Pea murmured, his thumb brushing over your cheek as he stepped back. “Get home safe.”
“Goodnight, Sweet Pea.”
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